I will be at a computer while this game occurs, so let us convene here to discuss this match that does not matter. Looks like both teams are playing full-strength sides. This could be fun! Kick-off is at 1215 PST.
Welp, LFC are now 0-2 with zero goals scored and eight conceded when we chat during their matches. Man City are just about the worst team in the world to play when you have 11 players who are, uh, not at 100 percent. Shoutout to them. Also, shoutout to Liverpool, who won the league and have a 20-point lead atop the table. And shoutout to all you you guys, as always, for keeping things lively in here. Talk soon!
I have nothing to say about this game other than: I guarantee that someone writes a column around the idea of "Getting smoked by City was the best thing that could've happened to Liverpool".
Pep should know better than to give Liverpool this kind of motivation. Throwing the game for the good of next season would have been the true masterclass.
This isn't the game to do it, but I always enjoy the opportunity to see some young players at the end of the season and am trying to figure out how to balance my desire to see Nico, Harvey, etc, in the PL and the overwhelming urge to get every point and shatter every record
Robertson has been bad. Like "I was caught out for the second goal, so I'm going to be extra *extra* to make up for it oh-shit-I've-been-caught-out-again, let's keep doubling down oh-no oh-no". Gini invisible - surprised he stayed on the field after halftime.
Since this match is over, I want to ask you something that has been bothering me during the lockdown even though it's barely tangentially related to the game. What was Samir Nasri? Was he actually good?
What do the Liverpool fans want to see from the rest of this season? A run at the points or home wins record? Lots of PT for Jones/Elliot/Williams and the other youngsters? Trying out some new formations/fits for players like Minamino or Ox?
Is it weird seeing transfers go through and rumors about big names (Kai, etc.) when champions league places aren't settled? The top 4 is a real race now and players like Werner would be assuming UCL play when they agreed.
Players care more about money than a CL place. The latter usually suggests the former, but if the contracts gets written up, you sign it. I think it's weirder that RBL just won't have their best player for the rest of the tournament. They had an outside shot, but not really anymore.
like today, seeing Sane at Bayern. City are just okay losing one of their scariest attackers for the UCL tournament? Clearly they are stacked, but why not let him go when all the competitions are done?
Sane pretty clearly wanted to leave City. That bad relationship may extend to him not even wanting to play for them anymore, especially as he’s lined up a new team already.
Chelsea have better numbers, and their attack should be even better, but I trust United's defense to be what it was this year. Basically, Chelsea have a much higher ceiling and a lower floor.
Is it equally as difficult to predict performance in a new league for keepers as it is for outfield players? Keeper skills would seem to me a little more concrete regardless of situation.
Do you reckon next year's EPL title winners will approach 100+ points again? I have to think the performance level will drop closer to the 90-95 threshold from recent years.
I'd be really surprised if it happened again. LFC executed in so many high-leverage moments that'll be basically impossible to repeat. City have gotten older at a number of key spots. But the thing is: even if they both play as well as they have at any point over the past three years, then they still might not even come close to the 100-p mark. You have to be so good and so fortunate to get that high up.
So I don't see Liverpool falling off that much and I do think City get better...just don't think anyone is going to improve enough to take that many points off them.
He’s making something like £18m a year/£350k a week at PSG now. That’s almost double what anyone at Liverpool makes. I can’t see them rocking the boat that much.
Anybody see the comments that Shaqiri's (current?) Swiss manager made about how he's not the guy? Seems like a great way to motivate his guys... I was at the ICC game in Ann Arbor when Shaqiri nailed the bicycle kick. I still see it in my dreams so he holds a special place in my heart.
Do you know of any previous work that analyzes xG by game score (i.e. tied, up one goal, up two goals, etc.)? My sense is that the xG/min rate at a tied score is most predictive of long-run performance, and it would be interesting to see if there is less of a gap between these two teams in this metric compared to cumulative xG over the season.
I don't think there's usually much variation between how good at team is, compared to the rest of the league, with a game tied/when they're ahead/when they're behind. LFC's big thing this year is that they outperformed their xG when the game was tied: https://statsbomb.com/2020/02/being-lucky-and-good-liverpool/
The defending European and England champs built their teams with Trent as a the creative hub as fullback. Not sure why anyone would try to change that.
Do you think the rivalry between LFC and City is big enough that we won’t see any future transfers between the two? (i.e. did LFC inquire are all about Sane?)
I just don't see many/any happening because they're in direct competition with each other. Also, Liverpool can't afford/aren't willing to pay Sane the wages that Bayern will.
What are your thoughts on Jesus? His xG numbers are incredible and basically comparable to Aguero but every time I watch him I'm underwhelmed. Do you think he has a shot to take over as City's #1 striker when/if Aguero moves on?
Welp, LFC are now 0-2 with zero goals scored and eight conceded when we chat during their matches. Man City are just about the worst team in the world to play when you have 11 players who are, uh, not at 100 percent. Shoutout to them. Also, shoutout to Liverpool, who won the league and have a 20-point lead atop the table. And shoutout to all you you guys, as always, for keeping things lively in here. Talk soon!
I'm pretty sure Klopp is keeping Robertson on the field just to punish him.
I have nothing to say about this game other than: I guarantee that someone writes a column around the idea of "Getting smoked by City was the best thing that could've happened to Liverpool".
Gonna take Sergio Ramos' place as the 1st pick in next year's LFC's "why they won the league" draft for sure
Pep should know better than to give Liverpool this kind of motivation. Throwing the game for the good of next season would have been the true masterclass.
https://twitter.com/cesc4official/status/1278780236587569154
Cesc is showing he's a British pundit after all
lmao
Liverpool have lost every time I've done a chat during one of their games.
It's not you, it's cause Shaqiri hasn't played
Please do a Liverpool-Arsenal chat
I love stuff like this: https://twitter.com/LFCLaurie/status/1278781413874155521
Not a great first half from Andrew Robertson or Alisson Becker, imo.
Robbo's blood type is still Boddingtons after his past week
City look like they are in a 4-4-2 with KDB up front...have they done this before?
Think he's just playing as more of a 10 than he usually does.
This isn't the game to do it, but I always enjoy the opportunity to see some young players at the end of the season and am trying to figure out how to balance my desire to see Nico, Harvey, etc, in the PL and the overwhelming urge to get every point and shatter every record
Trent & Robbo playing like they’re hungover
The key question seems to be: Are they still drunk? Or just hungover?
I think these closed-door games are unfair for teams playing at the Etihad since City is so used to this type of environment.
What color shirt would be best to put your new logo on? I'll take one in pink thanks
[eyes emoji]
A great call
Hope you enjoyed this 90-minute guard of honor.
Title is tainted, imo. Klopp should give back the trophy.
LOL, honestly it’s just fun to watch two world class teams compete at a high-level without all the usual tension
Robertson has been bad. Like "I was caught out for the second goal, so I'm going to be extra *extra* to make up for it oh-shit-I've-been-caught-out-again, let's keep doubling down oh-no oh-no". Gini invisible - surprised he stayed on the field after halftime.
Since this match is over, I want to ask you something that has been bothering me during the lockdown even though it's barely tangentially related to the game. What was Samir Nasri? Was he actually good?
Yes, he was fantastic. Scored/assisted a decent amount and basically never lost the ball.
That's interesting because I don't remember him being discussed much once he left Arsenal for City beyond just being a general cog in the machine.
Am I the only one who thinks Neco Williams kind of looks like Robb Stark?
Is backup LB still the biggest need for Liverpool? Robertson looks completely exhausted/out of sorts
Probably still easier to fade a Robertson injury than something that takes out Salah or Mane.
You spelled coming off a 7 day bender wrong
Well it was a fun ride for Joe Gomez while it lasted.
What do the Liverpool fans want to see from the rest of this season? A run at the points or home wins record? Lots of PT for Jones/Elliot/Williams and the other youngsters? Trying out some new formations/fits for players like Minamino or Ox?
PT but also because it keeps everyone’s legs fresh for a quick turn to next season
I scoffed when Arlo mentioned setting the tone for next season in the pregame and now I’ll be eating leftovers from my words through the weekend
Who wins POTY: KDB, Hendo, or other?
It’s KDB and then everybody else.
Yet another KDB assist...
I've never seen a yellow card for time wasting 40 minutes into a match.
Will LFC's kits have the Club WC badge on them next year for PL games?
Did I just post this twice? If so, my bad
You're banned now.
[embarrassed emoji]
Is it weird seeing transfers go through and rumors about big names (Kai, etc.) when champions league places aren't settled? The top 4 is a real race now and players like Werner would be assuming UCL play when they agreed.
Players care more about money than a CL place. The latter usually suggests the former, but if the contracts gets written up, you sign it. I think it's weirder that RBL just won't have their best player for the rest of the tournament. They had an outside shot, but not really anymore.
like today, seeing Sane at Bayern. City are just okay losing one of their scariest attackers for the UCL tournament? Clearly they are stacked, but why not let him go when all the competitions are done?
Very strange, especially when Bayern have extended Coutinho for the CL.
Sane pretty clearly wanted to leave City. That bad relationship may extend to him not even wanting to play for them anymore, especially as he’s lined up a new team already.
Will LFC's nike kits next year have the FIFA Club WC badge on it for PL games?
As currently constituted (no Havertz), who do you think will have the better season next year between United and Chelsea?
Ohhhh, I like this. I'm gonna say United, mainly because Kepa is terrible.
Chelsea have better numbers, and their attack should be even better, but I trust United's defense to be what it was this year. Basically, Chelsea have a much higher ceiling and a lower floor.
How confident do you feel that De Gea will be non-terrible next year?
This model, which thinks Alisson is God and therefore makes me pretty confident in it, thinks DDG has been pretty good this year: https://www.statsperform.com/resource/dean-henderson-destined-for-england-and-manchester-united-number-one/
But the NARRATIVE Ryan
oh, he's so bad. Would your mind change on this in Chelsea were to get Onana as has been suggested a few times now?
A little harder to project Eredivisie to PL, but yes, I would.
Is it equally as difficult to predict performance in a new league for keepers as it is for outfield players? Keeper skills would seem to me a little more concrete regardless of situation.
Maybe not quite as much, but if the shots you're facing aren't as difficult, then how do you account for that?
True
That pass from KDB was UNREAL
Do you reckon next year's EPL title winners will approach 100+ points again? I have to think the performance level will drop closer to the 90-95 threshold from recent years.
I'd be really surprised if it happened again. LFC executed in so many high-leverage moments that'll be basically impossible to repeat. City have gotten older at a number of key spots. But the thing is: even if they both play as well as they have at any point over the past three years, then they still might not even come close to the 100-p mark. You have to be so good and so fortunate to get that high up.
So I don't see Liverpool falling off that much and I do think City get better...just don't think anyone is going to improve enough to take that many points off them.
What the hell happened to João Cancelo? Can’t beat out Walker or Mendy?
Hasn't taken to Guardiola's strict positional guidelines would be my guess. Was really good for Juve, though.
I think he's playing Fortnite duos with Stones
Odds in 4 years that the Liverpool front three is Elliott-Mbappe-Havertz....I think its non-zero
Uh ........ no
Mbappe won’t happen. Liverpool won’t pay that much, in wages or transfer fee
So normally I would agree but I think Nike subsidizes his wages now that they are the kit sponsor
He’s making something like £18m a year/£350k a week at PSG now. That’s almost double what anyone at Liverpool makes. I can’t see them rocking the boat that much.
Anybody see the comments that Shaqiri's (current?) Swiss manager made about how he's not the guy? Seems like a great way to motivate his guys... I was at the ICC game in Ann Arbor when Shaqiri nailed the bicycle kick. I still see it in my dreams so he holds a special place in my heart.
You are both true Liverpool legends.
#powercubes
Liverpool playing like it's fall 2017 again, and I have to say I kind of missed it (now that there are no consequences to the outcome of the match)
Do you think Barcelona will come around trying to get Klopp away from Liverpool? I feel like they will be looking to get a big name soon
He could have any job he wants.
Why would he leave Liverpool for anyone, much less a team in as much trouble as Barcelona?
Because Liverpool is about to stop spending money, which makes his job a lot harder.
Also, a potential pay raise may be enticing.
Mendy getting a lot of the ball early... part of LFC's game plan?
Do you know of any previous work that analyzes xG by game score (i.e. tied, up one goal, up two goals, etc.)? My sense is that the xG/min rate at a tied score is most predictive of long-run performance, and it would be interesting to see if there is less of a gap between these two teams in this metric compared to cumulative xG over the season.
I don't think there's usually much variation between how good at team is, compared to the rest of the league, with a game tied/when they're ahead/when they're behind. LFC's big thing this year is that they outperformed their xG when the game was tied: https://statsbomb.com/2020/02/being-lucky-and-good-liverpool/
Just looked it up. Per Stats Perform, these are the leaders in per-90 xGD with the game tied:
-Chelsea: plus-0.66
-City: plus-0.60
-LFC: plus-0.39
Thank you, human query machine. Didn't think LFC would necessarily be 1st, but this further points to their great finishing this year.
How long until Trent breaks into the midfield for club or national side?
The defending European and England champs built their teams with Trent as a the creative hub as fullback. Not sure why anyone would try to change that.
If it ain't broke, tinker until it is! That's my motto.
That guard of honor was a bit of a letdown.
Don't think it has the same effect when tens of thousands of rival fans aren't forced to watch it in person
Do you think the rivalry between LFC and City is big enough that we won’t see any future transfers between the two? (i.e. did LFC inquire are all about Sane?)
I just don't see many/any happening because they're in direct competition with each other. Also, Liverpool can't afford/aren't willing to pay Sane the wages that Bayern will.
That was deeply, DEEPLY, satisfying
What are your thoughts on Jesus? His xG numbers are incredible and basically comparable to Aguero but every time I watch him I'm underwhelmed. Do you think he has a shot to take over as City's #1 striker when/if Aguero moves on?
I think he's great. He's also still only 23. Think he'll be the no.1 real soon.
As a city fan, I would like to see him given first crack as the number 1
Also a City fan here. Gabby is incredible.
What City player will look the most miserable for the guard of honor?
He doesn't count, but: Pep is the answer.