Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

Electric Nitwit · 22-01-2025 03:50PM

Recently saw some crap about saying Mo was the greatest statsman of all time, obviously just trying to belittle his achievements by saying his all round play isn't there, or some crap

I think his sheer consistency counts against him in some ways, so he gets overlooked for the flavour of the month (eg Isak).

Even Curtis, in that TNT video said he preferred watching Hazard. I just don't get it, the only thing about Hazard was that he was a faster dribbler maybe, so it looked more exciting?

HenrysLeftHand · 22-01-2025 08:42PM

As it stands Liverpool will be playing one of Bayern, Juve, Real Madrid or PSV in the last 16 😱

wildrover444 · 22-01-2025 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123086629#Comment_123086629

I really would prefer to place real Madrid over two legs with second leg at anfield rather than a once off game in a neutral venue and they are playing poor at the moment.

Charlie19 · 22-01-2025 09:10PM

That PSG offside decision has to be one of the tightest calls I've ever seen.

Helped by technology but still, tight as f.

Utopia Parkway · 22-01-2025 09:16PM

Currently in 15, 16, 17 & 18th spot in the table. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus & Man City.

noodler · 22-01-2025 09:59PM

City out up unless they beat Brugge.

8-10 · 22-01-2025 10:04PM

We now can't get City in the last 16

Ottoman_1000 · 22-01-2025 10:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123086971#Comment_123086971

They'll beat Brugge to go through. But they won't harm anyone in the latter stages this year.

They're absolutely woeful. Still the same issues despite a slight positive change in fortunes the last few weeks. They can score 3 or 4 against anyone, but they have absolutely no legs in either defence or midfield. They just get completely overrun by anyone that puts them on the back foot, huge gaps between their lines and they're all at sea in the full back positions. PSG could have had 8 tonight!

Utopia Parkway · 22-01-2025 10:05PM

Don't think City will get to 15-18th now. Even presuming they beat Brugge in their final game.

FernandoTorres · 22-01-2025 10:05PM

Could we end up in the perverse situation during the game where it would be better to let PSV win depending on how other games are going!?

8-10 · 22-01-2025 10:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123087004#Comment_123087004

They can't. 18th place is 4pts above them

8-10 · 22-01-2025 10:12PM

We face 15 - 18th place team regardless of finishing 1st or 2nd, which are the only 2 spots we can finish in

So result v PSV doesn't matter, so no incentive to lose

citytillidie · 22-01-2025 10:18PM

Next week will be crazy as every goal matters.

FC Bayern München (GER) V ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

Stade Brestois 29 (FRA) V Real Madrid C.F. (ESP)

Juventus (ITA) V SL Benfica (POR)

Aston Villa FC (ENG) V Celtic FC (SCO)

Are the games to watch for the teams in 15th to 18th as it stands

Utopia Parkway · 22-01-2025 10:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123087065#Comment_123087065

Think Bayern will win anyway which will probably move them up out of the 15-18 range.

Brest away could be tricky for Madrid.

8-10 · 22-01-2025 10:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123087065#Comment_123087065

Also keep an eye on Dortmund who are 14th but only on goal difference from 15th by 2 goals. PSG could still sneak into the bracket also

Weirdly makes these games more impactful to our season than our game kicking off at the same time

FernandoTorres · 22-01-2025 10:42PM

Yeah but PSV are in that 15th-18th bracket so their position could affect which teams finish there.

Dick phelan · 22-01-2025 10:48PM

To be honest it's all about the league for me, besides we shouldn't fear anyone, we don't want to play Madrid, well you can guarantee they don't want to play us even more.

8-10 · 23-01-2025 06:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123087188#Comment_123087188

But there's no way of knowing who else would be there if they win

This is why all games kick off at the same time, you can't game it

Enzokk · 23-01-2025 08:37AM

UEFA make a lot of mistakes, but the new model seems to be working. Maybe this is a once-off only but there is a lot of interest from many teams still going into the last match of the group phase. You have 8 teams vying for 6 spots in the knockout and then you have teams that will be hoping to finish in the top 8 to go directly into the R16. There are only 2 matches that has nothing on it, Young Boys v Red Star Belgrade and Sturm Graz v RB Lepzig, where none of the teams can qualify for the knockouts. The rest of the matches has something on the line, even if it something as small as finishing top of the league. So for the 1st season I think the new format has been a success, but we will need to see if it is the same next year as well.

A lot better than the old system where you maybe had 3 matches that had something on the line, but most teams knew they were going to finish top of their group so would play weakened teams in the last match.

8-10 · 23-01-2025 08:53AM

I can't see it being a lot better than a system that had 6 group games instead of 8 and another 2 games for most teams who stay in the competition before the last 16

It's a money grabber. 10 games to get to a last 16 is far too much. We're only going to have lost a third of teams by February after playing games since September

I hate it

Electric Nitwit · 23-01-2025 09:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088029#Comment_123088029

Even worse than a third, it's only a quarter of the teams out after 128 games. Ridiculous, I'm not a fan either

The Rooster · 23-01-2025 09:15AM

It’s a public entertainment business and it’s been entertaining. Definitely more interesting to play different teams each game rather than the same teams twice in the group stages.

Yes, we had two more games. But Arne chose to do feck all rotation, so that’s his choice. i’m glad we can’t get Man City or Arsenal in the last 16, but the draw will largely be pot luck from last 16 onwards. I think the ‘advantage’ of playing second leg at home is marginal at best.

Electric Nitwit · 23-01-2025 09:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088112#Comment_123088112

I remember reading something on this. Tried to look and found a Reddit post from 7yrs ago. So this allows for away goals and the knockouts were seeded so the "better" team played at home second, but... "In the round of 16, teams that played the second leg at home advanced 70% of the time, and 62.5% of the time in the quarterfinals."

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/8dc1oc/investigating_the_advantage_of_playing_second_leg/

8-10 · 23-01-2025 09:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088112#Comment_123088112

You could still have introduced a system of 6 games against different opponents, you didn't also have to introduce a bunch more games to get to the same outcome in Feb: round of Last 16

The Europa Conference League managed to do it. Identical league structure to the Champions League, but they played 6 games each not 8 and now have the same playoff from positions 9-24 before last 16 v top 8

What's wrong with that approach?

Robert2014 · 23-01-2025 11:36AM

I think Salah been disrespected is that he isn't as easy on the eyes as someone like Henry or Hazard. But he is an output machine in terms of goals and assists and impacting games and this is what I want in a player every day of the week. Someone may see he doesn't have the skills of a Berbatov, but he is a much better player because he scores goals which helps you win games.

Also on Bacjetic, an article in the Athletic right on cue, Liverpool seem happy with his progress there so most likely will stay for the rest of the season. I think a Championship load next season would be the next step to see if he can handle the cut and thrust of a season in England before seeing if he can make it at Liverpool or not.

facehugger99 · 23-01-2025 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088068#Comment_123088068

It's the lack of jeopardy that's the biggest issue.

Ridiculous that MN City can still get through to the knockouts with a win when they've been so poor.

It's all about protecting the big teams and cramming in more matches..

emo72 · 23-01-2025 11:45AM

I thought bajetic was going to be the next xabi Alonso. Hopefully.

The Rooster · 23-01-2025 11:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088175#Comment_123088175

Cheers.

Covers the period 07-08 to 16-17

Summary of findings:

In the round of 16, teams that played the second leg at home advanced 70% of the time - but teams who played second leg at home were seeded (topped their group), so you would expect more of them to go through

62.5% of the time the team who played 2nd leg at home advanced from the quarterfinals.

Only 20% of the teams that played the Semi Final second leg at home advanced to the finals, so 80% success rate for teams who played second leg away

Overall from 07-08 to 10-11, there was an advantage to playing second leg at home (% not given)

But from 11-12 to 16-17 it was 50%/50% overall so no advantage

noodler · 23-01-2025 11:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088752#Comment_123088752

I've never really seen it to the extent of some others. Not being as crap as the rest in for a few games in early 2023 is most I've ever seen.

Its no slight against him per se but for some he seems to rise in stock the less he plays.

JPup · 23-01-2025 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123088185#Comment_123088185

You're forgetting the context of where this came from. Several major European clubs wanted to break away to form a super league. The French, Spanish, Italians want more European games as it generates extra revenue. Otherwise, they just can't compete financially with the premier league.

Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

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