CHRIS SUTTON HAS PREDICTED COMFORTABLE HOME WIN: Premier League Anfield, 16:30 BST Liverpool only need a point to make sure of the title, and it is going to happen against Tottenham on Sunday. There is an argument that Spurs, and Manchester United too, should go strong in these Premier League games to try to find the rhythm they have been lacking all season, and get the team playing the way we know they can to help them in their Europa League semi-finals. But I don't see Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou doing that before his side play Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, and I can only see one outcome. Liverpool have hardly been that sharp of late but they will be determined to win the title in front of their own fans for the first time in 35 years. They were not able to do that when they last won the title in 2020 because of the Covid regulations at the time, so doing it now is a big deal for them. I am expecting them to raise their game and blow Spurs away to get the job done. Sutton's prediction: 4-1 Lee's prediction: Liverpool would like to win it there, wouldn't they? Tottenham might rest people, and Forest have just beaten them. They haven't got much incentive to do anything to stop Liverpool. 3-0 JONES KNOWS BEST HAS GONE FOR HOME WIN TOO. Liverpool vs Tottenham, Sunday 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports - PLAY SUPER 6 HERE! please log in to view this image Got Sky? Watch this game on the Sky Sports app Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW Arne Slot has Liverpool on the brink of greatness - what a job he has done. He's resisted trying to reinvent the wheel but has just tweaked key components here and there - all that was great about Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp still remains, but they are a more sensible football team now. Liverpool have also suffered just 37 injuries this season which is in stark contrast to rivals Arsenal, who have had almost double that. That is also a credit to the manager, who has managed his squad meticulously through the choppy waters of a Premier League season. When can Liverpool win the Premier League title? please log in to view this image I think that might be the biggest difference between Arsenal and Liverpool this season. The injury toll may have even been the decisive factor. But that takes nothing away from what Liverpool have done - I think it's fine to say they've been deserving champions and also that Arsenal are probably the better side when everyone is fit. Both statements can be true. For this one, it's going to be party time and Slot may go all irresponsible, tie a tie around his head, do a couple of shots and unleash a bit of Klopp-ball on Tottenham, who aren't exactly going to sit in a low block. Both teams to score and over 4.5 goals in the match is a runner at 9/4 with Sky Bet. SCORE PREDICTION: 5-2 Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City, FA Cup semi-final, Sunday 4.30pm Pep Guardiola has decided that playing pragmatically has been the only way Manchester City are going to save their season. It's dull... but it's working. Since they've switched back to the old guard in the win over Bournemouth, they've won five of their six games. It's far from vintage City but it's carrying them over the line. When you throw this current style into the Wembley, high-stakes scenario against a notoriously defensive opposition like Forest then you simply have to be backing the under goal-line. The last 43 domestic and European matches played at Wembley, the average goals per 90 stands at 1.97 goals in normal time - and if you backed the under 3.5 line in those 43 games, you'd have won 39 times. That's a 91 per cent strike rate. It's a sustainable long-term betting strategy to always back against goals at Wembley. Under 2.5 goals is 10/11 with Sky Bet and is dripping with potential in a game that may just go all the way.
Stolen from sky sports Lfc first 16 games 39 points 37 goals scored 16 goals against 7 clean sheets 256 shots Xg 36.9 Last 17 games 40 points 38 goals scored 15 goals against 7 clean sheets 310 shots Xg 36.4 For those that think the 2nd half of the season has been a struggle and falling over the finish line.
It's just been more a case of doing enough to get over the line really. Kind of like Leicester in 2016
Yes it is quite an intresting thing. The numbers show an split along the 3rd of a season Played 13 won 11 drew 1 = win the title right there. Played 13 won 7 drew 6 = allowed the gap to close somewhat. Played 7 (out of 12) won 6 lost 1 - stretch the gap again. So the first 3rd were "controlled" and as i recall this was discussed and I said I was kind of bored The middle third saw us conceding late goals the newcastle, man utd, everton and villa, Fight a red card v fulham and scrape a draw off forest. This was coinciding with konate injury in december/jan and busy times with cups. We lost 4 winning positions and drew the games. (It'd be one stellar season by now if we didnt) The final third could be described as a dog fight. We started with city and then Newcastle where we just absolutely refused to be beaten, both were proper title contender results but since then we've had 5 absolute grinds of games thst the team delivered the goods in 4 of them. All 5 were poor games.l, I'm sure we can all agree Southampton, everton, Fulham, West ham and Leicester were poor watches. The point would be that we have got the job done in some fashion or other. Add 8 points to our tally right and itd be 86 points with 15 possible and would be an incredible record breaking season. Kelleher let a ball over his head inexplicably v Newcastle Slot refused to take trent off v utd. Konate allowed himself the be shifted and tarkowski hit a worldie in the final seconds Villa equalised but were good. Overall it's more the grinding and the cup loses that makes the last third of the season look bad but the results are better than the middle third
Not as exciting as Kloppball but a bit more efficient - we've said this since the first few games of the season so it shouldn't be a surprise to any of us. But it takes two to tango, and under Klopp, opposition coaches knew we'd all rush forward like it was playground footie and so the long ball over our heads made the game more expansive, entertaining but risky. Now those coaches can see we're less cavalier and the the low block is the way to frustrate us so more games have become cagey and less fun. I'm hoping that Slot can improve the entertainment value when he has the opportunity to bring in his own players and replace some of our ageing ones, but it remains to be seen. Maybe he prefers it this way.
Yeah that middle third when you look at games (yes United and Everton are **** but always raise game v us) and it’s over busy Xmas / CL period so managing multiple games is no huge surprise form dipped slightly but only because it was already super high.
After 13 games the gap was 9 points. After 26 games the gap was 8 points. We had 6 draws in 13 games and all arsenal could do was close it by 1. In truth even after 2 draws in a row in jan the gap was 6 points to forest. The first 2 draws in a row were Newcastle and Fulham and tjst closed the gap after 15 to just 2 points as we had a game in hand over Chelsea. We had 2 in hand over arsenal and they were 4 back. In truth arsenal never really challenged they hung round 6 or 8 point back and others fell away. 6 draws in 13 games and the gap didnt really narrow. It's just widened massively since.
