Did anyone else forget that the champions league is gonna have the shake up next year?

Looks like a rubbish format, let’s get our hands on the CL this season!

Don’t want the matchup in the next round but Rice vs Bellingham midfield battle would be incredible to watch.

Feel like Rice and our CB’s are one of the few that may be able to ‘slow’ the lad down a touch.

Thomas Frank is a class bloke. Big fan of what he’s done with Brentford and hope they continue to do well (just not tonight of course!)

Yeah ultimately it’s a performance based business and I agree that it’s the inability for him to play in the way Arteta requires him to. I suppose I was (broadly) more intrigued by the discourse around some of Ramsdale’s interviews given what I saw doing the rounds.

Have seen an old clip of Ramsdale talking about how he struggles to concentrate for 90 mins in games doing the rounds again.

This may sound weird and I don’t like psycho analysing things too much but Ramsdale always struck me as making a highly concerted effort to be ultra honest in his media appearances, almost in an attempt to subvert the view many people hold that footballers are “closed off’ and ‘reserved’ (he may genuinely be like this but it’s just an impression I got).

Whilst I don’t agree that what he said effected his position in the team, this statement and some other clips I’ve seen of him talking about how we didn’t know how to handle the pressures of competing for the title last season (whilst the season was still going) don’t fill you with a world of confidence about his own mentality. I do wonder if other pros just bite their tongue in these particular interviews and not say things like that (even if it means not being 100% honest).

To me it seems that Ramsdale’s openness and transparency is almost a blessing and a curse: it has helped build his relationship with the fans but for your own professional career in the world of elite sports it may at times be to your own detriment. Curious to hear what everyone’s thoughts are.

What are the chances we see some rotation at the weekend lads? I was thinking maybe Kiwior in for Gabriel, perhaps Viera starting in the left 8 slot and Nelson in for Saka potentially.

I’m going to stop going on about this stuff soon because even I’m sick of it but just seen a clip on CBS’ champions league coverage who also took Mikel’s comments about the decision that went against Liverpool out of context by only presenting the portion where he said the refs are trying to make the best decisions.

Not surprised but at the same time it’s just so frustrating. Any bit of punditry I listen to is just riddled full of bias and agendas.

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D (really want it to be a win but am expecting a tough game despite Newcastle’s injuries)

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I’d be ecstatic with this. However, the standards are so high at the moment and margins so slim we may have to go to St James’ Park and win also.

Havertz brilliant up top vs Chelsea just like he was at City - will be a great option up front for certain matchups and game states. This adds to the evidence stack that he’s a number 9/9.5 not an 8.

Transfer policy under Arteta has been solid but the failure to get a true replacement for Xhaka is a real shame. For me the logical move this summer would have been go all out for an 8 alongside Rice and then move for an elite/world class number 9 next summer window which makes the Havertz move for 65mil quite surprising as he fulfills neither criteria.

Was watching the Merseyside derby yesterday and couldn’t help thinking that if we had Mac Allister or a similar profile in the left 8 we’d be cooking this season. Some of the passes and chances he created yesterday playing as the 6 for Liverpool were top (think he’s better in the 8 though).

Shows how good a coach Arteta is that we’re still top of the league but I think we’ll get found as the season goes on if we don’t properly address this position.