The Title Race - 2023/24

[willipp]

Yeah our next 2 games are huge but we have to play way way better than we did against United.

If we make as many mistakes leading to counter attacks at Anfield as we did against United, they'll put 3 or 4 past us.

And Arsenal twice already this season made us lose due to deflections.

We cannot underestimate these teams. C'mon City!

Genuine question, when do we ever under estimate teams? Its why we are the best, why we have changed football forever in terms of standards and consistency needed to win a league title. One thing i guarantee we wont do is for Pep and the players to under estimate either of these games.

 

[wolviedinho]

You get absolute pelters for saying they shit the bed or are like rabbits in the headlights - the self help readers are out in force - "treble, professionals, internationals" etc ....and yet that is exactly what happens. Pains me to say it, but you can't prepare for the rabid vitriol their fans generate and the extra level of performance their players find against us - seems to knock us back and effect our own game.

All true but this is our 1st visit since we lifted 5 trophies. The hate will be real and it’s not an excuse. Dips absolutely loathe city and use that hate to unfortunately defeat us. Can it ever be any different? Don’t know. We all laugh at the pain city has caused and it gives their fans the only chance they get to unload on us.

So it’s a unique situation coincided with how they play in 20 min frantic periods and you can see how and why city get undone. I would love to see us play it long and stay compact. Like we did at Arsenal last season.

Don’t go passing it about for them to nick off us. Pep is pep tho and will not adjust.

 

[bluenova]

You get absolute pelters for saying they shit the bed or are like rabbits in the headlights - the self help readers are out in force - "treble, professionals, internationals" etc ....and yet that is exactly what happens. Pains me to say it, but you can't prepare for the rabid vitriol their fans generate and the extra level of performance their players find against us - seems to knock us back and effect our own game.

And yet we've arguably been the better team at Anfield over the past five years.

For most of the current squad, the 1-0 defeat last season, where Foden had a goal ruled out for a soft foul, was their worst Anfield experience. We had 65% possession, and they only scored when Cancelo slipped on the half way line. Allison was man of the match that day.

Many of the team have now been involved in three 4 goal thrashings of Liverpool, so probably quite like playing them.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

All true but this is our 1st visit since we lifted 5 trophies. The hate will be real and it’s not an excuse. Dips absolutely loathe city and use that hate to unfortunately defeat us. Can it ever be any different? Don’t know. We all laugh at the pain city has caused and it gives their fans the only chance they get to unload on us.

So it’s a unique situation coincided with how they play in 20 min frantic periods and you can see how and why city get undone. I would love to see us play it long and stay compact. Like we did at Arsenal last season.

Don’t go passing it about for them to nick off us. Pep is pep tho and will not adjust.

Yep - a previous poster mentioned that we don't bottle it in front of other certain loud crowds - true - but the rivalry, the league proximity, the dislike of each other, their mangers constant digs and hypocrisy, the medias overreaction to the fixture - usually in their favour and to undermine us, etc etc. make this a a very combustible and overly hyped game - and yes it has affected our performances.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

we will probably draw with Liverpool and its the arsenal game which will count in my opinion.

If we draw with Liverpool at the weekend, we will be 3rd. I'm assuming arsenal win.
As Liverpool, arsenal don't play each other, it puts us at a disadvantage.
It will be be interesting to see how liverpool can go in their quest for " their version of the treble"

 

[GaudinoMotors]

And yet we've arguably been the better team at Anfield over the past five years.

For most of the current squad, the 1-0 defeat last season, where Foden had a goal ruled out for a soft foul, was their worst Anfield experience. We had 65% possession, and they only scored when Cancelo slipped on the half way line. Allison was man of the match that day.

Many of the team have now been involved in three 4 goal thrashings of Liverpool, so probably quite like playing them.

Arguably - not going by results at Anfield though and their game is to let us have the ball - and the 1 - 4 away was behind closed doors and wasn't really a crunch game.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I am not sure about rabid vitriol at Anfield. Apart from that CL match and a few league matches the crowd are often very quiet. I accept they will be up for it on Sunday but I think our club just has some sort of mental block at Anfield. We haven't bottled it at loud stadiums like Real and Atleti Madrid, PSG, Dortmund, Newcastle. The only time I have really seen City shit it was away at Poznan where we caved in in the last 15 minutes and their crowd played a big part.

That CL quarter final rattled us, but this is a different squad and different team with a different mentality. Our recent performances there have been pretty decent and we are due a win there. I don't think this Liverpool scares Pep and the lads like the team from 4 or 5 years ago did.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

If we draw with Liverpool at the weekend, we will be 3rd. I'm assuming arsenal win.
As Liverpool, arsenal don't play each other, it puts us at a disadvantage.
It will be be interesting to see how liverpool can go in their quest for " their version of the treble"

I think both teams will go for it. If Liverpool win (in Klopp's last season) they will be in poll position with a four point lead over us. But equally we know that if we beat them and Arsenal we will almost certainly win the title. The game will be watched across the world by hundreds of millions This is what elite football is all about and I think Pep and our players will relish it. That said I still think Arsenal could creep up on the blind side of both us and LFC.

 

[citytill1die84]

Let’s see how many injured dippers suddenly recover Sunday.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

That CL quarter final rattled us, but this is a different squad and different team with a different mentality. Our recent performances there have been pretty decent and we are due a win there. I don't think this Liverpool scares Pep and the lads like the team from 4 or 5 years ago did.

Agreed. I also think this Liverpool team is not as good as their 2019 one (mind you that's also true of us). Sometimes the emotions from Klopp and the crowd work in the opposition's favour. What we need to do is do something we rarely seem to do at Anfield...score the first goal.

 

[bluenova]

Arguably - not going by results at Anfield though and their game is to let us have the ball - and the 1 - 4 away was behind closed doors and wan't a crunch game.

Our last four results were two draws, a win and a loss.

They're the second best side in the Premier League, and have a style that doesn't suit us, so are always going to be tough, but there really hasn't been any sign of Liverpool having a hoodoo over City for years. We've dominated games, and forced them to sit back and concede possession, just like we do pretty much everywhere.

The last really poor game was the coach smasher, when there were some awful decisions, and even that was six years ago.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I think our club just has some sort of mental block at Anfield.

I think it's just one of those things. Sometimes random chance throws up weird stats, like United apparently not having lost from a leading half time position for a thousand games or somesuch before Sunday.

Bookies have us favourites...

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I think it's just one of those things. Sometimes random chance throws up weird stats, like United apparently not having lost from a leading half time position for a thousand games or somesuch before Sunday.

Bookies have us favourites...

We had a mental block at Arsenal for years and Spurs' new stadium till this season. These strange things do seem to happen in football. I didn't realise LFC had not won at Forest for about 16 visits there. As you say just weird stats. Not saying the crowd doesn't have an impact but there are so many other factors.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Our last four results were two draws, a win and a loss.

They're the second best side in the Premier League, and have a style that doesn't suit us, so are always going to be tough, but there really hasn't been any sign of Liverpool having a hoodoo over City for years. We've dominated games, and forced them to sit back and concede possession, just like we do pretty much everywhere.

The last really poor game was the coach smasher, when there were some awful decisions, and even that was six years ago.

And yet our players make mistakes they don't usually, we don't retain possession as well as normally. Put it down to Liverpool just being good - but in my opinion the lack of our usual confidence is also contributory.

 

[bluenova]

And yet our players make mistakes they don't usually, we don't retain possession as well as normally. Put it down to Liverpool just being good - but in my opinion the lack of our usual confidence is also contributory.

Would you say they're like rabbits in the headlights at the Etihad?

They've only got one win since Pep arrived, and that was the very odd second leg in the Champions League QF.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Would you say they're like rabbits in the headlights at the Etihad?

They've only got one win since Pep arrived, and that was the very odd second leg in the Champions League QF.

No - we are the better team - therefore there is a reason for the contrast playing at Anfield - that's the point.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

No - we are the better team - therefore there is a reason for the contrast playing at Anfield - that's the point.

It's just a cursed place, I've witnessed us win there twice since I first started going in 82!

 

[Andy TheCatalyst Morrison]

Our defence cops a lot of unjustified flak. The way we play leaves us open to counter attacks by quality teams but in spite of this we’ve only conceded more than one in a league game on one occasion since we knuckled down after the World Cup.
Individually they’re outstanding as is Eddie behind them

Our vulnerability to counters is massively exaggerated by the media desperate to find any chink in our armour but it’s really not that much of an Achilles heel as the stats bear out.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if come the end of the season we once again have the best defensive record.

Need to check your facts. Off the top of my head, Chelsea 4-4, Palace 2-2; Wolves 1-2.

I agree with your basic point though, it’s incredibly difficult to defend in this City team at times.

 

[supercity88]

Our last four results were two draws, a win and a loss.

They're the second best side in the Premier League, and have a style that doesn't suit us, so are always going to be tough, but there really hasn't been any sign of Liverpool having a hoodoo over City for years. We've dominated games, and forced them to sit back and concede possession, just like we do pretty much everywhere.

The last really poor game was the coach smasher, when there were some awful decisions, and even that was six years ago.

We've got to keep it tight in the first 20 mins. I've put a list below of our results there under Pep in the league (plus the CL game at Anfield). The number of times we conceded in the first 15 minutes is crazy. You can see there's been a clear change in the last 4 trips. We were unlucky to lose last time out. They had 2 shots on target and it was a high profile error from Cancelo. Otherwise our management of the game was spot on.

Results in league under Pep (plus CL to highlight issue)

13 Dec 2016 Liv 1-0 City (Wijnaldum goal after 8 mins)
14 Jan 2018 Liv 4-3 City (Oxlade Chamberlain goal after 9 mins)
4 Apr 2018 Liv 3-0 City (Salah goal 12 mins) - Champions League
07 Oct 2018 Liv 0-0 City
10 Nov 2019 Liv 3-1 City (Fabinho goal 6 mins)
7 Feb 2020 Liv 1-4 City (0-0 HT)
3 Oct 2021 Liv 2-2 City (0-0 HT)
16 Oct 2022 Liv 1-0 City (0-0 HT)

They can't play with the same intensity for 90 minutes. They come flying out of the blocks, the crowd react and our high risk possession football often ends up with us gifting them space and chances. They want us to lose the ball close to our goal, or they want to draw us up the pitch onto them to turn it over and quickly attack the space our defence leaves. We just need to take the safe option for the first 20 minutes. Clear our lines, play forwards and play a less risky style until the crowd die down, and they will, as we know. Then we can impose ourselves. There will be that fraction more time on the ball and we can start to grow into the game.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Need to check your facts. Off the top of my head, Chelsea 4-4, Palace 2-2; Wolves 1-2.

I agree with your basic point though, it’s incredibly difficult to defend in this City team at times.

It's just the Newcastle game *after* the world cup.