Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

Interestingly we have had to come back from 15 matches so far this season and have scored 27 points from those matches. Arsenal only had 8 matches so far where they trailed and they have only scored 8 points from those matches. So they do not go behind but if they do it seems like they are more likely to lose than win if they do go behind.

As to what you are both saying, City have been behind in 13 matches so far. They have however scored 24 points from those matches so if you are going to point to use being behind too many times then the same should be levied at City this year as well. I think that is what you both mention that there is something just wrong this year with them. They concede just as many goals as we do, but we have had some terrible luck with injuries to our defense and goalkeeper where they have been more stable.

Another interesting factoid about going behind, before anyone gets the feeling that we have been terrible in going behind this season, we are third best with regard to this stat. Only City on 13 and Arsenal on 8 have had fewer occasions where they were behind. It has been a wild season with regards to this I guess and while it is concerning for us, it is not terrible when you compare it to the rest of the league.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/punktenachrueckstand/wettbewerb/GB1/plus/?saison_id=2023&spiele=alle

Last chance saloon for the tickets ballot tomorrow.

I'd start Gakpo in the next few. Not everyone's cup of tea but he's smart and I always prefer Nunez off the bench after 65 or so.

Would be starting either Jones or Elliott over Szobo for a wee while - let Szobo come on as an impact sub, might help him find his rhythm again. He's really struggling now, levels below where he was at the start of the season.

Would like to see Gakpo given a shot on the left wing against Atalanta. Always looks so much more comfortable and confident there.

Everywhere
you look around the continent, title races have become virtual
processions. Paris Saint-Germain are 10 points clear in France’s Ligue
1, Bayer Leverkusen are 16 ahead and one win away from winning the German Bundesliga title, while PSV Eindhoven have a nine-point cushion at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid lead by eight points in Spain’s La Liga and Inter Milan are 11 ahead of city rivals AC Milan with a game in hand in Italy’s Serie A.

In England’s top division, however, things are a whole lot tighter.
With seven games remaining, just a point separates table-topping
Arsenal from third-placed Manchester City, with Liverpool sandwiched
between on goal difference. Since the Premier League was launched in
1992, there has not been a season like it.

So, after Liverpool dropped points at Manchester United on Sunday, who looks most likely to get their hands on the Premier League trophy on May 19 as things stand?

But how do these run-ins break down, game by game? We asked three of The Athletic’s club experts to assess their side’s remaining matches for potential pitfalls.

Arsenal

Sunday, April 14: Aston Villa (H)

Opponents’ league position: Fifth
Last five results vs opponents (oldest first): WWWWL
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Three

With Arsenal hosting Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals tomorrow (Tuesday), this is when their squad could be
tested. Arteta has trusted his squad in recent games, rotating his
starting line-up notably against Luton in midweek before travelling to Brighton on Saturday. With Villa in
European action themselves on Thursday, the strength-in-depth of the
sides could be vital. Arteta has faced Unai Emery’s Villa twice, winning
once and losing once. Both were fairly tight affairs, so ensuring as
many factors are in his favour this time is key.

Saturday, April 20: Wolves (A)

Opponents’ league position: 11th
Last five results vs opponents: WWWWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

Arsenal
tend to fare well against Wolves, having beaten them in five successive
meetings — but it is worth noting that this game comes on a Saturday
night after Arsenal have travelled to Munich on the Wednesday for a
second leg against Bayern that may require extra time and perhaps
penalties. Gary O’Neil has overseen a real improvement in his debut
season as Wolves coach, so this may be a match where Arsenal’s mental
approach is as important as ever. They have shown intent against sides
they ‘should’ be beating lately and have been rewarded. Staying in the
moment and executing should be the name of the game.

Tuesday, April 23: Chelsea (H)

Opponents’ league position: Ninth
Last five results vs opponents: LWWWD
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

Postponed because of Chelsea’s progress to the FA Cup semi-finals, this match falling days before the north London derby
could be crucial. Chelsea are inconsistent and should not pose Arsenal a
real threat, but tend to play to the level of their opposition, which
could be dangerous. This game feels like a major one for Arsenal’s
momentum with it coming in midweek. It could give them a confidence
boost at just the right time, or prove to be an unwanted pit-stop. As
above, Chelsea may be coming off extra time at Wembley in their semi
against Manchester City three days earlier.

Sunday, April 28: Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Opponents’ league position: Fourth
Last five results vs opponents: WLWWD
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Four

Second-half-of-the-season
trips to neighbours and arch-rivals Spurs used to have a foreboding
feeling for Arsenal, but last season’s 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur
Stadium should reassure the players before this meeting. Spurs will come
into the game not just wanting to dash Arsenal’s title hopes, but to
boost their own Champions League qualification chances, too. How Arsenal
deal with the intensity of this latest north London derby will be
vital, but they have shown they can ‘live’ within these types of games
well.

Saturday, May 4: Bournemouth (H)

Opponents’ league position: 12th
Last five results vs opponents: DWWWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if Arsenal are in the Champions League semi-finals)

Similar to Wolves, this could be a game where Arsenal’s mental state dictates what happens. Last year’s dramatic 3-2 win over Bournemouth created special memories, but gifting goals to teams cannot be a returning trend this year. David Raya becoming more confident in goal should help in that regard, but the
outfield players need to be fully focused on the task at hand, too.

Saturday, May 11: Manchester United (A)

Opponents’ league position: Sixth
Last five results vs opponents: LWLWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if Arsenal are in the Champions League semi-finals)

Arsenal
have not played at Old Trafford since early last season, when they
played well but lost 3-1. It is too early to say whether an element of
wanting to make amends will play a part there next month. Without an
away win against United since November 2020, however, this could be a
match where their pressing intensity makes the difference. Despite an
entertaining draw with Liverpool, Manchester United struggled to show
any real control in the game. They could not pass through midfield and
struggled to track runners. If these themes remain against Arsenal,
Arteta’s side should punish them more. The threat that individuals like Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford have will always need to be kept in mind, however. This game may be
moved to another day on the May 11-12 weekend for live TV broadcast.

Sunday, May 19: Everton (H)

Opponents’ league position: 15th
Last five results vs opponents: LWLWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Seven

Arsenal
will hope Everton’s fate is already sealed when they travel to the
Emirates on this the final day of the Premier League season, whether it
be safety secured or relegation confirmed. Their last two home results
against them are 5-1, on the last day of the 2021-22 campaign, and 4-0,
as they often make use of the extra space of the Emirates Stadium pitch
compared to the tightness Everton are used to at Goodison Park. Arsenal
have also won on the final day of the league season for the past 11
years, with a 2-2 draw against Fulham in 2011 the last time they dropped points.

Art de Roche

Liverpool

Sunday, April 14: Crystal Palace (H)

Opponents’ league position: 14th
Last five results vs opponents (oldest first): WWDDW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

Palace
are rarely the easiest opposition for Liverpool at Anfield, given their
quality on the counter-attack. They have lost some of that prowess,
particularly Wilfried Zaha, who scored their goal in the 1-1 draw there
at the start of last season. A first leg against Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals on the previous Thursday might see Jurgen Klopp rotate,
but crucially there will be no further travel involved with the two
games at home as players hope to stay as fresh as possible.

Sunday, April 21: Fulham (A)

Opponents’ league position: 13th
Last five results vs opponents: DWWWD
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

Marco
Silva’s side have fared well against Liverpool this season with
last-ditch heroics needed in the 4-3 victory for the home side at
Anfield alongside a tightly fought two-leg Carabao Cup semi-final.
Liverpool have not won in their last three visits to Craven Cottage
(three draws) and there is no indication this will be any easier, with
the possibility of extra time against Atalanta in Italy three days
before. Liverpool’s last victory there came on the 2018-19 run-in, with a
late James Milner penalty saving the blushes of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk over Fulham’s equaliser.

Wednesday, April 24: Everton (A)

Opponents’ league position: 15th
Last five results vs opponents: WWDWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

Rearranged
to this midweek date after being postponed because of Liverpool’s
involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals, a meeting with your city
rivals under the lights is as big as it gets. Sean Dyche’s side will be
determined to dent the neighbours’ title hopes and are also likely to
still need points in their latest fight against relegation. Five of the
past six league derbies at Goodison Park have been draws — and those may
be two points Liverpool cannot afford to drop if the theme continues.

Saturday, April 27: West Ham (A)

Opponents’ league position: Seventh
Last five results vs opponents: WWWWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

Liverpool’s
record against West Ham should give them confidence. They have won five
in a row, although their most recent defeat was 3-2 away in November
2021. It is tricky to know what to make of David Moyes’ side — they can
look good one week and terrible the next – but the Scot’s record against
Liverpool throughout his career should give Klopp reasons to be
cheerful.

Saturday, May 4: Tottenham (H)

Opponents’ league position: Fourth
Last five results vs opponents: DDWWL
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if Liverpool are in the Europa League semi-finals)

This
fixture has served up some classics at Anfield in recent seasons and we
should be in for another one here. In 2021-22, a 1-1 draw in their
fourth-last league match represented the last points Liverpool dropped
that season as they ultimately fell one point short of Manchester City’s
total in the title race. Tottenham’s counter-attacking style has caused
problems in the past, especially through Son Heung-min.
Under Ange Postecoglou this season, their system has changed, but their
threat in transitional moments will remain dangerous. Tottenham will
also have the motivation of trying to qualify for next season’s
Champions League.

Saturday, May 11: Aston Villa (A)

Opponents’ league position: Fifth
Last five results vs opponents: WWWDW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if Liverpool are in the Europa League semi-finals)

Had
this fixture come earlier in the season, such as when Arsenal and
Manchester City both visited Villa Park in December, it may have felt
even more daunting. Villa’s impressive home record from back then has
been dented in recent months, but this will not be a straightforward
game. Liverpool exploited Villa’s risky offside line to win 3-0 at
Anfield in September and if Darwin Nunez can continue his recent scintillating form, they will hope he causes
havoc again. This match may be moved to another date on the May 11-12
weekend for live TV coverage.

Sunday, May 19: Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

Opponents’ league position: 11th
Last five results vs opponents: DWLWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Seven

It
always seems to be Wolves on the final day, doesn’t it? Backed by the
Anfield crowd against a side who will likely have nothing to play for
looks to be the ideal match if the title is on the line. Gary O’Neil’s
side are not to be overlooked, though, as they have produced a handful
of shock results this season and caused Liverpool plenty of problems in
September’s reverse fixture before two late goals saw them lose 3-1.
They opened the scoring at Anfield on the final day of the 2021-22
Premier League and were not behind in the match until Mohamed Salah’s 84th-minute goal, also suffering a 3-1 defeat.

Andy Jones

Mohamed Salah scores against Wolves in 2022 (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester City

Saturday, April 13: Luton (H)

Opponents’ league position: 18th
Last five results vs opponents (oldest first): WDWWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Three

This
game is the filling of a Champions League quarter-final versus Real
Madrid sandwich, so Pep Guardiola is most likely going to rotate his
team for this one, adding more jeopardy than initially meets the eye for
a title-chasing side’s home match against one of the bottom three. City
will be massive favourites and Luton will not be holding out much hope,
but the rotated team we’re anticipating will have to do the business as
Guardiola tries to juggle the demands of the three competitions, with
an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea coming up a week later, too.

Thursday, April 25: Brighton (A)

Opponents’ league position: 10th
Last five results vs opponents: WWWDW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Four

After
commitments in the Champions League followed by their FA Cup semi-final,
this fixture — postponed from FA Cup quarter-finals weekend — is
rearranged to one of the few available days in City’s crammed calendar.
Given Brighton’s recent struggles, this might not be quite as difficult
as it once looked, although there is always a clash of styles in terms
of Roberto De Zerbi’s man-to-man press, which makes things complicated.

Sunday, April 28: Nottingham Forest (A)

Opponents’ league position: 17th
Last five results vs opponents: WLWDW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two

With
the Brighton trip just three days earlier and a possible Champions
League semi-final first leg three days later (this will be moved to the
Saturday if City reach the Champions League semi-finals and play on the
Tuesday), this adds a lot of extra spice. A trip to the City Ground is
always going to be tough, with Forest in the relegation argument, and it
will be a match that Liverpool and Arsenal fans, whose teams will
already have played their games this weekend, watch with some degree of
hope — especially given that this fixture last season ended in a 1-1
draw. City should have been 5-0 up by the time Forest equalised with
their first shot on target in the 84th minute, though.

Saturday, May 4: Wolves (H)

Opponents’ league position: 11th
Last five results vs opponents: WWWWL
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if City are in the Champions League semi-finals)

There
are potential Champions League semi-final ties on either side of this
one. There is also less margin for error against Wolves, who beat City
in September, compared to Luton, so Guardiola will have to be especially
careful with any rotation. It is normally something City manage well,
but they have had some hairy games at this time of year before when they
try to spin plates.

Saturday, May 11: Fulham (A)

Opponents’ league position: 13th
Last five results vs opponents: WWWWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if City reach the Champions League semi-finals)

After
a potential Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal or
Bayern in the midweek, this match could be especially tricky, although
City do have a great record against Fulham. They dug in for an important
2-1 victory at Craven Cottage late last season, and that kind of
performance might be required again given the demands of everything else
up until that point. This match may be played on another date on the
May 11-12 weekend for live TV coverage.

Sunday, May 19: West Ham (H)

Opponents’ league position: Seventh
Last five results vs opponents: WDWWW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: Two (if outstanding games, see below, are rearranged for the previous midweek)

What
we can say almost for sure in all of this is that if City need to get
over the line in this final fixture against West Ham, they will do it.
They made hard work of it at home against Villa in the corresponding
fixture two years ago but if City battle through all of the above — and
probably a rearranged game against Spurs in the midweek — and need three
points (or, somehow, a draw) to settle things, you would imagine they
will be up to it.

Date to be confirmed: Tottenham (A)

Opponents’ league position: Fourth
Last five results vs opponents: LWLDW
Minimum possible days rest pre-match: TBC

It is a
good job City beat Tottenham in the FA Cup in January — the first time
they had not lost and so much as scored a goal at the Londoners’ new
ground in six attempts since it opened in April 2019 — as it gives them
some confidence that weird hoodoo is over. City played very well on the
night too, completely shutting Spurs down.

This game is yet to be
rescheduled given City’s continued fight in two cup competitions,
keeping them on for an unprecedented “double treble”. Whenever the
authorities manage to fit this fixture in, you would have to say it is
the most difficult one City will face in their remaining Premier League
games. Even a draw at Tottenham could be enough to derail the title
challenge, depending on how things pan out for their two title rivals.

Sam Lee

Players nearing 10 yellow cards

The
three clubs will need to be wary of the second deadline for yellow-card
accumulation: any player who earns 10 bookings before the completion of
their club’s 32nd league match of the season must serve a two-game
suspension. The players in danger of a ban are Kai Havertz of Arsenal, Liverpool duo Darwin Nunez and Wataru Endo and Rodri of City, although all are on eight cautions so would need to be sent
off for a second yellow in next weekend’s matches to be banned.

Anyone got a link for where I sign up for this?

deleted comment….

I agree with what you are saying re Jota, but when he returned after his previous injury and up until his latest one, he was playing very well. Much more consistent than usual and bagged a bunch of goals.

appreciate the effort put into that post . Game management has to be perfect now not an easy thing with players coming back but games running out . You stick and give as much time as possible you twist need to freshen up team taking chances with more time for some of the youngsters again . He’s tough choices to make . I definitely need to see more of Danns in remaining games despite nearly everybody saying no project for next year and after ? If only these seasons are guaranteed every year !!

Sporting Lisbon manager Rúben Amorim has reached a verbal agreement in principle with Liverpool, according to Sky Germany.

Alonso is staying at Leverkusen for next season.

Alonso came out publicly last week and stated his intention to stay with Bayern L for next season. It was pretty big news everywhere? Not sure how you missed it.

He didn't just win the Portuguese League, he won it with a former Liverpool legend winning the league's POTY

EL final ballot open...

https://europaleague-sales.tickets.uefa.com/account

Confirmed that the clubs will get 12k each, so the ratios are about the same, so about 16k for the ballot, which I assume is what most of us will be going for

aye me too… highest i got was around 3500….

Nothing is confirmed yet, but if it is you can expect to see profile pieces from all the major media outlets. The BBC got in on the act yesterday with quotes from Abel Xavier.

Maybe they think you're a city fan 😝

Same with me I went on a desktop then and it was fine. 4 applications gone in 👌

Worked second time on PC, but blocked first time!

would you then say there's more of a chance selecting the tickets for any team rather than just Liverpool ?

4 accounts?

Hmm... that is confusing, I missed that. Impossible to know the best approach without knowing if they're holding some back for the second ballot

Alisson, Trent and Jota all pictured at training today