Title defence over?

[S-RED]

thank **** Leicester have Europa; we will win the title come ..... erm May??

[Rigadon]

https://twitter.com/BassTunedToRed/s...72929977667586

Interesting but these are unusual times. Current games sometimes resemble pre-season friendlies. Don’t think we’ll see crowds this season, so if we can build and maintain our intensity (even if it’s 80% compared to the last two seasons) we have a great chance of winning the PL.

[Fosterbloke]

We're actually in a very good place (VVD notwithstanding).

We have one of the best goalkeepers in world football back between the sticks.

We have three of the best defenders in world football fit and playing well.

We have one of the best midfielders in world football recently joined.

We have two of the best attackers in world football in the top scorers charts.

We have the best manager in world football in charge.

The only contenders as far as goal scoring depth is concerned are Aston Villa, Everton and Spurs (all of which have bought very well in the window).

Everyone else has a main scorer led by a host of one goal wonders. Even Man City's top scorer has 2!

I say bring it the **** on!

[Mr Pink]

VVD is a huge loss- feel like any team in football history would miss him.... but I think the 3 of Gomez, Matip and Fabinho are good enough to win the PL- if they can stay fit! The main thing I’m worried about since vvd injury is that now our only 2 recognized center backs are the 2 very injury prone ones...

I think Allison was a bigger loss tbh- I really hope he can stay mostly injury free for the rest of the season.. If he was not injured, I reckon we’d be sitting on 18 points now...

[Mr Pink]

We're actually in a very good place (VVD notwithstanding).

We have one of the best goalkeepers in world football back between the sticks.

We have three of the best defenders in world football fit and playing well.

We have one of the best midfielders in world football recently joined.

We have two of the best attackers in world football in the top scorers charts.

We have the best manager in world football in charge.

The only contenders as far as goal scoring depth is concerned are Aston Villa, Everton and Spurs (all of which have bought very well in the window).

Everyone else has a main scorer led by a host of one goal wonders. Even Man City's top scorer has 2!

I say bring it the **** on!

Here here!!

I’m optimistic about the season- I reckon Thiago is gonna be the best player in the league.. we walked the league last season, and then this guy comes in, and he looks another level.. he’s played 1.5 games for us and got 2 MOTM awards! On his debut he set a PL record ffs! Just wait til he’s fully settled in the team! Can’t wait til the BlueMoon brigade’s heads explode once the media start saying that KDB is now the second best midfielder in the league, haha

[Buzzo]

Maybe this thread could be changed to Title Defence?

From the Athletic.

Liverpool have weathered worst of the storm with five wins and two draws


By James Pearce Nov 8, 2020 66

Jurgen Klopp came out swinging.

The Liverpool manager hit out at the Premier League and the television companies for the scheduling which he believes is placing unfair demands on players who are dropping like flies in a season unlike any other.

Forming an unlikely alliance with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he branded the 12.30pm Saturday slot after playing in Europe on a Wednesday as “a killer”. Klopp then accused Premier League CEO Richard Masters of “a lack of leadership” and said he had “sold it completely wrong” when he failed to convince all top-flight clubs of the merits of allowing five substitutes in games this season.

“It’s not an advantage, it’s a necessity, 100 per cent. In all other countries, it happens. It’s really incredible. We have to talk again,” he insisted.

This wasn’t a case of a manager looking for excuses or diversionary tactics to try to take the spotlight away from his own team’s shortcomings. It was simply Klopp banging the drum for player welfare — something to which he has long since felt English football only pays lip service.

His mood hadn’t been helped by the sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold limping off midway through the second half at the Etihad with a calf problem. The right-back will play no part in the November internationals as Liverpool wait to learn the extent of the damage.

However, when the conversation turned to those still standing in the away dressing room, Klopp’s demeanour was very different. A smile spread across his face and there was pride in abundance.

Yes, Liverpool had lost their way after an exhilarating opening half-hour against Manchester City when they took the lead through Mohamed Salah’s penalty and really should have had more to show for their efforts.

Yes, players had been drawn out of position in the build-up to Gabriel Jesus’s equaliser and they were fortunate that Kevin De Bruyne had dragged a spot-kick wide after Joe Gomez had been penalised for handball.

Yes, fatigue had certainly contributed to an error-strewn second-half display which left City looking the more likely victors.

But Liverpool had emerged from what Klopp described as “the most difficult game in the world of football” with a share of the spoils. This was a much better point for the champions than it was for the team most likely to wrestle the crown from them. Liverpool remain five points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side, who have a game in hand.

It’s hardly insurmountable but it’s a position of strength, especially given the obstacles thrown in their path of late.

Liverpool went into the last international break shell-shocked on the back of a humiliating 7-2 thrashing at the hands of Aston Villa. This time around the dust settles with positivity in abundance. Seven games over the space of three weeks have yielded five wins and two draws. Klopp’s men find themselves just a point off the Premier League summit and in complete control of their Champions League group.

Liverpool really should have been at their most vulnerable given the list of absentees.

The torn ACL suffered by Virgil van Dijk following Jordan Pickford’s challenge in the derby at Goodison Park rocked everyone connected with the club. Thiago Alcantara, arguably the signing of the summer, hasn’t played since that game either after a challenge by Richarlison. Fabinho was supposed to fill the Van Dijk void but then he pulled up with a hamstring injury. Klopp’s midfield options have also been depleted the absence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.

But every step of the way, players have emerged from the fringes to help Liverpool’s season regain momentum. Diogo Jota, Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips and Xherdan Shaqiri have taken centre stage. At the Etihad, it was Joel Matip returning from injury to shine at the heart of Klopp’s backline. City were restricted to just two shots on target in the space of 90 minutes.

“Usually when we play City we sit here and I have to say Ali (Alisson) made some world-class saves or we were slightly lucky, but not today and that’s a compliment to my boys,” beamed Klopp.

No wonder the manager wrapped his arms around Gomez, who has made the leap over the past month from being Van Dijk’s sidekick to the leader of the back four. Remarkably, Sunday was the first time Gomez and Matip have started a game under Klopp as centre-back partners – the 37th different pairing of the German’s reign. Gomez has had four different partners in as many games but he has found his voice and grown in stature. The 23-year-old completed more passes (61) than any other Liverpool player with an accuracy rate of 89 per cent.

Faced with a difficult decision between playing the in-form Jota and the misfiring Firmino, Klopp opted to change the system and find room for them both. It was bold, especially considering the calibre of the opposition. At times it was 4-2-4 before later resembling 4-4-2 when Liverpool ran out of gas.

Did it work? It certainly caught City by surprise early on but Liverpool weren’t clinical enough when they were in the ascendancy. Once again Firmino’s touch and finishing let him down and it was telling that he was the first to make way when Klopp sought fresh legs after the interval and brought on Shaqiri. Jota struggled to impose himself on proceedings after his recent heroics.

But the downside of playing with four attackers was underlined when City rallied with Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum outnumbered in the middle of the park. As a result, De Bruyne was able to find the pockets of space he relishes. Klopp’s decision would surely have been different if he had either Thiago or Fabinho to select as a third midfielder.

“I loved the energy of both teams — a proper fight at the highest level, denying the opponent with the quality you have,” Klopp said. “We did that in a lot of moments. I’m really happy with the result and the performance.”

No wonder. Klopp knows that Liverpool have safely navigated a potentially treacherous course. They have already played Chelsea, Everton and now City away from home.

In Thiago and Fabinho, reinforcements are on the way. Their rivals may well be kicking themselves for failing to cash in on Liverpool’s misfortune.

[kubrickscube]

I think it’s definitely in our favour that no one else look like title winners so far. Makes a big difference having Allison back

[BigChief]

What timing. Gomez is out.

[Fivex]

Maybe this thread could be changed to Title Defence?

No need

[Roboklopp]

[Buzzo]

Quitters.

[Roboklopp]

Just wanted to use that gif.


We are pretty ****ed tho.

[Mr Pink]

I wouldn’t say it’s over... but it will be hard, that’s for sure!

Last 2 years, our biggest strength was our consistency- very rare that we slip up against a team that we should be beating... our defense is still better than most teams in the league, and our attack is the best in the league.. If we consistently win the games that we should be winning, as we have done, I think we can still do it!

We have 3 out of our 4 hardest fixtures, out of the way, and we’re effectively top of the league (ie we’re ahead of city).

We haven’t seen much of them, but Rhys Williams and Nat Philips have both looked good. Hopefully even one of them can establish themselves over the season.

Imagine if we do win it- and then next year we add VVD back into the mix! It will be like a new signing- adding the best defender in the world, to the champions!! Meanwhile pep leaves... all of a sudden we’re looking at long term domination!

[fidget]

I wouldn’t say it’s over... but it will be hard, that’s for sure!

Last 2 years, our biggest strength was our consistency- very rare that we slip up against a team that we should be beating... our defense is still better than most teams in the league, and our attack is the best in the league.. If we consistently win the games that we should be winning, as we have done, I think we can still do it!

We have 3 out of our 4 hardest fixtures, out of the way, and we’re effectively top of the league (ie we’re ahead of city).

We haven’t seen much of them, but Rhys Williams and Nat Philips have both looked good. Hopefully even one of them can establish themselves over the season.

Imagine if we do win it- and then next year we add VVD back into the mix! It will be like a new signing- adding the best defender in the world, to the champions!! Meanwhile pep leaves... all of a sudden we’re looking at long term domination!

I'm quite happy to get on board with this optimism.
Add in a working vaccine next year and crowds watching us win the league

[Tribute]

With the best will in the world, it’s going to be extremely tough going now... No VVD, Gomez, Thiago, Tsimikas and Fab making their way back, still no Ox nor Keita, TAA out for a few weeks... the injury list is crazy. Defence is decimated and having to rely on Phillips and Williams - good as they have been and could be - that’s a tough ask.

Surely we have to go into the Jan transfer window for quality cover... we’ll never last the season otherwise.