General Premier League Thread 2022-23 - mod note in OP 12/03/23

If you think that is a player jumping out of the way then I don't know what to say to you.

I have no dog in this fight but that isn't a player jumping out of the way of a tackle, that is a player stepping over the tackle and leaving a receipt on the way past. A player jumping to avoid the contact will look completely different.

Don't forget that Fabinho had full view of the tackle coming, he knew exactly what he was at.

Oh I know it's bad to be betting on his own games, but betting on yourself to score is very different than betting on your team to lose.

And I think the ban should reflect that.

Not sure if this has been discussed previously but the Saudi's got themselves into a mess in the US with a lawsuit against the PGA. They tried to halt discovery by admitting that the PIF (Vessel used to purchase Newcastle) is indeed owned and ran by the Saudi state.

I wonder if the premier league will show any backbone whatsoever in light of the admission? They claimed they have legally binding assurances that there was no connection and that if found otherwise in future they would be removed as owner.

I have zero faith in the premier league but I'm hoping against hope that this has a knock on effect with the Qatar bid for United and in some way scuppers the deal.

Dawson had a fairly tight challenge on Jota last night too. He did get the ball but the follow throw was very dangerous and it did see Jota’s ankle very nearly in a bad way. I’m not sure that type of tackle is allowed, even if you do get the ball?

Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid

Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona

Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona

Liverpool ?-? Man Utd

In a linear world Marcus Rashford must be licking his lips already. Liverpool have had too many false dawns this season, and even clean sheets against Crystal Palace (21 goals) and Wolves (18 goals) aren't that hard to achieve. Last years two ties were a 9-0 aggregate for Liverpool. This season its 4-0 to Man Utd, a massive 13 goal turnaround that shows which direction both teams are going in.

Honestly, that is one of the most biased takes on that Fabhino tackle.

Bottom line for me on Fabinho.

He was protecting himself really. At that stage, Wolves were getting stuck in to Liverpool, and the referee was letting it flow '.

Lamina' s 2 footed lunge was hugely dangerous, and in the absence of the referee protecting him or the other Liverpool players on the night, Fabinho either left one in /didn't try to avoid Lamina in the tackle.

He was 100% right imho, sometimes you gotta take things into your own hands and stand up to the bullies.

It is coming from the same ref who disallowed a goal when a player who in the process of being pushed off the ball fell into another defender so instead of either letting the goal stand or awarding a pen for the 1st foul, the player being pushed off the ball he gave a free kick out for the fouled player fouling another player.

Liverpool will best united this weekend, United have looked very leggy recently and although they’re managing to get results not much of it has been impressive.

liverpool haven’t been particularly impressive either but they’ve managed to stem the floods at the right time and will be well up for it. My guess is United will struggle to break them down in the first half, Liverpool will score from a break or set-piece and second half will end up 0-0.

not expecting it to be a match to remember in any form.

Brighton have played a blinder here.

Rejected a mid-season offer and have now tied him down to a new contract.