PL 2020/21 Season.

[frank the tank]

Yip I wouldn't be surprised if West Ham don't win it. Or Leicester....... oh wait

[ChesterDave]

And who's to say we don't go on a 10 game winning streak? This season is totally different and anyone could win the league. I wouldn't even be surprised if West Ham won it as strange as that sounds!

I'd be shocked enough to eat my own leg live on Twitch, if they did.

[Rafa Justice]

very strange season. I think a team like Southampton, Everton or Leicester could get top four. I think any team that goes on a 10 game winning streak (and that could only be Liverpool, City or Utd - unfortunately momentum is currently with the Manchester clubs) will win the PL.

Don't think United can sustain it tbf, their squad lacks depth. Reckon its City's title this year, they're quietly gaining ground in everyone else and in form with a strong squad.

Will judge on Feb 1st but if we don't sign a CB....

[Mark79]

Sunday 24th at 5pm for the FA Cup game

[ame]https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1349763723691503618[/ame]

[Scratch]

I'd be shocked enough to eat my own leg live on Twitch, if they did.

I feel like I should be rooting for the Hammers now, just to see this.

[Buzzo]

The games come thick and fast now! Just checked.

Man U today
Burnley home Thursday
Man U (FA) away next Sunday
Spurs away 28th
West Ham away 31st

5 games in 2 weeks

Followed by Brighton home 3rd Feb
City home 6th

We will know quite a lot more about our season over the next three weeks.

[Norbs]

We really need something from today's game to keep it tight at the top. If Utd stretch their lead to 6 points then it puts them in a really strong position

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/dankennett/status/1350898646498336773"]https://twitter.com/dankennett/status/1350898646498336773[/ame]

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/rtesoccer/status/1351069826995920896"]https://twitter.com/rtesoccer/status/1351069826995920896[/ame]

Not we want to be hearing but it’s true. I often wonder if he makes veiled suggestions to the owners but I don’t think he’s that political......

[dizzycat]

Not signing a centre half is just plain bad judgement and the type of thing that used to happen all too frequently. My biggest concern is that the whole team are looking jaded and we need to address this ASAP.

[Paul12]

Not signing a centre half is just plain bad judgement and the type of thing that used to happen all too frequently. My biggest concern is that the whole team are looking jaded and we need to address this ASAP.

I agree with your second sentence. The problem the club has is shortage of spare funds (blame Covid for that) and various problems that are largely (but arguably not exclusively) short-term.

So, for example, the club started the season thinking it can good quality cover at a number of positions, but at centre back it must have known it was heavy reliant on youngsters and two players that seem susceptible to injuries. I suspect they have someone lined up but he is not available to the summer, so the issue is whether to spend money they do not have to get someone they had not been looking to bring in long-term.

Upfront, Jota was signed to give quality cover but I suspect another is being eyed up for the summer because of the likelihood that someone will want out either this summer or next (and to get the average age of the strikeforce down). Again, do we cut across that now or accept we need to muddle through.

Midfield is a bit more complex. Bringing in Thiago despite his age is a clear sign that Klopp is trying to reshape. (I actually think Thiago IS the Gini replacement; very different player but part of the change needed.) Curtis' development this season is great - although he still has a way to go - but he looks a different sort of midfielder too.

I think we have a growing number of 'sicknotes' in the squad and this needs sorting too. I think the new backroom man has been brought in to sort this out and enable the club to take decisions about the Ox, Naby, Shaq, Gomez, and Matip. That sort out needs to start in the summer too.

Bearing all this in mind, can we really afford to spend money now on short-term fixes? I don't think so, frustrating though that answer is.

[Maxiedge]

Not having any fit CBs is a double whammy right now. With a rough patch, you could do with a set piece goal or at least some threat but we just don't have that at the moment. It seems like the lads don't even want to put the ball in

With regards to recent games, I think if you asked respective managers what their best performance of the season was so far, WBA, Fulham, Newcastle and Southampton would all say vs Liverpool. I'm sure of that.

It's the curse of being successful I guess. You get watched more, your players are more recognised; their strengths and weaknesses, and it's the box office game for most sides. I'm not saying we've been found out but I think there probably is a unwritten rule going round between managers that if they play tight, give us no space (even on throws ffs), close down quickly, while also giving it everything, Liverpool can be stopped.

I think the kind of erosive tactics that teams play against us has worn down our attack and also our confidence. We don't get the chances and space we used to and when we do, there always seems to be some indecisiveness due to the unfamiliarity of being in that position.

I think we need a couple of games when teams don't 'turn up' to set the wheels in motion again but whether we will get that break, I'm not sure, as I said, there is a certain way to stifle us and I'm sure every team will try and do the same.

[Exiled_red]

Obviously we don't know the situation with the club finances and we don't want to be taking unnecessary risks, but surely we can't be in such a tight spot that we don't have the money to brink someone in for 6 months on loan if the option is there (obviously we don't know if it is).

As things stand there is a real danger that we don't make the top 4. If that happens then the financial picture gets a hell of a lot worse.

[Tribute]

Obviously we don't know the situation with the club finances and we don't want to be taking unnecessary risks, but surely we can't be in such a tight spot that we don't have the money to brink someone in for 6 months on loan if the option is there (obviously we don't know if it is).

As things stand there is a real danger that we don't make the top 4. If that happens then the financial picture gets a hell of a lot worse.

...exactly, it's not like the club started the season with a CB short with Lovren's departure who wasn't replaced. Someone on a free like Militao for six months might not be 'the ideal signing' but it's better than having unproven kids playing alongside Fabinho... and/or Matip when he's been glued back together for a game or two... Risky strategy to start the season with three CBs not four and we're paying for it now.

[danperkins]

Obviously we don't know the situation with the club finances and we don't want to be taking unnecessary risks, but surely we can't be in such a tight spot that we don't have the money to brink someone in for 6 months on loan if the option is there (obviously we don't know if it is).

As things stand there is a real danger that we don't make the top 4. If that happens then the financial picture gets a hell of a lot worse.

this. Short term pain for long term gain. The money we will lose out on if we don't get champs league will be huge. If Fab gets injured (which he will at some point) we could be in serious trouble. A loan move as a just in case seems logical and a no brainer if players are available. We are not looking for a world beater, just someone who is better than Philips and Williams. Obviously we don't know what's going on behind the scenes but I would like to think we are actively looking to strengthen at CB in this window. So many of us we questioning why Lovren had not been replaced and it was said that Fab could fill in etc and that is all well and good but that means losing him in the midfield. Losing the two lads to long term was obviously unexpected but knowing Matip would constantly be injured was absolutely expected & we left ourselves short by not getting someone in.