Pre-match: Manchester City v Liverpool | 1600 3-Feb-13

 

  v
 Manchester City v Liverpool
 1600 | Etihad Stadium
 Official: Anthony Taylor

 
 Both Liverpool and hosts Manchester City come into the 25th fixture of the Premier League campaign on the back of draws. City with a scoreless affair with bottom-dwellers QPR, while Liverpool let slip a two-goal lead at the Emirates as Arsenal battled for a 2-2 draw.
 
 In the reverse fixture, the two sides met at Anfield in the second match of the season, with defending champs equalizing against the Reds twice. In that match, Martin Skrtel and Luis Suarez scored their first goals of the league campaign, while City equalized through Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez
 
 This fixture is looking more like a "must-win" for Manchester City as they sit 7 points behind league leaders Manchester United. City's 52 points and second place standing in the table are contrasted with the Merseyside outfit, who currently sit in 7th on 35 points.
 
 City have enjoyed scoring goals this season: Edin Dzeko leads the team with 10 goals, while Sergio Aguero has 8 and Tevez has 7 goals. Tevez has assisted his teammates 7 times, while David Silva has set-up 5 goals.
 
 For Liverpool, the continued play of Suarez has been a joy to watch. The Uruguayan added another goal to his tally midweek, bringing him to 17 goals in the Premier League this season -- a six-goal improvement from his finally tally last season with 14 more matches remaining. Suarez recently came out and said he plans on remaining with the Reds next season even if they don't qualify for the Champions League.
 
 "I will wait until the end of the season and see how we are doing," he told the Daily Mail. "We won't know until then how we are doing and what our position is so I am prepared to wait until that time. But I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don't qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay."
 
 One player to keep an eye for Liverpool is vice-captain Jamie Carragher. The Academy product has featured in manager Brendan Rodgers' side the past two league games, with Skrtel relegated to the bench.
 
 On the opposite end of the age spectrum is Jordan Henderson. The England u21 captain has scored two goals and notched two assists in the past 5 league matches for the Reds. Against Arsenal, the 22-year-old assisted Suarez's opener and doubled Liverpool's lead in the 60th minute.
 
 As for City, they'll be without two of their big players in Toure and Vincent Kompany. Toure is away on international duty with the Ivory Coast in the Cup of Nations, while Kompany has a calf strain. The club also sold striker Mario Balotelli to AC Milan in the January window.
 
 Regarding Liverpool's injuries, assistant manager Colin Pascoe confirmed leftback Jose Enrique should be fit, while new boy Philippe Coutinho -- purchased from Inter Milan in January -- remains unavailable.
 
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  Post your lineups and what not.
 
 
 

Glad that Toure & Kompany are missing for them.

Still, a big, big task to take anything from here.

Can see a similar game to Arsenal and a similar result occuring, we'll give a decent account of ourselves against the top end clubs and probably not get a win for it.

Just how the season has panned out so far, hopefully this will be the time to change it.

Massive game after dropping points at Arsenal

Sterling for Downing (assuming he isn't spending time with the police following his assault charge)

I'd also have Allen as Left Back (at Melwood, not on the bench)

Id consider 3 5 2 here. Get to grips in midfield. Get Dannt to play as a spare at the back with his ability on the ball. Without the ball we become a 5 3 1 1 always leaving Sturridge up for his pace on the counter. Both our full backs can attack so no problem with them playing this formation.

No Carra for me. Cant see his legs up for 2 tough away games in 3 days

                 Reina

      Wisdom Agger Skrtel

Johnson Lucas Henderson Enrique

                  Gerrard

        Suarez            Sturridge

Money on Sturridge to win it at his old club!       

I'd go with something similar Brian. I'd play it like this though:

Reina
Skrtel    Carragher     Agger
Johnson         Lucas        Gerrard         Enrique
Henderson
Suarez     Sturridge

But, I think we'll probably go with the same team as vs Arsenal, only difference will be Enrique at LB and Johnson at RB.

gotta take our chances early and keep it solid. play with more pride and confidence than ever and we will get three points.

i feel 3-4 to LFC. why not

Big game for us.  Win, and the result at the Emirates looks good.  Draw or lose and we will find ourselves a long way off a realistic shot of finishing in the top 4....

What I'd like to see is clearly not going to happen because of BR's affinity for the 4-3-3, but I'd go 4-4-2 with a diamond in the middle.  Pack the middle of the pitch to minimize the threat of Silva, Aguero, Tevez, and Nasri.  Force City to push Zabaleta and Clichy up field to provide width in attack, but that will leave them susceptible to a quick counter as their CB's are not particularly pacey. 

I'd like: 

                 Pepe
Johno  Skrtel  Agger  Enrique
   Gerrard  Lucas  Hendo
                Shelvey
       Suarez       Sturridge

I think we'll see:

                 Pepe
Johno  Skrtel  Agger  Enrique
         Gerrard  Lucas
Downing    Hendo     Borini
                 Suarez

Hoping/praying for a win here.  Going to be optimistic and say we will just edge it 2-1.

I'd go with something similar Brian. I'd play it like this though:

Reina
Skrtel    Carragher     Agger
Johnson         Lucas        Gerrard         Enrique
Henderson
Suarez     Sturridge

But, I think we'll probably go with the same team as vs Arsenal, only difference will be Enrique at LB and Johnson at RB.

My reason for Agger as the centre of the 3 is because Id have the other 2 operating as the "out and out" centre halves with Danny there to cover them plus he could be free to join in the midfield.

Wisdom for me over Carra as I cant see Jamie having the legs for 2 tough trips in 3 days and young Andre has the makings of a powerful centre half power and pace to burn 

Just get out there REDS and get the 3 points,we gave them a point at Anfield in August(like Arsenal the other day). No slipups no dodgy back passes to Reina,go out there and outclass them.

My reason for Agger as the centre of the 3 is because Id have the other 2 operating as the "out and out" centre halves with Danny there to cover them plus he could be free to join in the midfield.

Wisdom for me over Carra as I cant see Jamie having the legs for 2 tough trips in 3 days and young Andre has the makings of a powerful centre half power and pace to burn 

I'm not sure how Carra's legs will do. I think that because it's such a big game, he'll be raring to go personally. It is a legit concern and one I understand of course.

If he's fit to go, I'd play Carra in the middle so he can organize the back line, which he's better at than Agger. I think Carragher will sit the deepest, so that will give Agger or Skrtel a bit more freedom to move up, which is Dagger's game anyway.

Actually Id possibily drop Stevie back with Lucas and play Shelvey off the front 2 with Jordan dropping to the bench

I can see us winning this one with Toure and Kompany out.
I think we can get at them if we mark Silva closely.

We should be able take points from them.

Kompany will not play, so they will play Nastasic and lescot i guess. Being both of them are left footed i really feel Suarez will get a lot of joy against them.
One thing i fear is they may play Dzeko by seeing how we strougled against big CF's this season. Plus they have pretty good set piece takers and tall players like Garcia, Lescot,Dzeko. I really don't want to see another goal conceded through set pieces.
Going for a 1-0 win with Suarez scoring Hendo assist

I'd go with Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Henderson, Suarez, Sturridge.

I think without Toure and Kompany they are there for the taking, but I do worry about the quality they have up front and with Suarez for the first time looking very weary and heavy legged against Arsenal in the second half I think we may struggle to break them down, while I don't think they will have any such problem breaking us down.

I would take a point now

Hopefully Lucas can mark Silva out of the game. Though, I do worry about their two strikers movement, we've proved many times this season that our defence just gets lazy and let strikers roam free in the box.

Need full concentration - we need Carra definitely.

Feeling pretty optimistic about this game Man City have been looking pretty shaky lately I just hope we go in with a nice "fighting" spirit and not the "Ooh I don't think i'll bother" attitude we have been known to see in a certain few players. We could easily win this. Come on you Redmen!!! 

Same starting team again against Shitty for me (tho possibly Jose in for Wisdom)

I would go with Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Suarez & Sturridge.

Hopefully Coutinho will be on the bench and maybe get a run out too.

Just Jose in for Wisdom for me.

Would be disappointed if we didn't come away with at least a point here to be honest.

No chance I'd bring Skrtel in. They'll surely start Tevez and Aguero and if that's true we need intelligent defending. Organization. Carra for me starts as he will keep us organized.

Would consider playing Diego's lineup as well, packing the midfield. We need to start winning in the midfield.
             

Good time to play city, a little out of form and missing key players, come on reds

I'd be tempted to stick with Carra for this one and only one possible change and that would be Sterling for Downing.

Suarez with a hat-trick and Mancini to ofer 150 million pounds for him in the Summer.

Suarez with a hat-trick and Mancini to ofer 150 million pounds for him in the Summer.

Why not 4 goals?

Why not 4 goals?

Make it 5 and we have a deal. 

Suarez will rip through em without Kompany. No Toure means they'll have to play Javi Garcia, a far less usual pick for Mancini. They'll be used to how Toure moves the ball around. I think they'll be vulnerable. But we can't afford to just sit back like we did against Farcenal. We need to push up and play aggressively.

I really do want us to beat City, even more then I don't want the scum to win another title.  But it still leaves a bitter taste thinking that if we get points on Sunday, manure increase their point lead.

Sturridge! I hope he score against the Man shlt again.

look positive, let go reds.

I really do want us to beat City, even more then I don't want the scum to win another title.  But it still leaves a bitter taste thinking that if we get points on Sunday, manure increase their point lead.

Its a tough world. U can't have the best of both & have to make a choice, eh? 

Really think we can get three points here, City have massive defensive problems and are missing both the Toure's.

I'd go with this side on Sunday:

Reina

Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique

Gerrard (c)
Lucas
Henderson

Downing
Sturridge
Suarez

Subs; Jones; Wisdom, Carragher; Allen, Shelvey; Sterling, Borini.

The same squad as against Arsenal but I'd put Skrtel in for Carra and Enrique in for Wisdom. With Johnson shifting to RB and Enrique in at LB.

I'd expect there side to look like this:

Hart

Zabaleta
Nastasic
Lescott
Clichy

Garcia
Barry

Nasri
Tevez
Silva

Aguero

Subs; Pantilimon; Maicon, Kolarov; Milner, Rodwell, Sinclair; Dzeko.

I'm expecting it to be a really close game with an odd goal winning it for either side. I'm going for 1-2 Liverpool (but I'm extremely biased) because of there defensive problems. Sturridge and Suarez for us and Dzeko off the bench for them.

 

3-4

Lets do it!

Suarez will rip through em without Kompany. No Toure means they'll have to play Javi Garcia, a far less usual pick for Mancini. They'll be used to how Toure moves the ball around. I think they'll be vulnerable. But we can't afford to just sit back like we did against Farcenal. We need to push up and play aggressively.

I think Zabaleta will follow him around, given how often he marks Luis (Qualies, Copa AMerica and PL). That could leave a gap wide open for someone (not Stuart) to take advantage of

I think Zabaleta will follow him around, given how often he marks Luis (Qualies, Copa AMerica and PL). That could leave a gap wide open for someone (not Stuart) to take advantage of

Watch Downing get a hat-trick now!

I know people are optimistic with them missing some players but this is a team who have only lost once in the League in the last few years (against Man U, in added time). Plus Mancini has proven his substitues work. They have quality everywhere.

Make no mistake, I would be delighted with a draw, especially as we have lost 3-0 in the last 2 games there. Sterling should start ahead of Downing, Carra to keep his place, Enrique to replace Wisdom and slot in at LB

Its a big pitch so we should not be too attacking, but also not as defensive as we were against Arsenal. Sterling and Sturridge could get joy running with lots of space in front of them.

2-1 to the red men for me, coming from behind as well!

I would happily settle for a draw here, seem to be scoring goals, but just as easily conceding them. However with a bit of luck maybe able to snatch a win here with Suarez on such goal scoring form.

I haven't followed Liverpool too much, but I think at Barclays League all can happen, so I hope Liverpool will beat Man. City, 2-3, for example!.

Regards.

I would take a draw as a good result,a win would be fantastic. Dont subscribe to the manure factor of if we take something of Citeh,it helps Utd to the title.

We shouldn't really worry about what their doing,or we will end up being as paranoid and delusional as them tw*ts. 

2-1 to the red men for me, coming from behind as well!

I hope you are right Steve or that will be my prediction up the wall once again.

I feel confident and think we could nick this by a single goal.

I hope you are right Steve or that will be my prediction up the wall once again.

Don't want to worry you Billy but I've only got one prediction right all season !

Big game for us.  Win, and the result at the Emirates looks good. 
Draw or lose and we will find ourselves a long way off a realistic shot of finishing in the top 4...     

Draw or lose that is 4th gone and that is the reality of it.

Don't want to worry you Billy but I've only got one prediction right all season !

Taken a year out from it.
I was getting the dilemma of the Woy days.
Predict with my heart (Win) or head (Who Knows).
So leave it until next year.

Pub tomorrow with the father in law for this one.
Pints and a big match.  Bring it ooonnnnnnnnn

I think Zabaleta will follow him around, given how often he marks Luis (Qualies, Copa AMerica and PL). That could leave a gap wide open for someone (not Stuart) to take advantage of

 

Does Coutinho have a work permit yet? If so, nice game to be thrown in at the deep end with

Would take the draw but I think we can have these!

Does Coutinho have a work permit yet? If so, nice game to be thrown in at the deep end with

Hes not part as mentioned by Pascoe
http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/pascoe-gives-city-squad-update

We need points. They are under par at the moment, we are pretty much full strength. We wont have a better chance at the Etihad to get 3 points.

Im confident.

Draw or lose that is 4th gone and that is the reality of it.



Taken a year out from it.
I was getting the dilemma of the Woy days.
Predict with my heart (Win) or head (Who Knows).
So leave it until next year.

Don't worry Skip the way our results have been over the last 4 or 5 seasons it can only come down to luck this prediction lark.Still as usual I let my heart rule when predicting our results and as usual I have gone for us to beat City.Oh for the old days when you predicted a win and you would be 99% certain of being correct.

Whatever happens, I just hope that if we do go ahead, we don't start with that Stoke tactics bollocks we did at Arsenal.  Keep pushing it down their throats from the first minute to the last. 

I think we will nick it, Sturridge and Suarez 2-1

Suarez needs to play closer to Sturridge today, they weren't able to link up much mid-week and it was a bit dissappointing how negative we seemed to line up. Play him in the whole and go for it; we'ver shown all season our defense isnt quite good enough to deal with constant pressure if we don't put pressure on the opposition.

If we press high up the pitch and the same intensity as we did for the first half hour at the emirates for the full 90 then I'm confident we'll get something from the game, if we drop deep and invite City on to us then I fear they'll take advantage of that and turn us over.

Optimistic yet nervous about this match as its got the potential to define how we end the season.

If we press high up the pitch and the same intensity as we did for the first half hour at the emirates for the full 90 then I'm confident we'll get something from the game, if we drop deep and invite City on to us then I fear they'll take advantage of that and turn us over.

Optimistic yet nervous about this match as its got the potential to define how we end the season.

Spot on Daz.

I've always thought that our team playing at their best is a match for anyone so three points are achievable today.

We can't afford to let them into the game as much as we did second half against Arsenal.

As mentioned above Citeh have quality all over the pitch, including the bench, so there losses through injury/suspension doesnt really make them a weakened side, but Iam quite confident that if we play the way we know we can, like we did with good spells against arsenal, we can take the 3 points home, yes it will be helping manure, but we need to look after our own games and let the rest do whatever, I only care about our results as we cant infulence games were not involved in. Iam going with 1-3, us coming from behind, but I'd take a 1 nil anyday. We could really do with beating a top side, if only so the "pundits" have to find somthing else to say about us. Come on the RED MEN

Yup not arsed about man F***ing utd anymore,that particular genie left the bottle after they got the 19 th,couldn't give sh*t about that lot anymore.

Think we are a match for anyone if we press up the field and attack.

Toure and Kompany are massive losses for them, but they have a very deep squad, and even if their replacements are not at their level, they will be very good.

Our best shot is to pack the midfield, and DONT let the ball reach their forwards. They can do real damage if they receive good service, so winning the midfield battle is key. There is where not having Yaya is a big loss for them.

Luis should roam free, and pick their most vulnerable spot on defence, like a boxer, work their ribs untill they crack. Maybe draw a couple yellows or reds in the process. Daniel should run behind Luis, taking advantage of the space he generates, and scavenge. And most definitely, someone should be open on the box for potential passes. Did you know Suarez has one of the highest pass numbers in the final third in the League?

Im vey worried on set pieces if they play Dzeko, NO BALL WATCHING lads, please

Looking forward to an exciting game, the lads will be well up for this one, really think we can nick this by 2 goals to one, if we play like we did in the first half against Arsenal, then this match is ours for the taking.

We need to press them hard and go at them right from the whistle, get an early goal and hopefully get them rattled, making mistakes along the way, come on you REDMEN, lets do it !!!!

 

Yup not arsed about man f**king utd anymore,that particular genie left the bottle after they got the 19 th,couldn't give sh*t about that lot anymore.

Think we are a match for anyone if we press up the field and attack.

I'll always be arsed about the scum. Im a RED.
Its  built in with me from the kick offs we had with them in the sixties.
Its built into the DNA of this club.

We've given them two decades to catch up with us and they are still only one ahead.

Fergie will kick it.
We will get our commercial side under way and in three years time will have glorious leader. Who ?..... I dont know.
We will be back I am sure to knock them off their perch as they are nothing more than The Great Pretenders.

Toure and Kompany are massive losses for them, but they have a very deep squad, and even if their replacements are not at their level, they will be very good.

Our best shot is to pack the midfield, and DONT let the ball reach their forwards. They can do real damage if they receive good service, so winning the midfield battle is key. There is where not having Yaya is a big loss for them.

Luis should roam free, and pick their most vulnerable spot on defence, like a boxer, work their ribs untill they crack. Maybe draw a couple yellows or reds in the process. Daniel should run behind Luis, taking advantage of the space he generates, and scavenge. And most definitely, someone should be open on the box for potential passes. Did you know Suarez has one of the highest pass numbers in the final third in the League?

Im vey worried on set pieces if they play Dzeko, NO BALL WATCHING lads, please

I'll always be arsed about the scum. Im a RED.
Its  built in with me from the kick offs we had with them in the sixties.
Its built into the DNA of this club.

We've given them two decades to catch up with us and they are still only one ahead.

Fergie will kick it.
We will get our commercial side under way and in three years time will have glorious leader. Who ?..... I dont know.
We will be back I am sure to knock them off their perch as they are nothing more than The Great Pretenders.

hey always want to beat them red,just think some fans begin to obsess a bit to much like they do over us.

Got a feeling we will win this one, One nil for me

Will be going to this, with my City mate in the blue half so I'll have to sit on my fingers and bite my tongue, but looking forward to SAS stuffing them this afternoon. I was in the same place to watch the Reds come back from 2-0 down to nick it in injury time in 08... one of the benefits of sitting with the enemy was enjoying their reaction to that. More of the same today, redmen...

C'mon Reds, lets do a good match.

Any team news yet

Study finished, now for some pre match antics! Cant wait for this one! I would love to see us try a different tactic then step off them like we did against Arsenal mid week! Too much respect and these will crush us. Need to improve on defending set pieces or Dzeko (maybe Kolarov if he starts) will murder us! Want to see Carra start for his presence alone! Can see us winning this one if we maintain possession and keep things tight at the back. 1-2 to us!
COYR

We need a win, a draw is not good enough. Would rather end-to-end attacking, we have a chance then, rather than trying to defend and nick one on the break.

We need a win, a draw is not good enough. Would rather end-to-end attacking, we have a chance then, rather than trying to defend and nick one on the break.

Id take a draw... City away... Id bite your hand off for a draw!

Let's have it and have a win come on you red men.

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http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,44372.0.html