It’s like having the Xmas number one song.
Apparently Wham are better than the Pogues now.
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Just landed and got home from the airport, and logged on. 
I mean, we still lead the Premier League!
Did not expect this. 
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I am starting to think we may actually, maybe, win this. I mean, I don’t think we are as good as our title winning season, nor do I think we are as good as most title winning teams the last few years; but tbh , no one else seems to be either; and some have even been shadows of themselves, like City. I still fear that City will “kick it off” and “click” seamlessly; like they often have in previous seasons; but we are indeed at the top of the table and no one else have been better than us, including City.
Arguably I think Arsenal have played better football this season than we have, but we lead, and we are probably, over a long season, a stronger team than Arsenal mentally. They don’t have much experience going all the way in the title race. So I assess (with major risk of course ,as they can obviously win both in theory and practice) that they will eventually drop off near the end of the season.
So yeah, we should have a really good chance actually.
Fun season for sure, whatever happens ! Lots of unexpected events. Take the story of Aston Villa, of how Dracula has actually done bloody well fantastic with that team. It’s cool. And then you have City, the finacially doped titan; they are faltering. That is of course awesome 
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I’m seriously pissed with Unai Emrey 
I think it’s a good story. I like such stories. Guess I am just a hopeless football romantic. I also generally enjoy seing people I think have very good heads and seem quite nice, succeed too, I guess. I think Unai Emery is actually a very good manager and quite underrated. Many in England mock him for his bad English, and I like to call him Dracula too I guess. But some others who mock him, for some inexplicable reason think he is not “clever” due to attrocious oral English.
So yeah, why can’t Villa have a good season. I think that’s cool. It’s good for the league. As long as we win, it would be fun to see Villa as nr. 2. Breath of fresh air into an otherwise usually stale as hell, title race.
Forget it. The whole thing is fixed and every game we play is a waste of time, except it’s nice to watch the ball go round the pitch.
Apparently.
I think Oliver did really well tonight. He didn’t fall for any antics and VAR checked and bar the line thing which was a difficult one it didn’t waste hours looking at stuff.
That’s how every game should work and yet sadly it seems an anomaly. There will be games when things happen but they should be exception not the rule.
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… 
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I almost forgot the ones before Spurs game. I just don’t think others could feel they get decisions this bad. These are not just subjective ones.
And we are fcking top of the table despite this. Klopp and everyone involved are fcking boss!
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Yes they are.
And they do not have the trophy haul to reflect just how good they are- because they have been cheated year after year.
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Of course it’s a good story, a very refreshing one too. But I’m annoyed with the way they folded in the last game.
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The Liverpool are Top after 19 Games so Stop Fucking Moaning and Enjoy These Half-Season Awards Awards
Team Awards
Most Impressive Team
Winner: Liverpool (1st)
League leaders have lost just one league game, a 2-1 stoppage time goal while playing away with 9 men. Liverpool also have the second highest non-penalty xG and have the best defensive record in the league after 19 games. Some fans may complain that performances have not been consistently fluid but Liverpool are way ahead of schedule for a squad that completely rebuilt midfield in the summer.
Runner-Up: Aston Villa (3rd)
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have strung together impressive results to catapult themselves into the Champions League places. Back to back 1-0 wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in December are the eye-catching performances while new signing Moussa Diaby has been a revelation. Villa are outperforming xG by 6.6 goals so far this season however which suggests there isa downturn in form due - something we may have started to see already with a home draw against Sheffield United and collapsing from 2-0 up away at Man Utd.
The Couldn’t Finish Their Dinner Award for Most Wasteful Team
Winner: Chelsea (-8.4 non-penalty xG)
Chelsea retain their title from the 1/3 season awards of the last international break. Chelsea are third in xG but only 11th in goals scored. Nicolas Jackson alone is responsible for -3.5xG - and Chelsea fans are quickly starting to sour on the former Villarreal man (who was signed off the back of a very small purple patch in goalscoring, something his youth career did not backup). Enzo Fernandez has also spurned chances with 1 goal from 3.2xG.
Runner-Up: Brentford (-8.0 non-penalty xG)
Also staying in this position is Brentford who continue to waste chances without their talismanic striker Toney. Mbuemo and Wissa combine for -4.0xG. Add in Neal Maupay, not exactly the forward to break an xG slump, and the three current strikers have a total of -5.7xG between them.
The You’re Not Actually That Good Award for Biggest Overperformance
Winner: Tottenham Hotspur (+3.2 non-penalty xG // -8.7 opponent non-penalty xG)
Spurs finished as runners up for this award in November but move to top spot following a slump in form by Manchester City. Spurs have outperformed xG and opponents have underperformed xG to the extent of a massive 11.9 goal swing in 18 games. This performance level is likely unsustainable and thenworry for Spurs will be that their overperformance has still only moved them to the edge of the Top 4.
Runner-Up: Manchester City (+7.1 non-penalty xG // +2.0 opponent non-penalty xG)
The controversial winner of this award back in November but their selection has been justified by their form since then. Draws with Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Palace have been compounded with an away loss at Aston Villa. These results have started to align their xG (7.1 npxG down from 7.7 npxG). Their early season is unlikely to return at the same unsustainable levels.
Player Awards
The BP Award for Unsustainable Performance
Winner: Hwang Hee-Chan (+5.1 non-penalty xG)
Hwang’s teammate Pedro Neto was the winner of this award in November but now the South Korean forward takes the title himself with an outrageous +5.1 npxG on 9 goals. Its important for Wolves to pick up points now before these xG totals begin to level out. Neto has not played since the last award ceremony after suffering a hamstring injury.
Runner-Up: Son Heung-min (+4.2 non-penalty xG)
Still in second place for this award is Son Heung-min, ensuring that South Korean’s have this one all tied up. Son’s 10 goals include outperforming npxG by 4.2. Son’s form is just barely keeping Spurs in the Top 4 but the moment it turns it becomes hard to see where the goals are coming from.
The “Am I Bad or Just Unlucky?” Award for Biggest Underperformance
Winner: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (-3.8 non-penalty xG)
Everton were relieved to get their high profile centre forward back but despite some meaningful goal contributions the former England international has wasted more opportunities than any other player so far this season, underperforming xG by 3.8 goals. Luckily for Everton their form has meant DCL’s lack of efficiency has largely gone under-the-radar.
Runner Up: Nicholas Jackson (-3.5 non-penalty xG)
Taking 2nd place is Chelsea’s misfiring forward Jackson. As mentioned in the team performance review, Jackson was signed on the back of a small patch of good form in front of goal - out of character for his entire career. His numbers should improve but his past does imply he’s simply a bad finisher.
The “Doesn’t Belong in the Premier League” Award for Worst Overall Performance
Winner: Mark Flekken (Brentford)
Jason Steele can count himself lucky that he hasn’t played enough to qualify for this award and instead it falls to Brentford’s new signing, Mark Flekken. The Dutch goalkeeper is undisputed number one at Brentford but has struggled with a lowly 63.4% save ratio and has conceded a disturbingly high 26 goals from 19.3 xG - meaning he has conceded seven goals more than would be expected compared to the opportunity created.
Runner-Up: Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
The winner of the November award, Amin Al-Dakhail of Burnley, was dropped and doesn’t qualify anymore. In his place comes a much more highly-rated player in Morgan Gibbs-White. The Forest midfielder started the season ok, getting some assists on the back of Taiwo Awoniyi. However, since Awoniyi suffered an injury, Gibbs-White has been abject. The attacking midfielder has a 24% shot on target ratio - one of the lowest in the whole league, pass completion of only 63.4% and miscontrols the ball 2.57 times per game. He is where Nottingham Forest attacks come to die.
The “Stevie G” Award for Most Complete Overall Footballer
Winner: Rodri (Manchester City)
No change here - Rodri is just a statistical outlier in most categories. Over 90% pass completion, almost 10 progressive passes per game, effective dribbler and is in the top 20% of aerial challenges won per game. When he plays, you feel Man City are much better team.
Runner-Up: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice has been a brilliant defensive midfielder for Arsenal, ranking in the top 5% for interceptions in the world. He manages 9 progressive passes per game and has an 90.6% pass completion ratio. Importantly however Rice has also been a goal threat, scoring three times including two injury time game winners.
The Johnny Cochrane Award for Best Defender
Winner: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
It’s taken some time to get back up to speed but van Dijk is looking like he is back to his vintage best. The centre back is one of the most reliable on-the-ball defenders in world football, registering just one miscontrol this season. He is also dominant aerially with a 81.8% aerial win ratio. His play style doesn’t show up clearly through statistics but it is no mistake that the Dutchman leads the meanest defence in the Premier League. Arsenal’s stumbles have knocked the November winner, Saliba, out of the running.
Runner-Up: James Tarkowski (Everton)
Everton have been one of the form teams in the league since receiving a ten point deduction for financial discrepancies. One of the key reasons for that is a tight defence that kept four straight clean sheets in the league - winning every game. Former Burnley defender James Tarkowski has marshalled the Everton defence and is one of the statistical leaders in tackles, aerials won, interceptions, blocks, clearances and goals from defenders.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Award for Biggest Offensive Threat
Winner: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Haaland retains this award despite missing a few games because of his unquestionable output. He has scored 14 in 14 games and Man City are visibly less threatening without the Norwegian blunderbuss on the field. Haaland has a 48.1% shots on target ratio, leading the way for regular starter in he striker role. Watch out in future years for Evan Ferguson though - the teenager has a 69% shot on target ratio.
Runner-Up: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
League leaders Liverpool have been powered to the top of the league largely through the left foot of Egyptian superstar Mo Salah. Although question marks have been raised about his ability to beat wing backs, Salah has proven himself capable in the big moments. He has scored twelve and assisted seven in 19 games. Recently Liverpool have been moving him more often into a central attacking role, which is quickly leading to results. Getting him close to goal is a good idea for the Reds.
The Chelsea Football Club Appreciation Award for Worst Transfer
Winner: Mason Mount (Manchester United)
Manchester United spent 64m on Mount, a player who has two poor seasons in a row, and he has failed to reignite his career at Old Trafford. Mount has posted career low figures for passes per 90, touches, pass completion, expected assists and successful take-ons. While he has been limited by injury, he has still featured in twelve games and managed just one assist (in the League Cup). A dismal start to his career - although not unexpected either.
Runner: David Raya (Arsenal)
The on-loan goalkeeper was brought to the club by Mikel Arteta with the Spanish coach searching for more footballing ability from his man between the sticks. However whilst Raya has indeed been solid in possession it is goalkeeping skills that are letting Arsenal down. Raya has had a series of high profile mistakes and has just a 62.9% save ratio. Raya is also conceding at an above xG rate (14 goals vs 12xG). Most of all the signing of Raya has created an unnecessary distraction, every goal Arsenal allow inevitably leads to the camera swinging over to see the face of Aaron Ramsdale and tensions appear to be growing with every Raya mistake.
The Michael Edwards Award for Best Transfer
Winner: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice has quickly established himself as one of the key players in Arsenal’s title challenge for this season. Already performing at a high level for West Ham, Rice has developed even more surrounded by the increased talent at the Emirates. He is regularly contributing at both ends of the pitch and has had an excellent level of consistency. His form both covers for the weaknesses of one Gabriel in defence while going someway to making up for the inconsistency of the other Gabriel upfront.
Runner-Up: Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
There is no doubt some of the shine has come off the early performances from Szoboszlai, which has taken him from 1st to 2nd in the Best Transfer Award since November. However the numbers still speak for themselves. Coming into a brand new Liverpool midfield, the Hungarian has scored two and assisted two - creating 4.4 shots per game and ranking in the 90th percentile for expected assists, progressive carries and successful take-ons.
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City still clear favorites to win it according to bookies and I have to agree.
None of their players going to Africa or Asia Cup.
They are out of the League Cup. That’s at least two (probably three) extra games for us.
Haaland, Doku and KdB will return very soon and that will make them much stronger.
Can even see them bring in one or two new players in January.
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Doku has so much talent it’s astonishing that he doesn’t get more goals and assists. Outside of demolishing Bournemouth almost single-handedly he has just one goal and one assist in the league.
I expect Guardiola will improve his efficiency but it’ll probably come at the expense of all the character and fun he has in his game right now. Like Guardiola did to Sterling - rob them of creativity and just turn them into ‘get to the line and cut it back’ merchants.
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Top notch.
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Yes but …
Pep said Haaland will be out at least to the end of January. If you check Haaland’s career stats, he usually misses a third of the season due to injury. Last year was the statistical anomaly where he barely missed any time at all. That’s a problem since Pep has adjusted ManC’s entire playing style to accommodate Haaland.
KbD - as much as I like him - is 33 and has barely played since Canada ran Belgium into the ground in Qatar despite inexplicably losing.
As for Doku, he reminds of that muscular guy who played for Wolves whose name I’ve forgotten. Lots of pace but not much end product.
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It would be interesting to see what ManC’s xG and chance created are compared to last year. Overperforming xG makes perfect sense but the eye test tells me that they aren’t anywhere near as good as they have been in past seasons.
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Other interesting ManC stats.
Since Pep became manager, ManC have never let in more goals after 18 matches (21). They’ve allowed 20 three times - 2016-17 (finished third), 2019-20 (runners-up) and 2022-23 (champions).
City’s goal difference after 18 matches stands at +22, the third lowest under Pep. It was +19 in 2016-17 and +18 in 2020-21.
Those were also the two seasons when they’ve scored fewer goals than they have at this stage of the season - 39 and 31 respectively. They’ve scored 43 this season. Four times, they had scored 50 or more goals, losing the title only to us in 2019-20.
I think it’s two pronged. At their best they may well be not quite as good, and certainly not as deep as in years in past with replaceable quality.
But I think it’s partly about the difference in the challenge this year. City have always had a vulnerability against good sides with the bravery to go at them, it’s just that they only faced that maybe 3 or 4 times a season as there were so few times with the quality and balls to try it. This year, with the influx of new managers I think we have an overall improvement in the quality of teams in the top half, and a new collection of managers whose approach requires their teams give it a real go. So I think the big issue for them is not just more opportunities to lose points, but the novelty of having to get up for real challenges far more often than they have been used to. I think the accumulation of that intensity is hurting them. I think that would knock points off even the peak Pep side, but this year with a thinner/worse squad they are even less capable of dealing with it. The challenge is both exacerbated by their injuries giving them an even thinner squad AND exacerbating their injuries causing a bit of a snowball.
But with all that said, they are still just 2 points off top spot if they win their game in hand. Where I feel most positive is that off all the teams at the top I feel we have the most room for improvement
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Every team is flawed for sure. Heck, I wouldn’t rule out Aston Villa either.
I always scratch my head when pundits ask if certain sides are in a title race. If a team is within a few points of top spot with half the season gone, they’re in a title race.
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