Liverpool (h) pre match thread.

[dennishasdoneit]

Well the Abu Dhabi training has worked a treat. What could possibly go wrong.

Lol.forgot about that!!

 

[paulchapo]

Dreading this game to be honest we are probably tailor made for the dippers to play against and they always raise it against us, the team and their fans.

 

[Marvin]

If kompany is fit play him ffs! If he isnt fot play stones and ottomemdi...not kolarov against sane please

Not sure Otamendi would be any better. There must be a reason why Kompany is not playing. Has to be. When he was fit he was the best, so we must assume he is struggling with something.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Not sure Otamendi would be any better. There must be a reason why Kompany is not playing. Has to be. When he was fit he was the best, so we must assume he is struggling with something.

He's fucked, basically. Not like you didn't need telling.

 

[TFC]

About time we smashed these ****s, but with our defence, anything's possible.

 

[sh249]

Maybe get a hypnotist in to convince the players that we're already 2-0 down before kick-off? That way we might start with the urgency required to stave off actually being two down by half-time ...

 

[mancityscot]

Can see us struggling in this one. We're usually pretty shite against them and even though they've been pretty useless up until a few weeks ago they'll have their usual blinder against us. Plus, mane, coutinho and firmino will have a field day vs our defence

 

[super_city_si]

We'll get dicked as usual.

 

[uteblue]

I fear the game tonight could take all momentum out of what we've been doing over the last few weeks, plus it's on Sunday, maybe it's just me but I feel some of our truly shit games i.e. Everton away were on Sunday, at this point with our mentality we could sneak a win or get fucked big time

 

[Armaan]

Maybe get a hypnotist in to convince the players that we're already 2-0 down before kick-off? That way we might start with the urgency required to stave off actually being two down by half-time ...

LOL

 

[Gabriel]

Defeats such as last night have a habit of draining the confidence, and I"m not sure how much some of the starters have left in the tank.

 

[Wanchope n me Dickov]

Do I get up at 530am to watch it? Of course I will! Show us some balls you blue bar stewards

 

[BringBackSwales]

Hopefully Pep will pick more than 1 defensively minded central midfielder on Sunday, and ideally he will set the players up to start the match a bit of tempo for once

 

[@BluePhil8]

Fuckin Liverpool ffs.

 

[sh249]

Hopefully Pep will pick more than 1 defensively minded central midfielder on Sunday, and ideally he will set the players up to start the match a bit of tempo for once

I don't even think this is something that should need setting up in any way. Every player should understand it as a given that we start (and play) every game, irrespective of the opponent, competition or line-up, with proper intent. I'm not talking about all players sprinting around full out, Klopp-style, from the first whistle. Just being aggressive, both in the way we compete and the way we use the ball. We do it in fits and starts, but with nowhere near the consistency of a real top side. The way that Stones, Kolarov and Clichy were prepared to drive through the lines in the second half - that's how they should be playing every week, not just when we're up against it and have had a bollocking at half time. Same goes for seeing Stones rattling into tackles 5 yards inside their half, rather than his more usual trick of standing 5 yards away, allowing the opponent to turn and run at him, and just backing off endlessly. And it applies to the forwards running and pressing, and to the speed that we move the ball through midfield.
Setting aside all questions of tactics, systems, selections - if we'd started last night with the same attitude and spirit that we showed in the first 25 minutes or so of the second half, I'm sure we'd be through. If we translated that to even 75-80% of league games, we'd be pissing that too. Get games won early, then you can take your foot off the gas. We invariably do the opposite and find ourselves chasing games, expending so much more energy.
Makes it sound far easier than it is, of course. But if we don't start with that kind of urgency against Liverpool, it's hard to see anything other than the usual first half hosing from them. Which will be as sickening as ever.

 

[Gray]

Match them in the first half when they are chasing everything and we will probably get something from the game.

Perform like we did last night for the first 45 minutes and the stadium will be empty long before the final whistle.

 

[bellsouth]

Huge challenge this game

My worry is how many of the players minds will start drifting to the summer, especially with so many either coming to the end of their contracts or futures generally uncertain.

If we're not motivated and focused we'll take a pasting.
Pep has to get the team properly prepared and select only those that are totally committed. And by god do we need a leader on the pitch!

 

[bluethai]

Zabaleta will lead the team and we will play well in this league game as usual. Fucking fullbacks rotation that cost us UCL imo.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Do I get up at 530am to watch it? Of course I will! Show us some balls you blue bar stewards

I'm gonna turn up at The Etihad and take what comes. We win, I shall milk it until the next game; we draw or lose I shall go into purdah until the next game. In other words, business as usual!

 

[nmc]

We need to go at Liverpool- dominate possession and put them on the back foot. They can't defend either. Need to pick a mobile midfield - not Yaya to pick up their midfield who join the attack - that's where their chances come from. Midfield an issue for us after Fernandinho and KDBs recent performances!