Comments on: Thoughts from Sunday’s Premier League Matches

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:27:00 +0000

The most telling thing from the weekend action from my point of view is that while the Big 4 continue to dominate English football the matches they play between themselves will continue to be dull affairs where one side will score and then bunker down. A loss versus another Big 4 squad nearly dooms the other team to 3rd or 4th place. A 5th or better yet 6th big team would open up play require the managers to think beyond getting a draw in the big team matches.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:34:00 +0000

latest anonymous:

Pure garbage? In the UK the bookies have Lpool at 14/1 to win the Prem, wake up and smell Roo's new fragrance - Man U best price is evens, Arsenal 2/1.

TT

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:03:00 +0000

Man the anti liverpool slant of this site continues to drag this blog down. Liverpool is not “out of it” they have a lot to do but its freakin DECEMBER. A lot can happen and Pool is going to get some players back soon…plus whatever happens in the Jan transfer window. Its a longshot but to declare its over and Liverpool is done is nothing short of pure garbage

By: StatesideScouser

StatesideScouser — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Agree with MJ tbh.
As to being out of the title race, remember Liverpool still has a game in hand, and its mid December ffs !
We are still missing a couple of valuable first team players, won't lose any to the African Cup, are still a team that has only been playing together for this season alone and still improving each game.
Don't forget Arsenal and Man U have lost to teams "they should have beat", that isn't impossible again in the many games left.

Granted Liverpool weren't at their best yesterday and were beaten, as usual it seems with Man U, with a soft goal. Rooneys "shot" was wide, just happens Tevez was in the way.

By: shy guy

shy guy — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:13:00 +0000

Yeah…
I agree with you…
And as Arsenal fans, I really thank a lot to ALmunia..
He is such a good keeper.. It is exit for Lehman and Diarra..
Flamini and Fab is such a good combination even they’re not 100 percent.. Go go gooners..

http://eplwallpaper.blogspot.com

By: Kartik

Kartik — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:54:00 +0000

Good points MJ, but I still fancy Chelsea to finish ahead of Liverpool, and think the Reds will have to fight with Pompey, Blackburn and Everton for 4th. (Although this weekend for Pompey and Blackburn didn’t do much to reaffirm my faith in them )

By: Tampasoccer

Tampasoccer — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:48:00 +0000

As a Liverpool fan, I thought we were poor yesterday. Very poor. Same old story-a lot of passion, zero creativity. Long balls for Torres, absolutely useless Kuyt, poor Kewell…that is not how you beat United. I was very impressed with the defensive work by both Anderson and Hargreeves-well done to shut Gerrard. We are missing Alonso bad in terms of possession, distribution, and vision in the middle. Mascherano is a solid defensive midfielder but the Spaniard is a different class.
Realistically, Liverpool is not from the class of United or Arsenal-it pains me to say it, but it is the case…after all, last season we got rid of our most creative player: Garcia-why, Rafa, why?
The other game: very entertaining. I thought Chelsea were quite unlucky to ceoncede such a cheap goal at such a crucial time of the game. They were missing Drogba and Essien big time-obvious but…I as thinking what happens now when Van Persie is back-does that mean that Hleb goes on the bench?
But-yes-it is a two-horse race, with the possibility of Chelsea joining in if they continue with their consistency. As for Liverpool? FA Cup, Carling Cup(Wednseday at Chelsea will be tough), and Champions League are our best chances for a trophey. Hey, at least the title dream ended this year in mid-December, and not in mid-October…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:17:00 +0000

what do you mean one serious challenge on goal, did you not see Roo’s sitter 15 mins or so from the end?

I actually enjoyed the whole intensity of the match at Anfield. Felt tired by the time the Lah’an derby came around.

By: MJ

MJ — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:10:00 +0000

I would agree with most of your observations except for a few points: Liverpool didn't have "plenty" of chances, they had the ball cleared off the line by Anderson and then the follow-up header by Torres that went wide, and Babel's long-range effort in the second half that just missed the far post.

I can see your point to not count out Chelsea yet especially because of their home unbeaten record, but realistically it's a two-horse race. You can include Chelsea if you want because of their ability to grind out results, but without Drogba, Essien, John Obi Mikel, Kalou, and maybe John Terry if x-rays prove substantial injury, Chelsea aren't going to have a chance at the title. They'll be a factor because they may be able to take points from United and Arsenal in the second half of the season, but they won't be in a position to win the title themselves.

Liverpool have just as good of a chance as Chelsea at winning the title--and that's a slim one--because they're not losing anyone to the African Cup of Nations and they're getting healthier and healthier. I think they'll finish just ahead of Chelsea this season, with United winning the league, then Arsenal, then Liverpool, and then Chelsea.