Do Liverpool and City really look unstoppable?

VP89

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We are only 4 games in and we can all agree Liverpool have been much improved from the back and in depth, whilst City have last seasons form to still scare us with - but will either of them be as big a force as City themselves were last season?

I've seen all of a Liverpool's games so far and they were fortunate for 3 points against Palace , whilst not exactly blowing Leicester or Brighton away. I think they were riding their luck against Leicester more than we did for sure.

If we had those performances against Leicester or Brighton (at home who are rubbish when not on their own ground) I think our fans would still complain about the way the match panned out.

Liverpool still leak some big chances in average games and I wonder if their on field displays will live up to how their squad looks on paper.

City meanwhile look ridiculously strong, but after watching Wolves I feel as though teams will have more of a go against them. Not every side will park the bus because they know it hardly works against Pep. I don't think theyl hit the tally they did last year so it's going to be an interesting view.

But what's your thoughts? The media seem to hype the pair of them and ignore ourselves and even Chelsea. I wonder whether we will have another season where another big club will take the glory this year. Its only ourselves and Chelsea as the "other contenders".
 

Bastian

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I expect this season to be a lot more competitive. City have the pressure of all or nothing (quadruple or failure) and defending the title. I do think some teams might be best advised to set up mega defensively against them though. Benitez was unlucky not to squeeze a draw last season (when he was slated in the media left, right and centre for not allowing them to destroy them). I'm looking forward to Kompany talking about winning the quadruple soon.

And this is the first time in ages that Liverpool have to cope with serious expectations. I'm not sure that will suit them.

Don't think the league will be won at a canter.
 

ivaldo

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Liverpools victories in lackluster performances have already been likened to that of champions - playing poorly and winning. As opposed to when we play poorly and win and we are considered "fortunate."
 

tonnas

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As you said, Liverpool rode their luck in the last 3 games so they will drop points. City on the other hand should win the league.
 

Treble

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We are only 4 games in and we can all agree Liverpool have been much improved from the back and in depth, whilst City have last seasons form to still scare us with - but will either of them be as big a force as City themselves were last season?

I've seen all of a Liverpool's games so far and they were fortunate for 3 points against Palace , whilst not exactly blowing Leicester or Brighton away. I think they were riding their luck against Leicester more than we did for sure.

If we had those performances against Leicester or Brighton (at home who are rubbish when not on their own ground) I think our fans would still complain about the way the match panned out.

Liverpool still leak some big chances in average games and I wonder if their on field displays will live up to how their squad looks on paper.

City meanwhile look ridiculously strong, but after watching Wolves I feel as though teams will have more of a go against them. Not every side will park the bus because they know it hardly works against Pep. I don't think theyl hit the tally they did last year so it's going to be an interesting view.

But what's your thoughts? The media seem to hype the pair of them and ignore ourselves and even Chelsea. I wonder whether we will have another season where another big club will take the glory this year. Its only ourselves and Chelsea as the "other contenders".
Strange thing to say given the result with Spurs. Imo, many people expect Spurs to finish in top 4 again - which means that one out of City, Liverpool, Chelsea and us will miss out.

Basically, you want predictions. How much stronger are Liverpool compared to last season? Will City remain so strong?

Truth is even Klopp and Guardiola do not know the answers to those questions. Anyway, Liverpool are likely to finish on 80+ pts, maybe even 85+ pts and City are likely to hit 88+. I don't expect such numbers for United. Chelsea are more likely to compete, imo.
 
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pacifictheme

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Liverpools victories in lackluster performances have already been likened to that of champions - playing poorly and winning. As opposed to when we play poorly and win and we are considered "fortunate."
Probably because they are capable of fluid attacking football and we are not.
 

Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87

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Both sides don't look great atm, tbh. Expect City to go on a run once KDB is back.
 

Carl

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City have looked far from unstoppable in their last 2 games.

Expecting them to prioritise the Champions League this season anyway, meaning the door will be open for Liverpool. Shudder.
 

The holy trinity 68

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Are you just forgetting Chelsea on purpose? Maximum points so far. I think they are going to do a Conte first season. Rejuvenated from a new manager after a poor season last season. Don’t write them off.

It will be between Chelsea and City for the title this season.
 

ivaldo

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Probably because they are capable of fluid attacking football and we are not.
WTF does that have to do with title credentials? You were having orgasms over their performances last year and they still managed to win feck all.
 

ivaldo

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No no no, it's all a conspiracy don't you know.
:lol: Whose mentioned a conspiracy. At this point you're just arguing with things you've made up yourself. Bravo.
 

Minimalist

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Don’t think so.

Which is odd to think when City won it so monstrously last season.
 

Treble

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It's too early to tell anything about this season. Last season City were looking very unconvincing in the first 3 games and were a bit lucky with Mane's red card in the 4th game. Anyone predicting back then that they were going to win 100 pts would be considered utterly stupid.

Which kind of leaves room for optimism for United. Maybe United can become a real force despite the poor start?
 

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WTF does that have to do with title credentials? You were having orgasms over their performances last year and they still managed to win feck all.
The Liverpool love on this forum is bizarre. Against Leicester they were very lucky and still United supporters on here were talking them up It took some sensible Liverpool posters to balance things. The world must surely be going to hell.
 

Rob

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We haven’t looked unstoppable at all so far. In fact we’ve looked more uncomfortable than last season even though we have maximum points. I do expect us to pick up the pace, though.
 

Ashley R1+O

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Liverpool will run out of gas after Christmas again, or they will have their inevitable gutpunch moment.
 

GeorgieBoy

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Spurs (A)
PSG (H)
Southampton (H)
Chelsea (H)
Chelsea(A)
Napoli (A)
Man City (H)

Those are Liverpool's next 7 fixtures; City have a pretty easy schedule up until that Liverpool away game I believe. They've had a relatively easy start so far; and certainly haven't looked as rampant as some would have you believe. I actually think Liverpool will come out of the above games pretty well; but only after the next run of games can we properly see how good (or not) they are.
City don't have as much to prove as we know what they're about in the league from last season.
 

hasanejaz88

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I remember in 2008-09 Chelsea looked unstoppable under Felipe Scolari, and the form of Deco, after smashing teams left right and center. Eventually teams figured them out and they ended up having an average season. There is no way you can judge a team so early on in the season.
 

Hazza83

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We haven’t looked unstoppable at all so far. In fact we’ve looked more uncomfortable than last season even though we have maximum points. I do expect us to pick up the pace, though.
Agree. Going forward, we’ve looked poor and the front 3 haven’t yet found any rhythm. Keita has shown glimpses of quality and Allison, while being good for the most part, hasn’t been tested enough to draw conclusions. His error against Leicester is also going to result in extra pressure on him for upcoming games.

Gomez for me has been the difference from last season, so far. Looks good, quick, and can play out.

We’ll hopefully find out more about our new signings in the upcoming run of games (League Cup, CL and League).
 

VP89

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Strange thing to say given the result with Spurs. Imo, many people expect Spurs to finish in top 4 again - which means that one out of City, Liverpool, Chelsea and us will miss out.

Basically, you want predictions. How much stronger are Liverpool compared to last season? Will City remain so strong?

Truth is even Klopp and Guardiola do not know the answers to those questions. Anyway, Liverpool are likely to finish on 80+ pts, maybe even 85+ pts and City are likely to hit 88+. I don't expect such numbers for United. Chelsea are more likely to compete, imo.
Spurs went on to get beat by Watford and the 3-0 result against us was extremely flattering to them. They don't have the depth to challenge all the way whereas I feel us and Chelsea have more experience and depth.
 

VP89

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Are you just forgetting Chelsea on purpose? Maximum points so far. I think they are going to do a Conte first season. Rejuvenated from a new manager after a poor season last season. Don’t write them off.

It will be between Chelsea and City for the title this season.
The top 2 for the title was City and Liverpool when the season began. This is according to all media predictions, pundits and the bookies.
 

Treble

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Spurs went on to get beat by Watford and the 3-0 result against us was extremely flattering to them. They don't have the depth to challenge all the way whereas I feel us and Chelsea have more experience and depth.
That's a fine prediction. But just a prediction. Spurs are consistent: 15/16 - 3rd, 16/17 - 2nd, 17/18 - 3d. They will be thereabouts this season too.

There is a lot of uncertainty about us. Will Jose avoid the 3rd year meltdown syndrom? He's trying to avoid it, given our more attacking approach vs Spurs and Burnley. But it is an experiment and no one knows the outcome. It could go both ways. Whereas Spurs are far more predictable. They will be solid.
 

settembrini

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City will be about as strong as they were last season, though they can afford a dip given how much better they were than everyone else.

Liverpool will be significantly better and should get 2nd.

3rd-6th is hard to call.
 

Pogue Mahone

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It’s funny the way people talk up expectations that teams who broke points and goal-scoring records in the league and made the CL final are “media hype”.

The media are just reporting on realities. In the second half of last season City and Liverpool looked absolutely streets ahead of United. Predicting the same again this season - bearing in mind their respective summer dealings - isn’t hype. It’s common sense.

FWIW I have a funny feeling City’s standards will drop a lot this season. Same as happens with almost every other team that wins the league. They will still get more points than us, mind you.
 

VP89

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Way too early to make claims about any team.
Exactly. But one consistent claim that the TV and papers seem to carry isn't hat City and Liverpool will fight it out this season for the title. I just don't see it yet. Liverpool have sort of flattered to deceived so far whilst Wolves showed another way to play vs City which no team did properly enough in the past.

I just have a feeling that one of these two sides will go on a shitty unexplainable run. Probably Klopp because it happened in January with him a couple seasons ago. Prob more a hope than a prediction but their play isnt as full pelt as last year.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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Exactly. But one consistent claim that the TV and papers seem to carry isn't hat City and Liverpool will fight it out this season for the title. I just don't see it yet. Liverpool have sort of flattered to deceived so far whilst Wolves showed another way to play vs City which no team did properly enough in the past.

I just have a feeling that one of these two sides will go on a shitty unexplainable run. Probably Klopp because it happened in January with him a couple seasons ago. Prob more a hope than a prediction but their play isnt as full pelt as last year.
The TV and papers continue their constant ABU push.

And there's so many ex-Pool players in the media, that it's no surprise about their current love-in.
 

VP89

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It’s funny the way people talk up expectations that teams who broke points and goal-scoring records in the league and made the CL final are “media hype”.

The media are just reporting on realities. In the second half of last season City and Liverpool looked absolutely streets ahead of United. Predicting the same again this season - bearing in mind their respective summer dealings - isn’t hype. It’s common sense.
Liverpool almost finished 5th on the final day of the season. I think it's unnecessary hype to put them as 2nd favourites for the title. Domestic consistency has been a constant issue with Klopp and he was in his 4tb season with the club last year.

Champions league is less relevant. Its a cup competition and his side is suited to knock outs.
 

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Liverpool are winning the games they would have dropped points in before and city have dropped points in games that they wouldn’t have before

This season will be worse than trump
 

redman5

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Exactly. But one consistent claim that the TV and papers seem to carry isn't hat City and Liverpool will fight it out this season for the title. I just don't see it yet. Liverpool have sort of flattered to deceived so far whilst Wolves showed another way to play vs City which no team did properly enough in the past.

I just have a feeling that one of these two sides will go on a shitty unexplainable run. Probably Klopp because it happened in January with him a couple seasons ago. Prob more a hope than a prediction but their play isnt as full pelt as last year.
Our play this time last year wasn't exactly full pelt. Difference being is that we were shipping in goals by the bucketload back then, but we seem a lot more solid now at the back. If we can keep it tight again next Saturday & get something against Spurs then I won't really care too much about the performance because I'm confident our strikers will catch fire sooner rather than later.
 

ZAGREB RED

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Liverpool now have a top class keeper - although he did mess up at Leicester - and with van Dijk at CB they will probably concede less goals and they now have some more depth in midfield, City will just carry on where they left off last season, so it's up to United to try and match or better them.
Doesn't look at all likely at this stage, Chelsea look more like challenging than United do, not sure about Spurs, Arsenal are quite far off the pace just now also.
You'd have to say City are the obvious favourites with Liverpool next, as difficult as that is to swallow.
 

VP89

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Our play this time last year wasn't exactly full pelt. Difference being is that we were shipping in goals by the bucketload back then, but we seem a lot more solid now at the back. If we can keep it tight again next Saturday & get something against Spurs then I won't really care too much about the performance because I'm confident our strikers will catch fire sooner rather than later.
Going by chances conceded however, you don't look as defensively resolute. Leicester and Palace are two games where they created more than enough to get a point out the game.
 

Andersons Dietician

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It’s funny the way people talk up expectations that teams who broke points and goal-scoring records in the league and made the CL final are “media hype”.

The media are just reporting on realities. In the second half of last season City and Liverpool looked absolutely streets ahead of United. Predicting the same again this season - bearing in mind their respective summer dealings - isn’t hype. It’s common sense.

FWIW I have a funny feeling City’s standards will drop a lot this season. Same as happens with almost every other team that wins the league. They will still get more points than us, mind you.
Probably the most honest post in here, I think it’s too early to really tell how either are going to do and if they’ll storm the league, but based on how both were going last year by the end you’d have to be crazy not to think they are the current favourites.
 

Ashley R1+O

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It’s funny the way people talk up expectations that teams who broke points and goal-scoring records in the league and made the CL final are “media hype”.

The media are just reporting on realities. In the second half of last season City and Liverpool looked absolutely streets ahead of United. Predicting the same again this season - bearing in mind their respective summer dealings - isn’t hype. It’s common sense.

FWIW I have a funny feeling City’s standards will drop a lot this season. Same as happens with almost every other team that wins the league. They will still get more points than us, mind you.
City's standards "dropping a lot" could just be reverting back to the points total where they don't spawn about 10-15 points late in games. Re: Liverpool were they really that good at the back end of last season? Under Klopp they die a horrible death down the stretch of seasons when the insane amount of pressing catches up to them.
 

Don _ Conte

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We are only 4 games in and we can all agree Liverpool have been much improved from the back and in depth, whilst City have last seasons form to still scare us with - but will either of them be as big a force as City themselves were last season?

I've seen all of a Liverpool's games so far and they were fortunate for 3 points against Palace , whilst not exactly blowing Leicester or Brighton away. I think they were riding their luck against Leicester more than we did for sure.

If we had those performances against Leicester or Brighton (at home who are rubbish when not on their own ground) I think our fans would still complain about the way the match panned out.

Liverpool still leak some big chances in average games and I wonder if their on field displays will live up to how their squad looks on paper.

City meanwhile look ridiculously strong, but after watching Wolves I feel as though teams will have more of a go against them. Not every side will park the bus because they know it hardly works against Pep. I don't think theyl hit the tally they did last year so it's going to be an interesting view.

But what's your thoughts? The media seem to hype the pair of them and ignore ourselves and even Chelsea. I wonder whether we will have another season where another big club will take the glory this year. Its only ourselves and Chelsea as the "other contenders".
Surely Spurs are too? I know there bottlejobs but difficult to argue united are contenders when Spurs beat you 3-0 at home and you've already lost to Brighton.

Anyway I dont see any chance of United winning it personally,interested to see how the Watford game pans out as there a tricky opponent atm.
 

redman5

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Going by chances conceded however, you don't look as defensively resolute. Leicester and Palace are two games where they created more than enough to get a point out the game.
Considering Leicester & Palace were both playing at home & were chasing the game, I think it's fair to assume they'd be pushing forward & creating chances regardless of who the opposition was. The fact that neither team managed to get anything out of their respective games is more of an indicator that we've improved in the defensive area rather than Palace & Leicester's profligacy in front of goal. After all, Leicester created quite a few good chances against United at OT on the first day of the season. & this is a United side who had the 2nd best defensive record in the PL last year, & were also playing at home. Spurs away next weekend will be a good test for our back 4. We were shocking there nearly 12 months ago.

Current odds on Betfair to win the PL:

City - 4/6

Liverpool - 3/1

Chelsea - 12/1 *

Spurs - 20/1

United - 46/1

* Chelsea look like a good outside bet