Premier League

[mdk2isu]

I guess maybe, but I look at it as being a hard year to replicate. Very few injuries, some lucky wins, guys getting a year older, etc. I hope you are right.

Their average age of the starting 11 is around 26-27, right in the prime of most careers. That includes Matip, and Hendo/Milner, which brings the average up a bit. I don't project any of those 3 to be regular starters next season. Gomez is younger and better than Matip. Keita has started coming around. Gini has been a steady force and Fabinho has been a rock after he staked his place in the best 11.

 

[CloneFan4]

With 35 matches completed and three to go, here is my predicted final table:
1) Man City - (Win 3) - 98 Points
2) Liverpool - (Win 3) - 97 Points
3) Tottenham - (Win 2, Lose 1) - 76 Points
4) Man U - (Win 3) - 73 Points
5) Arsenal - (Win 2, Lose 1) - 72 Points
6) Chelsea - (Win 1, Lose 2) - 70 Points

Bonus Predictions:
Valencia over Arsenal (Europa)
Chelsea over Eintracht (Europa)
Chelsea over Valencia (Europa Final)

Color me shocked at you predicting this

 

[Bigman38]

With 35 matches completed and three to go, here is my predicted final table:
1) Man City - (Win 3) - 98 Points
2) Liverpool - (Win 3) - 97 Points
3) Tottenham - (Win 2, Lose 1) - 76 Points
4) Man U - (Win 3) - 73 Points
5) Arsenal - (Win 2, Lose 1) - 72 Points
6) Chelsea - (Win 1, Lose 2) - 70 Points

Bonus Predictions:
Valencia over Arsenal (Europa)
Chelsea over Eintracht (Europa)
Chelsea over Valencia (Europa Final)

It's been an impressive race, I wouldn't discount the chance of some late fireworks. Liverpool still has some huge games outside the league while City just has the FA Cup final after. I could easily see either playing real tight if one of their games gets to half tied, or they give up an early goal.

 

[ICCYFAN]

Man U looks impotent in front of goal right now. I don't see them winning 3 games to close out the season. I think the Gunners squeak out 4th with Man U and Chelsea going to the Europa league.

Oh, and bonus prediction, Liverpool over Ajax in the Champions League final.

Man U has faltering Chelsea at home on Saturday, followed by Huddersfield (relegated) & Cardiff (18th Place); definite potential for 3 wins.

Arsenal still has two road games, where they've been less than stellar. If they stumble at Leicester City on Sunday, the door is wide open for the Red Devils...

I don't have a good feeling about Spurs versus Ajax; Spurs has too many injuries and suspensions while Ajax is young, dumb & on a roll. I obviously hope I'm wrong...

While I'd like to see Liverpool thru to the CL final, I don't see it happening; unfortunate you got Barca in the semifinals...

P.S. My middle child is a newly minted HS Spanish teacher and she studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, just south of Valencia; I really enjoyed Valencia and picked Los Ches as my #2 European team - unfortunately didn't get to see a game at Mestalla; I did get to watch Levante lose to Athletic Bilbao...

 

[mdk2isu]

Man U has faltering Chelsea at home on Saturday, followed by Huddersfield (relegated) & Cardiff (18th Place); definite potential for 3 wins.

Arsenal still has two road games, where they've been less than stellar. If they stumble at Leicester City on Sunday, the door is wide open for the Red Devils...

I don't have a good feeling about Spurs versus Ajax; Spurs has too many injuries and suspensions while Ajax is young, dumb & on a roll. I obviously hope I'm wrong...

While I'd like to see Liverpool thru to the CL final, I don't see it happening; unfortunate you got Barca in the semifinals...

P.S. My middle child is a newly minted HS Spanish teacher and she studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, just south of Valencia; I really enjoyed Valencia and picked Los Ches as my #2 European team - unfortunately didn't get to see a game at Mestalla; I did get to watch Levante lose to Athletic Bilbao...

Chelsea is faltering less than United right now, 7 defeats in 9 games for the Red Devils. Cardiff could be playing for survival the last game of the year and won't be likely to roll over.
I just don't see United winning all 3.

Arsenal have been $#!% on the road, but they did just go to Napoli and win in Europe, so I wouldn't count them out of winning, or at least drawing, on the road in the league.

Barca are very reliant on Messi this year. If there is one defender I trust to keep good tabs on him, its VVD. Messi is still Messi and it wont be easy, but with the return leg in Anfield, I'm picking the Reds to nick it in the end.

 

[Bigman38]

Is there a good way to watch the semi's of the Champions League? I had to watch the quarters on the Bleacher Report app.

 

[tim_redd]

Is there a good way to watch the semi's of the Champions League? I had to watch the quarters on the Bleacher Report app.

All remaining matches should be on TNT

 

[JusHappy2BeHere]

So.... no help for the Reds in the Manchester Derby.... not a shocker....


3 to go for each and City with a 1 point lead.... It's starting to look like both could break the point record but City will win 98-97...


I will forever remember the goal that wasn't v City.... 11 mm of the ball still hovering over the line.... no part of the ball itself still touching chalk.... and somehow they cleared it.... kudos to them for not giving up on the play..... but I wonder how accurate their goal technology actually is....

 

[Deanster]

So.... no help for the Reds in the Manchester Derby.... not a shocker....


3 to go for each and City with a 1 point lead.... It's starting to look like both could break the point record but City will win 98-97...


I will forever remember the goal that wasn't v City.... 11 mm of the ball still hovering over the line.... no part of the ball itself still touching chalk.... and somehow they cleared it.... kudos to them for not giving up on the play..... but I wonder how accurate their goal technology actually is....

The City goal today..... It can be a cruel game. Liverpool are having an absolutely brilliant season. If Liverpool wins out, and still finishes 2nd with 97 points... thats brutal, but they should not be disappointed. Fantastic season.

 

[JusHappy2BeHere]

The City goal today..... It can be a cruel game. Liverpool are having an absolutely brilliant season. If Liverpool wins out, and still finishes 2nd with 97 points... thats brutal, but they should not be disappointed. Fantastic season.

it is, but after 30 years without an EPL Championship this is a bitter pill.... you have to start wondering do the football gods hate us.... 4 cm on two strikes 4 months apart.... and both go Citiy's way... one No Goal and one Goal.... a combined 4 freaking centimeters....

I need a pint

oh well.... beat Barcelona and on the CL Title

 

[mdk2isu]

The City goal today..... It can be a cruel game. Liverpool are having an absolutely brilliant season. If Liverpool wins out, and still finishes 2nd with 97 points... thats brutal, but they should not be disappointed. Fantastic season.

Saw a tweet with the picture of the City goal against Burnley (23 mm over the line) and the Liverpool non-goal in the 2-1 loss @ City (11 mm from being fully across the line). Talk about fine margins. Either one of those is flipped, Liverpool is in the drivers seat.

 

[awd4cy]

Liverpool fans got some humble pie after today. Really was surprised by the cockiness before today’s game.

 

[Deanster]

Liverpool fans got some humble pie after today. Really was surprised by the cockiness before today’s game.

I think Liverpool were the better team than Barcelona last night, and a lot of people would agree with me. Messi scored a tap in off a lucky bounce of the crossbar, and an unbelievable free kick (which was a questionable foul in the first place).

Liverpool are very unfortunate to not get an away goal with the chances they had.

3-0 definitely doesn't reflect how that game went.

 

[mdk2isu]

I think Liverpool were the better team than Barcelona last night, and a lot of people would agree with me. Messi scored a tap in off a lucky bounce of the crossbar, and an unbelievable free kick (which was a questionable foul in the first place).

Liverpool are very unfortunate to not get an away goal or 3 with the chances they had.

3-0 definitely doesn't reflect how that game went.

FIFY

 

[awd4cy]

I think Liverpool were the better team than Barcelona last night, and a lot of people would agree with me. Messi scored a tap in off a lucky bounce of the crossbar, and an unbelievable free kick (which was a questionable foul in the first place).

Liverpool are very unfortunate to not get an away goal with the chances they had.

3-0 definitely doesn't reflect how that game went.

I guess I disagree with that. Barca were just better at finishing when it mattered most. Messi has made many many unbelievable free kicks in his career. wasn’t too surprised on that one at all and it was definitely a foul because the Liverpool player impeded his path. I just think Barcelona’s players are used to playing in the big moments more. Don’t get me wrong though Liverpool are a great team and played a good game for the most part overall. 3-0 was a little harsh, but at the same time easily could and should have been 4-0 after Dembele bottled an easy one at the very end.

 

[Bigman38]

I think Liverpool were the better team than Barcelona last night, and a lot of people would agree with me. Messi scored a tap in off a lucky bounce of the crossbar, and an unbelievable free kick (which was a questionable foul in the first place).

Liverpool are very unfortunate to not get an away goal with the chances they had.

3-0 definitely doesn't reflect how that game went.

I didn’t catch the first half as a caveat, but it was all Barca in the 2nd half. They were pretty fortunate not to be looking at a 4 goal deficit, both teams missed some easy ones.

I thought Liverpool would be right there but Barca on their game is just on a different level. Even more so when Messi is playing like that.

 

[Deanster]

I didn’t catch the first half as a caveat, but it was all Barca in the 2nd half. They were pretty fortunate not to be looking at a 4 goal deficit, both teams missed some easy ones.

I thought Liverpool would be right there but Barca on their game is just on a different level. Even more so when Messi is playing like that.

If you didn't watch the game and only saw the score, I would understand thinking it was all Barca in the 2nd half. But you watched it, and really think that? Liverpool played fantastic, just missed their chances in front of goal, and that's all that matters.

 

[Bigman38]

If you didn't watch the game and only saw the score, I would understand thinking it was all Barca in the 2nd half. But you watched it, and really think that? Liverpool played fantastic, just missed their chances in front of goal, and that's all that matters.

I saw a Liverpool on the brink of giving up after that free kick went in. There were open runners everywhere for awhile. They pulled it together again but they were just trying to survive. I was really impressed with Barca.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

I don’t think ter Stegen gets enough credit for being a world class keeper. That may be a weird thing to say, but it still feels like most people don’t put him on the same level as some of the other big names in net.

That save he made on Salah’s worm burning strike was beautiful.

 

[Deanster]

I don’t think ter Stegen gets enough credit for being a world class keeper. That may be a weird thing to say, but it still feels like most people don’t put him on the same level as some of the other big names in net.

That save he made on Salah’s worm burning strike was beautiful.

Full stretch, great save. The service wasn't the best on Liverpool's set pieces because Alexander-Arnold didn't play, but ter Stegen was great at reading the ball on the corners and set pieces.