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    On a rollercoaster day of emotions filled to the brim with high drama, the Reds fell just short of clinching the Premier League title. A hard-fought 3-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield on the final day was not enough to deny rivals Manchester City. In the end, the quadruple was not meant to be but the opportunity for a treble of major trophies is well and truly alive.
     
    Jurgen Klopp and his men have enjoyed an immensely successful season thus far and still have the chance to add the Champions League trophy to their list of honours for the campaign. What this group of players has achieved this year is nothing short of remarkable but to ensure they carry that momentum forward into 2022/23 and pip Pep to the Premier League title they will need to bolster their ranks this summer.
     
    The Reds look to strengthen midfield
     
    Liverpool faces a pivotal Summer transfer window in a number of positions, but the midfield should be the priority despite garnering little attention. Klopp has a number of options at his disposal but with Oxlade-Chamberlain looking set to leave and James Milner and Jordan Henderson entering the latter stages of their career, those options are thinning.
     
    Klopp is already on the move in the transfer market having recently secured the services of Portuguese winger Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and looking to add further to his ranks. Liverpool is also in the race to sign Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni alongside Champions League final counterparts Real Madrid. The French defensive midfielder has emerged as one of Europe’s top rising stars over the past two seasons and has agreed on personal terms with both Liverpool and Los Blancos. Where he will end up we shall have to wait and see.
     
    One choice available to Klopp should he fail to obtain Tchouameni in the Summer is Borussia Dortmund youngster Jude Bellingham. The 18-year-old has commanded games at the highest level and maintained his form in the German Bundesliga throughout his spell at the Westfallenstadion. 20 goal contributions this term shows just how he is developing as a player and given the right time at Liverpool and he could be terrorising Premier League defences for years to come. He has poise in attack well beyond his years and demonstrates maturity in his play that marks him out as a truly generational talent well worth the £83million price tag. Those wanting to bet on whether Jude Bellingham will sign for Liverpool this summer can get free bets in the UK using these sites.
     
    An outside-the-box choice should both those targets fall through is Ivorian international Ibrahim Sangare. The PSV midfielder has played a crucial role in the Dutch outfit’s charge to the Eredivisie title this season, no doubt catching the eye of several interested onlookers hoping to lure him away from Eindhoven. His strength and power have led to impressive performances throughout the season for the Eredivisie champions and proved that the 24-year-old is more than capable of slotting straight into Klopp’s side. He will have to fight for him though as other Premier League clubs such as Newcastle and Aston Villa are also in the hunt to lure him away from the Netherlands and onto English soil.
     
    Keeping hold of stars is just as important as bringing them in
     
    The need for Klopp to freshen up his squad is readily apparent with the likes of Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and perhaps Joe Gomez looking set to depart the Reds this summer, the impact of the gap left by each varying drastically. Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t played for a couple of months now, while Origi leaves with a cult-hero status amongst the Kop having scored a number of iconic goals for the club since his arrival in 2015.
     
    It goes without saying that replacing these assets to maintain Liverpool’s strength in depth is important, but it will be crucial and ultimately season-defining for Liverpool next year if they can manage to retain the services of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
     
    The Egyptian has been in stunning form for the Reds this season in their quadruple chase securing the Premier League golden boot alongside Heung Min Son and making significant contributions throughout their various knockout competitions as well. Since arriving in 2017, the 29-year-old has scored 156 goals in 253 games for the Anfield outfit and is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world right now. He is a talent that Liverpool simply cannot afford to lose if they are to mount another challenge to Manchester City in the coming seasons.
     
    However, contract negotiations with the star have been turbulent and stretched all the way back to the beginning of this season. Uncertainty has persisted throughout the year regarding his intentions as the clock ticks down to the summer of 2023 when his current deal expires. Having said that positive steps have been made as of late despite Liverpool’s very strict wage structure; if there was one player to make an exception for it is surely the ‘Egyptian King’.
     
    Another vital cog in the Liverpool machine is Senegal’s Sadio Mane. The 2019 African Footballer of the Year joined the Reds in 2016 and has been critical in their success ever since contributing 116 goals to the sides that claimed the Champions League and Premier League titles in consecutive years. The front man is out of contract in just over 12 months’ time and has been quiet as to whether he will stay on Merseyside up until this point.
     
    In light of Mane stalling on putting pen to paper, Europe’s elite are hoping to capitalise with clubs such as PSG and Bayern Munich looking to get his signature this summer. The 30-year-old has made 28 goal contributions in 50 games this term and would no doubt add more if given the opportunity beyond 2023. Much like Salah, Mane is another player Liverpool can ill-afford to lose.
  • Given the situation we were in and the drama and emotion of it all, I didn’t even catch up on most of the other results until the day after. I wasn’t looking forward to Match of the Day because I knew I’d have to skip through our game and City’s game due to them doing that thing where they show both at the same time so you can see “how it unfolded” Fuck. That.
     
    Other than what happened with us, it was a decent enough final day in which most results went the way I’d want them to. In fact, if Aston Villa weren’t so…. well, Aston Villa… this would have been the absolutely perfect day. No top four for Arsenal, Leeds saved themselves (I’m glad, most of you probably aren’t!), Everton got battered, United lost yet again. The only slight blemish was West Ham didn’t win and push the Mancs down into the Europa Conference where they deserve to be. How have they finished above West Ham? That European run really torpedoed the Hammers' league campaign didn’t it?
     
    I’ll start at the bottom with Burnley and Leeds. I strongly fancied Burnley to stay up because they were at home to Newcastle while Leeds had to travel to Brentford. Newcastle had nothing to play for, whereas Brentford were looking for payback on Leeds because of a video that circulated after Leeds beat them in the playoffs a couple of years ago. 
     
    The Leeds players were singing about Thomas Frank and Brentford had been waiting for their chance at payback. My boy Ivan Toney tweeted it out a few weeks ago so you know Brentford were relishing the chance to put Leeds back in the Championship. So yeah, advantage Burnley I thought.
     
    Leeds had a kid making his debut in midfield and Gelhardt leading the line as my boy Bamford was still not ready to return. I didn’t like their chances of beating Brentford at all so fair play to them. It wouldn’t have mattered what Leeds did if Burnley had won though, but they shit the bed completely.
     
    The first goal they gave away was unbelievable. Nathan Collins just punched the ball off the head of a Newcastle player. Not one of those, hand above the head inadvertent handballs either. He deliberately did it. It was like watching a kids game when the ball comes within range of the hand and they can’t help but instinctively reach out and touch it. Wilson buried the pen and Burnley never really recovered.
     
    Burnley got relegated because Ben Mee got injured. It’s that simple I think. If he’d been available during the run in they’d have been fine. That Collins is terrible, I have no idea where they found him but they should send him back there. Unless it was the Championship, in which he’s headed back there anyway.
     
    As this was happening, Leeds thought they’d taken the lead with a smart finish by Gelhardt. He had just strayed offside though. They did eventually go ahead when Raphinha won and converted a pen.
     
    Things got worse for Burnley as Wilson added a second to make it 2-0 but Cornet pulled one back to give them hope and when Sergi Canos brilliantly headed Brentford level with 12 minutes to go it was game on. Especially as Canos was booked for taking his shirt off and then picked up another one minutes later for a foul. That’s why if I was a manager I’d fine any player who takes off their shirt unless it’s right at the end of the game. It's fucking stupid and serves no purpose.
     
    The situation was on a knife edge now and Weghorst was inches away from scoring the goal that - at that moment at least - would have saved Burnley. Cork had an effort cleared off the line too as the Clarets threw the kitchen sink at Newcastle.
     
    A goal then would have been enough, but then Harrison won it for Leeds with a deflected shot that found the bottom corner, sparking wild scenes of celebration in the away end. Bye bye Burnley then.
     
    You know what always shocks me? Hearing Ashley Barnes talk in his southern accent. He’s got Burnley stamped through him like a stick of rock and I always expect a Lancashire accent when he speaks. Then he’s all “yeah up the apples and pairs, guv’nor”. Freaks me out. 
     
    After Everton stayed up I didn’t really care who went down and had it been Leeds and not Burnley I wouldn’t have been arsed in the least. Yet when I heard they’d stayed up, and I then saw the video of Jesse Marsch huddling with his players in the dressing room afterwards, I have to admit I felt pleased for them. I feel no joy at Burnley going down though.
     
    I know loads of people can’t stand Burnley and I get it. Yet I think there’s something endearing about a club like that managing to come up and hang around for as long as they have without spending any cash. I also feel bad for them because of the ownership situation. It’s staggering that kind of leveraged buy out shit is still happening. The Premier League are just complete fucking cunts aren’t they?
     
    So I take no pleasure in Burnley’s demise but Leeds just bring more to the table. They’re fun to watch, even after Bielsa. I was critical of the decision to not let him see out the season and I didn’t think Marsch would be able to make any noticeable difference. He has though, I got that one badly wrong as they were clearly not getting out of it with Bielsa in charge.
     
    Right from Marsch’s first game in charge Leeds just looked like a more solid, organised unit. They lost that game (at Leicester) but you could see they weren’t going to be conceding six or seven every other week under the new guy. And they haven’t. They’ve been much more competitive while still playing attacking football with great energy. 
     
    Marsch is always going to get the Ted Lasso jibes and he won’t get the respect he deserves because, let’s face it, when Americans talk about footy it just doesn’t sound right and is a lot like when Brits talk about the NFL. Even if they really know their stuff it’s hard to take seriously because it sounds funny hearing an Englishman talking about “offense” and “de-fense” and “route trees”. It’s the same when an American is using footy terms. It shouldn’t be, but it just is. It sounds unnatural.
     
    But Jesse Marsch knows his shit and he’s performed a mini miracle keeping them up, especially with all of the injuries Leeds have had to deal with. They’ll be fine next season I think. There’ll be no relegation battle for them. Can Everton say the same? Can they fuck.
     
    The only thing that I took solace in last week when they secured their Premier League status is that I’m sure they’ll be even worse next year. They’ve gotten away with all of the financial doping but because Burnley are taking legal action that means the PL can no longer turn a blind eye to it and cover Everton’s tracks. Maybe there’ll be a points deduction but even if not you’d have to assume the PL are going to force them to get their accounts in order and to start balancing the books.
     
    The only way they can do that is by selling players and lowering the wage bill. There’ll be no big spending spree this summer, which is a shame in a way as they usually throw massive sums at shite players. They’d actually get a better return on their cash if they had just set fire to it. How is that? Well a pile of burnt cash can't shame the club by getting caught noncing.
     
    Everton are pathetic. Everything about them just screams out “LOSERS”. All season they booed and abused their players. Then when the situation got desperate they rallied around the team, gave them fucking rabid support and turned Goodison into a fucking war zone. It worked because they got the results they needed to stay up. Then they started patting themselves on the back for their great support. Where was that support all season then?
     
    The irony is that it wasn’t until they started doing what they’ve always sneeringly referred to as “Kopite behaviour” (supporting the team and greeting the coach etc) that they managed to create any kind of atmosphere. And it worked for them.
     
    They actually think Lampard is good, which is great news really because he’s shite and if he stays he’ll take them down next year. He won’t stay though. He’s already started laying the groundwork for his departure. Talking about how tough it’s been and how he can’t wait to go back down south now and spend time with his family because he’s hardly seen them. That’s his get out of jail free card.
     
    He won’t want to stay there with the financial mess they’re in. His stock is currently as high as it’s going to get because he kept them up. He’s a Tory and self preservation is second nature to them. He’ll desert that sinking ship like the fucking rat that he is. Same with Richarlison, the biggest rat of them all. If anyone comes in for him this summer he’ll be gone like shit off a stick, and he’ll convince the fans he’s done it to help them because the club needs the money. They’ll lap it up too.
     
    He’s played them like a fiddle, playing up to their rabid hordes with his stupid little jibes at us on social media. He thinks it winds us up but all it does is make me fucking cringe. He’s one sad, pathetic fucking loser with so self awareness whatsoever. Laughing at us for narrowly missing out on the title minutes after his team just lost 5-1 to finish 16th. I mean, it takes a special kind of fucking moron to not see what a terrible look that is. He even had a Newcastle fan in the replies rightly telling him “have some shame”. A Newcastle fan talking about a lack of shame!! That's when you know you're in the wrong.
     
    The only thing I will give Richarlison credit for is that unlike most of his team-mates he clearly does care and always puts a shift in. I despise everything about him and have done since he was at Watford, but one thing I can’t level at him is that he doesn’t work for the team. Give me that over the complete disinterest from his tone deaf strike partner who sat around watching his team struggle and after humiliating defeats would then go on instagram posting pictures of himself dressed as a woman from the 1950s. But then he came back for the last few games, scored a couple of goals and that will be enough to make the Blues forget just how much he’s taken the piss out of them. Another one who will leave at the first opportunity.
     
    If he really wants to make them think he cares, he should dress up in a Real Madrid kit and post it before kick off on Saturday. They’ll build him a statue then. I’m not even kidding. It doesn’t take much to get tributes from the Blues. Lest we forget that Dele Ali and Donny Van Der Week were put on a mural alongside Pickford, Coleman, Richarlison etc before they’d even kicked a ball. Alli still hasn’t kicked a ball for them has he? I know he's played, but has he touched the ball? Can anyone recall him doing ANYTHING for them? Still, at least he got a haircut and removed that red dreadlock eh?
     
    They define themselves by what we do and that’s why they’ll always fail. Forget about us, concentrate on getting your own shit together. It’s fucking mental when you look at how giddy they’ve been the last couple of weeks. They’re acting like they’ve achieved something this season. They’ve been dogshit for virtually the entire season, they survived by the skin of their teeth yet they’re strutting around, dicks swinging, like they’ve got something to be pleased about. They're fucking mental.
     
    Being a Blue is quite literally the most miserable existence of any fanbase in whole of football. There’s no joy in it whatsoever so they have to manufacture joy where there really isn’t any. Like invading the pitch and celebrating like Scots who’ve won at Wembley just because a team that spent more money than anyone outside of the two manc clubs just about survived relegation with one game to spare. They’re a different breed. It’s going to be great next season when they finish bottom.
     
    Speaking of bottom, Norwich ended their season fitting style by getting fucking leathered 5-0 at home by Spurs. Son scored twice but thankfully Mo got one to ensure the Golden Boot was shared. I didn’t like their little bro fest on twitter congratulating eachother though. Whatever that contract offer is, knock ten grand a week off it just for that shit. Urgh.
     
    Then you have Lineker furthering the tiresome “nice guy Son” narrative with “look at him smiling, you can tell he’s such a lovely guy and his team-mates love him”. Fuck that shit. He’s a little twat and I’ll die on that hill. 
     
    Spurs fully deserved top four as even if they did their best at times to blow it, they’re miles better than anyone other than the top three and it should never have been as close as it ended up. Arsenal are exactly who I said they were though and they proved it by twatting Everton when it meant absolutely nothing. They were smelling themselves too, especially Arteta giving it loads on the touchline, the smug cunt. Pure unadulterated Arsenal that. 
     
    Martinelli got the first from the spot, Nketiah quickly added another before Van Der Beek pulled one back. Cedric, Gabriel and Odegaard put Everton to the sword in the second half, but the travelling Blues didn’t care as they were too busy cheering Manchester City goals. City have well and truly overtaken United in their affections now. Sad cunts.
     
    Arsenal fans are now trying to talk themselves into "5th is a success" because they’d have taken that at the beginning of the season. What a crock of shit that is. At the start of the season they wouldn’t have been expecting Chelsea, Spurs and United to have the problems they’d had. Arsenal had a top four spot virtually sewn up and they threw it away. To Spurs. Losers. 
     
    Speaking of losers, United lost again. This the worst side they’ve had in living memory and they’re a million miles away from being good again. They may even be worse next season as their best player is going to jail and they basically need seven or eight really good signings to get anywhere near challenging. 
     
    Zaha got the only goal of the game to cap off a satisfying season for him and Palace. 14 goals, probably half of them from the spot but I can’t be arsed checking. Meanwhile, this was United’s worst season since 90/91 but it was actually much worse than their points tally suggests. They finished 6th and that flattered them massively.
     
    Palace finished 12th but I don’t think that reflects how they played either. They were better than that, and they were certainly a lot easier on the eye than they usually are. There’ll be no more Vieira disrespect from me after Palace's heroics against City and with him decking that little scrote who taunted him at Goodison. Shame Benteke didn’t do the same, the placid twat.
     
    I didn't actually realise when I wrote last week's round up that the Everton pitch invasion wasn't just at full time. They did it when they scored the third goal and there were still five minutes left. It wasn't just a joyous thing with them celebrating either, they were intimidating and abusing the Palace players while there was still time left. The Benteke video is appalling.
     
    Burnley should be putting in a complain about that too because there's no doubt that something like that will have had an influence on the Palace players. Palace had nothing of note to play for and they knew exactly what was happening when the full time whistle went. They will have just been wanting that game over and any motivation they had to try and get an equaliser will have gone as their personal safety will have been the priority. That's really not a level playing field is it? Action needs taking there. Some games behind closed doors next season is the least they should get. Same with City, who assaulted the Villa keeper after their game on Sunday. They should have been thanking the shit cunt.
     
    Anyway, United’s loss opened the door for West Ham to grab 6th sport and when Antonio smashed them into the lead at Brighton with a left footed thunderbolt it was looking good. Brighton hit back through Veltman and won it with a lovely finish by Gross late on and a stoppage time header by Danny Welcrap.
     
    Top ten finish for Brighton and well deserved too. Give them a good centre forward and they’d be pushing for top six. They lost only one of their final ten games, which was a stat that surprised me. That wretched run they had a couple of months back (seven losses in a row I think) really killed their chances of Europe but if they keep Graham Potter they might be able to climb a couple more places next season. 
     
    Watford took on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in what will hopefully be their last Premier League game for some time. We’ve seen enough of them and Norwich now. Please don’t come back any time soon lads.
     
    That Kenedy fella was playing for Chelsea. Where the fuck has been? On loan presumably, but how come he was allowed to play in this game? He was really good too. He set up the opener for Havertz and created a few other chances too. 
     
    Chelsea’s fans were having a great old time singing about Steven Gerrard as Villa handed City the title with that collapse, but just as the Chelsea fans were reaching full volume that Dan Gosling jabroni headed Watford level.
     
    It’s a shame it didn’t stay that way as it would have been a fitting end to Chelsea’s season. They’ve been mostly shite since the turn of the year and Tuchel has work to do there this summer, especially with all of his defenders fucking off, Kante starting to look old and them having no reliable goalscorer. 
     
    I mean fucking hell, they needed Ross Barkley to score the winner in this game. That’s not something you can count on, the breeze block headed cunt hadn’t scored all season. The sooner he goes back to Everton the sooner balance will be restored to the universe. They’re made for eachother.
     
    Finally, Leicester thumped Southampton in a bad tempered game. Maddison put Leicester ahead in controversial circumstances. There was a drop ball and Southampton through they were getting the ball back. It was booted towards their keeper and everyone stopped. Except Vardy, who chased it and put pressed on Lyanco who fluffed his lines and let Vardy in. The keeper saved but Maddison pounced on the rebound. Southampton were fucking furious and rightly so.
     
    Vardy then made it 2-0 with a lovely finish. Ward-Prowse pulled one back from the spot but that loser Ayoze Perez then converted a brilliant Maddison pass to give Leicester a cushion again. He then added another one to make it 4-1.
     
    Leicester finished 8th, which on paper is probably not too far over par all things considered. They’ve had loads of injuries yet I still feel like they’ve had a really disappointing season. Maybe I’m judging them overly harshly because of the points they gifted to Everton and because the cunts somehow beat us, but I don’t think they’ve been good enough considering the squad they have. They should be 5th or 6th really.
     
    Maddison has had a sneaky good season though. 18 goals he’s scored, which is really impressive for a midfielder. The fact that Leicester have been so disappointing means no-one is really talking about him though. I reckon he’s got Newcastle written all over him. The Saudis will be looking to make a big splash this summer and he seems like exactly the type of cunt who’d jump at it.
     
    So there we go, another season in the books and they seem to go quicker every year. It starts in August, then you blink and suddenly it’s May. Overall it’s been amazing. It didn’t result in the title and I’m not going off on one again about the injustice of that.
     
    The thing I want to say really is that too much emphasis seems to be being placed on the end result. The final outcome. All this talk now that we need to win the Champions League to ensure the season is a success. I’ve been thinking a lot about that these last few days and frankly it’s bollocks.
     
    A season isn’t just about what happens at the end of it. It’s about the journey, the fun you have along the way. The joy of winning games and the anticipation of the next one. In fairness, maybe that's why Arsenal see their season as a success? I don't deny they have made progress, but still, they're such fucking bottle jobs aren't they?
     
    For us though, this entire season has been un fucking real. We’ve reached every final and the league title was still a possibility right up until the final whistle went at the Etihad. 
     
    Yet we have fans of other clubs trying to banter us about ‘not winning the league’ and saying if we don’t win a European Cup it isn’t a great season. None of those cunts, NONE of them, have ever done what we’ve done. This is something 99% of other clubs in this country have never even come close to and never will. 
     
    Look at Everton, wildly celebrating because they’ve won a few home games to stay in the league. They’re acting like they’ve had a successful season when they’ve been thoroughly miserable for nine months of it. We’ve had great fun from August until May. The result of one game doesn’t take that away. A footy season is 10 months long and we’ve had 10 great months. Other than City, who else can say that? 
     
    And judging by their half arsed title parade even they don’t seem to have enjoyed themselves that much. Fuck everyone who isn’t us. 
     
    So as is tradition, here's some end of season awards
     
    Player of the Season (excluding LFC or MCFC)
     
    1) Son Heung Min (sorry mum)
    2) Jarrod Bowen
    3) Conor Gallagher
     
    He could play for us
     
    1) Harry Kane (sorry mum)
    2) Kevin De Bruyne
    3) Conor Gallagher
     
    Manager of the Season (non LFC)
     
    Graham Potter
     
    Goal of the Season:
     
    1) Salah v United (h) 
    2) Salah v City (h)
    3) Thiago v Porto (h)
     
    Twat of the Season
     
    1) Richarlison
    2) Frank Lampard
    3) Pep Guardiola
    4) Anthony Gordon
    5) Ben White
     
    Flop of the Season
     
    1) Everton
    2) Romelu Lukaku
    3) Bruno Fernandez
    4) Marcelo Bielsa
    5) Jack Grealish
     
    Worst Fans
     
    1) Man United
    2) Everton
    3) Newcastle (guaranteed number one next season, mark my words)
    4) Leicester 
    5) Wolves
     
    Best Opposition Fans
     
    Palace.
     
    Best Opposing Player Performance Against Us
     
    1) Kevin De Bruyne
    2) Mateo Kovacic 
    3) Conor Gallagher 
    4) Gabriel Martinelli
    5) Leandro Trossard
     
    Worst Opposition Player Performance Against Us
     
    1) Geronimo Rulli (twice)
    2) Paul Pogba (twice)
    3) Harry Maguire
    4) Zach Steffen
    5) Ben White
     
    The Jason Puncheon ‘My Boy’ Award
     
    In the absence of Bamford, I’ll go with Allan Saint-Maximin just over Ivan Toney and Marc Cucurella.
     
    Premier League Team of the Season:
     
    Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mané, Diaz:
     
    Best of the Rest (exc LFC & MCFC):
     
    Martinez; James, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Cucurella; Rice, Gallagher, Maddison; Bowen, Kane, Son:
     
    Massive Cunts XI:
     
    Pickford, Azpilacueta, White, Mina, Walker; Holgate, Bernardo, Fernandez; Gordon, Richarlison (c), Greenwood:
     
    Subs: Ramsdale, Mings, Maguire, Coleman, Coady, Son, Kane
  • I often find writing match reports can be somewhat cathartic after setbacks. Usually those are when we’ve lost games though or put in a terrible performance. This is different. I don’t want to be writing this at all as I just feel really flat today. It’s a weird situation as I couldn’t be happier or more positive about our team and where we are at, but it’s really fucking galling that it isn’t enough to be winning titles because of things that are beyond our control.
     
    Three years ago we picked up 97 points and didn’t win it. This year it’s 92. It should be enough but it isn’t because of a fucking abomination sports washing project up the road. It’s galling and as cheated as I feel for myself as a fan, I feel even worse for Klopp and his players. They’ve put everything into this season and what they’ve done is truly incredible. To be able to still top the ninety point mark while going all the way in every other competition is unheard of. They deserve to be Champions but modern football is just so fucking corrupt it’s harder than ever to win anything if you’re playing by the rules. Cheats usually prosper, and without us fighting the good fight City would have five titles on the bounce and probably another FA Cup to add to their tainted collection.
     
    I’ll bounce back in a day or two, especially with a Champions League Final to look ahead to, but I’m just pretty gutted today and struggling to motivate myself to do anything really. I didn’t think I would be. In fact I said going into this game that I’d made my peace with missing out on the title and that this game was going to be a celebration of what the lads have given us already, as well as a rousing send off for next week. It didn’t really turn out like that though, mainly because I broke the golden rule I have lived my life by for decades - never rely on Aston Villa.
     
    In my defence, even when they led 1-0 I didn’t get my hopes up. I fully expected them to go on and lose the game. My only focus was on us. I badly wanted to win our game to at least make City have to win their game to beat us. I also wanted the win to keep up our incredible home record over recent years. Last year doesn’t count as there were no fans. Anfield with fans is a fortress and we’ve just completed a fourth successive unbeaten season at home (as I said, last year doesn’t count).
     
    So that was my focus, nothing else. But then Villa went 2-0 and everything changed. Now all of the stars seemed to be aligning. Coutinho even got the goal. So, more fool me, I started to believe. The Gerrard factor, Coutinho scoring, it was going to happen. Fucking hell. We just needed to find a goal ourselves as we were drawing 1-1 and facing the nightmare scenario of losing the title on goal difference. At least that didn’t happen, so that’s something I guess.
     
    Not that it makes me feel any less shitty. Today is a tough day and I’m sure most of you feel as low as I do. There are all sorts of emotions flying around and I’ve been trying to isolate them to see which is the most prevalent. One thing I know is that I’m not disappointed, I’m mostly just pissed off. Not with our lads mind. I couldn’t be prouder of what our team has done this season. Even if the title had found its way here I couldn’t be any more proud of them. So much so that I’m not even going to reference THAT game which I’ve been banging on about for months as the one that would cost us the title. I no longer see it that way. 
     
    Yes, we absolutely should never have dropped points that night, but look at all the games we’ve won since when you could argue we shouldn’t have. By that I don’t mean ‘shouldn’t’ as in didn’t deserve to. I mean shouldn’t have been able to because we were playing twice a week every week for months and on occasion had to make five, six, seven changes. We still kept on winning. 
     
    So no, I’m not going to pick holes in it with “if only we hadn’t done this or if only we’d been able to do that.” Fuck that. 92 points while going all the way in every single cup competition we played in is incredible. Unprecedented. I have no regrets from our perspective.
     
    So why I am pissed off? It’s the injustice of it all really. The cruelty of it. We’re up against Ben Johnson FC only if/when they eventually get found guilty their honours won’t be handed to those who deserved them (which isn’t just us, it’s United as well). They’ve gotten away with the cheating irrespective of what future punishments may or (more likely) may not be handed down. They’ve been getting away with it for years and the media - a few noble souls fighting the good fight in the written press and on social media excluded - don’t give a fuck about it.
     
    So there’s that. An opponent doesn’t play by the same rules as everyone else but there is no recourse to their actions and hardly anyone seems to care. It’s a societal problem. Rich cunts can do what they like and the bootlicking fucking peasants just bow their heads in deference and accept whatever shit is dumped on their heads. Whether it’s energy companies making big profits yet still fucking trebling our fucking bills, members of the Royal family noncing, the Met turning a blind eye to Downing Street parties or the Premier League allowing clubs to just completely disregard the rules, the bottom line is the rich do what they like and there is never any recourse for their actions. Money talks.
     
    Not just at the top of the league either. Even at the bottom Everton have got away with fucking murder and Burnley are down because of it. The injustice and corruption in the Premier League is fucking rife. And it will only get worse now that they’ve let the fucking Saudis in despite the majority of clubs being against it. Money talks you see. That’s also why we’ve got a World Cup in mid-season in fucking Qatar. I’m getting sidetracked here though so back on topic.
     
    I’m also pissed off because I think back to a referee from Salford missing the most obvious handball of the season and a VAR official from Greater Manchester looking at it and going “nah it’s alright our kid, no handball. Come on Citeh, mad fer it”. Don’t dare try and tell me that’s just one of those things because there was nothing more blatantly corrupt this season than that decision. It was even worse than when the same pair of mancs stiffed us at Tottenham.
     
    So yeah, I’m pissed off. Disgusted too. At Aston fucking Villa and at myself for briefly allowing myself to believe they might do something worthwhile for once in their pitiful fucking existence. Ok, they did win a European Cup back in the day, but since then they’ve been a joke. I lost count of the number of times they gifted points to Ferguson’s United when they had the chance to stop them winning titles. That’s where my “never rely on Aston Villa” mantra originated.
     
    I expected them to do nothing against City and ultimately I was right. For a while though they were making me look like a twat and I couldn’t have been happier. As I sat there desperately wanting us to get that decisive goal against Wolves I had my Villa apology all worked out in my head. What I’d write in this report and what I’d say on the pod. I was even going to sing that God awful “Yippy aye ay” chant of theirs. And then they went the full Aston Villa. Three goals in five fucking minutes??? Spineless, bottling fucking cunts. Three goals in five minutes? Seriously? You fucking cowardly shitbags.
     
    What does that say about Stevie by the way? I know loads of Reds won’t want to blame him for that and in fairness he wasn’t on the pitch. Maybe I’m lashing out because of the hurt I’m feeling but to me it speaks volumes of him as a manager that his team can not only wilt like that, but not have the game management savvy to break up the game, fuck shit up and generally just take the wind out of City’s sails for a bit. No balls and no game management. Fuck off Villa you absolute shit cunts.
     
    I should never have allowed myself to contemplate the possibility that they’d get something against City but with a 2-0 lead and the clock ticking it’s impossible not to dream. The worst thing about these situations is the fucking false alarms that go around the ground. They usually start in the far corner of the Anny Road. The same thing happened three years ago when some soft cunt started cheering that Brighton had gone 2-0 up. This time it was a massive cheer that Villa had equalised to make it 3-3. 
     
    Anfield was rocking like fuck briefly. Pretty sure we were still 1-1 at that point but we scored soon after and the players probably thought Villa were still level because their celebrations were much more intense than most of the crowd’s. Word had filtered around that it had been a false alarm but there’s no way the players would have picked up on it by that point. I expect they will have soon after with the somewhat muted reaction of the crowd and the defiant chanting. 
     
    They’ll certainly have known that Villa’s lead had been wiped out by the cheers from the away end, although initially I didn’t really know what was going on because the goals came in such a short space of time I didn’t know if they’d scored one, two or three. Then word went around it was 3-2. I felt sick. So near and yet so far. It’s shit being in this situation where you’re needing another result to go your way but because you’re in the stadium you don’t really know what’s going on. Whoever started that cheer for the fake Villa equaliser needs to never set foot in Anfield again though. 
     
    Klopp said he didn’t understand why Wolves were cheering City’s goals. I reckon he knows full well but was feigning ignorance to make a point. They will say it’s because “shit on the Villa” but they cheered City’s goals against Brighton too remember, so it’s not that. I’m not taking it personally though. They weren’t cheering City’s goals for any other reason than they think they’re the fucking banter kings. Midlands clubs are notorious for that shit. 
     
    If they’d been playing at the Etihad they’d have carried on the same way, rooting against City and taunting them if it had gone our way. And if we’d won the title I’m fairly certain that the away end would have been full at the end and they’d be applauding our players. They just live for the ‘bantz’. That’s why they were singing God Save the Queen. This is why I basically hate everyone. Palace are the only set of fans I can remember this season not being knob heads and just supporting their own team. There may have been one or two others but none spring to mind.
     
    Nevertheless, in the situation we were in I’d say Wolves would be right up there with the worst possible fans we could encounter. Obviously Everton would be the worst (you only have to see Richarlison’s shamelessly embarrassing tweet aimed at us after they’d been dicked 5-1 at Arsenal), then you have Wolves, Villa and Newcastle. The worst kind of “banter merchants”.
     
    Wolves were also one of the worst possible opponents we could face too. By worst I mean difficult. They’re tough to play against and that’s why I held out hope they might do something against City last week. They didn’t, but it isn’t a particularly bad reflection on them as City will beat most opponents. Wolves at least offer some hope of maybe doing something. That also made them tricky opposition for us too of course, particularly with tired legs and the stress of the occasion.
     
    They defended stubbornly and they were really dangerous on the break. It didn’t help that we gifted them a goal so early though. Awful misjudgement from Konate but it was well executed by Jiminez and Neto. He’s a little tit that Neto. I’ll never forget him giving it the big ‘un to the Main Stand a few years after scoring a goal that was then ruled out for offside. He did similar this time, giving it the beans to the crowd. I’m fine with players doing that if they’ve been on the receiving end of stick or there’s long standing beef there. Neto isn’t Wayne Rooney though, so why the fuck is he celebrating like him?
     
    Jiminez gave us a lot of problems. He won his first three or four headers and it took us a while to fully get to grips with him. Wolves set up with their back five, solid midfield three and Jimenez leading the line on his own. Neto didn’t play alongside him, he was virtually stood on the left touchline and rarely strayed from there. When he went off injured, Hwang came on did the same thing. When Wolves were able to break, they looked for that long ball towards the left corner flag each time. With Trent usually upfield attacking it was often left to Joel to act as an auxiliary right back. We never looked comfortable defensively all day, but it wasn’t specifically down to the defenders themselves.
     
    We were just a bit too frantic. Dendoncker shot wide after a swift break from Hwang down the left, and Hwang himself went clean through and looked certain to score, but then I remembered that he was up against Alisson and - no word of a lie - I didn’t think for a minute he was going to finish that. Sure enough, Alisson saved it. I think we had drawn level by that point but I’m not sure. My head was all over the place with the stress of it all. So I might be wrong but I think that chance was to make it 2-1 rather than 2-0.
     
    Our goal was beautiful. An absolute work of art, which unsurprisingly had Thiago doing most of the brushwork. Konate rolled a ball into him and without even looking he just flicked a ball through the defenders legs to spring Mané in on goal. The finish from Sadio was quality but that touch from Thiago… fucking hell. What a player.
     
    We’d created other chances. Matip headed wide from a Diaz cross and he also headed into the ground instead of bursting the net. Diaz was denied by the keeper and then flashed a ball right across the goalmouth that eluded everyone. He was causing havoc and was clearly our most dangerous player, but Thiago was the best player on the pitch. Until he picked up a freak injury just on half time. Devastating, not just for this game but more so for next week. We can only hope he recovers but it feels unlikely at this stage. 
     
    Wolves were hit by injury too as their keeper went off, replaced by John Ruddy. Klopp should have sent his players out for the second half wearing Suarez masks just to traumatise Ruddy further. Maybe we’d have spared ourselves the 20 odd minutes of stress we had looking for that elusive goal.
     
    The second half didn’t really start too well as it was clear we didn’t have our best stuff. Wolves were resolute and full of gamesmanship. Every time one of them made a block they’d stay down and require the physio. Some may have been genuine, but not all of them. There’s a part of me that resents that because they had nothing to play for. By that I don’t mean they should roll over, I’d expect 100% effort and for them to try to win the game, but time wasting and gamesmanship seems a little over the top. But then I’m complaining that Villa didn’t do it at City so I can’t have it both ways.
     
    Mostly I don’t have a problem with anything Wolves did but I can see why a lot of Reds won’t have been happy with the antics of Coady. Regular readers will know I’ve never liked him so welcome to the club, glad to have you on board. 
     
    With Villa still holding on and then actually doubling their lead (cheers Phil, the rest of them can fuck off but you get a free pass from me) our need for a winning goal grew more and more pressing and the tension level intensified. Sadio had the ball in the net and Anfield erupted. I jumped up to celebrate but I’m in line with that and wasn’t sure if he was offside. The linesman didn’t flag which raised hope, but I watched him listening intently on his earpiece and when he then raised the flag I knew VAR had told him and that it wouldn’t stand. Shame as it was a great finish by Mané and clever pass by Jota. I’ve since seen a replay and I’m surprised the linesman himself didn’t give it as it was quite clear really.
     
    Salah replaced Jota and brought renewed hope with him. As always, chances came to him but he wasn’t clinical with the first couple. He drifted a shot over the bar when he probably should have tried to take a touch or maybe cut it back. He’d only just come on though and it came at him quickly. Soon after he was racing clear through the centre though and should have scored. It does my head in how he nearly always cuts inside onto his left foot even if it means running into traffic. Those defenders were out of the game if he’d gone right, but he brought them back into play by insisting on cutting back in. He didn’t even get a shot away. Really disappointing.
     
    Bobby was then sent on for the ineffective Keita as Klopp played his final card. Keita hadn’t been bad but he wasn’t good either. Bobby was fucking dreadful though, at least initially. He kept giving the ball away when we needed the opposite. We need to build some momentum to force the goal but he kept giving it to Wolves. It was infuriating but it was a manic, frantically paced game and Bobby’s style is always going to make it difficult to just step into that and immediately hit the ground running. When he got up to speed he was actually good, but those first five minutes or so were grim.
     
    I remember looking at the clock with around 20 minutes left and thinking we needed to score soon because I didn’t want to get to the last five minutes still needing the goal. It shows you just how cabbaged my head was that until just now when I checked, I thought our goals came at around 73 and 80 minutes. I’ve just seen that it was 84 and 89 and honestly, I’m staggered by that. I had no idea it was so late. I lost all track of time though as the stress and emotion of the occasion was just too much.
     
    Mo’s goal owed everything to Matip. He won the first header which was cleared off the line. The ball looped up into the air and he won the second header too, nodding it down for Mo to convert from close range. Wolves didn’t seem especially interested in trying to force an equaliser and we wrapped up the win when Robbo took advantage of some lovely play by Bobby to smash one in at the Kop end.
     
    So we did our bit but there was no good news filtering through from the Etihad and that was that. Gutting.
     
    But we’ve won two cups already and there’s the prospect of a third. The biggest one of all. So the mood at Anfield wasn’t one of despondency. It was appreciation and defiance. Hardly anyone left the stadium at full time as fans waited to pay tribute to the team and say farewell to the legend of Origi.
     
    I was left fairly non-plussed and even underwhelmed by it all if I’m being brutally honest. I probably say this every year, but this thing just isn’t the same since they allowed wives and kids on the field. It gets worse every year though and there were hundreds of people on that pitch at the end. It was almost impossible to pick out the players and I spent a good five minutes looking for Klopp. Eventually I spotted him but should it really be that hard?
     
    I love how Klopp makes everyone feel they are a part of the team and so by that logic it’s only natural he’d want them on the pitch, but if we’re going to have the analysts, sports science team, academy lads etc on the field then should the wives, girlfriends, kids, cousins, brothers, mates, aunties etc all be out there too?
     
    I dunno, I guess you can’t put the genie back in the bottle but these things are a farce now. It was impossible to pay proper tribute to the lads and Klopp because the whole thing was so stretched out. Hendo had virtually completed his lap as Konate had barely even reached the Kop. We had two cups out there and I wanted to see the whole team in front of the Kop with the trophies, with Klopp whipping everyone up into a frenzy that would end in that massive roar as we send them off to Paris. We got none of that, it was shite and instead of coming out of the stadium all fired up for next week I just trudged away, fed up and annoyed.
     
    There’s no point me dwelling on any of that because it’s here to stay. Every year there are more people on that pitch and it just isn’t the fun event that it used to be. I really don’t even want to bother staying for it in the future but I will do because it’s the least we owe Klopp and the players. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that the whole thing was proper shit though.
     
    So anyway, another season done and dusted with just the Champions League Final to go now. We’re limping to the finish line a bit. Not in terms of results as those have been great. The performances haven’t been bad either, but you can see the heavy load is starting to catch up with us now and players are succumbing to injuries. We lost Fabinho, then Mo and Virg had muscle tweaks that needed rest and now it’s Thiago. I’ve not even given any serious thought to the final yet but I know I’m not as cocksure as I was. 
     
    Fatigue and the injuries to key midfielders have shaken my confidence somewhat but I’m sure in a day or two when I’m over this weekend’s events I’ll be more bullish about it and the excitement will kick back in.
     
    Star man is Diaz, with Sadio and Robbo both running him close.
     
    Onto Paris then and another chance to make history. See you on the other side.
     
     
    Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Keita (Firmino), Thiago (Milner); Jota (Salah), Mané, Diaz:
     
     
     
  • It was so close at one point we could almost touch it but the quadruple is finally out of reach despite the lads taking care of business with a hard fought win against a determined Wolves side.
     
    TLW Editor Dave Usher is joined by John Gallagher and Paul Natton to look back on an emotionally shattering afternoon at Anfield and to reflect on another incredible 90+ point season from Kloppo's boys. And of course we look ahead to next weekend's date with Real Madrid in Paris.
     
    Up the Treble chasing Reds!
     
     
     
  • There was no fairytale finish for Divock Origi with the striker watching on from the sidelines as the Reds finished their outstanding Premier League campaign with a 3-1 win over Wolves.
     
    The Reds completed their end of the bargain by winning their game against Wolves, but their title rival Man City did likewise meaning they defended their league title albeit they were pushed to the brink in their fixture against Aston Villa.
     
    While the final day carried its fair share of drama and unpredictability, what was certain was that Origi would be celebrated in fine style by the Anfield faithful. The much loved striker is joining newly crowned Serie A champions AC Milan next season but leaves Liverpool with a catalogue of fond memories.
     
    The only disappointment that there will not be a final chapter in Paris on Saturday evening as he picked up a thigh injury in training.
     
    The Belgian spoke extremely humbly about his Liverpool career as reported by the Official site.
     
    “Honestly, I feel honoured. It was an honour to be able to play here in Anfield with teammates, with staff [and] with the fans – it’s been an honour. You have to experience Liverpool. Before I came here, they told me it’s a special club and once you sign here, you experience it.
     
    “I’ve been able to see us winning so much – it goes beyond words. It’s been an honour.”
     
    The ability of Jurgen Klopp to build confidence of squad players is a remarkable aspect of his management and no matter what your role is, he values you as a incredibly important to the success of the team.
     
    Klopp called Origi a Liverpool legend in his pre-match press conference, and the striker said that it was a tag that he is honoured to have and another reason why he will continue to closely follow the club.
     

     
    “That is something you take with you and you’re grateful for. I know that I’ll come and watch games, for sure. I will follow the club, but it’s forever in my heart – it has a special place in my heart.
     
    “I just wish that the club continues to grow and keep being Liverpool as it is. For sure, I’ll be back.”
     
    In keeping with his modesty, Origi did not want to pick one particular individual highlight of his Liverpool spell, but what he seemed most proud of was his role as the ultimate team player.
     
    “When you don’t play, you feel hurt, but beyond that you always try to put the team first. I always try to transform that and know there is a higher purpose and know that we have an unbelievable coach who makes the right decisions – we need to win games.
     
    “In my time here we won so many games and being able to put the team first has been my thing. Every time I felt like every footballer. I wanted to play, but in the end, I knew there was a higher purpose. 
     
    “I feel that my purpose is done here in Liverpool.”
     
    And that is the perfect way to sum up Divock Origi.
     
     
     
     
     
  • Whatever happens come the final whistle today there is bound to be emotional scenes as Anfield farewells a player they have truly taken to heart in Divock Origi.
     
    Over the years the Belgian has struck up a truly unique relationship with the Liverpool base at large and especially those regular match goers at Anfield.
     
    Origi was signed from Lille in the summer of 2014 but stayed at the French club for a extra season.
     
    Usually when that happens, it is meant to grow more confidence and experience in a young player before making the big step up.
     
    While he did get plenty of games, being voted by local publication L'Equipe  in the 'Worst XI' of the 2014/5 Ligue 1 Season was certainly not the label that he would envisioned carrying before making his Premier League debut. 
     
    But to his great credit, he did not let that sort of critical feedback define him in his first season and under new manager Jurgen Klopp he struck up a great working relationship which has only blossomed over time.
     
    The great strikers of Liverpool just roll off the tongue over time and it is fair to say Origi is not in the same category as a Rush, Fowler, Owen or Suarez for instance.
     
    While there has been times when the languid style of the No 27 has frustrated fans especially when he is such a physically blessed specimen, every player is different in their make-up.
     
    But it is not the weight of goals that have defined Origi's 175 appearances over seven full seasons,  instead it is what is fondly called as “Big Div moments.”
     

     
    From Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, Origi has been the player for the big occasion and will be remembered by this generation of Reds fans, players and coaching staff forever more.
     
    Jordan Henderson is one of the eloquent Footballers around, and in today’s match day programme (per TThe Mirror) he paid the perfect tribute for his work on and off the pitch.
     
    "It looks like today will be Divock’s last at Anfield for Liverpool so I hope he gets the kind of send-off he deserves.
     
    “Actually I know that he will because he has been such a special player for us, but he is also an incredible person who has taken this city and its people to his heart.
     
    “His legacy will be his achievements for this club, but it will also be the good causes he has supported, like the local students he is helping to put through university.
     
    “Today should be a celebration no matter what happens and as club captain I will certainly be celebrating Divock and wishing him all the best for the future. The big fella deserves nothing less.”
     

     
    Trent Alexander-Arnold also wanted to pay his tribute to his long-time teammate.
     
    What a guy, what a man, what a player. Definitely over the course of the stint the manager has been in, he has definitely had the most iconic moments, that will live in the memory of all the fans. He will go down in history. 
     
    “He is always putting in performances, always trying his best, always working his hardest. It’ll be sad to see him leave but he is more than deserving of a big send-off and a big farewell on Sunday or in Paris.
     
    Two more games left in this remarkable season, certainly enough time for Div to add to his legacy.
     
    You wouldn't rule it out.
     
     
     
    ·        
  • Monday May 16:  
     
    Just when I thought I couldn’t love him any more than I already do, Klopp has gone and upset that fat, marshmallow headed cunt who is running the country into the ground. What a fucking man. In fairness he didn’t really say anything that should have justified Downing Street sticking their fucking oar in. He just refused to condemn the booing of the national anthem and said the real question that people should be asking is why is it happening because “our people don’t do things for no reason”. 
     
    Next thing, within an hour there’s a statement coming out and the tory media are putting out headlines like “Boris Johnson slaps down Jurgen Klopp”. Yeah I’d like to see the fat bubbling cunt try. Klopp would make mincemeat out of him in whatever setting you like. Physically or in a debate, Klopp would ruin the cunt. I really hope he does, but Johnson isn’t stupid enough to directly say anything to Kloppo.
     
    Meanwhile, “You never know when it’s going to be your last. You go into the dressing room after the game and all of the lads are straight on their phones. I’m saying: ‘You’ve won the FA Cup - get off your phone!’” Peak Milner. What a man. He’s right too. It bothers me when you see the dressing room celebrations and players are sat there on their phones. I get it to some extent. Naby was FaceTiming his family on Saturday, which is completely understandable. Don’t be on social media though, for fucks sake. Not until later when you can post up all the videos you’ve taken so the likes of me can waste away hours just soaking everything in.
     
    Meanwhile, Arsenal lost at Newcastle tonight. They’ll lose to Everton on Sunday too, the shit spineless fucking cowards. Not even Spurs can fuck that up now though. They only have to beat Norwich to be sure of 4th. So this is what should happen as soon as Arsenal’s fate is sealed. Julian Ward needs to fire over a bid of £40m plus a quid to activate Saka’s release clause. John W Henry should post a pic of him smoking a cigar. Then we should sign Saka and immediately loan him to Spurs. Fuck you Arsenal.
     
    *disclaimer - if they send Everton down I will take back all of the above and will happily let them keep Saka.
     
    Tuesday May 17:  
     
    Southampton 1 L 2. What a bunch of lads. We had to leave out virtually the whole team but the rest of the squad just went out there and kept the juggernaut rolling. I’m sure there are people who are fed up listening to Klopp and Hendo talking about how it isn’t about the team, it’s about the squad and that everyone is important. They constantly reference how the team couldn’t perform to such a high level without the back up players pushing them so hard in training every day. Klopp has often said that when we do 11 v 11 in training, the coaching staff and analysts always say “thank God we don’t have to play against them this weekend”.
     
    A lot of people - mostly outsiders - won’t get that and will think he’s just blowing smoke up the arse of players like Minamino, Gomez, Jones, Kostas, Elliott, Rhys Williams, Divock etc but tonight we saw exactly what he means. Nine changes, all of the star names missing and we won relatively easily. 2-1 makes it sound like a contest but really it was complete dominance and their goal should never have stood. We asked on the podcast tonight where this team would finish in the league. Third or fourth would be my guess. 
     
    Everything Klopp says about the importance of the squad is true. Milner has said it too. “You should see them in training”. That’s the thing isn’t it? Our training sessions are of such a high level that the games themselves aren’t that difficult. Without the high level of training the team wouldn’t be as prepared and as intense. So those lesser lights who hardly play, they’re contributing even when they aren’t doing what they did tonight. 
     
    But we don’t see that. We only see when they play. And when they have played they’ve been fucking boss. Taki has 10 goals. Divock averages a goal every 90 minutes on the pitch. Kostas is almost as good as Robbo. Harvey is going to be amazing and I still have faith that Curtis is going be a superstar. And let’s not forget that this position we’re in, in Europe, wouldn’t have happened without Nat and Rhys. Other than his wife, those two were the first people Klopp messages after we reached the CL Final. I love that, how many other managers think like that? We’re so fucking lucky to have this guy.
     
    We might still win the league after all. Probably not, but even if we come up short you have to love that we’ve done everything possible to make City sweat and we’ve forced them to have to win it on the pitch. They’ll have been desperate to see Southampton beat our second string tonight, but instead they now have to go out and win it themselves by beating Villa on Sunday. Chances are they will, handsomely, but it’s football and you never know.
     
    Wednesday May 18:
     
    Ok, you’re probably going to think less of me for this but I’m going to tell you anyway. I can’t get enough of this “Wagatha Christie” trial. On the one hand it’s pretty scandalous that a court is having to deal with this “mean girl” shit. On the other hand, it’s fucking hilarious. I can’t believe it’s actually a real thing that’s happening as it’s so petty and ridiculous. I do feel like it’s unfair putting any of this on the Rooney’s though as Vardy’s missus is so clearly 100% responsible for this whole thing. She’s a right fucking limelight seeking, money grabbing little shitehawk and Colleen has done her like a kipper with that sting operation. 
     
    All the little snippets that have come out of the trial are hilarious though. 
     
    Things like Rooney’s barrister saying “So the phone is in Davey Jones’ locker” and Rebekah Vardy saying “I’m sorry, I don’t know who he is”.
     
    Or Vardy’s lawyer: ‘I believe you have a private Instagram too?’  Wayne Rooney: ‘Yes that’s correct.’ Vardy’s lawyer, squinting through this glasses: ‘Is that… Wazzaroon08?’ Wayne Rooney, smirking: ‘Yes, that’s correct.’
     
    Rebekah Vardy: ‘…..if I’m being honest’ Coleen Rooney’s lawyer: (sounding exasperated) ‘I would hope you’re being honest given you’re sitting in a witness box at the High Court’
     
    And this absolute belter. “Arguing with Coleen is like arguing with a pigeon. You can tell it that you are right and it is wrong; but it’s still going to shit in your hair.” It makes no sense whatsoever, so it’s quite fitting really.
     
    This whole thing is so fucking stupid and pathetic but I can’t get enough of it. I wish I only was in the courtroom watching it all. The mad thing is it was Vardy who brought this thing to court and so far she’s 100% looking like the twat here. I haven’t seen a single thing that would make Colleen look bad here and she’s the fucking defendant!! Someone actually told Vardy this was a good idea and that she had a strong case. 
     
    This is equivalent to Boris Johnson taking someone to court for calling him a liar. He’d never do it because he’d have to sit there while thousands of lies are used in evidence against him. Yet Vardy’s missus has brought this case, knowing that they have access to all of her WhatsApp and texts. She must be the stupidest person in this entire fucking country. Actually no, that would have to be Jamie wouldn’t it.
     
    On the pitch tonight Rangers lost the Europa League on penalties. I wanted them to win and was really disappointed for them. The players I mean. It’s hard to feel too sorry for the fans when you see all those Union Jacks all over the gaff, but I did still have sympathy for them because this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. 
     
    Will they ever win a European Final? Highly doubtful so this was their moment and they didn’t take it because they relied on someone with Arsenal DNA to step up in the biggest moment and he went the full Arsenal on them. Every other Rangers penalty was fucking brilliant. They up stepped “Rambo”. He needs to change that nickname immediately as it’s an insult to John Rambo, and also to our own ‘Rambo’ who was deadly from the spot.  
     
    While everyone seems quick to condemn Rangers fans for their behaviour, I feel as though its gone under the radar a bit that those Frankfurt fans caused murder at West Ham and were kicking off all over Seville these last couple of days. We have to face them in the Super Cup next season and I think there’d have been much less bother if we’d met Rangers. They might get a shock though if they unveil that “God Shave the Queen” banner. It won’t get the response they expect as we’ll be applauding it.
     
    Thursday May 19:
     
    It was going so well wasn’t it? I knew it was too good to be true but still allowed myself to get swept along with it. 2-0 down to Palace, Burnley leading at Villa, could it happen? No, it couldn’t. And I’m fucking gutted about it. I have no right to be. We’ve won two trophies, we’re in a Champions League Final next week and there’s an outside chance we win the title this Sunday. I shouldn’t be bothered by anything that happens at Everton and yet here I am, sulking because Everton have survived with one game left. 
     
    By the time Sunday rolls around I’ll be over it and won’t give it another thought until they struggle again next season, but tonight I feel pretty fucking down. I can’t be too angry at Palace because they’re responsible for City having 5 less points than they might have, but that tonight was still fucking shameful. That said, it’s mostly Chelsea’s fault and I’ll never forget that. I hope they go bust.
     
    Fuck Arsenal too. And United. Shit bottling bastards.
     
    Friday May 20:
     
    Remember when we lost in Kyiv and Klopp was in his kitchen with his mates singing about how we'll do it next year? That was me this morning, on my own.
     
    "We saw the relegation cup, 
    then the bastards fucking stayed up
    but next season they’ll be going down
    coz fat Frank is a tory clown”
     
    Needs work like, but it’s the sentiment that counts. In all seriousness though, I’m really low today because of what happened last night. We’re chasing a quadruple and I’ve got a proper cob on. I know I’m just being greedy but this was so close. It was within our grasp but it slipped away and those scenes on the Goodison pitch last night have really pissed me off. If you can look at that and laugh at them for the sad cunts they are, then good for you. That’s the best way, no question. Others will look at them with pity, because it really is a fucking wretched existence being a Blue. Invading the pitch, carrying on like a little club that has just won promotion, it’s absolutely cringeworthy shit and I can’t relate to it at all. 
     
    These people come from the same city as us. They’re our family, friends, yet I look at that and can’t relate at all. I can’t imagine ever being in a situation where I’d celebrate such absolute shitness. In that position I’d have breathed a massive sigh of relief, applauded the effort from the players to come back from 2-0 down and then I’d have left the stadium resenting just how fucking shit my team is despite the club breaching every FFP rule in the book for the last few years.
     
    I’m sure plenty of them did do that, but there’s just no self awareness there though with loads of them. That pitch invasion and the joyous scenes of celebration were just fucking appalling. I don’t even have words for it. Then you’ve got that arrogant little pigeon faced cunt Richarlison throwing shade at Carragher. I’m sure Carra found it funny and he won’t be the slightest bit arsed about it. 
     
    Me though? I’ve said for years Richarlison the biggest cunt in the league and he proves it on a weekly basis. I’m not arsed about him having a go at Carra, but I am arsed at the reason for it. What did Carra do to upset him? He said that every time he watches Everton, Richarlison goes down three or four times a game pretending to be injured when he isn’t. That’s just a fact. There’s no disputing that so what’s his fucking problem? 
     
    Carra should be getting onto the producers at Sky and slipping them a few quid to go through the archives and compile a video of Richarlison diving and feigning injury game after game. It will be a long video but it would completely nail that prick to the wall. I think the country as a whole aren’t really aware of how bad he is because Everton are so shit that nobody pays attention to them. Putting a video out there of all his embarrassing shit would be fucking ace. 
     
    Speaking of embarrassing, PSG are giving the keys to the farm to Mbappe. Basically letting him write his own cheque and giving him total control of decisions and transfers. I dread to think what his salary is going to be if he’s turning down Real Madrid. I don’t know what to think about this. 
     
    The easy thing is to say he’s taken the easy option and put money ahead of his football career. He’s better than PSG but it’s the team he supported and they’re offering him such eye watering wages it must be hard to turn that down. Ultimately I don’t really care because as soon as it became a dick measuring contest between Real Madrid and Qatar, it was none of our concern anyway. 
     
    We’ll just do what we do. Find cheaper options and turn them into superstars. See Diaz. A player who isn’t just hungry, he’s fucking starving. As talented as Mbappe is, could you see him showing the same passion, enthusiasm and general delight to just be here than Diaz has? Maybe he would, I don’t know enough about his personality and you can never overstate the Klopp effect. 
     
    PSG are a clown show though aren’t they? These fucking oil clubs have completely distorted the market and while the likes of the Premier League allow these cunts to keep buying our clubs then it’s going to continue. What we’ve done in the face of all this rampant cheating is incredible. 
     
    Speaking of which…. Burnley and Leeds are threatening to take legal action against Everton and the Premier League. Quite right too. One of them will be going down even though they’ve played by the rules and Everton haven’t. They can cook their books as much as they like, but it couldn’t be more apparent that they’ve completely disregarded the FFP regulations. They haven’t even been sneaky about it like City, they’re openly declaring fucking massive losses, three times the amount allowed.
     
    Best case scenario is they get points deducted either now or next season. Even if that doesn’t happen though, they aren’t going to be allowed to spend any money and their squad is dogshit. There’s nothing to suggest that they’ll be any better next season, so I’ll console myself in that. Their demise is inevitable.
     
     
    ….and that was the week that was
     
  • If Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is hoping for a fresh start away from Liverpool this summer then that could now be in doubt with the club reportedly weighing up what valuation they put on the midfielder.
     
    The 28 year-old is coming out of contract at the end of next season and with the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in the same boat, it seems unlikely that his re-signing shapes as a priority.
     
    Additionally to that point is that Oxlade-Chamberlain would be fully aware of the logjam for places in the Liverpool midfield and would be closely assessing what his next step would be.
     
    After making 43 appearances and scoring eight goals in all competitions during the 2019-20 campaign, in the last two seasons combined he has made just 46 appearances despite being fully fit for the last 18 months.
     
    His last appearance this season came in the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Nottingham Forest and despite Jurgen Klopp making a number of changes for the midweek clash against Southampton, Oxlade remained on the bench.
     

     
    ESPN reports that Liverpool are prepared to listen to offers for Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer but the club will assess how much interest there is in him before setting a valuation on him.
     
    Oxlade-Chamberlain came to the club in the summer of 2017 from Arsenal for £35 million but it his highly unlikely that the club get close to that figure.
     
    And the club have shown in recent years that they are not afraid to hold on to players for their final year if they do not get the valuation they are after with some examples being Gini Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana.
     
    In a position such as what Oxlade-Chamberlain faces, you weigh up the balance between professional ambition and being part of a successful squad.
     
    Some like Divock Origi have been more than happy to put his own career progression to one side and become the perfect role player for the big moments, but others like Wijnaldum decide to leave despite being a first team regular.
     
    So while there is a chance that Ox may have to see out his final year at the club, he would have to admit that there are far worse places to be. 
     
     
     
     
     
  • Adam Lallana has sent a message of support to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the midfielder on the outside looking in as the season of Liverpool reaches a thrilling conclusion.
     
    Jurgen Klopp shuffled his pack against Southampton on Tuesday night due to the intense schedule and gave opportunities to the likes of Harvey Elliott, Takumi Minamino and Kostas Tsimikas while Curtis Jones had his first 90-minute outing in the league since playing against Crystal Palace in late January.
     
    One player who has also been on the periphery of late but was not called upon despite being one of the substitutes on the evening was Oxlade-Chamberlain.
     
    It has been a common theme for the former Arsenal and Southampton player as his last appearance for the Reds came two months ago against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final clash with his last league outing coming against Norwich in the middle of February.
     
     Klopp has often bemoaned the lack of the five-substitute rule in the Premier League which would allow him to give more minutes to fringe players.
     
    The other opportunity for those kind of players comes through injury to regular first teamers, but Liverpool have had very few absentees in the second half of the season and the ones that have missed games have returned in a short period.
     
    Klopp was apologetic to his squad players after the 2-1 win on the South Coast.
     
    “Harvey, not sure when he last played. Curtis, no rhythm. Takumi Minamino, it’s a crime he’s not playing more often. Oxlade didn’t even play and he’s in outstanding shape.
     

     
    “It’s really tough for the boys but whatever happens this year, happened because of this group. It’s exceptional, and tonight they showed that again.”
     
    This is the time of the season that any player lives for, when there are cups and titles on the line.
     
    But when you are on the outside looking in, it would test even those with the strongest resolve.
     
    Lallana was part of the Champions League and title winning squads, but only played minor roles in both successes, and he therefore saw the need to look to greener pastures for his own career.
     
    As the Express reported, the veteran spoke about the difficulty of the situation that Oxlade would be in at this point of time and the ability of striking the right balance on a team and individual scale.
     

     
    “It has been a tough few months for Chambo. Not being involved. I have been there myself. It’s hard to manage your own ego at times because you want to be playing. You feel sorry for yourself.
     
    “At times, you do have to act. When you are down, you have to put a brave face on to support your teammates. And you can be proud of doing that.
     
    “Come the end of the season, he has contributed. When the lads were at AFCON’s in January, he put in some unbelievable performances. He scored some important goals, so he has contributed massively. It was great to see him on the bench and celebrate with his players (on Tuesday.)
     
    There is little doubt that Ox is a player that splits opinion in the fanbase, much in the way that Lallana did.
     
    But losing a year out of your career when you are in your prime is a crippling blow for any player and you have to be made of strong character to bounce back.
     
    That is exactly what the midfielder has done, and in truth while he has not approached those levels of individual brilliance that he displayed in the second half of the 2017/2018 season, he has certainly played his part in this golden era of Liverpool.
     
    And if Ox does move on in the off-season, there will be plenty of goodwill towards him
     
     
     
     
  • We won a trophy, City finally slipped up, Everton were dragged back into the relegation mire and Arsenal went the full Arsenal to gift wrap a Champions League place to their most hated rivals. I’ve had worse weekends!
     
    I’ll start at Goodison because that’s where most of the fun was. It started with their fans pulling that stupid “fireworks outside the team hotel” shite. They did it against Chelsea and won the game, so they figured they’d do it against when Brentford came to town. You shouldn’t provoke Bees because when they get angry or feel threatened they sting. 
     
    Evertonians have spent years mocking our support. The banners, the chants, the pyro, the greeting of the team coach before big games… “Kopite behaviour” they called it while they scoffed. Now look at them. They’ve embraced all of it. 
     
    Frankly it’s hilarious. We’re greeting coaches before we play in massive European games or league fixtures that could decide the title. They’re doing it against Brentford as they look to stay out of the bottom three. It’s world’s apart isn’t it. I almost pity them. Almost.
     
    How can you pity them when they carry on the way they do though? Going to the Brentford team hotel in the early hours of the morning is just embarrassing. What’s worse is how many of them were bragging about it like it was some kind of achievement. 
     
    Still, it all adds to the comedy, especially when they lose the game, have two players sent off and then Brentford’s official twitter account (as well as their captain) trolled them on twitter. This shit only ever happens to Everton.
     
    What makes it all the more amusing is they were ahead and well on top. Calvert-Lewin deflected in a feeble shot by Richarlison to put them ahead and it was all going swimmingly. Richarlison ran off celebrating while Calvert-Lewin was telling anyone who would listen that it was his goal. 
     
    Then, the Premier League led conspiracy to send Everton down reared its ugly head again. How are people not seeing this? It’s so obvious that everyone is conspiring against the Blues. Frank should write another letter. Or maybe get his mates in the cabinet to order an inquiry.
     
    The Gwladys Street howled for a penalty as Richarlison tussled with a defender. Michael Oliver waved it away and Brentford launched a ball over the top where Branthwaite accidentally tangled with Toney and brought him down.
     
    It was completely inadvertent and unavoidable, but it is a red card. I don’t agree with it and if I made the rules it wouldn’t be a sending off, but that’s just how it is. He denied a goalscoring opportunity and more often than not you’ll get sent off in that scenario. 
     
    A disconsolate Branthwaite made his way off the field, with Calvert-Lewin there with an arm around his shoulder and what looked like a comforting word in his ear. Bet it wasn't. No doubt he was saying “that was my goal you know, it skimmed my chest”. Tit.
     
    For the red card to come seconds after them not getting a penalty just made them even more rabid. Oliver apparently has it in for Everton because he’s a…. wait for it….  Newcastle fan. What’s that got to do with Everton you may ask. Well, apparently Newcastle hate Everton so Oliver wants them down.
     
    Do Newcastle hate Everton though? I know Everton hate Newcastle because Gary Speed thought the Geordies were a bigger club than them, but is that hatred reciprocated? As far as I can tell, the only thing about Everton that sets the Geordies off is that Pickford tit, and let’s be honest that’s something we can all relate to.
     
    Ask Newcastle fans who they’d rather beat, us or Everton, and I’d be staggered if any said the Blues. Yet Michael Oliver is apparently on a mission to get them relegated because of this long standing Newcastle / Everton bad blood. 
     
    So they’re down to ten men but they have the lead. Not for long. Wissa equalises but then Everton are awarded a soft pen when Richarlison was sandwiched between two defenders. The foul was committed by some big lolloping dope I’ve never seen before. He’d already been booked and Everton wanted him sent off for that second one. 
     
    No way was that a bookable offence though. There’s not much in that, even though that Richarlison cunt was rolling around like he had broken ribs. He recovered quickly enough to convert the pen and restore their lead.
     
    Brentford soon subbed that big shit centre back before he was sent off. Beck I think he’s called. What a loser….
     
    Quick point of order here. If Michael Oliver wanted to screw Everton why did he give them that penalty?
     
    Wissa’s brilliant near post header from a corner drew Brentford level and minutes later Rico Henry flew in at the back post top plant a header past Prickford. 
     
    So just like that Everton went from safety back to trouble. Two quick goals conceded and then another red card, this time for Rondon who launched into a two footed challenge.
     
    While this was happening, Leeds were scoring a late equaliser to secure a point that may yet prove vital. Probably not, I still think they’re fucked but you never know. 
     
    Here’s the potential twist in this tale. Leeds end the season by facing….. Brentford. A team who now have genuine beef with Everton. What better way to troll the Blues than by losing to Leeds? Come on Brentford, you know it makes sense.
     
    Leeds are dangling on the edge of the cliff and they almost slid off it by losing at home to Brighton. That would have pretty much condemned them but they just about managed to reach up and grab hold of a rock. Now hopefully this weekend they can pull themselves to safety and send Everton catapulted over that cliff instead. I know I shouldn't do it to myself but I can't help it. It's so tantalisingly close.
     
    Leeds started brightly in this game but didn’t score. Less than two minutes in Gelhardt saw a goal bound shot hit his team-mate in the face on the line and rebound to safety. That’s when you know it’s not your day! Then they conceded a goal to Danny Welcrap. That’s when you REALLY know it’s not your day. Well taken goal to be fair, but the sun even shines on a dog’s arse somedays.
     
    Leeds gave it a right go in the second half but the Brighton keeper Sanchez was quality. I like him, he’s good. Brighton should have finished them off but Welcrap reverted to type and headed wide from five yards out, the absolute bum.
     
    And then in the third minute of injury time Leeds finally scored. Brilliant footwork by Gelhardt and then Struijk calmly headed in at the far post. They might have my boy Bamford back for the final game too. Imagine if he scored the goal that sent Everton down. We’d all be going Wild in the Streets.
     
    Already doomed Watford had a new manager in the stadium for their game with Leicester. The Hodge was still in charge of the team though, which seems a bit pointless, which co-incidentally is what Watford are for about the last fucking three months.
     
    They also had about eight new players. Or at least that’s how it looked when I saw their team sheet. I’ve made this point before so it shouldn’t really surprise me, yet it always does. How is it that every time Watford play they manage to wheel out two or three players we’ve never seen before? 
     
    They must have a squad of about a hundred fucking players. Even that Dan Gosling jabroni plays for them now. Did any of you know that? Where’s he been all season?
     
    Ismaela Sarr has had a shit season after a bright beginning and this week he threw his support behind his homophobic team-mate Idrissa Guaye at PSG. Yeah that’s one lad we won’t be signing any time soon. He’ll probably end up with the Mancs and they’ll pay about £60m for him, because that’s what they do. They buy shit cunts for lots of money.
     
    Leicester fell behind to goal from a corner, because that’s what they do. And then Watford conceded five goals to lose the game, because that’s what they do.
     
    Maddison, Barnes (two) and Vardy (two) gave Leicester a rare win and merely made me loathe them even more after they let Everton beat them last week. All these Everton enabling cunts like Leicester, Arsenal, United and Chelsea can get to fuck.
     
    Nice to see Vardy with something to smile about though. It’s been a rough week for him because of his fucking lunatic wife dragging his name through the mud and subjecting him to the embarrassment of being drawn by the court sketch artist.
     

     
    Back to the top of the table now. For weeks now the two games I’d been looking at as possible banana skins for City were Wolves away and West Ham away. They were likely to win both but there was definitely the potential for them to drop points in those fixtures. I didn’t see any other games where it might go wrong for them and I still don’t. I’m not relying on Villa as I never would, but you never know.
     
    The reason I thought those fixtures could be tricky for City is because this league is made up of two types of teams. Those who are beaten before they even take to the field, and those who are prepared to give it a go. Wolves gave it a go but came up well short so that just left us with West Ham. And they delivered. 
     
    The first half was a great demonstration of what teams who aren’t us need to do to have success against City. Defend well, but don’t obsess about it and look to counter any time the opportunity arises. 
     
    That’s how you can hurt them. It won’t work all the time because City are really fucking good and a lot of the time they’ll just win anyway. But you can give yourself a chance by playing with your heads and your hearts.
     
    West Ham did it, probably just because it was Mark Noble’s swansong and they wanted to see him off in style. 
     
    Bowen scored twice in the first half as City were all at sea defensively. Two very good finishes from a player who has had a great season. You can see why Klopp likes him, but I can’t see any place in the squad for him as we’re already top heavy in the forward line. Even with Div leaving and maybe Taki too, is Bowen going to be happy at being sixth in line? Maybe if one of the others unexpectedly leave then we’d look at it, but personally if that happens I’d be throwing £40m and a quid at Arsenal to activate Saka’s non-CL release clause. I wouldn’t be unhappy with Bowen though.
     
    West Ham led at the break but you knew City would come back at them and therefore seeing out the first 10 minutes of the half was crucial. They didn’t even see out the first one!
     
    Grealish scored right after the restart with a deflected shot (these cunts are turning into Mourinho’s Chelsea with all these deflected goals) and the second half was mostly City pressing for an equaliser and the Hammers holding on. 
     
    Mind you, Antonio had a great chance to make it 3-1 when he latched onto a woeful Fernandinho back pass. He did what I’ve been advocating for months, he chipped the keeper. That’s good, but the execution was fucking pitiful. Getting the ball over the keeper is the difficult part. Once you’d done that you have the entire goal to aim for. Antonio got it over the keeper but put it miles wide. The tit. His 'my boy' status is revoked. Not sure he ever had it, I think at one point he did but whatever, he’s out of the circle now.
     
    Coufal then headed into to his own net to draw City level as we all just awaited the inevitable City winner that would put us out of our misery. West Ham were still having a go though and Bowen was close to a hat-trick only for his goal bound shot to be deflected just wide.
     
    And then it happened. Dawson clumsily tripped Jesus in the box and although Anthony Taylor waved it away, as soon as they showed the replay you knew what was coming. It’s a definite pen.
     
    Mahrez stepped up and Fabianski made a great save. It didn’t look anything special from the side angle, but when you see from behind the goal it’s fucking boss. It’s not a great height for a keeper as it’s quite high and he’s at full stretch to reach it. But reach it he did, and City dropped two points. What that means for us we’ll find out on Sunday, but at least we’ve been able to take it to the last game.
     
    It’s funny because at the end of this game I was disappointed. A little deflated even. If only they could have held on. Then, the next day, I realised that they didn’t need to hold on for the win. 2-1 or 2-2 made absolutely no difference to us. A draw was as good as a West Ham win because the goal difference thing was problematic.
     
    If we had to go to Southampton needing to win by five or six we may have ended up making a bollocks of it and not playing our normal game. Klopp may have been tempted to play some lads who shouldn’t be playing because they need a rest. It would have been a futile chase so West Ham drawing actually took that scenario away, which for me is a good thing. 
     
    So all of a sudden that Mahrez penalty miss started to look like it might be significant. Probably not, but whatever happens fair play to West Ham for having a go. 
     
    They beat us too let’s not forget. And reached a Europa League semi final. It’s been a good season for Moyes and his team and they deserve to finish 6th so hopefully that works out for them this Sunday.
     
    Noble ends his career sixth on the all time appearance lists for West Ham but it wasn’t a good weekend for him because we booed the national anthem. “Nobes” loves his dear awl mum and the only thing that comes close to that is his love for Queen and Country. Him and Scott ‘Scotty’ Parker fought and died for this country in WW2 don’t forget.
     
    Joking aside, I like Mark Noble. Always have. Good player, good pro, seems like a decent fella who loves his club (and her Majesty, Gawd bless 'er). Good luck to him in his retirement though.
     
    Spurs looked like they had something of a hangover at home to Burnley. Understandable as the North London derby a few days earlier will have taken a toll and Burnley aren’t a team you want to face when you’re not at full throttle. At least they aren’t since Dyche left.
     
    Burnley did alright and Ashley Barnes hit the post with a great effort. He’s a guilty pleasure of mine. I like watching him but I totally get why loads of people hate him. He just epitomises Burnley for me, he’s a throwback to the 80s.
     
    The only goal of the game came from the spot after the ball hit the outstretched arm of my boy Barnes. Technically his arm is maybe in an unnatural position but I really don’t like seeing pens given for that. Especially when it helps Everton. 
     
    Kane scored, he always does. If there is one player in world football who I’d want taking a penalty if my life depended on it, it’d probably be him. Partly because he’s so good, and partly because I hate him already so if he missed I could yell “See? You’re a cunt, I always said you were”. I wouldn’t want to think badly of Mo or Milner or any of our lads, so Kane would be perfect.
     
    Two teams I’ll be supporting this weekend met at Villa Park as Stevie’s Villa (who play City) took on Vieira’s Palace (who play United).
     
    Palace had the better of it but couldn’t convert their chances into goals and they fell behind when Watkins slid home at the back post.  Palace deservedly levelled late on through Schlupp though. Vieira is on the shortlist for manager of the year. It’s not often I get something wrong but I’ll hold my hands up on that one, he's been good. And whisper it, he might be a better manager than Stevie.
     
    That’s an interesting discussion I think. All those legendary midfielders from that era have dabbled in management. Keane had some success and some failures and now seems completely unemployable. Didn’t Scholes manage Oldham and wasn’t he pure shite? Or did I dream that? Lampard is turd, so that just leaves Stevie and Vieira. Unless you count Scott ‘Scotty’ Parker, which unless you’re Stuart Pearce no-one does. It’s too early to judge between Vieira and Gerrard but they both look like they’ve got enough about them to be around for a while.
     
    Wolves ended their home season with a disappointing 1-1 draw with Norwich. Not good that. Wolves have been an utter irrelevance this season. Not good enough to matter, not bad enough to ever be in trouble.
     
    Tell you who has been shit this season though. Timo Pukki. He’s scored 10 goals but he should have had 30. There’s a lot to like about his game and his movement is great. He finds space and gets chances all the time, despite playing in an awful team. His finishing is risible though. Every fucking week on MOTD I see him missing chances. 
     
    He missed two great chances in this before finally scoring. Even then he needed a deflection off Coady to do it, otherwise he’d have probably missed the target again. He’ll score 25 next year in the Championship though. He’s Finland’s Rob Earnshaw.
     
    Onto Arsenal now. Did anyone expect them to do anything except lose at Newcastle? Few results this season seemed more certain than that to me. After they lost at Spurs you just knew Arsenal were bottling it and their performance at St James’ Park was pitiful.
     
    Or as Jules described it on the podcast - “Pure distilled Arsenal. If you’d opened your window and sniffed the air you could smell that Arsenal performance all the way from St James’ Park”.
     
    Arsenal are exactly who I said they were. Flaky, spineless, shithouses who are nowhere near as good as they think they are. All the hype around them this season was laughable. They play some fancy footy, have some players with a modicum of talent, but when the heat is on they melt like snow on a sunny winters morning.
     
    And yet they may still get fourth because would it really be that shocking if Spurs found a way to lose to Norwich? In fact, the more likely scenario this weekend is that Spurs and Arsenal both lose.
     
     
    Update:
     
    Thursday night.
     
    For fuck’s sake. Fuck off Palace you bottling cunts. Only for the fact you’ve done well against City I’d be on my way to Selhurst right now to burn the fucking place down. You absolute pricks. Fuck off. Bottleless gets.
     
    The pitch invasion by the Blues was just the cringiest thing you’ll see all season though. They’re such embarrassing fucking cunts it’s hard to believe we share a city. They couldn’t be any more different to us, it’s just completely bizarre. We come from the same families, the same circles of friends, but Everton just turns them into some kind of weird fucking mutants. I can't ever imagine acting like they do and if i did I'd quickly just give up football altogether.
     
    I don't know why they bother, it brings them nothing but misery and even the moments when they're happy - like tonight - are still really fucking shit because they're celebrating just about not being one of the three worst teams in the league. It's a pitiful, wretched existence and relegation - and a winding up order - would be doing them a kindness.
     
    But they’re safe now and I’m not gonna lie, I’m fucking gutted. I really got my hopes up on this, especially when Palace went 2-0 up and Burnley took the lead at Villa. I don’t even know how Burnley ended up and I don’t care as it doesn’t matter now. I don’t give a fuck who goes down out of Burnley and Leeds either. Not arsed. Fuck both of them. If they’d won more games Everton would be down.
     
    I still blame Chelsea more than anyone though, That was the game that really fucked everything up as they were five points adrift that day until Chelsea rolled over for them. I hope Abramovich screws them for every fucking penny they owe him and they end up going out of business now, the Everton enabling fucking bell ends.
     
    One thing I learned from tonight though, I won’t be getting my hopes up on Sunday no matter what happens. If Villa went 3-0 up at the Etihad I’d still be expecting City to win 4-3. It’s the hope that kills you so I’m going to be a hope free zone this weekend. I wanted them down so badly I’d willingly hand back the FA Cup in return for it. Probably the League Cup too. Gutted.
  • This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about the future of Mohamed Salah, nor will it be the last, as the most prolific forward in recent Liverpool history heads into the final year of his contract. The club has until 30th June 2023 to agree new terms with the player, at which point he will be a free agent. But of course, amidst protracted ongoing negotiations, the aim for all concerned will be to have agreed his contract extension long before then.
     
    Let’s face it, attacking players boasting the quality and consistency of Salah don’t grow on trees. Only a handful of leading footballers throughout Europe can boast the kind of numbers he currently produces, and has continually produced throughout the five years this Egyptian dynamo has worn the famous red shirt.
     
    Only once during the last five seasons has the Premier League scoring tally of Salah fallen below 20 goals, during the 2019-20 campaign when he still found the back of the net 19 times. That was also the same campaign when Salah registered his lowest number in all competitions, bagging 23 in 48 appearances.
     
     
     
    Within the same timeframe that Salah has been strutting his stuff at Anfield, he has been the top scorer in the Premier League in two of four seasons, while finishing just one goal behind Harry Kane last season at the top of the pile. Indeed, the only player who matched the consistency of Salah was Sergio Aguero at Manchester City, who they will finally replace with Erling Haaland next season.
     
    Given how costly the deal to sign Haaland will be for Man City, which includes an escape clause that hardly speaks of any loyalty from the Norwegian, it only serves to underline why locking down a long-term deal for Salah is imperative for Liverpool. After all, getting a replacement capable of producing similar numbers would be hugely expensive, not to mention finding someone who could immediately dovetail with the technical and tactical style of the team.
     
    Salah remains hugely popular amongst the Liverpool fanbase, while his consistent scoring feats make him a firm favourite amongst football punters, always looking carefully at his odds ahead of games and throughout each season. Some even look to take advantage of the best free bets and offers, seeking an edge that Asiabet covers in their latest online betting guide. They also explain the different kinds of promotions available, accompanied by detailed reviews for the most trusted bookies.
     
    Due to having just one year left on his contract, while considering the quality that Salah can continue to bring this Liverpool team, there is genuinely no good reason why the club should gamble on potentially losing him. Sure, the current stance of the Salah’s representatives is quite firm with their demands, seeking to make their client the highest paid player at Anfield. Yet finding a replacement would probably cost Liverpool inordinately more.
     
     
    According to Transfermarkt, the current market value of Salah is €100 million, so what’s the bigger gamble for Liverpool? Considering how crazy the transfer market is these days, even for anyone half-decent and nowhere near the same level as 29-year-old Salah, what price would anyone genuinely equivalent cost the club? Add agents commission, signing on fees, plus the inevitably sizeable wages, there would be no sensible saving from an economic point of view.
     
    This coming June will be when Salah celebrates his 30th birthday, an age at which he can continue to thrive at the very peak of his game. He clearly wants to stay at the club and has even indicated, numerous times, that money isn’t the be all and end all of negotiations. Yet money does talk in modern football and like any top professional, he undoubtedly wants a salary which reflects his current level of importance, both to the club he represents and in the sport itself.
     
    The sooner the whole situation is resolved, the better. Financial stability does matter and in many respects, the club is quite correct to play hardball when it comes to balancing the books. However, given what Liverpool has managed to achieve in recent years, and can continue to achieve by retaining their very best players, there must be willingness towards flexibility in exceptional circumstances. And there’s no doubting that Salah is an exceptional player the Reds can’t afford to lose.
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