Pre Match: Manchester City V Liverpool (25th Aug 2014 - 8pm)

Before anyone throws a wobbler I think I was the one who hit the City to win Button by mistake but can't remove my vote !
in the prediction League I've gone 2-1 to us !

Very big game so early into the season, must admit a draw would be a satisfactory result next Monday.

Before anyone throws a wobbler I think I was the one who hit the City to win Button by mistake but can't remove my vote !
in the prediction League I've gone 2-1 to us !

Almost done the same just now Frizz.

Mignolet

Manquillo
Sakho
Lovren
Moreno

Gerrard
Henderson
Coutinho

Sterling
Markovic

Sturridge

Sub: Jones, Skrtel, Enrique, Lucas, Can, Ibe, Lambert.


Harsh to drop Skrtel but against Dzeko we need better defenders in the air.

I'd also not want to play 4-1-2-1-2 in a diamond with the width City play, so two wingers tracking back and supporting the defence, but also the pace to get forward and score quickly. Also means Coutinho dropping a bit deeper and allowing Hendo to play alongside Stevie.

Biggest conundrum for me is whether to play Stevie. They have some engine room in their midfield 3. Can and Henderson a must for me.

Beat these and it will be a massive early season confidence booster, ideal timing too with them having the likes of Arsenal in the coming weeks. We didn't deserve to lose there last season, got screwed over by the ref too I believe. Time to make amends.

Biggest conundrum for me is whether to play Stevie. They have some engine room in their midfield 3. Can and Henderson a must for me.

All 3 for me. El Capitano plays for definite. He's had such influential matches against City over the years. Put Can and Henderson in the middle with him and we'll be fine.

Can and Moreno in for Lucas and Johnson and we'll be F***ing boss.

Stevie is fine. Put a workhorse next to him and he can just sit deep.

In defence I'd rather us have two banks of four and one man sitting between the lines than playing narrower by playing both Hendo and Can.

Manquillo     Lovren     Sakho     Moreno

Gerrard

Sterling     Henderson     Coutinho     Markovic

Sturridge


Would deal with their width whilst being stronger in attack more so, than;


Manquillo     Lovren     Sakho     Moreno

Henderson     Gerrard     Can

Sterling     Sturridge     Coutinho

We conceded both goals at Anfield against them when they stretched us.

(I put my preferred back line but obviously Skrtel for Sakho if that's who is chosen)

Can and Moreno in for Lucas and Johnson and we'll be f**king boss.

I think that is what it will be, with Markovic being used as a super sub in the last 10-15 minutes if we need something extra or Allen coming on for Coutinho if we need to try to hold onto a lead. 

A draw here would be a good enough result, and I think we will see a very cautious approach from BR.  I'd imagine he will tell the fullbacks to get forward and provide width in attack, but the midfield 3 will sit deep with Can and Hendo being instructed not to venture too far forward so that they can help cover Stevie and the defense in transition. 

starting tomorrow I'm off on holiday for a week, likely no internet, so I will probably miss the game unless I can find some pub in the middle of no where showing the match at 1:00 in the morning...

I'd just like to say that there is absolutely no reason for us to wear anything other than red, there is no clash whatsoever and we should always wear red if at all possible.  But of course we must please our corporate masters so I wouldn't be surprised to see us in yellow.

likely I'm not going to see this one until I get back but if by some chance I get to a TV and I see Lucas and Johnson in the starting lineup I think I might break something.

An opportunity to make a statement of intent here, no one outside our fan base gives us a chance of winning the league without Suarez, so a win here would change that.
Early in the season for such a big game,  no team has found their stride yet so it's a difficult game to call. Win or lose at least we'll have this one out of the way.
Come on yoooooooooooooooou Reds!

F**k me, what a massive game for us. A 6 pointer this early in the season, hope the lads are up for it, am sure they will be and we come away with a massive 3 points.

F**k me, what a massive game for us. A 6 pointer this early in the season, hope the lads are up for it, am sure they will be and we come away with a massive 3 points.

Invitation or instruction Aussie , and I agree with the rest of your statement.

Invitation or instruction Aussie , and I agree with the rest of your statement.

 

Cheeky bugger.

Going to be a tough one obviously, think the difference will be whoever improves the most from this weekend.

Big calls are going to be whether Can or Allen come in for Lucas and if Moreno gets his debut or not. Expecting Markovic to make the bench at best here.

Stevie is a sh*te DM - by way of he can't cover ground or break up play very well. What he does do well, is pick the ball up in a centre half position (midfielders can't go with him and pick him up because they leave too much space) and then spread the ball. For that reason, we have got to play Henderson deeper to cover the ground for him or play three centre halves against these.

Personally id go with:

                                    Mignolet

Johnson       Skrtel          Sakho      Lovren     Moreno

                                    Gerrard
                  Henderson                  Allen
                                   Sterling

                                   Sturridge


Sterling, Hendo and Allen can cover the ground, and we look very solid in defence.

Although he's sh*te id put Johnson in for his experience over manquillo. Johnson and Moreno to support our attack in possession and give us some width, stevie to dictate the game, very pacey on the counter with sterling, and we've always got a goal in sturridge.


However, I think the boss will go with:

                                         Mignolet

Johnson          Skrtel                        Lovren          Moreno

                      Gerrard                  Allen

Sterling                       Henderson                  Coutinho

                                 Sturridge


Either way Im confident, I fancy us to do these. Second game of the season is a good time to play them I think. Get out the traps reds and get straight at them. Nothing to fear. We showed last season we are every bit as good as these. We're actually a better footballing side....if we turn up we will play these off the park.

However, I think the boss will go with:

                                         Mignolet

Johnson          Skrtel                        Lovren          Moreno

                      Gerrard                  Allen

Sterling                       Henderson                  Coutinho

                                 Sturridge

Pablo Zabaleta likes this post.

starting tomorrow I'm off on holiday for a week, likely no internet, so I will probably miss the game unless I can find some pub in the middle of no where showing the match at 1:00 in the morning...

I'd just like to say that there is absolutely no reason for us to wear anything other than red, there is no clash whatsoever and we should always wear red if at all possible.  But of course we must please our corporate masters so I wouldn't be surprised to see us in yellow.

likely I'm not going to see this one until I get back but if by some chance I get to a TV and I see Lucas and Johnson in the starting lineup I think I might break something.

You know there is a reason we might wear our away kit, you may be a deliberately abrasive, contrary mf'er, but you're not dumb, as the way you've worded it implies you know it would be contractual.

As for federer breaking something, can we have suggestions or would that get macabre?

4-1-2-3

                                      Migs
Manquillo     Lovren       Sakho        Moreno

                                   Gerrard
       
            Henderson                   Coutinho


    Markovic            Sturridge         Sterling


With Markovic changing with Sterling during the match on what wing each find more comfortable.

Gerrard can be the protection for the back four and allow the centre backs to split with our wing backs getting forward. Being away from home we can't be too cautious. Henderson will provide the legs and energy maybe get in behind their defence one or two times. Coutinho will be the link from midfield to attack.

Markovic if fit can provide strong enough pace down the right wing with Manquillo overlapping. That is a pacey enough wing for me with Moreno overlapping Sterling we'd be a real threat.

Think we can get a win if we approach the game in an attacking manner.

starting tomorrow I'm off on holiday for a week, likely no internet, so I will probably miss the game unless I can find some pub in the middle of no where showing the match at 1:00 in the morning...

I'd just like to say that there is absolutely no reason for us to wear anything other than red, there is no clash whatsoever and we should always wear red if at all possible.  But of course we must please our corporate masters so I wouldn't be surprised to see us in yellow.

likely I'm not going to see this one until I get back but if by some chance I get to a TV and I see Lucas and Johnson in the starting lineup I think I might break something.

Have a great holiday Fed, we're gonna miss ye   

YNWA

Have a great holiday Fed, we're gonna miss ye   

YNWA

Not flying Malaysia Airlines by any chance? 

You know there is a reason we might wear our away kit, you may be a deliberately abrasive, contrary mf'er, but you're not dumb, as the way you've worded it implies you know it would be contractual.

As for federer breaking something, can we have suggestions or would that get macabre?

Yeah, what about, a habit of a lifetime, might get some sense out of him,   

YNWA