Pazza Inter indeed.
Given the precise set of circumstances needed.
On both league and UCL fronts this season
By the book, VVD should have been off.
holy hell Thomas almost killed a guy.
Officiating in the CL is very lenient when it comes to direct sending off offenses.
I don't know how you look at that as anything other than serious foul play. Unlucky for VVD, but it was. Come in studs up on top of the ball, sliding, and you're responsible for the result.
Hopefully Gomez can recover from his broken leg in time to be fit for the first knockout round. I'm not sure I want to see a CL match with a Lovren/Matip centerback pairing.
He's been damn good the past 2 games.
Should be more than ready for a February UCL tie.
I broke my fibula in mid-November and was back playing basketball in January. I walked on it for a week thinking it was a high ankle sprain. Then I was in a cast for 3-4 weeks. My biggest issue was with the ligament damage. That took longer to heal than the bone.
I haven't seen which bone he broke. Based on what I saw, I'd think it was the fibula. It also didn't look like there would be much damage other than the broken bone. They refused to let me look at his charts, though. I'm not a doctor so it wouldn't have mattered anyway.
That being said, a return to light training in 4-5 weeks isn't that extraordinary. That would give him a good portion of January to work closer to playing shape. Joe Gomez is a slightly better athlete than I am. He also has access to better rehab.
He's had some injury history and some set backs from those recoveries. He's far too valuable for them to rush him back. So sure, he could resume light training in 4 weeks. Probably full training at 6. That would put him on course to be back by the 1/19 match against Palace. And I could very well see them holding off until 1/30 against Leceister.
Things could change with injuries or suspensions of course, but Lovren, Matip, Clyne, Milner and all capable backups. And I suspect that there will be strong consideration to play Fabinho as CB or RB as well.
The club said "up to six weeks," with a potential earlier return. Either way, I'd be shocked if he isn't back for the round of 16 in mid-February.
Matip broke his collarbone, so it looks like Lovren and VVD are going to be rather busy.
Or so one of the beat writers on twitter claimed. I would think Fabinho or Milner? Hell, Milner is probably the 3rd goalie, right?
I don't think Milner has the height to play CB. That being said, I wouldn't be shocked if Milner was successful.
All possible opponents for Liverpool in the Group of 16. Holy smokes.
Keeping that midfield makes me think he has money on Liverpool not advancing.
Also probably glad I wasn't able to watch.
I hate that midfield trio too, but they weren't the problem today. They linked up nicely with the front three -- Mane just had a case of the yips. Alas, through the last 16!
That's the same midfield that took them to the UCL finals last year.
Sure, we all like the thought of Fabinho, Keita and Shaq upgrading the midfield. But you're talking about a situation in which conceding one goal most likely gets you booted when you are playing a team that gives up less than a goal per game.
I have no problem sticking with your guns and looking for the spark from the others if you need them.
I rather like Henderson. He's not flashy, but he gets the job done and provides good leadership. Sure, Fabinho is probably the better player. But that would have been a huge, huge call to drop Hendo in the biggest match of the season.
Henderson, especially so. He needs to be consistent.
Also, you're discounting what Ox added to the midfield last season.
Top of the table is ineffective now?
Klopp has changed the formation/strategy to concede fewer goals. It has worked. It comes at the expense of the lethal attack we saw last year. But it's getting better.
Again, the appeal of Keita, Fabinho and Shaq is nice. But they have been far from consistent.
Tell me your lineup that you are putting out there knowing that one goal ends the tourney.
They are showing Barcelona-Spurs on TNT in the same window as Liverpool-Napoli. The schedule was probably made out long ago. Who would guessed the game at Anfield would have been so crucial? No one can blame putting Messi and Kane on TNT.
https://www.livesoccertv.com/channels/tnt-usa/
And they probably could’ve predicted the final group game would be meaningless for a Barcelona while the last games on Group C would be the most interesting. I get your point but I’m the modern media landscape flexibility should reign.
Tons of Liverpool fans forking over their singles today I imagine.
Hasn't been the most compelling one. I paid for the whole season at the start. Ugh.
Really wish FOX had kept the rights, but they were outbid. I'm already paying for Match Pass since I need my weekly Bundesliga fix.