The Key to Liverpool vs. Man City Clash of Empires

November 29, 2024

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers so filled with thanks for so many things that football has brought into our lives: Martin Ødegaard’s artistic command, Jordan Pickford’s objectively perfect arms, Mo Salah’s unquenchable desire to score just to show the world his abs, Manchester City staying humble eh, Big Ange’s empathetic leadership which I pray remains intact under tabloid scrutiny, Peter Drury’s on-the-whistle freestyle oratory, Cole Palmer’s no-chill chill, Fabian Hürzeler’s unfathomable confidence, Eberechi Eze’s improvisational poetry, Everton’s new owners, Naomi Girma’s positional intelligence, Son Heung-min’s happiness, Enzo Maresca’s chess brain, that Mauricio Pochettino chose to ride with us, Ricardo Pepi’s tenacity and clinicality, our USWNT’s ferocious generational transformation, Trinity Rodman’s ferocious growth, Ipswich Town’s everything, the fact that Wrexham continue to bring joy to a region in a way that transcends football, Marta’s semi-final goal and Championship joy, Tim Weah’s ongoing education, Chris Wood’s journeyman explosive potency, Ross Barkley’s rejuvenation, Becky Sauerbrunn’s value-driven career journey, Tyler Adams’ fitness and return, Ruud van Nistelrooy getting his due, CONCACAF’s surreal DNA which contains multitudes, Antonee Robinson’s next move, Thomas Frank and Adoni Iraola’s unbounded imaginations, a Premier League title race for the ages, that the Men’s World Cup will be on our shores in 559 days. 

The passion and dedication of our football-mad community, you GFOPs, a big tent of fans who come together, bonded by a devotion for the game we love in a truly joyous, creative, and supportive fashion. Let’s continue to make memories together, lift each other in the spirit of friendship, and not take a second of watching football together for granted.

ii. I spent my Thanksgiving in the American style, watching Europa Legue football, sandwiched in between experiencing the pain of agonizing losses for the Chicago Bears (Name a Packers fan who hates the Bears more than Matt Eberflus hates the Bears) and Tulane Green Wave. (Why does every team I love only hate me back?)  

To take the pain away, let me offer you some Henry David Thoreau who wrote “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite - only a sense of existence. Well, anything for variety. I am ready to try this for the next ten thousand years, and exhaust it. How sweet to think of! my extremities well charred, and my intellectual part too, so that there is no danger of worm or rot for a long while. My breath is sweet to me. O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches. No run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment.”

PS. We are now on Bluesky. Please follow me there, and Men In Blazers HERE. 

Also: Taping a show with my friend John Green was the most joyful way for me to begin Thanksgiving. I love him so much.  He is a light in the darkness, and his bit about football fandom freeing your consciousness from the “sack of meat” of human corporeal existence is both mind bending and beautiful.

2. This Week at MiB World HQ

  • Thanksgiving began for us in the most traditional of ways: Waking up at 4 AM ET, to tape a conversation with Kai Havertz. It was so very worth it. We discussed Odegaard, Ethan Nwaneri and his profound love of donkeys. We also filmed with Brennan Johnson this week and will tape with Cole Palmer on Monday. Send us your questions for that hero now. 

  • Eberechi Eze is one of my favorite footballers in the Premier League. A gent who is poetry on the ball – and when you understand the grinding rise through rejection he experienced to full international level – you will know, there are few more inspirational gents in football.  When my friends at New Balance offered us the chance to spend some time with him, I jumped at the chance. The interview dropped today.  He is the kind of gent that makes you feel optimistic about life just by listening to him. WATCH THAT HERE.

  • My brother Nige tells me Rory Smith is like the brother he never had. Not sure what to make of it. But last week’s pod was quite immense. 

  • The Women’s Game will Do it Live after the USWNT clash with England tomorrow (more on that game below). Sam will be joined by none other than her sister, the inimitable Kristie Mewis. SUBSCRIBE TO THE WOMEN’S GAME YOUTUBE and turn those notifications on to make sure you do not miss a second of this one.

  • THE MEN IN BLAZERS TV SHOW is back. This Sunday. With a title race special, featuring special guests Arne Slot, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish. It will be available Sunday on Peacock, along with every episode of The MiB TV Show from the past four seasons. 

  • New York GFOPs. Save the Date: Evening of Monday, Dec. 16 we are going to do something special in the city.

3. To the Football

Liverpool vs. Manchester City (Sunday, 11 AM ET, USA)

Stay Humble, Eh? After completing no-win November by allowing a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord slip to 3-3 in midweek Champions League action, a descent into Crucible Anfield, is the last place a near-manic Pep Guardiola wants to head to attempt to record a first win in seven matches (sic.). League Leading Liverpool are fresh off slaying their Real Madrid demons and will still have the image of 21-year-old Conor Bradley demolishing Kylian Mbappé, on repeat, burned into their retina. (Liverpool fans enjoy this new Conor song!) Ibrahima Konaté is out with injury, yet it is City’s backline that is, in Pep’s words, “Fragile.” Liverpool exist to expose opponents in fast transition.

More: Miguel Delaney on the real problem at Manchester City and what Pep can learn from Mourinho

And: My interview with Ryan Gravenberch about his emergence as the Number 6 Liverpool cried out for under Arne Slot

Manchester United vs. Everton (Sunday, 8.30 AM ET, P’Cock)

Yesterday, that bearded young aspirational Messiah, Ruben Amorim, played his first game before a rapturous Old Trafford, emerging unscathed with a first win – just – against tiny Arctic scrappers, Bodø/Glimt. The Norwegians led 2-1 in a helter-skelter affair, until Rasmus Højlund delivered a brace and executed Gladiator II cellies of delirium.

Sunday’s opponents would Bite Your Arm Off to offer Bodø/Glimt-levels of threat.  Everton aren’t we? Sean Dyche, though, will relish an attempt to face up to his opponent’s still fomenting 3-4-3 and mutter, “Utter Woke Nonsense.”  

More: What was different about the United team in their first game?

Tottenham vs. Fulham (Sunday, 8.30 AM ET, P’Cock)

Which Spurs will show up? Big Ange has won six and lost five of his 12 Premier League games this season. Fresh off the peak of obliterating Manchester City, are we due an off week?  That possibility increased with remarkable news that Guglielmo Vicario has played much of the game with a fractured ankle.  Up steps 36-year-old back-up Fraser Forster who is so old, goalkeepers were not expected to play out the back when he learned his craft. Cue Big Ange defiantly declaring, “I don’t need my goalkeeper to be Platini,” referring randomly to the visionary 1980’s French midfielder. What could possibly go wrong? 

West Ham vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 12.30 PM ET, USA)

Arsenal are winless in their last four Premier League away games, but with Martin Ødegaard back, everything is possible. I spoke to Kai Havertz yesterday, and he talked with relish about just how different this Arsenal side are with their captain fit and flourishing – 2.2 points a game with the Norwegian QB1 in the team, 1.6 without. Fresh off smashing Sporting 5-1 in the Champions League, the Gunners will relish the challenge of smiting West Ham. Beleaguered manager Julen Lopetegui will hope that the last Monday night’s resurgence at Newcastle was more than a one-off.  

Chelsea vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, 8.30 AM ET, USA)

Chelsea enter in third place and are very much playing the role Villa thought they had established as theirs. Instead they are unbelievably winless in seven games. Good news for Unai Emery: In this season of unprecedented Premier League chaos, his deeply potent yet underperforming mob are just three points behind their opponents. This table is tight. Everything is possible. 

One more Big Piece O’News: Ruud! Van Nistelrooy set to be appointed at Leicester to bridge gap between fans and club

And: Full Television Broadcast Slate here 📺

4. MiB Mad Libs

Our new feature courtesy of GFOP Stephen Mellin who wanted us to have readers write in their best football Mad Libs. As ever, you guys made me laugh a LOT in a way I needed with your entries.  

GFOP Mark Dolce was last week’s patch winner for the winner of “The one thing that is going to put football over the top in America is______”

He wrote: “The one thing that is going to put football over the top in America is when a scandal dominates the news cycle for 12 hours about an MLS referee caught on video trash-talking the San Jose Earthquakes' venerable septuagenarian manager, Brendan Rogers.”

This week’s phrase is:

The phrase “Stay Humble, Eh” is living proof that _____________

Email me your entries. Winner gets a coveted MiB Patch.

5. More Games to Watch

Der Klassiker! Dortmund vs. Bayern (Saturday, 12.30 PM ET, ESPN+) 🇩🇪

Bayern Munich have won seven straight matches and are undefeated in the Bundesliga, six points clear at the top of the table. They have not conceded a goal in their last seven games all comps. Harry Kane has netted 14 times. Dortmund, undermined by injury, languish 10 points back in fifth place, yet are perfect at home. Better news, Gio Reyna’s groin is healed. Our boy should be on the bench. 

Wrexham, Don’t Wrexham it Up! (Tuesday, 2.45 PM ET, Paramount+) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

After winning the first of their two back-to-back midweek games Wrexham are second in League One heading into Tuesday’s clash with Barnsley. Next week’s match marks the first time the two sides have met since April 2005, a 2-2 draw that featured a young Ben Foster in goal for the Red Dragons. 

AC Milan vs. Empoli (Saturday, 12 PM ET, Paramount +) 🇮🇹

Last weekend’s goalless draw against Juve leaves both sides rooted in seventh and sixth respectively, with Milan six points behind with a game in hand. Manager Paulo Fonseca will be buoyed by Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League thriller against minnows Slovan Bratislava (Christian Pulisic goal here), as he looks to make it four unbeaten in the league against childhood Milan player Roberto D'Aversa and his Empoli side.

England vs. USWNT (Saturday, 12.20 PM. ET, TNT) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇸

Emma Hayes takes a victory lap of a return to the United Kingdom for her first game there since leaving Chelsea back in May. The game is a friendly but the optics are massive as the US battle England at a packed Wembley. The Olympic Gold Medal winners will be without their Triple Espresso of Mal Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Smith. Lotte Wubben-Moy has been called up for England, meaning the Lionesses will outnumber the United States FOUR TO ONE on University of North Carolina alumni. Who allowed this to happen?

More: Two managers, Sarina Wiegman and Emma Hayes, contrasting syles, united by common empathy.

A REMINDER: The Women’s Game will do it Live at the Final Whistle of this one. Join Sam and Kristie HERE. 

6. MORE JACK GREALISH, Presented by PrizePicks

Charlie Kipp Writes: The only thing better than Thanksgiving dinner is Thanksgiving leftovers, and the only thing better than big games is making them even better with a Prizepicks entry. As you look to the television as a portal to escape the in-laws (don’t deny it!) - why not add some excitement to your ball watching with some Picks, like, say: Jack Grealish MORE than 0.5 Shots. 

Man City visit Anfield this Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network in what has turned into a referendum on their viability as title contenders; words I did not expect to be writing before we hit December. With the season-long absence of Rodri, and current form of Pep’s outfit, it’s clear others need to step up. My pick? 29 year old Jack Grealish, haver-of-hair, eater-of-food, lover-of-life. Let’s be honest: Greals’ form has been inconsistent this year, but if City are to do what so many of us expect and get the ship turned around, his efforts will be needed. Is ONE shot too much to ask? I don’t think so. Jack Grealish MORE than 0.5 Shots. Book it.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, CLICK HERE and use code MiB for a first deposit match up to $100.

7. Not Football, and all the better for it

This Song Helped Me Through the Week: Hotel Santa Cruz by the incredible Nadia Reid

8. Dear Rog... GFOPs Write ✍️

GFOP Greg Cole had this beautiful reaction to an article about a historic Manchester United figure that I posted in last week’s newsletter:

“I don't know where to start. The 1955 Le Mans tragedy hits close to home. My father (who recently passed at 92) was a serviceman in the US Army and stationed in France at that time. My dad and an Army buddy were in attendance at that very race. In fact, they were in the midst of the carnage. He described things as, "unfolding in slow motion," when he heard the collision and saw the Mercedes go airborne. He always said that only his Army training saved his and his friend's lives as they instinctively "hit the deck" when they heard the Mercedes explode. People all around them were killed including a family's young children who were sitting on a ladder a few feet away. Moments before the accident my dad commented to his buddy that it was very clever of the family to bring the ladder so that the kids could get a better view. The ladder can be seen in a photo of the aftermath included in the next day's newspapers, as well as an account of the parents who gathered up the children's decapitated remains and hastily left the scene. 

Last evening I was going through some of my dad's pictures and memorabilia and came across the old French and Stars and Stripes newspapers of the account as well as some pictures he himself took in the aftermath. It brought back  so many memories of my conversations with him. Much Love, Greg”

Greg. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope your Dad is there for you as a force of strength and memory.

Keep sending your stories and questions to [email protected].

To Better Days Ahead for All.

Let’s not take a moment watching football together for granted and make great memories,

Big Love.

Courage.

ROG 

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