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The 2025-2026 Football Thread
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Real Madrid really have become average...even more so without Mbappe.
Vinicius again missing. Rudiger ageing and rash. Rodrygo and Bellingham tried but not great.
City march on and into top 4
Fear for Alonso even though its not his fault really
Vinicius again missing. Rudiger ageing and rash. Rodrygo and Bellingham tried but not great.
City march on and into top 4
Fear for Alonso even though its not his fault really
Perfect.
Got to rest Rice, Timber & Saka, Calafiori (ish)
6/6 wins No new injuries. I'll take it.
Although our reward will probably be to play Real...again.
Got to rest Rice, Timber & Saka, Calafiori (ish)
6/6 wins No new injuries. I'll take it.
Although our reward will probably be to play Real...again.
His fault for going to a club with the worst fans and ownership in the world. Pathologically incapable of being happy with anything.
I don’t necessarily see him being an upgrade on Slot. He’s not a bad manager, I don’t think his work with Leverkusen was a fluke. A lot of star ex players who turn manager get promoted beyond ther level of competence.
Nobody should even be thinking about sacking Slot right now. Get to the end of the campaign and asses.
Totally agree. Whilst I'm not an LFC supporter, I do appreciate that LFC, and Man City, are two clubs that let their managers do their jobs, and develop teams, not a collection of superstars. RM is the latter, have cash burning holes, so think they can bring all the great players to the club, and sometimes it pay's off.
The thing is, making a good team out of star players is also an art and is something that takes time. I was just watching Golazzo on CBS, the talk show on football with Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, etc. They were talking about Mo Salah’s interview, and how they as players had reacted to getting benched… they were saying “you need to put the team first, and the manager has no relationship with you beyond getting you to perform”. I think that is a good attitude.
I’m happy for Slot that the team managed a 1-0 victory away in the San Siro, I think there is enough talent in that team to go a long way in the Champions League and manage a comeback into the CL places in the Premiership. But you’re only as good as your last few performances, and no one is guaranteed a place in the team.
I’m happy for Slot that the team managed a 1-0 victory away in the San Siro, I think there is enough talent in that team to go a long way in the Champions League and manage a comeback into the CL places in the Premiership. But you’re only as good as your last few performances, and no one is guaranteed a place in the team.
Ekitike takes advantage of a rather aimless Brighton clearance to open the scoring for Liverpool.
Brighton will feel confident that Liverpool’s defense will offer opportunities but they can’t afford to concede that easily.
The camera keeps cutting to Mo chatting away on the bench. TV director really in his element today with a ‘narrative’ to film. 🙄
Brighton will feel confident that Liverpool’s defense will offer opportunities but they can’t afford to concede that easily.
The camera keeps cutting to Mo chatting away on the bench. TV director really in his element today with a ‘narrative’ to film. 🙄
Genuinely surprised Slot added Mo to the squad, it basically placates his bad behaviour
Maybe he was forced to by the higher ups. Unless its a temporary show of unity until AFCON/Jan window
Maybe he was forced to by the higher ups. Unless its a temporary show of unity until AFCON/Jan window
He was dropped for performance reasons and then dropped one match for whinging.
Assuming he and Slot have since had a productive conversation, there is no reason he shouldn’t be in the squad now. Gomez’s unfortunate injury got him off the bench early, and now he has an opportunity to show why he’s on 400k a week.
Mo didn’t get his moment of glory, but the team performance was good.
No goals conceded is good. Losing Gomez again is bad, but he has been injury prone for years unfortunately. We have to expect this. Dom at right back works but wastes a valuable midfielder.
Wirtz continues to get bullied off the ball too easily. Is this a technical issue or does he need to be doing strength training?
Ekitike’s goals remind us that Salah was not the most expensive or high-profile of the Liverpool forwards purchased when he came on board, but eventually he became The Answer.
Isak could end up being the next Andy Carroll while Ekitike grows into our next star forward.
No goals conceded is good. Losing Gomez again is bad, but he has been injury prone for years unfortunately. We have to expect this. Dom at right back works but wastes a valuable midfielder.
Wirtz continues to get bullied off the ball too easily. Is this a technical issue or does he need to be doing strength training?
Ekitike’s goals remind us that Salah was not the most expensive or high-profile of the Liverpool forwards purchased when he came on board, but eventually he became The Answer.
Isak could end up being the next Andy Carroll while Ekitike grows into our next star forward.
By the next Andy Carrol I hope you don’t mean spending months on the West Ham injury list!
I do think Wirtz has the talent but as you say he’s being bullied. Not sure if strength training is the answer though. Something more mental perhaps?
I haven’t watched as many matches this season as usual. But from what I’ve seen of him in matches, his movement is good. He is often well positioned, and he wants to drive at defenders. He has a good sprint in him. He is technically excellent.
But he gets robbed too often. He shows a bit too much of the ball at times when dribbling, and when Liverpool are pressing the opponent’s box, when he receives the ball defenders go through him too easily when he’s trying to recycle it leading to turnovers.
It sounds simplistic to say he lacks strength or physically, but to my eye he just looks like he’s constantly running into defenders who are bigger and faster than he expects. It’s not that he’s going down too easily or diving to draw fouls, he’s just losing battles.
We've been awful and we have another injury. Tired of this injury carousel of one in and one out.
On current display Wolves deserve something from this game.
On current display Wolves deserve something from this game.
Arsenal just keep grinding out wins. They don’t always look sparkling and they have a lot of injuries. But they rarely concede goals are collecting a lot of narrow victories. That’s how you win championships.
Poor Wolves. Terrible, terrible way to lose a match. In terms of sheer work and determination that feels like a really harsh result for them.
Poor Wolves. Terrible, terrible way to lose a match. In terms of sheer work and determination that feels like a really harsh result for them.
Saka basically single-handedly dragged us over the line. Everyone else, with the exception of maybe Raya and Rice (second half) was garbage
This game tells me Gyokeres is not going to be our main man up top. Mostly because Arteta's style simply doesn't suit him and likely never will.
Martinelli continues to be awful against low-blocks
Eze has been poor since Spurs, and Odegaard not much better.
No shot on target until after 70mins, and Wolves scored all 3 goals. Commiserations to them, they deserved a point.
If we turn up to Everton like we did today we'll rightly get done.
This game tells me Gyokeres is not going to be our main man up top. Mostly because Arteta's style simply doesn't suit him and likely never will.
Martinelli continues to be awful against low-blocks
Eze has been poor since Spurs, and Odegaard not much better.
No shot on target until after 70mins, and Wolves scored all 3 goals. Commiserations to them, they deserved a point.
If we turn up to Everton like we did today we'll rightly get done.
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Mo has never been happy being subbed out, or not starting. A strange beast of a player, who wants to be on the pitch for the entire 90+ minutes.
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Well, that was.........unfortunate for Wolves, who certainly deserved a point.
What is it with our endlessly increasing tally of injured defenders?
Our defence is our core strength, but, at the moment, our defenders are toppling like ninepins.
Very good to see Jesus (and Saliba) back, and I remain underwhelmed by Lewis-Skelly, and unimpressed by Gyokeres.
Despite leading twice (with the fastest goal in the PL this season), we lost to Villa.
Not good but we are playing better under Nuno.
Not good but we are playing better under Nuno.
Hear, hear!
I am almost 'willing' Gyokeres to do better, and he is disappointing me. However, I am trying to give him grace as he re-adapts to the Premier League, and gets to full fitness.
As others have mentioned, I do wonder if some adaptation is needed, whether that be how we play with him, or how he adapts to our style of play.
I must believe that Arteta and the various leaders at Arsenal knew he would be able to adapt to our style of play, prior to signing him. Here's hoping we don't have another Pepe on our hands 🤦♂️
and that 3rd goal was offsides not by much.
Villa is obviously on a roll as their bench is scoring more than the 11.
yes West Ham did play very good today!