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The Race for the Title 2019/20

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
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58,005
Their usual away from home form. They'll show up next week when it matters against us.

Yeah, this result didn't help us at all, Liverpool didn't drop points and Arsenal will not have had their confidence rocked by this showing.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,679
93,464
Yeah, this result didn't help us at all, Liverpool didn't drop points and Arsenal will not have had their confidence rocked by this showing.
Arsenal were toothless in the main.
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
3,776
6,791
Yeah, this result didn't help us at all, Liverpool didn't drop points and Arsenal will not have had their confidence rocked by this showing.

Liverpool will do this to most teams during the season. They want the league more than any other trophy. They have a settled squad and will push city again.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,679
93,464
Liverpool will do this to most teams during the season. They want the league more than any other trophy. They have a settled squad and will push city again.
City have made signings though, Liverpool didn't really improve their first 11.
Cant see Liverpool getting anywhere near as close as last year tbh.
 

JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
6,665
26,101
I'd say that Liverpool don't have the strength in depth to keep up a title challenge, but the same thing was true last season. If they get hit by injuries then City will run away with the title, but if they miraculously manage to keep a fully fit XI for practically the whole season again they'll be right in it.
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
3,776
6,791
City have made signings though, Liverpool didn't really improve their first 11.
Cant see Liverpool getting anywhere near as close as last year tbh.

I don't think they needed to make signings... Not much weakness in their squad. I've seen a poster mention the bench but I can't agree. To have lost 1 game last season and not win it was something else. I think it's more about mentality and desire this season over signings.

Aaah anyway enough of me praising that lot. I'm just a bit more careful in writing them off a suppose.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
22,180
79,742
Be very interesting to see how Liverpool do after Xmas. We capitulated in February as we struggled to keep things fresh. If any one of Mane, Salah or Firmino do the same it could be a problem for them. They've got the distraction of WCC too.

Their defence is looking much more exposed than last year also.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,679
93,464
I don't think they needed to make signings... Not much weakness in their squad. I've seen a poster mention the bench but I can't agree. To have lost 1 game last season and not win it was something else. I think it's more about mentality and desire this season over signings.

Aaah anyway enough of me praising that lot. I'm just a bit more careful in writing them off a suppose.
First 11 I agree is hard to improve, but an injury to VvD, or a couple to their attacking players, and they're significantly weaker...any hopes of winning the league is gone imo.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
First 11 I agree is hard to improve, but an injury to VvD, or a couple to their attacking players, and they're significantly weaker...any hopes of winning the league is gone imo.

Can literally say this about any team bar city though in terms of aspirations, including us.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,679
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Exactly, any team bar City...they're built to win the league, no one else is.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
Can literally say this about any team bar city though in terms of aspirations, including us.
True but City are realistically the only other team they're competing against in the title race and they have so much depth it's unreal.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,160
38,438
i feel like the drop in quality from our first choice 11(if we can even agree what that is) is less than liverpool's in most positions. they have good depth for their midfield three, though milner would also be their back up lb, they also have three good cbs to choose from but other than that it's not the most convincing. shaqiri and origi have shown that they can come in and do well, with the barca game being the best example but whether they could carry that over a run of games i'm not sure. though if they stay relatively injury free again then they won't have to find out.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
First 11 I agree is hard to improve, but an injury to VvD, or a couple to their attacking players, and they're significantly weaker...any hopes of winning the league is gone imo.
Even yesterday when they rinsed Arsenal their subs were Milner (solid), the Ox, who is still a big question mark for them, and Lallana. You compare that to City bringing on the likes of Jesus, Mahrez, Fernandinho and David Silva...the difference is humungous.

While Liverpool's first 11 is stronger than ours I think we almost definitely have a stronger bench than them when everyone is fully fit.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,679
93,464
Even yesterday when they rinsed Arsenal their subs were Milner (solid), the Ox, who is still a big question mark for them, and Lallana. You compare that to City bringing on the likes of Jesus, Mahrez, Fernandinho and David Silva...the difference is humungous.

While Liverpool's first 11 is stronger than ours I think we almost definitely have a stronger bench than them when everyone is fully fit.
Yep, they were very fortunate to get next to no significant injuries to their first 11 'spine' last season...to do it again would be freakish.
They've been bloody fortunate that so far they've only had to face Arsenal without Allisson.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
Yep, they were very fortunate to get next to no significant injuries to their first 11 'spine' last season...to do it again would be freakish.
They've been bloody fortunate that so far they've only had to face Arsenal without Allisson.
I've heard some pundits try to claim Liverpool did actually have some injury issues last season and while it's true to an extent (Henderson, Keita, Gomez and the Ox all missed many games) the crucial thing was they got injuries to non-key players in the only positions they actually do have some depth (CB and CM). Liverpool's most important players are the forwards, the fullbacks, Allison and VVD - almost all of which played 35-38 league games. I don't think a single one of our key players managed over about 33 last season.
 

Dillspur

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2004
3,755
9,947
I've heard some pundits try to claim Liverpool did actually have some injury issues last season and while it's true to an extent (Henderson, Keita, Gomez and the Ox all missed many games) the crucial thing was they got injuries to non-key players in the only positions they actually do have some depth (CB and CM). Liverpool's most important players are the forwards, the fullbacks, Allison and VVD - almost all of which played 35-38 league games. I don't think a single one of our key players managed over about 33 last season.

Do they have depth at CB? VVD, Matip, Gomes and Lovren am I missing someone? VVD aside, Gomes is still young but potentially very good, Matip is bang average and Lovren is poor
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
Do they have depth at CB? VVD, Matip, Gomes and Lovren am I missing someone? VVD aside, Gomes is still young but potentially very good, Matip is bang average and Lovren is poor
Matip is far from bang average. For some reason he doesn't have a top reputation but he makes great darting runs forward with the ball, scores the odd goal and is a decent defender. Not sure why people think he's not good tbh.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Be very interesting to see how Liverpool do after Xmas. We capitulated in February as we struggled to keep things fresh. If any one of Mane, Salah or Firmino do the same it could be a problem for them. They've got the distraction of WCC too.

Their defence is looking much more exposed than last year also.

Last season was one of the 1st they never suffered burnout helped due to going out of both cups in the 3rd round. so far they have had the super cup, have the WCC coming up plus the other cup comps. they also had players play in the Copa and AFCON, and like all top teams will have players involved in the Euro qualifiers.
 
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