Liverpool vs Manchester City - CL Last 8 (1st Leg)

[Slinky Skills]

Id love it if an absolute ****load of fans travel to Manchester and welcome the City bus again like that

Especially after what Company said in his post match interview, the light bulb headed cunt.

[Slinky Skills]

Described as an 'ambush' by Joe

Fairly sure that ambushes aren't publicised weeks in advance

[Slinky Skills]

**** me, we've come a long way

24secs in, first thing they see is some fella's arsehole.

Good spot lol.

[Fredo]

As good as that result is, I fear it's still going to be a backs to the wall and nerve wracking affair on Tuesday, especially if our midfield is depleted. Ball possession is key against City as you cannot press them all game.

[BobTheCharmer]

As good as that result is, I fear it's still going to be a backs to the wall and nerve wracking affair on Tuesday, especially if our midfield is depleted. Ball possession is key against City as you cannot press them all game.

I agree. With the players we have missing and liverpool being liverpool I have a nagging feeling this could go horribly wrong. Keeping them out for the first half hour is vital. If klavan or gomez make it, 5 at back and it won't leave the midfield so short.

[Pablo]

I'm sure it won't be as comfortable as the Porto home game was.

If City score first it will be a test for us. We'll have to be mentally strong.

It's just so tricky for them tactically. They can't go all out attack. We're far too dangerous on the counter-attack for that.

We only need to catch them out once and realistically it's game-over for them.

I'm sure in the build up though you'll hear time and time again how it's not over and I suspect there'll be the odd "expert" predicting an upset too.

[Gray]

City 9/2 to qualify.

[Slinky Skills]

Ha ha ha!

https://twitter.com/LFC_LION/status/981681437219926016?s=19

[marcus50bucks]

Video reveals how Manchester City bus was besieged as Liverpool mob are branded 'scumbags' while coach is attacked before Champions League tie

• New details have emerged of the attack on the Manchester City team coach
• The bus was damaged so badly that it could not take the City squad home again
• The Anfield club have been charged by UEFA following the shocking scenes
• A disturbing new video shows how quickly the trouble erupted outside Anfield

By Mike Keegan and Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 5 April 2018 | UPDATED: 09:56, 6 April 2018

Shocking new footage has emerged of the attack byLiverpool supporters on the Manchester City team coach ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie at Anfield.

Liverpool - who won the game 3-0 - have been charged by UEFA following the shocking scenes that left the bus carrying Pep Guardiola and his players damaged so badly that it was not fit to take the City squad home again.

And a disturbing new video shows how quickly the trouble erupted as the City vehicle approached the Liverpool fans lining the streets close to their famous stadium.

The four-minute video is noticeable for the almost constant thud of objects striking the bus's windows and bodywork. Over the course of the film the bus is struck dozens of times with beer cans appearing through the haze of red pyrotechnic smoke to crash in to the front windscreen.

This undermines any notion that the attack was only the work of a handful of fans.

As the situation deteriorates the closer the City vehicle gets to the ground, conversations between the driver and club support staff are heard with one voice saying: 'They (Liverpool) knew this was going to happen' and another saying: 'We will have to get a new coach for going home' and 'they are f*****g scum bags..I hope the world is seeing this....it is the s******t city in England'. There is also reference made to beating Liverpool 'twenty nil'.

The bus was left with a splintered side window and damage to the front window also. The driver says on the film: 'That one has a hole in it but it won't go through. It is designed to protect the people inside. But it has still shattered the outside. I cant see out of that one.' Sportsmail can reveal that the City team bus was also attacked by fans as it left Anfield after a Premier League defeat in April 2014.

A source who was on board that day said: 'It was terrifying. This brings memories back'.

This newspaper also understands that the possibility of City supporters attempting reprisals on the Liverpool coach will now become a key part of Greater Manchester Police's match planning ahead of Tuesday's return leg.

Serious concerns have been raised about why City's bus came up under a barrage of missiles before Wednesday's game amid fears over the prospect of revenge attacks.

It can also be disclosed that City's players waited for around 25 minutes in the place their coach was targeted earlier in the evening while club medics raced to the aid of a female Liverpool supporter struck in a suspected hit-and-run.

Guardiola and his players sat patiently on their replacement vehicle close to the Arkles pub - scene of the flashpoint - while staff tended to the injured woman in the road.

Witnesses say the medics, in City tracksuits, treated the female, who had suffered injuries to her side, ribs and leg. They added that they spoke to her about the match, putting her at ease until paramedics arrived. City then continued to Manchester.

City are known to be grateful to Liverpool for their support in the aftermath of what happened on the streets close to the stadium. However, privately they are 'deeply unhappy' with Merseyside Police's role in what unfolded, given what they feel was ample prior warning.

On March 19, Sportsmail revealed that City would express their unease to police in Liverpool after it emerged a group of supporters planned a hostile reception for their bus.

A poster circulating on social media urged fans to gather in the streets close to Anfield and arrive armed with 'banners and bangers, pints and pyro' to 'scare 'em back to Mancland with their tails between their legs before the match even starts'. That message appeared to have got through, as City's coach was pelted with cans, bottles and flares, leaving two windows smashed and two police officers injured.

Guardiola sarcastically thanked officials at the stadium for their protection after getting off the damaged vehicle. On the morning of the match, Merseyside Police had released a statement, shared by the club, advising the public that the route to be taken by both teams' coaches had changed for safety reasons.

However, they strongly refute that this encouraged the hostile scenes which followed. A source within the force pointed out that they did not want to create the risk of a surge from the original route to the new one once the changes became apparent.

They added that they wished to be transparent with supporters and stated there was little alternative than to change the route and keep the public informed.

The source also said the logistics of Anfield - surrounded for the most part by rows of terraced houses - make it impossible to quietly usher coaches in. While City did not wish to comment, senior officials feel that not enough preparation was done, that the threat of trouble was not dealt with effectively and that the situation could - and should - have been avoided.

One well-placed City source said: 'It looked like a war zone. They did not have control of the situation. It was totally mismanaged and something you could see coming a mile off.'

Liverpool, who apologised to City and offered them their support, were charged by Uefa on Thursday over their fans setting off fireworks, throwing objects, acts of damage and crowd disturbances. The case will be heard on May 31.

The events will cause a headache for officers in Manchester for the second leg. Extra resources may well be deployed to avert a repeat scenario. The logistics of the Etihad Stadium, which features a tunnel under which away coaches arrive, while the home team goes to the main entrance, should prevent similar scenes.

The incident is the latest chapter in what is an increasing rivalry between the clubs. When the teams met close to the conclusion of the 2013-14 season, the City bus was attacked by bottles and stones on the way out of Anfield following a 3-2 defeat many thought had handed Liverpool the title. At the same match, City insiders said they failed to get a pre-match referee's buzzer to tell them to leave the dressing room.

As a result they were almost late on to the field and some blame the rush that ensued for their slow start, which saw their hosts go 1-0 up inside six minutes. The insider added that Liverpool claimed the buzzer was broken.

Merseyside Police launched an investigation on Thursday into what went on and appealed for camera phone footage to aid their probe. Match commander Supt Paul White said: 'What should have been a celebratory event for thousands of people was spoiled by a number of people who threw bottles, cans and pyrotechnics.

'Their actions will not be tolerated by Merseyside Police and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible and put them before the courts.

'We know many people were filming the events with camera phones and ask that anyone with footage of the projectiles being thrown send it to a dedicated email address so that it can be reviewed: [email protected]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...g-red-mob.html

[Leyton388]

Stopped reading it when it said Daily Mail. Honestly you would think the bus was burnt out they way they are going on.

I seem to remember west ham fans smashing the United bus up a few seasons ago and the United players having to get on the floor. That wasn't talked about as much as this was.

[dom9]

Stopped reading it when it said Daily Mail. Honestly you would think the bus was burnt out they way they are going on.

I seem to remember west ham fans smashing the United bus up a few seasons ago and the United players having to get on the floor. That wasn't talked about as much as this was.

I remember when United's players got pepper sprayed on the way into Anfield in the 80s. Barely a fuss was made.

[dww]

I remember when United's players got pepper sprayed on the way into Anfield in the 80s. Barely a fuss was made.

Not sure why people are seeking to minimise this in this way. The fact the 80s was worse is in no sense a useful or valid defence. A fair amount was made of the United/West Ham incident for a while (at least in the London, although people usually accuse the press generally of being too London-centric). It's deeply unpleasant behaviour and the criticism is more than justified in my opinion.

[dom9]

Not sure why people are seeking to minimise this in this way. The fact the 80s was worse is in no sense a useful or valid defence. A fair amount was made of the United/West Ham incident for a while (at least in the London, although people usually accuse the press generally of being too London-centric). It's deeply unpleasant behaviour and the criticism is more than justified in my opinion.

I'm not justifying anything. Just comparing the reaction.

My view is that the whoever checked the stuff at the coach overstepped the mark, and if they are identified, they should be punished appropriately.

But, that DM article was way OTT IMO. Pure tabloid sensationalism. But I wouldn't expect anything less from them tbh.

[Shaggy]

A City mate of mine was in corporate in the Main Stand. He said the fat men at the table next to him realised he was City and came over to his table, almost certainly charged up on coke, and got in his face calling him a "****ing Manc cunt". In hospitality ffs.

During the game he took his seat, cheered City on at one point and two of them climbed over three rows of seats to start on him.

I'm all for intimidating atmospheres but some of our lot have gone well overboard. Think it's gonna go off at their place - we need to make sure we behave ourselves.

[dww]

I think we can all agree that the DM is going to cover such things woefully. However, it is at least in line with their usual (terrible) coverage of all football related trouble.

I just think comparison to an age when violence around football was common place seems a bit of an odd choice. Society and football culture has moved on a lot. I'm genuinely glad to live at a time when this type of thing is worthy of mention rather than de rigueur.