Though both situations aren’t ideal. Two 3rd central midfielders either out of shape, out of form or not a great style. But a bit more forwards with Jota in form, Bobby out of form but generally important.
Not the first time we’re going 4-2-3-1 against a top 6 side, but it is against City.
City’s XI is not surprising. Perhaps Torres in on the wing and Mahrez not even on the bench is one little surprise. With Torres though, they can rotate him and Jesus. I think Sterling is set to start on the left to help out Cancelo.
Cancelo in at LB probably proves Pep thought we’d still go 4-3-3 with Salah against him. So maybe with out XI, we flip Mane to the right to see if we can open up a hole there.
We’ll see after 45-60 minutes where we are. The decision itself wasn’t an easy one. Hopefully the performance is at least solid.
Yeah, that the impression I got as soon as he went on about what an important player he is. Jurgen basically talked himself into starting him. I think every Liverpool fan understands what he brings, the question is will he bring it today.
Losing this match won’t mean that we can’t win the title, but I still regard it as a 6 pointer and so more important than most games. City has a dangerous squad, the more distance the better. Also, we don’t want too many points between us and Leicester and Tottenham even though I don’t see them as likely victors come end of the season. So a very important game this !
As for what I expect, I am not sure. City has a strong team, but have had an uneven start, played some good matches, some bad, has too few points. They have Aguero out, which is good but we have probably more important players out in Van Dijk and Fabino. Our start has been uneven too, but we have more points thankfully. If we play our best, we have a good chance to win this. But we need to play on our highest level to do so. And it is not easy for us with a defense that is not as drilled as the ones we are used too.
I just hope that if we lose, that people are not too judgemental on youngsters etc. if they come on, this isn’t an easy match up it is very difficult, and particularly for players not drilled into our first team.
So I regard them as favorites. Not by much, but by a bit. They have pitch advantage and if they play their best, will be difficult to defeat.
But we can beat them on a good day for sure. Let us hope we do !
All the best guys, loading up on coffee and beer here, got a lamb steak in a claypot in the oven, and it is going to stay there for 3-4 hours. All good. Let us hope we do our best. Crossing fingers and toes !
One thing though and that is we can’t judge this on the first 20 minutes as city tend to come out flying. I will judge us on the next 20 minutes after that.
I have appeared. Failed to break my Peloton PR after absolutely smashing it in small increments for three days. But, wow, when Petty’s Great Wide Open came on, @cynicaloldgit, you would have been proud of me!
Gini and our captain need to be in top form, and play intelligently. Cover the fullbacks, and follow runners.
Shitty will no doubt use the first 20 mins to play the ball about, and then tactical foul with impunity on any breaks, safe int eh knowledge no cards will come out so early in the game.
No cheap goals for them please. If we do let in a goal, don’t go chasing straight away like at Villa, otherwise, well, better not to think that way.
