Liverpool (H) | Post-Match Thread

I actually think Walker could play the RCB role Akanji is playing. He's better defensively has better recovery pace and is better one-on-one. Although Akanji is better on the ball. Akanji played a decent game id like to see him improve his awareness defensively.

I think what we saw is Peps preferred line-up for this system except Haaland for Alvarez, I wasnt a big fan of the inverted 3 atb system but its looking good, the players look comfortable and confident, Gundogan playing higher up in #8/#10 with Stones and Rodri to protect againts transitions, Kdb, im so glad he's back in top form, playing #8/#10 is great for him as opposed to the support striker role he was playing previously.

It feels like a really obvious move is to have Aké Dias Stones Walker as the back 4 and then just have stones push up into midfield instead of starting at RB and coming across into midfield.
 
Probably the most enjoyable game this season for me.

Slight mistake for their goal but it didn't effect us at all. We looked fantastic all game and solid at the back, even Ederson made a save (albeit an offside shot but he wasnt to know). That pass to Mahrez for KDB goal split them open in a similar fashion to Silva pass in the 6-1.

Also felt like the players really wanted it, fantastic performance and a result to keep up the pressure.
 
The thing that struck me about the dipper fan stream reactions to the game, was that they acknowledged how good this City side is and how much better than the current Liverpool side?

The quality of the City team has become an accepted fact by fans, pundits and the media. There are still lingering vestiges of City Bingo like the "Emptyhad" and Shearer claiming City has the biggest squad on MoTD, when both proven to be untrue.
We don't have the biggest squad, just the best squad.
 
I actually think Walker could play the RCB role Akanji is playing. He's better defensively has better recovery pace and is better one-on-one. Although Akanji is better on the ball. Akanji played a decent game id like to see him improve his awareness defensively.

I think what we saw is Peps preferred line-up for this system except Haaland for Alvarez, I wasnt a big fan of the inverted 3 atb system but its looking good, the players look comfortable and confident, Gundogan playing higher up in #8/#10 with Stones and Rodri to protect againts transitions, Kdb, im so glad he's back in top form, playing #8/#10 is great for him as opposed to the support striker role he was playing previously.
Stones in the middle gave the extra option. Played a big part in the equaliser. Rodri got in more advanced positions and eventually so did Stones when we totally owned them after the 4th.
 
When Rodri go this yellow the ref did that “you did one over there and another over there” thing which I thought was wrong because it was his first foul. Stones had done a couple and I wondered if the ref had confused them. i suspect someone had a word because a red card for two fouls would have been exceptionally harsh
He'd tried to grab someone earlier but the ref played advantage.
 
Still savouring this one, and will do for days to come.
Normally, if I've seen a match live, I don't re-watch it in its entirety. For once I decided to do it for this one on City +, to get a clearer-eyed view of the whole ninety minutes. Because I was tense as hell for most of the match, and didn't really relax until we stuck the fourth in. I can't say I was really, fully enjoying it till then. Even then, I'd have preferred a fifth!
In fact, what clearly emerged on second viewing was that we thoroughly dominated them, and over both halves, not just the second. I had the impression watching it live that the first half was close, but that we'd just edged it. Not so. We actually thoroughly managed them. They had one serious shot on target — one only — and that was their goal. Otherwise Ed had almost nothing to do. They had two or three moments that appeared to be dangerous, but only because the lino kept his flag down following this stupid rule that he is supposed to do that and only if it's in the back of the net is it referred to VAR. On at least two occasions the Liverpool player was miles offside, with clear daylight between him and our last defender. By contrast, although we didn't create a lot of clear chances, you can see that they're really straining to hold us at bay. We're thinking faster, we've moving on and off the ball faster, we're much more inventive all over the pitch.
I'm actually having difficulty remembering a match where we have dominated this lot so thoroughly. The Mané sending off game doesn't rival it, in my view. Yes, we were already dominating the dippers in that one, but once Mané was off it did definitely change the whole nature of the game. There was no sending off here, no major players absent on their side (although there were on ours), but even if it isn't reflected in the number of goals scored, make no mistake, this was an absolute thrashing of the dippers all over the pitch. Watch it a second time right through and it becomes glaringly obvious.
 
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Agreed 100% with Akanji. Grealish is now flavour of the month, so it seems it's Akanji's turn to be shit & not worthy of the shirt. :-/

It's all about opinions, but the £15m we spent on Akanji is the best value for money acquisition we've had since Fernandinho for £29m & Gundog for £22m.

It beggars belief that fans are getting on his case when he's had a brilliant first season with us. Pep picks him to start more often than not, so that's what City think of Akanji... \0/
Think Alvarez might argue about best value for money, but he's been a great but I agree.
 

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