The quadruple is, somehow, still on for Liverpool Football Club
May 16, 2022 8:07 AM   Subscribe

Tomorrow, Liverpool Football Club take on Southampton. Lose, and the possibility of the Quadruple (English Football League Cup, Football Assocation Cup, Premiership, European Champions League) in the same season is finished as Manchester City will be Premiership champions. A Liverpool draw or win, and it goes to the last day of the Premiership season, and the Champions League final (against Real Madrid, who have a track record in this tournament) on May 28th. Liverpool Football Club is managed by Jürgen Klopp. The odds continue to shorten. Plot twist: Liverpool can only win the Premiership if Manchester City fail to win their final game. Against Aston Villa (who sold Jack Grealish to them for £100,000,000). Who is managed by Steven Gerrard.
posted by Wordshore (43 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
I didn't bother following the West Ham - Man City game on Sunday as I'd mentally checked out on the league after the draw against Spurs. I figured after the FA Cup final they could just play the second string for the last 2 games to rest up for the CL final.

Now I'm wondering who the heck is going to play tomorrow. 3 days after 120 minutes and a cup win? With 3 regular starters off with injury and another trying to be fit for the final? There's got to be some rotation, but you'd have to think that those who played the full game on Saturday need to be given a bit of a break.
posted by sauril at 8:27 AM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


I feel the league is beyond them but a cup treble very much on. Anything can happen in a one-off against Real Madrid, as not only past seasons but even the previous two rounds aptly demonstrated, but Liverpool's a much more complete team and have nothing to fear. Both Klopp and Guardiola have spent decent amounts over the years, but more on very good players in the sub superstar range who they then coach into becoming world beaters as part of a team. I don't expect to have a horse in any of these races for at least a few more years (Godspeed Erik Ten Hag) but I can appreciate the quality in both the Liverpool and City sides.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 8:31 AM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


I'm not a great football fan (the long forms of cricket, and Worcestershire county cricket club, are my thing). But for some reason I've been following this Premiership season closely at times.

My childhood team were Aston Villa (nearest decent side, geographically, to Evesham - and all of the relatives I disliked supported West Bromwich Albion and I wanted to be different). "The Villa" have had a not great season, and recent results have been mediocre; they are a lower-part-of-mid-table team. Even with my limited knowledge, I can't see anything but a convincing Manchester City win on the last day of the season (3-0 to City) and so the Quadruple feels gone, even if Liverpool win their last three matches.
posted by Wordshore at 8:36 AM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


I know it puts extra strain on the athletes, but I kind of love the wild abandon of them playing in so many different leagues/events -- and actually trying to win them. Sometimes the multiple leagues seems like a crass cash-grab, but when a team goes on a run like this, it's exciting to watch

(Unless they flame out among multiple injuries and personality clashes, in which case...it might still be fun, but in a different way.)
posted by wenestvedt at 9:04 AM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


COME ON STEVIE G FULFILL YOUR DESTINY!

---

As a Liverpudlian, and a pretty-damn-milquetoast fan by Scouse standards, whenever people see me screaming at a TV screen when we play in high-stakes games, I always return to the quote that Bill Shankly, our (famously deadpan-humoured, Scottish capital-S-Socialist) Liverpool manager in the 1970s, who when an interviewer asked him about an excited fan reaction to a recent win, he replied in his quiet brogue voice with this gem

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”
posted by lalochezia at 9:09 AM on May 16, 2022 [4 favorites]


COME ON VILLA
posted by GallonOfAlan at 9:38 AM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


Meanwhile, LFC's neighbours and rivals Everton are fighting to avoid their first relegation from the top level of English football since 1951, and only their second drop since joining the Football League's First Division in 1888. Two tough matches ahead for the Toffees, home to Crystal Palace and travelling to Arsenal, with the latter themselves in the hunt for a Champions League spot. Looking at the league table and the remaining fixtures plus with a little help from today's through Thursday's results, it's conceivable that every match on Sunday (save Leicester-Southampton) could affect the Leeds-Burnley-Everton relegation race, the Liverpool/Man City title battle, whether Man United or West Ham play in the Europa League or Europa Conference, and even the third and fourth Champions League spots (yes, Chelsea have an exceedingly small chance of finishing FIFTH if both Arsenal and Spurs [COYS!] win all of their remaining games and the Blues lose both of theirs).
posted by hangashore at 9:38 AM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


> Everton are fighting to avoid . . . relegation

Having watched the game yesterday that's not how it looked at all.
posted by 7segment at 11:11 AM on May 16, 2022 [5 favorites]


As someone who has probably lost years of his life thanks to the past decade of the Aston Villa Football Club, I have very, very little hope of a win against City. We last met at Villa Park in December, losing 1-2 on the day. That said, we have upgraded a few players since then (most notably adding Philippe Coutinho [!?]) so perhaps it could at least be somewhat of a contest. But we also just lost at home to Liverpool (and drew to Crystal Palace—again, at home), so I am not sanguine.

But if Middle East Oil Sportswashing Manchester City FC do go on to win the league, good for Jack Grealish for getting to lift the trophy, even if he didn't really seem to shine that much this season for them.
posted by General Malaise at 11:31 AM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


A draw will do Villa. I believe!
posted by biffa at 12:23 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


In other Premiership news, Newcastle have just beaten Arsenal 2-0. Which means that Chelsea can no longer be overtaken by them, and are guaranteed a top four finish - and a Champions League place.

But there's a catch...
posted by Wordshore at 1:56 PM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


I think that it's not possible for Liverpool to win a title in my lifetime. Therefore we will lose to Southampton. For good measure, I'm expecting Man City to win their final match. Once we've done all that, we will probably also lose to Real Madrid.

Supporting a team like Liverpool is a lifelong exercise in why it's the hope that gets you in the end.
posted by plonkee at 2:45 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


I think that it's not possible for Liverpool to win a title in my lifetime

Didn't they win the league 2 years ago?
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2022 [4 favorites]


As a Southampton supporter, ruining Liverpool's season tomorrow would be like a cup victory for me.
posted by COD at 2:48 PM on May 16, 2022


As a Southampton supporter, ruining Liverpool's season tomorrow would be like a cup victory for me.


More than ruining Man City's? Get yer hate in order la!
posted by lalochezia at 3:14 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


Supporting a team like Liverpool is a lifelong exercise in why it's the hope that gets you in the end.

Just checking, are you from an alternate reality where LFC and Tottenham Hotspur have switched identities?
posted by hangashore at 3:18 PM on May 16, 2022 [7 favorites]


I think that it's not possible for Liverpool to win a title in my lifetime

Didn't they win the league 2 years ago?


So they say. Feels like it didn't happen. (I will stop being so gloomy and pessimistic once the season is safely over. We snatch defeat from the jaws of victory a lot.)
posted by plonkee at 3:36 PM on May 16, 2022


So they say. Feels like it didn't happen.
Jesus dude, I cheer for Spurs. How can you possibly have this attitude with the success you had? I'm ready to lose my mind for a 4th place finish and a return to the CL, but I'm terrified of Norwich and reasonably so. Wish we could play Arsenal every week.
posted by pickinganameismuchharderthanihadanticipated at 3:48 PM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


Supporting a team like Liverpool is a lifelong exercise in why it's the hope that gets you in the end.

Just checking, are you from an alternate reality where LFC and Tottenham Hotspur have switched identities?


You're both welcome to join the Absolutely No Hope train that is the Aston Villa Football Club

That said, as always, Up the Villa.
posted by General Malaise at 3:55 PM on May 16, 2022


Supporting a team like Liverpool is a lifelong exercise in why it's the hope that gets you in the end.

Oh come on, I've been a supporter through Hicks & Gilette, this is a good team with 2 trophies already in the bag. While I admit the league is probably beyond them this season, barring further injuries (or current injuries being more severe than reported) at worst I reckon the CL final is a coin flip.
posted by juv3nal at 6:53 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


Even with my limited knowledge, I can't see anything but a convincing Manchester City win on the last day of the season (3-0 to City)

That's what my brain says, but then my brain wouldn't have called the draw to West Ham either ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by juv3nal at 6:57 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


Yeah, but what about AFC Richmond?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 7:01 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]


Oh also for those not familiar, it's worth mentioning that Liverpool right back Trent Alexander Arnold is 23 and has won every trophy available.

Apologies for the triple comment, I ❤️ this team a lot.
posted by juv3nal at 7:02 PM on May 16, 2022 [3 favorites]


As someone who grew up in Manchester and moved to the States at the beginning of the century I still feel weird at seeing a successful Man City. It's like a fundamental pillar of the universe has been removed. I know it's all down to massive amounts of shady money but it just feels wrong.
This is the team that, in '98, got relegated from Div 1 to 2 despite having a goal difference of only -1 for the season. They were genuinely great at finding baroque ways to screw up. We lost something special when the money moved in.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 7:05 PM on May 16, 2022 [2 favorites]


> Just checking, are you from an alternate reality where LFC and Tottenham Hotspur have switched identities?

Also remember that Liverpool are basically the Cubs of EPL, where their whole thing is pretending they're a bunch of plucky hometown underdogs who are perpetually disadvantaged by their stubborn insistence at remaining true to some bygone ethos of a former golden age, in the face of the modern cynicism displayed by every other team in the league, while conveniently forgetting to mention the fact that they outspend each of those teams save two.
posted by 7segment at 7:15 PM on May 16, 2022


while conveniently forgetting to mention the fact that they outspend each of those teams save two

I guess it depends on what period of time you're talking about (and maybe whether you mean transfer fees, salaries, or both combined), but I would say that's arguably 3.
posted by juv3nal at 7:19 PM on May 16, 2022


If you're just talking about transfer fees, Liverpool actually rank pretty low on net spend relative to many other PL clubs. They've been very successful at picking up excellent players for a relative bargain, and selling good players for vast sums (Coutinho, Torres). In the last five years, they've spent less than Villa, Everton, Newcastle, Spurs (as well as the obvious clubs). They've not spent much more than Brighton, Wolves and West Ham. Over ten years its not so stark, but they've spent way less than Chelsea or the Manchester clubs. And just scroll through this list of transfers: absolute genius.

If we're considering wages, then Liverpool would rank higher, but they're not paying as much as United, Chelsea or City.

I'm saying all this as a United fan, as well. But credit where it's due. They've put together an incredible squad, with a fantastic coach, they're competing with the oilball clubs in spite of having a much lower budget, and their fans booed the national anthem. It's really hard not to like them....
posted by Pink Frost at 12:48 AM on May 17, 2022 [4 favorites]


Pink Frost, that is so generous I almost feel bad taking joy watching Utd youtubers losing their shit watching your boys play lately. Good players, bad team. Anyway, I hope Everton stay up, that Utd are less shit next year (only a little), and that we can do the treble.

YNWA.
posted by bigZLiLk at 8:57 AM on May 17, 2022


Despite not being a soccer person, I somehow have a window open on my screen with updates of Southampton vs Liverpool in it. 1-1 after 30 minutes. So the Quadruple is still - barely - on. If it's a draw tonight then Liverpool have to win their last game and Aston Villa probably have to put four or more past Manchester City. Um.

Anyone else following this (maybe I should have made this a FanFare post)?
posted by Wordshore at 12:17 PM on May 17, 2022 [2 favorites]


Southampton 0 Wins / 1 Draw / 4 losses in last five. Way to finish strong!
posted by COD at 1:51 PM on May 17, 2022


Final score: Southampton 1 - Liverpool 2. The Quad is still on...

Sunday 22nd May Premier League fixtures:
(all start at 4pm British Summer Time)

Arsenal vs Everton
Brentford vs Leeds United
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United
Burnley vs Newcastle United
Chelsea vs Watford
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
Leicester City vs Southampton
Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Norwich City vs Tottenham Hotspur
posted by Wordshore at 1:56 PM on May 17, 2022 [2 favorites]


From the comments of the Guardian recap:

MY FRIEND ELEVEN PINT SIMON SAID TONIGHT THAT THIS LIVERPOOL SIDE ARE UNREAL.

I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WAS INACCURATE AS THEY ARE REAL AND I SAW JAMES MILNER WALKING HIS DOG ONCE.

posted by juv3nal at 2:20 PM on May 17, 2022




Final score: Southampton 1 - Liverpool 2. The Quad is still on...

GET IN MY SON!!!!!
posted by lalochezia at 3:31 PM on May 17, 2022


Anyone else following this (maybe I should have made this a FanFare post)?

Maybe meet again here on Sunday afternoon? (Morning for some of us.)
posted by hangashore at 8:27 PM on May 17, 2022


As it's Liverpool, I think the one thing that we can be certain of is that it will be as overly melodramatic as possible. Other teams have comebacks, Liverpool have 4-0 thrashings of Barcelona to overcome a 3-0 deficit from the first leg. Other teams narrowly miss out on a title, Liverpool finished second in the league whilst still scoring more points in a season than Manchester United have ever done.

So, to fit in with the melodrama theme, I confidently predict Liverpool to be winning comfortably on Sunday, whilst Villa hold Manchester City to a draw but towards the end of the game Stevie G does something that gets him sent to the stands rather than be in the dugout for the inevitable decisive Rahem Sterling goal in around the 80th minute.
posted by BigCalm at 2:49 AM on May 18, 2022 [1 favorite]


As it's Liverpool, I think the one thing that we can be certain of is that it will be as overly melodramatic as possible.

Liverpool and Manchester City are both winning 1-0. 88th minute in both matches. Mr Gerrard, who named himself on the team sheet, comes on as a sub. Is immediately fouled by Sterling. Takes the penalty himself ... but slips on the run-up and balloons it high over the Holt End.

Collective groans in north Birmingham and Merseyside.
posted by Wordshore at 3:17 AM on May 18, 2022 [1 favorite]


In the interests of wrapping up the loose ends of this season, BBC: "Rangers suffered an agonising penalty shootout defeat in their fifth European final as Eintracht Frankfurt triumphed in an absorbing Europa League decider."

Tonight there are three Premier League matches (the last until Sunday, when every team plays their last match at 4pm):

Everton vs Crystal Palace
Aston Villa vs Burnley
Chelsea vs Leicester

The first two matches have a bearing on who will be joining Norwich and Watford in being relegated.
posted by Wordshore at 11:29 PM on May 18, 2022


Uh oh Crystal Palace just scored on Everton.
posted by General Malaise at 12:14 PM on May 19, 2022


Sorry, two goals on Everton.
posted by General Malaise at 12:26 PM on May 19, 2022


And now Everton have scored three I have no idea what is going on.
posted by General Malaise at 1:31 PM on May 19, 2022 [1 favorite]


FUCK

MY


LIFE
posted by lalochezia at 10:05 AM on May 22, 2022


Well that was exciting.
posted by biffa at 10:21 AM on May 22, 2022


Sorry, Liverpool hopers, but as I said, never rely on the Aston Villa Football Club to ever get a result. Hell of a day of matches, though. Happy for Jessie Marsch's Leeds.
posted by General Malaise at 11:35 AM on May 22, 2022


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