10 minutes ago, Dean said:

I think teams and sportsmen (tennis I have in mind) develop a mental edge / aura of invincibility that comes from winning and just seems to compound their wins. Lesser teams are like “we’d be lucky with a point” and roll over. I remember observing this with United in Ferguson’s heyday.

We also had it early in the season. It's easy when you ride the momentum of winning, equally as difficult when you're in the momentum of losing. 

That's why Pep doesn't really care how they win, 80% good football system,  20% bombarding the goal with shots. xGs be damned. 

3 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

that's so true. if we had Salah..... (oh, we did once) 

Thought the Salah attempt in the second half was one of the highlights of the half. Great composure and awareness to take that shot early and with great accuracy from that range. Only inches from being perfect. 

Foiled by the wonderful Mendy. Not many keepers would have got to that. Lucky to have him.

Two top professionals at the top of their game.

 

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

I think at their best, Kante is better, but before Kovacic got injured, I preferred him next Jorginho because he was playing so well. Amongst his usual work rate and skill, he was starting to add assists to his game, something he lacked before. In the 8 games he started before his injury, he had 1 goal and 5 assists.

His injury went under the radar compared to the likes of Chilwell and Kante, but it can be argued that we missed him the most.

watching him today, I started to think he might be captain material after Dave leaves 

 

 

Sky talking about Mount as a potential red.. 

5 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I think at their best, Kante is better, but before Kovacic got injured, I preferred him next Jorginho because he was playing so well. Amongst his usual work rate and skill, he was starting to add assists to his game, something he lacked before. In the 8 games he started before his injury, he had 1 goal and 5 assists.

His injury went under the radar compared to the likes of Chilwell and Kante, but it can be argued that we missed him the most.

Kante at his best is probably one of the best 6 or players in the world. The other difference is that Kante is at or near his best far more regularly than the majority of football players.

However the main point here is that if you're picking two from three out of Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic then, for me, Jorginho is the odd one out. Especially in big high pressure games.

27 minutes ago, Argo said:

This is the first time since Mou the first time (the 2006 Christmas) I feel the manager hasn't been largely responsible for our rut. Infact I feel it's largely thanks to him we've only come out of it with one fluke defeat.

We'd still be in the title race if it wasn't for that managerial freak Guardiola. 

He is absolutely world class mate. We arent replacing him with an upgrade.

Playing 2 draws against Liverpool is decent specially given our circumstances. I expected a loss so I'll take any positive thing right now but I don't see us being able to keep this up.

Pulisic has been below average and Kovacic doesn't score many goals, we played those cards now to avoid defeat but for the next game I'm afaird that Tuchel doesn't have much left in his sleeves. Fully expecting the American and the Croatian to go back to their average as soon as the next game comes against Man City. There I hope Havertz steps up, it's time.

TT calling out VAR and AT.. guess he will be banned for the City game.

Just now, Gol15 said:

Playing 2 draws against Liverpool is decent specially given our circumstances. I expected a loss so I'll take any positive thing right now but I don't see us being able to keep this up.

Pulisic has been below average and Kovacic doesn't score many goals, we played those cards now to avoid defeat but for the next game I'm afaird that Tuchel doesn't have much left in his sleeves. Fully expecting the American and the Croatian to go back to their average as soon as the next game comes against Man City. There I hope Havertz steps up, it's time.

"Their average"

Kovacic has been playing at a very high level almost every game he has been available this season.

5 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I think at their best, Kante is better, but before Kovacic got injured, I preferred him next Jorginho because he was playing so well. Amongst his usual work rate and skill, he was starting to add assists to his game, something he lacked before. In the 8 games he started before his injury, he had 1 goal and 5 assists.

His injury went under the radar compared to the likes of Chilwell and Kante, but it can be argued that we missed him the most.

The two things Kova needed to add to his game IMO is consistency and more attacking end product. He has started to do that this season. His yard-stick though is Kante. I think Kante sometimes doesn't get the props he deserves because his performance level, in literally every game, is superb. As it was today. People just come to expect it, they take it for granted, because his consistency and contribution all over the pitch is absolutely unreal.

Kova has completely won me round from his first season Scott. But Kante walks into any midfield in the world and I don't think Kova is at that level......... Yet!

 

 

 

Getty Images.

 

34 minutes ago, Jangz said:

If it was 5 mins into the game he was gone.. the ref bottled it.. Adding to the long list, i hope TT calls him out.. 

Just has

Just now, Scott Harris said:

"Their average"

Kovacic has been playing at a very high level almost every game he has been available this season.

He is having his best season which is something that I predicted when I said that he's now at his prime years. However I don't expect him to score again against Man City, same as I don't expect Pulisic to score either. 

1 minute ago, charierre said:

Just has

wake up to read he has been banned now 🙂

BTW if we win 17 matches  - we end up at 94 points! guess that should be enough to win.. lets go do that !

What a great game. Kovacic,  Kante bossed the midfield. Best atmosphere at the bridge this season. Roll on Wednesday 

Micheal Owen think Pool is better than us after we dominate them over two games and should have won both..a twat!

27 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

What is bizarre is that we have a pretty average record when he starts games this season ... P13, W6 D6 L1 ... granted he can't do it all on his own, but unexpected either way !

Depends on which teams he starts against, not all games are equal

Enjoyed this game. We still have Werner to come back.

the team played great today. Think we can get too passionate about whether player x is better than player y. They all did their thing today. 

34 minutes ago, loz said:

Exactly. And Rudiger could easily have walked in the last game and didn't.  I thought Mane was a red card offence today but i can see why Taylor only gave a yellow. What I don't understand is why it didn't appear that VAR looked at it.

If he saw it and deemed it worthy of a card, amazed it wasn't a red other than it being 6 secs into the match...the ball passed the pair of them on 7 seconds. He did him no question

1 minute ago, charierre said:

Depends on which teams he starts against, not all games are equal

Bit of a mix ... some tough ones for sure, but it's not as if he has only started in the toughest games ...

As I said, it's quite unexpected. Similar situation with Reece James btw.

4 hours ago, Zagger said:

I'm not celebrating it you moron. It's a fact. You'd have to be deluded to think we're going to overcome Man City with all the issues we've got at the moment.

Why are you supporting Chelsea if you are backing a player over the club?

You are a failure and i hope you will not continue to fail in your life. Even if Man City are richer than us, we also have players, even if they have players, we also have players.

I think last season, is it not three times we won them. You should think of that too.

Just now, charierre said:

If he saw it and deemed it worthy of a card, amazed it wasn't a red other than it being 6 secs into the match...the ball passed the pair of them on 7 seconds. He did him no question

According to Carjacker, it wasn't a red because it was a forearm smash  not the point of his elbow. Here's the link to where it says that in the laws of the game:

www.scouserwhospitsonkidstalksbollocks.co.uk