Liverpool (a) pre-match thread

[foggy1974]

I’d go with this formation. Stones and Kompany provided our most sound defense last season. Judging by peps interview he won’t change the formation, so I chose a 4-3-3. Bernardo and David were the obvious choices together due to their recent form, and I chose Mahrez over Sterling because Sterling tends to struggle at Anfield. Hope we can get 2 or 3 goals and concede no more than 1.

So does Aguero at Anfield but that never gets mentioned

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

I see a lot of the double pivot talk with Stones and Fern. Stones has played 1.5 games in midfield and can’t see him starting there in what is one of the biggest games of the season especially considering our poor record at Anfield.

Have a feeling Mendy will start and will be told to play more inside than to bomb forward. A cameo for DeBruyne also imo. Sterling will have a good game and City win.

You know who looks like he'd be a great double pivot(but not for this game obvs)...Zinchenko. He'd be great in there.

 

[Avijit Das Patnaik]

Liverpool defend one of the two major trophies they won in last six years. The ‘Beat Centurions ManCity thrice’ trophy & ‘Blame a thrashing on Ramos’ trophy. The pressure is all on them. A club that performs once in 5-6 yrs this century always makes headlines disproportionate to its on field performances. Most UK publications and fan polls have predicted Liverpool as EPL title winners 2018-19. But come early October and they are out of one trophy, third in CL group and now this ‘can’t lose’ game. If City win at Anfield (long shot as historically they haven’t won there for a decade plus) then Liverpool fans will go into another state of familiar depression, early into the season. This is a game Liverpool just can’t lose. The pressure is all on them. It was different last year, or the previous few years. A win over a big team was considered an upset. But now with all the expectations, onus is on Liverpool to pull off results. A draw may just suit both teams fine.

Amazon product ASIN 1723748366

 

[Dax777]

I’d go with this formation. Stones and Kompany provided our most sound defense last season. Judging by peps interview he won’t change the formation, so I chose a 4-3-3. Bernardo and David were the obvious choices together due to their recent form, and I chose Mahrez over Sterling because Sterling tends to struggle at Anfield. Hope we can get 2 or 3 goals and concede no more than 1.

This simply isn't true. And that is not to say is be against starting those 2. But the above justification simply doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

Sterling surely starts, regardless of previous shortcomings??

I have a sneaky feeling this is our 6-1 moment v the bin dippers

I promise I will 'like' every one of your posts that I come across going forward if you have called this one correct ;-)

 

[quirkdean]

personally id like to see

I’d go with this formation. Stones and Kompany provided our most sound defense last season. Judging by peps interview he won’t change the formation, so I chose a 4-3-3. Bernardo and David were the obvious choices together due to their recent form, and I chose Mahrez over Sterling because Sterling tends to struggle at Anfield. Hope we can get 2 or 3 goals and concede no more than 1.

need to stop babying Sterling at Anfield. Start him. let him loose to prove a point.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

I promise I will 'like' every one of your posts that I come across going forward if you have called this one correct ;-)

You can like posts?? When did @Ric turn in to that Zuckerberg ponce??

 

[Onholiday(somemightsay)]

You can like posts?? When did @Ric turn in to that Zuckerberg ponce??

All the cool kids are doing it.....

 

[Dax777]

Our biggest issue with this lot is tempo.... go for the jugular

Im big on experimental shit, but this one takes the cake. Now switch Mendy for Larporte and it's a back 3 with some ball playing and defensive capabilities.. But Mendy in a back 3 is a waste of his best talent (crossing) and an unnecessary pressure on his a weakness (fluid passing).

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Im big on experimental shit, but this one takes the cake. Now switch Mendy for Larporte and it's a back 3 with some ball playing and defensive capabilities.. But Mendy in a back 3 is a waste of his best talent (crossing) and an unnecessary pressure on his a weakness (fluid passing).

I get what you’re saying, also agree to an extent, the reason I added gund next to dinho was to somewhat cover what you allude to... I just feel that their back line can be got at so I guess I overloaded.. what’s your thoughts?? A traditional Brazilian 442 (:

 

[Pigeonho]

Shows the rise of us, possibly now firmly on our perch, and the demise of United.
Every time I’ve heard this on the radio today it’s preceded with ‘and now to the big one’. Used to be United v this mob, that tag.

 

[mosssideblue]

Gundogan is injured anyway. No way he’d be playing after his recent form.

Nor will Delph be playing but you have him in your predicted line up :)

 

[mosssideblue]

I’d go with this formation. Stones and Kompany provided our most sound defense last season. Judging by peps interview he won’t change the formation, so I chose a 4-3-3. Bernardo and David were the obvious choices together due to their recent form, and I chose Mahrez over Sterling because Sterling tends to struggle at Anfield. Hope we can get 2 or 3 goals and concede no more than 1.

So you would play those that played well last season - mmhh OK

 

[Harvster]

Oh bizz, I hate the feeling I always get a couple of days before Liverpool away.

Ever the pessimist, for many months I have been resigned to yet another defeat at our least favourite ground

But suddenly this inner voice tells me that they're not really very good and are pretty much off form, whilst we are the reigning Champion centurions and will rip them apart

Then the game starts and the usual completely predictable nonsense kicks in

 

[sh249]

So does Aguero at Anfield but that never gets mentioned

Think part of the problem with Aguero in the last few games at anfield is that he’s ended up isolated against their centre halves.
It would be a big call to leave him out (and I’m not saying I would), but I wonder whether there might be a case for playing more of a (excuse the use of the ghastly term) ‘false 9’? Might cause them a few problems in the space in front of their defence, or at least force a readjustment in their midfield that might free a bit of space for silva, fernandinho etc.

 

[Agueroooooo16]

Nor will Delph be playing but you have him in your predicted line up :)

Oh yeah forgot he was injured

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Think part of the problem with Aguero in the last few games at anfield is that he’s ended up isolated against their centre halves.
It would be a big call to leave him out (and I’m not saying I would), but I wonder whether there might be a case for playing more of a (excuse the use of the ghastly term) ‘false 9’? Might cause them a few problems in the space in front of their defence, or at least force a readjustment in their midfield that might free a bit of space for silva, fernandinho etc.

I think that false 9 has hampered us a good few times against them..... Aguero is electric at the moment, any sniff and he’s in. He’s adapted to be able to drop short in this Pep side, what we need is pace in the channels when he does so!

 

[waspish]

Agree, whist this is what Pep prefers to play it was interesting to note midweek Ancelotti mentioned he put in an extra defender against the Dippers from what he learnt in the pre-season thrashing he received from them earlier on in the year.

The extra defender was meant to reduce the space, specifically for Mane, as well as provide an insurance policy should they get caught in possession from the Liverpool high- press.

It was Napoli’s one touch passing that got them out of trouble we tend to have two touches that leads to being closed down and us losing the ball in dangerous areas.

 

[arbabarshad]

The only problem city have v Liverpool is getting caught in possession. This is the only reason why city lost to Liverpool three times last year. Rest of the game plan from Pep's is totally fine.

This is also the reason why Fernandinho worries me. He's been getting caught on the ball too often this season. Sometimes, he gets caught because he's either too slow in thinking or wanting too much time on the ball. Sad because he was brilliant at his job in previous seasons.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

It was Napoli’s one touch passing that got them out of trouble we tend to have two touches that leads to being closed down and us losing the ball in dangerous areas.

Agreed, their press is easily countered when playing this way!