Liverpool FC 25/26 SEASON

[Kopites]

On 9/22/2025 at 3:56 PM, Raymondism said:

Thats why its a judgement call... 

Judgment call mean "heng" in dialect hokkien. 😁

[Fooblack]

City only had 33% of possession at the Emirates. Times are changing  and Pep Linjders is changing City to be a counter-attacking team. 

Arteta is changing Arsenal into a do-not-lose-a-game at all costs.  They have so many attacking players but chose to start a team which is determined to not concede a goal.  

[Raymondism]

On 9/22/2025 at 5:21 PM, Kopites said:

Judgment call mean "heng" in dialect hokkien. 😁

In national stadium during Malaysia cup means "Referee Kayu"!

[Raymondism]

On 9/22/2025 at 5:34 PM, Fooblack said:

City only had 33% of possession at the Emirates. Times are changing  and Pep Linjders is changing City to be a counter-attacking team. 

Arteta is changing Arsenal into a do-not-lose-a-game at all costs.  They have so many attacking players but chose to start a team which is determined to not concede a goal.  

Not sure about the counter attacking style but Ljinder favours a high defensive line... didnt watch the game and not sure where Guardiola parked the bus.. maybe the bus was parked at a high line

[Raymondism]

On 9/22/2025 at 5:18 PM, Kopites said:

Yes..yes...drop gakpo. See how many times he had ignored KK overlapping in the match..

Everyone can see...a simple pass for KK to cross definitely to cut in from the centre. 

If I am the defender...you won't pass to KK...I am waiting here for you. 

Maybe he was hoping Kerkez will pull the RB wide with RCB covering and allowing him to cut in and shoot with his right foot... his trademark move..

If Zsoboslai is in form, i rather move Ekitike or Wirtz out wide on the left... 

Edited September 22 by Raymondism

[Atrecord]

On 9/22/2025 at 4:06 PM, Raymondism said:

Wirtz... if u ask me... wasnt that bad... i would drop Gakpo first... 

Maybe Gakpo still missing Diaz and Nunez or still affected by Jota's tragic death... 

I agree. Gakpo has been very predictable in his play n also can't do much in the last few matches. Not as effective as Diaz who wasn't as good as Mane...

[Akula]

On 9/22/2025 at 5:57 PM, Raymondism said:

Not sure about the counter attacking style but Ljinder favours a high defensive line... didnt watch the game and not sure where Guardiola parked the bus.. maybe the bus was parked at a high line

ManC generally held their lines just in front of the penalty area D 

[Akula]

Reference to the Ars vs ManC game.

Both Pep(s) were contented to sit back and absorb whatever Ars throws at them once they got the lead. At times they were playing 5-4-1.....

As for Ars, think they too conservative, plus I was surprised when after they scored in the 93 minute, they were celebrating like they scored the winner.

I mean they just pulled level and with 4 more minutes (7 minutes time added initially), I thought they would grab the ball and sprint back to get ManC to restart the game. Yet they went celebrating in one corner. Somehow  it's telling.

[Jamesc]

Both teams playing for second place in the League.

Didn't lose must celebrate because looks like they will get it.

On 9/22/2025 at 8:11 PM, Akula said:

Reference to the Ars vs ManC game.

Both Pep(s) were contented to sit back and absorb whatever Ars throws at them once they got the lead. At times they were playing 5-4-1.....

As for Ars, think they too conservative, plus I was surprised when after they scored in the 93 minute, they were celebrating like they scored the winner.

I mean they just pulled level and with 4 more minutes (7 minutes time added initially), I thought they would grab the ball and sprint back to get ManC to restart the game. Yet they went celebrating in one corner. Somehow  it's telling.

 

[Atrecord]

On 9/22/2025 at 4:29 PM, Raymondism said:

Read an article that says both Guardiola and Arteta seemed to want "not losing" more than winning... both are cautious and worried that playing their usual attacking football might allow the other team to take advantage... Guardiola decides to park the bus after the break with just a slim one goal lead... afraid of losing ground on the title race... 

Clearly a compliment to Slot and his boys...

aiyoh... both of them so 胸无大志 arrh? since when they become like mourinho also...

[Atrecord]

On 9/22/2025 at 4:31 PM, Fooblack said:

draw is the best outcome for the head to head tie for the chasing pack.  both dropped points so the big winner is Pool. 5 pts ahead of gooners and 7 ahead of City.  

Had City not lost twice already, i would also have adopted this thinking - just as i had in previous seasons.

but given how poor City was last season, and also the 2 surprise losses out of the first 4 matches, i was thinking could they still be on their extended hangover, in which case Arsenal could be a bigger threat (it was not easy beating them 3 wk ago), so on that basis, maybe it might be better to peg arsenal back whenever there's a chance.

[Atrecord]

On 9/22/2025 at 5:19 PM, Kopites said:

Asernal in deeper trouble. Next match asernal away to Newcastle. City at home to Burnley..

We play crystal place away. Win next match and we will pull 2 or 3 points ahead of asernal. I don't see n asernal winning at n Newcastle. Likely another draw there.

must make sure we beat palace first hor... couldn't do so during community shield...

[Raymondism]

On 9/22/2025 at 10:19 PM, Atrecord said:

Had City not lost twice already, i would also have adopted this thinking - just as i had in previous seasons.

but given how poor City was last season, and also the 2 surprise losses out of the first 4 matches, i was thinking could they still be on their extended hangover, in which case Arsenal could be a bigger threat (it was not easy beating them 3 wk ago), so on that basis, maybe it might be better to peg arsenal back whenever there's a chance.

Draw is the best results cos opponents drop 4 points in total....

Too early to worry about who will be contender... 

Slot did well to rest Wirtz and Isak and bank on our tried and tested midfield trio and the legs of Ekitike... 

Its the small decisions throughout the season that will edge us closer to the top...

Leading 5 pts after 5 games... not bad at all

[Fooblack]

the joke was that if one said that Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez were the managers for City and Arsenal for this game, it will not be very far off in terms of the way the game went.  One played the famous marking the spaces .... and the other set up stall to be tight and not concede aka playing with the handbrakes on.  

I wonder what do these managers expect other than a stalemate.  No complaints as Pool is the big winner with both challengers dropping more points. 

 

[Atrecord]

Last season Pool won the league comfortably, with a new (not well-known) manager, and a new style - but existing players. This is a rare, and let's be honest, almost unbelieveable, scenario.

And this was in the tough EPL.

Just think of the 2 seasons that Pool was chasing City relentlessly but ultimately lost by a point, and think noone would have expected it at the beginning of last season.

Part of the reason was that the rivals - esp City who is in transition - lost points like nobody's business.

 

So after 5 games, if they continue last year's trend, it will be very welcomed. Pool just need to develop better understanding among the many new players, get used to the tempo, up the fitness, and make sure win games, comfortably if possible... then wait and hope for rivals to drop points here and there.

😄

[Raymondism]

Slot mentioned VVD, Konate, Gravenberch, Zsoboslai and Salah will be rested for the Carabao cup tie vs Southanpton..

Mama will feature in goal for sure with Robbo taking the armband at LB... Frimpong to regain match fitness by starting at RB... CB will be interesting... are we going to see Gomez partnering Leoni or will Slot ask Endo to drop into defence?

Isak to be unleashed up front with Wirtz behind him and Chiesa on the right? Will teenage sensation Ngumoha be starting or will Wirtz gets a run out on the left? 

Endo should start with Nyoni as double pivot with Jones coming in  as AM if Wirtz takes up the left forward space. These two can interchange position during the game.

My line up:

Mama, Robbo (c), Frimpong, Gomez  Leoni, Endo, Nyoni, Jones, Wirtz, Isak, Chiesa

 

 

[Maxus-MIFA9]

On 9/23/2025 at 11:30 AM, Atrecord said:

Last season Pool won the league comfortably, with a new (not well-known) manager, and a new style - but existing players. This is a rare, and let's be honest, almost unbelieveable, scenario.

And this was in the tough EPL.

Just think of the 2 seasons that Pool was chasing City relentlessly but ultimately lost by a point, and think noone would have expected it at the beginning of last season.

Part of the reason was that the rivals - esp City who is in transition - lost points like nobody's business.

 

So after 5 games, if they continue last year's trend, it will be very welcomed. Pool just need to develop better understanding among the many new players, get used to the tempo, up the fitness, and make sure win games, comfortably if possible... then wait and hope for rivals to drop points here and there.

😄

Pool lost because of referee errors costing Pool those points. 

[Daryllim1969]

Let's do some prediction of tomorrow morning game with Southampton. I start the ball rolling: Liverpool 3 Southampton 1.