LOLiverpooLOL - Next Season

[Hendo]

Liverpool didn't qualify for this season's Champions League until the final game of last season, and now they are in the final. Seems bizarre to think that without a headed goal by Alisson at an empty Hawthorns they wouldn't be in it at all, given the season they have subsequently had.

Wasn't that similar to their win in Istanbul? They only just scraped through to qualify and then won it all. Or was it that they won in Istanbul and that's how they qualified for the next season as their league position wasn't good enough?

[Sanguine]

Liverpool didn't qualify for this season's Champions League until the final game of last season, and now they are in the final. Seems bizarre to think that without a headed goal by Alisson at an empty Hawthorns they wouldn't be in it at all, given the season they have subsequently had.

Wasn't that similar to their win in Istanbul? They only just scraped through to qualify and then won it all. Or was it that they won in Istanbul and that's how they qualified for the next season as their league position wasn't good enough?

Bit of both, they were a distant 4th (by 15 points!) in the PL in 2003-04, and only came 5th the following season in which they won the CL.

Separately the 2003-04 PL table is some reading. Liverpool in 4th on 60 points, followed by Newcastle (58), Villa (56), Charlton (53), Bolton (53), Fulham (52) and Birmingham (50).

[Sanguine]

Liverpool the only team to beat Real in a CL/European Cup final in 58 years since Inter did it in 1964. 1981 the only final that Real have lost, in nine appearances, since then.

[South Coast Royal]

Media loving the idea of a quadruple but it is most unlikely.
City are still clear favourites for the Premier League and rightly so.
The only thing there though is that Wolves are an awkward team to play against and both they and Villa have a big part to play in the eventual destiny.

I do feel that Liverpool are generally a better away side than City (not sure if the stats back up the feeling) so the CL final and the FA Cup final might well be on.

Whatever the final outcomes it has been a pleasure to watch 2 excellent teams fight it out for the big prizes, especially in a season when at the outset many pundits ( how good or bad are they?) went for Chelsea or Man Utd who supposedly had found the final pieces of their jigsaws.
Since then both City and Liverpool have just got on and won football matches with their jigsaws completed and with great mutual respect shown by both classy managers.

[Hendo]

I do feel that Liverpool are generally a better away side than City (not sure if the stats back up the feeling) so the CL final and the FA Cup final might well be on.

Thought I'd give this a little look:

Man City:

Premier League - P17 W13 D3 L1 GF 34 GA 8
Champions League - P5 W2 D1 L2 GF 11 GA 5
FA Cup (doesn't include the semi-final at Wembley) - P3 W3 D0 L0 GF 10 GA 2

Liverpool:

Premier League - P17 W11 D4 L2 GF 41 GA 15
Champions League (doesn't include last nights game, just for ease) - P5 W5 D0 L0 GF 15 GA 5
FA Cup (doesn't include the semi-final at Wembley) - P1 W1 D0 L0 GF 1 GA 0

Man City Total - P25 W18 D4 L3 GF 55 GA 15
Liverpool Total - P23 W17 D4 L2 GF 57 GA 20

So it is clearly very close but Liverpool just shade it for me with a slightly better win% - 73.91% v 72% - helped mostly by their excellent Champions League form.

Obviously that win% does creep up a little bit more for Liverpool if you include last nights game and the FA Cup semi-final.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I was very surprised when a lot of pundits had written off Liverpool at the start of the season. Whilst it seemed as if Chelsea and United had improved significantly on the surface, it seemed silly to write off Liverpool considering how good they've been for a number of years now. Even during last season, they still managed to finish in a respectable position.

I hope it's a City vs Liverpool final, although I would kind of prefer City to win it this time around, it would be a nice touch to see City win the CL given they've spent a number of years at the top now, building towards it and are seen by some to be the best team in Europe.

[Whore Jackie]

Think tonight's match is absolutely key to how the season finishes for both of them. The feel-good from last night's comeback win has got to help Liverpool for their toughest remaining league game, home to Spurs late on Saturday. If City lose tonight, then they've only got the PL to target, despite having another brilliant season. That task may get easier, in arguably their hardest away match, if West Ham qualify tomorrow for the Europe League final on Wed 18 May. Be amazed if Moyes didn't rest half his team for their match against City on Sun 15 May.

Wed 4 May
Real v City (CL)

Sat 7 May
Liverpool v Spurs

Sun 8 May
City v Newcastle

Tue 10 May
Villa v Liverpool

Wed 11 May
Wolves v City

Sat 14 May
Chelsea v Liverpool (FA)

Sun 15 May
West Ham v City

Tue 17 May
Southampton v Liverpool

Sun 22 May
Liverpool v Wolves
City v Villa

Sat 28 May
Liverpool v Real/City (CL)

[South Coast Royal]

In today's paper there are 3 photos which show that good transfer business can be done in January (when pundits say that it can't).

Jan 2011-Luis Suarez
Jan 2018-Virgil Van Dijk
Jan 2022-Luis Diaz

[Winston Biscuit]

maybe there is someone obvious I am forgetting, but I can't think of a pricey duff signing they have made in recent years. Keita looked for quite a while like he may be that person, but in recent months has come on quite a lot

[genome]

Chelsea signed Duff m8


lol

[Silver Fox]

Maybe they've swung and missed a tiny bit on Keita and Minamino, but neither of them are total busts

[NathStPaul]

Forgot Damien Duff existed until you just mentioned his name. Didn't they sign Wright Phillips at the same time?

[From Despair To Where?]

Maybe they've swung and missed a tiny bit on Keita and Minamino, but neither of them are total busts

Minamino cost about £500k more than we allegedly paid for Sone Aluko.

[Silver Fox]

Maybe they've swung and missed a tiny bit on Keita and Minamino, but neither of them are total busts

Minamino cost about £500k more than we allegedly paid for Sone Aluko.

[From Despair To Where?]

Too much fcuking perspective.

[Hendo]

maybe there is someone obvious I am forgetting, but I can't think of a pricey duff signing they have made in recent years. Keita looked for quite a while like he may be that person, but in recent months has come on quite a lot

Yeah, I think you're right. I seem to remember taking a quick look at it a while ago and there really wasn't any crap signings that they spent any decent amount of money on. Recruitment has been spot on, best in the league, it could be argued.

[Whore Jackie]

Still not sure Keïta is worth the £50m or so, but he's certainly not terrible. Same with Ox for £34m. But since spunking £42m on Benteke seven years ago, they really haven't put a foot wrong. Their 'big money' moves have all worked out, which is the impressive bit.

[BROB0T]

[URZZZZ]

Klopp clearly knows a lot more about football than the majority…but don’t understand why he didn’t bring Origi on

Spent the last 30 minutes crossing into the box, headed out time and time again. Surely would have had more use then Jota and Keita?

May be immaterial as the chances are City win 4 from 4 anyway and at least a draw keeps a slim chance but thought his subs were really poor tonight

[Royal Rother]

Still not sure Keïta is worth the £50m or so, but he's certainly not terrible. Same with Ox for £34m. But since spunking £42m on Benteke seven years ago, they really haven't put a foot wrong. Their 'big money' moves have all worked out, which is the impressive bit.

Can the same not be said about Man City? Can’t think of any poor recruits in recent years.

Even Grealish has been decent enough (not £100m decent enough but certainly not a duff like critics love to suggest) and, like most Pep signings will probably be much better in his 2nd season.