The 2025-2026 Football Thread

[Lord Blackadder]

I knew going in we were going to lose. Slot is facing his first real slump as manager here. The defending isn’t much worse than it was last season. But the goals have dried up. 12 months ago ‘Pool win that 4-2.

Apparently now the same media who were proclaiming that Liverpool ‘won’ the transfer window are claiming they’ve actually ‘lost’ it. Which shows how meaningless that whole concept is.

On the less infuriating front, Columbus managed a good 3-1 win over The New York Energy Drinks, locking in a playoff spot. But their first playoff tie is against Cincy, which is not only a derby but a tough match.

 

[martint235]

I knew going in we were going to lose. Slot is facing his first real slump as manager here. The defending isn’t much worse than it was last season. But the goals have dried up. 12 months ago ‘Pool win that 4-2.

Apparently now the same media who were proclaiming that Liverpool ‘won’ the transfer window are claiming they’ve actually ‘lost’ it. Which shows how meaningless that whole concept is.

On the less infuriating front, Columbus managed a good 3-1 win over The New York Energy Drinks, locking in a playoff spot. But their first playoff tie is against Cincy, which is not only a derby but a tough match.

Part of Slot’s problem now is there are no excuses. We improved a PL winning side and he needs to find a way to turn this around. I’d say the defence is notably worse, 11 goals against so far, but as you say we’re also not scoring. In the perfect start there was a lot of “may as well give them the title” but those watching then knew it was a team not firing properly. Stubbornness, ability to grind out a win and the occasional flash of absolute brilliance but still not quite there. Slot has some time though, the CL structure means you can lose a couple and get through comfortably so I’m hoping he brings it around.

 

[laptech]

Every club has a dry spell, it happened to Ferguson twice, would win 3 titles in a row then lose a couple but would then bounce back, win 3 in a row and lose again. Happen to Pep, 4 titles in a row and then lose. It's happened to Chelsea and Arsenal. It baffles me why premier league fans expect their team to win the league every year.

Slot inherited a Klopp side capable of winning the title and they did just that. This season with players having gone and new players coming in, this is Slot's team, not Klopps so it will have to be seen if Slot has what it takes to win the league with his own team.

 

[Bodhitree]

It seems to me Liverpool were a little unlucky with their finishing. Gakpo hit the post twice and missed a free header and others had chances too. They could easily have won 4-2 again but for these small margins.

 

[Silencio]

Bringing home 3 points from Anfield, and totally deserved. Mbeumo's goal so early on certainly helped, but the United defense was generally excellent. United lost some matches earlier this season due to some bad luck, so Liverpool's problems with finishing probably balance out the karmic scales a bit.

Refreshing a successful team is much harder than it looks. It's all too easy to hold on to your legends too long — we saw that happen to city last year, too. I assume Liverpool will get through this rough patch, but their squad has flaws like everyone else's.

 

[laptech]

Bringing home 3 points from Anfield, and totally deserved. Mbeumo's goal so early on certainly helped, but the United defense was generally excellent. United lost some matches earlier this season due to some bad luck, so Liverpool's problems with finishing probably balance out the karmic scales a bit.

Refreshing a successful team is much harder than it looks. It's all too easy to hold on to your legends too long — we saw that happen to city last year, too. I assume Liverpool will get through this rough patch, but their squad has flaws like everyone else's.

The buzzword around United ever since Ferguson left is 'consistency' Even the great Ferguson struggled with it a number of years which is they win games against the top teams but then lose games against the weaker teams. If United are true to form they will lose their next game.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Refreshing a successful team is much harder than it looks. It's all too easy to hold on to your legends too long — we saw that happen to city last year, too. I assume Liverpool will get through this rough patch, but their squad has flaws like everyone else's.

Slot had to work hard to win the league last season. Klopp handed him a very competitive squad but Slot showed that he knows how to set up a team and, more importantly, adapt during a match.

But refreshing a squad is a harder task. Some of the new players may take most of the season or a role switch to bed in. Gravenberch did, and he’s gone from ‘flop’ to part of the ‘spine.’

its a frustrating slump but if you average this against the improbably good start it’s not so terrible. None of the other contenders are without flaws so it’ll potentially be better title race, and Liverpool are very much in it. But criticism will mount until things change.

As for Man Utd, a good performance regardless how bad Liverpool were on the day. I still think it changes nothing regarding the ultimate fate of the Amorim project, but thinking back to the Ferg era I hugely savored every single win over my derby rivals.

 

[MBAir2010]

anyone else see that Emiliano Buendia goal from Lucas Digne who ignored John McGinn
as really Matty Cash made that play happen?

 

[MBAir2010]

regardless how bad Liverpool were on the day.

hitting the woodwork was their demise, what if those 2 goals went in?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

hitting the woodwork was their demise, what if those 2 goals went in?

Fair enough, but I would have rather not conceded any. A lucky goal wins matches; solid defending wins trophies.

 

[daneoni]

anyone else see that Emiliano Buendia goal from Lucas Digne who ignored John McGinn
as really Matty Cash made that play happen?

Villa can do random miracles like that, then be terrible for 5 games straight. 🤷‍♂️

Its a brilliant team goal though.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Desperate for a win tonight. We really need three points!

 

[daneoni]

That performance from WHU is...worrying.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Another clean sheet and 3 points.

Come On Arsenal.

Excellent; the clean sheet, (three goals conceded this season so far, two from set-pieces, and one of them from open play) plus the victory are both exceedingly welcome.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That performance from WHU is...worrying.

You’re telling me! Keeps me up at night.

 

[daneoni]

You’re telling me! Keeps me up at night.

I think get to Jan and hopefully the club brings in 2 midfielders and a keeper

Meanwhile good night for English clubs in Europe.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I think get to Jan and hopefully the club brings in 2 midfielders and a keeper

Meanwhile good night for English clubs in Europe.

In my experience the players available in January are rarely the ones you want. But we will have to do something.

Leeds next. Already a 6 pointer.

 

[laptech]

The UK media and many ex-premier league players make me laugh when they start coming out saying who is favorite to win the league and premier league just because a club has had a good run of games. This year it is Arsenal. They comfortably beat Atletico Madrid and now they are considered one of the favorites to win the competition.

We have seen it happen so many times, a club is running away with the league come January only to be pegged back and come 2nd. Same with the champions league, clubs have blitzed teams in the group stages, scored large amount of goal, won all their group games and lost at the last 16.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

An excellent - indeed, comprehensive and very comfortable - victory for Arsenal against Atletico Madrid.

 

[Silencio]

Always happy to see Atletico lose.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Always happy to see Atletico lose.

Always happy to see Arsenal win.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

On another note, its looking like Rodri is no longer the same player, and is now very susceptible to injuries.

I meant to comment further on this: I agree re Rodri.

And I think that the exact same issue arose with Gabriel Jesus ever since he suffered a ghastly knee injury while playing with Brazil during the last World Cup, in that firstly, he never fully came back to being the player he had been before he was injured, and secondly, he also seemed to have become much more susceptible to injuries, serious ones.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

An excellent - indeed, comprehensive and very comfortable - victory for Arsenal against Atletico Madrid.

Don’t get too excited. Liverpool recently beat them too, and if the pundits are to be believed we are now one of the worst football clubs on the planet. 🤣

But I am also always happy to see them lose, EXCEPT when they are facing Real Madrid.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Don’t get too excited.

Not excited.

Just satisfied.

However, I am pleased to see a sort of clinical precision to Arsenal's play these days, a hunger born of ambition, supported by a team with the sort of strength in depth that means some injuries to players in key positions won't completely derail the season.

Liverpool recently beat them too, and if the pundits are to be believed we are now one of the worst football clubs in the planet. 🤣

Well, do you always believe what is penned by such pundits?

I don't.

But I am also always happy to see them lose, EXCEPT when they are facing Real Madrid.

Agreed.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Well, do you always believe what is penned by such pundits?

Never fear, my tongue was firmly in cheek.