Man City (home)

[Craig_H]

Liverpool v Manchester City
Sunday 3rd October 2021
Kickoff 4:30pm
Anfield

Referee: Paul Tierney
VAR: Stuart Attwell


Seen loads of City fans on social media posting their City lineup and virtually everyone has gone with just one holding midfielder (usually Rodri). I’m hoping that’s what Guardiola does. I remember when we went to their place for Klopp’s first visit & when I saw their lineup only had one holding midfielder, I felt like we’d enjoy oceans of space between the lines. And we ended up ripping them to pieces, winning 4-1.

I think Guardiola might be smarter than that at Anfield this time, but if they do go with only one holding midfielder, that could be a massive error.

Big game obviously. I think Bobby comes back into the side. Very likely Trent misses out. And after last night, (with Thiago out too), the temptation to keep Curtis Jones in the side must be huge.

So probably:

Alisson, Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Mane, Firmino, Salah

If we can win this game, our start to the season will be as near to perfect as you can realistically ask for, given that actual perfection and winning literally every game cannot ever happen.

[SB]

Yeah pretty much nailed on that starting X1 imo.

[Shaggy]

Yep I think that team picks itself.

Huge game for Curtis if selected. He was excellent against them in the home game last season and we actually fell apart a bit after he was taken off.

[spud_gun]

I think we've got to win this. Dropping points at home against our too closest title rivals would be far from ideal.

[Craig_H]

I think we've got to win this. Dropping points at home against our too closest title rivals would be far from ideal.

The crowd will be rocking, none of that rubbish 12:30pm kickoff time either, which helps. Hopefully the players will respond and we don’t get shafted by the ref.

[SB]

I think we've got to win this. Dropping points at home against our too closest title rivals would be far from ideal.

They’d probably take a draw before the match but yeah to really put a marker down we need to beat them at home to put some fear into our fellow title challengers

[Craig_H]

It looks very much like, this season, the likes of City, Chelsea and us will generally be beating most of the rest of the league fairly consistently.

If that’s the case, then it’s probably that the title is decided by the results between the three top teams. Crucial not to lose but a win would be significant.

[SB]

I’d have taken a draw at their place but not at ours. The fans are back & the joint will be rocking. A win is what we want

[Rigadon]

Big call between Firmino (Klopp favourite and just back from injury) and Jota (probably better form than Firmino over the last 12 months and part of a front three that's doing ok )

Think Klopp will go with Firmino. I'd go with Jota.

[Pablo]

I'd pick Firmino for this. Mainly for his incredible pressing from the front. Jota to come on and finish them off as they tire.

Great to have all 4 of them in good form before this game

[RedReet]

It will definitely be Firmino, unless something happens before Sunday. Based on what happened for Chelsea, Bobby would be favourite, but the fact that Jota basically played full 90 last night, means bookies stopped taking bets.

[danperkins]

I'd say he'll start Bobby alright

[S-RED]

CRAZY....

Referee: Paul Tierney. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Stuart Attwell.

[Shaggy]

Guess you could say this about most of them but Tierney is ****ing dreadful.

[RedReet]

What's wrong with Tierney? Is he not normally okay compared to some of the others?