Everything Soccer

[Rogue219]

Simplify the narrative: Liverpool goes through or they don't.

Klopp has faced Pep 13 times and beaten him 7. Anyone that has done well this year against City has a go at them. Unless Everton cripples three of four players on Saturday, I doubt Liverpool goes into a shell on Tuesday. City needs four goals. The last time Liverpool gave up three was over two months ago at home to West Brom in the FA Cup.

Liverpool will go through. Bayern, Real and Barcelona will join them.

 

[dublinirish]

Simplify the narrative: Liverpool goes through or they don't.

Klopp has faced Pep 13 times and beaten him 7. Anyone that has done well this year against City has a go at them. Unless Everton cripples three of four players on Saturday, I doubt Liverpool goes into a shell on Tuesday. City needs four goals. The last time Liverpool gave up three was over two months ago at home to West Brom in the FA Cup.

Liverpool will go through. Bayern, Real and Barcelona will join them.

plus the last time city played liverpool they were still without Van Dijk in the team.

 

[Rogue219]

plus the last time city played liverpool they were still without Van Dijk in the team.

Correct.

Guardiola prior to match yesterday:

“The people suggest what is going to happen tomorrow (with atmosphere) but I still have not lived it.”

 

[ACamp1900]

LAG getting beat but Ibra looking really good since coming in again... much better than most ‘retirement’ players in their first few games...

 

[NDty9]

LAG getting beat but Ibra looking really good since coming in again... much better than most ‘retirement’ players in their first few games...

He literally changed the game, when he came in. Every touch seemed to be positive. SKC had to fall back defensively to account for him. LOVE ME SOME IBRA!

Im a TFC Fan myself, because of The Atomic Ant. Other than Giovinco, I would agree, Ibra does not look like the rest of the "retirement" European players. Although i'm not even sure you can include Giovinco on that list, as he came over a bit younger than most.

 

[GowerND11]

That back heel flip by Welbeck yesterday... It's easy to give him grief (see the blunder in front of goal late yesterday), but man, sometimes he can really do some positive things. I think having him out their as a wing with other, more lethal strikers, while he's on the wing is much better for him.

 

[notredomer23]

LAG getting beat but Ibra looking really good since coming in again... much better than most ‘retirement’ players in their first few games...

Honestly the bombs by him were nice but the biggest thing for me was that he almost ran stride for stride with Opara who is not just one of the fastest CBs in the league, but in the world. Granted, Opara had just played 85 minutes to Zlatan's 15, but still impressive nonetheless.

 

[ACamp1900]

Honestly the bombs by him were nice but the biggest thing for me was that he almost ran stride for stride with Opara who is not just one of the fastest CBs in the league, but in the world. Granted, Opara had just played 85 minutes to Zlatan's 15, but still impressive nonetheless.

That play could easily have been a penalty...

 

[notredomer23]

That play could easily have been a penalty...

One of those plays where outside the box its a foul, but impossible to call it in the box. Would've been softest penalty ever, and partially penalizing Zlatan for his enormous build.

 

[Emcee77]

Roma supposedly has one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but nobody can withstand having to defend shots on goal from both teams on the pitch. Too much to ask of anyone.

City's bus got trashed before the match. Their back four got trashed during it. Hard to know which was worse, but considering what they paid for those guys in the back, I'm guessing the bus was cheaper. On top of that, "the most exciting team in Europe" had zero shots on goal? Karius could have live Tweeted he had so little to do.

This Liverpool attack is terrifying to anyone. I don't care who they play. Clearly the energy at Anfield will have to be dealt with should they advance forward to the semifinals, but if those two young fullbacks keep playing like this I don't see how even the most casual football fan can say they don't have at least a puncher's chance against Barca, Real or Bayern.

They are (or maybe were) underdogs to City and cut through them last night like piss through snow in the first half. Then, and if you've been paying attention there is no way you saw this coming, they defended for 45 minutes when they had to and kept a clean sheet. Nobody would have predicted 3-0 with zero shots on goal. Aguero or not.

Next year, Liverpool will have Naby Keita in the midfield. Perhaps Jorginho with him. Have fun with that. I'm sure others will go out and spend as well, but yikes.

This Oxlaide Chamberlain kid wasn't good enough for Arsenal?

There are some great sights in sports on both sides of the Atlantic, but for me there aren't many better than a triggered Pep Guardiola.

It's amazing how moving to Liverpool has rejuvenated him. He has had a couple stinkers for LFC, but overall he's played with confidence and fit in great.

In fact, it's downright funny to think back on all the public doubting LFC fans as well as neutrals were doing back when Ox signed for Liverpool back in August. In hindsight, not only was he worth the transfer fee, but I genuinely don't know where we would be without him right now, especially with Can and Lallana injured and Hendo suspended for the next game.

 

[Rogue219]

It's amazing how moving to Liverpool has rejuvenated him. He has had a couple stinkers for LFC, but overall he's played with confidence and fit in great.

In fact, it's downright funny to think back on all the public doubting LFC fans as well as neutrals were doing back when Ox signed for Liverpool back in August. In hindsight, not only was he worth the transfer fee, but I genuinely don't know where we would be without him right now, especially with Can and Lallana injured and Hendo suspended for the next game.

I recall LFC fans not really liking the Ox signing, the Robertson signing, they even felt that they paid too much for Salah. Firmino wasn't a striker, they'd never cope without Coutinho.

How's all that going today?

Speaking of transfer fees, Big Virgil appears to be worth whatever it was they paid for him.

Even with City bottling it against United, the pundits are still singing the "Liverpool had better be careful" song. Yeah, it's the Champions League quarters. Of course you're careful.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Liverpool, even with the Terrific Three, still need one high-tight-quarters-passing-skill player in the Midfield Engine House (City has a boatload of them). If Lallana would ever get healthy he could well do it. As things are, Ox-Chamberlain has really helped --- not as a subtle passing magician but as an occasional bullrush penetrator causing all manner of defensive distress.

With a healthy Lallana (which looks like it won't happen), plus Chamberlain and the astoundingly valuable Robertson, AND Van Dijk making Lovren or Matip look good (and Karius looking vaguely like an OK Keeper), Liverpool can afford to have a basic conservative defensive midfielder like Henderson and still terrorize opponents.

But there is a big missing piece........... Coutinho out; Lallana "out"; no one else good enough for really prime time.

 

[dublinirish]

Liverpool, even with the Terrific Three, still need one high-tight-quarters-passing-skill player in the Midfield Engine House (City has a boatload of them). If Lallana would ever get healthy he could well do it. As things are, Ox-Chamberlain has really helped --- not as a subtle passing magician but as an occasional bullrush penetrator causing all manner of defensive distress.

With a healthy Lallana (which looks like it won't happen), plus Chamberlain and the astoundingly valuable Robertson, AND Van Dijk making Lovren or Matip look good (and Karius looking vaguely like an OK Keeper), Liverpool can afford to have a basic conservative defensive midfielder like Henderson and still terrorize opponents.

But there is a big missing piece........... Coutinho out; Lallana "out"; no one else good enough for really prime time.

Keita will be that guy, pity they couldn't wrangle it to have him in the January transfer window

 

[Rogue219]

Cardiff and Aston Villa should be a high flying action packed affair today.

 

[Rogue219]

Keita will be that guy, pity they couldn't wrangle it to have him in the January transfer window

Plus, if they add Jorginho to replace Emre Can, they will be that much more potent in the center of the park.

It then gives them depth off of their bench as well.

Can done for the year and no contract anywhere. He may not have played this well for himself now. Why wouldn't he want to stay at Liverpool and play in this attack? Other than greed or just general stupidity?

 

[NorthDakota]

Plus, if they add Jorginho to replace Emre Can, they will be that much more potent in the center of the park.

It then gives them depth off of their bench as well.

Can done for the year and no contract anywhere. He may not have played this well for himself now. Why wouldn't he want to stay at Liverpool and play in this attack? Other than greed or just general stupidity?

He wants the defensive mid spot I believe.

 

[dublinirish]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/IndolentLawfulAmericanwigeon-mobile.mp4

Seen on r/soccer

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao fight including Maradona, 1984

 

[notredomer23]

I am predicting a 4-1 victory for City today for Liverpool to advance, showing how stupid the away goals rule is.

 

[NorthDakota]

I am predicting a 4-1 victory for City today for Liverpool to advance, showing how stupid the away goals rule is.

2-1 win for City.

 

[nlroma1o]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/IndolentLawfulAmericanwigeon-mobile.mp4

Seen on r/soccer

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao fight including Maradona, 1984

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIFIR_Zj5YY

 

[ACamp1900]

Got to love Enter the Dragon...

Maradona is such trash lol... even with his somewhat bitchass antics, I can never get past him winning the two most BS World Cups ever.

 

[notredomer23]

2-1 win for City.

The result I'm dreading is 3-0 City... No elimination game should be settled by penalties

 

[Emcee77]

Cardiff and Aston Villa should be a high flying action packed affair today.

Should be a great one. I've loved how Marko Grujic has played since going to Cardiff on loan from Liverpool--but with our center midfield injury mini-crisis, we could really use him back on Merseyside.

He wants the defensive mid spot I believe.

Right, I've heard the same. Can prefers playing as a holding mid and he doesn't like being behind Hendo in the pecking order.

Which is really too bad for LFC; with Hendo's injury record, we need two starting-caliber sixes.

It will be interesting to see how Gini copes there today. I am cautiously optimistic. For a guy who has scored almost 100 goals in his senior career, he is pretty good at breaking up play in midfield, and he has the lungs of a horse.

I am predicting a 4-1 victory for City today for Liverpool to advance, showing how stupid the away goals rule is.

The result I'm dreading is 3-0 City... No elimination game should be settled by penalties

I agree on all counts, except maybe the score prediction. I'm feeling 3-1.

But yes, in this day and age, the away goal rule is dumb. In the old days, when travel was more arduous for both teams and their fans, and when away teams were likely to face biased refereeing or refereeing that was easily influenced by the crowd, away teams were at a genuine disadvantage and the away goals rule made sense. Not so anymore.

And I HATE penalties. Wish there were some other way to decide games. I used to say they should just do it like playoff hockey, sudden death overtime till someone scores. But now I see that that's a terrible idea because there would be way too many injuries. Still, I wish there were some other way.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Out-of-the-box:

Play Golden Goal Wins with reduced numbers of players.

 

[notredomer23]

Out-of-the-box:

Play Golden Goal Wins with reduced numbers of players.

Yup, I like this. Reduce it to 8v8. Except I'd say maybe not golden goal. 8v8 is heavily offensive. a 15 minute period could easily see 3-4 goals.

City coming out with 4 forwards and only 3 defenders. Pep means business.

 

[NorthDakota]

City coming out with 4 forwards and only 3 defenders. Pep means business.

Oh dear haha just looked at their lineup. Thats...something.

 

[dublinirish]

UEFA formation lists City as lining up in a 3-1-3-3 apparently lol

 

[notredomer23]

Oh dear haha just looked at their lineup. Thats...something.

Yeah, not sure how I feel about it. Would prefer he just go 4-3-3 with Delph at LB because he can easily shift into the midfield and Walker can still easily make the bombing runs. My guess is it's really a 3-4-3 where Walker is playing more of a CB bc he wants Walker's pace to deal with Salah and Mane.

 

[NorthDakota]

UEFA formation lists City as lining up in a 3-1-3-3 apparently lol

Lmao they want to put those defenders on an island against Pools front 3? I mean...i guess they need to try something.

 

[notredomer23]

Get the sense Pep is Pepping himself again. Maybe this time it'll work. Still get the sense City scores a bunch but can't see them not conceding wiht this lineup.