Ketsbaia

Gutted that this is all getting to Howe. Questionable tactics, increasingly bizarre decision-making, blind loyalty..... there's obviously a big asterisk next to all this due to injuries but I thought he was more adaptable and competent than this.

With a heavily optimistic mindset, it could maybe be 6th. But we're probably talking 7th at best, which is a massive shame. All it took was one bad month.

It's scary how quickly things have turned. 3 weeks ago, we were fans of a Champions League team and checking UEFA co-ordinates to see if 5th would be good enough to qualify next season. Now we're 9th, about to face Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa. There's a pretty decent chance that we'll enter February in 11th/12th place, as teams like Chelsea, Wolves and Bournemouth are close by. Our mostly-fit squad playing once a week should put together a strong run in the later months - I'm confident of that - but it feels like it's a fight for 7th, possibly 6th at a stretch.

Old Yeller is fresh in the mind, for some reason....

Number 6 midfielder + a creative Almiron replacement as the absolute, mandatory minimum. Ideally a Dubravka improvement too.

Starting to develop a physical reaction to seeing him play. Not a good one. His time is up.

Damn, so that really was just some flukey form. Enough to con us into thinking he was something else. But he's just average.

Considering there'll be zero points throughout January, I do worry about Howe. Although 'worry' might be wrong, as his predictable tactics + questionable in-game decisions are a big part of this complete freefall. Suddenly the season is destined for 8th-10th, all those good times quickly forgotten. I don't know how we get out of this.

Another matchday ????

A Champions League footballer dressed like he's just sung at his school's carol show.

Oh fuck... another match

I'm one of the many who've had all four bench players bring in a return Each benching made sense: 8 pts - Areola (Fabianski will start) 10 pts - Gabriel (Liverpool will score) 8 pts - Archer (tough game for Sheff Utd) 6 pts - Taylor (he's Burnley)

Immediate names that come to mind are Almiron, Wilson, Burn, Dubravka. Got confidence in none of them, looking forward. Gonna ease off Trippier a bit, considering something is definitely up with him. Today, gotta say Longstaff + Bruno were poor.

It's a sad decline

Even a top sixometer will look ambitious once we've got past Liverpool/City/Villa. The worry is that the January signings will be too late because these will have effectively chcuked away our season by then. Twiddling our thumbs for a 7th-9th spot. So disappointed in these guys.... a lot of goodwill and credit has rightly been earned over the last 18 months. But it's quickly slipping away.

Done with this one. It's the end of the line for a few, after today - Almiron is part of that.

Another match? Fuck off, man Probably the usual late conceded equaliser after attempting to hang-on with a bunch of questionable in-game decisions. Let's pick Guimaraes and Miley for injuries, this time.

I still can't shake off my decades-long apathetic attitude towards this competition. Just felt that we'd never have beaten Liverpool anyway and, pre-match, instead of excitement it was more about being pissed off that yet another match would inevitably bring more injuries. So it is what it is. What's frustrating is that we played with 50% effort and still almost beat them comfortably. Not once did I believe their half-chances would go in. But Kieran

That's what we're trying to figure out at work - whether the PL want to call it at 1-1, play the final 25 mins or do the whole thing again from scratch. Got a horrible feeling it'll be the final option, where spending four points to buy Solanke ends up being bad rather than good.

Fucking Villa, man. Just stop.

A 1-1 minger, continuing the rot.

Bit bored of watching him tbh. This upgrade needs to happen ASAP.

To throw away the game like that to a truly poor opponent.... it's gonna hurt for years. Honestly, can't believe we let that happen. It was on a plate. Absolutely gutted.

On the bus to town Haven't got a ticket but just want to be nearby, in case tonight turns out to be an all-time special one.

Feels like they're always winning. Should've put money on this one because it was so obvious.