THERE WERE UNUSUAL scenes at Anfield today, as around 10,000 fans staged a 77th minute walkout protest for the first time in the club’s 132-year-history.
A price increase was recently announced encompassing a £77 match ticket (up from £59) and a £1,000 season ticket for next season.
Despite chief executive Ian Ayre playing down the severity of the increase during the week, fans could be heard singing “enough is enough, you greedy bastards, enough is enough” during the game, as roughly a quarter of the ground emptied before the final whistle.
The fans’ anger was easy to sympathise with — given the new lucrative TV deal coming into place for Premier League clubs from next season on, it seems particularly strange that the Reds would feel the need to ask their fans for more money to see their team play.
Moreover, with the increasingly corporate nature of modern football, today’s events were a welcome reminder that fan power can still have an impact.
If the Foxes’ miraculous run of form was going to end anywhere, most predicted it would be at City, who had lost only twice on home turf all season before today.
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Yet a Robert Huth brace and a Riyad Mahrez effort extended the gap at the top between the two sides to six points.
Ranieri’s men have now beaten both City and Spurs in their unlikely title bid, and the bookmakers currently have them as favourites to prevail.
This time last year, Leicester faced a relegation battle. They ended up losing just two of their remaining 13 games to survive the drop comfortably. Even if they can just simply repeat that feat this time around, they may well end up as champions.
3. Tottenham’s defence holds firm again
Kevin Wimmer has impressed for Tottenham of late. John Walton
John Walton
There were concerns for Tottenham recently, as Jan Vertonghen picked up an injury that will likely keep him out for a few more weeks.
The Belgian centre-back has been superb at the heart of Spurs’ defence and consequently, some critics felt Tottenham could be affected by his absence.
Yet inexperienced Austrian centre-back Kevin Wimmer has been similarly solid since being suddenly thrown in at the deep end, earning a second consecutive Premier League clean sheet since Vertonghen’s injury, while Spurs have the best defensive record overall in the top flight, having conceded just 19 goals.
In addition, the fact that goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was named man-of-the-match against his former club provided a telling indication of the hosts’ superiority. Similarly, Watford’s inability to get even one shot on target ensured a deserved victory for Tottenham, who went second after today’s win.
4. Faint hope for Aston Villa
Aston Villa are now just eight points away from Premier League safety, after winning 2-0 at home to Norwich today.
Whether they can pull off an unlikely escape with 13 games to go remains doubtful, however, with Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal among others still to play.
The outlook for Norwich also looks grim, after Alex Neill’s side slipped into the relegation zone following this afternoon’s defeat.
The Canaries, in many ways, were the perfect opponents for Villa, as they have now only won one of their last 12 away league games, and have failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels all season.
5. Encouraging signs for Shane Long
Following a slow, injury-interrupted start to his Southampton career in which he was in and out of the team, Shane Long finally appears to be finding his feet with the Saints.
The Tipperary native looks to have belatedly won the trust of manager Ronald Koeman, completing 90 minutes in the club’s last nine consecutive league matches.
The 29-year-old striker also seems to have overcome the challenge provided by talented new signing Charlie Austin, who was restricted to a substitute appearance again today.
And while he did not score in the 1-0 victory over West Ham, Long was a constant thorn in his opponents’ side, with his energy and work-rate often providing some much-needed relief for the 10-man Saints, as he carried the ball up the pitch to take the pressure off an overworked backline.
So with both Long and Adam Rooney impressing today, Martin O’Neill may be starting to feel he has a few decent options in attack ahead of Euro 2016
Good to see Liverpool fans take a stand and more Premier League talking points
Updated at 12.21
1. Good to see Liverpool fans take a stand
THERE WERE UNUSUAL scenes at Anfield today, as around 10,000 fans staged a 77th minute walkout protest for the first time in the club’s 132-year-history.
A price increase was recently announced encompassing a £77 match ticket (up from £59) and a £1,000 season ticket for next season.
Despite chief executive Ian Ayre playing down the severity of the increase during the week, fans could be heard singing “enough is enough, you greedy bastards, enough is enough” during the game, as roughly a quarter of the ground emptied before the final whistle.
The fans’ anger was easy to sympathise with — given the new lucrative TV deal coming into place for Premier League clubs from next season on, it seems particularly strange that the Reds would feel the need to ask their fans for more money to see their team play.
Moreover, with the increasingly corporate nature of modern football, today’s events were a welcome reminder that fan power can still have an impact.
2. Are Leicester now title favourites?
Following today’s convincing 3-1 win over a poor and defensively suspect Man City side at the Etihad Stadium, people are truly starting to believe that Leicester can win the league.
If the Foxes’ miraculous run of form was going to end anywhere, most predicted it would be at City, who had lost only twice on home turf all season before today.
Yet a Robert Huth brace and a Riyad Mahrez effort extended the gap at the top between the two sides to six points.
Ranieri’s men have now beaten both City and Spurs in their unlikely title bid, and the bookmakers currently have them as favourites to prevail.
This time last year, Leicester faced a relegation battle. They ended up losing just two of their remaining 13 games to survive the drop comfortably. Even if they can just simply repeat that feat this time around, they may well end up as champions.
3. Tottenham’s defence holds firm again
There were concerns for Tottenham recently, as Jan Vertonghen picked up an injury that will likely keep him out for a few more weeks.
The Belgian centre-back has been superb at the heart of Spurs’ defence and consequently, some critics felt Tottenham could be affected by his absence.
Yet inexperienced Austrian centre-back Kevin Wimmer has been similarly solid since being suddenly thrown in at the deep end, earning a second consecutive Premier League clean sheet since Vertonghen’s injury, while Spurs have the best defensive record overall in the top flight, having conceded just 19 goals.
And in truth, Spurs’ 1-0 win today at White Hart Lane flattered Watford, as the Hornets were dominated throughout by a Tottenham side that is growing in confidence, winning their last six successive matches in all competitions.
In addition, the fact that goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was named man-of-the-match against his former club provided a telling indication of the hosts’ superiority. Similarly, Watford’s inability to get even one shot on target ensured a deserved victory for Tottenham, who went second after today’s win.
4. Faint hope for Aston Villa
Aston Villa are now just eight points away from Premier League safety, after winning 2-0 at home to Norwich today.
Whether they can pull off an unlikely escape with 13 games to go remains doubtful, however, with Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal among others still to play.
The outlook for Norwich also looks grim, after Alex Neill’s side slipped into the relegation zone following this afternoon’s defeat.
The Canaries, in many ways, were the perfect opponents for Villa, as they have now only won one of their last 12 away league games, and have failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels all season.
5. Encouraging signs for Shane Long
Following a slow, injury-interrupted start to his Southampton career in which he was in and out of the team, Shane Long finally appears to be finding his feet with the Saints.
The Tipperary native looks to have belatedly won the trust of manager Ronald Koeman, completing 90 minutes in the club’s last nine consecutive league matches.
The 29-year-old striker also seems to have overcome the challenge provided by talented new signing Charlie Austin, who was restricted to a substitute appearance again today.
And while he did not score in the 1-0 victory over West Ham, Long was a constant thorn in his opponents’ side, with his energy and work-rate often providing some much-needed relief for the 10-man Saints, as he carried the ball up the pitch to take the pressure off an overworked backline.
So with both Long and Adam Rooney impressing today, Martin O’Neill may be starting to feel he has a few decent options in attack ahead of Euro 2016
A dark horse for Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad is on fire in Scotland at the moment>
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