Newcastle v Liverpool (Match Thread)

[CCTV]

We're evolving towards controlling matches, having been moving away from our intense pressing and counter-attacks. I prefer the "Dortmund" style Liverpool in terms of entertainment, but you can understand (injuries, reduced sprints, system being the star moreso than individual players) why we might want to continue an evolution towards a "Barca/City" style of play to maximise our own chances and minimise the threat of the opposition, though naturally there are going to be some teething problems that come along with it.

Dont you mean a pep side with a clinical fella playing cf/fanny9
Messi/Lewandowski/Aguerro

Love Bobby but he can play 10 behind a cf, again especially v smaller sides who'll setup very defensively

[Nineteenx]

Although i want us to win every game and am of course hugely disappointed, we should all remember a huge part of our incredible form and ability to win games even when not playing well these past 2 seasons was down to incredible continuity of selection and formation and having all our best 14 players (except matip) fit and available almost every game

Considering the injuries, having to change how we play and everything else we're actually doing brilliantly and just when we are flagging a little Thiago is finally fit again and we'll hopefully have a CB arriving as soon as the window opens, i schuurs hope so

[CCTV]

Although i want us to win every game and am of course hugely disappointed, we should all remember a huge part of our incredible form and ability to win games even when not playing well these past 2 seasons was down to incredible continuity of selection and formation and having all our best 14 players (except matip) fit and available almost every game

Considering the injuries, having to change how we play and everything else we're actually doing brilliantly and just when we are flagging a little Thiago is finally fit again and we'll hopefully have a CB arriving as soon as the window opens, i schuurs hope so

Except for our great home 4-0 comeback win v Barca where Origi & Shaqiri started ahead of Bobby and Mo, or that 18/19 season we played more 4231 than in 19/20 getting the same points statistically or practically at least - yet had a +15 better goal difference & won a champions league title.

[Insidious]

Considering the injuries, having to change how we play and everything else we're actually doing brilliantly and just when we are flagging a little Thiago is finally fit again and we'll hopefully have a CB arriving as soon as the window opens, i schuurs hope so

I'm largely in agreement with this outlook.

- Our two senior centre-backs injured, then Matip, the third, injured.

-One of the world's best midfielders restricted to playing something like two, maybe two and a half hours of Football due to injury.

- The most talented and most reliable reliable back-up to our front 3 out through a knee injury.

- Arguably the World's best Goalie missing games.

- VAR decisions that have gone in the favour of other clubs, but have gone against us.

Now, after all that, look at the sides around us and think of the "after 16 games" table as some of those sides have one or two games in hand. One team - ONE team can go level with us - that's United, if they beat Villa. Everybody else, even if they get maximum points from their games in hand (not guaranteed!) will be a point behind us, or more.

We can't guarantee their fitness for the rest of the season as that is not how Football works, but we have our keeper back. We have Thiago back. We have Ox back. Jota will be back in a matter of weeks. The 25-game mark is still NINE matches (27 possible points) away - and come Friday, we will, at worst, be level with one other side and ahead of everyone else.

Also, for those worrying about United (fair enough, they're closest to us, big squad, getting decisions, few injuries, some momentum) just remember that they have a capacity for bottling in their recent history - three semi-final losses last season and the only side of six English teams in Europe not to escape their group this season.

Just think a breather is needed - and a win against Southampton would definitely help a Hell of a lot. We need to stay level / within touching distance for a little bit longer and the boom, business time.

[Kev0909]

Newcastle's attacking stats so far this season..
Touches - 20th
Passes - 20th
Shots - 20th
Passes in opponents half - 20th
Passes into final third - 20th
Passes into opponents box - 20th
Touches in opponents. box - 20th


Yet we setup how we did played milner and henderson together, took to long to make changes or go for it.....

mind baffles

[ianlfc]

Newcastle's attacking stats so far this season..
Touches - 20th
Passes - 20th
Shots - 20th
Passes in opponents half - 20th
Passes into final third - 20th
Passes into opponents box - 20th
Touches in opponents. box - 20th


Yet we setup how we did played milner and henderson together, took to long to make changes or go for it.....

mind baffles

That's football and every dog has its day, as they say.
We've drawn against Fulham, West Brom and Newcastle in the past weeks and they've played arguably their best games of the season to get a point off us. Also we've been shite.
We go again, try not to get too down heartened. It helps that City have been poor as well and no one is running away with he league. We're top with a good goal difference going into the new year and we know how good we can be when it clicks. Also we've Thiago fit who after his little cameo last night looks the real deal.

[Balinkay]

Or we have a squad of champions and they are a newly promoted side.

Didn't see anyone complain we didn't copy Sheffield last year when they were mid table.

We should stop throwing our toys out of the pram. Can't believe it's only taken two years for us to become this toxic.

[CCTV]

Didn't see anyone complain we didn't copy Sheffield last year when they were mid table.

We should stop throwing our toys out of the pram. Can't believe it's only taken two years for us to become this toxic.

Think people credited wilder and his boys with doing well last year. Work rate, system and defensive record. Lost a goalkeeper to United and a cb to injury.
Only Salah at lfc has more pl goals than Bamford this year at Leeds. Whilst several clubs sit in and around us, another important difference to last year's winfest.

The manager, players and club set the expectations of the fans. Neither Leeds nor Sheffield United fans have their expectations set similarly to us. No CL title ambitions at all, likely happy with a top 10 finish and maybe leeds fans dream of a top4 finish this year, shu fans probably praying for a miracle to stay up. Neither seriously expecting to do a Leicester.

Klopp set a benchmark where it's really not expected that we'd lose back to back games, again not an expectation at Leeds or shu.
A natural progression to expecting us to not draw back to back games v wba & newc just firs that mold imo.

Couple that to our title challenge in 18/19 where fans remember the draws that allowed city back in and it's not surprising that many are peeved with the 2 draws and how it has let several teams back onto our coat tails.

I guess where you you see toxicity, I see progress. Long gone are the days of we can't do it, now it's we should and must do it.

[CCTV]

If it's any consolation we aren't at the level of the all-blacks

[stevie harkness]

Last season was incredible, since then we've had covid, lockdown, extended lockdown, no fans, and an unbelievable injury list and so fans could tailor their expectations to fit the reality.

When other clubs fans spit their dummy out then they're entitled plastics but we're a bit special.