Well, we were bloody lucky to come away from that with the 3 points.
This City Arsenal game is shaping up nicely. Great match! I went with a bet on Robbie Savages mums prediction of 4-1 to City, but it’s not panning out like that
The race for fourth is hotting up! I'll go for Chelsea just to pop United, Arsenal will be a distant 6th.
It's probably going to depend on how the Europa league goes if Chelsea or Arsenal make a run at it they could focus on that over the league so that will probably decide it
Well that made things interesting, chance of City being top later in the week and all the pressure on Liverpool, going to be key to get some of those first choice players back in the back line
It's squeaky bum time already! Their squad looks very thin all of a sudden with some solid players out. Lallana and Keita were poor tonight and wouldn't Salah be better off on the right cutting in like he did last year rather than through the middle?
West Ham were a bit unlucky, I thought.
Agree - they must be frustrating to support! Capable of shipping 4 to Wimbledon and mixing it with the top 6.
Agree with all that.... West Ham were good at times... but Liverpool could have snuck it at the end. Keita, he's a weird one, he was TERRIBLE in the first half, but admittedly did improve in the 2nd. I was more disappointed with Fabinho who was also poor, especially at tracking back, jeez man, run a bit ! But i struggled with why they were playing with both of them 2 as holding midfielders.
No alternatives weeksy. Wijnaldum and Henderson injured, Milner playing at right back due to injuries there. Fabinho looked very good a few weeks ago but Keita really has struggled to adapt. It's often the way for players new to the league, type of formation, style etc.
Squeaky bum time indeed. Not sure what they were doing on their holibobs t'other week but there are a lot of injuries all of a sudden.
What odds for liverpool to drop out of the 4 I wonder?! Their recent form does not deserve to win the league or instill me with confidence and will only bring joy to Binners. aaaagghh.
😉
Agree with all that…. West Ham were good at times… but Liverpool could have snuck it at the end.
With a second offside goal!
What odds for liverpool to drop out of the 4 I wonder?! Their recent form does not deserve to win the league or instill me with confidence and will only bring joy to Binners. aaaagghh.
You sound like a City fan of old. Any success is to be accompanied by crushing despair at the next opportunity.
There can be a dip in form/results during a title-winning run. You're still top!
Although two of your three next games are against Bayern and ManU away, so I guess we'll find out pretty quick if you are doing an Arsenal.
Jurgen's going to have to show his management skills in the next few weeks that's for sure. It's easy when the points are coming week after week and all you have to do is a bit of touchline sprinting fist pumping. I know the'yre still 3 points in front and of course that's where you'd rather be but at this level sport's only partly on the pitch, the rest is in their heads and if they allow the 'we might blow this' thoughts in.....
For the impartial observer, next few weeks will be fun.
That said, their Feb fixtures are winnable (Bournemouth and Watford with trips to Utd and Munich at home in the middle!) but Everton and Spurs in March
City - have a busier Feb (6 vs 4), with Chelsea twice, three cup/CL games and a Manchester derby in March. Could Man Utd have a say in where the title goes - City or Liverpool (and is there a neither of the above option on that particular ballot paper!!)
I'd say its a 3 horse race for the title. I really don't know why people are writing Spurs off and just talking about it being City or Liverpool.
I'm just hoping that this means it'll go right to the wire with everything hinging on the last game of the season. I still think theres plenty of twists left yet, when you look at the games still left to play
because sp*rs are perennial bottlers
Both Spurs and Liverpool have injury worries, City have fixture congestion - nicely evens things out a bit.
As for Spurs being.... Take each season as it comes, you learn from mistakes if you are doing it right. Spurs will be happy to be where they are and written off, lets them just get on with things without all the attention.
because sp*rs are perennial bottlers
Certainly no more than another team that springs readily to mind 😉
Spurs have done amazing to keep in touch - they've had by far the worst injuries. The late winners v Watford, Fulham and Newcastle and the Champions League group miracle shows their character. Like binners I think it's a three way race. Spurs still have Liverpool and City to play.
Liverpool supporter here but I'm getting a bit peeved at others crowing on about how 'we've only lost once this season'. The last two games should show the folly of this with Man City gaining a point on us by losing, then winning rather than our 2 draws. And look at Spurs who have lost 6 but have drawn 0 and are only 5 behind us.
Re writing off Spurs .... We come THIRD in a two horse race a couple of years ago.
The spot for 4th is hotting up someone mentioned above .... Yep that's what we'll be clinging on to, by the skin of our teeth.
Certainly no more than another team that springs readily to mind 😉
nope, they ain't my team either
Agree – they must be frustrating to support! Capable of shipping 4 to Wimbledon and mixing it with the top 6.
You'd think after blowing 100 million in the summer we may have a bit of consistency, but that would be so not West Ham...
Enjoyed the match last night - just a couple of issues.
1)Klopp & Van Dijk saying that before the game they had talked about the west ham strength being set pieces. Absolute tosh - we have been toilet at those throughout this season. Last night was an exception.
2) Commentators banging on about how Liverpool have been decimated by injuries. Have they even looked at our injury list? You could put a half decent 1st team out there with the names on our list.
3) Klopp saying that the ref over-compensated for the offside goal. The majority of the referee calls looked pretty decent, and when you take into account 1 clearly offside goal and one clearly offside last minute attempt that would have stood if it had not been saved, I think he has no argument at all. I like Klopp but he needs to stop and have a think sometimes when things don't go his way.
I loved Pellegrini's response to Klopp though.
And good luck to City - I always prefer them winning the league to either of the reds, spurs or Chelsea.
Mourinho guilty of tax evasion
It may go someway at explaining his erratic behaviour for the last few months.
I think that was more down to him being a narcissistic bellend, who’s ego massively outweighed his abilities and all the players and fans despised 😉
And living like Alan Partridge in a hotel for years is going to send you loopy st some point
Mourinho guilty of tax evasion
And living like Alan Partridge in a hotel for years is going to send you loopy st some point
CASHBACK!
And living like Alan Partridge in a hotel for years is going to send you loopy st some point
I wonder if he had a big plate?
Pogba's attampt to get rid on Jose back in November
BACK OF THE NET!
😀
And just like that, Man City are top of the league... Will be interesting to see if Liverpool crack under pressure or smash out a win at the weekend...
Pogba’s attempt to get rid of Jose also included just not trying for 6 months.
Anyone watched Bobby Robson on Netflix? Brilliant, Even as a Scot, I loved sir Bobby, a giant of a man.
What a bloody manager as well.
I’ll give that a viewing
Also worth watching on Netflix is Sunderland til I Die
You know the documentary about City’s victorious premiership-winning season? Well it’s the polar opposite of that. Compelling viewing in a slow-motion car crash sort of way. Behind the scenes documentary about their post-relegation season as things go from bad to worse, with the club in free fall
I’m out for a few beers with my scouse mate tomorrow night. He’s just texted me to say he’s instigating a ‘swear box’ system for every time the words ‘bottling it’ crop up in conversation 😂
Anyone watched Bobby Robson on Netflix? Brilliant, Even as a Scot, I loved sir Bobby, a giant of a man.
What a bloody manager as well.
Well I knew the room was going to be dusty but it reminds you what a man he was, my lasting memory of the happy times at Newcastle was sat a couple of sections up on that UEFA cup run, all the way through watching him live every game. There are a few out there who owe him some big apologies but more who owe him a lot of thanks.
Fourth! Blimey Ole! 😳
Ten wins and a draw out of eleven and another outstanding performance from Pogba. Its going to get interesting now with PSG, Chelski and Liverpool up next
Can't see Ole parking the bus b Liverpool so the game might live up to hype for a change!
Chelsea could do with a bit of Jose bus-parking here.
City look like they could get into double figures if they fancied it
FFS Chelsea.... They could have at least made a bit of an effort !
City have slacked off a bit in the second half, only getting two. Still time for a couple more though.
I mean who can't beat city....... Seems like they found some good motivation
Chelsea have shipped so many goals they've dropped a league position
Jorginho chose Chelsea over City.....😂.....although his form suggests City got the better deal.
Match Stats
Home TeamMan CityAway TeamChelsea
Possession
Home 56% Away 44%
Shots
Home 15 Away 12
Shots on Target
Home 9 Away 4
Corners
Home 2 Away 2
Fouls
Home 9 Away 13
From the BBC, going to be an interesting watch on MOTD tonight 6 goals from 9 Shots on target and 56% of possession.
City wont win anything this season, they could only manage 6 against Chelski, thats just not good enough! Sarri has destroyed the team with lack of tactics and playing players out of position, they should get jose in to finish the players off in public.
Now that's clinical Mike. Shows how the stats can obfuscate and confuse!
Wow, just caught that and the hiding of the match ball by the ref 🙂 Some humour out there
It was the City that stayed back on the bus at Newcastle, they thought they could just turn that on when they needed it.
Going to be interesting to see if City can bring that form to the CL now
oh and OGS picked the right game to go check out the neighbours
Quite surprised that Aguero still needs an interpreter.
From the BBC Sport feed
😂 Classic!
Wow, just caught that and the hiding of the match ball by the ref 🙂 Some humour out there
I was at The Amex this weekend to see one set of referees (amongst other baffling decisions) completely rob Brighton of a stone cold handball penalty, that I think even the Burnley fans had conceded from the other end of the pitch - how a referee and 2 assistants could miss it is truly beyond me - it actually smacks of corruption! And this is far from the first time I have seen this happen this season.
Until the standard of refereeing can be made consistent I take issue with any referee doing silly little dances when he awards a pen, and hiding balls in his shirt etc - Does he think he's some kind of celebrity?? STICK TO YOUR ****EN JOB!
Grumpf.
Not again....
So good to see us playing up with confidence, harsh for Dubravka he had done so much and been one of the best players this season.
Aside from that another amazing work rate from Ritchie, hands down man of the season so far for Newcastle, always gives 110%. Longstaff picking it right up there too, having not played in the PL before boxing day he will be a fighter.
New lad looks like he could cause some trouble against the bottom half of the table which is where survival comes from.
And to add, massive respect for Hayden, he has wanted away for family reasons but couldn't go. He has got himself up there, stuck in and showed commitment when he could have gone off and sulked like quite a few others in the PL this year
I'm with you most of the way there Mike ..however I'm not a huge Ritchie fan as he plays first and foremost for himself ...granted his work rate is good but his first instinct is to pass it back or sideways ..and often doesn't see the obvious ( forward ) pass or is too cautious to make it .
Almiron made some great runs into space late on ..but Ritchie didn't play him in ...running himself into trouble instead...rarely does he take on his man and win as he isn't blessed with pace..hopefully when the new boy is fully integrated into the team it will be as a no.10..and not on the wing as playing in front of Ritchie is going to cause him a lot of frustration..if he keeps his place in the team once Barecca is up to speed ( I would play him on the right to cover Yedlin).
The obvious player to drop for me is Perez..his infrequent flashes of something out of the ordinary can't hide the fact that 90% of the time he is crap ...but Rafa seems to like him !
Longstaff was fantastic ..but who would have thought he would excel in the holding midfield role ..he has come up through the ranks as an attacking midfielder but on that performance alone will take some shifting from the team ( or until he needs a rest ) ..he covered more ground and made more passes and tackles than any other Newcastle player ..very impressed .
Dubravka was fouled ..and the goal shouldn't have stood for that reason alone and not least because it was in the 95th minute and the game should have been over ..they deserved to win
I wouldn't say he plays for himself there, he was back at just about everything digging us out of trouble. When he has got up the field this season there generally isn't a good pass forward as the rest have been lumbering up, this game was an exception to that. Yedlin has the same problem on the other side, a cross to Rondon being the only option unless he was setting up the move and not up there yet, chances of Atsu or Perez getting a head to a ball is slim.
The new left back should allow us to go 4-5-1 against a few more teams give Ritche certainly more cover to go forward and have somebody for Yedlin to work with on the right.
Swapping Perez/Atsu for Almiron and will be a big help in front of goal and getting in behind some of the slower back lines. I'm kind of looking forward to the Huddersfield game after they have 10 days in Spain to work on a few things.
So - predictions for tonight? Will the OGS inspired ManU continue as the have in the PL or will PSG be a step too far?
we've lost a great....
That is sad news ..I will never forget that save from Pele's header in the '70 World Cup Finals ...
He was a proper legend. RIP.
Should be a good match tonight. Certainly the sternest test Ole has had so far. I don't think anyones going to be relishing a trip to Old Trafford at the moment though, and Rashford and Lingard were both rested last game, and Pogba is on proper form! I doubt it'll be 0-0
At least Neymar is out though, so...
The tramful of psg fans heading through earlier looked like they were up for a good night! Though anything has make you feel good after coming through CDG.
Oh Christ! Do I really have to listen to Steve ****ing McMannamon for 90 minutes?
It's balance for letting Rio on TV
Phil Neville is on 5 live commentary.
Have to say, finding some of Ole's comments bordering on arrogance.....fine line I guess.
I think I was a bit premature thinking it wouldn’t be the same from the rest of the PSG Squad
My dad took me to Brunton Park in the v early eighties. He became unusually animated and thrust me and my autograph book towards a “ bloody World Cup winner “! Nice one Gordon. 🙂
Well certainly Pogba should have seen the yellow coming
PSG looking fast and flying though
Edit
That 2 footer could have had Pogba off, bit too much passion going on there
Ref is little fussy at times.
I thought it was was quite funny that Di Maria kept forgetting which part of his body he’d meant to have hurt while he was rolling around like he’d been shot 😂
True but not sure many on here would have fancied that sort of drop without a fullface and body armour
Just don't concede the away goal there, the run up to the corner was a good bit of keep ball up the pressure
Now where's that bus when you need it!
and whatever you do don't let them have 2......
Pray For Binners, bring back Jose.......
Looks like the game plan went out of the window with Tony and Lingard going off.
Sanchez is completely hopeless and it looks like we’re resorting to bringing on Lukaku/Heskey to lump long balls up to
Herrera has looked the most likely to score. Says it all
looks like we’re resorting to bringing on Lukaku/Heskey to lump long balls up to
Don't want to become an Arsenal and only have one way to play (beautiful as it was) sticking with a plan A for so long after going 1-0 down was a mistake especially after the injuries, he is still a quality striker, just need to know how to work for him
Oh dear..... could have gone in the first half but stupid at that point
Can’t argue with that red card. He’s been bloody brilliant recently but he’s needed to calm down tonight.
Not a good night. A proper reality check.
Steve McMannoman can **** right off though!
Ouch! Something of a McNulty special on the Beeb sport website on Man Yoo. Scathing towards the hierarchy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47218876
Scathing but not much more than anybody has been saying for a while now. As it was pointed out after Jose went, City got the background staff in to prepare the place for Pep, starting making strategic purchases etc. Looking at City and Liverpool there has been some big money transfers but they always felt like there was a plan to it. Not that way at Man U
Pretty much spot on!
Everyone knows what the problem is at United. This has all been in the post since the Glazers bought the club, saddled us with all their debts and started milking the club.
They haven’t got a clue what they’re doing, and they don’t really care. As long as they keep getting sponsorship deals and the money keeps rolling in. Players are bought on the strength of shirt sales in Singapore rather than whether they’ll actually fit in the squad
We payed 80 million for Lukaku and we’re paying Sanchez 400,000 quid a week
Absolute madness!
https://www.transferleague.co.uk/premier-league-last-five-seasons/transfer-league-tables/premier-league-table-last-five-seasons
Binners, 2nd biggest spender over the last 5 years, only £20m/year less than City so the debt etc. doesn't seem to be the issue just the direction, it might be that they don't care as much but it's that not the cash that has been the problem.
