Liverpool (a) Pre-Match Thread

[Ric]

One victory in 35 years at Anfield is a truly abysmal record. I think it's only three league victories in over 60 years too.

Records are there to be broken of course, but that's the size of the task facing Guardiola. For whatever reason, this fixture tends to bring out the worst in us, and indeed the best in them.

The prospect of Bravo, Kolarov, Clichy etc trying to play out from the back with their players pressing and the fans baying for blood makes me feel a bit anxious, but I'm sure Guardiola is relishing the tactical battle with Klopp.

Whatever happens, we need to weather the early storm and try and take the sting out of the game. If we go behind early on I'm not confident we'll be able to turn it around.

 

[JULES]

I have confidence for this game and predict 1-3, sterling to play a blinder

 

[aguero93:20]

The prospect of Bravo, Kolarov, Clichy etc trying to play out from the back with their players pressing and the fans baying for blood makes me feel a bit anxious, but I'm sure Guardiola is relishing the tactical battle with Klopp.

He used to bypass the press when playing against Klippety's Dortmund side, long diagonals to inverted wingers, just need to get Sané (if fit) and Sterling haring for the space behind the full backs everytime Kolarov, KDB or Yaya is about to get the ball in space.

 

[SWP's back]

One victory in 35 years at Anfield is a truly abysmal record. I think it's only three league victories in over 60 years too.

Records are there to be broken of course, but that's the size of the task facing Guardiola. For whatever reason, this fixture tends to bring out the worst in us, and indeed the best in them.

The prospect of Bravo, Kolarov, Clichy etc trying to play out from the back with their players pressing and the fans baying for blood makes me feel a bit anxious, but I'm sure Guardiola is relishing the tactical battle with Klopp.

Whatever happens, we need to weather the early storm and try and take the sting out of the game. If we go behind early on I'm not confident we'll be able to turn it around.

Yeah as others have said, I'd prefer Pep playing Klopp's Liverpool than Rogers's simply because he knows him inside and out from germany.

 

[Brendan110_0]

There's nothing exceptional about the dippers,they're just organised & run around a lot.

Remember we outplayed them 9 months ago at Wembers & should've been 3 up after 70 minutes & have had a penalty.

If we set up right,have the right mental approach & keep cool when we're under a bit of pressure we can get something.

Keep it tight @ one end....take our chances @ the other.....BOOM.

P.S. Mario on a free.....pay as you play/score.....useful squad forward ??....BOOM BOOM !!

Wont get anything at Anfield, if it looks like we're playing well then we'll be nobbled and have a man off for some very grey area reason. Then they'll get a penalty for a ball bouncing off an arm that's in "a natural position". Once result is assured Sky will say how poor we are and sweep the ridiculous ref decisions under the carpet.

 

[prof-taf]

I would be happy to take a point from Klanfield, though considering our record there, I doubt we'll get anything.

I'd be tempted to add Nando to the midfield at the expense of Merlin to try to negate their press.

Bravo

Sagna
Otamendi
Kolarov
Clichy

Nando
Dinho
Yaya

KdB
Raz

Kun

Thatwon

Sané at RB would only work if Fernandinho was covering that side and Touré was alongside him to cover the rest.

sane at right back will never work

 

[CrownPointBlue]

Anyone think he might leave Aguero out and go for the tactic employed in the second half against Arsenal? Sane and Sterling wide with Kev and Dave through the middle..

Possibly as Plan B,but I don't think Sane & Stering will start together.

Huge mental/physiological challenge for Razza. If I can come out of that shit tip with his head held high it's a big barrier overcome.

Starting two 'fragile'players is too much of a risk. Experienced,cool,hard heads please.

1-2 City....Kev & Yaya.

 

[Adlab123]

Sane is NOT a right back. Plain silly!

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Bravo

Sagna
Otamendi
Kolarov
Clichy

Diniho
Yaya
Silva

Sterling
Aguero
Kdb

I'd be tempted to play sterling on the left and let kdb ruin milner. Think u will see us play a bit more direct like we did against barca. Think the game will be decided on who wins more 2nd balls gonna be a tight game!

 

[citytill1die84]

Really tough game our hardest every season imo. Dippers always up their game when playing against us unlike when they play the rags.

I'd setup for counter as Liverpool will come at us and leave gaps. Can see Pep leaving Aguero on the bench and playing a false striker again. 1 win in 35 years at Klanfield is terrible I'd probably take a draw now although neither is good enough for City or Liverpool.

I predict 2-2

 

[MarsLlama]

Didn't Guardiola's Bayern beat Klopp's Dortmund 3-0 around Christmas of Pep's first year in Germany?

With Pellegrini I'd have written it off as a loss but things are different now.

 

[Ric]

Was hoping Stoke might give them a tough game tonight, but less optimistic about that now that I've seen the starting line-ups. No Arnautovic, Shaqiri or Bojan for the visitors.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Vital we do not concede an early goal because it will unleash the crowd on us (whatever that means) , if we can get to half time level we will then tear them to pieces because they tire on 70-80 minutes with Klopps headless chicken tactics . Would be nice if Raheem scored the winner in front of the KKK Kop and kissed the badge , might need a few Carlings to swing that one

 

[typicalcity...]

Others have said it but I'm dreading Kolarov, Bravo and Otamendi passing it around each other with Mané, Firmino and possibly even coutinho running after it D:

 

[BlueAnorak]

Need to pack defensive midfield and not play the high line we have done, as Liverpool will kill us if we do.
Fernando, Fernandinho and Yaya all to start for me and hit hard and fast on the break.
Not expecting anything from this game as I will only be disappointed if I even think we have a chance.

 

[c4lv3rt]

Stoke are going to roll over then

 

[Luke The Blue]

We never do well here.... and the thought of the way we started against Arsenal and Hull.... we could be 3 down in the first half hour. Might put £50 on Liverpool and hope I loose it.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Just hope we can keep Milner quiet in central midfield because he has been a revelation , his decision to leave City to be more involved in the centre of the park has paid dividends for the Candlecuddlers (it had absolutely nothing to do with the £6m signing on fee)

 

[Vienna_70]

Add in a player that can't keep possession for one that can, to negate a press? Cool.

But surely the idea of their press is to make us cough up the ball, which Nando is far more likely to do than Silva. Silva and Toure are our best possession players and least likely to give the ball away, which would contribute most to burning out the Scouse headless chickens by about 60 mins.

Edit: Ha!,you beat me to it @SWP's back, I should have read further before posting!

And the teams that have done best against the Candle-wavers are the ones that have stopped them playing. Parked the bus, if you like.

 

[CrownPointBlue]

Just hope we can keep Milner quiet in central midfield because he has been a revelation , his decision to leave City to be more involved in the centre of the park has paid dividends for the Candlecuddlers (it had absolutely nothing to do with the £6m signing on fee)

DINO !!!