Man City buildup

[Rudo]

To be fair, they got tonked there this season too - they just got lucky that Joe Hart had the game of his life.

As for winning in Romania - well a side containing those players should bloody well do

True enough but in saying that they were battered all over the park at Spurs last season
- whereas this time around they looked more organised and better defensively - suppose they had Hart to thank for keeping a clean sheet
but i still think they looked decent as a team.

It's going to be an intriguing match on Monday night...Roy's hinted at putting in an out and out replacement for Joe Cole so maybe we'll not see Lucas in the starting line up at all..Maxi possibly?

[Mostar]

They are dude, yeah and i know ppl's arguement will say "but they're yet to gel, no organisation in their side" and all that but i'm not having it...they got a very respectable goalless draw away at White Harte Lane(where they got tanked last season) and kept a clean sheet and nicked a win away from home in Europe albeit against an average side but still, they won.

With a team consisting of Milner, Tevez, Silva and Johnson...i think we're going to have our work cut out.

I'd happily take a draw.

Gel or no gel, they have much better squad this season vs last year and I too would be content with a draw.

2 points against possible title contenders would be a good start. Not great but good..

[Rudo]

Gel or no gel, they have much better squad this season vs last year and I too would be content with a draw.

2 points against possible title contenders would be a good start. Not great but good..

Yeah mate, 2 points from 6 wouldn't be bad at all..but it's such a shame we didn't hold out and get the 3 against Arsenal.

Would have taken the pressure of a bit going into this one.

[Mostar]

Yeah mate, 2 points from 4 wouldn't be bad at all..but it's such a shame we didn't hold out and get the 3 against Arsenal.

Would have taken the pressure of a bit going into this one.

It is what it is. It would have been nice to take all 3 from Gunners but we cannot cry over spilled milk. Water under the bridge.

Let's hope we impress tactically and technically and at least take one from Cityh.

Outcome of that game could pretty much shape our and/or their season aspiration.

Little bit of luck on our side this time around wouldn't hurt either

[dww]

In his last three seasons, Gerrard has scored 59 goals in all comps (13, 26, 20) from the position behind Nando. If Roy is gonna insist on moving him out of the area in which he's the most effective (with goals being the game's most vital currency, if not the only one), then we need to replace 20 goals a season. Cole ain't gonna get that many. The only we won't take a hit is if Joe manages 10 or so with Gerrard chipping in with the same from the deeper position.

But re the City game, with Cole out, we have only one option for my money and that's Stevie off Nando.

Depends for me - if Roy really sees Gerrard deep as the future he has to hold to it. In my opinion if you are going to do that you have to think in terms of a Mourinho Chelsea style three in the middle. Lampard might well have been the most attacking of the three but his starting position was often deep. The closest we have to the type of player Mourinho combined with Makelele and Lampard is Lucas. So if that is the way we want to play I'd start with him ahead of Mascherano and Gerrard even though his role would not be that of the traditional AM.

The problem for us is that Jovanovic and Kuyt lack the pace and trickery of Duff and Robben who occupied the other advanced midfield/forward roles. Then again I think the league is getting weaker so some combination of then plus Babel, Maxi, Pacheco and Cole over the season might work.

[Craig_H]

Yeah mate, 2 points from 4 wouldn't be bad at all..but it's such a shame we didn't hold out and get the 3 against Arsenal.

Would have taken the pressure of a bit going into this one.

It wouldnt be 2 points from 4 though, would it?

The last minute equaliser against Arsenal has put pressure on us for sure and while a draw at City would leave me content, i wouldnt say i'd be happy with it - i think City are there for the taking.

[RichC]

Been thinking about our starting fixtures and after getting over the fact Chelsea couldn't have had an easier first 6 games I am actually quite happy we've got Citeh now - I think as the season develops they'll gel and Mancini or whoever is in charge by Xmas will have worked out thes best starting 11 and formation to use.

As Craig says I think they could be for the taking at this early point in the season

[DannyMan2006]

Been thinking about our starting fixtures and after getting over the fact Chelsea couldn't have had an easier first 6 games I am actually quite happy we've got Citeh now - I think as the season develops they'll gel and Mancini or whoever is in charge by Xmas will have worked out thes best starting 11 and formation to use.

As Craig says I think they could be for the taking at this early point in the season

getting the big guns out of the way early doors is great if we can actually get the results to go with it.

No question that a start of 4 points would be great, but getting just two points already leaves us playing catch up this early in the season. That said, we must make sure we avoid defeat, would be a big blow to the confidence and could ruin the current supposed feel good factor around the place.

[RichC]

getting the big guns out of the way early doors is great if we can actually get the results to go with it.

No question that a start of 4 points would be great, but getting just two points already leaves us playing catch up this early in the season. That said, we must make sure we avoid defeat, would be a big blow to the confidence and could ruin the current supposed feel good factor around the place.

Agree with that but I think we can start with 4 points - very unlucky we didn't get all 3 against Arsenal to be honest (water under the bridge though!)

If we can get past Citeh with a positive result I think we can get a head of steam up - the side is certainly capable of getting on a good run - important we just keep up for now though

[DannyMan2006]

Agree with that but I think we can start with 4 points - very unlucky we didn't get all 3 against Arsenal to be honest (water under the bridge though!)

If we can get past Citeh with a positive result I think we can get a head of steam up - the side is certainly capable of getting on a good run - important we just keep up for now though

Well after the City game we match up with West Brom at home, should be a gimme, but is the first real test to see if Hodgsons way of setting up things can break down teams at Anfield. That said, West Brom tend to come out to play, so maybe the first test or our ability to break teams down will be the one after, Birmingham away...........

Birmingham have proved themselves to be a very difficult proposition at St. Andrews, don't think they've lost there in 2010. They put men behind the ball and counter with the pace up top.

After that, it's Man Utd away and we all now how difficult a place that is to go. A Liverpool side off form could quite easily lose games to City, Brum and Man Utd away.

Come through that fixture list unscathed and maybe only four points of the top and we could actually talk ourselves up for a higher than anticipated finish........ Certainly in with a great shout of top 4.

[Shaggy]

Depends for me - if Roy really sees Gerrard deep as the future he has to hold to it. In my opinion if you are going to do that you have to think in terms of a Mourinho Chelsea style three in the middle. Lampard might well have been the most attacking of the three but his starting position was often deep. The closest we have to the type of player Mourinho combined with Makelele and Lampard is Lucas. So if that is the way we want to play I'd start with him ahead of Mascherano and Gerrard even though his role would not be that of the traditional AM.

The problem for us is that Jovanovic and Kuyt lack the pace and trickery of Duff and Robben who occupied the other advanced midfield/forward roles. Then again I think the league is getting weaker so some combination of then plus Babel, Maxi, Pacheco and Cole over the season might work.

A lot of people seem convinced Jovanovic lacks pace....he doesn't look slow to me. Excellent burst of pace in his locker IMO.

[Rudo]

It wouldnt be 2 points from 4 though, would it?

The last minute equaliser against Arsenal has put pressure on us for sure and while a draw at City would leave me content, i wouldnt say i'd be happy with it - i think City are there for the taking.

2 from 6 is what i meant.

[dww]

A lot of people seem convinced Jovanovic lacks pace....he doesn't look slow to me. Excellent burst of pace in his locker IMO.

I'm not entirely sure about him n this regard. He seems to have a good burst of pace but to slow up a lot when the ball is at his feet. I was more thinking of the pairing. I suppose if Torres is playing we can to some degree do without both wide players having pace.

[-V-]

Jovanovich hasn't got great dribbling speed and his shooting is seriously suspect. Other than that he has looked okay

[Reece]

Torres and Poulsen to start against City; Ngog and Lucas miss out
Sunday, 22nd August 2010 · Share on Facebook

Fernando Torres, who is returning from injury, will start against Manchester City tomorrow away from home, we can confirm.

Pepe Reina will start in goal, with Brad Jones replacing Diego Cavalieri on the bench as back-up.

Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio will start as full-backs for Liverpool. Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel will also start at the back alongside the duo.

Daniel Agger has failed to make the starting eleven after suffering concussion last week, however he will be on the bench for the Reds.

New-signing Christian Poulsen and Javier Mascherano will be paired together in midfield, which means Lucas will be a substitute.

Dirk Kuyt returns to the side and will start on the right wing, next to Steven Gerrard, who is playing in the hole, and Milan Jovanovic on the left.

Fernando Torres, who came on for the second-half against Trabzonspor, will start alone up front.

David Ngog, Brad Jones, Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly, Maxi Rodriguez, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva are set to be on the bench, which has not yet been fully confirmed.

Starting eleven is subject to late change due to injuries.

Stream links to watch the full 90 minutes live will be available tomorrow, 2 hours before kick-off at 8pm (UK).

Starting: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio; Mascherano, Poulsen; Kuyt, Gerrard, Jovanovic; Torres.
Subs: Jones, Kelly, Agger, Lucas, Babel, Rodriguez, Ngog (not fully confirmed).

More here: http://lfcglobe.com/torres-and-pouls...#ixzz0xMlkmGMr

http://lfcglobe.com/torres-and-poulsen-to-start-against-city-ngog-and-lucas-miss-out/