Title defence over?

[Buzzo]

It's not going to be easy.

But Keita is back, was on v Atalanta and on the bench v City.
Thiago is back after the international break.
Fabinho is back after the international break.
Tsmikas is back.

Ox can't be far off.

IF we can keep Fab and Matip as our CB until Jan, which is only about 8 weeks away then we can bring in a reinforcement. We can play Williams and Phillips in the lesser games, big Joel and Fab in the big games.

[baitman]

It's not going to be easy.

But Keita is back, was on v Atalanta and on the bench v City.
Thiago is back after the international break.
Fabinho is back after the international break.
Tsmikas is back.

Ox can't be far off.

IF we can keep Fab and Matip as our CB until Jan, which is only about 8 weeks away then we can bring in a reinforcement. We can play Williams and Phillips in the lesser games, big Joel and Fab in the big games.

We might have to play one of matip and fab with either Philips or Williams to give them more game time.

[Mark79]

45 mins tonight for each of Gini, Shaq and Tsimikas. Jota an unused sub.

[Mark79]

Sadio and Naby both played a full 90 for their national teams tonight.
Mane scored a pen too.

[Mark79]

So there’s Gomez likely out for the season along with Virgil.

More often than not, the title is lifted by the contender that’s able to field it’s strongest team more often than their rivals. Not impossible, but we’re definitely up against it on that score.

[Shaggy]

If we somehow win it this year it would unquestionably be the greatest of the 20. I don't see how we're going to manage tbh.

[BobTheCharmer]

Our forwards have to start banging in goals like its 2014. The missing loads, not being clinical and scraping by single goal margins won't work this season. Our best bet is to score repeatedly and then hold on for the inevitable aerial onslaught. Stop overplaying and trying to walk it in. I'm hoping jota coming in for Bobby might help in this respect in some games.

[baitman]

Sergio Ramos (the cunt) is out of contract in the summer...

Cheeky bid

[Slinky Skills]

Sergio Ramos (the cunt) is out of contract in the summer...

Cheeky bid

'The cunt' lol

He's a prick but I'd still take him.

[Buzzo]

Our forwards have to start banging in goals like its 2014. The missing loads, not being clinical and scraping by single goal margins won't work this season. Our best bet is to score repeatedly and then hold on for the inevitable aerial onslaught. Stop overplaying and trying to walk it in. I'm hoping jota coming in for Bobby might help in this respect in some games.

The forwards have been scoring loads?

Only Spurs on 19 and Chelsea on 20 have scored more than our 18. 18 in 8 games is pretty good going.

It’s the other end. 3 v Leeds. 7 v Villa.

We have scored 7 and conceded 0 in the CL.

The problem is we had Adrian in goal for lots of games early on, then, when we finally started to keep clean sheets, Fab got injured and now Gomez. We’ve had to play different partnerships at the back in pretty much every game this season.

When I saw the Gomez thread appear I just assumed it was acknowledging how awesome he has been. Another injury though

[Liverpool]

Its an absolute joke when we looked certain for a period of dominance. The celebrations were ruined by covid, then the finances were and now ****ed with injuries. I think no English club will win the CL given our packed fixture list, don't want to give up on the title yet but getting top 4 is the minimum bar and anything above that is a bonus.

[Sus]

Let's wait and see before we lower our targets, I reckon. In a normal season I think you're probably right, but this a crazy season and there will likely be lots of injuries

Given we only have to get through another 8 weeks before we can get reinforcements, the title defence definitely isn't over

[Mr Pink]

getting top 4 is the minimum bar

The title is the minimum bar

[Mr Pink]

scraping by single goal margins won't work this season.

As long as we win all the games, single goal margins are fine with me! Just might be 4-3 instead of 1-0 this season!

[Mr Pink]

Given we only have to get through another 8 weeks before we can get reinforcements, the title defence definitely isn't over

Looking at the fixtures, until end of the year, I think we might just be ok.. leicester, wolves and spurs all at anfield are the only tough looking games...

I’m not saying that we’re gonna win all our games, but missing vvd and Gomez isn’t exactly a good excuse for not beating the likes of Brighton/Fulham.. I’d be disappointed if we’re not still ahead of city on jan 1st, and then we get in reinforcements and go for it!