The Fish

They've been pretty lucky xG-wise, and would be 15pts worse off were their goal scorers not overachieving. https://understat.com/league/EPL/2017 № Team M W D L G GA PTS xG xGA xPTS 1 Manchester City 16 15 1 0 48 11 46 43.98-4.02 11.17+0.17 39.78-6.22 7 Tottenham 16 8 4 4 28 14 28 28.53+0.53 12.20-1.80 33.19+5.19 5 Liverpool 16 8 6 2 34 20 30 33.25-0.75 18.96-1.04 32.23+2.23 6 Arsenal 16 9 2 5 30 20 29 34.77+4.77 18.45-1.55 31.71+2.71 3 Chelsea 17 11 2 4 31 14 35 24.68-6.32 14.43+0.43 30.52-4.48 2 Manchester United 16 11 2 3 36 11 35 31.84-4.16 21.03+10.03 28.10-6.90 17 Crystal Palace 17 3 5 9 12 28 14 23.79+11.79 25.76-2.24 24.58+10.58 11 Southampton 16 4 6 6 16 19 18 20.41+4.41 18.95-0.05 23.09+5.09 8 Leicester 16 6 5 5 23 22 23 19.36-3.64 20.63-1.37 22.43-0.57 9 Watford 17 6 4 7 26 29 22 22.83-3.17 25.12-3.88 22.13+0.13 16 Newcastle United 16 4 3 9 16 25 15 16.74+0.74 21.23-3.77 19.00+4.00 10 Everton 16 5 4 7 20 29 19 18.06-1.94 24.60-4.40 18.84-0.16 15 Stoke 17 4 4 9 19 36 16 17.47-1.53 28.21-7.79 18.18+2.18 18 West Bromwich Albion 16 2 7 7 12 22 13 13.32+1.32 20.14-1.86 16.73+3.73 20 Swansea 16 3 3 10 9 18 12 12.86+3.86 22.36+4.36 16.56+4.56 4 Burnley 17 9 4 4 16 12 31 10.84-5.16 21.96+9.96 15.82-15.18 12 Huddersfield 17 5 3 9 12 29 18 12.90+0.90 25.33-3.67 15.48-2.52 13 Brighton 16 4 5 7 14 21 17 12.43-1.57 22.62+1.62 15.02-1.98 19 West Ham 16 3 4 9 14 32 13 13.96-0.04 26.40-5.60 14.19+1.19 14 Bournemouth 16 4 4 8 15 19 16 13.32-1.68 25.76+6.76 14.18-1.82

Yeah, that's what I thought.

If there wasn't the takeover stuff I'd agree.

Thought you'd gone a bit Burnley for a moment

If it wasn't Newcastle I'd agree, but he'd love to stick the boot in. He'll set up for a 1-0 and we'll get an equaliser as he drops further and further back to protect the lead.

If it's true, it's a concern, but is, for me, indicative of the ongoing nature of the takeover talks. If they were dead in the water, I don't think he'd be as unsure of his budget as he is. I'm more concerned with Benitez's reticence to play Mitrovic and Shelvey to be honest.Our squad is thin on quality and these two have shown in the past they're capable of performing in the top flight.

Just because Benitez says in a press conference “We’re monitoring players and talking to people. We still don’t know how much money is available. We know what we need, can we get that, I don’t know." that doesn't mean; the deal won't be done by the time the January window closes, that approaches can't be made for players, that there aren't tentative talks with the potential new owners, or that Benitez doesn't, in fact know how much is available.

I'm just not as convinced these quotes mean the catastrophe that people seem to be predicting. It would be great if Benitez was assured that there would be £100m to spend on players in January, but if this takeover is going through it's no great surprise that the transfer budgets aren't sorted yet. And, we know Benitez loves a power play and this could well be another one. I'm not convinced we'll spend huge sums in January regardless of who the owner is, but I'm not as confident as others that this means doom.

Team News Newcastle United Jamaal Lascelles and Christian Atsu were both named on the bench against Leicester at the weekend and will push for starts against Everton in midweek. Everton Sam Allardyce isn't expected to recover any of his injured players in time for the trip to Newcastle on Wednesday. Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka are available again and one could be called upon here if Ashley Williams is not fit enough to play twice in a short space of time. Yannick Bolasie featured for the Everton U23s on Monday after more than a year on the sidelines but he isn't expected back for the first-team until 2018. Match Facts Newcastle have seen over 2.5 goals in 10 of their last 11 matches against Everton in all competitions. Everton have failed to win their last 16 away matches (Premier League). There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Newcastle's last 5games (Premier League). Newcastle have lost 6 of their last 7 matches (Premier League). Everton have won 6 of their last 7 matches against Newcastle in all competitions. Everton have scored at least 2 goals in 8 of their last 9 matches against Newcastle in all competitions. Everton have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 matches against Newcastle in all competitions. Newcastle have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 5matches (Premier League).

What are you talking about dicksplash, or course I know it's not just Americans and Brits. There's the Germans too. How should Christians go against Muslims? Bake sales and coffee mornings.

Nobody else was doing it.

Nope, but Charnley is the Ashley/Benitez go between, isn't he? So whatever is happening, he'll be the one benitez talks to first about it. Those quotes could be spun the other way; Benitez expects takeover updates soon.

Unlike you to pop a negative spin on things mate. Are you ok?

Agreed, but it's laughable that famously racist Americans are still more likely to vote in a black man named Barack Hussein Obama, than they would be an atheist. "separation of church and state" my divine nutsack.

I reckon he'll carve out a similar career to Andy Carroll.

We're all buried or burnt as atheists too.

"I tell thee"?

Be daft to sell him when we're weak up front already, and even more daft to strengthen a relegation rival.

Reggie Yates?

Well done mate. How easy was it to get the club involved?

Well Jel

It's like a hissing noise, then a gurgle, a dribble, then a jet.

Only -4 here. Saw a bloke pouring steaming water from a kettle onto his windscreen as I left our road. Hoping it was warm water and not boiling.