Nine points off leaders

[Kontol]

Here's a match report between Manchester City vs Manchester United on SkySports. I'm wondering whether the word "off" means "from" in this sentence?

The champions are left in fifth place, behind Nottingham Forest in fourth, and nine points off leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. United remain 13th, but with hope of a brighter future under Amorim.

 

[emsr2d2]

It means "behind" in this context. The leaders are Liverpool, and Manchester City are nine points behind them (they have nine points less).

 

[jutfrank]

It's hard to believe that you don't understand what this means, Kontol.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's hard to believe that you don't understand what this means, Kontol.

I agree. @Kontol If you follow football as closely as you appear to, surely a quick look at the Premier League table on whatever day that match report was written would have answered it for you. You'd have seen Liverpool at the top of the table with a certain number of points and Manchester City in fifth place with nine points less. You wouldn't have needed to ask us at all.

 

[Kontol]

It means "behind" in this context. The leaders are Liverpool, and Manchester City are nine points behind them (they have nine points less).

Does it mean the same thing as "clear?"

 

[emsr2d2]

Does it mean the same thing as "clear?"

No. Not at all. "Clear" is used when referring to the gap between the team at the top of the table and the team in second place.

If Liverpool had twenty points and the team in second place had fourteen, we'd say that Liverpool were six points clear. It refers to the number of points the closest team would have to earn in order to catch up with them (and that would assume that Liverpool earned no more points in that time).

 

[Kontol]

It's hard to believe that you don't understand what this means, Kontol.

I actually understand the meaning, but can the "off" be substitued for "from?"

Nine points from leaders Liverpool.

 

[Kontol]

It means "behind" in this context. The leaders are Liverpool, and Manchester City are nine points behind them (they have nine points less).

By the way, the leader is just one, why do you use the plural for the "leader?"

 

[5jj]

... the leader is just one, why do you use the plural for the "leader?"

Football clubs, and many other groups are often thought treated as plural nouns:

Liverpool are at home to Southampton next Saturday,

 

[jutfrank]

I'm wondering whether the word "off" means "from" in this sentence?

This is a terrible question, for several reasons. How are we supposed to know what you think 'from' means?

As a general rule, don't try to understand one foreign word in relation to another foreign word, especially prepositions.

I actually understand the meaning, but can the "off" be substitued for "from?"

You shouldn't substitute one word for another word, Kontol. This is especially true of prepositions. We use the correct preposition for the specific meaning/use that the context demands.

 

[emsr2d2]

By the way, the leader is just one, why do you use the plural for the "leader?"

You said that as if I was the first person in this thread to do so. Look at the original quote in post #1.

The champions are left in fifth place, behind Nottingham Forest in fourth, and nine points off leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. United remain 13th, but with hope of a brighter future under Amorim.

As you can see, each time a team name is mentioned, it's followed by a plural noun.