Moneyball won't win the Premiership 2012-13

Newcastle have good enough attacking players that they will always "carry a threat" but that was one of the worst defensive displays I've seen this season.

Coutinho was amazing though.

Liverpool have spanked teams more than once this season. It's an encouraging change at least.

There was also that weird four weeks or so towards the end of one the late Rafa season when you guys suddenly went mental and started whipping everyone by four goals.

They've scored four or more in the league this season against Norwich (twice), Fulham, Swansea, Wigan and Newcastle. Last season they only managed it once, against Chelsea.

Clearly a better and more fluid attacking outfit than spurs tbf, is it just the two lads at cb that's the prob or what

I think (cliché alert) it's just that they haven't quite got the balance right in some games. They seem to attempt to play positively every time I see them but some teams won't capitulate in the way Newcastle or Norwich will so they maybe need to draw teams out a bit more. There are results there (like draws with Stoke, West Ham, Reading) that would convince me they could have been closer to Spurs with a bit of luck but then I'm sure Spurs could point to a couple that wouldn't put them far away from Man City.

I said towards the end of last season that scoring a few more goals would see them pick up an extra ten points this season. They've already surpassed last season's total and with three wins can finish eleven points better off.

my favorite thing about newcastle- liverpool was Steve Nicol doing a preview on espn saying Coutinho was a liability away from home and he didn't see where the goals would come from without Suarez

That's probably what Alan Pardew thought as well.

I think this spurious graph proves Liverpool are the up and coming team in the league

http://i.imgur.com/aPuRkP7l.png

Is "goal involvement" the new "interfering with play"?

It also proves Utd should sign Wilshere as Carrick's understudy

also lol Ramsey

this was inevitable

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/3569_10151344889266886_425507174_n.jpg

SKY SPORTS has strengthened its line-up of football experts even further by signing Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.

Jamie will join Sky Sports in August 2013, ahead of its biggest ever football season, adding to a line-up that includes Gary Neville, Jamie Redknapp, Graeme Souness, Niall Quinn and Alan Smith. The 2013/14 season on Sky Sports comprises over 500 live matches from the domestic, European and international game.

The schedule includes 116 fixtures from the Barclays Premier League – three quarters of all live matches and more than ever before – as well as over 120 UEFA Champions League fixtures, 75 npower Football League fixtures, the Capital One Cup, over 100 fixtures from La Liga, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, William Hill Scottish Cup and much more.

Jamie said: “I watch Sky Sports all the time and I’m a huge fan. I can’t wait to be part of their coverage and work with the best in the business. What Sky has done for football for over 20 years is incredible and I’m thrilled to be part of their exciting plans for next season.”

He continued: “I don’t think there could be a better move for me: to retire from one of the world’s best football clubs at the end of the season and then join one of the world’s best broadcasters. Until that time comes, I’ll remain fully focussed on my remaining playing career with Liverpool and I’m looking forward to ending the season with good results.”

Should have put Hazard and Bale in there as well.

noted midfielder Wayne Rooney probably beats them all

I think this spurious graph proves Liverpool are the up and coming team in the league

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/nialler/scousegraph-2.jpg

Redknapp has a waistcoat. Neville has a striped tie. Souness has a handkerchief. Carra is clearly the new boy wearing the standard uniform and not yet ready to express himself, though the hand in pocket suggests comfort with his new surroundings.

hand stuffed in his pocket to stop him from pulling Redknapp back imo

I hate every single design decision made in the creation of that Scouse Cycle graphic.

looking forward to Sky's unbiased coverage of Liverpool next season

I think he could be alright. Everyone thought Neville would be biased too

Neville seems like a thoughtful guy tho, and he's the only former Man U player on that team.

he didn't seem so when he was playing...
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/04/18/article-1378147-03D3BE170000044D-1000_306x423.jpg

after his recent MotD work my old man's into the idea of approaching Phil to be the next Wolves manager

http://www.art247.com/images/large/MIRRORPIX/WA/WA1102400.jpg?

Didn't realise your dad had been on MOTD, btw

Announcing an award for "Tweet of the year", Chiles said: "Oh, no, sorry, it's 'Twat of the year', and the winner is Peter Odemwingie." Odemwingie, whose relationship with Albion broke down after he failed to force through a move to Queens Park Rangers in January and subsequently criticised the club in a series of outbursts on Twitter, was not present at the awards evening, after Clarke gave him permission to stay away. The 31-year-old is, however, known to be upset by Chiles's comments.

In Europe's top leagues only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more than Benteke (13) in 2013

Dunno if this is true and don't have the freedom or the inclination to check it at work, but even if it's inaccurate, this stat fills me with a warm glow of happiness. Mugging off Monaco for craaaazy money for this guy would be ideal scenario right now, given that he's sure to leave at this point anyway.

"I have seen quite a few Spurs players kiss the badge and then fuck off. I am still here."

Announcing an award for "Tweet of the year", Chiles said: "Oh, no, sorry, it's 'Twat of the year', and the winner is Peter Odemwingie."

Twat of the Decade being Adrian Chiles

in all srsness I never get tired of interviews in which BAE hates football

Guardian should have saved money and condensed two interviews into one by having Ekotto and Savages interview each other

As if to illustrate the point, Assou-Ekotto looks blank when Luis Suárez's biting of Branislav Ivanovic comes up. "He did what?" he asks. "Il a mangé?" If he is joking, the deadpan expression is inscrutable. "Surely, Benoît ... come on." But no, it is plain. He has no idea.

"The thing about Ben," Steve says, "is that he is loyal. And real. Forget his hair. The thing that makes Ben famous is his realness."

currently thinking of 'famous for realness' to that one roots manuva track

Really bored of his obvious hardman impression.

Don't make LG angry, Benoit

I am actually burning with rage at this: O'Leary wins more than £3m compensation from Al-Ahli. Particularly with the mofo casting it as a victory for employment protection, for some reason.

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/SLAL-oleary-toby.png

Managers are on even more of a gravy train than players, I always feel.

Have they appointed Sven yet?

I never tired of reading this

I’ve had requests to go back into football and it’s not me bigging myself up or thinking I deserve a bigger job but I just felt that the jobs weren’t right in any way. I’ve had lots of offers mainly from abroad and I think that can only come from people remembering Leeds in the Champions League. Some with loads and loads of dollars. Jose Mourinho was very good and recommended me for a really big job but I just felt I couldn’t live where it was with the family really. That was about six or seven months ago. We’re not friends but Jose has always kind of rated me if you know what I mean. He was asked a question to recommend somebody for something or put them up and I was very grateful that he did it. When I thanked him he said, 'David, I wasn’t doing you a favour even though I like you, it’s because I rate you' and that’s his attitude.

I saw (Fabio) Capello at the soccer writers’ function the other week and he came down from the top table and said 'when are you bloody getting back in the game?'It was nice getting that from Capello. A lot of them know that you’re too good to be out of it. That’s not me trying to big myself up. People in the game know how difficult Doug Ellis and Aston Villa was."

kinda lol but mostly sad

you know what O'Leary needs? a nice glossy brochure

That O'Leary quote tugs at my heart, and I fckin hate the guy.

I recall someone who knew O'Leary as a player saying that in his playing days he was very introverted and sort of likeable, not a hint of the grandiose bell-end he would become at Leeds.

Vodka at the ready, and here we go. Win today and save your souls, boys!

Incredible flash stream on wiziwig

Grant Holt is sub-human sack of spunk and gristle.

*a sub-human sack of spunk and gristle

obviously

him vile

Joe Bennett is a subhuman sack of hair gel and unjustified confidence