FA Cup semi-final v Man City

[Shaggy]

Wembley, 3:30pm kick off

I have never known such relentlessness

Personally I would play Naby ahead of Hendo, but I think last night's selection and subs indicates Hendo will play with Fab & Thiago again.

Every time Ibou plays he makes a case for himself and I wouldn't be unhappy to see him play, but I think Matip will start. Likewise Kostas, but Robbo will play.

As ever the big dilemma is up front. I think Diaz will start this one, probably at the expense of Jota.

Ali

TAA
Matip
VVD
Robbo

Fab
Thiago
Hendo

Salah
Mane
Diaz

For them I think Walker will do well to make it:

[ame]https://twitter.com/IMechanisms/status/1514342379075026950[/ame]

KDB will probably make it despite ending the game on the bench with an icepack. Up the Reds.

[Doc_Piptorious]

It is feeling a bit like 2001 in terms of the games coming fast and thick with little time between games.

[Jas]

I’ve only gone and blagged 4 tickets for the game, can’t bloody wait!!

[Shaggy]

Other point re them is that Steffen has been their designated FA Cup keeper, not Ederson. Be interesting to see if Pep sticks to his guns with that one.

[Liverpool]

Matip situation is interesting 3 games in 6 days with United looming?

I think Klopp has faith in Konate/Gomez in reserve so can almost risk running Matip into the ground by going with his first choice pairing when possible.

[Buzzo]

I’d like to see Diaz start. City haven’t really faced him before.

I’d be interested to see the Diaz/Bobby/Salah front line given some game time!

Wouldn’t be averse to Kostas starting either this or Man U to reward performance and feel there are more than enough massive games coming up to keep everyone happy.

[S-RED]

I’ve only gone and blagged 4 tickets for the game, can’t bloody wait!!

City half?

[Doc_Piptorious]

I’d like to see Diaz start. City haven’t really faced him before.

I’d be interested to see the Diaz/Bobby/Salah front line given some game time!

Wouldn’t be averse to Kostas starting either this or Man U to reward performance and feel there are more than enough massive games coming up to keep everyone happy.

Think he played against them a few times in the CL last season or the season before.

Would have started him on Saturday myself, but if Walker is out then think it is a no brainer to start Diaz on our left.

Good shout about Kostas. Think Roberston for City and Kostas for Man U makes sense as it gives rest time at LB and keeps that position fresh going into each game.

Would nearly do the same for some of the league games in the coming weeks at RB too. Give Gomez a few more run outs there to give TAA a break before an upcoming big game.

Was very nice to see how easily Konate stepped into VVD's shoes though and he sprayed those long diagonal balls in a manner quite similar to that of Virgil.

Think I would still start Mane up front along with Salah and Diaz, but wonder if we could have Mane and Salah swap roles from time to time and let Diaz stay out left.

In the middle I think it has to be Fab, Thiago and Keita to give us more resistance to City's press and a greater ability to force our own press.

[Doc_Piptorious]

City half?

No worries finding plenty of space then

[Shaggy]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP2_h6IS5Uc"]🇨🇴 Luis DÃaz | Porto ➡️ Liverpool | Quality Solo Goal vs Man City - YouTube[/ame]

[BigChief]

Crucially, with Walker possibly out, it means Cancelo gets pushed to the right and faces up to Robbo instead of Trent. So Trent can focus more on feeding the front line with only Zinchenko/Ake to worry about.

Alternatively, with Dias back in the middle, Pep may want to put Stones RB to keep Cancelo on the left. Risky if so, as not only will be breaking up a very functional CB pairing currently but playing with three CBs effectively.

I reckon they'll go:
Ederson
Cancelo Dias Laporte Ake
Rodri KdB ****face
Jesus Sterling Foden

[S-RED]

Crucially, with Walker possibly out, it means Cancelo gets pushed to the right and faces up to Robbo instead of Trent. So Trent can focus more on feeding the front line with only Zinchenko/Ake to worry about.

Alternatively, with Dias back in the middle, Pep may want to put Stones RB to keep Cancelo on the left. Risky if so, as not only will be breaking up a very functional CB pairing currently but playing with three CBs effectively.

I reckon they'll go:
Ederson
Cancelo Dias Laporte Ake
Rodri KdB ****face
Jesus Sterling Foden

Who is ****face? so many options????

[Pablo]

I'm not sure if they'll start Dias. He's been out 6 weeks and didn't even come on as a sub last night. Do you think they'll risk him from the start?

[Mark79]

Who is ****face? so many options????

Bernardo Silva!

[Irishnev]

I saw that both Walker and KDB are out from Twitter - no official confirmation though