midds

With just 38 games to go until the end of the Premier League season, the maths is simple: Liverpool are in control of their Premier League destiny. All they need to do is win their remaining games and the 19th league title that the club has craved for a quarter of a century will be theirs. Unlike previous near misses, such as 2009’s late rally when the reds were banking on Manchester United slipping up during the title run-in, or 2014’s goal difference-fuelled three-way battle with Manchester City and Chelsea, Liverpool are now firmly in the driving seat. Not since 1990 has top flight league silverware graced the Anfield trophy room, but now, with the title in their grasp as they enter what Sir Alex Ferguson famously called “squeaky-bum time”, that could all change in just nine months. But being in touching distance of the Premier League trophy just over a year ago, the pressure will surely mount ever more between now and the end of the season on the champions elect. Rodgers summed up the mood at pre-season training at Melwood yesterday: “It’s nice to be in control of our own destiny and not have anyone have games in hand over us”. Captain Jordan Henderson added, “Who would have thought that at this stage of the season we’d be masters of our own fate? To be this close: we can finally dare to dream.” “We go again. Just 38 more times.”

Score would have been magnificent but for a simple Rochdale/Rotherham mix up.

Good summary. Assuming Mitrovic isn't serious class, the midfield/attack is decent atm. Potential to be very good, but we've no one with the quality of certain recent attackers gone by (Carroll, Ba, Remy, Cisse '12, Hatem). Like I say, as it stands, it's pretty solid. Aching for good coaching and a valid, coherent system. There's no guarantees and it's imbalanced, but if we behaved like a real club that tried to compete and wasn't itching to sell, you'd look at that part of the squad and see it as something we could really build on. There's no excuse for the state of the defense. Taylor and Willo starting games together - even in a friendly - is pretty disgraceful. Haidara and Dummett are varying degrees of meh, and Janmaat's okay. All things considered, the squad - like the entire mantra of the club - is in no state to be challenging the top 6. It could've been, because the ingredients to do so are simple - but it's not. Those 11 players are probably competing for 6 places in the team. A few of them on the bench and a couple injured/suspended (it's inevitable). There's no need to play the likes of Gouffran, Obertan, Riviere either if that lot can stay fit and healthy. I've still got a bit of faith in Krul to get things back on track, he needs to refocus but he was very good a few years ago and a new coach and a fresh start could zip him back to the form he was in 3 season ago. I like Janmaat and I've got high hopes for Mbemba (he'll need time and patience obviously) but after that the back 5 look poor. Haidara and Darlow could push on, Dummett too but Colocinni, Williamson and Taylor are tear gas. Need 3 defenders in to replace this little lot but it could be done for around £15 - 20m. That's how far short we are of having a competitive squad imo. Just spend a little bit more on the back 4 and we're there or thereabouts for a push at top 8.

Cabella, Aarons, De Jong, Sissoko, Mitrovic, Perez, Cisse, Wijnaldum, Anita...Tiote, Colback. There's 11 players all with differing amounts of strengths who'll need to be blended into an efficient attacking unit. The talent is there but it needs a good manager to get the right balance. The defence is just a holocaust atm.

That's got to be a written warning, surely?

So after 5 weeks of pre-season training and 7 pre-season friendlies (failing to win 5 of them) we still have absolutely no idea what the entire spine of the team is going to be. No idea who will start in the centre of defence, no idea who will lead the line and no idea about the formation and personnel of the midfield. 6 injuries to the first team squad (including the captain). Not going to pretend I've got a clue about who or how we'll play but I'm rapidly losing any meagre semblance of faith/hope I had in McClaren being a fresh start. He's publically toeing the party line, he's starting players that shouldn't be playing in this division and we're still making the same stupid mistakes in the first third that have been prevalent for the last 3 years. Fully aware that this could all change once the competitive games start and we suddenly flick the switch and look competent, it's happened before. Hope this is the case and we get off to a decent start and we've got 25-30 points by Xmas but I've seen nothing so far to convince me that this will take place. Still loads of work to do on and off the park. Let's hope they're up to it...

Translation: Oh, Jack Colback you're 1 massive mong.

Because he's definitely not Cabaye's replacement. Definitely not.

Only a matter of time before a European Super League is created. Hopefully.

If Mike Williamson is still playing for this football club this season then McClaren's failed imo. I know it's harsh on the bloke but being organised means fuck all if you're still relying on this fucker to do it. Same applies to Obertan for that matter.

Bendtner 1-1. Great finish actually.

He'll need to find a way to park the fucking caravan next week.

A direct consequence of not being sure about what division we were going to be participating (nearly used 'competing' there) in until the final 15 minutes of the last game of the season. Preparing a side for a PL campaign would be a lot different to preparing one to get out of the Championship. Absolutely no surprise to me that we've started this season in exactly the same manner we finished the last one. Uninterested, disorganised at the back and offering little threat against the most mediocre of opposition. This should have been a fresh start and nothing's changed.

It's only a friendly... It's only a friendly... It's only a friendly... It's only a friendly...

Need at least another CB in (2 if Colo goes) and a winger minimum. This is also dependant on replacing anyone who leaves in the next month too.

The home and away kits are sensational like. Not fussed on the 3rd one.

Clinging on to the hope that McClaren is putting these sides out as a nudge to the board to highlight just how light we are in some areas. Surely he can see that the best CBs we have are woefully inadequate and their back-ups are even worse still? Getting dicked by York City and the fucking Portland timbers, pre-season or not, doesn't bode well for us taking on really good teams who'll simply smash us to pieces unless we invest significantly. Therein lies the problem, as ever.

To the naked eye, perhaps. Look at the stats mate.

Probably not the wisest of decisions to let Newcastle, Sunderland and Boro all play away in Yorkshire on the same night. Let's hope the idiots behave themselves on the way back up.

Continuing to make our own luck I see.

Not sure I'd even want to go to watch them even if it was free.

The lack of sponsor is the kicker for me. Back to basics ftw.

Hear, hear. Bought one for myself and once I've figured out which size to buy for the boy he's getting one too. No way will he be used as a walking advert for loan sharks, fuck that.

Sharp as a dart that.