Welcome dear listener to this bonus episode. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz and Justin. So the Reds are 13 points clear with 67 points and 10 games to play in the League. We are going use Liverpool’s weekend off to take a broader view of the season - looking back and looking ahead to the last 3 months of the season:
Part One - looking back - 20 wins in the League, seeded first in the UCL draw (for what that is worth) and a Carabao Cup Final (with one really decent performance):
Two highlights each - (potential talking points)
Lost 1, won 11 in first 12 games
People really started to take notice when we dispatched real and city in the same week
The Fulham 2-2 win (down to 10, 1 behind and prob should’ve won) showed the type of grit the team had. Ebbs and flows of the league—been a proper champions mentality.
“Wobbles” are ties away from home, where we are still unbeaten after 28 fixtures, in tricky fixtures and with 5 games in 15 days.
Going down first or early isn’t a death knell (which is an improvement from last season)
growth/development of Dom and Gravenberch
The Spurs away 6-3, coz fuck Ange
In the cold light of day (inner chimps away and after rewatching) the data shows conclusively that we are exactly where we should be.
Healthy squad—the Arne effect? The way we play? Both?
Arsenal’s challenge - 'over my dead body’. The 11 points from 15 in the 5 games in 15 days.
Pet peeves - Michael Oliver, Rebecca Lowe and any other uninformed pundit who says it's been easy. Any others?
PGMOL in general. Not just for us but as a general rule how poor they have been
The seeding of the UCL and how little it actually means to be first.
How we are often the agents of our own demise
Part Two - looking ahead:
Champions League - tough draw, hardest side of the bracket. Club Brugge or Villa in the last 8 if we get through.
Carabao Cup final in 2 weeks against Newcastle - presumably with Joelinton and Isak (went off today, but prob be ok) No Gordon.
The league - what’s your expectation for the last 10? Let’s not leave it till the last 4
Full list of league opponents
Soton (h)
Ev (h)
Fulham (a)
Hammers (h)
Leicester (a)
Spurs (h)
Chelsea (a)
Arsenal (h) — full week in between Ars and Che
Brighton (a)
Palace (h)
Southampton and Leicester have been terrible - will van Nistelroy still be there?
6 homes, 4 aways (Fulham, Brighton, Chelsea)
Will be our 20th top flight title
Fitness and form of No. 9s to be deciding factor…?
We will be back next week with a review of PSG away (and maybe Southampton at home depending on availability). Thanks to Justin and Daz for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.
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