Liverpool (H) | Pre-Match Thread

[Father Paul]

Absolute rubbish OPB , Aguero has scored in his last five games against the Dippers at the Etihad and if you take a peek at any of their fanzines / websites they are very pleased Kun is not playing , Aguero would have been starting 100% if he was fit.

Thats the thing you always expect greays like Aquero to score even if only half fit. However, going by recent form we most likely get the guy who turns up a Klanfield.

 

[domalino]

I seriously doubt that either of those 3 would have been selected even if fit.
IMO Jesus would be selected over Aguero because he presses so much better, Fernandinho isn't what he was a couple of seasons ago and would struggle to maintain his historically marvelous intensity over 90 minutes and, love him as I do, Mendy is Mendy.

Mendy definitely would have played.

3 games against Liverpool. 3 clean sheets. He is a better defender than Cancelo and Zinchenko and his high position pushes TAA back because he can't cover Mendy and Sterling from the half way line.

Ake will probably play there but who knows how he'll do. Hope for the best.

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

I don't know where all this negativity is coming from. Not been this confident about playing this scum in a good while.

 

[alexmcity]

Ederson, the back 4, Rodri, KDB and Sterling are virtually guaranteed to start.

Ake for Cancelo is a slight possibility but won't happen imo for it would give the wrong signal that we fear them and are ready to take a draw. Cancelo means attack and that's what we are going to offer them.

Gundogan or Bernardo next to Rodri and KDB? Most probably Gundogan.

However, Bernardo will play (remember, Pep expects a big season from him!) which leaves one spot in the attack. I think Jesus is not likely to start if he isn't fit to play at least 70 minutes. Besides, he would be out biggest weapon on the bench to change the game in case we need to turn it around.

Torres or Foden or Mahrez? Hard to tell. Probably Torres if Bernardo plays on the right wing. This would be Pep's biggest conundrum, imo. The other 10 starters are easier to predict.

 

[Marvin]

I don't know where all this negativity is coming from. Not been this confident about playing this scum in a good while.

50/50. We're without fit forwards which is affecting our goal power and KDB looks way under par but Liverpool have been playing very poorly for some time. They have a habit of digging games out though when playing badly partly because Mane and Salah can score goals out of nothing.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Time to put this lot back in their holes. I can only see a City win. Our front 3 will destroy them. We will control midfield and Laporte n Dias will be playing with cigars. I'm that confident!!

If Villa can put them to the sword I'm sure we can.

4.1 City

 

[ninjamonkey]

In a one off game with everybody in top form, mendy Fernandinho and Aguero all start in our strongest 11. I don’t think they’ll be as big of a miss as they would have been any other time though. Unless something happens between now and kick off We’ve got a fit enough squad not to have any excuses about injuries going into this, that’s not always been the case against these. I’m expecting a statement performance. The result will take care of itself if we get that.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Not sure their absence matters much. Kun was poor when he came back. The Dinho of today is a pale shadow of the warrior of yesteryear likewise Mendy has left his best form in a place that time forgot. If we defend strongly and put their reargaurd under pressure we will get something out of this game.

The 'fully fit' part of my comment was the bit to focus on.Aguero always takes half a dozen games to find his form,had he not had a relapse and fate been kinder,then he would probably have been in peak form for Sunday.As i said,the signs aren't good for Mendy as he just cannot sustain a consistent run in our team.....should he manage that,then i still believe he will be a great player for us.Dinho might not be the force he was,but he can still be a fantastic option and influence.

So IMO the absence of all three,when fully match fit,does matter,as they all improve our squad and subsequently our chances of success.

 

[SamBlue]

I hope it's going to be an ultra-slow and boring game with a few chances with a solid 1:0 to us.

 

[urban genie]

Eddie
Walker
Dias
Laporte
Ake
Rodders
Kev
Berny
Sterling
Jesus
Foden