2018/19 UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread

[Angelito]

Would have preferred Ajax/Porto as it would mean one of them in the SFs and also the fact that it would be on equal terms.

Juve with the easiest draw. Porto with the toughest. Barca and ManU as well in a tough draw.

[Losmeister]

ajax/juve seems most interesting to me

[Zedie]

Spurs are completely f***ked. This will complete their downfall for this season.

They have to play city 3 times and liverpool within the same period iirc.

This will defo be them out of all comps, but could also be part of their free fall further out of top 6.

Woop woop

Spare a thought for poor ole too. Man u about to get violated in the worst way by messi.

Can't wait for that particular hype train to derail further after we kicked it off.

[Angelito]

ManU tie reversed due to UEFA city policy. First leg at Old Trafford.

[Zedie]

ManU tie reversed due to UEFA city policy. First leg at Old Trafford.

Man u got screwed too lol

[Angelito]

One thing about Klopp you have to admire is how he's changed everything at Liverpool. Since he's joined, Liverpool have become title challengers and have been in two European finals.

They're currently sitting at their highest ever points tally after 30 league games and have only lost a game in the Prem so far. They're second to a club that has spent more than £1b and has the most world class players in a starting eleven than perhaps any other club in the world today.

Unreal by Klopp.

Hes had 4 years to get to where he is now without a trophy.

Hes had hundreds of millions of pounds to get the players he needs for his system in those 4 years.

In his first season, he led them to 8th place.

You'd have defo wanted him gone and away from the club.

Look mate, context is king.

If Liverpool had spent two decades in the UCL, had won league titles in the Sky era, or won 7 FA Cups during the same period, this point would be valid.

Klopp took them to a European Final in his 1st season. Even then, counting 15/16 as Klopp's full season is like counting 96/97 as Wenger's full season. Wenger joined in September. Klopp joined in October. None of them had an entire summer with the players like Unai Emery did. I'm not discounting Unai's work, mind you. But different strokes. That's all.

Now, Klopp made it to the UCL Final with Dortmund before. He won the BuLi twice beating the eternal BuLi favorites Bayern. He has an entire brand of football dedicated to him—the gegenpress. Sadly, Unai doesn't have that track record. There's a brand called Klopp already. There is a distinct way they play. It's the same with Pep, Simeone, Wenger, and even Conte.

In Klopp's first season that's usually raised in these discussions, we always ignore that Liverpool had already dropped 12 points when Klopp took over in 15/16. In the remaining 30 games, Klopp amassed a total of 48 points. In the same period, Leicester won 66 points. Arsenal earned 55 points. City notched 48 points. And, Spurs amassed 57 points.

So, the mini-league reveals:

1. Leicester
2. Spurs
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool/City (depending on GD)
6. Chelsea

We can't ignore this. He didn't have a summer with his squad. He joined Liverpool at its worst. He wasn't taking over an Arsenal side that had so much success over the course of the Premier League era.

As for the financial discussion, if an Arsenal fan complains about Liverpool out-spending us, or Liverpool spending money at all, you know you don't have a good argument. Even at that, Liverpool's gross spending from 13/14 until 17/18 was ~ £450m. We spent ~ £356m in the same time frame. Meanwhile, City spent in excess of £700m. Jesus Christ.

In the same period, ManU and Chelsea have also outspent Liverpool. City dwarf every club apart from ManU. But here we have Liverpool taking City down to the wire. Here we have Liverpool in the UCL QFs. Here, Liverpool have been in two European Finals.

That's all on the manager and strategic sales of players. A manager can influence the team; his philosophy is what makes a team; and how shrewd buying and selling of players can help a side challenge for top honors.

The fact is If Liverpool lose the title this season, they'd probably lose it on record points against a side that has invested more than a billion. It's very naive to compare their situation to ours.

I don't feel good defending my and others' stance on Emery every time. This has gone from being an objective discussion to simply finger pointing and getting personal all the time. Not saying you are. You aren't. The fact is what some of us have wanted is for Unai to play an expressive brand of football with our best players on the field. The whole Ozil situation where he said he was tactically dropped didn't make sense and now that Ozil has returned, we're playing better and we are winning again. I said at the start of the season. It's not about results. It's about the way we go about things.

I just feel some have been very petty in this discussion. The at least it's not Wenger excuse doesn't matter. We wanted Wenger out for a reason - and that was because Wenger wasn't getting the best out of the squad. Unai has a better squad. We're on course to having a better season. All we hope for is Unai Emery to be bold in his match selections and tactics. He has been over the past two games. So, I'm just hoping for more of the same.

[Nuggets]

Spurs are completely f***ked. This will complete their downfall for this season.

They have to play city 3 times and liverpool within the same period iirc.

This will defo be them out of all comps, but could also be part of their free fall further out of top 6.

Woop woop

Spare a thought for poor ole too. Man u about to get violated in the worst way by messi.

Can't wait for that particular hype train to derail further after we kicked it off.

Come on and let the good times roll.

[HalHartley]

I was fearing the worst with spuds but this is majestic, city score for fun. No way they can compete with that. Poch better buy some lube

[StLGooner]

I hope city score 15

[Nuggets]

I hope city score 15

At least, Dippers have the easy game.

[Zenith]

[starmandb]

One thing about Klopp you have to admire is how he's changed everything at Liverpool. Since he's joined, Liverpool have become title challengers and have been in two European finals.

They're currently sitting at their highest ever points tally after 30 league games and have only lost a game in the Prem so far. They're second to a club that has spent more than £1b and has the most world class players in a starting eleven than perhaps any other club in the world today.

Unreal by Klopp.

Hes had 4 years to get to where he is now without a trophy.

Hes had hundreds of millions of pounds to get the players he needs for his system in those 4 years.

In his first season, he led them to 8th place.

You'd have defo wanted him gone and away from the club.

Look mate, context is king.

If Liverpool had spent two decades in the UCL, had won league titles in the Sky era, or won 7 FA Cups during the same period, this point would be valid.

Klopp took them to a European Final in his 1st season. Even then, counting 15/16 as Klopp's full season is like counting 96/97 as Wenger's full season. Wenger joined in September. Klopp joined in October. None of them had an entire summer with the players like Unai Emery did. I'm not discounting Unai's work, mind you. But different strokes. That's all.

Now, Klopp made it to the UCL Final with Dortmund before. He won the BuLi twice beating the eternal BuLi favorites Bayern. He has an entire brand of football dedicated to him—the gegenpress. Sadly, Unai doesn't have that track record. There's a brand called Klopp already. There is a distinct way they play. It's the same with Pep, Simeone, Wenger, and even Conte.

In Klopp's first season that's usually raised in these discussions, we always ignore that Liverpool had already dropped 12 points when Klopp took over in 15/16. In the remaining 30 games, Klopp amassed a total of 48 points. In the same period, Leicester won 66 points. Arsenal earned 55 points. City notched 48 points. And, Spurs amassed 57 points.

So, the mini-league reveals:

1. Leicester
2. Spurs
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool/City (depending on GD)
6. Chelsea

We can't ignore this. He didn't have a summer with his squad. He joined Liverpool at its worst. He wasn't taking over an Arsenal side that had so much success over the course of the Premier League era.

As for the financial discussion, if an Arsenal fan complains about Liverpool out-spending us, or Liverpool spending money at all, you know you don't have a good argument. Even at that, Liverpool's gross spending from 13/14 until 17/18 was ~ £450m. We spent ~ £356m in the same time frame. Meanwhile, City spent in excess of £700m. Jesus Christ.

In the same period, ManU and Chelsea have also outspent Liverpool. City dwarf every club apart from ManU. But here we have Liverpool taking City down to the wire. Here we have Liverpool in the UCL QFs. Here, Liverpool have been in two European Finals.

That's all on the manager and strategic sales of players. A manager can influence the team; his philosophy is what makes a team; and how shrewd buying and selling of players can help a side challenge for top honors.

The fact is If Liverpool lose the title this season, they'd probably lose it on record points against a side that has invested more than a billion. It's very naive to compare their situation to ours.

I don't feel good defending my and others' stance on Emery every time. This has gone from being an objective discussion to simply finger pointing and getting personal all the time. Not saying you are. You aren't. The fact is what some of us have wanted is for Unai to play an expressive brand of football with our best players on the field. The whole Ozil situation where he said he was tactically dropped didn't make sense and now that Ozil has returned, we're playing better and we are winning again. I said at the start of the season. It's not about results. It's about the way we go about things.

I just feel some have been very petty in this discussion. The at least it's not Wenger excuse doesn't matter. We wanted Wenger out for a reason - and that was because Wenger wasn't getting the best out of the squad. Unai has a better squad. We're on course to having a better season. All we hope for is Unai Emery to be bold in his match selections and tactics. He has been over the past two games. So, I'm just hoping for more of the same.

Klopp had 3 windows in 16/17
Knocked out of fa cup home to championship wolves after drawing at home o league 2 Plymouth in the previous round
They had 59 points after 30 games
We have 60
He had 5 Windows by 17/18
Knocked out of fa cup home to relegated west brom
60 points after 30 games
Same as us this season
He had when he arrived
Mignolet
Toure
Lovren
Sakho
Moreno( who had won the Europa league with emerys Sevilla )
Skrtel
Milner
Cautinho
Henderson
Lallana
Lucas
Can
Allen
Sturridge
All had played in the champions league
And as you say klopp had 48 points from his first 30 games
Emery has 60
Liverpool finished 8th in 11/12 with 52 points
That was liverpools worst in recent years

[Ach]

RIP Klopp

[generalanal]

Glad united got Barcelona. They won't have a chance against the Goat Messi. Hoping for a Barcelona cl win this time

[Losmeister]

so... Spuds in their new home vs Peps city... we'll see...