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  • TLW
    A Scottish football pundit believes that Ange Postecoglou will be the perfect man to follow the path set by Jurgen Klopp.
     
    Paul Slane came through the ranks at Motherwell before joining Celtic where he made a single appearance.
     
    From there he made his way through the English and Scottish lower leagues before embarking on a media career through You Tube and podcasting.
     
    As a fan of Celtic, Slane has closely watched the progress that the Australian has made in such a short span of time and is no doubt that he can take a on a bigger job in the future (per the Echo).
     
    “I think Postecoglou is going to be the next Liverpool manager, I really do.
     

     
    “I think he’ll be the next Liverpool manager when Jurgen Klopp decides to go or Liverpool decide to part with him. Who else takes the Liverpool job after Klopp?
     
    “At times in this season’s Champions League game against Real Madrid, the European champions, Celtic were unbelievable, so I think Ange Postecoglou is good enough to be the next Liverpool manager. If people think Graham Potter is better than Postecoglou, and he can get the Chelsea job, then they’re wrong.”
     
    “Come the first game of next season, I think he’ll still be managing Celtic but I think eventually Ange will want to face-off with the world’s top managers week-in and week-out."
     

     
     
    The discussion about who will take over the hot seat once the beloved German departs have produced names such as Steven Gerrard, current assistant Pep Lijnders and Potter prior to him signing on at Chelsea.
     
    Postecoglou is a man very much cut from the same cloth as Klopp in that he is very strong in his football philosophy and he sets out to put a imprint on the teams that he takes charge of. 
     
    While greatly unknown in Europe prior to joining the Scottish giants, it has been a long managerial road for the 57 year-old.
     
    Throughout his spells in the NSL and A-League in his homeland, Yokohama F Marinos in Japan and now Celtic, his teams have been very easy on the eye with players that specifically suit his system.
     
    And he also brought that approach to the Australian National team where he qualified the team for two World Cups and won the Asian Cup on home soil in 2015.
     
    On arrival at Liverpool, Klopp famously said that he wanted to turn the fans from doubters into believers, and in the same vein, Postecoglou has an unflinching belief that his teams can win every game they play and as someone who has to overcome a lot throughout his career, he loves nothing more than a challenge and is never overawed by the size of it.
     
    Australia is a pragmatic football nation that do not look to be overly ambitious on the world scene, however Postecoglou wanted the Australian team to stop being fearful and in awe of nations like Brazil and Spain and take them on head to head.
     
    It was always a battle for Postecoglou to get that message through and once he qualified the team for the 2018 World Cup, he felt his job was done.
     
    Some detractors would say that he is stubborn and confrontational, but there are many more that believe he is a visionary that is the best thing to happen to Australian Football and as the first home grown-manager to manage a major club in Europe is flying the flag very high indeed.
     
    While there is no indication that Jurgen’s time is even coming close to ending (contracted until the end of the 2025/26 season at least), it is worthwhile keeping a sneaky eye on the work of Postecoglou. 
  • The demand for organic products is on the rise, and it won't be wrong if we say that they are on the verge of taking over the market of chemical products. Initially, when manufacturers introduced products made of natural substances in the market, they could only offer health benefits.
     
    So, people were shying away from the bitter taste and lack of variety. So, after experimentation, manufacturers can now offer organic products derived from several sources and a variety in potency, taste, and type. In addition, to cater to the needs of various customers, manufacturers are now also offering vegan and gluten-free products. However, the variety has only added to the confusion of customers willing to purchase organic products like Delta 9 THC. So, to help you choose the right product, we have shortlisted the six most preferred products. Let's check them out that you should try this year.
     

     
    5 Most Preferred Delta 9 Products To Try This Year
     
    Before choosing our favorite brands, we tried out several brands that deal with organic products, primarily Delta 9 THC. They have expertise in products related to THC, and most of their Delta 9 products feature in their best sellers. In addition, the products are primarily known for their subtle yet long-lasting effects. Another plus point is that all the products are beginner friendly. 
     
    These products also contain other binders, which add aroma and taste to the same. One can also add them to edibles and other consumables like beverages. One thing to remember before consuming these cannabis infused  products is that they are psychoactive, and one must consult a medical expert before consuming them. So, let's learn more about the products.
     
    1. CBDFX Delta 9 Disposable Purple Punch Indica - 2 Grams 
     
    The vape pen is convenient for traveling and provides double benefits as it has full spectrum CBD and a healthy dosage of CBN. The product contains indica extracts from the Indica strain of the cannabis plant, which is known to be more potent than other products. It also has THC mixed with increasing the potency of the product. This cannabinoid may provide extreme relaxation. It is easy to use as the user will only have to remove the protective covering to inhale, and one can quickly charge it by using a Micro USB. The product is rechargeable and disposable, and it may cause psychotropic effects, so it is essential to determine the dosage with the help of a doctor.
     
    2. TRE HOUSE Delta 8 Drinks D8:D9 Syrup Bussin Berry - 1000Mg
     
    The product is specially curated for advanced users, a powerful blend of Delta 9 and 8 extracts. The syrup also has the sweet flavor of berries. They have the benefits of Delta 8 and Delta 9; therefore, trippiness may accompany you after consuming the product. We do not recommend using the product while traveling or during the day. Also, a beginner's direct product consumption may not be good. So, adding it to a drink you prefer, like soda, is better. Do not expect the effects to kick in immediately; wait 45 minutes before deciding if you need more.
     
    3. Two Hawk Hemp Co. Delta 9 Edible Vegan Gummies Watermelon - 20 Count 
     
    Gummies have always been a favorite, but they are much more than just sugary snacks nowadays. The product is also suitable for people following a vegan lifestyle. The packaging is childproof, as it will be hard to keep the children away from the delicious treats. The gummies contain 100% all-natural substances that are vegetarian and have 0.3% of THC. The products undergo rigorous testing by third-party laboratories as the manufacturer ensures they do not contain heavy metals or solvents. For beginners, we recommend one gummy per day, and once you have built a tolerance for the product, you may go up to 3 gummies a day.
     
    4. CBDFX CAPSULES FULL SPECTRUM CBD/THC - 30CT - 750MG
     
    The capsules contain extracts of organic products in the purest form; therefore, the product is one of the most potent in the market as it contains Cannabis and THC extracts. We recommend capsules for only those who have a hard time fighting off the headache. The full spectrum of CBD in the capsules helps the stress fade away without overwhelmingly affecting the user. The product is both organic and gluten-free. It also contains coconut-derived MCT oil that helps with absorption. It contains two potent products that may have a psychotropic effect on the user. It comes in a travel-friendly bottle and arrives in shrink-wrapped packaging. The recommended dosage is one capsule per serving.
     

     
    5. CBDFX Delta 9 Tincture CBD:Delta 9 THC Ultimate Chill Blend - 1500MG - 6000MG 
     
    Tinctures usually consist of pure extract of an organic compound. They are usually more potent than capsules, gummies, oils, or other products as they are not a combination of various substances. The product is more suitable for intermediate and advanced users as it may cause intense euphoric sensations. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States is yet to evaluate the product, but third-party laboratories consider it fit for human consumption. To retain the product's authenticity, the manufacturer does not use citric acid or other chemical compounds to increase the product's shelf life. Therefore, the user must store it in a glass container away from air, light, and heat to prevent it from reacting to the environment, as organic compounds are sensitive to extreme conditions.
     
    Final Thoughts 
     
    There are several emerging brands in the market for organic products, and not all brands attempt to provide counterfeit products. On the contrary, several top-tier manufacturers aim to revolutionize the space by delivering the highest quality products. They are also making conscious efforts to raise awareness for the products. However, you can not expect to get all the best products from one brand. Brands who commit to their customers to deliver the best usually build their expertise around one product. For example, some brands can source the best THC in the market, whereas others may have access to advanced techniques that help them conveniently derive pure extracts from cannabis.
  • Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that Trent Alexander-Arnold should seriously consider quitting international football due to the lack of opportunities that he has been given under the current manager.
     
    The Liverpool full-back has had his issues with form this season and it seems that Gareth Southgate has put a thick red line through his name as we draw ever closer to the naming of the World Cup squad.
     
    In a extraordinary snub, Alexander-Arnold was not even in the matchday squad for the Nations League clash Germany on Monday night.
     
    And Southgate was unapologetic in the aftermath, saying that he flush with options in the right-back position and intimated that the 23 year-old is at the back of the line.
     
    Agbonlahor who has his own ‘war of words’ with Jurgen Klopp this season, sprung to the defence of the Liverpool man on Talksport  and made some very valid points on Talksport (per the Echo).
     

     
    "If I was Trent, I would retire from international duty if I don't get in a World Cup squad. I would retire until a new manager took charge of England to give me the opportunity.
     
    Agbonlahor was particularly taken aback by the words of Southgate that Kieran Trippier is a better all-round player.
     
    “For Southgate to come out and say Trippier is better all-round than Trent, I think that is an insult. I do like Trippier but Trent is an all-round better player than Trippier. Walker and James, for me, are better than Trent but don't say Trippier. Come on, the joke is over Gareth.
     
    “It wouldn't surprise me if he did retire. We've seen players in the past retire from England because they weren't getting the opportunities."
     
    There is no doubt that Alexander-Arnold has looked flat this season with the incredible amount of games he has played in the last 12 months so the idea of more rest time would be a pleasing scenario for Jurgen Klopp and Reds fans In general.
     
    At the end of the day, the decision lies with Trent himself and you sense he is kind of character who will want to prove a point to the doubters.
  • We're back after what seems like an eternity. It's Brighton this weekend so the lads look ahead to that but there is also a lot to discuss from this international break.
     
    Chris Smith is joined by Dan Thomas and TLW Editor Dave Usher to preview the Brighton game and to discuss just what the hell is going on with Southgate and Trent. Also, Chris is mad at his boy Hendo and there are a couple of not to be missed impressions of iconic movie lines.
     
     
  • Matched betting occurs when two bettors agree on a stake and the consequent liability of the bet. Online bookies give prospective clients who register accounts with them significant incentives because of how fiercely competitive the market is.
     
    If you want to learn more on matched betting you can check the matched betting guide from TheTrader.
     
    Compared to traditional gambling, it is a low-risk betting strategy. It is the fastest and safest way to make money online, but you could lose a significant amount of money if done improperly. However, matched betting can be illegal in some countries and legal in others.
     
    In this article, we will get to know countries where matched betting is allowed and countries in which matched betting is illegal.
     
    What Is Matched Betting?
     
    Matched betting is a system in which gamblers adhere to a rigid set of rules in order to make a profit. It ensures the reduction of risk and covers any unit losses by allowing bettors to place multiple bets on a single event.
     
    Matched Betting In The UK
     

     
    Matched betting is entirely legal in the United Kingdom (UK) as long as you are over the age of 18. There is no law against matched betting in the UK. Matched betting has often been featured in the media; the way customers use their free bets is entirely up to them. A bookmaker once attempted to make matched betting illegal but did not succeed.
     
    Graham Sharpe, a former media relation director from Williams Hill racing, states, “There is no illegal element. it’s a free bet, and you can do what you like”.However, the only illegal thing is creating several accounts with the same bookmaker or using different names to place bets.
     
    Matched Betting In The US
     

     
    Although Matched betting is not illegal in the US, it is also not a good betting technique to use in the US. You won’t have any luck in the US at the moment if you want to use matched betting for either football or any other sport. This is because internet sportsbooks are only permitted to operate in one state at a time, like Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Mississippi, and West Virginia, meaning that international betting is impossible. 
     
    Due to the fact that there are just not enough players in a single state to justify opening an exchange there, it is too difficult for a betting exchange to operate in the US. Therefore, matched betting is currently not a possibility in the US.
     
    Probability Of Change 
     
    Looking at the current state of affairs, it doesn’t seem particularly probable that the federal regulations governing sports betting will change anytime soon in the US. There have been no discussions regarding a future legislative change or even the slightest suggestion that cross-border betting would be permitted.
     
    Matched Betting In AU
     
    Matched betting is 100% legal in Australia. It is very profitable, much more than in the UK. However, the laws that will affect your matched betting in Australia are broken down below according to various states;
     
    There are no limitations in Queensland, Tasmania, or ACT. You won’t have any problem accessing new betting bonuses or sign-up bonuses.
     
    There are some restrictions on bonuses in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Bookmakers aren’t legally permitted to offer new or sign-up bonuses to bettors in these states.
     
    You can still access bonuses that make matched betting possible if you reside in SA, WA, or NSW. If you inquire, the majority of customer care agents at bookmakers will offer you a deposit or new client bonuses. 
     
      Pros Of Matched Betting
     

     
    High potential for income; with matched betting, you can make a lot of money.  
    Minimal effort; once used to matched betting, you can easily place bets within a short period of time.  
    Offers flexible working hours; with matched betting, you can decide to work whenever you like and how much you like.  
    Tax-free earnings; this means that matched betting profits are tax-free.  
       Cons Of Matched Betting
     
    Difficult to understand Earning depends on the available offer  
    Conclusion
     
    Matched betting  or free bets as it is sometimes referred to is the system of using free bets from a bookmaker to place bets and reduce possible losses. It is, however, completely legal in the UK provided you are above 18+ years of age, while it is not the best betting technique in the US as it is only permitted to operate in some states. Also, in AU, there are a few limitations to sign-up bonuses in some states.
  • Naby Keita is edging closer to signing a new deal according to a new report.
     
    Keita came to the club with great expectations after signing from RB Leipzig for £52.5 million which at the time was a club record fee. The scouting report on the Guinea international from close observers of the Bundesliga were glowing, describing him as a ‘dynamic box to box player’ who was likened to N’Golo Kante and Deco.
     
    While he has had his good moments in his 111 appearances where he has scored 11 goals and seven assists, the cold hard reality is that he has not come close to those lofty expectations.
     
    There has been some mitigating circumstances in that his body has let him down on a number of occasions and according to records he has missed 73 games in his time at the club.
     
    To illustrate that point, Keita is yet to make any appearances in the league or Europe this season with his only outing coming in the Community shield due to a Hamstring injury.
     

     
    Despite this Football insider reports that the club are willing to offer Keita a new deal to maintain his market value and not lose him for nothing.
     
    The report also states that Jurgen Klopp is fully behind this process and is giving the green light to the extension.Klopp reportedly believes that Keita has a lot to offer the team and the only obstacle holding him back is his fitness battles.
     
    Keita is undeniably the current day Liverpool player that splits opinion the most and there will be many that question the reasoning in holding onto him.
     
    The manager has made an artform of getting the very best out of players, but untapping the full quality of Keita the remains his greatest challenge yet.
  • Monday Sep 19:
     
    We didn’t have a game at the weekend but the women played Chelsea and it was on telly. I didn’t watch it (didn’t watch any PL games either, I’m an equal opportunities “don’t give a fuck when we aren’t playing” type) but they won 2-1 which apparently is quite an upset as Chelsea are the reigning champions. Good for them. They’re on telly again next week, against Everton at Anfield.  
     
    Funny how the expected reaction of Liverpool fans to the Queen’s death was cited by many as the reason that PL games couldn’t go ahead last weekend. As it turned out, other than a couple of dickheads the silence was respectfully observed by Anfield and there was more of a problem at Forest, Spurs and Everton. Not a big problem, again, it was a tiny minority of people who wouldn’t stay silent, but it was more than at Anfield. That won’t change the narrative though.
     
    It was much worse (or not, depending on where you stand on this) up in Scotland, where at Ibrox you had Dundee United fans singing “Lizzie’s in a box”. I don’t know enough about the inner workings of Scotland to be able to explain that, but I do wonder if they’d have done that if they’d been somewhere other than Ibrox? I said in last week’s diary that I wondered how the rest of Scotland felt about Rangers belting out God Save the King and I think this weekend I got my answer.
     
    Celtic at St Mirren was even more disruptive. The Scottish authorities were obviously worried about Celtic fans ruining any silence, so they came up with the idea of applause instead. That way you don’t need to applaud if you don’t want to and those that do want to get to pay the tribute they want without it being disrupted by any dissenters. I see the logic in what the Scottish FA did, but they under-estimated Celtic fans, who caused absolute fucking mayhem by chanting “if you hate the royal family clap your hands” as a stadium full of supporters, stewards, players, coaches, mascots etc all clapped their hands. Everyone looked so uncomfortable, knowing they had to clap but also knowing how it now looked because they were clapping along to that chant bellowing out from the away end. I’m not saying what Celtic fans did was right, but it was really fucking funny.
     
    All of this nonsense will hopefully stop now after today. Without going into it too deeply I found all that funeral shit today absolutely obscene. The amount of tax payers money that shit cost is sickening, but even worse than that are the stories about cancer patients having appointments rescheduled for this shit. How the fuck does Charles sleep at night knowing how much of our money was wasted on this shit and how much inconvenience his ’subjects’ have been put through on their behalf. Heart 80s was off the air again today too. There was just some generic beige music being played across all of the Heart stations. Unacceptable.
     
    And we’re being told that 60% of the world’s population watched it? Get the fuck out of here. Think about how ridiculous that claim is. Imagine the bloods and crips setting aside their turf wars for the day to sit down and watch it. The Ukrainians and Russians having a day off from their war out of respect for the queen. All the favelas in South America coming to a complete standstill as they all huddle around the TV in their grandparents houses like they’re watching the Copa Libertadores Final. I could go on but you get the picture I’m sure. 
     
    I doubt that 60% of this country watched it, let alone the rest of the world. Personally I went to play golf and saw none of it. The course I play is always quiet and often I have the whole place to myself. Not today. I’ve never seen it so busy. The car park was full and the course was chocka. But sure, everyone spent a sunny bank holiday sat in front of the telly watching that nonsense. Course they did. Why are they lying about how many people watched it? Presumably to justify the obscene amount of our money that was wasted on it.
     
    Tuesday Sep 20:
     
    Hendo has recovered quicker than expected and has joined up with England. I hate this. He hasn’t looked right all season and when the injury happened it was no surprise. His minutes have definitely been 'managed' and there’s been something going on with his fitness. He missed some sessions in the early part of the season and then he’d be getting subbed after an hour or so or he'd be coming on as sub. The injury had been coming, but as soon as he’s fit to train he’s allowed to go and join England? 
     
    Not happy about this. I understand it, he’s clearly worried about his world cup spot as he isn’t a certainty to make the squad, but that’s not really our problem. If he gets injured while he’s away then he and the club will deserve whatever shit is thrown their way from angry fans. The only way this is ok if is Southgate has given assurances that he’s not going to play much and is only there to train and to be around the squad. Hopefully that's the case.
     
    Meanwhile, Klopp does a promo video for the women’s derby game next week and says he’d love to see a full Anfield. Steady. Anything above 15k would be really good for them, especially as there’s a legends game the day before. Interest is definitely growing but people just don’t show up in huge numbers for anything anymore other than the men’s first team or legends games, even when the ticket prices are next to nothing. We’ve had youth cup finals that haven’t even come close to filling Anfield. 
     
    The last time I remember a massive crowd for anything other than a first team or legends fixture was the 1996 Youth Cup final and probably three quarters of the stadium were only there to see Michael Owen. The attendances in the finals we’ve reached since have been pretty disappointing. It would be amazing for the girls if Anfield was full though, especially considering who they’re playing.
     
    Wednesday 21:
     
    Arthur played for an hour last night as the u21s lost 1-0 at Rochdale. We always seem to lose these games against lower league sides. Not surprising really when you’ve got hairy arsed grown men who’ve played in the lower leagues their entire careers coming up against wet behind the ears kids from PL sides. We’re doing alright in the actual u21 league this season but these cup games are often tough. 
     
    Arthur played for the 21s at the weekend too, along with Phillips and Carvalho. He probably asked to play these games as he’s been doing all he can to get up to speed and has been coming in on days off. Hopefully he’s decent enough to be able to make some kind of contribution and isn’t another Ben Davies / Ozan Kabak type.
     
    Amusing footnote to last night’s game. Arthur was subbed and replaced by Spearing. At the same time, another change was being made and we brought on a 15 year old. How old must Jay have been feeling? The 15 year old is much bigger than him though, obviously.
     
    Scotland beat Ukraine 3-0 tonight. Well done, winning when it means fuck all. Where was this when a World Cup spot was on the line? I know Ukraine was the fairy story and the whole world was rooting for them, but World Cups are always better to me when Scotland are in it. That being said, two of the goals tonight were scored by that big lump of shit who stunk out the Euros. Lyndon Dyke or something if I remember rightly. Big yard dog who plays for QPR (or at least he did, no idea where he is now). I don’t think I could sit through any more games of him lumbering around up there, so maybe it’s for the best that Ukraine made it.
     
    Thursday Sep 22:
     
    Big news today. Everton have a new hair transplant partner. Pure Kopite behaviour that, the fucking hypocrites. Can’t help thinking, where were they when Wazza was there and in dire need?
     
    Also today, looking around twitter there’s loads of talk about Darwin. I had no idea why but he was trending so I took a look and fucking hell, football fans are so lame these days. There’s a video of him hitting a cross in a training session that didn’t go near any of his team-mates and it’s gone viral because loads of little virgins are passing it off as a shot and using it as further proof that he’s a flop. Even if it was a shot, so fucking what? You could find footage of Messi hitting the corner flag with a shot if you looked hard enough. 
     
    I think what was even worse though is a red posted a video from the same training session where he had a shot saved as some kind of vindication of his talents. The intent was honourable but fuck me, is this where we’re at? Having to defend a player who has only been here five fucking minutes and already has a couple of goals under his belt? Some people are going to look really stupid when the goals start flying in.
     
    Nunez hasn’t been impressive but he hasn’t been that bad either. Since when have players been judged so quickly and so wrongly? He isn’t a flop. He may end up one, or he may end up a superstar. Most likely he’ll be something in between, but fuck me, let it breathe. Then again, there was a video compilation mocking him after his first pre-season outing as a sub. It is weird though, don’t you think? I can’t remember any other new signing (for us or anyone else) getting this level of scrutiny. 
     
    Crouchy went three months before getting a goal and he didn’t get this much ridicule, but then social media wasn’t a thing back then. Just makes me even more desperate for him to do well. You fucking show all these cunts, lad.  
     
    Friday Sep 23:
     
    Relegated England remain rock bottom of their Nations League group after a 1-0 defeat in Italy. I just had a look at the table and it looks like it’s upside down. Hungary top, Italy second, Germany third and England bottom. They’re only got two points and I read that they are one of only two teams who haven’t scored a goal from open play. The other is San Marino. Lovely.
     
    In all seriousness, I think Italy should be given England’s world cup spot. A world cup without Italy is like Jaws without Chief Brody. I’ll still watch it because it’s Jaws, but it just doesn’t have the same juice. The real losers here are Channel Four though. They signed up to this Nations League thinking they’d got their hands on something really cool, and England rewarded them with three defeats, two draws and the only goal they scored a was a penalty. The money they wasted on this shit could have been used to bring back Brookside.
     
    Meanwhile, Nunez played up front with Suarez but Uruguay lost to *checks notes* Iran. Hmmm. That’s not good. Have Uruguay become shit now? Probably, their golden generation are now like the golden girls. Suarez, Cavani, Lugano, all those others whose names are escaping me must all be mid 30s now. Shame, I loved that team.
     
    Still loads of different rumours about midfielders coming in January or next summer. Ismael Bennacer from Milan. Never heard of the cunt. He was at Arsenal for two years and didn’t make a single league appearance even though midfield has been Arsenal’s biggest weakness for about a decade. Also, Sander Berge from Sheff Utd says there was ‘concrete interest’ in him last summer but nothing materialised. If we couldn’t sign him last summer when we were desperate and short of options, why would we go back in for him when the market is a lot more stocked?
     
    Another player spilling the beans about us being ‘in’ for him is Denis Zakaria. Never heard of this cunt either, but he joined Chelsea on loan from Juve on deadline day. He says we came in for him but he went to Chelsea instead. So, what, we then just went down the list of Juve cast offs and said “ok we’ll take Arthur then”?? Jesus. Remember when our transfer business was the best around and everything was carefully planned? I miss those days.
     
    I don’t know how much culpability lies with Julian Ward here because we don’t know what financial restraints were in place, but he’s not got off to a great start replacing Michael Edwards is he?
     
     
    ….and that was the week that was
  • There is a reputation among fans of other clubs, especially when England start drifting in the betting and they need a scapegoat, that Liverpool supporters don’t support the English national team.
     
    While this is an absurd over-generalisation, it’s certainly true that some consider themselves to be Scouse before English; and yet when it comes right down to it, most of us will still have the World Cup on when it starts. After all, football is football, the Premier League will be on a break, and there are plenty of Liverpool players involved. And, let’s not forget, a lot of Liverpool fans do support the national team.
     
    With that said, the World Cup will have moments that are exceptionally difficult for LFC supporters. Yes, it’s a global festival of football, but that doesn’t mean we need to expose ourselves to hearing everything the commentators say. Especially when what they say is either banal and meaningless, or worse, when it’s absolutely true and we don’t want to hear it. So if you’re going to watch the matches, here are some reasons you might want to mute the commentary and the crowd noise.
     
    Sadio Mane
     
    There’s a good chance that Senegal will be one of the more exciting teams at this World Cup; they have a superb squad and are in a forgiving group, so they could have a real shot at getting into the latter stages. Where there is Senegal, there is also Sadio Mane, and he’s still a very good footballer. For as long as the Reds are coughing up points against the Fulhams and Crystal Palaces of this world, we don’t need Jonathan Pearce reminding us of how great Mane was in his time on Merseyside. The wounds will heal in time, but right now they’re fresh.
     
    Trent Alexander-Arnold
     
    When he first broke into the Liverpool team and then into the England squad, commentators had so much positive to say about TAA. “A dead-ball genius, sublime passer. His future is probably as a central midfielder, that’s how good a footballing brain he has.”, and all the rest. Now he’s more of a fixture, he’s the first player mentioned when highlighting weak spots in the England team. 
     

     
    Is he the best right-back in the world? Probably not. Is he a dangerous liability? Ask the fans who’ve watched as he played an influential role in sides that have won the Premier League and Champions League. Pick him, if you want a swashbuckling, creative right back with pace and attacking ability. If you need a sterner defender, pick Reece James. This is why we have squads, lads. 
     
    Cristiano Ronaldo
     
    In recent times, a balance has shifted, and it’s at least arguable that Manchester United fans would prefer a team with Cristiano Ronaldo not in it. Let’s be honest, they beat Liverpool with him on the bench. And yet, with this being his final World Cup, he’s going to be the focus of every game Portugal play. This will merely remind us that while he’s playing for the national team, players like Diogo Jota will be tasked with getting the ball to him and as a result won’t get the chance to light up a match in the way they can. If Man U fans can see he’s on the downslope, then let’s just avoid hearing “who else but…” whenever he scores.
  • Lineker, Dublin and Richards were all dressed in funeral attire to present MOTD and it was fucking hilarious to be honest. Lineker talking in a really sombre tone and Richards having to sit there all serious and fighting with every inch of his body not to go into his default laughing policeman act. 
     
    Managers had been asked to wear black suits too. Most of them did, which makes me even more glad our game was called off as I wouldn’t have wanted Jurgen put into that position. Why the fuck should he wear a suit and lead his players out just because the monarch of someone else’s country died at the ripe old age of 96? He’d have probably done it because he’s a bigger man than I am, but I’m glad he didn’t need to. 
     
    Some games were postponed and some were switched to Friday night, no idea why but it will somehow be related to arl Liz popping her clogs. Something about policing apparently. Brentford aren’t that far away from Chelsea and their game went ahead, so fuck knows. Definitely for the best though as us and Chelsea mix like oil and water and if you throw a dead queen into the mix then carnage was the likely outcome.
     
    I’ll kick things off with the Friday night games where the minute’s silence at the City Ground was interrupted as a kid shouted “You Reds!” a couple of times. Then some fella shouted it too and then you could clearly hear someone yell out “shut up you cunt”. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s actually worse than the initial ‘offence’. I’m sure the Queen was looking down in appreciation of that support from one of her loyal subjects. The funniest part was the kids mum then shouting “he’s got tourettes”. Always the victims, never their fault etc.
     
    The east midlands is the absolute hub of “little England” so this amused me greatly. They’ll have been frothing at the mouth at “those scouse scum” when those two knobheads disrupted the period of silence at Anfield but lo and behind, the same thing happened at their place. Same with Everton. High Horse FC were all over twitter attacking us after the Ajax game, but then the same thing happened at their game, only with even more fans shouting. Happened at Spurs too. Such disrespect!
     
    Awoniyi headed Forest into the lead early on against Fulham from a corner, and Fulham equalised the same way through Tosin. Palhinha’s lovely strike made it 2-1 to Fulham and Harrison Reed finished off a lovely counter attack to make it 3-1.
     
    Forest rallied and Awoniyi missed a sitter that would have been an exact replica of his goal. This time it hit his shoulder though. Awful miss. Costly too as Forest did get back to within one goal when O’Brien found the net. Fulham held on though and they’ve started the season really well to be fair. I’m wrong about them and I might be wrong about Forest too.
     
    Forest are actually giving me flashbacks to Fulham a few years ago. Remember when I kept saying how Fulham looked decent and they’d stay up, and then it got to February and they were about 12 points from safety and it suddenly hit me that “wait, these are actually SHITE”. I’m not there yet with Forest but there is a definite similarity there. They spent loads on buying a whole new team, they play good football, they’re easy on the eye, they score goals but keep losing because they leak like a sieve. Exactly like Fulham the other year.
     
    I still think Forest will improve and get their defending right as Steve Cooper is a good coach. They’re doing plenty of things well but when you concede as frequently as they do it undermines everything else. They’ve made so many changes that it will take time to settle but at least they look like they’ve got goals in them. If they’d just tightened up a little bit they’d have about six points more than they currently have. 
     
    Villa picked up their first win of the season as Ramsey’s goal was enough to see off Southampton at Villa Park. Shite game, not much happened. Stevie’s interview afterwards was peak Gerrard. He’s a walking book of managerial clichés. I don’t like watching him speak anymore. If I were to do a fake interview pretending to be a manager talking after a game, chances are I’d sound exactly like Stevie. He’s so full of managerial soundbites.
     
    Villa aren’t very good, but at least Coutinho actually showed up for this one. He looked lively and there was one run and shot he had that brought back fond memories. What a fucking waste though. He should be so much more than this.
     
    Leicester knew that even a victory at Spurs wouldn’t get them off the bottom of the table. They needn’t have worried, they can’t beat anybody right now let alone an in form Spurs. Son had been benched after failing to find the net so far this season but when you’re in a goal drought the most welcome sight in the world is a Brendan Rodgers team strolling into town. 
     
    When it’s not going well for Brendan his teams are a right fucking pushover and Leicester currently are a weak, disorganised mess who are leaking goals at such an alarming rate they’re making Forest look like George Graham’s Arsenal. Mind you, Spurs were just as bad at times.
     
    At one stage on Saturday I actually thought Spurs had lost because I had the radio on in the car and it was mostly Spurs fans calling up to slag off Lloris and their defence, specifically Davidson Sanchez. Jason Cundy was stirring the pot and Jamie O’Hara was trying to put out fires. It was only after about 15 minutes that they went over live to the stadium and Spurs were winning 3-2. So these fucking knobs were calling up Talksport to slaughter their team while the game was still going on! 
     
    Some fans just don’t deserve any success. I’m not specifically meaning Spurs here, as we all have cunts like that in our fanbase. Imagine calling the radio during the game slaughtering your players only for them to win 6-2 though. Absolute wankers. 
     
    That being said, Spurs were a mess at the back. Sanchez conceded an early pen with a reckless lunge to bring down Justin. Tielemans took the pen and Lloris saved it. Not sure why Maddison isn’t taking their pens. Maybe he missed one recently, I don’t remember. Lloris had encroached by a fraction though so it was retaken and Tielemans scored this time. Really harsh on the keeper, he was about an inch off his line.
     
    Kane equalised from about a yard out and that was absolutely abysmal from Danny Ward. That ball is there for the keeper to just make a routine take but his positioning is so bad he can’t get there. He’s awful. If he’s in goal for them all season they may actually go down. 
     
    Dier headed Spurs in front when Leicester couldn’t cope with a corner kick. Standard. Brendan’s never been able to sort that issue. If he’s in charge of them all season they definitely will go down.
     
    Spurs thought they’d scored from another corner but it was ruled out for a really soft foul on Ward, who was weak as fuck again. Going from Schmeichel to him is something Brendan should be familiar with though having seen Suarez leave and being told to make do with Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli instead. De ja vu for him.
     
    Maddison levelled with a lovely finish but Leicester almost succumbed to another set-piece, this time Ward managed to make a finger tip save to turn Sanchez’s header onto the bar. Imagine this Leicester team against the Wimbledon Crazy Gang back in the day. They’d lose 20-0 and every goal would be from a corner or long throw.
     
    They gifted another goal to Spurs immediately after the restart when Ndidi was caught in possession and Bentancur surged through to fire one in off the post. The kind of goals Leicester are conceding can only be rectified by a change of manager. When this shit is happening so often, managers need to go. They don’t turn it around and Brendan in particular just can’t deal with it. He’s good when he has the wind behind him and a smooth sea, but as soon as it gets choppy he sinks. I can’t believe Leicester haven’t fucked him off already to be honest. I’d have done it a year ago as I saw this coming. I remember writing how when it starts to get away from him that’s it, there’s no coming back from it. We’re now seeing this in all its glory.
     
    Son must have been licking his lips on the bench desperate to get on. He got his chance with half an hour left and promptly bagged a brilliant hat-trick inside 13 minutes. Leicester are a mid table side who are currently on course to finish about 12 places below where they should be. They need to sack Brendan and Brighton need to hire him.
     
    Can’t remember if I wrote this recently or not as my memory is terrible. I don’t think I said it in the round up but forgive me if I have. I know I’ve said it somewhere, either in a group chat or just in conversation with someone, but the thing with Brendan is that he’s a good coach and a decent manager, until things go wrong. I think the problem is that he just grates on people after a while. 
     
    I can say from personal experience that if you’re in a room with him and you aren’t aware of what a snake oil salesman he is, he’s actually really impressive and has a presence about him. When he replaced Kenny the club organised a Q&A with him and invited various fan sites in to meet him. He had us all hanging on his every word and for the next couple of years things went pretty much the way he said they would do. I could see that day exactly how he’d talked his way into the job as he’ll look you dead in the eye and make you believe everything he’s saying.
     
    I’ve seen people call him a fraud but he isn’t. He knows what he’s doing but he’s got a shelf life because eventually people just end up seeing him for what he is. He did really well for us for a couple of years and he’s done the same for Leicester. If he went to Brighton he’d be great for a while too. 
     
    Anyway, moving on. Wolves are a side who often give City problems but they’re in the process of changing their identity and unfortunately it’s the old identity that allowed them to do well against City. This current Wolves side, I don’t even know what they are any more. They’re not that solid at the back, they don’t counter attack as well s they did and they score even less goals than before. Other than that, they’re great!
     
    I held out very little hope of them doing anything against City in this game but whatever slim chance they had went out the window when they quickly went 2-0 down and that Nathan Collins tit got himself sent off for ‘Crane Kicking’ Jack Grealish. Fair enough, I know the temptation to do that must be really strong but you have to wait until the closing stages of the game. Let it play out, see if the result is still in the balance and if not then take your shot, Nathan-san, but don’t do it that early in the game. You don’t do it in the first half when you’re a couple down to the champions.
     
    It actually looks way worse on the still photo of it at impact than it does in real time. I saw the photo first and immediately went looking for the video. When I saw it, I was a little disappointed. There’s not much force in it and it’s more of a glancing blow than anything. On another day he may have got away with a yellow but when you go in that high, miss the ball and plant your studs in someone’s hip you don’t really have cause for complaint. Didn’t stop Wolves players from surrounding the ref and kicking off, and it didn’t stop their fans from roundly booing Grealish for the rest of the game. They’d have probably done that anyway because of his Villa connection and because he just looks like such a cunt.
     
    That incident is the only thing about this game I’ve seen. I haven’t seen the goals or any highlights and I’m fine with that. The less I see of Haaland’s face the happier I’ll be. I know that Wolves let them score inside the first minute though, which is the cardinal sin. I can’t be too critical though as we conceded really early against them last season too. So fucking annoying though isn’t it?
     
    Elsewhere, Eddie Howe wore a suit to lead out Newcastle and then changed into a tracky for the game. Right on brand that, the fucking bootlicking twat. It’s mad, I’ve gone from thinking he was sound to now absolutely despising the snivelling little prick. If he’d done that while managing Bournemouth I probably wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but he’s on my radar now after taking the Saudi cash and I can’t stand the little cunt, so literally everything he does annoys me.
     
    Geordie Arabia beat on Bournemouth like they were a gay man who had stole something and then posted about it on twitter. They carved Bournemouth up like they were a murdered journalist but they just couldn’t put the ball in the net. They were denied by the woodwork and countless stops by the Bournemouth keeper before my boy Billing (he’s won his spot back after a few years in the wilderness) scored completely against the run of play.
     
    Newcastle equalised from the spot after a fucking atrocious handball decision against Lerma. Firstly, his arm isn’t in an unnatural position. Secondly, he’s only a few yards away and isn’t even looking at the ball, and thirdly, it looks like it his his knee first. Scandalous decision. Don’t expect the Geordies to remember this though the next time they’re bleating about how there’s a Premier League conspiracy against them because they’re so rich and everyone is jealous. Cunts.
     
    Bournemouth are genuinely dreadful but they’re putting points on the board somehow. I’m really rooting for them now, it’ll be nothing short of a miracle if they do stay up and I’m here for it.
     
    Onto Sunday, and what a fucking awful day that was. Everton picked up their first win of the season and Arsenal won at Brentford, which was a real hammer blow to me as I’ve had that pencilled in for weeks as the game when Arsenal would revert back to type and become Arsenal again. They didn’t, and now I’m faced with the very real possibility that they might actually be good. I’m not ready to deal with that to be honest.
     
    They’re actually dangerous from set-pieces and crosses now too, which hasn’t been the case in about a decade. Saliba and Jesus both scored headers in the first half an hour of the game as they completely dominated. Brentford didn’t do any of the things they’ve been doing to such good effect so far this season and it was basically a walk in the park for Arsenal. 
     
    Some cunt called Vieira added a third. Never heard of him but I can do without Arsenal having another good Vieira. To make it worse the twat is from Portugal, which rhymes with Arsenal so it fits perfectly into their old song. Everything’s coming up Millhouse for them twats this season and I hate it.
     
    Everton beat West Ham 1-0 and celebrated like they’d won the league, or in their case (as let’s face it most of them have never seen their team win the league) stayed in it. Don’t forget that they’re “building something” with Frank the Tory though. He gets them, apparently. To be fair, he spent the majority of his career playing in front of cunts who hate ‘the redshite’ so he does get them to some degree. Don’t forget exactly what he is though, Everton fans.
     
    Coady is their captain now too. Didn’t take long did it? Not surprising though. Massive phoney he is but most people can’t see through it. He never fucking shuts up and he swaggers about like he’s the fucking man, which to most people in football translates to being a great ‘leader’. I did think it might take a bit more time before Everton were taken in by all that schtick though, but I gave them too much credit. 
     
    Terrible game, but as shit as Everton undoubtedly are (West Ham with the better side despite being shite themselves), they have made themselves a lot more difficult to beat now. They get men behind the ball, they time waste, they frustrate the opposition and they are no longer a side who can’t defend. Any wins they have will probably be 1-0 as they’re trying to shithouse their way through game after game. Horrible to watch.
     
    I see they all stood up to applaud the queen on 70 minutes too. At least that’s what they’ll say they were doing. Little bit too much gusto there though for me, which tells me it wasn’t about honouring the queen, it was more about oneupmanship over us. They see the rest of the country hammering us and they want to be loved. “We aren’t like them” they protest. Yeah, that’s right you fucking aren’t, even though you should be. 
     
    They don’t give a fuck about the queen or the monarchy, they never have. They do see how the rest of the country reacts to us though and that dictates their behaviour. There was a time when they’d stand with us, but that time has long passed. It’s the same reason they’re suddenly all pro England and outraged at us booing the anthem. Even though the reasons we boo apply to them too, they’d rather just act like massive fucking serfs than be seen to be siding with us in any way. 
     
    We have manager who represents our ethos, our identity and our way of thinking, whereas Everton have a fanbase who seem desperate to represent the ethos, identity and way of thinking of their manager.
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold has given an honest assessment into the difficult first phase of the Premier League season.
     
    The old adage about the league being a marathon not a sprint remains true to this very day. 
     
    In a perfect scenario, the first few months are about finding rhythm, bedding in new signings successfully and keeping your best players on the pitch and firing. From that point, momentum builds and everything begins to click like clockwork.
     
    Conversely, if things start on a bad footing it can quickly spiral out of control and you are constantly running uphill into the wind in a metaphorical sense.
     
    Liverpool have certainly had their challenges in the first six games of the season, from players not performing to their high standard and others having injury issues.
     
    Alexander-Arnold is a barometer for the fortunes of Liverpool and so it has shown to be the case again with his inconsistent play to start the season mirroring the team in general.
     
    The Fullback explained the challenges and how he is dealing with them to Red Bull TV per The Echo.
     

     
    “I think I'm getting there, personally.
     
    “It's hard because it's been different to how other seasons start, because normally you'll have like three or four games in August, at the weekends, and then it'll be internationals, then they'll start to introduce the Champions League, then it'll be another international.
     
    “I always see the first part of the season as like three little blocks of four weeks with the internationals breaking them up, and each time you'll play a little bit more football. Whereas now it's like from the get-go you're in at the deep end."
     
    The England international took us into the inner sanctum and explained how Jurgen Klopp dealt with two of the poorest displays under his tenure, the defeat at Old Trafford and the humbling in the first Champions League fixture against Napoli.
     
    “The manager speaks directly after the game and then we have a meeting the following day as well for five minutes or so, and the manager will speak again about the game when he's had a bit more time to process it, and it's not just acting on emotion.
     
     “That [Manchester United] game was probably the big, bad game we had early on in the season, which was rough. I would say the result felt right because it's what we deserved, but in terms of how we played we didn't feel right on the pitch.
     
    "It wasn't natural, it didn't happen for us, we really needed to look at ourselves after that. It was a humbling one.
     
    “We've had meetings, and the emphasis in training has been on our system and how we need to play, where we need to be, the movement of the ball, becoming compact, defending well.”
     
    “It was back to the drawing board after Napoli, and making sure that we need to start getting our stuff in order."
     
    September has seen the Reds in action just three times, however that will be flipped completely on its head when October comes around with six Premier League and three Champions League games scheduled.
     
    And by the end of that chaotic month, we will have a clearer picture about where Liverpool stand compared to their rivals.
  • There’s no doubt that football is one of the most popular, if not the most popular sport in the world. With an estimated global following of over 4 billion people, it’s pretty obvious that football holds pride of place among all sports activities. It’s intense, exciting, and competitive, it has a fascinating history and can be played by anyone anywhere.  
     
    But as with all good things in life, there are also certain downsides we shouldn’t overlook. As interesting and compelling football may be, it also comes with its fair share of risks and hazards. Since it falls in the contact sports category, the chances of getting injured during a game are pretty high, whether you play it professionally or not. It can be argued that football injuries are more frequent and severe than injuries sustained in a cycling accident for example, or in other sports that don’t involve physical contact with an opponent. 
     
    So, if you’re thinking about enrolling your kids in football training, or getting the football gear on yourself, you’d probably like to know more about the safety aspects of the game, so you can make a well-informed decision.
     
    The risks associated with playing contact sports 
     
    As we’ve already mentioned, football is a contact sport, and that means there will be plenty of direct physical contact between players. Since it’s also a fast-paced game, the risk of suffering an injury after a collision with another player, or the ball on the playing field is quite high. However, if you look at the bigger picture, there are other contact sports that are a lot more dangerous than football, such as boxing or hockey. 
     
    There are various ways in which you can get hit and injured by playing football. The ball itself represents a danger in certain situations. Given the high speed at which it’s hit, receiving a ball to any part of the body is not only extremely painful but can also result in serious injuries. For example, being hit in the head or heading the ball can cause a concussion, which is one of the most common injuries in football. 
     
    Violent contact with an opponent or even with a teammate can have similar results. During a football match, things can get pretty intense. In the heat of the moment, as they’re trying to regain possession of the ball or dribble past an opponent, players tend to use their elbows, knees, shoulders, or any other part of the body to win the fight. In many cases, this also involves bumps and hits, and sometimes more serious injuries occur. 
     
    Football equipment also represents a potential danger for players. This might sound strange given that adequate gear is supposed to make the game safer and reduce the likelihood of accidents. But it’s enough to take a look at the studs that players use to gain better traction on soft ground to understand where the danger comes from. Being accidentally kicked by the adversary with the studs is one of the reasons why shin and calf injuries are so common in football. 
     
    It also has to be mentioned that in football, contact is an accepted part of the game. It’s not something that is heavily penalised unless the referee decides it was intentional. It’s just how the game goes – players have to be a bit aggressive in their approach and use their strength to win the ball and beat their opponents. There are obviously rules that are meant to keep contact within reasonable limits and restrict the use of force during the game, but it’s not always possible to avoid these incidents.  
     
    Common injuries in football 
     
    While it’s difficult to know how many people get injured every year playing football, given the broad popularity of the sport and the different variables that come into play when making such an assessment, the studies that have been conducted so far reveal that the likelihood of suffering football injuries is higher during matches. The frequency of the injuries varies from 9 to 48 injuries/1000 h for male youth players and 2. to 8.7 injuries/1000 h for male professional players. Also, males are at a higher risk of getting injured than female players.  
     
    When it comes to the body parts that are most likely to get injured during game or training, the lower limbs – ankles, knees, thighs, calves – are the most affected. However, accidents can also impact other parts of the body, so let’s take a look at some of the most common football injuries suffered by both amateurs and professional players. 
     
    Knee and calf injuries 
     
    The legs are the most intensely used parts of the body when playing football, so it comes as no surprise that a large number of players suffer from knee and calf inures quite frequently. These types of incidents usually involve injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that runs from the femur to the tibia, meniscus tears, and shin injuries.  
     
    Ankle injuries 
     
    Although they are not as severe as other types of injuries that can happen on the football field, ankle sprains remain a major health risk for players due to their frequency. They usually happen when players turn, twist, and change direction suddenly, or when they step on uneven surfaces, stretching the ligaments that hold the bones together.  
     
    Clavicle fractures
     
    Clavicle fractures usually happen during a fall, usually after having direct contact with another player. Most clavicle fractures heal without complications or need of surgery in a few weeks’ time, but they will keep players on the bench for a while and may require physical therapy. 
     
    Concussions 
     
    Concussions are mild brain injuries caused by a blow to the head, and unfortunately, they happen all too often during football matches or training sessions. Symptoms can range from nausea to headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. It’s important to get immediate medical attention after suffering a blow to the head, even if symptoms are not present, in order to stay safe. 
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