Tuesday Hoddle of Coffee, Soccer News and Notes, March 21, 2017

Hoping to have a tactics post up later today—so a short hoddle. Here’s something I’m curious about: I am not tempting fate by inviting any discussion about our top four odds or St. Totteringham’s. That said, here’s a fun question I will ask: Who finishes higher, Liverpool or Manchester United?

My short response: United’s quality trumps Liverpool’s weird quirky brilliance. If the Reds had a better keeper and better goal scorers, I’d take them because tactically they’re brilliant. But looking at the table, United is four points behind with two games in hand. They’ve had some completely brutal luck this season and have had some very, very poor stretches. Liverpool, meanwhile, have mostly been outstanding, save for one month at the start of 2017 when they were without Sadio Mane. So my guess is we see Mourinho steer United back into next season’s Champions League while Klopperpool is almost certainly on the outside looking in. What do y’all think?

Links

TFT profiles Liverpool flop Iago Aspas and looks at his surprising resurgence at childhood club Celta Vigo.

Arsene Wenger wants to stay at Arsenal.

Speaking of Liverpool, this Adam Lallana miss is still hilarious.

I’m with Leander: