What ever we think about Liverpool and the scally wag Scousers, Liverpool fc are the dog's bollocks in the 24/25 season.
I don't like Liverpool but it is quite funny Klopp has gone and then they've got better. And that Slot might match his leagues in 1 season, after all the Klopp and Guardiola dominated the last few years stuff when Klopp left.
Man City have looked bad this year. They’re a terrific group of players who are all capable of changing a game, but they’ve got away with it numerous times already. It’s a miracle they’ve taken this long to get beaten. Yesterday aside, they’ve looked like one of those teams that still somehow manages to win through their bad form. And they always do the business in the second half of the season, so I expect them to prevail again this year.
My post above was after Man City lost the first game of this poor spell. What I didn’t expect was for them to get progressively worse. Watching them against Spurs last week and Liverpool today it’s almost unbelievable that this is the team that’s been so dominant for the last 5 years. Yes, they’re without Rodri and maybe a couple of others, but most of the team were part of those winning sides, yet they are playing like relegation fodder - no control, no ideas, giving the ball away, no penetration. Absolutely atrocious.
I’ve no love for Man City, but I’d prefer anyone over Liverpool. Cant see the title going anywhere but Merseyside now though, unfortunately.
City's problem is that they've allowed a lot of their squad to get old. They now have the likes of Walker, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Stones, Kovacic and Bernardo who are all 30 or over. Ake, Akanji and Grealish are 29. It's no coincidence they're now getting more injuries than ever and after years of winning everything and playing 60+ games a season, i think they're a tired squad.
Txiki is retiring this year and Guardiola was supposed to be leaving so whether they just didn't plan too much ahead because of this i don't know, but they're seriously in need of some younger world class players.
Now that Pep is staying though, he obviously knows they need to make signings and whilst I doubt we'll see Chelsea levels of spending, i wouldn't be surprised to see them spend 350m+ over the next two windows.
I thought they bought well in the summer and would be pushing the top 6!
Didn't watch it but the stats last night at least suggest they were unlucky.
61-39 possession 31-8 shots 10-6 shots on target 9-3 corners
Seems like Leicester were clinical but on another night could've easily been soundly beaten.
I saw maybe half of the first half, half of the second on and off in total, so not the biggest sample size.
Yeah, you are right. On another day, with a change of luck, they probably should have won that. They had a goal chalked off for a foul on the keeper that Arsenal seem to have got away with occasionally over the last 2-3 seasons.
However, the back four looks slow and pedestrian yet they are trying to play a high line. Think Spurs without Van der Venn. Max Kilman isn't the quickest. I assume Todibo (who I thought was one hell of a signing for them as he was linked with Spurs for a long time) is injured. Wan-Bissaka was playing out on the left with Emerson benched. They seem to lack pace (and legs) in the middle. Soucek, great servant over the years but he just doesn't have the engine now. Paqueta on the bench too.
No doubt they've got some proper talent in their attacking players. Bowen was excellent last night and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Kudus again is a very good, technical and quick player, although he's just returned from suspension.
It just doesn't seem to be happening for them at the moment. Pressure is well and truly on Lopetegui now.
1st half Utd held Arsenal at bay fairly comfortably. 2nd half, Arsenal have battered them with set piece after set piece. 2 goals from corners for Timber and Saliba, Haverz put a free header wide.
They are an absolute beast with their set piece routines. Like Stoke City on steroids.
United were very poor. Didn't actually think Arsenal were that good either but you are spot on, there can't be a better team in the world than them at set pieces.
Chelsea looked really good and they could've scored 8 or 9. I know it was only Southampton but Liverpool went there last week and only just sneaked a win. Everyone (including me) laughed at the money they spent and wondered wtf they were doing but they're really clicking into gear now. They can pretty much switch out any of their starting XI except Palmer and there is no noticeable drop off. After Spurs this weekend they don't play another (current) top 8 team until the end of January so their good run should continue.
Also i have no idea what Liverpool's owners are thinking to have not offered Salah a new contract yet. 13 goals and 8 assists in 14 games is ridiculous form. I get that he's 33 this summer but this is a guy who looks after himself like Ronaldo, not Rooney.
Could very easily play at the top level for 2 more years so it's surely a no brainer to offer him a new deal. 350k a week for 2 years is 36m, and i don't think you could replace him for a transfer fee of any less than double that, and then you'd have to pay their wages on top. If his form drops off next season then you can always sell him to Saudi.
The very best players have big ego's, yes even Messi, even though it wasn't as obvious on the field as the dramatic Ronaldo with his histrionics. Messi was just mesmeric and his magic feet did his talking.
Salah at 33 is obviously trying to get the biggest contract of his career to stay at Liverpool. Possibly being 50 to 100k above anyone else. Then Van Dijk will want to be on parity with Salah and Trent AA suddenly wants a big increase on his wage. If Mo didn't want to stay, why for only the 3rd time( according to Carragher) did he stop to talk to journalists after the game recently to say he heard nothing ?
Interesting that Roy Keane and the other ex pros all said you ask( Agents ask) a very high salary they offer a lot less and you meet in the middle.
If Salah ends up staying he has probably either got the two years at top earner status plus a big loyalty bonus and told not to tell Virgil Van-Dijk !
With Salah they can basically keep him for no real risk. Keep him on his current 350k a week and if he keeps playing to his usual standard, the team will do well. If his form drops off then i'm sure they can sell him next summer to Saudi for 20m+ and will have basically kept him for free.
With van Dijk it's a bit trickier as he's a year older than Salah and i think the issue is over the contract length.
Trent for sure likely wants similar money to Salah and has the strong negotiating point that if they don't get close to what he wants, then Real Madrid will. They'll probably also give him a 20m+ signing on fee or something stupid so i can see why his head would be turned.
I'd would try and keep Salah and VvD and would let TAA go. I would have tried to flog TAA pre-season IMHO. Yeah, he plays the odd lovely 60 yard pass with a bit of fade on it, yeah he can cross, he has a good free kick on him... but he just doesn't do it for me. The other two are the glue that keep Liverpool together.
Its criminal that FSG have allowed all 3 of them to be in this position.
Also i have no idea what Liverpool's owners are thinking to have not offered Salah a new contract yet. 13 goals and 8 assists in 14 games is ridiculous form. I get that he's 33 this summer but this is a guy who looks after himself like Ronaldo, not Rooney.
Could very easily play at the top level for 2 more years so it's surely a no brainer to offer him a new deal. 350k a week for 2 years is 36m, and i don't think you could replace him for a transfer fee of any less than double that, and then you'd have to pay their wages on top. If his form drops off next season then you can always sell him to Saudi.
He wants 3 years according a few in the media, suspect the stumbling block is that Liverpool want 1 or 2 years for a 33 year old who has always relied on pace a fair bit.
Agree with the Saudi sale thing but you can't guarantee that I guess.
Chelsea looked really good and they could've scored 8 or 9. I know it was only Southampton but Liverpool went there last week and only just sneaked a win. Everyone (including me) laughed at the money they spent and wondered wtf they were doing but they're really clicking into gear now. They can pretty much switch out any of their starting XI except Palmer and there is no noticeable drop off. After Spurs this weekend they don't play another (current) top 8 team until the end of January so their good run should continue.
Absolutely dreading Sunday. We look out on our feet at the moment. Too many games, too many injuries so a small pool of players available, can't rotate and the starting XI have literally been driven into the ground. It was as clear as day that was the case against Fulham at the weekend. We badly missed Solanke and Kulusevski as they are the main instigators of our press but it just doesn't happen without them. If both of them are 100% fit, we've got more than half a chance. Rumour has it that Romero is very close to returning but I have to say, the way Davies has been playing with Dragusin the last few weeks, I'd be reluctant to drop either of them at the moment.
Taking my nephew for only his second ever game too. It'll be absolutely rocking and he'll see a totally different atmosphere to the Man City game I took him to at the end of last season (the strangest atmosphere I've ever experienced in a long time of watching football!)...well, at least until we go 0-3 down and everyone heads for the exits, it is Chelsea after all lol.
Also i have no idea what Liverpool's owners are thinking to have not offered Salah a new contract yet. 13 goals and 8 assists in 14 games is ridiculous form. I get that he's 33 this summer but this is a guy who looks after himself like Ronaldo, not Rooney.
Could very easily play at the top level for 2 more years so it's surely a no brainer to offer him a new deal. 350k a week for 2 years is 36m, and i don't think you could replace him for a transfer fee of any less than double that, and then you'd have to pay their wages on top. If his form drops off next season then you can always sell him to Saudi.
He wants 3 years according a few in the media, suspect the stumbling block is that Liverpool want 1 or 2 years for a 33 year old who has always relied on pace a fair bit.
Agree with the Saudi sale thing but you can't guarantee that I guess.
Surely the compromise would be 2 years + a 1 year option.
Saudi will always want Salah because he is by far the most popular Arab player in world football.
I'd would try and keep Salah and VvD and would let TAA go. I would have tried to flog TAA pre-season IMHO. Yeah, he plays the odd lovely 60 yard pass with a bit of fade on it, yeah he can cross, he has a good free kick on him... but he just doesn't do it for me. The other two are the glue that keep Liverpool together.
It’s criminal that FSG have allowed all 3 of them to be in this position.
There’s a bigger symbolism to it all with TAA though, for me it would be silly of him to go as he’ll tarnish his reputation with the fans of his boyhood club.
His defending has also got a lot better this season. I think if the other two weren’t out of contract he would have been sorted a while ago but as others have said they all want comparable money
I'd would try and keep Salah and VvD and would let TAA go. I would have tried to flog TAA pre-season IMHO. Yeah, he plays the odd lovely 60 yard pass with a bit of fade on it, yeah he can cross, he has a good free kick on him... but he just doesn't do it for me. The other two are the glue that keep Liverpool together.
It’s criminal that FSG have allowed all 3 of them to be in this position.
There’s a bigger symbolism to it all with TAA though, for me it would be silly of him to go as he’ll tarnish his reputation with the fans of his boyhood club.
His defending has also got a lot better this season. I think if the other two weren’t out of contract he would have been sorted a while ago but as others have said they all want comparable money
Strikers should, and normally do, command the bigger salaries - no way should a full-back like TAA (albeit he is an exceptional player) be on the same as currently the best striker in the Prem.
My gut feel is that all three of MS, TAA and VVD will be wearing LFC shirts next season.
Confession time - I do not particularly like scousers, but I do like Liverpool Football Club. Prepares to be humiliated!
Comments
After Liverpool 2 Real Madrid 0
What ever we think about Liverpool and the scally wag Scousers, Liverpool fc are the dog's bollocks in the 24/25 season.
Txiki is retiring this year and Guardiola was supposed to be leaving so whether they just didn't plan too much ahead because of this i don't know, but they're seriously in need of some younger world class players.
Now that Pep is staying though, he obviously knows they need to make signings and whilst I doubt we'll see Chelsea levels of spending, i wouldn't be surprised to see them spend 350m+ over the next two windows.
I thought they bought well in the summer and would be pushing the top 6!
61-39 possession
31-8 shots
10-6 shots on target
9-3 corners
Seems like Leicester were clinical but on another night could've easily been soundly beaten.
Yeah, you are right. On another day, with a change of luck, they probably should have won that. They had a goal chalked off for a foul on the keeper that Arsenal seem to have got away with occasionally over the last 2-3 seasons.
However, the back four looks slow and pedestrian yet they are trying to play a high line. Think Spurs without Van der Venn. Max Kilman isn't the quickest. I assume Todibo (who I thought was one hell of a signing for them as he was linked with Spurs for a long time) is injured. Wan-Bissaka was playing out on the left with Emerson benched. They seem to lack pace (and legs) in the middle. Soucek, great servant over the years but he just doesn't have the engine now. Paqueta on the bench too.
No doubt they've got some proper talent in their attacking players. Bowen was excellent last night and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Kudus again is a very good, technical and quick player, although he's just returned from suspension.
It just doesn't seem to be happening for them at the moment. Pressure is well and truly on Lopetegui now.
1st half Utd held Arsenal at bay fairly comfortably.
2nd half, Arsenal have battered them with set piece after set piece. 2 goals from corners for Timber and Saliba, Haverz put a free header wide.
They are an absolute beast with their set piece routines. Like Stoke City on steroids.
From memory, Raya has only had to make one save.
The gap at the top is down to 7.
Chelsea looked really good and they could've scored 8 or 9. I know it was only Southampton but Liverpool went there last week and only just sneaked a win. Everyone (including me) laughed at the money they spent and wondered wtf they were doing but they're really clicking into gear now. They can pretty much switch out any of their starting XI except Palmer and there is no noticeable drop off. After Spurs this weekend they don't play another (current) top 8 team until the end of January so their good run should continue.
Could very easily play at the top level for 2 more years so it's surely a no brainer to offer him a new deal. 350k a week for 2 years is 36m, and i don't think you could replace him for a transfer fee of any less than double that, and then you'd have to pay their wages on top. If his form drops off next season then you can always sell him to Saudi.
Salah at 33 is obviously trying to get the biggest contract of his career to stay at Liverpool. Possibly being 50 to 100k above anyone else. Then Van Dijk will want to be on parity with Salah and Trent AA suddenly wants a big increase on his wage. If Mo didn't want to stay, why for only the 3rd time( according to Carragher) did he stop to talk to journalists after the game recently to say he heard nothing ?
Interesting that Roy Keane and the other ex pros all said you ask( Agents ask) a very high salary they offer a lot less and you meet in the middle.
If Salah ends up staying he has probably either got the two years at top earner status plus a big loyalty bonus and told not to tell Virgil Van-Dijk !
Cat and mouse time in Scouse land.
With van Dijk it's a bit trickier as he's a year older than Salah and i think the issue is over the contract length.
Trent for sure likely wants similar money to Salah and has the strong negotiating point that if they don't get close to what he wants, then Real Madrid will. They'll probably also give him a 20m+ signing on fee or something stupid so i can see why his head would be turned.
Yeah, he plays the odd lovely 60 yard pass with a bit of fade on it, yeah he can cross, he has a good free kick on him... but he just doesn't do it for me.
The other two are the glue that keep Liverpool together.
Its criminal that FSG have allowed all 3 of them to be in this position.
Agree with the Saudi sale thing but you can't guarantee that I guess.
Taking my nephew for only his second ever game too. It'll be absolutely rocking and he'll see a totally different atmosphere to the Man City game I took him to at the end of last season (the strangest atmosphere I've ever experienced in a long time of watching football!)...well, at least until we go 0-3 down and everyone heads for the exits, it is Chelsea after all lol.
Saudi will always want Salah because he is by far the most popular Arab player in world football.
His defending has also got a lot better this season. I think if the other two weren’t out of contract he would have been sorted a while ago but as others have said they all want comparable money
The chance to go to Real Madrid is hard to turn down, so it's as much a footballing decision as a money one.