Liverpool (h) CL QF pre-match thread

[K.Reeves right foot]

Bear with me here - I've followed the Red Sox since going to Fenway when I spent a while living in Boston during the eighties - it pains me greatly that Fenway Sports group now own the scousers BTW - anyway today the Red Sox had an unbelievable comeback win from being down 7-2 they scored 6 runs in the bottom of the eighth to win it and remain top of the division. An omen perhaps for Tuesday? it can be done, believe my fellow blues.

I haven't the slightest idea what any of that means

 

[K.Reeves right foot]

We'll win 3-0 then lose on penalties Sterling will miss

Made me laugh that then I realised it's very possible and now I feel shit.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Loads of people looking for one on Facebook the 'Man City ticket page'. Somebody there would buy it off you.

Yeah I have tried that before though and it didn’t end well. Would rather have sold it on here to someone with high posts than some random of a FB site but looks like it isn’t possible for obvious reasons. I’ll see if I can find a taker in my friends group.

 

[Chippy_boy]

It's a really tough gig this, but my thoughts are as follows:

1. Liverpool will be busting a gut to get at least 1 goal, on the pretty strong assumption that they are through if they do that.
2. The only way I can see us stopping them scoring is if we do not allow any opportunities for them to hit us on the counter. We'd have to play much more cautiously and with more players back than we normally do. And if we do that, we very likely won't score 3 goals.

So in my view, I think our best approach is to accept that Liverpool will score 1 or 2 and we just need to plan to score 5 or 6. Their defence is not all that - their keeper especially is vulnerable, so we need to shoot on sight (on target would be nice) and make them make mistakes. Win as many corners as we possibly can. Free kicks in dangerous areas etc. And above all, when our chances come, for FFS we must take them. We could have been literally 8-0 up at half time agains the scum and we were 2-0 FFS.

 

[Seedy Ron]

There is no two ways that we have the team to turn this round as long as Sergio & Jesus have their shooting boots on. We are at home and have an average of 17 shots on goal per game, so if we convert just thirty per cent of those chances we can score 5.

I still believe we can do this but I really think the rubik cube footed Raheem Sterling has no right to a starting place in the team and Bernardo should be given a chance. Sterling's finishing on Saturday was absolutely atrocious and also never seems to play well against the dippers.

We also need to get the place rocking and continue it through half time and into the second half right up to the final whistle.

Come on City!!! Come on fellow City fans!!! And f*ck off scummy Liverpool and your f*cking horrible 70's fans!!! I still believe

 

[The perfect fumble]

It's a really tough gig this, but my thoughts are as follows:

1. Liverpool will be busting a gut to get at least 1 goal, on the pretty strong assumption that they are through if they do that.
2. The only way I can see us stopping them scoring is if we do not allow any opportunities for them to hit us on the counter. We'd have to play much more cautiously and with more players back than we normally do. And if we do that, we very likely won't score 3 goals.

So in my view, I think our best approach is to accept that Liverpool will score 1 or 2 and we just need to plan to score 5 or 6. Their defence is not all that - their keeper especially is vulnerable, so we need to shoot on sight (on target would be nice) and make them make mistakes. Win as many corners as we possibly can. Free kicks in dangerous areas etc. And above all, when our chances come, for FFS we must take them. We could have been literally 8-0 up at half time agains the scum and we were 2-0 FFS.

I'm pretty certain this has never happened before and is extremely unlikely ever to happen again....

But you're absolutely right ;-)

 

[Gabriel]

I expect him to play even if they are to risk him. Could come back and haunt them though if he pulls up.
I read somewhere they have him in an oxygen chamber in a race to be fit.

Fully expect their front three to remain the same. Indeed, have little doubt that they'll line up as they did last week, though with whom they replace Henderson could be interesting. He's quite a driving force in their midfield and will be sorely missed; always seems to set the tone for them and is assertive/aggressive.

 

[Father Paul]

I haven't the slightest idea what any of that means

It means they were down and out with time running out and they managed to load the bases and hit a home run to win the game. Very similar to our position really.We have a chance but reality says no unless the dippers have a player sent off (again) and panic. The official in charge confirms to me that this will be a real miracle if we get out of jail. I think we will make a valiant attempt but get picked off on the break.

 

[Easy]

Fully expect their front three to remain the same. Indeed, have little doubt that they'll line up as they did last week, though with whom they replace Henderson could be interesting. He's quite a driving force in their midfield and will be sorely missed; always seems to set the tone for them and is assertive/aggressive.

Wijnaldum will replace Henderson and the rest of the team will be the same as last Wednesday. Salah will return from injury.

 

[Deleted member 81382]

------------------------Ederson--------------------

Walker---Kompany---Laporte---Delph

--------------------Fernandinho-----------------

B.Silva-------KDB--------D.Silva-----Sané

------------------------Aguero---------------------

 

[BlueAnorak]

No worries. Not a gripe. Just pointing it out.

No problems. Accuracy is important.

 

[Ric]

If we score early, and get the crowd behind us then anything is possible. The big worry is that if/when they score then it's pretty much game over. The odds are stacked heavily against us, but stranger things have happened.

 

[waspish]

If we score early, and get the crowd behind us then anything is possible. The big worry is that if/when they score then it's pretty much game over. The odds are stacked heavily against us, but stranger things have happened.

City mindset should be we need to score 5

 

[Deleted member 81382]

Stranger things have happened.

 

[Gabriel]

Wijnaldum will replace Henderson and the rest of the team will be the same as last Wednesday. Salah will return from injury.

Probably right, but it's in there that the game will be won or lost. Wijnaldum, Oxlade Chamberlain, and Milner have bountiful energy, but they are prone to look to others to lead; huge game for Milner, as the most experienced of the trio, and probably in the position he wants. Would drop a false nine on him and see how he copes.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Probably right, but it's in there that the game will be won or lost. Wijnaldum, Oxlade Chamberlain, and Milner have bountiful energy, but they are prone to look to others to lead; huge game for Milner, as the most experienced of the trio, and probably in the position he wants. Would drop a false nine on him and see how he copes.

And loud booing from the moment he walks out. I'm not normally one for booing, and generally find it rather childish. But there are exceptions.

 

[Easy]

Probably right, but it's in there that the game will be won or lost. Wijnaldum, Oxlade Chamberlain, and Milner have bountiful energy, but they are prone to look to others to lead; huge game for Milner, as the most experienced of the trio, and probably in the position he wants. Would drop a false nine on him and see how he copes.

De Bruyne was rested so I expect him to be the difference. Silva wasn’t great at Anfield and I expect he was also perform. Our midfield is light years ahead and we really should prove it tomorrow

 

[St.Pauli support]

And loud booing from the moment he walks out. I'm not normally one for booing, and generally find it rather childish. But there are exceptions.

Some booing is ok.
But I really hope there is far more positive support for City than booing.
Our lads need positive support for their creative game.
If Raz starts - which I hope as he can offer so much for our attack - give him maximum support for everything he does. He will pay back at home.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Some booing is ok.
But I really hope there is far more positive support for City than booing.
Our lads need positive support for their creative game.
If Raz starts - which I hope as he can offer so much for our attack - give him maximum support for everything he does. He will pay back at home.

I agree.

But it REALLY pisses me off that the likes of Sterling are still being bood years after he left, and having done nothing more than decide he wants to change clubs. And it's not unique to the red dippers. Arsenal are just as bad if not worse. They'd probably still boo Nasri now if he was still playing for us.

I think it's pathetic, but the even sadder part is that it works. None of our bood players ever played well when subjected to abuse like this. So Milner deserves the full treatment as far as I am concerned, and if it ruins his game, great.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

I’m a bit worried about our midfield tomorrow. Some of our senior players have seemed a bit jaded recently, but we need to be able to at least match Liverpool’s high energy levels to stand a chance.

Whilst we have been breathtaking for much of the season, I just cannot see us keeping a much needed clean sheet.