Liverpool (H) | Pre-Match Thread

[David Kloppesh]

The last time we beat them as reigning champions, apparently. Great memories and a familiar face behind the near post for our first.

Eric Idle commenting lol​

 

[Horlocksleftpeg]

Well, you’ve got Aguero and Fernandinho out, two key players of your spine. Ditto with us, VVD & Fabinho are vital parts of ours. As I said though, enough quality on both sides to still produce a good game. BTTS is an absolute nap.

What makes you think you’ll score? Our defence has been absolutely water tight this year.

the flip side is I’m not even convinced we’ll score

I think there’s nobody we can put at left back today that is perfect for us. Ake is more solid, yes, but has nothing going forwards and will allow TAA to come forward. A more attacking choice is less solid defensively but would give TAA reasons to stay back more. It’s a really tough call, and there’s a chance that either option can end bad for us. This is what Pep is paid for I guess!

perfect summation.

fwiw I think pep will go on the front foot and Cancelo will start.

 

[MarsLlama]

Been grasped by a sudden, bizarre sense of optimism in the last... ten minutes? Think we're gonna win 3-0.

 

[mccity]

Been grasped by a sudden, bizarre sense of optimism in the last... ten minutes? Think we're gonna win 3-0.

Now would be a great time to find out that you're actually clairvoyant.

 

[Greggery Peccary]

What makes you think you’ll score? Our defence has been absolutely water tight this year.

the flip side is I’m not even convinced we’ll score

Our attackers look sharp, I’d back them to score against anybody at the moment. Jota has hit the ground running too, that extra dimension has worked well and will definitely be utilised today, whether with a shirt or off the bench. But our defence has been more porous even with the 7 goal anomaly and with your quality, I wouldn’t say a clean sheet for us is anywhere near a certainty. Goals on both sides will make for a more expansive game though, happy days.

 

[blue is best]

We're playing well and still making chances. Someone is due a tonking from us.

Fingers crossed it’s todays’ opposition that get said tonking.

 

[Horlocksleftpeg]

Our attackers look sharp, I’d back them to score against anybody at the moment. Jota has hit the ground running too, that extra dimension has worked well and will definitely be utilised today, whether with a shirt or off the bench. But our defence has been more porous even with the 7 goal anomaly and with your quality, I wouldn’t say a clean sheet for us is anywhere near a certainty. Goals on both sides will make for a more expansive game though, happy days.

Let’s just hope we get more of them!

 

[axlgod]

I’m going 3-1 to City

Sterling, Kev & Ferran, with the dippers getting a pen.

I’ve just opened my first of many Estrellas.

Come On City!!!!!

 

[Tricky_Trev]

We're playing well and still making chances. Someone is due a tonking from us.

We’re not though, generally speaking. Our “expected goals” is almost half what we normally produce. Which means we are not creating the quality nor the quantity of chances we usually do.

 

[heslops barnet]

I think there’s nobody we can put at left back today that is perfect for us. Ake is more solid, yes, but has nothing going forwards and will allow TAA to come forward. A more attacking choice is less solid defensively but would give TAA reasons to stay back more. It’s a really tough call, and there’s a chance that either option can end bad for us. This is what Pep is paid for I guess!

pep to called out no matter who he picks then?

 

[Tricky_Trev]

pep to called out no matter who he picks then?

Well what I’m saying is there’s a case for any of them to be the selected player, since none are perfect. There will be posters that oppose any one selection, of course there will be.

 

[stonerblue]

Can't understand the trepidation today considering we smashed them last time.

 

[mexico1970]

Can't understand the trepidation today considering we smashed them last time.

Much more stable defence and Gabby back, we're in a great position you're spot on bud.

 

[PhdWave]

Mahrez is starting today I think (considering his performance vs Olympiacos)..

 

[kaz7]

I feel better that we are stronger at the back but not convinced we have enough up front to take advantage of their defence without Van dyke. Midfield I worry they are stronger.

They boot it over the midfield most of the time

 

[supercity88]

Well what I’m saying is there’s a case for any of them to be the selected player, since none are perfect. There will be posters that oppose any one selection, of course there will be.

Of course! Mendy has started most games against them and we haven't suffered for it. They like the ball into the channel and Pep has seemed to grasp Klopp's tactics the last few games between the sides having had a weak record v Klopp compared to everyone else.

Stop their full backs and you stop their whole game plan. You force them to instead go through the middle where they struggle to create and we can dominate. They will have chances but with our improved defence and Gabby back I think we will have more. I hope our desire to win the title is on display and we win the game.

 

[Nightmare Walking]

We’re not though, generally speaking. Our “expected goals” is almost half what we normally produce. Which means we are not creating the quality nor the quantity of chances we usually do.

I am not a fan of all that Xg stuff mate.
We played really well against Wolves with a depleted squad. We played really well against Leicester for 40 minutes, but then kept shooting ourselves in the foot. Leeds, we started really well, had a bit of a dodgy half hour, dropped a clanger, then came on well bear the end.
Since then we have been pretty much solid. Played some really nice football and won every match pretty easily, apart from the West Ham match, which we should have won really.
We have won 7, drawn 2 and lost 1. That is pretty good considering the circumstances.
I think we have gone about our business quietly and efficiently this season. We have kind of gone undercover.
Just because we are not smashing the poor teams 5-0 every week or our Xg is down on last season does not mean we are not playing well. We are getting over our injuries. We look less likely to concede than last season and still look like we have got goals in us.
I have quite enjoyed the way we have played this season.
Big test today as Liverpool are a good team. I am confident of our chances though.

 

[PhdWave]

I think there’s nobody we can put at left back today that is perfect for us. Ake is more solid, yes, but has nothing going forwards and will allow TAA to come forward. A more attacking choice is less solid defensively but would give TAA reasons to stay back more. It’s a really tough call, and there’s a chance that either option can end bad for us. This is what Pep is paid for I guess!

I would go Ake mainly because I think he can hold his own vs salah...Lot of their attack comes down to his individual skills

 

[deano ou812]

Who’s on VAR duty this afternoon in our game..

 

[B\connellblue]

We're playing well and still making chances. Someone is due a tonking from us.

I hope you're right. Need to batter these whinging cunts.