Liverpool v Arsenal (league), 20:00 BST (28.09, SS Main Event)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:sick:

Presume we'll try the old low block and hoof again in this match. Not sure how successful it will be now they have Thiago.

[Marc Overmars]

I guess there’s a bit of hope now we could be more resilient but it’s Anfield and the possibility of us being steamrolled is always strong.

Expecting the usual defeat but hopefully we can pub something out of it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Thiago wasn't in training today or yesterday, maybe he'll just be on the bench.

Alisson didn't train either but more inclined to think he'd come straight back in anyway.

[I am invisible]

Ugh... I hate Liverpool-week

[I am invisible]

:sick:

Presume we'll try the old low block and hoof again in this match. Not sure how successful it will be now they have Thiago.
We could try kicking balls at arms in their area?

[Letters]

3-0

[Niall_Quinn]

3-0

Ozil hattrick?

[Mac76]

We could try kicking balls at arms in their area?

that sounds like a plan... :lol:

but i'm not too worried anyway, without the fans it's just another football ground - Mickey Tets will have a master plan as always -

1-2 :)

[Letters]

Gotta say, and I may have been fooled by another false dawn, I have more confidence that we might get something out of this than I have for a long time in a game like this.

[I am invisible]

that sounds like a plan... :lol:

but i'm not too worried anyway, without the fans it's just another football ground - Mickey Tets will have a master plan as always -

1-2 :)
Diving - that’s another good one.

What’s the longest amount of time a player can shield the ball by the corner flag for?

[Niall_Quinn]

The current team is probably more suited to playing Liverpool than opponents like Sheffield. We're better as underdogs because the opposition won't sit back and expose our total lack of creativity.

[Mac76]

Diving - that’s another good one.

What’s the longest amount of time a player can shield the ball by the corner flag for?

Hwnei mamged about ten minutes once i think :lol:

I really hate that tactic though, total anti-football

[Marc Overmars]

that sounds like a plan... :lol:

but i'm not too worried anyway, without the fans it's just another football ground - Mickey Tets will have a master plan as always -

1-2 :)

Wish I had your optimism! I just don’t see how our flimsy midfield doesn’t get overrun. West Ham bypassed them with ease so god knows what Liverpool could do if they’re on it.

Granted I’m more confident of us executing some sort of game plan with Arteta but I’m not sure it will be enough.

[Mac76]

Actually good point, i didn't see the west spam game so missed how bad we were, but stil, being mediocre against a mid-table side and then rising to the occasion against a bigger club has become our stock-in-trade, so still think we could come away with something, though a draw more likely than a win

It certainly won't be goalless...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Adrian, Milner, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Origi, Williams.

Arsenal: Leno, Holding, David Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Eleneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs: Runarsson, Gabriel, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe, Nketiah.

-----------

No Thiago. :lol:

[I am invisible]

Actually good point, i didn't see the west spam game so misseod how bad we were, but stil, being mediocre against a mid-table side and then rising to the occasion against a bigger club has become our stock-in-trade, so still think we could come away with something, though a draw more likely than a win

It certainly won't be goalless...

I’m not reading too much into the West Ham game for now - most team’s performances are going to be kind of erratic for a as few weeks with so little preseason.

My bigger concern is that it feels like we’re becoming kind of reliant on Mickey pulling a tactical surprise out of his hat to win games - great that he can do it, but at some point he’s going to run out of tricks (or teams will start to notice a pattern and will adapt) and when that happens we’re going to have to start winning simply by being good. Desperately need those midfield signings to give this team a proper middle and link the front and back parts of the side.

[Marc Overmars]

David Luiz. :lol:

Please don’t do something stupid.

[Marc Overmars]

Midfield looks like it will have a woeful lack of creativity. Relying on KT and Bellerin to stretch them.

[fakeyank]

Why would you drop Gabriel?!

[Mac76]

or Ceballos for that matter, we need him to cut through Van Dyke etc

[I am invisible]

Why would you drop Gabriel?!
We probably want both Tierney and AMN dovetailing on the left, and maybe Gabriel’s English isn’t strong enough for him to be the man in the centre of the 3 yet? That’d be my guess.

[Mac76]

but Luiz will be taken for a ride by Salah all night

[Mac76]

Arteta thinks Luiz gives us something different - he's right, he gives us stupid mistakes

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[Mac76]

how do we get away with wearing red shorts when liverpool also wear red shorts...? :shrug:

[GP]

Taking a knee :bow:

BLM :bow:

[I am invisible]

how do we get away with wearing red shorts when liverpool also wear red shorts...? :shrug:
White shirt?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Send Mane off!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Only a yellow for Mane. :sarcy:

[GP]

Clear elbow!

WTF!

[Mac76]

luiz plays it out :haha:

[Mac76]

Only a yellow for Mane. :sarcy:

that's a red IMO

[Niall_Quinn]

You can't raise your arm to an opponent.

Unless it is in the first few minutes. Unless it is a big money player. And provided he doesn't play for Arsenal.

Clearly says that in the unwritten rules.

[Gooner23]

Clear elbow!

WTF!

If that was Xhaka it would be red

[Mac76]

laca was fouled surely?

[Marc Overmars]

Mane was very lucky to get away with that. Ref bottled it because it was so early.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz cuts out Van Dijk's header. :bow:

Great cross from AA.

[Marc Overmars]

Trent is a freak.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keita shot, Holding defends stoutly. :unsure:

[Globalgunner]

Right from the off Mane started with a rough lunge at Bellerin in the back. Our man didn't like it one bit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Salah skies it. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alisson with a pass to Leno. :lol:

[Mac76]

salah sends the ball into space

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great save from Leno to deny Mane.

[Marc Overmars]

Well done Leno

[Globalgunner]

Brilliant from Leno

[Niall_Quinn]

What's the idea behind letting Liverpool have the ball unopposed in their own half? What advantage can come of that?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hoofing it is no good if nobody makes a run in its direction. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

This is painful. We need at least one guy beyond the halfway line. It's like a training session so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AA shot deflects on to the bar! :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Satan on our side :bow:

[Mac76]

what's xhaka's problem ffs?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pub touch from Wijnaldum.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Foul throw.

Bellerin. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wijnaldum scuffer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

LACAZETTE!!!! COME ON!!!!

Play up the pitch again. :bow:

[WMUG]

Satan on our side :bow:

:Satan:

Apparently we got rid of that one :lol:

[GP]

GET THE FUCK IN!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

Get in!!

We’re so pub. :haha:

[Globalgunner]

How the fuck did we do that,
I'll take it. 0-1

[Niall_Quinn]

Ah ha ha.

0-1

Assist from Liverpool's defence.

Funny old game.

[Mac76]

robertson :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Laca goal machine this season.

:bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Did the commentators apologise for that goal? Have we ruined the script?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Mane.

That went well.

[Mac76]

Get in!!

We’re so pub. :haha:

yeah, totally pub goal by both robertson and laca :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

:rolleyes:

[GP]

Should have put money on it after he got away with the red

[Niall_Quinn]

That didn't last long.

Just dreadful defending. We've returned the gift.

[Marc Overmars]

Let’s just try not to cave in now.

[Niall_Quinn]

No apology for the Liverpool goal?

I'm offended.

[Niall_Quinn]

Good idea to start playing it around on the edge of the box though. What could go wrong?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gary Neville is becoming a Liverpool fan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Robertson. Oh dear.

[Marc Overmars]

We’ve got no one decent in tight spaces. Easy for Liverpool to press us.

What I’d give for a peak Rosicky, Santi or Cesc in this team.

[Marc Overmars]

Game over.

[Marc Overmars]

Nice tracking there Willian.

[Mac76]

that should never have got through to robertson, three of our defenders failed to get to it

[Globalgunner]

The Liverpool CBs spend the whole game in the centre circle.
Didnt Robertson control that with his hands?
We need a new game plan. This one is shit

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh. Went to get me dinner. 2-1. Figures.

[Mac76]

we're not enough of a threat without either ceballos or saka

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Willian did well this time.

Holding gave it away.

[Niall_Quinn]

I wonder, if we injected just a single ounce of ambition, might it help?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Woeful control from AMN, he was in!

[Xhaka Can’t]

Playing it and losing it on the edge of our own 18 yard box from our goal kick is fucking stupid.

[Marc Overmars]

This is as bad as any of the past beatings we’ve received at Anfield really, in terms of performance.

We just can’t compete, or rather we’ve chosen not to because we’re too scared to have a go. We’re just relying on something bumbling our way from all the hoofing.

[Mac76]

Woeful control from AMN, he was in!

yeah, awful - actually think it was offside

[Globalgunner]

we're not enough of a threat without either ceballos or saka

A midfield of El Neny, Xhaka and AMN is a real dopey affair

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Why did you drop that Gabriel? Thought he'd been half decent for you? Especially given how much Salah enjoys going past David Luiz.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 HT.

The game isn't out of sight at half time, at Anfield.

Progress. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why did you drop that Gabriel? Thought he'd been half decent for you?

He wants David Luiz's hoofs in the team for this one.

[Mac76]

i really hate xhaka

[Marc Overmars]

We look every bit the mid table side playing against the champions.

Only one goal though in it, maybe we can fluke another in.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

He wants David Luiz's hoofs in the team for this one.

But he has the distinct disadvantage of not being very good.

[Globalgunner]

Why did you drop that Gabriel? Thought he'd been half decent for you?

Who knows. Probably went for experience with Luiz. i would have had him and Luiz as well as holding and played Tierney instead of AMN.

[Mac76]

pretty shit first half and we got what we deserved - he needs to swap xhaka for dani at half time and bring on pepe for willian

[Niall_Quinn]

45 minutes of letting Liverpool do whatever they want. There's a difference between a lack of creativity and the total absence of it. Surely he has to bring on Saka? At least it would introduce a degree of threat that Liverpool might have to pay attention to.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

But he has the distinct disadvantage of not being very good.

Well that's not exclusive to him.

[Globalgunner]

i really hate xhaka

Its a big club youre in. He is simply deadweight.

[Marc Overmars]

Would like to apologise to Old Man Wenger for all the times I mocked his penchant for technical midfielders. At least it created football that was somewhat palatable.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They didn't even mention Mane's obvious red at half time. :haha:

[Master Splinter]

Why don't teams just put two or three players on TAA?

Almost every chance comes from one of his passes or crosses.

Robertson's a constant danger as well, but TAA is basically a Bergkamp-level playmaker playing at right-back.

[Niall_Quinn]

2 touches in the opposition box? That's embarrassing. Can that be a real stat?

[Marc Overmars]

2 touches in the opposition box? That's embarrassing. Can that be a real stat?

It’s us.

Of course it’s real.

[Niall_Quinn]

You can get 6-1 odds with bet365 on Mane punching somebody in the face and getting away with it. Easy money.

[Marc Overmars]

Come on Arsenal. Do something.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mane skies it.

[Niall_Quinn]

We win the ball, finally. And then play it backwards. Nothing good can happen when that's your whole game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AA booked. Run at him!

[Marc Overmars]

Has any team ever played it out from the back less convincingly than us?

[Marc Overmars]

Almost forgot Auba was on the pitch.

[Globalgunner]

Would like to apologise to Old Man Wenger for all the times I mocked his penchant for technical midfielders. At least it created football that was somewhat palatable.

You're buying his book. That's apology enough.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holding, mate. :lol:

[Mac76]

i wonder if Auba's regretting that new contract yet...

[Niall_Quinn]

Bellerin is so negative now. Always looking for the easiest option.

[Globalgunner]

Clowns cant even keep possession in their own box passing between each other.

[Mac76]

Holding, mate. :lol:

he's having another of those games i'm afraid

[Marc Overmars]

It would be a miracle if we avoided conceding a third.

[Mac76]

remind me, when did tony pulis become our manager? we're playing like stoke without the violence

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Willian gets taken out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How was Lacazette offside when just before he was the one defending for us?

Bloody terrible play.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka hauled off, Ceballos on.

[Marc Overmars]

Here comes Ceballos. To do what, I don’t know.

[Mac76]

Xhaka hauled off, Ceballos on.

:clap:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Van Dijk hammers it, Leno parries it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette you berk!

Great pass from Ceballos.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba, WTF was that?

[Marc Overmars]

Auba. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mane with some great defending for us.

[Niall_Quinn]

Dreadful from both our front men.

[Letters]

Lacazette you berk!

Great pass from Ceballos.

Honestly. What a dick.

[Marc Overmars]

Really poor from Lacashite there. Had so much to aim at.

Probably won’t get a better chance than that.

[Mac76]

Lacazette you berk!

Great pass from Ceballos.

correct on both counts

[Mac76]

Auba :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'd like Pepe and Nketiah on.

Lacazette looks fucked.

[Globalgunner]

Mane runs through our players like he is the incredible hulk. they just fall like bowling pins in front of him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bellerin booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Willian hauled off, Pepe on. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ref stops us counter attacking to give us a foul. Tit.

[Marc Overmars]

Mane runs through our players like he is the incredible hulk. they just fall like bowling pins in front of him

He’s ridiculous. Just seems to manoeuvre any situation to his advantage.

[Master Splinter]

Ref not even hiding it.

[Marc Overmars]

Mane again there. Never his ball to win but Bellerin just melts away.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ceballos booked. :lol:

[Mac76]

seriously the number of times Luiz has put holding in trouble...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette off, Nketiah on.

Me. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Are they still using that rule where we get booked for every foul?

[Niall_Quinn]

We play it all around the back, provided we don't get robbed, then hoof it to the opposition. Why?

[Mac76]

Are they still using that rule where we get booked for every foul?

yes, that will never be changed

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Firmino shot deflects behind.

Ceballos. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ceballos has been fantastic.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Another foul throw.

Fuck sake Bellerin.

[Marc Overmars]

Woeful corner from Pepe

[Niall_Quinn]

Pepe can't even take a corner. 70 mill :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keita off, Milner on.

Mane hauled off, Diogo Jota on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jota. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jota just dropped the Ashes.

[Niall_Quinn]

Some of the worst football I've ever seen. Can't even achieve the basic stuff. And the pissing around at the back is just a mystery. When has it ever led to anything except disaster?

[Marc Overmars]

There’s only a goal in it, have a go for god sake. You’d think we were defending a lead or something the way we’re set up.

[Niall_Quinn]

I was wondering why they bought that Jota bloke. Why do they need him? To give everyone else a chance?

[Mac76]

jota :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe does the same thing again!

[Marc Overmars]

Pepe with another shit corner. FFS.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking hell Pepe! WTF? What a joke.

[Mac76]

jota :lol:

and again :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

To add a bit of contrarian balance, for as long as there stays one goal in it....

[Niall_Quinn]

It's all well and good being just the goal behind. But we have to actually try to score if we want a point.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 Jota. David Luiz gave it away really.

[Marc Overmars]

To add a bit of contrarian balance, for as long as there stays one goal in it....

You’re safe. We’d rather have a respectable defeat than try for a point.

[Marc Overmars]

There it is.

[LDG]

Bollocks

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh well. Mis-hits it in. But there was only one team on the pitch tbf.

[Globalgunner]

The Arsenal gift of handing players their first PL goal continues. Woeful defending as ever

[Niall_Quinn]

We might even score now - just to rub it in.

[Mac76]

3-1 Jota. David Luiz gave it away really.

not a great header but no-one did well there really

[Marc Overmars]

We don’t even get roasted on commentary anymore. Just a nice pat on the head and a thank you for trying.

[Globalgunner]

Great thing about this COVID thing is the poor old away fans dont have to travel long distances to watch this shit by us again and again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 FT. Meh.

We'll get them on Thursday in the bigger game. :bow:

[Mac76]

3-1 FT. Meh.

We'll get them on Thursday in the bigger game. :bow:

:lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Passing in the final third today has been horrific.

FT 3-1

Shocker.

When the result actually counts we aren't within a thousand miles of the top teams.

[Niall_Quinn]

Plodding. Uninventive. No urgency. No desire. Zero ambition. So negative. And the same thing over and over and over again, regardless of how ineffective.

It's just horrible to watch.

[Gooner23]

Ceballos should have started, think that was a mistake from Arteta. I understand not wanting to get ripped to shreds but you also can't invite that much pressure from Liverpool and get away with it.

[Mac76]

Plodding. Uninventive. No urgency. No desire. Zero ambition. So negative. And the same thing over and over and over again, regardless of how ineffective.

It's just horrible to watch.

sorry is this Arsenal you're talking about, or your posts about the US election?

[Niall_Quinn]

sorry is this Arsenal you're talking about, or your posts about the US election?

Check thread title for clues.

[Letters]

It's just horrible to watch.
So's your face :cool:

[Niall_Quinn]

So's your face :cool:

Which doesn't bother me because I can't see it.

That's the tactic I have been using with Arsenal too of late, not watching it. Fucked up last night, big time.

[Letters]

Arteta has piqued my interest and I've watched a bit more of late.
I thought we were Ok last night. We were playing a side a level above us. A level above everyone really.
We could have been blown away but I thought we held our own. We restricted them to a few clear chances, Laca should have equalised.
No-one's going to get much at Anfield this year.