The dreaded international break is over. Large number of games today, but the only two really standing out are Leicester/Chelsea and Man City/Everton. Shit games on Sunday and ManU/Liverpool on Monday.
EPL 10/15 Weekend
- Thread starter Time to Mo Vaughn
- Start date
Costa with a very early goal. We knew Leicester wasn't going to repeat, but it appears they'll be struggling to stay in the top half of the league this year.
Don't hang your heads, Leicester fans! You're never out of a game when David Luiz is defending against you!
I may have to eat my words about Theo Walcott. Perhaps no longer being guaranteed playing time has woken him up, but 2 goals on today. 5 in 9 premier league games and 6 in 10 games overall on the season.
Cech looked pretty far off his angle on that goal by Sigurdsson, all that you hear from the commentary is about the brilliant finish but it hit just outside the center of the net (had some curl, of course).
Probably a combo of bad positioning and a good shot more than just simply the latter. And yes, I am nitpicking.
Probably a combo of bad positioning and a good shot more than just simply the latter. And yes, I am nitpicking.
Chelsea played some pretty wonderful attacking football overall - Costa's hold-up to spring Hazard was lucky but incredible, and the one-touch backheel by (?) for same was even better and all skill.
Potentially very costly red card to Xhaka with 20 minutes left in regulation up 3-2. It was a pretty clear yellow, but I was very surprised to see a red. Wasn't aggressive or dangerous (he just clipped his back foot) and there were multiple Arsenal defenders between where he was at the half line and the net.
Yeah, it's the kind of play that almost always gets yellow, and I assume that's Xhaka was even expecting it. The total cynicism of it, with Barrow being far away and Xhaka having zero chance to get the ball and simply taking out Barrow, must have pissed off Moss.
Yeah its a cynical tackle and its obviously a card but a red?
Not for me. Walcott got elbowed in the eye and they didn't even card the guy.
Not for me. Walcott got elbowed in the eye and they didn't even card the guy.
Assuming, it doesn't get dropped to a yellow in appeal, which I think it might, Arsenal are fortunate that their next two fixtures are against Middlesborough and Sunderland.
DELE TIES IT, off a scramble and created by Son in the goal mouth.
Spurs, unsurprisingly, carrying possession by 73/27 at the moment.
Edit: Ben Foster has been ridiculously good in goal for WBA today.
Creswell back for West Ham. Of course the team's leading scorer is being moved to right back because Bilic refuses to admit Antonio isn't a right back.
Edit oh shit 3 at the back, so either a 3-4-3 or 5-2-3 depending on how you look at it.
Edit oh shit 3 at the back, so either a 3-4-3 or 5-2-3 depending on how you look at it.
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How bad was that last one? Holy hell, I think everyone in this forum couldve potted that one.
Creswell fouled in the box, not only not a penalty given a yellow. Then a bad 2nd yellow for the red.
Yeah, that was terrible. You guys finally get him back and then lose him for another game too. The ref did not have a great game.
United-Liverpool at Anfield in an hour. Its early in the season but this is a huge match, not just because its United-Liverpool but because of the trajectory of the two teams. A win here and Liverpool can go top while a loss would really put the pressure on Mourinho. In contrast, a Liverpool loss takes the air out of their impressive start (although three points off top is still not bad at all given their schedule) and really reinvigorates United.
I'm hoping that Liverpool presses them to death and wins 3-1 or something like that. But I can also see a Mourinho special with United scoring a couple jammy goals or off set pieces and coming out with a draw or a 2-1 win.
I'm hoping that Liverpool presses them to death and wins 3-1 or something like that. But I can also see a Mourinho special with United scoring a couple jammy goals or off set pieces and coming out with a draw or a 2-1 win.
This and the reverse fixture at OT are the two games that get me in a mess, which is why I don't bother watching them in a pub anymore as I tend to get a bit...vocal?
I don't have Sky at home so will probably try a stream shortly otherwise it's 5Live radio for me and wearing out the threads on the carpet, pacing up and down.
Team news due in a couple of minutes...word is Lallana may be fit after all.
I don't have Sky at home so will probably try a stream shortly otherwise it's 5Live radio for me and wearing out the threads on the carpet, pacing up and down.
Team news due in a couple of minutes...word is Lallana may be fit after all.
Wrong...that's not the best of starts...
Liverpool: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Coutinho, Firmino, Mane, Sturridge
Man Utd: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Pogba, Fellaini; Rashford, Ibrahimovic, Young
Man United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Herrera, Pogba, Young, Fellaini, Rashford, Ibrahimovic.
No Rooney. Ashley Young makes his first start of the season. Surprised to see Young preferred over Mata or Martial or Mkhitaryan.
No Rooney. Ashley Young makes his first start of the season. Surprised to see Young preferred over Mata or Martial or Mkhitaryan.
This should be an interesting matchup. That is a very quick, attack-oriented lineup that Klopp has put out, with Sturridge, Mane, Firmino, and Coutinho all in the side (the alternative being three of that group and then Lallana). They should have the lion's share of possession and press United hard when they lose possession. On the other hand, that United lineup is pretty lumbering and defensive, with three CMs and Young not much of a goal threat on the wing, but should be brutal to defend on set pieces and crosses. Smalling/Bailly/Ibra/Fellaini/Pogba makes five players 6'2-6'5 who are good in the air.
I can't watch til later tonight but did take a peak at the lineups.
I don't mind Young in the lineup as he should put in a defensive shift. Looks like a 4-3-3 from Mourinho or maybe Pogba pushed up a bit. Surprised not to see Shaw in the lineup but Blind has been good in his absence on the left (one major gaff aside). It'll be interesting to read comments after the match about this strategy from Mou. This is the first game where he's gone defensive and will clearly give up possession.
Here's hoping Rashford can get into open space against Milner.
Martial apparently has a slight knock. Who is this Mkhitarian you speak of?
I don't mind Young in the lineup as he should put in a defensive shift. Looks like a 4-3-3 from Mourinho or maybe Pogba pushed up a bit. Surprised not to see Shaw in the lineup but Blind has been good in his absence on the left (one major gaff aside). It'll be interesting to read comments after the match about this strategy from Mou. This is the first game where he's gone defensive and will clearly give up possession.
Here's hoping Rashford can get into open space against Milner.
Martial apparently has a slight knock. Who is this Mkhitarian you speak of?
Liverpool XI: Karius; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Henderson, Can; Coutinho, Firmino, Mane; Sturridge. Subs:
Mignolet, Moreno, Klavan, Lucas, Grujic, Lallana, Origi.
Wijnaldum completely out, Can in. Can stuck around Melwood during the break, so hopefully he is ready to both track Pogba and join the attack against what looks like a very defensive set up.
Lallana on the bench makes me think that he'll sub in for Sturridge if it's a close match in either direction.
And here's hoping Karius is better with the ball at his feet today than he was against Swansea. I thought his distribution was fantastic against Derby. Hull gave him nothing to do. But Rashford's speed and Ibra's wiles leave me a little worried.
Mignolet, Moreno, Klavan, Lucas, Grujic, Lallana, Origi.
Wijnaldum completely out, Can in. Can stuck around Melwood during the break, so hopefully he is ready to both track Pogba and join the attack against what looks like a very defensive set up.
Lallana on the bench makes me think that he'll sub in for Sturridge if it's a close match in either direction.
And here's hoping Karius is better with the ball at his feet today than he was against Swansea. I thought his distribution was fantastic against Derby. Hull gave him nothing to do. But Rashford's speed and Ibra's wiles leave me a little worried.
United have come out very aggressively, not letting Liverpool get into any rhythm in possession so far.
United are pressing much higher than I would have expected. Liverpool have been very poor, both in possession and in their defensive shape. United are getting all the 50/50 balls because they are in better position.
Can and Henderson have both been pretty awful so far. Liverpool cant string three passes together.
Well that was pretty disappointing.
The match completely changed around 25-30 minutes, but neither dynamic (United pressing high, Liverpool clueless or United dropping off more, Liverpool dominant in possession) produced a single good scoring opportunity for either team.
The match completely changed around 25-30 minutes, but neither dynamic (United pressing high, Liverpool clueless or United dropping off more, Liverpool dominant in possession) produced a single good scoring opportunity for either team.
ESPNFC used to provide formation and heatmap information on their game center / gamecast. I can't seem to locate it this season. Is it still there (and I can't find) or is there another reliable source for formation info in real time?
Weird question: Have matches at Anfield used this primary camera location all year? I'm streaming using the NBC app and the camera appears more elevated and less up close. Reminds me of how they broadcast from Man CIty. I don't mind as you see more of what is going on off the ball.
De Gea made a couple really good saves to keep it scoreless, United really never had a dangerous attack.
A bit disappointing from a Liverpool perspective, but 2 points off the top at this point given the schedule so far is pretty good.
A bit disappointing from a Liverpool perspective, but 2 points off the top at this point given the schedule so far is pretty good.
Jose gonna Jose. He came for a draw and he got one. The first half tactics seemed to work really well but United were just holding on the entire second half, hardly posing any threat at all on the break.
That's the most expensive team in the history of football by the way.
That's the most expensive team in the history of football by the way.
Man I'm glad I made up an excuse to get out of work and watch that one.
Brutal to watch but it didn't seem like Jose wanted much more than a draw. Credit to him, he got it - mainly thanks to the outstanding save by De Gea on Coutinho's curler, as well as Ashley Young and Daley Blind shutting down Liverpool's right side completely
Brutal to watch but it didn't seem like Jose wanted much more than a draw. Credit to him, he got it - mainly thanks to the outstanding save by De Gea on Coutinho's curler, as well as Ashley Young and Daley Blind shutting down Liverpool's right side completely
They expanded the main stand where the TV cameras are so may be that's why they found a higher position.
I thought the better De Gea save was the Can dribble-through-mayhem-at-the-6, point-blank toe poke, which he somehow got down for faster than gravity should have permitted.
But the most impressive goal-prevention effort was probably Valencia making up 2 strides on Firmino in the space of about 4 strides, and knocking away that breakaway ball in the 83'. Seriously, I have no idea how he made up that ground.