EPL 2020/2021
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@MajorRage said in EPL 2020/2021:
What on earth has happened to Liverpool's front 3?
Liverpool hasn't scored 3 EPL games now. That's a huge turnaround. Not sure if it's a form slip or if they've been figured out.
The hugely hyped Liverpool Man U clash yesterday was a bit of a damp squib. Liverpool had most of the ball, but Man Yoo had the most chances. Ended up nil all stalemate.
On the plus side, I setup a Covid friendly watching station (outside, fire pit, SONOS sound & the TV on the other side of a sliding door). Was actually a pretty damn good way of watching sport!
I think it is a combination of things.
Lack of crowds seem to mean things move slightly slower and they were so good before because everything was done at high speed.
Teams defend very narrow against them - Southampton showed the model - so there aren't the gaps in the channels for the front 3 and the only space is out wide. The front 3 don't thrive against crosses when the other team has numbers back and big centre halves.
The problems in defence mean midfielders like Fabinho and Henderson are playing there - and Liverpool's full-backs can't be quite as reckless going forward.
Diogo Jota is out.
They aren't being as ruthless with the chances they do get - for example Firmino v United missing Robertson all on his own 10 yards out.
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Arsenal seem to have picked up. Saka is quite a player and playing wide right he has the added advantage of a great left foot and a pretty good right making him a nightmare for defenders. Willian? They must be regretting giving him a big contract. I've not seen enough of Smith-Rowe yet to know if he the real deal but he seems a thinking player. And if Partey comes to the party they should be well placed to just miss out on top 4 again!
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Chelsea seem to be struggling at the moment as well. Leicester were all over them yesterday in the first half, and then finally when Chelsea got their shit together on the ball, they could never get into a shooting position.
Massive downturn in form there. Given Roman's track record, Frank must be getting nervous.
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@Hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:
Wow!
Burnley just beat the Mickey Mousers at Anfield.
First time in 46 years! Liverpools home unbeaten runs ends at 68 (You do me and I'll owe you one!)
Liverpool have just stopped scoring goals - and this a team that were scoring for fun at times in recent seasons. Klopp out!!! They should get Dyche instead.
On Chelsea, Lampard has so much talent in that squad but does appear incapable of putting a structure to them in order to get the best out of them. Can't decide if he wants tall and lumbering or fast and wayward up front, midfield changes constantly and they are mostly ponderous on the ball. Similar to United but United's stars are on the field and able to produce moments of brilliance (mostly without a team strategy it seems).
@dogmeat Fulham made the mistake of scoring too early against United I reckon. Still they had chance of getting to 2-2 near the end. Problem they have is getting enough wins to do it unless one of the teams above comes back to them. A team like Newcastle look capable of doing that. 2 wins in 18 means they will need something like 7 wins in 20 to get close to 38 points which could be where the cut falls.
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@KiwiPie We have played really well over the last couple of months without picking up many points. Parker has made us hard to beat and we are capable of creating chances but we simply don't have anyone capable of putting them away.
I don't know if Mitrovic is injured or out of favour but Cavaleiro and Kamara are not Premiership grade. We need a signing but a) haven't got the cash and b) cant sign another loan from the PL.
Meanwhile the teams around us have picked up unlikely victories.
I still think WBA and Sheffield should be doomed and then it's us, Brighton or Newcastle. We have played really well against the top 9 teams (pretty much back to back with only two other games) since mid Nov to pick up a win and 3 draws. Of the losses only City has been by than 1 goal (and if we could take penalties we'd have had two more draws).
My fear is we will now go and blow it against West Brom and Brighton over the next week in the 6 pointers that really matter!
Apparently we are 15thon form over the last two months despite the opposition we've faced but if we don't win those next two games it's going to be very hard to come back.
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@dogmeat I think Mitrovic isn't mobile enough to play the style they want - same as Andy Carroll for Newcastle. You want those guys there in the box when you get behind the opposition defence but in the game against Villa this morning, Carroll was still lolloping along outside the area when the cross came in.
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I think Newcastle could be doomed. Things aren't working with Bruce there and like Liverpool, they can't find the back of the net these days. They had enough possession early on in the game to trouble Villa this morning, but look out of ideas in the final third where as Villa were the complete opposite with a front line that will give most sides trouble this year. Villa are a darkhorse for a European spot imo.
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no one wants to win, so i think City will romp this, and all the chat about how Guardiola was a bit shit from the start of the season will be conveniently forgotten.
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@mariner4life Yeah City starting to peak now. I'd be surprised if they get caught.
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@KiwiPie said in EPL 2020/2021:
And all of a sudden Liverpool are back to life and dealing to Spurs. Tough season for the wise pundits this one.
seems to be going in patches, where each of the big sides has a run of form, then it turns around a month later.
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Southampton were on the receiving end of some shocking calls this morning and this is coming from a Villa fan. How Matty Cash didn't concede a penalty from the most blatant handball I'll never know as he virtually made a save to a Danny Ings shot and then Danny Ings then gets pulled up for offside due to his sleeve being offside haha. Villa were barely worthy of a draw let alone a win but at the same time we dominated Burnley and lost on Thursday so you take them while ya can!
