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06 Sep 2021 06:24:10
I apologise for another positive post, but I just need something clarified.

Liverpool's critics have asked whom we can fall back on if any of our important players such as Salah or Van Dijk are injured.

But what happens to Chelsea if they lose Lukaku? What happens to Man City if they lose KDB? What happens to United if they lose Fernandes?

The prevailing logic in punditry has been that Chelsea and City (and in some people's eyes even United) are impervious to injuries to important players but Liverpool aren't.

What a load of rubbish.

Where are Chelsea's goals going to come from if they lose Lukaku? Their top goalscorer in the league last season was Jorginho with 7 goals, ALL of which were penalties.

City don't have a single prolific goalscorer and need to rely on tactical reshuffles, much of which relies on KDB.

United's midfield lacks structure and control, so what happens if they lose the player whose goalscoring and goal creations somewhat compensates for the lack of structure? What happens if they even lose McTominay?

So I don't understand this notion that our rivals, especially Chelsea, have more balanced squads when they've got their own squad shortcomings that need to be navigated.

What also bugs me is that if it weren't for Tuchel, nobody would be rating Chelsea's squad over Liverpool's - not even with Lukaku. They were distinctly average under Lampard, they leaked goals for fun (with the exact same defenders) and they couldn't put any balls in the back of the net at the other end of the pitch. Not many people rated Chelsea to get past an over-the-hill Real Madrid let alone City in the final, but suddenly Tuchel pulls off a few masterclasses and they're the best squad in the country? Come off it! If Pep hadn't completely s*** the bed in the final then would Chelsea's squad be talked about in the same regard? I really doubt that!

This is not a diss on Chelsea and everyone else, in fact I strongly respect Tuchel in particular and his squad, it's rather a diss at the lazy punditry designed to generate hype and interest for the new season instead of properly dissecting what is happening. I think everyone has been swept up with the Chelsea and United hype because everyone wants a classic 4-horse race just like PL's good old days of 2004 to 2009. Hype always follows the big spending teams but that hype often falls flat on its arse.

Agree11 Disagree0

06 Sep 2021 07:12:27
I agree with that to a degree Jeremy . Lampard had failed where Tuchel has so far succeeded told me a lot about the caliber of the two coaches, a four horse race would be very interesting, its Man utd that seem to be the wild card in that presumed group. The second coming may not yield the resurrection that the Red Devils are anticipating. Liverpool look well balanced if a touch light in depth, City are what they are and I'd expect Chelsea to continue be a top contender.

06 Sep 2021 07:20:09
Man utd have still got ole! the only manager in the conversation who has yet to win a trophy.

06 Sep 2021 07:32:17
Finally someone with sense!

06 Sep 2021 07:35:35
Vermiculo,

I definitely expect City and Chelsea to challenge, my gripe is that the quality of their squads doesn't remove Liverpool from the equation as they're a lot more equal to Liverpool than people seem prepared to admit.

Liverpool have the best first XI, which is the most important part of a squad. We have the best goalkeeper, the best back four, a very strong starting midfield and a very strong forward line. I would've rated the front 3 as the best in the league but United now have Ronaldo and Greenwood hitting his stride, whom I think is gold dust.

City are stacked with tricky midfielders and wingers, but it's a crucial necessity for Pep to have that depth because he can't execute his playing style without them.

06 Sep 2021 07:37:44
Not many people thought Chelsea would beat an absolutely shocking Madrid side. Everyone except you thought they would easily beat RM. we just made RM look far better than they were.

I am not sure we get a single player in Chelsea’s starting midfield. Chelsea were in transition last season and they are clearly improving. I would be surprised if Chelsea don’t get around 90 points this season.

06 Sep 2021 07:45:08
Also further to my point re Chelsea, I think we need to see how Chelsea can hold up over 38 games, because everyone is assessing Chelsea based on what they did in the Champions League and we know better than anyone what a different kettle of fish it is to winning the league title. Chelsea are still a bigger unknown quantity in the league than Liverpool, executing masterclasses in the UCL like we did under Rafa doesn't mean you have the wherewithal for a league title grind, which we've proven to be capable of.

06 Sep 2021 08:02:42
Don't be ridiculous markp08, this is the exact kind of revisionism I'm talking about. Chelsea were definitely not expected to sweep Madrid aside like that.

Who cares if none of our midfielders get into Chelsea's? You could argue that Liverpool had a stronger midfield than United from 08 to 09 and look at the difference that made.

Most of Liverpool's defenders and attackers, and their goalkeeper, walk into Chelsea's team.

06 Sep 2021 08:30:12
You are going over the top on Chelsea mate. Salah gets in Chelsea’s team that’s it atm for the forwards. Defence I agree. The way your talking you think Chelsea will get less than 80 points. We have more questions to answer than Chelsea.

06 Sep 2021 08:53:38
I'm not saying that at all mark. Chelsea just have more to prove than Liverpool. Chelsea would still take Mane over Werner as well.

06 Sep 2021 09:03:54
I love Mane but nobody knows which Mane we will see this year. We pray it’s the Mane of 2 seasons ago. Firmino we can’t rely on and which Thiago will we see.

A massive question for me is who plays left midfield, because I don’t think it can be Hendo.

I don’t care, in fact it’s good all pundits have wrote us off, I just don’t see why you are trying to put Chelsea down as I think they will be right up there.

06 Sep 2021 09:07:24
Asserting that which players would get in opposition sides usually ignores the requirements placed upon the teams by the incumbent management . As to which of the main protagonists has the best team and is the most likely to succeed in the quest for that ridiculous lump of lazily designed silverware, only father time could tell . Meanwhile we shall argue till the wee hours, lose friends, alienate family and generally make clowns of ourselves in a frighteningly repetitive manner until the distant far off promised land of adulthood.

06 Sep 2021 09:23:13
None of our players could get into Chelsea's starting midfield? Come on, are you really saying you'd want Jorginho over Fabinho? Or Hendo?

06 Sep 2021 09:32:09
Mark, I'm not putting Chelsea down and I did make a point to clarify that I still strongly respect Tuchel and his squad. It's still a very good squad. I'm just highlighting weaknesses and questions that are being ignored by a lot of people. What are Chelsea going to do if they lose Lukaku? If people can ask the same question in respect to Liverpool and Salah or Van Dijk, then the same has to be asked of a team who bought Lukaku to fill a gaping hole in their squad. Do they have enough goals to win the league if Lukaku gets injured or goes through a long barren spell?

As for Mane, I think he has shown at the end of last season and the start of this season that he is rediscovering his mojo. He copped C.V. last season and from thereon lost all of his energy and sharpness. But the Mane I have seen in the last 6 games or so much more so resembles the Mane we know. He didn't suddenly become an average player.

06 Sep 2021 09:33:08
Mark Werner does not displace any of our front three. Not ever. The guy is catastrophic in front of goal since his move to the Premiership. We dodged a bullet there and nothing to do with his hearing affliction and loud crowd noises last season. He was terrible for Germany at the Euros too.

06 Sep 2021 09:33:20
I actually agree with you Vermiculo, what I'm doing is turning people's logic back on them. They've completely disregarded the team chemistry and harmony created by Klopp's management.

06 Sep 2021 10:04:53
Markp, if you truly love Mane does it matter which one turns up?

06 Sep 2021 10:44:12
It matters to the team mate. If last years Mane turns up he clearly shouldn’t be an automatic starter. I love the team far more than any individual.

06 Sep 2021 12:27:45
I think only ManU can go 2 or 3 deep in attack, but then they, like the rest of the league will start to be impacted by injuries to key players. what we and every team need to avoid is losing loads of players at one time, but that would seem obvious.

06 Sep 2021 12:34:20
If City lose KDB and Chelsea lose Lukaku they just go back to winning the League or CL, they have quality after quality, we lack massively, there's no way we have the injuries we did again, but our problem is also, the front 4 can't play every week and certainly in Bobby and Manes case, they can't keep up the form of 2 years ago.

06 Sep 2021 13:24:02
Kante
Saul
Mount
Not sure how we get one in atm.

06 Sep 2021 14:17:12
How can you say Saul is a midfield starter for Chelsea when he hasn't even made a single appearance for them?

06 Sep 2021 14:56:45
They bought him to play as far as I understand it Zp.

06 Sep 2021 17:03:57
Ughh, Mark same ole stuff again? This player does not make it into that team and vice versa. Ugh, give it a rest bro. The OP makes some salient points that you have not even addressed. Whether this or that player would start ahead of this or that player in this or that team, is irrelevant IF you don't consider systems and ethos of both teams.

Chelsea are a defend-first team cos when Tuchel came in, they could not score goals nor keep them out hence, the 5 at the back that they play. Also, that system will work in a knockout comp. esp. going against a wretched RM team that we should have beaten and we weren't even at our best and wet the bed on a tactical level. Chelsea saw that and did not make such mistakes and won the CL and hats off to them. The comparison is irrelevant.

Now, it's Mane that is your new target? What has that got to do with whether Chelsea can compete if all their top guys are injured? Nobody knows what Saul will do so stop bigging him up in a bid to put us down cos there is NO evidence to prove he will be great for them either.

The fact is that as OP said, If they lose their top players esp. Lukaku, they will struggle, Chelsea have NOT challenged for the title in 4 years, Tuchel has NO history of challenging in a 38 game season in England. Facts. LFC have that lived experience and that could count for a lot moving forward.

06 Sep 2021 23:45:13
Saul Niguez, such a good player who would walk into any team yet Atletico don't want him.

Lancaster, you just talk dribble mate. I'm talking about the league. If Chelsea lose Lukaku then they are not winning the league. Likely not the Champions League either. Ditto Man City.







 

 

 
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