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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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OP
1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
So last week I predicted in the shout box that the Leeds v Man City game and Newcastle v Liverpool game, are going to be where this Premier League Title is effectively won or lost.
The landscape has cleared a little more since I made that bold prediction and I am ever more convinced that out of those last 5 games for both Man City & Liverpool the next PL game for both teams is pivotal to where the title ends up.
Before then it's the little matter of Champions League Semi-Final 1st legs with both Man city and Liverpool entertaining Spanish opposition.
Man City v Real Madrid - tomorrow night
Liverpool v Villareal - Wednesday night
My thinking is that Man City are going to either draw or take a small 1 nil advantage to Real Madrid for the 2nd leg, with an away fixture at Leeds in the later game kick off, this Saturday, in-between.
Now there is a definite pattern to teams Man City have problems against in the PL especially at stadiums where the fans are intimidating...Crystal Palace to name one and you can also put Leeds into this mix. Yes! Leeds have only been back in PL for last 2 seasons however based on these 3 results the H2H stands at 1 win each and 1 draw. Going back through history the last time City won at Leeds was the 00/01 season a 1 v 2 win for City.
Leeds are not yet out the woods for their Premier League survival, sitting 5 points clear of Everton, with them having played a game more. Man City will be rocking up at their gaffe with a big eye on their CL semi-final 2nd leg at the Bernabéu (Madrid) on the following Wednesday night. If there was ever a game in Man City's last 5 PL fixtures that they take their eye off the ball, it is going to be the Leeds game. Man City and Pep's march to that 1st elusive CL title for Man City could derail their PL title challenge.
Leeds come into this game on the back of a hard fought point at Crystal Palace this evening after having the previous 2 weeks off. Fatigue should not be an issue for them and as far as conditioning goes they are in a better place than a Man City side that has played some massive games this month - 2 x Athletic Madrid and 2 x Liverpool amongst those fixtures - 7 games so far this month for City with a game on average every 3 days. Leeds by contrast have only played 3 games this month, inc' tonight's game @Palace.
Leeds new manager also has had experience already this season v Man City in the game that ultimately got him the sack in Man City's 1st CL game this season - Man City 6 v 3 RB Leipzig. City coasted to a 3 nil lead before Leipzig pegged them back to 3 v 2. Leeds are also in a decent bit of form under Marsch being unbeaten in their last 5 games.
Of City's 5 games the games being touted as potential banana skins aren't looking that way to me @West Ham who have dropped away for CL places and will look to the Europa League to achieve CL now and @Wolves which has to be arranged, however Wolves have also dropped away from european places and were beaten by Burnley over the weekend. So it's the Leeds game that provides the biggest chance of a slip up for Man City of their remaining 5 PL games.
For Liverpool the banana skin game is also this Saturday's game @ Newcastle when they take to the pitch in the early kick off having only had 2 1/2 days rest. Newcastle have been in terrific form, getting into the top half of the table on the back of 4 wins in a row. We also know the Geordies won't make it easy for us and will want a big scalp to introduce everybody of things to come. The Spurs game is obviously the one where most folks think we are likely to slip up but they have been wishy washy of late having looked to be certs for the 4th spot. I'm more nervous at the Newcastle fixture than Spurs because of venue - Anfield has been a fortress this season for us in PL having not lost at home with 3 draws courtesy of City, Brighton & Chelsea and 14 wins.
I'll be watching tomorrow night's Man City CL semi-final 1st leg in the hopes Real Madrid can keep it tight and maybe nick a goal making the tie still in the balance.
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 58
Under 16 Player
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Under 16 Player
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 58 |
Agree with you Pickles - great research by the way! A favour from Leeds and a win away at Newcastle would be a good way to end the week.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 312
Under 16 Player
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Under 16 Player
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 312 |
Yes Pickles I thought of ur Leeds prediction when I saw Sky analyse the remaining fixtures last night and basically say the same thing.
Good shout.
Still think City will win at Elland road and my hopes are on their trip to West Ham.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 232
Under 16 Player
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Under 16 Player
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 232 |
I hope City drop points but honestly barely anyone even bothers trying to lay a glove on them and I think they are nailed on for it.
Take the Liverpool Everton game from Sunday, that was a real slog, teams vary rarely do that to City and just seem to roll over.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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OP
1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
I really don't think it was that much of a slog for Liverpool in the Everton game. Everton had their moments however Liverpool have had those sort of games as have Man City this season. When teams put 10 players behind the ball and hoof it up the pitch to a willing runner (for Everton it was Gordon) they are going to create moments of uncertainty. 85% pass accuracy we had v Everton who were just barely 40% for pass accuracy - we also had 83% possession to Everton's 17% - that's the 2nd highest possession percentage in premier league history!
One thing apparent this season than any other under Klopp is his willingness to change things up earlier to get a result. Our bench now being a match for City's allows Klopp to do this when he sees things aren't working. I was quite vocal at times in previous seasons about Klopp waiting too late in games to make changes. This season he has shifted on this by making changes earlier and that's down to having the players who can change games coming from off the bench - I expect this even more next season with the 5 subs rule.
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054 |
Yes Pickles I thought of ur Leeds prediction when I saw Sky analyse the remaining fixtures last night and basically say the same thing.
Good shout.
Still think City will win at Elland road and my hopes are on their trip to West Ham.
I was thinking City away at West Ham could be a game City drop points, but if West Ham win the Europa League semi final against Eintracht Frankfurt, they play the Europa League final 3 days after they play City, so they will just rest all the best players against City for the final, Moyes would love that!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
So last week I predicted in the shout box that the Leeds v Man City game and Newcastle v Liverpool game, are going to be where this Premier League Title is effectively won or lost.
The landscape has cleared a little more since I made that bold prediction and I am ever more convinced that out of those last 5 games for both Man City & Liverpool the next PL game for both teams is pivotal to where the title ends up.
Before then it's the little matter of Champions League Semi-Final 1st legs with both Man city and Liverpool entertaining Spanish opposition.
Man City v Real Madrid - tomorrow night
Liverpool v Villareal - Wednesday night
My thinking is that Man City are going to either draw or take a small 1 nil advantage to Real Madrid for the 2nd leg, with an away fixture at Leeds in the later game kick off, this Saturday, in-between.
Now there is a definite pattern to teams Man City have problems against in the PL especially at stadiums where the fans are intimidating...Crystal Palace to name one and you can also put Leeds into this mix. Yes! Leeds have only been back in PL for last 2 seasons however based on these 3 results the H2H stands at 1 win each and 1 draw. Going back through history the last time City won at Leeds was the 00/01 season a 1 v 2 win for City.
Leeds are not yet out the woods for their Premier League survival, sitting 5 points clear of Everton, with them having played a game more. Man City will be rocking up at their gaffe with a big eye on their CL semi-final 2nd leg at the Bernabéu (Madrid) on the following Wednesday night. If there was ever a game in Man City's last 5 PL fixtures that they take their eye off the ball, it is going to be the Leeds game. Man City and Pep's march to that 1st elusive CL title for Man City could derail their PL title challenge.
Leeds come into this game on the back of a hard fought point at Crystal Palace this evening after having the previous 2 weeks off. Fatigue should not be an issue for them and as far as conditioning goes they are in a better place than a Man City side that has played some massive games this month - 2 x Athletic Madrid and 2 x Liverpool amongst those fixtures - 7 games so far this month for City with a game on average every 3 days. Leeds by contrast have only played 3 games this month, inc' tonight's game @Palace.
Leeds new manager also has had experience already this season v Man City in the game that ultimately got him the sack in Man City's 1st CL game this season - Man City 6 v 3 RB Leipzig. City coasted to a 3 nil lead before Leipzig pegged them back to 3 v 2. Leeds are also in a decent bit of form under Marsch being unbeaten in their last 5 games.
Of City's 5 games the games being touted as potential banana skins aren't looking that way to me @West Ham who have dropped away for CL places and will look to the Europa League to achieve CL now and @Wolves which has to be arranged, however Wolves have also dropped away from european places and were beaten by Burnley over the weekend. So it's the Leeds game that provides the biggest chance of a slip up for Man City of their remaining 5 PL games.
For Liverpool the banana skin game is also this Saturday's game @ Newcastle when they take to the pitch in the early kick off having only had 2 1/2 days rest. Newcastle have been in terrific form, getting into the top half of the table on the back of 4 wins in a row. We also know the Geordies won't make it easy for us and will want a big scalp to introduce everybody of things to come. The Spurs game is obviously the one where most folks think we are likely to slip up but they have been wishy washy of late having looked to be certs for the 4th spot. I'm more nervous at the Newcastle fixture than Spurs because of venue - Anfield has been a fortress this season for us in PL having not lost at home with 3 draws courtesy of City, Brighton & Chelsea and 14 wins.
I'll be watching tomorrow night's Man City CL semi-final 1st leg in the hopes Real Madrid can keep it tight and maybe nick a goal making the tie still in the balance.
Wow, looks like you have a lot of spare time
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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OP
1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
Wow, looks like you have a lot of spare time
It's called contributing to the forum...you should try it sometime, instead of your usual whingeing.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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OP
1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
A decent result for us tonight (Man City 4 v 3 Real Madrid) and it looks like Stones has an injury, he was replaced by Fernandinho.
They are definitely going to be distracted now from the Leeds game with just a 1 goal advantage going to the Bernabéu a week tomorrow night.
I really hope Leeds have aright go at them on Saturday although our game earlier in the day @Newcastle we can put the pressure on City with a win, before they kick off at Leeds.
Come on Redmen.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
A decent result for us tonight (Man City 4 v 3 Real Madrid) and it looks like Stones has an injury, he was replaced by Fernandinho.
They are definitely going to be distracted now from the Leeds game with just a 1 goal advantage going to the Bernabéu a week tomorrow night.
I really hope Leeds have aright go at them on Saturday although our game earlier in the day @Newcastle we can put the pressure on City with a win, before they kick off at Leeds.
Come on Redmen. We have a much tougher game than them especially given the recovery time after our CL game
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