GWT: PL Matchbox 20

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Always happy to see Lallana come on

 

[Cassano]

Yeah, because attacking with that crap backline is a great idea. Let them counter attack you for the last half hour.

Liverpool are on form, and they’re equipped to go for the jugular. If you’re down against them, many managers have to consider damage mitigation.

Emery didn't attack wih intent and it's the same result.

 

[Live in the Now]

Arsenal this season does remind me of Liverpool in Klopp's first half season.

The thing is that Liverpool had to spend a lot of money to get to this point, in addition to selling a player for over 100 million and not missing a single signing. This is going to be very difficult for Arsenal to pull off and Arsenal doesn't have anyone to sell for that kind of price.

They have to take steps forward and right now the first step forward is to finish 4th or 5th or win the Europa League.

Emery didn't attack wih intent and it's the same result.

It wouldn't have mattered whatsoever. They were playing the best team in the league and are leagues behind them at the moment.

 

[Stray Wasp]

If you leave Blackburns Premier title out of the equation(4th highest wages) , the team paying the highest wages in the Premier have won the most titles. The team paying the 2nd highest wages won the 2nd most titles and the team paying the 3rd highest wages won the rest....until the Foxes , when they won they payed the 14th highest wages. All premier league titles won by the 1st , 2nd and 3rd highest wages ( except for Blackburns one off 4th highest wage title and the Leicester " Miracle" title . Law of large numbers dictates money titles since the start of the Premier League.

Consistent results dictate titles.

Naturally, more often than not those results are obtained by clubs that have the money to build balanced, talented teams possessed of good character, directed by coaches who know what they are doing both in terms of masking their own weaknesses and playing to their strengths. But if they don't spend their money wisely, or their employees become distracted, then their results dip to the point where opportunity knocks for a less highly-touted club that is on the ball.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Xhaka's back is very sweaty

 

[phisherman]

Consistent results dictate titles.

Naturally, more often than not those results are obtained by clubs that have the money to build balanced, talented teams possessed of good character, directed by coaches who know what they are doing both in terms of masking their own weaknesses and playing to their strengths. But if they don't spend their money wisely, or their employees become distracted, then their results dip to the point where opportunity knocks for a less highly-touted club that is on the ball.

Stop making so much sense.

 

[Fred McCarthy]

Seems Liverpool are walking alone the start of the 2nd half of the season...and good on them ...cheers

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Best CM in the Premier League Lucas Torreira has been the worst player on the field today

 

[Live in the Now]

Game Thursday is the biggest league game for us in decades.

If Liverpool wins they'll be nine points free at a minimum and ten from City. A draw would do as well.

 

[Machinehead]

Nobody is safe. Everybody gets these hands.

 

[Chimaera]

5-1 might be a touch generous.

 

[koyvoo]

City’s games all become must wins.

Tomorrow at Southampton to set up the clash at home vs Liverpool. They’ve got to look at it as a must win.

A game in their pocket but currently 10 pts and 4 goals on differential back definitely means they cannot afford any more slip ups.

 

[Live in the Now]

It won't be over if Liverpool wins on Thursday, but if Liverpool wins on Thursday, it will only take an injury crisis to lose it from here.

Absolutely zero signs of bottlers in this squad. Very possibly the best team we've ever had.

 

[Evilo]

You know, I actually had a soft spot for Liverpool; it is rapidly eroding

Same here.

 

[Prntscrn]

Fabinho is finding his place on the pitch, Keita looked good when he got a couple of games during this though period, Mane, Salah and Firmino are finding their form, Shaqiri and Salah loves to play together, Robbo is awesome, so is Van Dijk and Alisson. Things are looking good.

 

[Fred McCarthy]

A get the feeling Shaqiri is perfect for Liverpool and vice versa and his arrival might just be what gets them over the top . Quality football out of Liverpool this Premier season , like no other Premier season .

 

[Savant]

I didn’t see Eriksen’s, and Kane got booked for his.

Also not sure how “it wasn’t the worst flop” is a real defense. Salah threw himself to the ground last game and drew a penalty that shouldn’t have happened. He responded by again throwing himself to the ground at the slightest of contact. And those are far from the only two incidents this year.

Look at the Tottenham highlights. Those players werent even touched

We are about a year removed from the ridiculous penalty that Everton got from Lovren, where the consensus was when you put your arms on a player in the box you are at risk. Now we are seeing refs call those consistently it's either one way, or the other way.

 

[Savant]

A get the feeling Shaqiri is perfect for Liverpool and vice versa and his arrival might just be what gets them over the top . Quality football out of Liverpool this Premier season , like no other Premier season .

It's not a perfect comparison but it's like the golden state warriors. With that much offensive talent you cant double team everyone. Shaqiri is set free because of this after being triple/quadruple covered at Stoke the last few years.

 

[Live in the Now]

 

[Savant]

Fabinho is finding his place on the pitch, Keita looked good when he got a couple of games during this though period, Mane, Salah and Firmino are finding their form, Shaqiri and Salah loves to play together, Robbo is awesome, so is Van Dijk and Alisson. Things are looking good.

Fabinho was wretched in the reverse fixture against arsenal but Klopp loves himself a redemption game. Hes been great

 

[Live in the Now]

It's not a perfect comparison but it's like the golden state warriors. With that much offensive talent you cant double team everyone. Shaqiri is set free because of this after being triple/quadruple covered at Stoke the last few years.

Please do not ever compare one of my teams to a dirty Bay Area team. Especially that one.

 

[Fred McCarthy]

It's not a perfect comparison but it's like the golden state warriors. With that much offensive talent you cant double team everyone. Shaqiri is set free because of this after being triple/quadruple covered at Stoke the last few years.

A happy player is a better player and Shaqiri is playing better this season ,imo, than he's ever played . And if Salah had a tail , it would be wagging since Shaqiri's arrival

 

[Evilo]

Happy for @Live in the Now , @Savant and @Chimaera though.
You guys deserve a cinderella season and you're getting it. Stars are aligning, like championship teams only do. Reffing, favourable breaks, winning ugly when you have to, those are the signs of a team on a roll.
Only injuries could prevent that title IMO. Depth is still an issue IMO, especially up front.

 

[Live in the Now]

Happy for @Live in the Now , @Savant and @Chimaera though.
You guys deserve a cinderella season and you're getting it. Stars are aligning, like championship teams only do. Reffing, favourable breaks, winning ugly when you have to, those are the signs of a team on a roll.
Only injuries could prevent that title IMO. Depth is still an issue IMO, especially up front.

While Gomez is injured, I think depth is a slight issue everywhere except midfield.

However, it sounds like Oxlade-Chamberlain will be back in February which definitely helps. Some of our bench forwards have made big contributions when they've played, and all of those front three players do play striker, so if one gets hurt it could be fine to just move them around.

Shaqiri is the surprise of the season for me. Granted I thought people were overreacting about his signing being a mistake, and while I thought he'd be a decent joker type of player, he's been a lot more than that. There's been many times when Liverpool would be lost without him, but I'm still stunned that they effectively replaced Coutinho with a player who cost one tenth of that fee.

 

[Chimaera]

Long season still.

But yeah, it’s quite special so far.