In a season where unpredictability is the name of the game, the Premier League has still managed to surprise.
I don’t know about you, but after the initial Covid-19 lockdown, it feels like there is football every day.
I’ve got to say sometimes it’s tough to keep up with all the action.
Who would have thought that in 2020 there is too much football.
Anyway, I’m not the only one who’s feeling stukkend from a long, cruel year.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen how already-packed schedules have become even tighter.
Like, I’ve said before on this page, player fatigue is real.
These manne are playing three games a week when the season is in full swing with domestic and continental competitions – not to mention the always-interesting club versus country debate.
Fatigue leads to poor performances. Players struggle to concentrate, their mental sharpness is blunted and even the best professionals lose their edge.
Injuries are inevitable, but they happen at a greater frequency because recovery times are so short.
But there are still surprises.
While most Premier League coaches complain on the daily that they are missing star players, there are always some manne with diknekke.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been one of the most vocal.
And it’s understandable, as he tries to defend his Prem title.
With a defence robbed of Virgil van Dijk, arguably the best in his position on the planet for the last three years, and his partner Joe Gomez, Klopp is coping with a massive blow.
That’s not all. The hits keep coming for him, with goalkeeper problems and even his shiny new midfield addition in Thiago Alcantara still hasn’t really been able to test himself in England.
This week, Klopp was told to hou his bek about injury problems by none other than Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho moaned that he never complains about injuries. So why do I remember Harry Kane being ruled out for four months on New Year’s Day and a crisis that saw him without all six of his best attacking talents.
His words are still ringing in my ears.
But Klopp had the last word on Wednesday night in their top of the table clash.
Liverpool, with all their injuries, are back on top of the league, beating their closest rivals to regain their title race supremacy. Surprised?
I know I am. I expected the Van Dijk injury to have a more devastating effect.
Klopp’s colleagues are not having the same success in the face of adversity – like Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.
I get the feeling that the coaching and management this season is going to be most important factor.
So it does surprise me that Prem clubs have, in the main, stuck with their coaches.
Slaven Bilic was sent packing by West Brom this week.
But you know what didn’t surprise me? Seeing relegation firefighter Sam Allardyce parachuted into the Baggies job.