--------------------Ederson---------------------
Walker----Kompany----Otamendi----Delph
----- ----De Bruyne------Gundogan----------
---------- -------D.Silva----------------------
Sterling------------Jesus----------------Sane
Subs: Bravo, Laporte, Zinchenko, Toure, Foden, Bernardo, Diaz
This is a far from ideal game to be playing after the week last week or so. I'm really not expecting us to win it whatever team we are able to put out. That said, we definitely played better across the last three games than the results would indicate. We were fairly dominant in the second half at Anfield and just never had anything break for us. The first half against Utd was one of the best performances of the season apart from Sterling's finishing and we looked genuinely capable of turning the Liverpool tie around at home throughout the first half.
So we're basically looking at a mix of bad finishing, bad luck and a draining of belief when these things start piling up on us in games. Meanwhile the opposition has been clinical and really taking advantage during the spells in games that they've gained some control. I guess we just need to keep on doing what we've been doing and just hope that we start putting away our chances and the odd thing falls for us. And either Kane has an off day or we successfully starve him of the ball.
We'll miss Fernandinho a lot i think. Out of possession, i'd have De Bruyne playing a bit deeper than usual to help out with the defensive side of the game. Also, where possible, Delph should tuck in to midfield.
We'll surely start winning comfortably again against most of the lower-table opposition we've got left, especially given full weeks to rest up and clear our heads. Taking a draw today would be a great way to steady the ship and who knows, maybe we're due a bit of fortune. If not, this game coming right now was always a bit of a free hit.