Pre-Match: Man City v LFC (Carling Cup semi-final 1st leg)

11 January 2012 K.O. 19:45

Live on BBC One

Big match in four days. Will be interesting to see how we go about this? We just played on Friday night although a few of the lads got a rest. We also have to keep in mind the league match with Stoke on Saturday. It's a two legged tie so it will be interesting to see how Kenny uses the squad and balances the league matches.

I like the idea of the second leg at Anfield but we need to make our point in this match! Another game like the last league match and we'll be fighting a huge uphill battle. The last match at The Etihad gave us a wake up call. It was a stark contrast to the match at Anfield that we should have won. We need to compare the two and learn from our mistakes and the biggest difference for me was the pressure on the man when we were out of possession. At Anfield Lucas and Adam played like men possessed and closed down every ball in the middle of the park. We also pressed them much higher up the pitch. At the Etihad we sat deeper and weren't as quick to close down and challenge. We looked to counter more than use our quick passing to create space.

I think to win this match we need to take the game to City and show them they won't get a second on the ball and if they give it up we will punish them. I would go for this starting XI:

                             Reina

Johnson        Skrtel        Agger         Enrique

                           Spearing

                  Gerrard       Shelvey   
Bellamy                                            Downing
                            Carroll

Subs: Doni, Carragher, Kelly, Adam, Henderson, Maxi, Kuyt

Bellamy has shown time and time again the service he can give into the box and Downing isn't bad either. Them two supplying Carroll from out wide as well as the added goal threat of Bellamy coming inside. Some people won't agree with Shelvey instead of Adam and you can make a very good case for either. I have chosen Shelvey as he will be on cloud nine after Friday night. First goal and a very good performance. He can defend well and he showed with his goal he has a good positional sense. His passing can be 50:50 but Gerrard is well able to distribute the play. Also Gerrard can give that added dimension to the supply for Carroll. I think the rest speak for themselves, the usual suspects in the back 5 and Spearing holding as he can pressure them like a terrier at their heels.

City will be without the Toure brothers and although they have a dream squad, Yaya will be missed in the center of the park. Add Gerrard to that and it will be all about the winners of the midfield battle. They also have to play United in the FA Cup which I can't see them resting too many players!

I'm going to say if we play like we did at Anfield in November then we can win this 2-1. Gerrard and Carroll with the goals.

I feel confident that we can win this and go on to complete the job in the return at Anfield.Now that the lads know how to put the ball in the net we should not have a problem.I think I would prefer to see Bellamy on the left wing.

We should go for a win because it will put one foot closer towards a long awaited final.

                                   Reina

Johnson       Skrtel                  Agger            Enrique

                                   Spearing

                   Gerrard                  Henderson

Downing                                                       Bellamy

                                   Carroll

I think if we play like how we've been playing and of course take our chances, we can beat them.

We should go for a win because it will put one foot closer towards a long awaited final.

                                   Reina

Johnson       Skrtel                  Agger            Enrique

                                   Spearing

                   Gerrard                  Henderson

Downing                                                       Bellamy

                                   Carroll

I think if we play like how we've been playing and of course take our chances, we can beat them.

This is the formation. We should go for a win but a draw honestly would not be a terrible result. We can get the win at anfield if we draw.

Not sure about Shelvey starting just yet, think Hendo should get another game and I think he will work well with Gerrard

----------------------Reina----------------------
---Glen------Skrtel------Agger---Enrique---
------------------Spearing---------------------
------------Henderson-----Gerrard----------
Downing/Maxi-------Carroll---------Bellamy

1-3 to us

There isn't any away goals rule is there?

13.5 In the Semi-Final ties, if the aggregate score is level at the end of the second game an extra half-hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain equal after this procedure the tie shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.

13.5 In the Semi-Final ties, if the aggregate score is level at the end of the second game an extra half-hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain equal after this procedure the tie shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.

Beat me too but I might not have used that wording 

Most important though is bellers on the right and downing on the left.

Carroll up top. pack midfield with Gerrard, hendo & Adam.

Sit tight and get it back to Anfield or go for it?

Thought we pwned the ball there last week but created very little with it any chances we get this time must be taken.

Toure will be a loss to them no doubt and with Stevie back thats a huge advantage. We cant have any passengers here so Downing is a no no for me for this one

We just need to avoid defeat in the first leg. That's the key I think.

Clean sheet is important. No silly mistakes like last week please. With players like Gerrard and Bellamy playing, there is always the possibility of us nicking a goal or maybe even better.

Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Spearing, Shelvey, Gerrard; Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll.

13.5 In the Semi-Final ties, if the aggregate score is level at the end of the second game an extra half-hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain equal after this procedure the tie shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.

First couple of sentences, fair enough.

But the bit in bold just sounds like someone taking the piss!

Surely every rule is "in accordance with the Laws of Association Football" anyway, don't know why they needed to add that bit!

I want Kenny to play our best players because it is long time that we were in a final.

YNWA, for me it is draw

Confident we can beat these over two legs. Yaya Toure is missing and he was their best player the other day against us.

Draw would be decent result and then we get them back to a cauldron like Anfield for the 2nd leg!

Haven't been to their new ground so looking forward to this, should be more comfy than the old Kippax 

                    Pepe

Johnson  Skrtel   Agger   Enrique

             Spearing  Adam

Maxi           Gerrard     Bellamy

                  Carroll

It will be very interesting to see how City's match today will effect them coming into this.

Their team to play United today;

Pantimilon, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Johnson, De Jong, Milner, Silva, Nasri, Aguero

Subs; Hart, Clichy, Zabaletta, Savic, Razak, Suarez, Hargreaves

Apparently Balotelli and Dzeko are out injured.

Happy with that, they're putting out a strong team in what will be a tough physical match.

It will be very interesting to see how City's match today will effect them coming into this.

Their team to play United today;

Pantimilon, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Johnson, De Jong, Milner, Silva, Nasri, Aguero

Subs; Hart, Clichy, Zabaletta, Savic, Razak, Suarez, Hargreaves

Apparently Balotelli and Dzeko are out injured.

Happy with that, they're putting out a strong team in what will be a tough physical match.

Kompany just got straight red in FA cup tie, so presume the ban for him is effective from Weds and is unavailable?

City are only human.

Look how they are struggling to contain Chris Foy today!

Kompany just got straight red in FA cup tie, so presume the ban for him is effective from Weds and is unavailable?

It will be rescinded.

It will be rescinded.

It's against Man U will it F**k.

Bonus for us!!

Kompany is their only world class defender...we can get at these....Mind you I thought that this week. We need a bit of luck, Pepe to play his normal game and Stevie to start.....

It's against Man U will it f**k.

Bonus for us!!

 

There will be a few tired legs in that City side after the united game and with Kompany on a ban and both the Toure's on Nationa Cup duty it might just be the right time to play City. Our lads had so much of the ball in the last match and will no doubt be looking back at the game and wondering how it finished 3-0. It'll beinteresting to see where Kenny puts all his eggs for this one. Will he play a similar side to the Oldham with the likes of Carra, Coates and Kelly playing and then save the recent first choice side fopr Stoke at weekend?

what is the biggest game? I'd be inclined to say this one tbh. If we can get past this lot it's a Wembley final against a side we should beat. I hope Kenny plays what he sees as his best side for this game.