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The 2018-2019 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
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Looks good so far, but where is Aubameyang? So much for a good points haul for me!
Yes, I was saying; I recall a time of almost complacent reactions to games and results the year that The Invincibles were, well, invincible. These days, I'm twitchy and nervous until Arsenal are safely ahead.
But, so far, leading by two goals to nil (against a poor enough Southampton, but a Southampton that have given us more than enough trouble over the past two years - I seem to remember an especially poor performance (on our part) last year.
Meanwhile Man United have had to use their three subs in the first half. Liverpool one.
Yes, that is an interesting development; despite his (OGS's) stunning start as manager, United weren't going to last the rest of the season without incurring some injuries or encountering serious opposition.
Actually, on Twitter, Gary Lineker observed that there have been more substitutions than shots on goal in the first half.
Yes a classic game with lots of goals promised, rarely lives up to expectations.
Liverpool should be asserting themselves more at this stage.
Elsewhere, and it comes as small surprise, Claude Puel has been fired by Leicester.
Their passing and distribution have been poor enough. Actually, some of their passing - and crosses - have been dire.
Given that Manchester United had to make three substitutions in the first half (though I don't doubt that OGS gave an excellent briefing at half time in an attempt to deal with this), Liverpool should be able to impose themselves more on the game than they seem able to do at present.
But, re a possible goal fest: Unlikely to my mind: This is because both teams have too much to lose, to risk that sort of open play.
However, if one team scores, we might see a more intense game.
Liverpool have a very good attack and some excellent forwards; whatever about scoring now, the last thing I want to see is Manchester United eventually finding the net in the 96th minute, as used to happen under the revered Sir Alex all too often.
It was close, but in the end a draw probably is about right. Liverpool o top by a point then. But hardly the three they needed to make Man City’s heads drop.
I think a cup win this afternoon will be the first of at least 2 trophies this season.
It was close but uninspiring; a draw is about right, which leaves Liverpool top by a point.
Well, this year's Premiership is definitely contested strongly, something that I think will last until the end of the season.
Arsenal's victory mean that they are back in fourth place.
Re the marabou Cup, let's see how Chelsea recover - or deal with - their humiliation at the hands of Manchester City a fortnight ago.
Well, pride - injured pride, wounded pride - might prompt (or provoke) Chelsea to pull off an impressive performance and actually challenge Manchester City.
But, I write more in hope than in expectation.
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An ugly, fairly boring match at OT. Liverpool did not have the moment of world-class quality they needed to break down a Man Utd team who worked hard and had the best chance to win late on. Injuries spoiled the flow of the game. One wonders if this injury crisis could be partially down to OGS's management/training approach? It looks more like a pattern than a series of isolated incidents. Firmino's injury was clearly just a piece of bad luck, I hope there is no joint damage.
Considering that Man Utd are suddenly nearly invincible under OGS, and playing at home, and still have a bazillion dollar squad at their disposal, it was not a terrible result for 'Pool. On the other hand, Liverpool's lead in the title race is essentially gone now, they are not really in sparkling form, and Man City DO look invincible again (until, I suppose, they have another one of their inexplicable stumbles against a struggling lower half side).
Chelsea are approaching the cup final as if they are a bottom feeder - which, given their current form, is probably unavoidable...if they go toe-to-toe with Man City they will be slain. But Man City will surely win anyway...though I'd love to see some late dramatics.
Considering that Man Utd are suddenly nearly invincible under OGS, and playing at home, and still have a bazillion dollar squad at their disposal, it was not a terrible result for 'Pool. On the other hand, Liverpool's lead in the title race is essentially gone now, they are not really in sparkling form, and Man City DO look invincible again (until, I suppose, they have another one of their inexplicable stumbles against a struggling lower half side).
Chelsea are approaching the cup final as if they are a bottom feeder - which, given their current form, is probably unavoidable...if they go toe-to-toe with Man City they will be slain. But Man City will surely win anyway...though I'd love to see some late dramatics.
Fear not. Man City’s next league game is against us! We’ll do them! (Then I woke up!)
I had wondered when reality (injuries, suspensions, encounters with half decent teams) would hit Manchester United, given that they have had an extraordinary resurrection and very decent run to date under OGS.
Liverpool are a very good team; they just didn't play terribly well today, but at least - in Old Trafford - they didn't lose to United and nor did they concede a goal.
Injured pride must account for some of this - and possibly Sarri determined to prove a point or two.
Wow. MASSIVE humiliation for Sarri as Kepa gets mutinous, refuses to be subbed for PKs. Kepa should cop a hefty punishment for that, regardless of Sarri's weak position at the club. He looks like an idiot at the moment.
Not a classic match. Man City, the new football overlords of England, gobble up another piece of silverware. At least Chelsea made them work for it a little.
Hazard scored a Panenka though, I'd prefer to award Chelsea the cup just for that.
There will be a lot of criticism of Liverpool this week - I'm already seeing the gleeful headlines about Liverpool "bottling" a title challenge nobody expected them to be making back in August. Such is the caprice of the football press and fandom. But I think coming out of OT with a clean sheet is probably the highlight from a Liverpool perspective.
Not a classic match. Man City, the new football overlords of England, gobble up another piece of silverware. At least Chelsea made them work for it a little.
Hazard scored a Panenka though, I'd prefer to award Chelsea the cup just for that.
There will be a lot of criticism of Liverpool this week - I'm already seeing the gleeful headlines about Liverpool "bottling" a title challenge nobody expected them to be making back in August. Such is the caprice of the football press and fandom. But I think coming out of OT with a clean sheet is probably the highlight from a Liverpool perspective.
Agree about Kepa, disgraceful behaviour and extraordinarily disrespectful of Sarri. (And it is not as though Caballero is not used to - or good at - dealing with penalties).
Re Liverpool, I don't think they bottled it; rather, they failed to impose themselves more in the second half, but they didn't lose to United at Old Trafford, didn't concede a goal and held United to equal points which was a fair result.