Be interesting to see what happens if United beat them in the derby. Seem a lot more solid with this eras team though so might play into United hands in that way as they usually are cautious against the bigger sides and mean they might nick a win.

We actually have a very strong recent league record against City. Beat them home & away last season, one of only two teams to beat them in 100 point season etc.

 

Plus we're playing away so one of these long-running records (City's winning streak vs our unbeaten away streak) has to give!

Be interesting to see what happens if United beat them in the derby. Seem a lot more solid with this eras team though so might play into United hands in that way as they usually are cautious against the bigger sides and mean they might nick a win.

 

They've basically copied similar to what Liverpool did around mid-2018 and tweaked their formation to have more control and be less suspect to the transition. They know how to win uglier now whereas before it was all pure football. There are signs they are coming towards the end of the run though and playing every 3-4 days is not going to help, but they do have the best depth in the league. Like with all teams, someone will find a way to really nulify their threat and it will act as a blueprint.

 

I'm predicting probably another 0-0.

Brighton must've been the unluckiest team in the world on Saturday! :lol:

 

Shame to see Leeds lose against Villa but I can't say we deserved a win on the day, they looked to have the better of us.

Here are just some mad stats about this season, its's utterly bonkers and I'm sure it will regress to normality next season. I genuinely don't think many teams have actually got better this season, more the fact that others have just got worse.

 

9 teams have a better away record than home record

62% of games have seen the away team take something

38% home wins

Home goals per match 1.34, away 1.32

 

While don't get me wrong City have been really good this season, I'd like to see how they play with the pressure of the crowd.

City will be the same as they're used to playing in silent stadiums ;P

Any Utd fans worried then? A 0-0 away from home is not that bad in isolation against Palace and certainly doesn't warrant a major inquest but it's bizzare how much Utd have fallen off a cliff with their league form. Don't think they're any closer to a title challenge and Ole is in danger of somehow dragging Utd in to a Top 4 battle.

Nope not worried yet, still in a very strong position and the all the teams below us have to play each other yet. We were never over the hills for top 4 I'm not sure why people & pundits alike were saying we were?!

 

I am worried that we've gone back to the dark days of LvG though with 3 straight 0-0s, although I'd snap your arm off for a 4th this Sunday!

Needless to say there's some more worry here :D

 

Largely down to having far too many injuries, but the mostly second choice team we've had just isn't enough to be getting points in the PL, and now that's eight losses (and one draw) in nine league games. Didn't think I'd be saying it back in November when we briefly went to the top of the league but the Sheffield United game on Saturday is going to be important, and even they managed to win last night...

Southampton look very bad. Literally a team sleepwalking into relegation on current form. You probably only need 2 more wins to be safe which shouldn't be too problematic but I do wonder what the long-term consequences of that second 9-0 are after bouncing back so impressively the first time around. It wouldn't surprise me to see the board panic & sack Hasenhuttl next month if things don't pick up.

Southampton look very bad. Literally a team sleepwalking into relegation on current form. You probably only need 2 more wins to be safe which shouldn't be too problematic but I do wonder what the long-term consequences of that second 9-0 are after bouncing back so impressively the first time around. It wouldn't surprise me to see the board panic & sack Hasenhuttl next month if things don't pick up.

Yeah, it's a relief we did so well in the first half of the season! I expect sacking Hasenhüttl is off the table completely, the general view is that it isn't really his fault. We've been very unfortunate with injuries (and indeed the squad we had for that 9-0 was one of the weakest lineups we have ever had in a PL match, with next to no experience whatsoever on the bench) and we just don't have the squad depth to deal with it. At least there's still a cup run going I guess, and a relatively generous fixture list on the way with a few opportunities to turn this form around (Sheff Utd at the weekend, Brighton later this month, and next month Burnley, West Brom and Palace) but of course if we lose them that just makes our situation worse!

Nope not worried yet, still in a very strong position and the all the teams below us have to play each other yet. We were never over the hills for top 4 I'm not sure why people & pundits alike were saying we were?!

 

I am worried that we've gone back to the dark days of LvG though with 3 straight 0-0s, although I'd snap your arm off for a 4th this Sunday!

 

It is the same for Utd though, they still have to play Everton, West Ham, Leicester and Liverpool. For the record, I still think you will get Top 4, but to be even be potentially dragged back in to the race would be crazy considering Chelsea and Liverpool's terrible run of form.

 

With Southampton, I thought they were unlucky against Everton. Could have easily turned that game around but similarly to Liverpool, the injuries have crippled Southmapton. It's so hard to turn games around if they are tight if there are no other options apart from the patched up first XI. I think they will be OK still. A win changes everything.

With Southampton, I thought they were unlucky against Everton. Could have easily turned that game around but similarly to Liverpool, the injuries have crippled Southmapton. It's so hard to turn games around if they are tight if there are no other options apart from the patched up first XI. I think they will be OK still. A win changes everything.

Spot on. I don't really believe we will go down but it's a concern if we keep playing as we have been at least, and for the last few games I've just been expecting us to lose before we even start, but the upcoming fixtures (Man City aside) present so many chances for a win to hopefully turn things around, we just need to take them. Two or three wins should be enough realistically.

It is the same for Utd though, they still have to play Everton, West Ham, Leicester and Liverpool. For the record, I still think you will get Top 4, but to be even be potentially dragged back in to the race would be crazy considering Chelsea and Liverpool's terrible run of form.

 

Well yes but at least all that is still in our own hands, I'll be worried when we have to rely on favours from others (like everyone beating Leicester in last season's run-in)! We're in the race even now, if we lose against City (very likely) & Chelsea/West Ham win their games in hand we'll only be one point above 5th. Top 4 spots will be decided as is always, whoever f***s up the least :lol:

Spot on. I don't really believe we will go down but it's a concern if we keep playing as we have been at least, and for the last few games I've just been expecting us to lose before we even start, but the upcoming fixtures (Man City aside) present so many chances for a win to hopefully turn things around, we just need to take them. Two or three wins should be enough realistically.

 

Well I know how you feel as a Liverpool fan this season! You see the same patterns and immediately you think of the worst when you don't have any options on the bench :lol: The season is really starting to catch up with the players now you feel, there's been quite a few games which are played at a snail's pace and teams start to look really leggy. You will be fine though on the basis that Newcastle are far worse and Brighton can't score goals. The only one to worry about is Fulham.

 

Well yes but at least all that is still in our own hands, I'll be worried when we have to rely on favours from others (like everyone beating Leicester in last season's run-in)! We're in the race even now, if we lose against City (very likely) & Chelsea/West Ham win their games in hand we'll only be one point above 5th. Top 4 spots will be decided as is always, whoever f***s up the least :lol:

 

You will get Top 4 I am sure of that, Leicester will be caught up although I do think Liverpool and Chelsea will improve from here on in (the latter has already improved). But it could already be too late.

Well I know how you feel as a Liverpool fan this season! You see the same patterns and immediately you think of the worst when you don't have any options on the bench :lol: The season is really starting to catch up with the players now you feel, there's been quite a few games which are played at a snail's pace and teams start to look really leggy. You will be fine though on the basis that Newcastle are far worse and Brighton can't score goals. The only one to worry about is Fulham.

Very true, Liverpool have definitely been unfortunate with injuries too! I think Leicester have the same problem now as well.

 

Also... Newcastle are far worse?? :unsure: They beat us a few weeks ago and got a draw at the weekend!

Very true, Liverpool have definitely been unfortunate with injuries too! I think Leicester have the same problem now as well.

 

Also... Newcastle are far worse?? :unsure: They beat us a few weeks ago and got a draw at the weekend!

 

I haven't ever known a season like it! You can manage for a game r two, but when it's for a long stretch of time it's so hard. Been this way since November :lol:

 

Newcastle are way worse, plus they have Almiron and St Maximan out now as well. Not sure when Wilson is back, but that is all their best attacking players out.

Southampton are a strange case always either amazing and winning every game or losing 10 in a row and back in the relegation battle. Def think Hassenhuttel is a good manager though.

 

Just can’t wait to get back to a normal campaign again tbh, think all teams are struggling with the season with games so thick and fast.

 

I hear Liverpool have said they won’t allow their players to go on international duty at the end of the month if the players have to quarantine after.

It's just a shame that there is a team at the top that is on a winning streak and pulling far ahead of the rest, especially after the way this season started. At the early stages of the season no one was consistent and we had some of the craziest score lines that has ever been seen in the Premier League. It was looking like for once there would be a battle for the title between multiple teams who could lose to just about anyone even if they're in the relegation zone and that it would take between 80-86 points at best to win the league but it was too good to be true. Every season since 2016/17 has had the champions going on some sort of crazy winning streak and it's the type of thing that is only enjoyable if you support that particular team.

 

What this then means is that around this time of the season the focus turns to getting top 4 and it always ends up being teams that are expected to be in the top 4 that actually make it there so it's never really an overachievement. Things could be different this time with Leicester, West Ham and Everton nearby but it still doesn't shake off the disappointment as a general fan of football to see the league title drawing towards an anti-climatic conclusion, it's not even about Man United either because I've never thought for even one second that we would win the league this season. At least the third relegation spot is not looking like a forgone conclusion like it did a few weeks ago with Fulham's form improving recently and the likes of Brighton and Newcastle dropping points.

It's just a shame that there is a team at the top that is on a winning streak and pulling far ahead of the rest, especially after the way this season started. At the early stages of the season no one was consistent and we had some of the craziest score lines that has ever been seen in the Premier League. It was looking like for once there would be a battle for the title between multiple teams who could lose to just about anyone even if they're in the relegation zone and that it would take between 80-86 points at best to win the league but it was too good to be true. Every season since 2016/17 has had the champions going on some sort of crazy winning streak and it's the type of thing that is only enjoyable if you support that particular team.

 

What this then means is that around this time of the season the focus turns to getting top 4 and it always ends up being teams that are expected to be in the top 4 that actually make it there so it's never really an overachievement. Things could be different this time with Leicester, West Ham and Everton nearby but it still doesn't shake off the disappointment as a general fan of football to see the league title drawing towards an anti-climatic conclusion, it's not even about Man United either because I've never thought for even one second that we would win the league this season. At least the third relegation spot is not looking like a forgone conclusion like it did a few weeks ago with Fulham's form improving recently and the likes of Brighton and Newcastle dropping points.

 

You make a good point and part of this is down to City. They were good with Mancini and Pellegrini but Pep has taken them to another level in terms of consistency. While I get he is a total chequebook manager, I also do feel he's a really good manager too. The potential good thing is the next generation of managers all seem to be club legends who get the manager gigs and there doesn't seem to be the same level of managerial coaches coming through. City are obviously financially dodgy and despite the pandemic it looks like they're still going to have a budget of £200m net in the summer :lol: Annoying really when they can sign Messi, pay him a pittance and then when he eventually moves to New York Red Bull FC he will be on $2m per week for a couple of years.