City v Liverpool (Home) Pre-Match Thread

[cibaman]

Seems to be a few headaches for Pep this weekend notably:

Do we go 3-5-2 or 4-3-3
Who plays if Kompany doesn't
Yaya, Fernandinho or an unlikely recall for Gundogan
Jesus or Kun or both
Who replaces Sterling- Sane in a straight swap or Kun with Jesus moving to the left
Walker or Danilo

I have a terrible feeling that we're a little under cooked for this one and with Liverpool flying we could be in trouble.

Will he also be influenced by the Feynoord game? eg Stones, Yaya & Aguero v Liverpool. Otamendi, Fernandhino & Jesus v Feynoord?

 

[Father Paul]

He hasn't been that great so far, but he brings leadership, passion and confidence which I think is a big part of why we've been able to turn around the last two games. We just don't have any real leaders without him

Nail on the head there mate. Even not at his best Vinny brings a sense of calm and organisation. The others when he is missing induce panic resulting in organised chaos. When you consider how much was spent (in old transfer money) on these three guys in brings tears to the eye!!

 

[Father Paul]

Will he also be influenced by the Feynoord game? eg Stones, Yaya & Aguero v Liverpool. Otamendi, Fernandhino & Jesus v Feynoord?

Yaya needs a minder to fetch the ball for him these days so says the brother. The dippers will try to isolate him if he starts and Pep is highly unlikely
to set up with say Dinho or Denilo alongside him to give a hand. Personally I believe this is a game we must win and is a classic example of the coach sacrificing normal flair to counteract the opposition. WQe should set up more defensively and set out to grind them down and grab a late winner PEG Style.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

I want, and think we really should be humiliating them 6-0 and showing them their place beneath us for the foreseeable future

in reality I think we'll underachieve as usual and at best nick a win, but more likely get crushed on the counter and lose 3/4-1.

I hope Pep can take us to that untouchable level beyond the rest which we need to achieve

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Personally I believe this is a game we must win and is a classic example of the coach sacrificing normal flair to counteract the opposition. WQe should set up more defensively and set out to grind them down and grab a late winner PEG Style.

You don't expect that to happen though, surely?

 

[Metalartin]

Will this finally be the game we put them to the sword in? They are the team from the top 6 we have underperformed most against IMO, even when they've had a shit season and we are flying(most seasons we should have been beating them easily on paper too)... is it because they take the battle of the north west more seriously than us? They always seem more up for it, we can't afford to start slow.

Lets put them in their place, c'mon City!

 

[pavelsrnicek]

I wonder how much Pep will try to pick a team to play Liverpool or will he pick a team to play his way.

Liverpool are likely to start with Can, Henderson and Wijnaldum which is in effect 3 box to box midfielders though Henderson will probably sit deeper than the other two. We have started Fernandinho, Silva and KdB in all 3 matches so far, but only Fernandinho is has any real defensive tendencies. Silva and KdB are far better footballers than the Can and Wijnaldum but I wonder if Pep will risk playing both Silva and de Bruyne on Saturday.

 

[kaz7]

They have played several games more than us and look very sharp,we looked undercooked before the break,i think we will lose this one,we have too many coming back from south america and maybe no vinny

 

[Armaan]

They have played several games more than us and look very sharp,we looked undercooked before the break,i think we will lose this one,we have too many coming back from south america and maybe no vinny

Is it confirmed no vinnie? May god help us if so. Stones/otamendi look great alongside vinnie but make an average pairing together.

 

[kaz7]

Is it confirmed no vinnie? May god help us if so. Stones/otamendi look great alongside vinnie but make an average pairing together.

2pm tomorrow we'll hear from pep,i'm hoping we are just flapping for nothing