Liverpool (H) - Carabao Cup 4th Round - Thu 22nd Dec, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[helenf1408]

What are the chances of Foden playing?

 

[hammocity]

I’ve heard Ruben Dias is injured and could be out for some weeks, Johnny Stones is OK though despite picking up a knock in the France game.

 

[supercity88]

Don’t see why the players are getting downtime, they’ve played no more matches than they would’ve back home and we not had the World Cup, in fact some less, Grealish hardly had a go Walker only came in at the knockout stages i think. Stones maybe due to picking up a knock. Apart from Alvarez everyone should be back now.

It's a weird one because physically they shouldn't need to at all. Maybe the club feel that mentally they need some time away just to reset because they've been training and in an intense world cup environment. There's no break now for a long time and it's a full on period. Pep possibly thinks their physical conditioning will stay but they'll benefit overall from some down time. Who knows?! We're all itching to see City back up and running immediately and closing that gap on Arsenal. We're 5pts off them thanks to that shit show against Brentford and we want the whole squad back and fighting to win things.

I'm sure Pep will have a plan in place for their return and will manage things to build up to us peaking in the latter stages of the season as we usually aim to. If we were within a couple of points of Arsenal I'd be more comfortable but with the games coming thick and fast and with difficult fixtures in the league and cups I'd like to see them all back and training.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

It should be a cracking atmosphere for this one and if we have to play a number of Academy lads so be it. Rico should get another run out and maybe 1 of the Academy centre halves like Shea Charles can play. (I know he can play in different positions).

I see my dislike for Liverpool FC has got me banned from the City Matters thread even though I can’t recall commenting about the bin dippers on here for months.

FWIW, I think the gesture to meet with Liverpool reps was the minimum we had to do to minimise Premier League (bias) scrutiny. I also would prefer our songs to focus on encouraging our lads with the odd “feed the Scousers” thrown in.

Dubious chants (references to the Sun) get twisted to upset the families of the 97 and it’s not something we want or need to do.

 

[Crooked_rain]

It's about personal attitude for me. He's been out of World Cup for a week now, having hardly got his gloves dirty?

Pep remembers the little things, which is why people like Zin and Delph got the opportunities to stick around and win trophies.

To each, their own, I suppose.

Flying to New York or wherever, having already flown from Qatar, isn't smart.

If it's a break or rest they need, surely Paris or Milan might be just a little kinder and closer to home?

Kev has come straight back, elite mentality.

I'm sure he needs a rest at his age and with three small kids in tow!

Kev looked like he couldn’t wait to get home since before he kicked a ball at the World Cup

He looked like he’d a rather have been anywhere but there

 

[hammocity]

It should be a cracking atmosphere for this one and if we have to play a number of Academy lads so be it. Rico should get another run out and maybe 1 of the Academy centre halves like Shea Charles can play. (I know he can play in different positions).

I see my dislike for Liverpool FC has got me banned from the City Matters thread even though I can’t recall commenting about the bin dippers on here for months.

FWIW, I think the gesture to meet with Liverpool reps was the minimum we had to do to minimise Premier League (bias) scrutiny. I also would prefer our songs to focus on encouraging our lads with the odd “feed the Scousers” thrown in.

Dubious chants (references to the Sun) get twisted to upset the families of the 97 and it’s not something we want or need to do.

I think “Always the victims it’s never your fault” is absolutely fair game for these feral, trouble causing wankers. It’s not about Hillsborough and I’ve stated many times I’m sad for the families of the deceased as their loved ones were innocent fans who got to the ground early to watch a game and suffered through a sequence of events that even now people have alternative views of.

 

[hammocity]

Don’t see why the players are getting downtime, they’ve played no more matches than they would’ve back home and we not had the World Cup, in fact some less, Grealish hardly had a go Walker only came in at the knockout stages i think. Stones maybe due to picking up a knock. Apart from Alvarez everyone should be back now.

Stones is fine, Dias is not.

 

[asahartford1]

The club will surely have agreed with the players when they come back. Grealish for probably the only time in his life has had a chance to go to new york for xmas and is getting blasted for it. He's hardly gone awol and the club will no doubt have agreed with him when he's due back. Much rather give the players a bit more down time and then see the benefits of that at the back end of the season. Its what has worked so well for us in the past.

I agree entirely.
My original post on the matter was to someone critical of Ederson going to N York, good for the goose is good for the gander. Fans don't seem to understand the long term planning which has made us successful.
They want their best 11 chosen 70 games a season, wouldn't work.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Do we know which players are back and available for the game?? Or is it all guess work.

 

[paulchapo]

Stones is fine, Dias is not.

Bloody hell he's turned into another sicknote the lad.