Man City Vs Liverpool. Monday 23rd August.

I'd also be very surprised if Masch has refused to play. He said a couple of weeks ago, even if he wasn't sold, he'd still give his all to the team.

Where are the rumours coming from?

Social networking sites like Twitter and FB.

I'm not arsed to be honest. I don't want players playing for us who want to be elsewhere.

Wish Pacheco started today. He'd be perfect for Fernando. He can score and do the link up play.

Sounds like Masch just said to not include him... no one knows if because of injury, or sulking.

Reina, Johnson, Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Jova, Ngog, Torres - if true, would indicate a 4-4-2.

Now that would be F***ing interesting. I'd assume Gerrard and Lucas would be up against De Jong, Y.Toure and Milner with Kuyt and Jovanovich busy tracking Johnson and Silva all night.

Torres and N'Gog will be hoping for some inspired 60 yard hoofs sublime passes from Carra.

This has the potential to be a cracker of a tie on so many levels but to be honest the idea of a 4-4-2 scares the b'jaysus out of me.

'Mon the Reds!      

Sounds like Masch just said to not include him... no one knows if because of injury, or sulking.

Or being sold this week if the rumour I heard today is true!!

Looks like he's agreed terms with Barca.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/23/javier-mascherano-barcelona-liverpool

right, I'm off, come on redmen!

"All we do is win, win, win - no matter what.
Got 3 points on my mind, that'll be enough.
Everytime we step on to that pitch,
Everybody hands go UP!

And they stay there,
and they stay there,
and they stay there,
UP, GOAL, UP, GOAL, UP, GOAL

Cus all we do is WIN, WIN, WIN!"

Gotta love song parodies.

Gotta love song parodies.

Yip - we got 99 problems but the pitch ain't one!

Yip - we got 99 problems but the pitch ain't one!

Try telling that to the Wembley ground-staff

4-4-2 eh? Now that's interesting. Are we going to take the game to City then?

I hope we do but I was worried we might set up to avoid defeat and nick it rather than look to win from the off. But a 4-4-2 changes that.

I'm so pumped for this, heard sh*te from City fans all the time about how they are going to break the top four blah blah blah but today is the day we show them that they are still a small club and always will be.

Come on you Reds!!!!!

4-4-2 eh? Now that's interesting. Are we going to take the game to City then?

I hope we do but I was worried we might set up to avoid defeat and nick it rather than look to win from the off. But a 4-4-2 changes that.

I hope you're right chats and i'm wrong. For I see a 4-4-2 leaving us on the back-foot for big parts of the game.

Get into them!

I'm looking forward to this one. Its a great time to be playing City. We're essentially playing 11 individuals. When they eventually click as a team they will be very strong with alot of talent at their disposal, but until then they're going to misplace passes, run out of position and fail to cover. If we keep our shape play to our strengths and pressure them on the ball, we'll definitely put them to the sword. Its time to show the pretenders how its done!

I hope you're right chats and I'm wrong. For I see a 4-4-2 leaving us on the back-foot for big parts of the game.

Get into them!

Why would we be on the back foot? You saying that because they may have 3 against our 2 in midfield? Thats always a risk I guess. I think we will play a 4-2-3-1 tonight, but it would not surprise me if it is 4-4-2. Roy played 2 upfront at anfield last season compared to our 1. So he can change his tactics.

If it is 4-4-2 I feel it is a bold decision and a sign that he wants them to worry about us and not the other way around. And I am all for that mentality.

I hope you're right chats and I'm wrong. For I see a 4-4-2 leaving us on the back-foot for big parts of the game.

Get into them!

I don't see any of their midfielders as threatening to be honest. Think we can get in and around them and control the game, and with the pace and workrate of Jovanovic on the left and the stamina of Kuyt on the right we can track back well and still look to go forward.

Also another striker up top means that hopefully everyone doesn't kick the sh*t out of Torres and look at Ngog's runs too (which is one brilliant aspect of his game) freeing up space for not just Torres but also Gerrard breaking through from midfield.

I just hope that all this Mascherano crap is not too distracting for the rest of the team.

Why would we be on the back foot? You saying that because they may have 3 against our 2 in midfield? Thats always a risk I guess.

Question asked and answered.  

I don't see any of their midfielders as threatening to be honest. Think we can get in and around them and control the game, and with the pace and workrate of Jovanovic on the left and the stamina of Kuyt on the right we can track back well and still look to go forward.

Also another striker up top means that hopefully everyone doesn't kick the sh*t out of Torres and look at Ngog's runs too (which is one brilliant aspect of his game) freeing up space for not just Torres but also Gerrard breaking through from midfield.

Aye, i hope you're right chats - I guess it's just that pre-match jitters are kicking in.

Question asked and answered. 

I guess it's just that pre-match jitters are kicking in.

I always get those pre-match jitters......it sucks

Question asked and answered. 

I guess it's just that pre-match jitters are kicking in.

Theres always a chance they could change their tactics to combat us. Now that would make a change. Still think we will play 4-2-3-1 though. Not long to wait now!

Theres always a chance they could change their tactics to combat us. Now that would make a change. Still think we will play 4-2-3-1 though. Not long to wait now!

Depends on if Mancini is wearing his scarf 

Balotelli can be a better player than Torres?

Damn, i need some of what Mancini's smoking.

This Masch, Sulk/Calf strain/transfer, to be honest is the perfect pre match boost we need at the moment with all the bad news we've had. I really feel optimistic about our future now.