English Premier League 2019/2020

[Wings]

I thought David Luiz made sense because I thought Emery was going to use a back three more often, which was probably Arsenal's best formation last season. But that's not been the case at all.

 

[Il Drago]

Liverpool had to pay Man City £1m after allegedly spying on their scouting system

Liverpool versus Manchester City is currently the biggest rivalry in the Premier League.

The two sides are far and away the two best in England's top-flight right now and that level of competition has seen a serious degree of animosity develop between the two sets of fans.

Games between the pair are now seen as the key fixtures on the Premier League calendar, as they pretty much decide the destination of the title these days.

Had City not beaten Liverpool 2-1 at the Etihad last season, Jurgen Klopp's side would most likely have ended their quest for Premier League glory.

The first fixture between the pair this season is scheduled for November 10 and there may be a new layer of hatred between the two clubs and their supporters this time around.

That's because The Times are reporting quite a sensational story of scandal from 2013.

Six years ago, Liverpool were forced into paying City £1m after it was alleged that they spied on the Citizens' scouting system.

The confidential settlement took place after City actually employed computer-espionage experts to see if their system - named Scout7 - had indeed been spied on.

It was also a year after three former City scouts moved to Liverpool, including the Reds' current sporting director Michael Edwards.

They were accused of hacking into the Scout7 database 'hundreds of times', leading to City reportedly accelerating deals for Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk and Jesus Navas from Sevilla.

The scandal itself appears on the face of it to be the biggest incident of alleged misbehaviour from a top-flight club in the history of the Premier League.

Liverpool and the accused paid the £1m settlement without actually accepting any liability or wrongdoing and the accusations against them were never taken to court.

Both clubs declined to speak to The Times, with Liverpool stating they would refuse to discuss confidential club matters.

 

[Javier'sSon]

For "the biggest incident of alleged misbehavior from a top-flight club in the history of the Premier League" a £1M settlement fee seems far too low.

 

[ScottishInterista]

This was in 2013. After this Liverpool signed players like Stewart Downing, i think they suffered enough for it

 

[Universe]

I always thought it was telling that Chelsea were so willing to sell Luiz to a direct competitor while they're banned from signing a replacement.

Just wait til they play each other. Guaranteed Luiz will have a "Higuain-playing-for-Milan-against-juventus" kind of performance.

 

[wera]

City scoring 5 against Watford in the first 18 minutes. Dayum.

 

[clwinterfan]

City will get loads of big scores again this season. They will score the most goals by a long way. Only this time they will not win the title, Liverpool will. Do not know what is wrong with Tottenham.

 

[I4E]

Man U look so much like an average team. Terrible.

 

[YoramG]

Man U look so much like an average team. Terrible.

I don't know if it was on here or Twitter that I saw this observation being made, but United are the Milan of the PL. The squad is poor overall, the manager has no experience at a top flight level, and recent transfer markets have had no clear direction while being outrageously expensive for the returns they're getting.

 

[monster09]

Solskjaer looking out of his depth. Won't be surprised if he is sacked.

 

[K.I.]

Solskjaer looking out of his depth. Won't be surprised if he is sacked.

He should be given a year or two, this is a total rebuild and you are looking at building with youth and the academy, this sacking shit wont work.

 

[wera]

Wild prediction: Liverpool will not beat Chelsea today.

 

[Harpsabu]

Any other league where a team racked up scores like City would be criticised the way Madrid and barca scores were a few years ago. They'll win more games by 4 or 5 goals, most competitive league in the world but..

 

[brehme1989]

Any other league where a team racked up scores like City would be criticised the way Madrid and barca scores were a few years ago. They'll win more games by 4 or 5 goals, most competitive league in the world but..

No need to worry, the PL hype machine works in cycles.

They tell you that league X is shit because this and that happen. Then when this and that happen to the PL, it becomes proof that it is the best league. Quite a few examples.

There's no stopping this schizophrenic propaganda system.

 

[wera]

Wild prediction: Liverpool will not beat Chelsea today.

After the disallowed Azpillicueta goal I don't believe in my prediction anymore.

 

[Ziyad]

Chelsea continue like this we need to swoop in for Cante. They won’t wanna sell him in EPL and he fits the bill at Inter.

 

[wera]

Chelsea continue like this we need to swoop in for Cante. They won’t wanna sell him in EPL and he fits the bill at Inter.

Oof, that would be monumental for us.

 

[brehme1989]

He would be a very good addition to any team.

 

[Devious]

If we won the CL could we please buy Robertson for 60-70m ?

 

[rockball]

Am quite surprised, but Chelsea were very good today. They deserved a point for the way they went after Liverpool, and had them on their ropes for most of the 2nd half.