Liverpool (H) | Pre-Match Thread

[mccity]

Tbh I think like so many of our recent encounters whoever scores first wins.

I predict the game will pan out initially like the 4-0 did. Both teams half playing their normal game, half being terrified of the other.

They know that we have the ability to play through their press. And because they press so aggressively when they do press they know that if we get behind we're going to have a LOT of space to punish them. And without Van Dijk tracking back their defence's poor positioning will cost them. Meanwhile we're going to be terrified that every time Mané, Salah, or even Jota get the ball near the edge of our area they're going to turn our defenders inside out and score a perfectly placed goal past Ederson.


What I'm hoping for is that they underestimate our new defensive strength, which at least early on would give us a lot of counter attack opportunities.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

________________Ederson_______________

Walker____Laporte_______Dias_______Cancelo

________________Gundogan________________

__________KDB______________Bernardo______

Sterling__________Jesus___________Torres

Would go with that , apart from Gundogan , much as i appreciate him , we need a stronger presence in the middle against Klopps headless chickens , would have Rodri up against yard dog Henderson with Bernardo ratting for 90 minutes.

 

[Deleted member 81382]

________________Ederson_______________

Walker____Laporte_______Dias_______Cancelo

________________Gundogan________________

__________KDB______________Bernardo______

Sterling__________Jesus___________Torres

I'd be very happy with that.

 

[Andouble]

________________Ederson_______________

Walker____Laporte_______Dias_______Cancelo

________________Gundogan________________

__________KDB______________Bernardo______

Sterling__________Jesus___________Torres

bang on the money, and our best team at present.

(though Rodri will start)

 

[mccity]

One thing that might make this match more interesting is that we seem better in defence but worse in attack than previously and they seem to have improved their attack but weakened at the back (and that was before the Van Dijk injury).

 

[Cityinmud]

________________Ederson_______________

Walker____Laporte_______Dias_______Cancelo

________________Gundogan________________

__________KDB______________Bernardo______

Sterling__________Jesus___________Torres

Cancelo against Salah. big no. Will have to be Ake. But I want to see Cancelo in the team somewhere

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

All those saying it's not a must win ... well, it is ... we are at home! You don't lose to your title rivals at home ... And knowing our record at Anfield, it's always a must win against them at home ... we only play them twice in the season.

The Klanfield game will be totally different this season , they will not be able to "unleash" their crowd and get the officials onside , if we take six points off them , thats a twelve point swing and will win us the title , so lets start on Sunday and stuff them , it will give us a massive confidence boost.

 

[br88]

Probably the most important game so far, it is a must win. We need to be defensively sharp and offensively clinical. I think we are the better side and we will play the better game but we need some clinical finishes.

----Torres ----- Jesus ----- Sterling--

------- Bernardo ---------KDB---------

------------------ Rodri-----------------

Ake ----- Laporte --- Dias --- Walker

Agree with this. Cannot play Gundo and Bernardo...need Rodri to combat the physicality of Liverpool midfielders.

 

[Tokyo32]

Tbh I think like so many of our recent encounters whoever scores first wins.

I predict the game will pan out initially like the 4-0 did. Both teams half playing their normal game, half being terrified of the other.

They know that we have the ability to play through their press. And because they press so aggressively when they do press they know that if we get behind we're going to have a LOT of space to punish them. And without Van Dijk tracking back their defence's poor positioning will cost them. Meanwhile we're going to be terrified that every time Mané, Salah, or even Jota get the ball near the edge of our area they're going to turn our defenders inside out and score a perfectly placed goal past Ederson.


What I'm hoping for is that they underestimate our new defensive strength, which at least early on would give us a lot of counter attack opportunities.

Exactly, most likely the first team to score wins the game because the game would be initially both teams being half cautious. So if we get the first goal I am confident we can win.

 

[Newman Noggs]

Result will depend on our finishing. We are a miles better team than them but need to put those chances away.

 

[BringBackSwales]

I think a lot will depend on whether dippers are allowed to play basketball in their own area and have var ignoring salad and mane being offside and diving

 

[Cityinmyheart]

---------------------------Ederson----------------------

Walker----------Dias--------------Laporte--------Cancelo

-------------------Rodri-------------------Gundo-----------------

Bernie--------------------KDB---------------------Foden

---------------------------Sterling------------------------

Dont think Jesus is ready for this one, can come in later stages if needed. Torres is in form but cant seem start ahead of Foden or Bernie.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Cancelo deserves to start but Salah could have a lot of joy down our left hand side if he does.

Hope I’m wrong but I think it will be:

Ederson
Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo
De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan
Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling

 

[Easy]

If Villa can do it, we can too.

City 7-2 Livarpool

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Ederson; Walker Dias Laporte Cancelo; Rodri De Bruyne Bernardo; Sterling Torres Jesus

Thats how I'd go with maybe Ake at LB.
Need to be careful around our penalty area as like another historical red team liverpool seem to benefit from a number of favourable refereeing decisions.

 

[MAG]

If Villa can do it, we can too.

City 7-2 Livarpool

They won’t score 2 against Laporte - Dias - Walker and whoever is at LB ... 1 maybe via that dodgy penalty they’d get when either of Mane or Salah dives but not 2, not happening.

 

[blue is best]

Hope this is the game we stop being so wasteful in front of goal, we’ll hammer them if we do.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Apparently Three-Goals-Iota thinks we should be fearful. Strikes me that this canute hasn't been at Anfield long before he buys into the usual mantra of the pompous Dipper/Rag demented diaspora - we are gonna do this, and I give notice that this is what we are gonna do, long before we do it!! We will win the treble, the quadruple, the National Lottery Rollover Jackpot, the Grand National, the Monaco Grand Prix (the latter generally spelt with a 'ck' than with an 'x'.

Well, I would love it, just love it, if it all went belly up for TG-Iota from hereon in! What is it with these people? We have two Portugeese regulars and they never come out with this insufferable bravado. I suppose they are given the brainwashing as part of the training sessions. The only time I can recall anyone with a skyblue shirt forecasting Armageddon for opponents was the piss-take from Bendy Mendy when he went into shark mode - and that had the stats to back it up!

Rags 'n Dipper players don't need to do much to confirm that they are canutes of the highest order!

 

[manchester blue]

We definitely need Bernardo starting this game for his energy in midfield. Bernardo always seems to have good games against this lot too.

And the best Guard of Honours!

 

[Airbags Optional]

Probably the most important game so far, it is a must win. We need to be defensively sharp and offensively clinical. I think we are the better side and we will play the better game but we need some clinical finishes.

----Torres ----- Jesus ----- Sterling--

------- Bernardo ---------KDB---------

------------------ Rodri-----------------

Ake ----- Laporte --- Dias --- Walker

That is the side I would pick, but I am not a highly rated coach so what do I know :)