Champions

[MrGrumpy]

I am not sure I was over complicating it mate!

Firmino is nearly 30 now and has a lot of "miles on the clock" (they all do to be fair) so in real terms may be a bit older in "football years" (a bit like Wayne Rooney was). I just think he's not as productive as he was, and doesn't have the same output.

Mane has always blown a bit hot and cold. He had a hot 2 years, it may well be a cold 2 years and "reversion to mean". Again though, 29 soon and you sort of have to wonder if he's ever going to get back to that "peak" level again.

Salah looks the most unhappy to me. He actually started the season brilliantly but seems pre-occcupied. So it's different issues with each. I'm not sure they switch back on like a switch though, especially when you consider their ages. They improve on the last 4 games for sure, but I doubt they hit those heights again.

They will try and push Salah out of the dor in the summer, as I've been saying for some time. For their sake they have to hope Mbappe doesn't move first, not because they have any hope of getting him (they don't) but because Real Madrid will not spend big twice in 1 summer.

Do u think PSG will sell mbappe?

 

[catcherintherye]

Do u think PSG will sell mbappe?

Depends on whether he signs a contract I'd say. If I were him, I'd stay at PSG, but we all know Madrid has a pull.

 

[everton1953]

RS friends still hanker after winning the PL this season as though it is their God-given right as "the best club side in the world etc". I wonder if in a few years people will look back and say the 2020/21 season was a farce, crammed into a ridiculous short space of time, played without fans, crammed with diving cheats and penalties. Home and away came to mean nothing at all, and it did not matter where you played as there was no crowds. Mind you it is better than no football at all which would be terrible in lockdown. Leicester might do it again?

 

[number4.]

Do u think PSG will sell mbappe?

I don't think they will have a choice. The ball very very much in M'Bappe's court at the moment, he may well sign a new deal, but if he doesn't they will need to let him go one would imagine. The only obstacle is if anyone can afford him

I think we can draw a line through Barca on that front, so essentially there is a case for Real Madrid, Man City and Liverpool, who clearly cant afford him either. All Man City chat seems to suggest a Haaland / Lukaku / Kane style, Real Madrid might go for Salah (not sure that is wise) & there is the dark horse of Liverpool, who clearly cant afford him, but there is the Nike discussion to be had, I think he will end up staying at PSG when no-one can afford him, but I wouldnt be shocked if the Nike deal has an impact on his decision

 

[number4.]

Do u think PSG will sell mbappe?

I don't think they will have a choice. The ball very very much in M'Bappe's court at the moment, he may well sign a new deal, but if he doesn't they will need to let him go one would imagine. The only obstacle is if anyone can afford him

I think we can draw a line through Barca on that front, so essentially there is a case for Real Madrid, Man City and Liverpool, who clearly cant afford him either. All Man City chat seems to suggest a Haaland / Lukaku / Kane style, Real Madrid might go for Salah (not sure that is wise) & there is the dark horse of Liverpool, who clearly cant afford him, but there is the Nike discussion to be had, I think he will end up staying at PSG when no-one can afford him, but I wouldnt be shocked if the Nike deal has an impact on his decision

 

[UptheTofees]

Mbappe is going to Madrid.

But they want 222 million

Not sure it would be wise to pay that much for a player in his last year of contract and who has honestly stagnated the past 2 seasons.

 

[Goat]

Mbappe is going to Madrid.

But they want 222 million

Not sure it would be wise to pay that much for a player in his last year of contract and who has honestly stagnated the past 2 seasons.

?????????????

 

[Zatara]

Just looking at the table and were in 6th. Looking at the main threats below us:

Everton played 17 with 32pts
Chelsea played 19 with 29pts
Arsenal played 19 with 27pts

We could be looking up after the next 3 games but its important as well to make sure we stay above Chelsea and Arsenal.

At the least we have to be aiming for top 6.

 

[UptheTofees]

?????????????

Someone was asking about Mbappe leaving PSG

I don't think we have to worry about that. He is going to Madrid so he won't be coming to one of the EPL rich clubs.

I was just stating that Madrid should have learned from their Hazard deal about paying full transfer fees for players on their last year of contract that they could get for free if they just wait until January (as they are doing with Alaba)

 

[jamieni]

Just looking at the table and were in 6th. Looking at the main threats below us:

Everton played 17 with 32pts
Chelsea played 19 with 29pts
Arsenal played 19 with 27pts

We could be looking up after the next 3 games but its important as well to make sure we stay above Chelsea and Arsenal.

At the least we have to be aiming for top 6.

If, and it’s a big if, we win our next 3 games then we’ll be pretty close to the top of the league I reckon.

 

[Dublin blue 75]

Leicester last night looked a much improved proposition than the night we beat them 2 nil before Christmas, even without soft Vardy pens they are starting to purr. If..we have Allan back and in the absence of Doucore being suspended then it is likely Davies will start. They have so much pace in Maddison, Barnes and Fofana who can carry the ball forward with confidence and pace. A combination of Douc and Allan was capable of nullifying them but substitute Davies for Douc and I think they will over-run us.

If we contain that risk by somehow reconfiguring the deck to support Davies, then we can nick 3 points again. But that will be a huge challenge in my eyes. One I assume Carlo will be working on this week. Get through this tie without any injuries and we should certainly be looking to right two disastrous results in hindsight in the next two games. Would snap the hand off someone for 7 points out of the next 9.

 

[Brisan123]

Yep - all fairly spot on - for the me the only thing that might stop city is an injury crisis & even then they probably have the options to manage it. For me the will steer to a 10 point league win with very little drama, which is a shame in one way, it was set up for final few weeks, which I dont see coming to fruition now.

As per Liverpool - Yes, my take was always they had a great set of fixtures and playing teams not used to playing two games a week they would have picked up circa 13 points out of 15 & incredibly they have managed to pick up six, with one goal in their last 4. I do maintain they are the only team capable of a 10 game plus winning run if city do slip up and they are rightly still second favourites, that said; I also see them going completely the other way and finishing 7th. It will probably be in between.

Judging by Klippety's comment about top 4 being the target I think he knows the game is up for this season
VVD hurt his knee (THANKS Jordan ) Gomez has a long term injury as well ,Matip is injury prone and Klippety does not trust the youngsters
So not only is the defence weakened but he is playing his 2 best midfielders in defence ,meaning both defence and midfield are weakened
With the front 3 not firing its become a problem
Firmino was never prolific ( 57 league goals in the previous 5 seasons ) for a CF and they depended on Mane and Salah
To me they both look unhappy and I think heads may have been turned by bigger clubs
VVD hurting his knee could not have happened at a worse time as the pandemic has meant the Scum are not in a financial position to go out and spend big on a replacement
If Klippety faills to get top 4 and no CL next season then I expect to see a few sales and no major replacement
Winnie seems set to go to Barca and one wonders is his heart still at the pit
It could all go disastrously wrong for the scum fairly quickly
City to me are odds on to win it and its any 3 from United ,Leicester (barring no major injuries) Spurs ,Chelsea ,Us and the Scum for the 3 other spots
We will do very well to get top 4 but I would expect top 6 with the start we have had

 

[number4.]

Judging by Klippety's comment about top 4 being the target I think he knows the game is up for this season
VVD hurt his knee (THANKS Jordan ) Gomez has a long term injury as well ,Matip is injury prone and Klippety does not trust the youngsters
So not only is the defence weakened but he is playing his 2 best midfielders in defence ,meaning both defence and midfield are weakened
With the front 3 not firing its become a problem
Firmino was never prolific ( 57 league goals in the previous 5 seasons ) for a CF and they depended on Mane and Salah
To me they both look unhappy and I think heads may have been turned by bigger clubs
VVD hurting his knee could not have happened at a worse time as the pandemic has meant the Scum are not in a financial position to go out and spend big on a replacement
If Klippety faills to get top 4 and no CL next season then I expect to see a few sales and no major replacement
Winnie seems set to go to Barca and one wonders is his heart still at the pit
It could all go disastrously wrong for the scum fairly quickly
City to me are odds on to win it and its any 3 from United ,Leicester (barring no major injuries) Spurs ,Chelsea ,Us and the Scum for the 3 other spots
We will do very well to get top 4 but I would expect top 6 with the start we have had

Ye - good summary, it does look from the outside like they feel their world is caving in & they dont know what to do. A really good illustration of this the other day is when Maguire tackled Salah & was given a free. Salah laughed at it like a fella who has given up.

I completely agree with you on City they are 4/6 to win the league & I cannot see a scenario in which they dont win it, they are an excellent bet at that price for those inclined. For me the only team capable of going on a run to compete with them is Liverpool & that looks more and more remote by the day & I think while they are the only team likely to compete with them for the title, on the flip side I can see them slipping out of the top 4 & that looks likely to lead to implosion; unsustainable wages, big sales & probably no ins.

That said - chelsea, Man city, ourselves, Spurs, Arsenal & Man United have all had periods of crisis during the season, this might be theirs and they might come through it, but again it does seem a bit gloomier.

 

[Brisan123]

Thats it really with City. It's not just that players are coming back for them either, but players are coming back but the core team is playing well. It's then much easier to just drop people in. The only variable I see (beyond said injury difficulties) is that the CL takes more out of teams that it ordinarily would, and they go deep. I mean it's not wholly unfeasible that happens, but most of the other sides are in the CL so you'd imagine they won't take advantage.

As for Liverpool. Yes this was their moment to shine and they've flunked their lines. It's worth noting Thiago's played in these games too, and it's not relaly helped output. Something is not right with that front 3 for me- I've seen Salah come out and say he wants a contract offer that hasn't come etc.

I have to curb myself with them, as they all just assume it clicks back into shape, and my fear is that it will always click into shape for them. However if you were looking at it objectively, you would say with European games to come as well that the likelihood is it may get better before it gets worse for them. They will probably sort themselves out by the end of the season (relative to what has gone on the last few weeks) but I do think there will be some inconsistency to come.

Some of the reds I speak to say that Firmino hasn't been right for 18 months. There's a fair bit of discontent currently.

Liverpool career stats for Roberto Firmino - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!

LFChistory.net is all about the history of Liverpool FC. We have got all the match results from 1892 to today along with great player profiles

www.lfchistory.net

Firmino has never been a goal scorer
For a CF in a wining side his stats are deplorable regarding goals scored
Its his general all round play and assists that got him his name and they have dropped off badly
As you say something is not right with him

 

[Zatara]

Judging by Klippety's comment about top 4 being the target I think he knows the game is up for this season
VVD hurt his knee (THANKS Jordan ) Gomez has a long term injury as well ,Matip is injury prone and Klippety does not trust the youngsters
So not only is the defence weakened but he is playing his 2 best midfielders in defence ,meaning both defence and midfield are weakened
With the front 3 not firing its become a problem
Firmino was never prolific ( 57 league goals in the previous 5 seasons ) for a CF and they depended on Mane and Salah
To me they both look unhappy and I think heads may have been turned by bigger clubs
VVD hurting his knee could not have happened at a worse time as the pandemic has meant the Scum are not in a financial position to go out and spend big on a replacement
If Klippety faills to get top 4 and no CL next season then I expect to see a few sales and no major replacement
Winnie seems set to go to Barca and one wonders is his heart still at the pit
It could all go disastrously wrong for the scum fairly quickly
City to me are odds on to win it and its any 3 from United ,Leicester (barring no major injuries) Spurs ,Chelsea ,Us and the Scum for the 3 other spots
We will do very well to get top 4 but I would expect top 6 with the start we have had

Ye - good summary, it does look from the outside like they feel their world is caving in & they dont know what to do. A really good illustration of this the other day is when Maguire tackled Salah & was given a free. Salah laughed at it like a fella who has given up.

I completely agree with you on City they are 4/6 to win the league & I cannot see a scenario in which they dont win it, they are an excellent bet at that price for those inclined. For me the only team capable of going on a run to compete with them is Liverpool & that looks more and more remote by the day & I think while they are the only team likely to compete with them for the title, on the flip side I can see them slipping out of the top 4 & that looks likely to lead to implosion; unsustainable wages, big sales & probably no ins.

That said - chelsea, Man city, ourselves, Spurs, Arsenal & Man United have all had periods of crisis during the season, this might be theirs and they might come through it, but again it does seem a bit gloomier.

As has been said, losing VVD is similar to when City lost Laporte. Fernandinho played CB and now were seeing Fabinho there so their spine was weakened.

I think one more injury to a key player and they may actually drop a fair bit.

Henderson, Mane or Alisson out for a couple of months and i really think they'd slip down the table to around 5th or 6th place.

Henderson seems key for them now as they will need him to be the driving force and leader on the pitch during this period.

If they fell out of the top 4 then i think they'd probably keep most of their players but be prevented from upgrading to mount a challenge for the title next season.