Crystal Palace are destroying Leeds.
They are leading Leeds by five goals to one with 80 minutes played.
They are leading Leeds by five goals to one with 80 minutes played.
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The 2022-2023 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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It was a bit of a shock that one.
Meanwhile you’re beating Liverpool by two goals at Anfield. Not really a shock though. The fact that Liverpool are nearly closer to the relegation spots than the CL spots tells its own story.
Well, it is two one now.
Not so much a "shock" (althogh not something that has happened much in recent years, or seasons), and, not os much a reflection of Liverpool's current place in the table, as, I think, a sign that what was one of the truly great teams of recent years (Liverpool under Klopp) is fading, (fast).
There is a sense of generational change today, and, if the game ends with an Arsenal victory, a sense of changing generations.
The thing is, a team such as Klopp forged with Liverpool - and leaving aside the catastrophic injury (by way of a disgusting foul) to Virgil van Dijk that I suspect he has never fully recovered from (Chelsea have suffered from Kanté's loss of form, too; we focus too much on strikers, and forwards, but, to my mind, a successful team needs defensive generals who can read a game, such as van Dijk and Kanté - who was a huge part of Leicester's successful title team - at least as much) - playing a pressing game successfully (as Liverpool have done under Klopp), takes a huge toll on players - even players who can implement this model successfully, for many cannot - over a number of successive seasons.
Nevertheless, one can never write Liverpool off, when playing with injuried pride at Anfield.
Pressure Cooker.
Ref though making it too obvious. Ref turning blind eye when Liverpool fouling our Arsenal players.
Ref though making it too obvious. Ref turning blind eye when Liverpool fouling our Arsenal players.
Pressure cooker, yes.
Unfortunately, we're not entirely innocent ourselves.
Now, personally, I love the redemption narrative arc of Granit Xhaka this season, - and, as a player, he has been superb this season - but I do so wish he would not be at the centre of silly (for which one can read, unnecessary) micro-aggressions (or, for that matter, macro-aggressions).
The important thing is to win this match.
And an extraordinary encounter between Liverpool's Andy Robertson and a linesman seems to have taken place as the teams headed off at half time: Words were exchanged, and the linesman - at Anfield! - seemingly elbowed Robertson in the throat.
On the 88th minute, Liverpool (eventually) equalise, - Klopp made some very astute and well judged substitutions at a time when Arsenal were beginning to dominate play and possession - and are fighting ferociously.
Two goals each.
And - much though it galls me to admit this - but we have had our chances - some excellent chances - and failed to convert them.
Two goals each.
And - much though it galls me to admit this - but we have had our chances - some excellent chances - and failed to convert them.
Not necessarily "the title probably gone to City".
We still lead by six points. We have only been defeated three times this season.
However, - and Ramsdale was utterly superb - at the end, to have taken a point from Anfield, a venue where we haven't actually won since what seems forever - is as reasonable achievement as we could well have lost that game - by the very end Liverpool were furiously chasing for a winner - which would have been rather unfortunate.
Given how the game transpired, to be quite candid, we did well to claim a point at Anfield.
Having said all of that, for the neutral, this was an outstanding game.
For someone who is not neutral, it was nerve-wracking and nail-biting, one where one gnawed on one's nails.
This game showed Arsenal still have jitters when the atmosphere is up and can't control their emotions.
I don't see them winning at St. Jame's Park or the Etihad. So unless City slip up it's firmly in their hands now.
Easy to be wise after the event, but yes, possibly.
Klopp's substitutions - which were well-judged - ensured that he was able to claim a point; for once, Arteta - for the team were playing well - seems to have dithered a little (when, normally, he is quite sure in his judgment on such matters) as to - firstly - when he would make his substitutions, (I think he may have moved too late, or rather, perhaps he could have made his substitutions a little earlier) and - secondly - who would be substituted, and for whom.
No.
They are learning, and are still six points ahead of City.
And, while they may have failed to take some of their chances, they fought until the end; remember, Liverpool may be dying giants, but they are still giants; they were up for this game, and we still took a point from a ferocious encounter.
Arsenal didn't crumple, or collapse, and it was Liverpool who missed a spot kick.
In any case, I cannot see City having a flawless run-in; for all of his obvious and fearsome talents (one writer described him as "Mary Shelley's creation") Haaland unbalances City, (yes, he also unbalances whatever opposition he plays against), and paradoxically, I think that they are a better team in his absence. City are not the force they were a few years ago.
Arsenal don't have to win at St James's or the Etihad; a draw at both will suffice, if they win their other remaining games.
6pts with a game in hand is nothing.Liverpool have been 10pts ahead and still overwhelmed by City.
Liverpool got back into the game because Xhaka decided to pick a fight and get the crowd riled up when Arsenal were in total control.
Arsenal should've lost really.
They will face 'better' teams at SJP and Etihad.
I hope i'm wrong but from what i saw today...i'm not convinced. Was impressed in the first 30 mins then somewhat disappointed that old habits started to come back.
Liverpool got back into the game because Xhaka decided to pick a fight and get the crowd riled up when Arsenal were in total control.
Arsenal should've lost really.
They will face 'better' teams at SJP and Etihad.
I hope i'm wrong but from what i saw today...i'm not convinced. Was impressed in the first 30 mins then somewhat disappointed that old habits started to come back.
We can argue all day long but as things stand we need to beat West Ham next weekend and ignore all the noise.
Arsenal haven't won at Anfield for over a decade (since 2012).
At half time, yes, I thought that we could well have won, but the second half was different, as Liverpool were fired up (and the number of bookings they received are a testament to that).
We didn't lose, we didn't collapse, we coped with the pressure of Liverpool remembering how to fire on all cylinders at Anfield in fornt of their partisan crowd, and, by the end of the game, we had held on for a draw, when, candidly, a defeat would not have been an unfair result.
Six points is still six points with eight games remaining, and City are not the flawless machine of a team of earlier seasons.
Yes, it is true that City at their very best can defeat Arsenal, but City - as their form this season has demonstrated - have not always been at their very best. In fact, to my mind, they have never been quite the same (or quite as superlatively good) since the twin departures of Sergio Agüero and Vincent Komany.
Moreover, while City may have a relatively easy Premier League run in, they do have a congested fixture list, as they are also competing in other competitions. One can uncharitably express the hope hope for an element of fatigue to set in.
As for Newcastle: They are difficult to defeat, but they do labour, at times, to win games.
I wouldn’t be too concerned….
Hard enough for us to beat you, but we have a European game Thursday. It will be a walk in the park for you guys on Sunday.
Amen.
He was superb.
Howver, the player we are really missing (due to injury) at the moment - whose absence is, if not quite critical, certainly serious, - is Saliba.
When Saliba plays, we win. When he doesn't - and Holding, bless him, while game, is not at the same level - we sometimes struggle.
And this is also an illustration of the fact that while Arsenal are now developing an excellent and impressive - and title-challenging - first team, they still lack strength in depth.
To be honest a draw will do. Hurts their chances a lot more than yours.
At this stage, to be perfectly candid, I would quite happily settle for a draw.