Manchester City vs Liverpool pre-match thread

[Scouse_Jimi]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

Demichelis is a lot better footballer than Sakho from what I've seen.

I'm quoting that for posterity. ;-) I've probably seen more Man City than you have Liverpool this season due to Champions League and I'm pretty confident in putting Sakho ahead of him in my choice 11. Sakho looks like bambi on ice, he's all arms and legs but he's a tidy footballer

 

[TangerineSteve17]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

The fact is - if you win, it's expected, you have by far the stronger team and squad. You should be many points clear at the top of the league with Chelsea...

Nah that's crap. Against any side who have lost 1 game at home at this stage of the season, the away team is never expected to win.

 

[Scouse_Jimi]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

Are you struggling with sense? Are you telling me if you managed a team with Sturridge, Aguero and Suarez in the Squad you'd leave Aguero on the bench?

No...but I didn't say that!? I was simply providing my own view of an 11 v 11, I would - of course, play Aguero ahead of Sturridge....however that wasn't a choice I made when creating my post, unlike a lot - it's carefully considered................

Good man, now you're starting to see sense. Keep it up.

I imagine your 11 would only contain city players aside from Suarez?

 

[Ancient Citizen]

I reffered to the game at the Etihad because we had a goal disallowed for offside when it clearly wasn't and to be honest, i feel both teams had an equal amount of chances.

Which goal was this exactly?
Not like a Liverpool fan to be deluded

This 'Goal' is rammed down my throat every time I discuss Liverpool with Scouse mates, who are in abundance around here, it is their constant whinge.
True, it wasn't offside, we all know that, but the Ref blew up, so no goal.
What these fans have conveniently overlooked in this game, however, is the piggy back King who is Skyrtl, who fouled Kompany, prior to him having to carry the twat on his back yet again to finally score, by dragging him up into the air with him.
City should have been awarded (at least) two Pens for these infringements, but we are expected to endure a never ending bleat-fest about a non offside.
They constantly claim that they were the only team to give us a game at the Etihad up to that point, I don't agree, I think Everton (who were on the end of some bad decisions), are the team we struggled with most, and although 3-1, I thought we were fortunate.

 

[Matty]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

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...

Firstly, on your assessment of the two lineups.

1 - Sakho is young and promising, but to claim "he'll be on a par with Kompany in 2 years" is just pie in the sky thinking. Kompany is one of, if not the, best centre half in World football, Sakho has a long, long way to go until he's at that level, if he ever reaches it.

2 - Johnson and Zabaleta aren't equal, Zabaleta is better as he's a far more capable defender whilst also being able to contribute offensively. Zabaleta and Ivanovic are the league's two best right backs.

3 - Why on earth you've decided to link Sterling and Navas is beyond me. Ignoring the fact I'd have Navas over Sterling anyway, it will likely be Nasri and not Navas who plays, and Nasri is far better than Sterling as a footballer.

4 - Quite why you've decided to link Dzeko with Sturridge, and then Suarez with Aguero is also baffling, although I guess I shouldn't really be "baffled" as it was the only way to get another Liverpool player in the lineup. Clearly the 2 best forards, by some distance, in our two squads are Suarez and Aguero. To claim Sturridge and not Aguero should be in the 11 based solely on who you compare to who, is farcical.

So, essentially, in an 11 man starting lineup, you'd probably have 2 or 3 Liverpool players. Saurez is a given, Sakho/Skrtel would probably be the other centre half (although that's more down to our lack of quality there than anything else, something we'll address in the summer) whereas Gerrard is probably marginally ahead of Fernandinho, but that's a margin that's likely to close given Gerrard will be 34 a few weeks after the season ends so isn't going to get any better and likely will decline sooner rather than later.

Liverpool's season has been superb, but you're kidding yourselves if you think the Anfield "atmosphere" will have any real affect on City's players. They've all played in some very intense atmospheres over the past few seasons, Old Trafford, the Bernabeu, The Nou Camp, The Allianz Arena, several cup games at Wembley, it's nothing new to them.

You're entitled to be bullish about your prospects of winning but it's worth noting that City's last 10 away league games (after a horrible start to the season) read as follows, won 7, drawn 3, lost 0, scored 24 conceded 9, 24 points from 30 on offer. We haven't lost an away league game since early November, that's 5 months ago! Add to that the fact that 5 of our last 6 trips to Anfield have ended in draws and a Liverpool win isn't looking like the most obvious of results.

 

[the talisman]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

No...but I didn't say that!? I was simply providing my own view of an 11 v 11, I would - of course, play Aguero ahead of Sturridge....however that wasn't a choice I made when creating my post, unlike a lot - it's carefully considered................

Good man, now you're starting to see sense. Keep it up.

I imagine your 11 would only contain city players aside from Suarez?

Mine would, but I'd bring stevie starfish off the bench if I needed a late penalty.

 

[Vincents Tackle]

They're playing for the city of Liverpool, the millions of Liverpool fans all over the world, every neutral fan in the country, the victims of Hillsborough, Steven Gerrard's legacy, the chance to win the league against all the odds, the chance to put them back on their perch.........

.....All the pressure is on us though

 

[aguero93:20]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

No...but I didn't say that!? I was simply providing my own view of an 11 v 11, I would - of course, play Aguero ahead of Sturridge....however that wasn't a choice I made when creating my post, unlike a lot - it's carefully considered................

Good man, now you're starting to see sense. Keep it up.

I imagine your 11 would only contain city players aside from Suarez?

Hart
Zabaleta
Kompany
Skrtel
Kolarov

Fernandinho
Yaya
Gerrard

Silva
Suarez
Aguero
All established internationals, notice the lack of 22 year old centre halves and 18/19 year old wingers.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

So you really think Sturridge is a superior striker to Aguero?
and Sakho (a complete and utter fucking liability) is deserving of a place in a joint XI.
Go learn some humility, rationality and sense.

You're struggling with reading today? Sturridge was up against Dzeko. As for labelling Sakho as "utter fucking liability" when paired against Demichellis is more than laughable

Sooooo you decide to reinforce a media portrayal by stating sakashit is a superior player to Demi, what's laughable is if your watched the guy, read a few stats now and again, that his percentage balls won, aerial duels, and pass completion, make sakashit look like Helen Keller...... That's also in a superior attacking team, you've played 34/35 games this season, compared to our 50 plus already, our tail off period has coincided with kuns injury and fatigue, coupled with having the smallest squad usage in the prem......

Defend your team by all means, not make a tit of yourself by getting giddy though la

I can't wait for this Sunday as the reality is we can take 2 of 3 results against you, I'll take those odds laAaaaaasa

And just to add- fucking bring it you shellsuit wearing, bin dipping, watch robbing, Stanley slashing, dole supporting cunttttttttt

(Chats how you reinforce a stereotype)

 

[BlueMoonoverUS]

I'll be pretty honest here, over the years Liverpool fans have never really bothered me, i guess that is because neither of us have had much to shout about and no real direct rivalry.

Since we have started competing for trophies, they have only become a threat to that this season so I guess that is where the rivalry comes from between both sets of fans.

But one thing I can't get my head around, we have played Chelsea twice this year, we have played United twice, we have played Arsenal twice and we have played Barca and Bayern twice. What has occured to me is that this lot are f*cking deluded, not one fan from any of the clubs mentioned (perhaps Arsenal to an extent) have come on here saying they are going to pull us apart and how half of our team isn't made for big game situations.

And then for them to turn around and say there is no pressure on them, do they not see the irony!!

I hate the rags for a reason, their local rivals, but this lot are so deluded that the thought of beating them on Sunday is actually higher on my to-do list than whalloping Michelle Keegan*




*not strictly true.

Tell me about it. I have a guy here in States who became Liverpool fan a year ago and just because his fucking sister works for Warrior!!!! He was quite reasonable and we watched couple of games together. I even sided with him when they were playing Chelsea or United but this season he thinks they are best fucking team in the world,
Stevie G. is the best midfielder in EPL and I won't even mention what he thinks of Suarez. All that from a guy to whom I had to explain offside rule not even a year ago!!!!