180 minutes! Liverpool! Bayern! Barcelona! Lyon!
Zero goals!
Early snap analysis: Barcelona will still feel confident of progressing, Liverpool will be incredibly disappointed.
Then again, from what I've seen online, if you offered Liverpool fans a straight No-CL-for-PL-title swap, they'd take it.
I got a chance to watch the first half (only) of the Liverpool-Bayern match. Bayern looked surprisingly competitive, but wow, Mane should have scored at least one of his chances. For a 0-0 half, it was quite entertaining.
I'm curious how the second half looked.
That certainly wasn't the most boring 0-0 I've ever seen, but a little disappointing in the end. Liverpool have been slightly off all season if I'm honest - at least in all the big matches. However holding Bayern to a 0-0 with Matip and Fabinho and not conceding will, I think, be more important at the Allianz than having to overcome an away goal. One of those results that could have been better, could have been worse. We'll see.
Then again, from what I've seen online, if you offered Liverpool fans a straight No-CL-for-PL-title swap, they'd take it.
I wouldn't dispute this. The game at the weekend, against United at Old Trafford is probably more important to be honest.
There was an article on ESPN FC today basically suggesting Klopp should rest key players vs Bayern to focus on ManU. I didn't discuss it with my Liverpool buddy, but I'm sure he'd prioritize the league.
Despite improving depth, I agree they are still light compared to Man City. Getting knocked out of CL would help solve a lot of those problems.
Despite improving depth, I agree they are still light compared to Man City. Getting knocked out of CL would help solve a lot of those problems.
I don’t think it would make much difference to be honest. It’s only the CL and EPL left so that’s more than manageable. All the defensive injuries have been the main disruptive factor, yet despite those there is still just that single loss this season. So far.
Wowza. What a result for City. Losing 2-1 and down to 10 men with 7 minutes left, and they come back to beat Schalke 3-2. Leroy Sane remains very, very, very, very good.
And I'm happy to see Atleti beat Juve with two late goals, because as far as I'm concerned, Ronaldo is still part of Real Madrid and I desperately want to see anyone not named Real Madrid win the CL.
Athletico Madrid looked quite good. Impressive win for them.
welp
Previous appeals usually just delayed the ban correct?
If Sarri survives it makes for a dicey summer window. He will want his type of players but if it doesn't work out Chelsea then are stuck 2 windows with his guys.
Chelsea didn't exactly shape the squad to what Sarri wants or needs - they basically bought Jorginho to plug him in and not much else, no?
Maybe they'll actually play some of their young loan army players they have under contract if they can't sign anybody.
Going. Down.
If Fulham aren't in the Championship next season, it'll be one of the biggest miracles in PL history. Sigh.
I can’t shake the feeling that if Liverpool were going to win the league this season, that was a game they needed to win.
Ho hum.
Well, if Sarri wasn't a dead man walking, he sure as hell is now.
Yet again, I didn't think that, if those were the two games we were getting today, that we'd get no goals. Liverpool definitely will be disappointed with the result.
Interesting aside (possibly) - Liverpool only have one game on a Saturday the remainder of this season.
Unless we reach the CL final.
Right, so leaving Celtic for Leicester?
Honestly, I'm a bit confused by that. I could easily be convinced that Rodgers has basically maxed out at Celtic, but is Leicester going to be that much of a step up, if any at all?
I guess it makes more sense if you view it in terms of "Go to Leicester, prove your bonafides (again) in a Big 5 league, then move on to one of the genuinely big clubs."
Thing is he had his turn with Liverpool. I actually think Leicester is a really goood fit for him. Leicester really should be ‘best of the rest’ with the squad they have, and make a decent fist of cup runs with the possibility of a good Europa cup if they could get that far.
It’s a chance to prove he’s learned something, while not having the pressure of being a genuine title contender.
We’ll see. He did well with Celtic, but to be honest it’s not like he faced a great deal of competition. Wait and see time I guess.
Having watched practically every single match since he took charge at Celtic, I can tell you he has learned exactly zero about defending. Ze-ro.
As long as Leicester can keep Rodgers away from any involvement in transfers I really like the hire, but I thought Rodgers did a great job at Liverpool.
There's a lot more managerial talent in the league than there was just a few years ago though.
Honestly, I'd be happy if someone just relegated Fulham now so I don't have to sit through ten more games of this.
You're gonna need a bigger boat...
Spurs are now closer to the chase pack than Liverpool/City.
They play Arsenal this Saturday.
Spurs are now closer to the chase pack than Liverpool/City.
They play Arsenal this Saturday.
Spurs being very..... spursy.
Pochettino will be at Man U or Real next season. I think he's had enough
Real Madrid blowing it against Barca was funny, if nothing else.
Watch, they'll end up winning the CL again.
I think the only thing that stops Ole from getting the ManU job at this point is either Poch or Zidane. If either of them are interested in the gig, I can't imagine ManU turning it down.
Real Madrid blowing it against Barca was funny, if nothing else.
Watch, they'll end up winning the CL again.
I root for Barca over Real Madrid. At the end of the first half I thought for sure Barca was going to lose. Real Madrid was so much better in the first half. And Vinicius Jr!?! Wow! If he can learn how to finish, he's the star for the next decade. So impressive (except for his finishing).
I was amazed when Barca got three goals in the second half to win. With just a bit better finishing, Real Madrid could have had three goals themselves.
Yeah, even Valverde said... well, Sid Lowe puts it best.
“We’re sad because we wanted to reach the final. We fell with honour: we weren’t ruthless, they were very ruthless,” the Madrid manager, Santi Solari, said. The Barcelona manager, Ernesto Valverde, admitted his team had not always played well but had displayed “pegada” – the knockout punch.
Ranieri sacked, Scott Parker (the player who made me a Newcastle fan...) in as caretaker. Setting things up to be good in the Championship at this point seems like the right move to make but I still don't know why they didn't try to improve the defensive side of their personnel in the January window.
City sign a 65m per year 10 year deal with Puma.
Couple random insights. This is only 5m more than the Adidas Arsenal 4 year deal. Kinda curious that Arsenal managed to get 60 or City only 65?
Length of deal is interesting also. Unless the bottom falls out of deals like this. Which there is no indication they will. By which year will City look like they are being underpayed.
When Arsenal sign a new deal in 4 years I guess it will be clear. (Without checking when United etc have new kit deals on the way) Not sure if City have an early out clause also. #lazyreader
Not mad at Claudio, and not going to judge Parker on pretty much anything yet, bar wholesale incompetence. This season has been a front-to-back disaster, with over £100M in transfers paid and the worst defense in the PL to show for it.
A deeply chastening experience, and I hope we'll hold on to enough players to make a real go of it in the Championship next season, although I am a little skeptical.
The most perfect camera angles of great football moments
Love this piece, some real beauties in there. I think my favorite is still that Michael Essien strike. (:54 seconds.)
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