JRC

Finding it weird to be assessing the relative merits of each result in the City-Bournemouth game

Not sure if they've been covered earlier or elsewhere, but those rather strange - or maybe not so unexpectedly strange given the writer - substack articles by Tony Evans (re FSG and his bizarre claimed relationship with John Henry) made almost identical claims about Rogers, and the internal response from FSG management, which was much harsher and expletive-driven than Desmond's

Arsenal fans using the 'win when not playing well' trope last night, then dismissing us. Except that's what we were doing until 2 games ago, and look what 2 extra time goals conceded does to that. If I'm not mistaken we are also ahead of last year's equivalent match for match points, as are they. I'm not saying they aren't at the moment looking well set up for a good run at the title, but let's keep a sense of perspective, FFS. (Also my guess is that most assessments of difficulty of matches played - current league position, last year etc. - would not show the massive difference that they have claimed) More worried about City atm tbh

I thought there was a real old school feel about him, although can't put my finger on why. The really heads-up and straight back posture, the high elbow running style? Not sure, but mightily impressive and controlled - for any age, wonderfully so for an 18 year old. Hope he's ok

Agree with all of that; looked very much like he heard a shout, especially as he already won some headers earlier that he had no right to - it's a real strength normally.

Yeah, I'm with you on Endo and couldn't understand some of the grief I saw him getting online, but its obviously one of those performances that divide opinion. So be it.

TBF, I heard him interviewed on Talksport barely 30 minutes after the end, and the interviewer was quite deliberately trying to stoke something up, start an agenda, and is first reply was the very essence of reasonableness - accepted we deserved the win (and are the best team in the country), they didn't do quite enough but pleased with the performance - all of which he is perfetly entitled to say. So the interviewer then took the Grealish line and he got emboldened to make the familiar points we've heard, and Moyes leant into it.

Going back up the thread a bit, some footage from the 81(?) Charity Shield vs Spurs came on my timeline, all good fun. Basically Hoddle(!) puts a surprisingly nasty one in on Souness, who just casually leaves a foot in on him as he steps away - fairly unremarkable stuff for the time. Except an old favourite of the forum decides he wants to make more of it, so in rushes - Garth Crooks; gets right in Souness's face, threatening a headbutt. Souness just looks at him with amused pity, barely concealing a need to laugh. Favourite bit is that his fellow countryman, Steve Archibald, flies in and drags Crooks away, as far and as quickly as possible, and you can see he's passing on some good advice, as in - "Are you f***ing Mental?". So Steve Archibald is probably the reason we still have Crooks around today to do his crazy stuff. Love Virgil btw.

Always liked him, capable of genuine class moments, quite stylish. Was doing a decent job for us when he had a sickening injury - broken ankle iiirc - captured on MotD. Studs got caught in the ground as he twisted or slipped; led to those bizarre boots with studs that rotated being marketed, which looked even more dangerous, and never caught on. RIP Bobby.

He is so on a roll. That stat - the only Liverpool player not to touch the ball in the build up for the Ngomuah goal (yet still the vital contribution), and then the only Liverpool player to touch the ball for our next goal - is wild. The back to back box to box runs against Arsenal that Joe Hart highlighted on MOTD should be shown to every player before the game to shame/inspire them

Dom at RB sounded like a classic 'make do' and he's already turned into the perfect meld of the best of Trent and Stevie playing there.

Absolutely not beyond the realm of possibility, especially as they kept on doubling down on their thesis when called out, like a dog with a bone.

Some Gunner tactics nerd was all in on X about Madueke being the best attacker on the pitch, great performance, had Kerkez praying etc. When pointed out that he literally never beat Kerkez, his argument boiled down to him winning corners being the most important outcome. Bonus points for getting Waitrose and Stoke in the same sentence (without a Newington)

Prison slang?

Everton did it at Anfield a few years back - not just from the kick-off, but as a tactic throughout the game, literally just punting it directly into touch and crowding the space around the thrower to win the ball back. Sounds Allerdycian, but not sure - iirc a very young Stones was playing FB for them and even as no more than a kid looked bemused at what he was being asked to do. We probably won 4-0 anyway.

Was he at Brighton when Potter was there?

Wasn't it a thing last season that they never won 3 league games in a row? Keeping that up, then. I think Gyokeres could score a fair few goals, but mostly 3rd or 4th bonus goals against cannon fodder. Thought Kerkes Vs Madueke was a great head to head contest, but Kerkes won it, he's sound now.

Joe Hart is really good as an analyst imo. Rooney more nervous but not stereotypically dim.

So we're buying Aberdeen CB Gavin Molloy? Or another, unnameable player?

Tell you what, this will be the worst f***-up of a Transfer Window ever if we sell Salah and Virgil on Monday. Just speculating, but bracing myself anyway.

That's been Konate's specialism for some time, and he's as good at intimidation as any we've had. Given this was happening to his young compatriot, genuinely surprised he didn't make his presence felt more strongly. If anything, a more worrying indicator of him not being quite right than his erratic form.

"Newcastle's resolute bracing and robust 'not-for-sale' pricing forces Liverpool into a shamefaced climbdown, paying a New British Record Transfer Fee of £111M plus 'tough, but achievable' add-ons, whilst simultaneously securing their long-term target of Strand Larsen for a cut-price £80M." We'd all do it if we were a client journalist for the Saudis wouldn't we?

Kenny-esque 2 to 3 passes ahead thinking there. Simple, effective, beautiful, genius. The assist and passing part of his game these last couple of years only confirm his position at the very summit of the LFC pantheon next to the King.

Fun to see the Geordie/Saudi client journalists maintaining that our record bid was 'disrespectful' lowballing while arguing that their public price was fiendishly set to tell the world he wasn't really for sale.

All of that, plus the willingness to mix it and even the opening up of his body to place the goal. Torres flashbacks more than a comparison of ability, but we can dream.