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Liverpool sitting pretty on top

“We will keep fighting till the end, I’m delighted with the lad’s.”
Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League ahead of a busy weekend of football. The Reds are the only side to remain unbeaten after 13 matches – in fact maintaining a near 100 per cent record so far in the league with having only drawn once. Jurgen Klopp’s men ran champions Manchester City extremely close for the title last season, with the race going right up until the last game of the season. After this weekends defeat of Crystal Palace his red army look certain to top the table at Christmas. Bobby Firminos 90th minute winner proved to the difference between the sides after that man again Sadio Mane gave them the lead before Jordan Ayew equalized. Who knows how far this run can take them. We all remember Steven Gerard’s slip a few years ago, especially this Liverpool fan, but there is definitely a different feel to this Liverpool team and I believe they can go all the way this season.

Jose to save Tottenham

Jose Mourinho returned to football this week for the first time since his sacking at the hands of Ed Woodburn and Man United. Pochettino was the unlucky manager who lost out. He had an extremely successfully time with the club and somehow go them to a Champions League final last year. I thought Tottenham were mad to sack him but when i heard Jose was in it all mad sense.

They started his tenure with a 3-2 win away to West Ham, which normally doesn’t sound that unbelievable of a result but considering they haven’t won away since February it makes it sound a little better. Personally I think Tottenham have done a good bit of business here and think they will glide back up the table under Jose. This is the same Jose Mourinho that won a Champions League with Porto who were nobodies. Tottenham have done well and with nearly 300 million to spend on future targets, who knows could we see a return of a certain Gareth Bale.

VAR causing havoc

I’m sure the referees are happy with the system because they are not being blamed — all of the focus is on VAR. That is why we need to give referees the final call and, if a review of a decision is necessary, let them take another look.

At Spurs on a few weeks ago, Jan Vertonghen tripped Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu in the area and my immediate thought was: ‘Penalty.’ I was astonished when VAR did not intervene and instruct that a penalty should be awarded. The defender made no contact with the ball and tripped his opponent. At the very least the referee should have been told to take a second look.

Mike Riley, head of the PGMOL, said recently there had been four VAR errors this season. I, like many others, believe there have been far more, especially when it comes to fouls in the penalty area being missed. We cannot have mistakes when the VAR official has every angle available to him.

It is for these reasons and more that i believe that the time has come for VAR to go or at least at the end of the season. It is ruining games and not allowing players or supports to fully enjoy when a goal is scored as they have to wait and see if it will count.