Let's try escape the troll fest...
Man for man - Liverpool Vs Man City. My pick of the two teams to create an ultimate 11, with some reasoning and my own formation.
Mignolet / Hart- Both capable of huge errors, Hart wins it for me on experience.
Johnson / Zableta - Both quite equal for me, Zableta offers more in defence so gets the nod
Skrtel / Kompany - Skrtel gets bullied and Kompany is an all round better defender
Sakho / Demichellis(or any other CB) - Sakho is quality. He'll be on a par with Kompany in the next 2 years
Flanagan / Clichy/Kolarov - Experience wins out, don't really know enough about your two. Flanno is all heart though...
Gerrard / Fernandinho - Would take Gerrard over Ferndandinho, basically because he's Gerrard, his range of passing is far superior and in the style LFC play he's integral. Fernandinho has come good after a wobbly start, against any of our other midfielders he would have won out.
Henderson / Toure - Candidate for player of the year against someone who should be a candidate for young player of the year.
Coutinho / Silva - Struggled for form this year, still trying to work out his best position. He's not a 10 or a wide player. Silva, after having a bit of a shit season last year, is back on song. Pure Quality
Sterling / Navas - Contentious one this, I'd much rather have Sterling. Seems far more dangerous cutting inside than Navas. Much more of a goal threat and can play in the middle or out wide.
Sturridge / Dzeko - Studge is far more dynamic than Dzeko, playing across the front with ease. Better goal scoring record.
Suarez / Aguero - Another contentious one, purely on form I'd go with Luis. Think they're fairly equal in reality however for this game, I'd rather have the player in form than the one returning from injury.
This is why this game is pretty much win/win for us. If we lose, we shouldn't and won't be down hearted - playing a team who have been built with medals & championships in mind and assembled at a much greater cost (transfer and salary). You can argue that all you like but ultimately money spent = pressure to win things and that's what City have got. Citys team, on paper, should win easily...
If we win this game we're a step closer to the title.So win / win - personally think we're going to win it. Anfield will be a full on cauldron, the atmosphere will be fantastic and I know a lot of you have been taking the piss but the JFT96 campaign will bring additional passion for both the players and the fans to win this one. Gerrard, in particular (who lost a cousin at Hillsborough) always plays a blinder on these occasions. The fact it's a win/win means there's little pressure on us and we'll play with freedom. Plus...usually when we have a struggle away, our return home game see's us scoring lots of goals.
Pellegrini will probably follow a Chelsea model, soak up the pressure in the first 20 keep it tight and try win the midfield battle whilst using Silva to orchestrate. I think Toure might be the weak link for you here though, he's a world class player however he can be a lazy bastard at times and with our runners from midfield he's going to need to do his share of tracking and defending. Defensively we're weak however Dzeko doesn't scare me and I can't see Ageuro starting - after rushing him back the last time I think the manager and the player will both want a slow re-introduction. Sakho will be given the job of snuffing out Silva before he gets a chance to get his head up, between him & Gerrard they should be able to keep him quiet.
Hope that's not the case - would love you to come and play a high line on the front foot...
