LOLiverpooLOL - Next Season

[Royal Rother]

Real Madrid are so good when they get going.

The unsung bit I admire hugely is their defending on the edge of their box. Time after time they see the pass that is coming in before it’s made and just nip in and cleanly nick the ball back. Very impressive.

[South Coast Royal]

Real Madrid are so good when they get going.

The unsung bit I admire hugely is their defending on the edge of their box. Time after time they see the pass that is coming in before it’s made and just nip in and cleanly nick the ball back. Very impressive.

There is something special about Real Madrid apart from being the biggest club in world football.
Last season they somehow managed to come through games that they looked like losing and yet again became European Champions.

They also seem to know what oldies to keep and who to let go.
Losing Ramos and then Casemiro has made no great difference and the two real oldies, Benzema and Modric continue to flourish with the pace and skill of young players like Vinicius, Rodrygo and Camavinga feeding off their experience.

As for last night in particular unfortunately Liverpool made things a bit easy for them.
Joe Gomez has a few games where you believe that he could be a good defender and then he has a game like last night where he is all over the place and so physically weak in his defending.
2 mistakes by young Bajcetic (when for most of the game he looked comfortable) proved costly and likewise the error from Alisson, both good players but mistakes lead to goals when you are playing a team like Real Madrid.

So Liverpool are now left with the league to concentrate on and nothing else which in the long run may be no bad thing.

[Winston Biscuit]

RM have become very good at knowing when to move older high earners on so as to get a transfer fee in and/or get high wages off the books, and have also put money into young players (especially in South America) where you only need 1 or 2 to pay off to get a big return. 16 year old Endrick from Palmeiras being the latest one, who has signed for them and will move to Spain once he is 18 years old

Their net spend is surprisingly low over the last few years compared to other big clubs

[YorkshireRoyal99]

RM have become very good at knowing when to move older high earners on so as to get a transfer fee in and/or get high wages off the books, and have also put money into young players (especially in South America) where you only need 1 or 2 to pay off to get a big return. 16 year old Endrick from Palmeiras being the latest one, who has signed for them and will move to Spain once he is 18 years old

Their net spend is surprisingly low over the last few years compared to other big clubs

Yes there has definitely been a change in how they are approaching transfers from what they've done previously.

It's probably a little bit deceiving as well because when I looked at the RM line up, I didn't actually think it was *that good* when you compare it to RM sides of old. Of course Modric and Benzema are still world class but they are ageing, but they seem to be getting better with age.

I wasn't particularly convinced by the back 4 either, but they stood firm after 15 minutes and didn't look too troubled. Camavinga picked up as well and was popping passes about and Vincious Jnr was sensational as well, he looked their best player really. The team just seems to ooze calmness and quality.

[Silver Fox]

I didn't realise Benzema was playing until he scored the 4th goal, not that it seemed to hamper Madrid in any way

[Orion1871]

RM have become very good at knowing when to move older high earners on so as to get a transfer fee in and/or get high wages off the books, and have also put money into young players (especially in South America) where you only need 1 or 2 to pay off to get a big return. 16 year old Endrick from Palmeiras being the latest one, who has signed for them and will move to Spain once he is 18 years old

Their net spend is surprisingly low over the last few years compared to other big clubs

Yes there has definitely been a change in how they are approaching transfers from what they've done previously.

It's probably a little bit deceiving as well because when I looked at the RM line up, I didn't actually think it was *that good* when you compare it to RM sides of old. Of course Modric and Benzema are still world class but they are ageing, but they seem to be getting better with age.

I wasn't particularly convinced by the back 4 either, but they stood firm after 15 minutes and didn't look too troubled. Camavinga picked up as well and was popping passes about and Vincious Jnr was sensational as well, he looked their best player really. The team just seems to ooze calmness and quality.

Their back four is a lot better defensively when Mendy is at left back, but with him out injured they are more vulnerable down that side, and Liverpool are obviously strong on their right wing. Alaba was playing left back but he wasn't 100% fit so he was struggling. Militao is a lot better with Alaba next to him at CB than he is with Rudiger there. The defensive improvement was obvious once Nacho came on.

There is also the factor that no one screens the back four as well as Casemiro does. Camavinga and Tchuoameni are good and will develop further, but neither are as good as Casemiro now.

[Sanguine]

RM have become very good at knowing when to move older high earners on so as to get a transfer fee in and/or get high wages off the books, and have also put money into young players (especially in South America) where you only need 1 or 2 to pay off to get a big return. 16 year old Endrick from Palmeiras being the latest one, who has signed for them and will move to Spain once he is 18 years old

Their net spend is surprisingly low over the last few years compared to other big clubs

Yes there has definitely been a change in how they are approaching transfers from what they've done previously.

It's probably a little bit deceiving as well because when I looked at the RM line up, I didn't actually think it was *that good* when you compare it to RM sides of old. Of course Modric and Benzema are still world class but they are ageing, but they seem to be getting better with age.

I wasn't particularly convinced by the back 4 either, but they stood firm after 15 minutes and didn't look too troubled. Camavinga picked up as well and was popping passes about and Vincious Jnr was sensational as well, he looked their best player really. The team just seems to ooze calmness and quality.

They might not yet be at their peak, that's what makes most of this Madrid team so scary. In Camavinga, Vinicius Jr and Tchouaméni they have likely three of the top five players in the world over the next decade. Add Valverde at only 24, Rodrygo at 22, and Militao, Ceballos, Vallejo and Asensio all mid-20s, and that's a nucleus of a team that is probably going to be even better in five years time, even with the eventual loss of Modric, Kroos and Benzema to father time. Courtois probably has another four or five seasons at the top.

Or to put it another way, if they get another centre-back to play alongside Rudiger, Europe might as well pack up and go home.

[Sanguine]

Crikey. Well, that was fun.

Liverpool have scored more than a third of their 47 league goals this season in just two games. :lol

Bit of a turnaround in form - since the Wolves defeat, four wins and a draw without a conceding a goal. Points they needed to put in the bag though. Bournemouth next week, and then after the international break they go to City and Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal.

[South Coast Royal]

Crikey. Well, that was fun.

Liverpool have scored more than a third of their 47 league goals this season in just two games. :lol

Bit of a turnaround in form - since the Wolves defeat, four wins and a draw without a conceding a goal. Points they needed to put in the bag though. Bournemouth next week, and then after the international break they go to City and Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal.

It is going to take something to finish in the top 3 or 4.

However, Spurs are just Spurs
Newcastle have only scored 3 goals in the Premier League
IMHO Brighton may well turn out to be the strongest competitor if their FA Cup run and the need to catch up on fixtures doesn't mess them up.

[Sanguine]

I like this stat. Since joining Liverpool, Mo Salah has more yellow cards for celebrating goals against United at Anfield than United have scored goals at Anfield.

[Franchise FC]

Crikey. Well, that was fun.

Liverpool have scored more than a third of their 47 league goals this season in just two games. :lol

Bit of a turnaround in form - since the Wolves defeat, four wins and a draw without a conceding a goal. Points they needed to put in the bag though. Bournemouth next week, and then after the international break they go to City and Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal.

It is going to take something to finish in the top 3 or 4.

However, Spurs are just Spurs
Newcastle have only scored 3 goals in the Premier League
IMHO Brighton may well turn out to be the strongest competitor if their FA Cup run and the need to catch up on fixtures doesn't mess them up.

They’ve done brilliantly to win as many games as they have then

[South Coast Royal]

Crikey. Well, that was fun.

Liverpool have scored more than a third of their 47 league goals this season in just two games. :lol

Bit of a turnaround in form - since the Wolves defeat, four wins and a draw without a conceding a goal. Points they needed to put in the bag though. Bournemouth next week, and then after the international break they go to City and Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal.

It is going to take something to finish in the top 3 or 4.

However, Spurs are just Spurs
Newcastle have only scored 3 goals in the Premier League
IMHO Brighton may well turn out to be the strongest competitor if their FA Cup run and the need to catch up on fixtures doesn't mess them up.

They’ve done brilliantly to win as many games as they have then

In my excitement after yesterday I forgot to add "in 2023".

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Crikey. Well, that was fun.

Liverpool have scored more than a third of their 47 league goals this season in just two games. :lol

Bit of a turnaround in form - since the Wolves defeat, four wins and a draw without a conceding a goal. Points they needed to put in the bag though. Bournemouth next week, and then after the international break they go to City and Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal.

It is going to take something to finish in the top 3 or 4.

However, Spurs are just Spurs
Newcastle have only scored 3 goals in the Premier League
IMHO Brighton may well turn out to be the strongest competitor if their FA Cup run and the need to catch up on fixtures doesn't mess them up.

I'm not actually sure it's going to do, at the moment, it's in Liverpool's hands again after their recent run of results.

I think Newcastle have lost their momentum now and obviously they are lacking in goals as well. Isak always looks a threat and will score goals, it's just a struggle to get him fit consistently and other than that they are still relying on Almiron and Saint-Maximin. Almiron's form has dropped off massively and Saint-Maximin is dangerous without being potent.

Spurs I don't think will be able to match the consistency of Liverpool really, I think the top 4 will end up being comfortably Arsenal, City, United and Liverpool now. Liverpool will probably end up finishing 3rd above United as well.

[South Coast Royal]

Crikey. Well, that was fun.

Liverpool have scored more than a third of their 47 league goals this season in just two games. :lol

Bit of a turnaround in form - since the Wolves defeat, four wins and a draw without a conceding a goal. Points they needed to put in the bag though. Bournemouth next week, and then after the international break they go to City and Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal.

It is going to take something to finish in the top 3 or 4.

However, Spurs are just Spurs
Newcastle have only scored 3 goals in the Premier League
IMHO Brighton may well turn out to be the strongest competitor if their FA Cup run and the need to catch up on fixtures doesn't mess them up.

I'm not actually sure it's going to do, at the moment, it's in Liverpool's hands again after their recent run of results.

I think Newcastle have lost their momentum now and obviously they are lacking in goals as well. Isak always looks a threat and will score goals, it's just a struggle to get him fit consistently and other than that they are still relying on Almiron and Saint-Maximin. Almiron's form has dropped off massively and Saint-Maximin is dangerous without being potent.

Spurs I don't think will be able to match the consistency of Liverpool really, I think the top 4 will end up being comfortably Arsenal, City, United and Liverpool now. Liverpool will probably end up finishing 3rd above United as well.

Would like to feel as confident as you.
My one prediction all season was that Newcastle wouldn't finish in the top 4 and that is now starting to look more likely than not.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I only think that because Liverpool can go on long winning runs, even when they haven't been at their best. They were way off it a couple of seasons ago and still managed to finish 3rd on the final day, did they win something like 8 of their last 9 games or something?

I just can't see either Newcastle or Spurs matching that kind of consistency, obviously assuming Liverpool can do that but they already look pretty well placed to continue their good form. Chelsea aren't much cop at the moment, but City and Arsenal will prove to be challenges but Liverpool are definitely a team capable of beating both of them.

[Hendo]

Premier League considering making Liverpool v Man Utd null and void after fan gets this monstrosity printed

[sputnik]

great to see the reds' solidarity with lineker by not providing any highlights for motd

[South Coast Royal]

That's football isn't it?
Beat a team the previous week 7-0 and then play a team that you beat earlier in the season 9-0 and the inevitable happens.
You know it isn't going to be your day when the normally reliable Salah misses a penalty.

Amazingly, after some of the performances this season, Liverpool are still in with a shout for the top 4 in part because Spurs and Newcastle are really not very good.

On to Madrid and I fully expect them to win but not by enough to qualify for the next stage.

[URZZZZ]

Liverpool’s midfield is so poor. Not even remotely good enough

Offer no protection for the defence and offer very little going forward. Fabinho - once a proper reliable holding midfielder looks a shadow of his self and Elliott plays like a rabbit in headlights too often

Shame as I’m sure the attention will shift to Trent again. But Liverpool’s deficiencies in midfield are only highlighting Trent’s weaknesses

[Loafer]

lol at bringing milner on against a man city team battering you