And 10 clear of City. A win would also be beyond my wildest expectations a little a fortnight ago but my priority would be to remain unbeaten and keeping the momentum going into the rest of January's winnable games. Can't wait fitness this game.
It's a strange situation where a loss isn't the end of the world but a win is amazing, it is a game where traditionally we up our work rate and grind them down but I'm not so sure we'll approach it like that. Can we defend and catch them on the break? Is that a suicidal way to play City? Pep once beat a Klopp by avoiding the press by going long will this be a game where that may work as they will certainly have to attack us?
Pep tried sitting back and letting us have the ball in the last game. We'd take that result again though
This is game they have to play at least for their pride. A draw is not so good for them, which is not bad for Liverpool.
Imo we have to go for the win. Although a draw might be ok, if we set our stall out for one we're more likely to lose. The way to beat City is to play them, not to try and stop them from playing.
It's a game of football that lasts ninety minutes. The league table doesn't come into it. Play in the way that gives us the best possible chance of winning the game. That isn't sitting back and doodling up pressure, it's getting on the ball and playing football. This isn't a title decider either, there are another seventeen games to go after this!
I don't disagree. I'd just not go hung ho....,we are really well suited to breaking on this lot. I'd be really happy with the draw, ecstatic with a win but not to downhearted if we lost.
Avoid a loss and injuries to key players. We have worked hard to get to where we are after 20 games and a loss can curtail that momentum. The bigger discussion is who plays in Midfield. I am inclined to go with Hendo Wij Keita. Mane to play on the right with Keita on the left of the 4231 Salah though central by formation tends to drift to the right side and creates an overload. If the LB moves up one out ball and he is clean through. Watch his recent battles with Boly and the Arsenal defence I have put Mane on the right as I beleive he will offer more protection to TAA than Shaqiri. This will also limit how much City can target that area. Robertson with VVD and Keita on his side should be more secure. So it is up to City to break us down and limit us to few chances. Feeling good about this game though.
I couldn't call which 3 will start in midfield but i am quite confident it will be 433. that means 3 from 4. Fabinho/henderson/wijnaludm/milner It'll be mane, firmino salah are per. Every big game we play we go for this.
The 4231 is more solid in my view and offers more protection. It is also worth noting that we move to a 442 when defending. The flat 433 fails massive if Gini and Hendo hide
Gini and Henderson look crap together. Both are better alongside Fabinho, but I also doubt we will go 4-2-3-1
I’d have thought it would be Fabinho Gini and Milner but could easily be Keita henderson in there as well.
Harsh, Gini has arguably been best midfielder along with Milner this season. I think having Fabinho in there with those 2 either side offers much bette rebalance to the team.
Doubt Keita will start. Personally would go Fab Hendo Gini but working out who starts in our MF from game to game feels a bit like a 3 card trick by JK.
The toon lot seem mostly to think we'll get beaten by citeh in their prediction league. I've thanked them all for the reverse jinxing (not that it exists, of course)
From Sky Sports... Afternoon all and welcome as we continue our build-up to the highly-anticipated clash between defending Premier League champions Manchester City and Liverpool, who are seven points clear of seventh-placed City.
I'm not sure. it depends on midfield covering wide areas. I do not think v city you can leave 2 man midfield to cover across the entire pitch and help both full backs. I would play 3 cms.
