Today's Football

[Kai]

Thomas Tuchel claims he will struggle to find players for Liverpool clash : "Very frustrating, very disappointing. We gave everything. We have enough big chances to decide the match. Was an intense match. Another two changes due to injury. Everyone is exhausted."

Meanwhile everyone at Liverpool is back and rested. So basically an easy win for Chelsea!

[Kai]

More and more covid for Barcelona!

Barcelona Players Out for Mallorca game:

Roberto
Braithwaite
Pedri
Ansu Fati
Depay
Dembele
Gavi
Umtiti
Lenglet
Alves
Jordi Alba
Dest
Balde
Abde
Coutinho
Ferran Torres

Usefull info about upcoming drops Mallorca.

Had a look at the Belenenses market but wasn't much activity and saw it got postponed. That's the main issue with these big "covid opportunities", the bigger they are the more likely everything will be void.

[Trader Pat]

Thomas Tuchel claims he will struggle to find players for Liverpool clash : "Very frustrating, very disappointing. We gave everything. We have enough big chances to decide the match. Was an intense match. Another two changes due to injury. Everyone is exhausted."

Meanwhile everyone at Liverpool is back and rested. So basically an easy win for Chelsea!

Does it even matter anymore? Not much difference between finishing 2nd or 3rd

[Kai]

Thomas Tuchel claims he will struggle to find players for Liverpool clash : "Very frustrating, very disappointing. We gave everything. We have enough big chances to decide the match. Was an intense match. Another two changes due to injury. Everyone is exhausted."

Meanwhile everyone at Liverpool is back and rested. So basically an easy win for Chelsea!

Does it even matter anymore? Not much difference between finishing 2nd or 3rd

City may be a well-oiled machine and it's hard to compete against that, but not fully given up yet. Still have to play them away soon.

[Trader Pat]

Thomas Tuchel claims he will struggle to find players for Liverpool clash : "Very frustrating, very disappointing. We gave everything. We have enough big chances to decide the match. Was an intense match. Another two changes due to injury. Everyone is exhausted."

Meanwhile everyone at Liverpool is back and rested. So basically an easy win for Chelsea!

Does it even matter anymore? Not much difference between finishing 2nd or 3rd

City may be a well-oiled machine and it's hard to compete against that, but not fully given up yet. Still have to play them away soon.

I'm an optimist by nature but I think this is done. Like I said earlier in the thread half of City's goals come from midfield, only 20% of Liverpool's goals come from midfield. Bottom line if the front 3 don't score then we really struggle. We need a midfield overhaul but don't think FSG are willing or able to cough up the funds. The only current midfielder I'd have as a definite starter is Fabinho. Keita is too inconsistent, Thiago is only good in games where he has space and time on the ball otherwise he gives the ball away too much, Oxlade-Chamberlain was never good enough to be a Liverpool player in the first place, Milner doesn't offer anything in an attacking sense and neither does Henderson. We need a proper goalscoring midfielder and there are players like that available in Europe. Domestically you have James Maddison who is making all the right noises about Liverpool. He be a decent fit but not sure if Leicester would let him go. I'd like to see us at least try and make a move for a top midfielder but not sure if that will happen in January.

Also while City and Liverpool both dominate games only City can control games, we can't. We have too many end to end 'great for the neutral' games. Spurs, Brentford, Milan etc... If we could have stayed within 3 points then I was confident but we're likely to be 12 points behind when we play again and even with games in hand that's a lot to ask.

I hope Klopp has a proper go at the domestic cups this year, 2 major trophies in 6 years isn't really good enough even if they are the league and Champions League. FSG have invested a lot on and off the pitch but there needs to be more investment on the pitch if we're going to compete with City in the next few years. And don't forget Utd and Chelsea. 3 seasons from now we could be where United are right now.

[greenmark]

Does it even matter anymore? Not much difference between finishing 2nd or 3rd

City may be a well-oiled machine and it's hard to compete against that, but not fully given up yet. Still have to play them away soon.

I'm an optimist by nature but I think this is done. Like I said earlier in the thread half of City's goals come from midfield, only 20% of Liverpool's goals come from midfield. Bottom line if the front 3 don't score then we really struggle. We need a midfield overhaul but don't think FSG are willing or able to cough up the funds. The only current midfielder I'd have as a definite starter is Fabinho. Keita is too inconsistent, Thiago is only good in games where he has space and time on the ball otherwise he gives the ball away too much, Oxlade-Chamberlain was never good enough to be a Liverpool player in the first place, Milner doesn't offer anything in an attacking sense and neither does Henderson. We need a proper goalscoring midfielder and there are players like that available in Europe. Domestically you have James Maddison who is making all the right noises about Liverpool. He be a decent fit but not sure if Leicester would let him go. I'd like to see us at least try and make a move for a top midfielder but not sure if that will happen in January.

Also while City and Liverpool both dominate games only City can control games, we can't. We have too many end to end 'great for the neutral' games. Spurs, Brentford, Milan etc... If we could have stayed within 3 points then I was confident but we're likely to be 12 points behind when we play again and even with games in hand that's a lot to ask.

I hope Klopp has a proper go at the domestic cups this year, 2 major trophies in 6 years isn't really good enough even if they are the league and Champions League. FSG have invested a lot on and off the pitch but there needs to be more investment on the pitch if we're going to compete with City in the next few years. And don't forget Utd and Chelsea. 3 seasons from now we could be where United are right now.

A post of no interest to non-LFC folks. But I will respond.
Hendo and Milly are really valuable. They may not be sparkly headliners, but they are ridiculously consistent at a high level. They are going to be hard to replace. Thiago has got to grips with the the Prem, I think. But he's a luxury player. Maddison is NOT a Liverpool player. His attitiude stinks. I would be annoyed if we were to sign him. He's like Grealish-lite. We need neither.
However, I think with City's current level the title is gone. Top 4 is safe (a bold statement).

[Trader Pat]

A post of no interest to non-LFC folks. But I will respond.
Hendo and Milly are really valuable. They may not be sparkly headliners, but they are ridiculously consistent at a high level. They are going to be hard to replace. Thiago has got to grips with the the Prem, I think. But he's a luxury player. Maddison is NOT a Liverpool player. His attitiude stinks. I would be annoyed if we were to sign him. He's like Grealish-lite. We need neither.
However, I think with City's current level the title is gone. Top 4 is safe (a bold statement).

Hendo and Milly have been great servants and they're great professionals but this midfield needs more than that. MIlner is good for coming off the bench when you need to tighten the game up but he's never going to get you a goal. Henderson can score the odd screamer but doesn't offer much creativity. I think next season could be the time Klopp gives the captaincy to Van Dijk, at least I hope it is. If Henderson is still an automatic starter next season then I don't give us much chance of winning the league. I get what you say about Maddison but I'd take a bit of attitude if it meant adding some creativity and goals. Like I said there are other options I'd make a move for someone like Brozovic at Inter whose contract is up in the summer. He's a great professional but he also scores goals.

The good news keeps coming, Alisson was absent from training today so keep an eye on this chart especially when Klopp gives his presser tomorrow.

[Realrocknrolla]

Porto V Benfica game mental!

[Derek27]

Porto V Benfica game mental!

Terrible result in the earlier Portuguese match but really enjoying this one.

[greenmark]

A post of no interest to non-LFC folks. But I will respond.
Hendo and Milly are really valuable. They may not be sparkly headliners, but they are ridiculously consistent at a high level. They are going to be hard to replace. Thiago has got to grips with the the Prem, I think. But he's a luxury player. Maddison is NOT a Liverpool player. His attitiude stinks. I would be annoyed if we were to sign him. He's like Grealish-lite. We need neither.
However, I think with City's current level the title is gone. Top 4 is safe (a bold statement).

Hendo and Milly have been great servants and they're great professionals but this midfield needs more than that. MIlner is good for coming off the bench when you need to tighten the game up but he's never going to get you a goal. Henderson can score the odd screamer but doesn't offer much creativity. I think next season could be the time Klopp gives the captaincy to Van Dijk, at least I hope it is. If Henderson is still an automatic starter next season then I don't give us much chance of winning the league. I get what you say about Maddison but I'd take a bit of attitude if it meant adding some creativity and goals. Like I said there are other options I'd make a move for someone like Brozovic at Inter whose contract is up in the summer. He's a great professional but he also scores goals.

The good news keeps coming, Alisson was absent from training today so keep an eye on this chart especially when Klopp gives his presser tomorrow.

I'm just glad Salah, Mane and Keita are available for Sunday. Afcon could be definitive for LFC. In a bad way. But we have Divock, Firmino, Jota. Hopefully enough creativity to tide us over till the Africans return.

[Trader Pat]

I'm just glad Salah, Mane and Keita are available for Sunday. Afcon could be definitive for LFC. In a bad way. But we have Divock, Firmino, Jota. Hopefully enough creativity to tide us over till the Africans return.

We don't know if they're available or not. Klopp confirmed today that three more players have tested positive for Covid but he hasn't named them. Further to what I said yesterday it's a safe bet one of them is Alisson as he didn't take part in training.

Two days to go before the game so don't be surprised if it gets called off especially with the problems Chelsea have as well. One or two more positive tests could be enough to see the game cancelled.

[greenmark]

I'm just glad Salah, Mane and Keita are available for Sunday. Afcon could be definitive for LFC. In a bad way. But we have Divock, Firmino, Jota. Hopefully enough creativity to tide us over till the Africans return.

We don't know if they're available or not. Klopp confirmed today that three more players have tested positive for Covid but he hasn't named them. Further to what I said yesterday it's a safe bet one of them is Alisson as he didn't take part in training.

Two days to go before the game so don't be surprised if it gets called off especially with the problems Chelsea have as well. One or two more positive tests could be enough to see the game cancelled.

Well, true enough. Who knows what might happen up to the last tests before the game. I'm hoping we get a legitmate game. LFC are drifting , CFC coming in and the draw seems to be being botted with the standard sawtooth graph.
If we have all top personnel available, it could be a corker.

[firlandsfarm]

... Anybody seen this free kick routine

Raises interesting defence questions and in the confusion could easily give rise to penalty decisions as defenders try to keep close to the marauding attackers! Forget the dance but what about variations ... how about the attacking team just standing in a huddle or lining up in a row and then running at random to receive the ball a bit like in American Football?

[greenmark]

As I'm LFC, I wanted Arsenal to hold out. However, I reckoned City would come back.
So I backed City at 1-0. Doesn't feel great though! City's progress is looking inexorable.

[Trader Pat]

Klopp won't be on the sideline tomorrow due to a suspected Covid test. On the bright side nice drift on Liverpool's match odds for tomorrow which will probably go higher so every cloud and all that!

My interest at the top of the table has finished for another season at least, so now I'll focus on the relegation scrap and transfer my energy from wanting Liverpool to win the title to wanting Newcastle to get relegated!