Despite what I wrote on Friday, Liverpool are, in fact, starting all four of their top attackers. Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, makes his second Premier League start of the season for City. Should be fun! Kick off is at 11:30 am EST. I’ll hop in a couple minutes before. See you soon!
Pretty even game overall? City were a bit better at creating from open play, although LFC had some good deep possession that didn't turn into anything. The last 30 minutes were totally forgettable. Given where the game was and their current point totals, the point is better for Liverpool, but if TAA is out for a signifiant period of time, that might be the most impactful outcome from the match. Without TAA, Thiago's gonna need to get healthy and pick up the slack ... and Thiago is never healthy. City, meanwhile, were the new City: way more sterile in possession, not as much pressing, and relying on some individual brilliance to create big chances. Overall: It's only November and these teams already look fatigued. Not a great sign for the rest of the season.
Thanks to all of you for hopping in. As always, you made that more fun than it had any right to be. Enjoy your Sundays and be well.
Cancelo has played really well for City, in both directions. Thought he was a fantastic signing last summer, would be an obvious boon to them if he came good.
I think one of the potential benefits of playing this sort of front 4 is that they's all comfortable dropping deep or running in behind. Especially when TAA gets the ball, there's either space for Firmino or Salah to drop in to receive a pass or for them to run into. Pretty simple thing but I think it fucks with the positioning of City's backline a good deal.
I’m sure this is a very common opinion that many people have said before, but the rodri/gundogan midfield is just so boring and really dulls the City attack
If we accept that the season is still going to come down to Liverpool and City for the title -- betting markets still think that -- then I guess a draw here is a much better result for LFC than MC.
It's been pretty interesting to see how involved Wijnaldum has been so far. He's usually affecting the game with his off-ball movement and positioning, rather than having it at his feet. But in the first half, he attempted and completed more passes than any Liverpool player.
Man a couple times now since Milner came on Jota/Mane calling for the long ball in from the right wing, and he just doesn't have the locker that Trent does. Stark
Why do Kyle Walker and KDB keep finding themselves in acres of space on the right-hand side of the pitch? Is it just Mane not positioning himself correctly on the left-side of midfield in defense?
So I'm an American dumbass sports fan who's been trying to learn and understand soccer since getting hooked during the '18 world cup. Ryan's newsletter has been a huge help on that front, but I still find myself viewing soccer through the lens of sports I understand better.
I think a lot about soccer in terms of the statistical revolution in basketball. While there's no three-pointer in soccer, the other big change in basketball has been having better offensive players (more skill and shooting) at traditionally defensive positions--playing a great shooter at power forward or having a center who can dribble and pass, for example.
Do you think this kind of thing might happen more in soccer? It seems like KDB is an example: he has forward skill at the midfield position. Klopp's lineup today, playing one of Firmino or Jota in MF, is in that direction. Just curious as to the group's thoughts.
His midfield options forced this change. Is a midfield of Keita / Henderson / Gini that much more secure than Bobby dropping deeper? If Fabinho had been fit would have been a different story.
Would just like to say it was quite bold to name a pod let's have some fun and spend what felt like 30 minutes on Arsenal. Shout out Grealish like yall said, shoutout Ollie what a stud. Villa over Arsenal going forward might be real, big 8 or 9 seed energy from Arteta's Arsenal.
HT STAT UPDATE:
-Shots (on target): City 4 (2), Liverpool 6 (2)
-xG (per Stats Perform): City 1.21, Liverpool 1.01
-Final-third passes: City 29, Liverpool 38
-Penalty-area passes: City 2, Liverpool 5
I'm obsessed with what Lee Dixon is saying right now. He's basically suggesting that we need to have former players looking at VAR replays.
FT STAT UPDATE:
-Shots (on target): City 7 (2), LFC 10 (3)
-xG: City 1.57, LFC 1.19
-Final-third passes: 70, LFC 58
-Penalty-area passes: City 7, LFC 10
Pretty even game overall? City were a bit better at creating from open play, although LFC had some good deep possession that didn't turn into anything. The last 30 minutes were totally forgettable. Given where the game was and their current point totals, the point is better for Liverpool, but if TAA is out for a signifiant period of time, that might be the most impactful outcome from the match. Without TAA, Thiago's gonna need to get healthy and pick up the slack ... and Thiago is never healthy. City, meanwhile, were the new City: way more sterile in possession, not as much pressing, and relying on some individual brilliance to create big chances. Overall: It's only November and these teams already look fatigued. Not a great sign for the rest of the season.
Thanks to all of you for hopping in. As always, you made that more fun than it had any right to be. Enjoy your Sundays and be well.
WE DO LOVE IT, WE REALLY DO
Cancelo has played really well for City, in both directions. Thought he was a fantastic signing last summer, would be an obvious boon to them if he came good.
I think one of the potential benefits of playing this sort of front 4 is that they's all comfortable dropping deep or running in behind. Especially when TAA gets the ball, there's either space for Firmino or Salah to drop in to receive a pass or for them to run into. Pretty simple thing but I think it fucks with the positioning of City's backline a good deal.
The Power Cube cometh.
Just wanted to mention that two of our most prolific commenters are "James Milner's Peloton" and "David Villa's Burner".
There's been one shot since the 60th minute. You, quite literally, hate to see it.
These teams look tired. Maybe the least-intense 10-15 minutes of this fixture since 2017?
We love it. We absolutely love it.
Dennis Bergkamp 2.0
Can’t erase that Gomez gave up a penalty but he’s otherwise making it seem like teams attack him because VVD is so good and not because Gomez is bad.
I’m sure this is a very common opinion that many people have said before, but the rodri/gundogan midfield is just so boring and really dulls the City attack
Peloton Users....ASSEMBLE
If we accept that the season is still going to come down to Liverpool and City for the title -- betting markets still think that -- then I guess a draw here is a much better result for LFC than MC.
Best CB, best CM, and best RB in the world all currently injured now.
Oh god ...
It's been pretty interesting to see how involved Wijnaldum has been so far. He's usually affecting the game with his off-ball movement and positioning, rather than having it at his feet. But in the first half, he attempted and completed more passes than any Liverpool player.
Might just be a coincidence but the two quietest players are the two attackers who've never played in this fixture before: Jota and Torres.
That first-touch from Jesus: intentional? unintentional? don't care?
If your life depended on someone giving away a needless penalty on the corner of the box, who would you choose?
-Kyle Walker
-Arturo Vidal
-Other
Only five minutes in, but it's been REALLY easy for Liverpool to get the ball into City's attacking third so far.
I am slightly worried we got all the fun crazy games out of the way and now every team is exhausted.
The god of football put down his pie, adjusted his flat cap and caused that miss to protest the new rule.
Red looking a little sus
That's just a silly first touch from Jesus.
Firmino and Jota? Klopp smells blood!!
if the bundesliga still has the month long break could even see m'gladbach making moves in CL
Man a couple times now since Milner came on Jota/Mane calling for the long ball in from the right wing, and he just doesn't have the locker that Trent does. Stark
Wow Gini with the close down of Sterling
Why do Kyle Walker and KDB keep finding themselves in acres of space on the right-hand side of the pitch? Is it just Mane not positioning himself correctly on the left-side of midfield in defense?
Wha't wrong with the Liverpool break? Are there too many options?
I’d like to see pep go with two inverted fullbacks. If you play them high enough it probably isn’t all that different from inverted wingers
xG God, best place to go for live xG stats during a match? (Also what is the xG right now in this one?)
I really can't get over the fact that soccer players are incentivized to act, and rewarded for acting, like giant babies
So I'm an American dumbass sports fan who's been trying to learn and understand soccer since getting hooked during the '18 world cup. Ryan's newsletter has been a huge help on that front, but I still find myself viewing soccer through the lens of sports I understand better.
I think a lot about soccer in terms of the statistical revolution in basketball. While there's no three-pointer in soccer, the other big change in basketball has been having better offensive players (more skill and shooting) at traditionally defensive positions--playing a great shooter at power forward or having a center who can dribble and pass, for example.
Do you think this kind of thing might happen more in soccer? It seems like KDB is an example: he has forward skill at the midfield position. Klopp's lineup today, playing one of Firmino or Jota in MF, is in that direction. Just curious as to the group's thoughts.
Shall we start Firmino or Jota today, gaffer?
Yes.
His midfield options forced this change. Is a midfield of Keita / Henderson / Gini that much more secure than Bobby dropping deeper? If Fabinho had been fit would have been a different story.
Would just like to say it was quite bold to name a pod let's have some fun and spend what felt like 30 minutes on Arsenal. Shout out Grealish like yall said, shoutout Ollie what a stud. Villa over Arsenal going forward might be real, big 8 or 9 seed energy from Arteta's Arsenal.
only way players can rest now is to contract covid. fergie would have done this to stop giggs joining up with wales.
Would love to hear what Klopp is saying to Pep & the ref
Almost feels like both teams are happy not to take points off each other until they've shaken the rest of the league off. It's wide open, chaps!
man does, the champions league restart after the international break? feel like we'll be seeing many a snot nosed youth product this season
This second half has been atrocious as an entertainment product.
unused to seeing Alisson not dressed like the Undertaker.
The most fun neutral result is definitely a Man City win. It would group so many teams at the top of the table at least in the short run.
Add "KDB stopper" to Milner's expansive resume.
Finally a compelling match!
liverpool dialing Abala agent's number...