At the half-way marker of their season Liverpool, tying today at Fenway versus Swine Chelsea, sit eighth in the table, nine points out of the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot, occupied now, shockingly, by Newcastle. Like with the Miami "Heat" any rational observer can see that Liverpool are not contenders, even for the UCL much less the EPL title. They sit eighteen points behind Arsenal, who also have a game in hand. Jurgen Klopp said recently that he still feels that he can motivate Liverpool's players, but this is what happened at Borussia Dortmund at almost exactly the same time in his tenure: An inexplicable rot set in. From the AP write-up on today's draw: On Jurgen Klopp's 1,000th game in management, Liverpool seemed shorn of confidence...At Dortmund, in Klopp's seventh season, the club finished seventh. Liverpool were pipped to the title last year, Klopp's seventh, by just one point but the year before finished third, seventeen points behind Manchester City. Half-way through his eighth on Merseyside the "Reds" are eighth in the table. And now the club is facing new ownership. Fenway Sports Group and John Henry, who were responsible for the Liverpool renaissance, have had the club up for sale for some months.
Meanwhile, the Renaissance-upon-Tyne at Newcastle United has been "fueled" (double entendre) by Saudi Arabia's bottomless Public Investment Fund (PIF).
If Newcastle doesn't build on this season's success next year and in the next few manager Eddie Howe would be well-advised not to report to the Saudi embassy in Ankara for consultations.
Finally, look at Nottingham Forest! The "Tricky Trees" were once anchor team in the EPL table. But no more. After today's draw at Bourne-cum-in-their-mouth the Sheriff's sit in rarefied air at thirteenth! They are four points (doesn't sound much but among bottom dwellers it's big) clear of the drop zone on an equal twenty matches played with the last three, Bournemouth, Everton (unfortunately) and Southie. They have been in excellent form since November and sport a 3-1-3 record from then to present.
