Weekend Football

[From Despair To Where?]

City had zero cutting edge and in the second half, Liverpool just seemed happy to let them have the ball and pass it around in front of 2 banks of 4.

[Sanguine]

Most boring title race ever, effectively over before the end of February. Liverpool are head and shoulders above anything else out there.

I can't remember a shittier title/relegation race as this. The teams chasing the cl places all look ropey as f*ck.
Klopp must be kicking himself for leaving. He would have walked this.....meanwhile Slot will get the plaudets for winning the title with his team. Will be interesting to see how well slot does when he has to replace those consistent performers who may leave.

You've got a decent history of silly opinions on here - can add to it now the notion that Slot has no imprint on this team. They are playing a totally different style of football, for a start.

[Sanguine]

Actually got the feeling Liverpool were very relaxed and playing well within themselves. Excellent refereeing too, none of the Michael “all about me” Oliver complex. Any truth in the rumour of the ‘pool fans singing the “can we play you every week” chant

Liverpool have 11 games left but only 7 of them are at Anfield!

City now dreading Plymouth coming to town

The maths is beginning to math now for Liverpool. Perfect weekend for them. 9 wins and the title is theirs, albeit it is only 8 wins if one of those is at Anfield against Arsenal. So it's win those 7 home games, plus one other. And all that depends on Arsenal otherwise going perfect.

[Winston Biscuit]

Honestly can't remember a player who fell so far in such a short space of time as De Bruyne

[LUX]

Foden and Haaland too.

[Royality creeps In]

Not sure Liverpool have had any substantial injuries which has helped their campaign. The core of their team has been intact and have had decent back ups.
The other bigger teams have been decimated by long term injuries to key players and relied on youth and players playing out of position to keep going.
This is probably why teams like Bournemouth, Forest, etc have also done well.






S

[Winston Biscuit]

[Sanguine]

Not sure Liverpool have had any substantial injuries which has helped their campaign. The core of their team has been intact and have had decent back ups.
The other bigger teams have been decimated by long term injuries to key players and relied on youth and players playing out of position to keep going.
This is probably why teams like Bournemouth, Forest, etc have also done well.






S

I remember when Liverpool had lots of injuries and people said they had to suck it up. And that was probably fair - because if you're Arsenal or City or Liverpool and somehow don't manage to have sufficient cover in key positions, you're doing it wrong.

I go back to coaching, too. City have 'had to' play Matheus Nunes a bit more than Pep probably wanted to, for example. Nunes cost them £50m and was sought after by a number of other clubs. If you've managed to ruin him such that he isn't a top of the league standard defensive midfielder, that's on you. See also Grealish.

[Winston Biscuit]

Grealish is going to end up having an odd career to look back on. £100M transfer, still 2.5 years to go on his £300k a week contract, turns 30 at the start of next season, 4th season at City and started just 61 league games (43%) in that time.

I assume he will go to a Spurs/Villa/West Ham type club in summer 2026

[BRO_BOT]

Most boring title race ever, effectively over before the end of February. Liverpool are head and shoulders above anything else out there.

I can't remember a shittier title/relegation race as this. The teams chasing the cl places all look ropey as f*ck.
Klopp must be kicking himself for leaving. He would have walked this.....meanwhile Slot will get the plaudets for winning the title with his team. Will be interesting to see how well slot does when he has to replace those consistent performers who may leave.

You've got a decent history of silly opinions on here - can add to it now the notion that Slot has no imprint on this team. They are playing a totally different style of football, for a start.

How is it different? I haven't really watched them enough to know

props to Klopp (etc) for replacing your entire midfield the season before and it all working.

[Sanguine]

I can't remember a shittier title/relegation race as this. The teams chasing the cl places all look ropey as f*ck.
Klopp must be kicking himself for leaving. He would have walked this.....meanwhile Slot will get the plaudets for winning the title with his team. Will be interesting to see how well slot does when he has to replace those consistent performers who may leave.

You've got a decent history of silly opinions on here - can add to it now the notion that Slot has no imprint on this team. They are playing a totally different style of football, for a start.

How is it different? I haven't really watched them enough to know

props to Klopp (etc) for replacing your entire midfield the season before and it all working.

Well for a start, Gravenberch - the key part of that new midfield - is ten times the player he was under Klopp. They started the season debating Endo, now Gravenberch is arguably second on the teamsheet after Salah. Liverpool's press is much less aggressive. The rotation of players between midfield and the forward lines is different.

[Winston Biscuit]

top 2 in the Champ play each other tonight

also, 'Frank Lampard's Coventry' win again, making it 7 wins from the last 8 games.

In the first 17 games of the season they only won 4. Lampard has managed the 17 games since then where they have only lost 4

they were in 17th place when he took over having won just 4 games. Now 1 point off 5th place.

[Mr Optimist]

top 2 in the Champ play each other tonight

also, 'Frank Lampard's Coventry' win again, making it 7 wins from the last 8 games.

In the first 17 games of the season they only won 4. Lampard has managed the 17 games since then where they have only lost 4

they were in 17th place when he took over having won just 4 games. Now 1 point off 5th place.

and playing at Oxford next week so hopefully the good form continues at least for another week.

[stealthpapes]

Not sure Liverpool have had any substantial injuries which has helped their campaign. The core of their team has been intact and have had decent back ups.
The other bigger teams have been decimated by long term injuries to key players and relied on youth and players playing out of position to keep going.
This is probably why teams like Bournemouth, Forest, etc have also done well.






S

I remember when Liverpool had lots of injuries and people said they had to suck it up. And that was probably fair - because if you're Arsenal or City or Liverpool and somehow don't manage to have sufficient cover in key positions, you're doing it wrong.

I go back to coaching, too. City have 'had to' play Matheus Nunes a bit more than Pep probably wanted to, for example. Nunes cost them £50m and was sought after by a number of other clubs. If you've managed to ruin him such that he isn't a top of the league standard defensive midfielder, that's on you. See also Grealish.

If Grealish leaves sooner rather than later, can see him having a solid end to his career. It's a trite comment but it feels like the joy has been sucked from his game. Missed one big tournament due to the move, something he'll likely regret.

[Sanguine]

Might be a predictable view as a Liverpool fan, but if TAA went to Real I can see him ending up in a similar, joyless place.

[windermereROYAL]

There`s no doubting that Liverpool deserve this, but massively helped for me by Mo and Mikel`s horrendous mismanagement coupled with losing their entire first choice forward line.
When Salah moves to Saudi in the summer for his final payday Liverpool will be like a one legged man entering an arse kicking competition, I really do feel that is the impact he`s had on them in their recent history.
They`ll certainly be challenging, but running away with it like this season?
Zero chance.

[Sutekh]

There`s no doubting that Liverpool deserve this, but massively helped for me by Mo and Mikel`s horrendous mismanagement coupled with losing their entire first choice forward line.
When Salah moves to Saudi in the summer for his final payday Liverpool will be like a one legged man entering an arse kicking competition, I really do feel that is the impact he`s had on them in their recent history.
They`ll certainly be challenging, but running away with it like this season?
Zero chance.

Latest rumours are that Salah will be getting a new 2 year deal so may not be going anywhere in the summer, I’m also fairly sure that, like any elite club, Liverpool won’t get shot of their best player without bringing in a suitable replacement but until what happens happens no-one can judge what team will be where this time next year.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Sheff Utd absolutely battering Leeds in the first 20 mins. Only 1-0, but could easily be 3.

[windermereROYAL]

There`s no doubting that Liverpool deserve this, but massively helped for me by Mo and Mikel`s horrendous mismanagement coupled with losing their entire first choice forward line.
When Salah moves to Saudi in the summer for his final payday Liverpool will be like a one legged man entering an arse kicking competition, I really do feel that is the impact he`s had on them in their recent history.
They`ll certainly be challenging, but running away with it like this season?
Zero chance.

Latest rumours are that Salah will be getting a new 2 year deal so may not be going anywhere in the summer, I’m also fairly sure that, like any elite club, Liverpool won’t get shot of their best player without bringing in a suitable replacement but until what happens happens no-one can judge what team will be where this time next year.

He`s 33 now, can`t Liverpool offer him a million tax free a week, He`ll want a big payday before he hangs up his boots, he won`t get that here.
VVD might be tempted too.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Sheff Utd absolutely battering Leeds in the first 20 mins. Only 1-0, but could easily be 3.

And of course Leeds get another late winner