Liverpool vs Man City Match Thread

[Craig_H]

Strange lineup for City

Tevez up top on his lonesome? No Ballotelli? Even after Mancini's nonsense this arvo?

Johnson and Milner on the wings in a 4-3-3?

Weird

Mancini just confirmed Balotelli has a knee problem and they didnt want to risk him. In their starting XI, only Tevez and Adam Johnson, IMO, represent genuine consistent threat.

That's not saying Barry, Yaya Toure, Milner etc cant score or threaten - but if/when they do, it's rare. They arent consistent goal threats. The fact that City only have 2 in their lineup, pleases me.

I do worry about Tevez and Johnson though. Mascherano would've been very useful to help deal with them. The little cunt.

[Craig_H]

He was just stating the obvious really.

Which makes you wonder why state it. Considering it's so obvious.

He couldnt wait to make the point though.

[Fierce]

You sound like the voiceover on Soap. Before your time I imagine.

Without knowing anything about it, I'd be inclined to agree

[DannyMan2006]

Tough game. Massive call by Roy. Spurs went 442 at WHL last week against them and took them to the cleaners for the first 45 minutes and it will be interesting to see if we can start with a high tempo away from home.

We are going to be hugely out numbered in midfield and Gerrard and lucas are going to have to be right on their game. But we played last week with a man short in midfield and coped against a far better passing team than city, so this time with two attackers we will be looking good. Will keep City occupied anyways.

[wiw]

N'gog and Torres imo won't work, but we shall see. Bold team, hope it doesn't backfire

[JohnDoe]

**** yeah. Nothing to fear from that incredibly negative City line-up. I can't believe they are playing at home with that line-up. 4321 !!

Lets ****ing teach them a lesson

It's 4-3-1-1-0-0-1-0-0

[Rudo]

Which makes you wonder why state it. Considering it's so obvious.

He couldnt wait to make the point though.

I think it was more of a compliment to Roy than a dig at Rafa.

It depends how you look at it though.

Either way, i'm sure he wasn't the only one thinking Rafa would never play that team.

[SimonNo7]

I think we could find ourselves over run in midfield personally with there three out muscling our two CM and getting the ball out to Johnson and Milner.

As for Milner not scoring or threatening, come on, he scored in his first game of the season and has scored a fair few for Villa in the past as has Barry.

Tevez has the ability to torture our CB and Johnson against Agger at left back also worries me.

I personally am not feeling positive about this one, sorry.

[Craig_H]

N'gog and Torres imo won't work, but we shall see. Bold team, hope it doesn't backfire

They are both out and out strikers, both almost 'lone' strikers, so it could be tough.

But by the same token, having them both there to support each other and help each other could also reap dividends. I doubt City would have been expecting it, and if i am honest, i'd have worried about N'Gog being bullied out by the likes of Kompany and Kolo Toure.

With two strikers, we can occupy both CBs of their's and it'll allow Stevie to bomb forward and pick up the pieces. Even if Gerrard does bomb forward on occasion and leave Lucas, their CM trio of De Jong, Barry and Yaya Toure are hardly the kind of midfielders who'd get forward to the edge of our box and cause a goal threat.

I think, if we nullify their wide players, Johnson especially, we win this game.

[Rudo]

Hodgson being interviewed right now...

[Craig_H]

I think it was more of a compliment to Roy than a dig at Rafa.

It depends how you look at it though.

Either way, i'm sure he wasn't the only one thinking Rafa would never play that team.

It was the way he said 'Oh well done Roy' and the sheer delight he took in saying it - it was clearly a dig at rafa, as well as a compliment to roy.

[Craig_H]

Obviously this thing about Mascherano telling Roy he didnt want to play is looking true, as Roy has said he's not in the right frame of mind to play.

Roy also saying the club will stick to their guns and if the offer doesnt match our valuation, he wont go. He also said he hopes/expects to be able to pick him again after tonight.

Good stance from Roy and he delivered it with assertiveness.

[Rudo]

It was the way he said 'Oh well done Roy' and the sheer delight he took in saying it - it was clearly a dig at rafa, as well as a compliment to roy.

Maybe a bit of both, dude.

Roy looks quite confident about our chances tonight.
When you look at it, you could say we've got 4 strikers on the pitch and one attacking midfielder/2nd striker

[JohnDoe]

Obviously this thing about Mascherano telling Roy he didnt want to play is looking true, as Roy has said he's not in the right frame of mind to play.

Roy also saying the club will stick to their guns and if the offer doesnt match our valuation, he wont go. He also said he hopes/expects to be able to pick him again after tonight.

Good stance from Roy and he delivered it with assertiveness.

I love Roy.

[McDermotX]

Obviously this thing about Mascherano telling Roy he didnt want to play is looking true, as Roy has said he's not in the right frame of mind to play.

Roy also saying the club will stick to their guns and if the offer doesnt match our valuation, he wont go. He also said he hopes/expects to be able to pick him again after tonight.

Good stance from Roy and he delivered it with assertiveness.

Roy