shader
Footballguy
I didn’t see City losing 3 of 4You say that like its surprising ...
I didn’t see City losing 3 of 4You say that like its surprising ...
Yeah, Salah made a complete meal of that. He was pulled a bit, but not enough to warrant him going down. 50/50 whether it's a penalty, wouldn't argue it either way to be honest.I am very happy Liverpool had a great game, but that Salah dive ruined it a bit for me. Arsenal is in a nice battle now. I could see that one going either way.
Since it's halftime I put on the Antalyaspor match. That pitch is in really bad shape
What's the story with that?
And nearly scored in 88th minute down a man. Can’t believe that didn’t go in.What a bs red card on Koubaly. Now Napoli has 10 minutes to play down a man in a big game.
And, they remain undrawn through 19. That's impressive.Tottenham into second!
I would bet on Spurs for sure taking those odds.Liverpool - 53.9%
City - 34.7%
Spurs - 10.2%
Chelsea - 0.8%
Arsenal - 0.4%
Current title odds.
HOLY #### LOLOLOLOLOLOLYeah, Salah made a complete meal of that. He was pulled a bit, but not enough to warrant him going down. 50/50 whether it's a penalty, wouldn't argue it either way to be honest.
Nah, this is Liverpool's title to lose. 6 points is a massive gap - even if they lose the next two matches to Arsenal and City.I would bet on Spurs for sure taking those odds.
Terrible decision to give the second yellow. Also, racist chanting directed at KK, one Inter ultra dead, at least 4 Napoli fans stabbed, Napoli bus attacked by ultras. Curva nord likely to be closed for a game, the beautiful game to resume thereafter.Soccer puts me on tilt like no other sport. Sorry.
Not on my watch!Nah, this is Liverpool's title to lose.
You just described all 38 LC games a few seasons back.Not on my watch!
Liverpool are incredibly lucky to even be in front right now. If Mahrez buries the PK (+2 for City, -1 for Liverpool), the magic ball doesn't spin back in v Everton (-2 for Liverpool) and Sturridge doesn't channel the ghost of Pirlo @ Chelsea (-1 point) City are in first place on goal difference, and likely going three clear next week.
Liverpool will need continued good fortune to hold on thru May.
The most imposing hurdle LFC face is the fact I picked them to win the title this season. My 2018 was uncannily bad for soccer predictions. Not just wrong, but woefully bad, often predicting the exact opposite of what came to pass.You just described all 38 LC games a few seasons back.
I agree with Sinn here... with that D and that O and city dropping points, there's no way in the current situation. That said, it's still a long ways to go, and injuries could play a role.
Be a shame if they let it slip.Nah, this is Liverpool's title to lose. 6 points is a massive gap - even if they lose the next two matches to Arsenal and City.
Its hard to see this Liverpool team dropping points to the bottom-14 this season. But, if you assume Liverpool dropped 11 points in the 2nd half, nearly twice as many as the first half, Spurs would only be able to drop 4 points the rest of the season to pass Liverpool. That is an unlikely scenario. So, it would take Liverpool losing the title, more than Spurs, or City, winning it.
Fixed. Happens every season. Injuries and fatigue will start happening soon for everyone.You just described all 38 LC games a few seasons back.
I agree with Sinn here... with that D and that O and city dropping points, there's no way in the current situation. That said, it's still a long ways to go, and injuriescouldwill play a role.
Great post. Season is half over. LFC have had some lucky breaks. In the second half, I’d like to see the offense perform better. A lot of missed chances and opportunities this season, as crazy as that may sound looking at the table.Not on my watch!
Liverpool are incredibly lucky to even be in front right now. If Mahrez buries the PK (+2 for City, -1 for Liverpool), the magic ball doesn't spin back in v Everton (-2 for Liverpool) and Sturridge doesn't channel the ghost of Pirlo @ Chelsea (-1 point) City are in first place on goal difference, and likely going three clear next week.
Liverpool will need continued good fortune to hold on thru May.
I like that we have 4-5 teams fighting this out, and not just have the league wrapped up early, or between 1 or 2. Makes for a very interesting spring.
Not now, but a couple of injuries, maybe and the right results over the rest of the festive fixtures.
4-5 teams? It's barely 2-3. Chelsea and Arsenal are nowhere near a title race.
As as for Son, he will leave for the knockout stage. He will be at Spurs for the match v. Man United on Jan 13, then he leaves for a couple of weeks.
I don't think anyone else of significance is going to the Asia Cup, but I could be forgetting someone on another team.
Looked a pen in real time, but as always, it's hard to tell on TV. Slow-mo helps put doubt in peoples mind too. Considering Mo's not at all known for going down, in fact considering how much he has been hacked on and still stayed up many times before, I am inclined to believe it was a foul and a pen. (If it would've been Mane I'm not so sure, lol. He seems to go down a lot easier this year.) Liverpool's first home pen since October 2017, so we were due. Didn't (really) affect the game outcome either way, so not sure what all the whinging is about.Yeah, Salah made a complete meal of that. He was pulled a bit, but not enough to warrant him going down. 50/50 whether it's a penalty, wouldn't argue it either way to be honest.
Most of the "whinging" is about him not getting a 2 game ban and missing the Arsenal and City games for the obvious dive. And the wonder if they were going to be playing Fulham and Brighton would he have been suspended?Looked a pen in real time, but as always, it's hard to tell on TV. Slow-mo helps put doubt in peoples mind too. Considering Mo's not at all known for going down, in fact considering how much he has been hacked on and still stayed up many times before, I am inclined to believe it was a foul and a pen. (If it would've been Mane I'm not so sure, lol. He seems to go down a lot easier this year.) Liverpool's first home pen since October 2017, so we were due. Didn't (really) affect the game outcome either way, so not sure what all the whinging is about.
Well, I saw it live, and watched the game back a few times, and in full speed it looks to me like the defender pulled on his shoulder, which caused him to lose balance. Maybe he could've stayed up, I don't know, it's hard to tell, but as with many decisions it looks different in real time, and in slow motion.Most of the "whinging" is about him not getting a 2 game ban and missing the Arsenal and City games for the obvious dive. And the wonder if they were going to be playing Fulham and Brighton would he have been suspended?
Now I haven't seen it so I can't say one way or the other but this is the discussion I have been hearing from pundits.
Here it isMost of the "whinging" is about him not getting a 2 game ban and missing the Arsenal and City games for the obvious dive. And the wonder if they were going to be playing Fulham and Brighton would he have been suspended?
Now I haven't seen it so I can't say one way or the other but this is the discussion I have been hearing from pundits.
Yeah, I hadn't seen that angle before, and it looks like an exaggeration for the ref to notice. Still, in real time it looked accurate to me.Here it is
The defender put his arm on his shoulder and gave a little pull. That shouldn't have resulted in Mo going down like he did. It's still probably a penalty, but very soft. If it went uncalled, I don't think many would complain. But, as a defender, you also can't complain when a penalty is called when you put your hands on a striker in the box.
I don't see how you can call it a blatant dive to deceive the ref when there is contact in the box and I think that's why he didn't get a 2 match ban. Mo certainly oversold what happened, but considering he's not one to normally do that and the fact that he routinely gets hacked without getting calls, I'll give him a pass this time. I certainly hope this doesn't turn into a Dele Alli type habit.
Yup, agreed. Funny that he was criticized (by Shearer I believe) last week when he didn't go down after being hacked all over his Achilles.Re: Salah - my take is it was an embellishment, not a dive. There was contact - Salah over dramatized the effect of that contact.
I'd like to see that eliminated also, but its not as egregious as a flat-out dive.
We agree!!Re: Salah - my take is it was an embellishment, not a dive. There was contact - Salah over dramatized the effect of that contact.
I'd like to see that eliminated also, but its not as egregious as a flat-out dive.
LFC in their yellow 3rd kit. Its a close call.Now I haven't seen it so I can't say one way or the other but this is the discussion I have been hearing from pundits.
Thanks. That looks better then what was being described on the radio and discussed by the pundits in England. The discussion made it sound like slight contact, 2 steps then throwing himself down for the PK. This I could see not being banned for.Here it is
The defender put his arm on his shoulder and gave a little pull. That shouldn't have resulted in Mo going down like he did. It's still probably a penalty, but very soft. If it went uncalled, I don't think many would complain. But, as a defender, you also can't complain when a penalty is called when you put your hands on a striker in the box.
I don't see how you can call it a blatant dive to deceive the ref when there is contact in the box and I think that's why he didn't get a 2 match ban. Mo certainly oversold what happened, but considering he's not one to normally do that and the fact that he routinely gets hacked without getting calls, I'll give him a pass this time. I certainly hope this doesn't turn into a Dele Alli type habit.
Nope. (*Note that Liverpool would be at 52 in your scenario, not 51, and if Spurs can't beat Wolves at Wembley, they are out of the race before they were ever in the race.)Not now, but a couple of injuries, maybe and the right results over the rest of the festive fixtures.
Matchday 20:
Matchday 21:
- Liverpool - Arsenal - Arsenal win
- Palace - Chelsea - Chelsea win
- Tottenham - Wolves - Draw
- Southampton - Man City - City win
That gives us
- Man City - Liverpool - Draw
- Arsenal - Fulham - Arsenal win
- Chelsea - Southampton - Chelsea win
- Cardiff - Tottenham - Tottenham win
I don't think either of these results would be waaaaaay far fetched.
- Liverpool 51pts
- Tottenham 49pts
- City 48pts
- Chelsea 46pts
- Arsenal 44pts
I don't disagree that they have the advantage, I just don't think it's over. Injuries will still play a huge role. (the bolded is not unheard of either)No matter how you slice this - Liverpool have a huge advantage. Only two things can swing that advantage: Injuries, which nobody wants; or, Liverpool bottle the race and lose from ahead.
Fewest goals conceded in one season was 15 by Chelsea back in 2004. Liverpool has 7 halfway through the season. That's including playing @Tott, @Chelsea, @Arsenal, vs. City and vs. United.What's more interesting:
Virgil has played 33 times in the league for Liverpool with 16 goals conceded; the previous 33 before van Dijk in the league saw Liverpool concede 41 times.
At least 3 of the goals conceded has been on dodgy pens at Anfield (that I can recall), and also includes playing with Migs/Karius for 14 games.
I'd be more than happy to see that in the puksas discussion. Dirty dirty skills there. Really hoping it was an american kid.
There's injuries and there's injuries. If VVD, Alison, mo or mane goes down, that's different than just about anybody else.charvik said:Fixed. Happens every season. Injuries and fatigue will start happening soon for everyone.
Obviously we can't know exactly how the managers have worked with their teams to maximize performance and at what times, but it seemed to me that Man City was in peak form to start the season, likely to try and get a head start, like last year, and kill the league early, Liverpool seemed sluggish to start, but coming into form over the Christmas fixtures, not sure on the others.
As always I think it will come down to how teams perform when they are not at their peak, and of course injuries.
Asia Cup could affect some as well I think. Son is going? That could affect Spurs.
ETA: I like that we have 4-5 teams fighting this out, and not just have the league wrapped up early, or between 1 or 2. Makes for a very interesting spring.
Regarding Mo/Mane/Bobby, I'm not really that worried if it's just one of them, and equally so in midfield after switching between 4-3-3, and 4-2-3-1. VvD gone or Alison would be a catastrophe though (see earlier on this page). It's a tough balance that. There's been some clamoring around getting another CB in, but at the same time, that would hurt Gomez long term, unless Klopp rotates 3 #1 CBs (which I would prefer) with Lovren as #1.5, and Matip as #2. Liverpool only has 2 semi fit CBs right now, and you never know when Lovren has a stomach ache next.There's injuries and there's injuries. If VVD, Alison, mo or mane goes down, that's different than just about anybody else.
Leicester survived the whole season with Mahrez, Vardy, Morgan, Huth and Kante pretty much intact IIRC.
Of course they didn't have Europe to deal with, which makes a difference.