City goal VARrrd awayEverton with a fair amount of possession so far...in their one box. Playing with fire, boys.
I stepped away for a moment. VAR makes for a roller coaster viewing experience.City goal VARrrd away
West Ham cleverly played like crap for 2 months so that they'd be fresh and lively to thrash BournemouthEverything I saw today was crap. Everton were crap but so was everyone for City other than Jesus. What I saw from the early games was crap.
Plus guys getting hurt left and right, all muscle injuries.
Too many fixtures in too few days.
Position | Club | Points |
1. | Liverpool | 49 (match in hand!) |
2. | LCFC | 39 |
3. | MANC | 38 |
4. | Chelsea | 32 |
5. | Sheffield | 28 |
6. | Wolves | 27 |
7. | Spurs | 26 |
8. | United | 25 |
9. | Newcastle | 25 |
10. | Burnley | 24 |
11. | Arse | 23 |
12. | Palace | 23 |
13. | BHA | 20 |
14. | Bournemouth | 19 |
15. | Everton | 19 |
16. | WHU | 19 (match in hand) |
17. | Southampton | 18 |
18. | Villa | 15 |
19. | Norrich | 12 |
20. | Watford | 12 |
After:As best as I can do, here's the 'before and after' picture of the holiday fixture bonanza (note that I used the official table for matchweek 18 for the before snapshot). Since I can't type below/after the 'before' table, I'll just make the 'before' table one post, and make another after. If a mod can and wants to edit, go for it. I also can't change the column size, so the position column is comically wide.
Position Club Points 1. Liverpool 49 (match in hand!) 2. LCFC 39 3. MANC 38 4. Chelsea 32 5. Sheffield 28 6. Wolves 27 7. Spurs 26 8. United 25 9. Newcastle 25 10. Burnley 24 11. Arse 23 12. Palace 23 13. BHA 20 14. Bournemouth 19 15. Everton 19 16. WHU 19 (match in hand) 17. Southampton 18 18. Villa 15 19. Norrich 12 20. Watford 12
Position | Club | Points |
1. | Liverpool | 55 (19 matches played!) |
2. | LCFC | 45 |
3. | MANC | 44 |
4. | Chelsea | 36 |
5. | United | 31 |
6. | Spurs | 30 |
7. | Wolves | 30 |
8. | Sheffield | 29 (20 matches played) |
9. | Palace | 28 |
10. | Arse | 27 |
11. | Everton | 25 |
12. | Southampton | 25 |
13. | Newcastle | 25 |
14. | BHA | 24 |
15. | Burnley | 24 |
16. | WHU | 22 (20 matches played) |
17. | Villa | 21 |
18. | Bournemouth | 20 |
19. | Watford | 19 |
20. | Norrich | 14 |
It comes down to the fact that it's impossible to figure out any club that currently has a goal differential between +7 and -4. That group includes Chelsea, United, Spurs, Wolves, Sheffield, Palace, Arse, and BHA. BHA in particular has to feel like the universe is against them as they are top 10 in GD. Moreover, the EPL only has 5 clubs with a GD worse than -10 (Bournemouth, Southampton, Newcastle, Watford, Norrich) and even those clubs have taken points off the top 6. But, I'd argue that Chelsea have to feel better about their position than just about anyone else after Spurs sputtered towards the end of the year and United continued their Jeckyl and Hyde routine. Sheffield has been playing a tightrope walk game this season and I don't expect them to be able to hang through the 3Q of the season. Wolves have a good UEL matchup against Espanyol and I think that will hurt them as the season wears on due to rotation. Arsenal has the firepower to keep up, but I don't think Arteta can do anything about the Gooners' lack of quality in the backline and MF.I'm just shocked Chelsea gained ground when they decided to drop points and I guess steal points so easily. Stealing the 3 from Arsenal was amazing, then losing two points to a bicycle kick in the last few minutes a gut punch. I guess 4 points from the 2 makes sense, I would probably have swapped the results though.
We will see how quickly Minamino can get settled, he can definitely add some flair to the attack as well.Brilliant shot and even better save there.
Seeing online that it's Keita's groin again. Ugh. Hope it's more preventative than injury. He brings an attacking push to the midfield unlike anyone else on the roster.
Nice bookend to Gomez charging up and winning a corner a few minutes earlier.Love to see Origi as last man back thwarting Billy Sharp's cross
Liverpool had 954 completed passes, the most of any team in the Premier League era.This is a training ground exercise.
Hey Pep - first they took your completed passes record and next they’re coming for your points record.Liverpool had 954 completed passes, the most of any team in the Premier League era.
And if they win their next league match it will be the best start to a top flight season anywhere - ever.Liverpool had 954 completed passes, the most of any team in the Premier League era.
Never mind that Jose needs points for Top 4 and will be playing at home, he’ll set up for a draw just to say he stopped it.And if they win their next league match it will be the best start to a top flight season anywhere - ever.
Fortunately for Liverpool that doesn't seem to be working all that well for Jose. Only one clean sheet in 11 games (Burnley). More goals surrounded than good entire first season at Chelsea.Never mind that Jose needs points for Top 4 and will be playing at home, he’ll set up for a draw just to say he stopped it.
too. many. fixtures.This is Pool’s 13th match in 5 weeks. Let’s get out of here with no more injuries please.
And I didn’t count the Carabao Cup since that was treated like a youth fixture. And as much as I love the derby, that’s exactly how Klopp should treat the FA cup tie.too. many. fixtures.
It's too much just for the PL in the "festive" period, but for clubs in multiple comps it's brutal. They're going to kill the golden goose. No one wants to see matches full of scrubs and academy products and that's what we're getting.
And if they win their next league match it will be the best start to a top flight season anywhere - ever.
Never mind that Jose needs points for Top 4 and will be playing at home, he’ll set up for a draw just to say he stopped it.
Fortunately for Liverpool that doesn't seem to be working all that well for Jose. Only one clean sheet in 11 games (Burnley). More goals surrounded than good entire first season at Chelsea.
Yeah, Liverpool are not and should not be worried about Spurs. They're a fairly easy squad to crack ATM, especially without Kane or Tanguy. If they're lucky, Mou might even start Winks. I shudder thinking about Winks receiving a pass in the defensive third with the Gegenpress squeezing him like a vice. I curled into a ball just thinking about it.Liverpool is going to smash Spurs. Sheffield put up much more of a fight today than you will see next weekend.