General Premier League Thread 2020-21 - Mod Notes in 1st post. [Updated 17/12/20]

DeanAustin wrote: »

Sorry I’ll give you Allison as well. But him and Mane aside, that was Liverpool’s strongest team pretty much.

Just pointing out that for all the injuries Liverpool have had, their only catastrophic result was with something bordering a first choice team. So comments like “they’d be 7 or 8 points clear if they didn’t have any injuries” is nonsense.

Yeah I'd agree that the Villa result is the only catastrophic result so far. There's been a couple other games where VAR decisions could have gone either way which turned draws into wins. The referee/VAR decisions in the derby definitely influenced the result. Personally the last minute penalty, or Mane's goal being ruled out at Brighton didn't bother me, but the VAR ruling out Salah's goal did annoy me. But that's in the past and they won't change, so there's no point in harping on about them now. Because of those draws, the perception of Liverpool's season has changed from being one who is winning games through the adversity of injuries and instead it is one that is being constantly referred to as the team who have lost their way from last season etc.


If you would like a more detailed report, I'm more than happy to share, but the number of first team players missing per game is pretty high. It's not just 1 or 2. That's a very blinded view to take on things, especially to just ignore the quality of Matip or Thiago - players who have started for the winning side in the previous two CL finals. It's an average of over 6 players missing per game. There is also a pretty strong trend of one player getting injured every time another player comes back from an injury. And these are not "u16" that Mourinho referred to today, it's actual high standard players That can start any given game in the PL.

Leeds 3
Chelsea 4
Arsenal 5
Aston Villa 7
Everton 6
Sheff Utd 6
West Ham 7
Man City 5
Leicester 8
Brighton 8
Wolves 7
Fulham 8

Largely, Liverpool have done well in the midst of a large injury crisis. Kept ploughing along, with some great results, and some poor but not the worst. That said, to me, it does look like the sheer number of injuries are starting to catch up with the players. Not being able to rotate heavily midweek for European games is taking a toll, because the players just are not available. The players who have been keeping fit are having to play more numbers. Gini & Hendo have to play midweek games because Thiago, Keita & Ox are injured etc. Also, you can't throw too many kids into games against the likes of Ajax & Atalanta, even though 2 or 3 teenagers regularly started those games, that's probably the limit.

Mourinho made a statement today naming out players who are not injured like Firmino, Salah, Mane. This was never the problem. It's always been the continual injuries in defence & midfield that are. I'm not sure if you are aware that for the Spurs game, Liverpool currently have 3 senior fit players who can play CB and CM - Fabinho, Gini, Hendo. Curtis Jones (19) is also available and is a first team player playing well but I don't think it is fair to call him a senior player. These players can't be rested tomorrow night, or at the weekend again either because of the importance of the game, but also because of unavailability of others in the same positions. Having those 4 players to rotate every other game for the 3 midfield spots would actually be very favourable right now. It would mean that usually one player would get a rest. Instead at least one of those has to play every other game at CB because there are no CBs. A 2nd one of those players may have to start tomorrow night at CB also, reducing the number of options in midfield. That's a lot of the crux right now with Liverpool are injuries. It's constantly at the bare bones of players available in defence and midfield, in every other game. For example Trent is just coming back into the team but it is also the same time that Matip is a big doubt and Tsmikas is injured again so the chance to rest Robertson is gone.

DeanAustin wrote: »

Sorry I’ll give you Allison as well. But him and Mane aside, that was Liverpool’s strongest team pretty much.

Just pointing out that for all the injuries Liverpool have had, their only catastrophic result was with something bordering a first choice team. So comments like “they’d be 7 or 8 points clear if they didn’t have any injuries” is nonsense.

Well last season Liverpool had a similar catastrophic result, 0-3 vs relegated Watford, with a stronger side out than vs Villa this season. They won that season by a landslide, so there's not a whole lot to be taken from a rare heavy defeat. They happen.

Mendy should have kept that out imo. Wolves haven't been good since the second half started but its 1-1.
Adama Traore down after a flick from Giroud which caused his knee to jar.

Fantastic come back from Wolves

2 great goals by wolves.

Wolves get a penalty that then gets overturned because the ref watched the replay and saw the player diving....but then didn't book the diver. That's 2 games in 9 days where Wolves have had that happen, and because the ref isn't booking them they have absolutely no reason to stop trying.

Not sure how Chelsea fans are feeling but Kai Havertz hasn't shown anything yet imo

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Not sure how Chelsea fans are feeling but Kai Havertz hasn't shown anything yet imo

I know he has been injured for a spell, but you just know if he was at United, and for the same outlay, in the exact same form, he'd already be deemed a flop.

castletownman wrote: »

I know he has been injured for a spell, but you just know if he was at United, and for the same outlay, in the exact same form, he'd already be deemed a flop.

What has Man United got to do with how a Chelsea player is performing. Totally irrelevant. Woe is us, everyone is picking on us, nonsense.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Everyone has a result like that every now and again. United lost 6-1 at home on the sme day. City lost 5-2 or something to Lesiceter.

I think Liverpool would be a few points clear if they'd had less inhuries, but more because of the draws rather than the Villa result. Everton and Brighton for a start.

Yeah, the Villa result was happening regardless. From what I remember of the Watford game, they got 3 good goals. This season, Villa were gifted the opener by the reserve keeper which set them nicely on their way. A few deflected goals later and the neutrals have their pants around their ankles. :eek: