Topic: Liverpool vs Manchester United, 17 January 2021, 4:30 PM

[Fruity]

Hate this game. I just want the 3 points. Don't want to see any silly early goals for them or penalties or one of ours getting sent off. If we play the same as we did against the other pretenders then that should be enough but feel we could be nervy going into this one.

Someone let me know on monday what happened.

[kaesarsosei]

When's the last United game that had so much riding on it?

It feels like a direliction of duty for us to have allowed this game to be so important.

[Geezer08]

My two concerns are our form and set their plays, they have excellent takers and headers and we have a short line up

[stockdam]

Thanks for the opening post PIM......nice summary.

The first thing that is important is whether Matip starts or not. If he doesn’t then we’ll be weak defending set pieces and attacking our own corners.

I expect them to setup ultra defensively to prevent us over-running them.

I also expect them to be told to dive as much as possible and to get free kicks; if we don’t have Matip to defend then we could be in trouble. Their other tactic will be to hit us on the break so we’ll need to be wary of this.

I don’t like the idea of Henderson and Fabinho defending free kicks or corners. Pogba and Fernandes like to dive at every opportunity so I hope the referee sees through this.

Their wet dream will be to nick an early goal and then they’ll pack their defence and hope to nick a 2nd on the break. If we score first then they’ll have to come out and I really don’t think they’ll match our intensity.

Our midfield will need to get a grip of the game and be positive.....if Thiago plays then he’ll run the game. If they score first then I hope Shaqiri comes on (I don’t think he’ll start).

It’s going to be a tough game and it’s time to shake off our poor form. We need the referee to be firm and not fall for their dives otherwise we’ll just have to play them at their own game. I want Henderson to be constantly talking to the referee.

2-0 to us.

[ac]

Expecting to see:

Alisson

Alexander-Arnold
Fabinho
Henderson
Robertson

Thiago
Gini
Milner

Salah
Firmino
Mane

With us winning a very tight 2-1. Salah and a beautifully poetic Milner pen.

Looks about right. Klopp will want to limit our centre backs being caught 1v1 on counter so I can see us playing deep which will mean more onus on the front 3 to create and score. Can see this being tight with both teams scoring with there being a draw or a narrow win. Either way looking forward to seeing Thiago

[killer-heels]

Looks about right. Klopp will want to limit our centre backs being caught 1v1 on counter so I can see us playing deep which will mean more onus on the front 3 to create and score. Can see this being tight with both teams scoring with there being a draw or a narrow win. Either way looking forward to seeing Thiago

If we sit deep and just rely on magic from the front three then we will struggle to score at all.

[Shite Name]

I fully expect us to completely dominate them, they won’t show no ambition and set up not to get beat, we need to keep it on the ground and not just swing cross after cross into their area.

It’s just gonna be frustrating to see it being reffed by 2 different sets of rules, we’ll be penalised for everything and they’ll be allowed all those little fouls without getting booked to break up our play.

They ain’t top of the league because they are the best team in the league, they are there because the officials/VAR have made sure they are there because they are to shit to get there themselves.

Henderson needs to be on at the Ref all game, we can’t afford not the get all 3 points.

COME ON YOU FUCKING REDMEN YNWA. 

[RogerTheRed]

Come on Redmen!!
Thanks for a wide ranging factual op PiM. Only two people to worry about individually in their line up in my mind - Cavani and Tierney.
Hearing rumours Matip is struggling to make it, really hope that isn’t the case.
This IS a must win game and I think we will as long as Tierney is not too blatantly visible.

[Mr Benn please?]

If that is the match I am thinking of then that was a joke.

For me it was Mark Halsey in the 2-1 loss at Anfield. Shelby sent off for a 50/50 that Evans gave a worse tackle for, several penalty calls missed, a penalty for United for doing nothing; it was a farce.

Kenny's comeback game at OT when they won through Berbatov diving for a
penno was another sickner. There were also a couple of occasions where Valencia dives won them penalties. The offside  Ibrahimovic equaliser a couple of years ago. And the foul on Div in the build up to their goal at OT last season. They have had a fair few contentious decisions go their way in this fixture over the years.  Hopefully not on Sunday though, fingers crossed.

[fowlermagic]

We know what to expect here, 10 men behind the ball and they will try and get us on the break which is more of an option this time around as we are not the quickest backline with our second string CD. Even so we have enough firepower to scare the crap out of them. We need to stretch them, let them run around chasing the ball and make sure we are deadly in front of goal. I would love to see Shaqiri start but I dont see that happening but with Gini-Hendo-Thiago in CM we will surely dominant the battlefield.

[Zlen]

Whatever the result, hopefully it is not a game dominated by referees and VAR. That would be enough, anything else result-wise would be nice bonus.

Not sure we’re capable of doing it, but giving them the ball here and there and pouncing on them would not be the worst approach. Basically moving the press to a deeper position when they attack.

[Always_A_Red]

The fact is, this is a must win for us. We've messed up against lower teams that we should have beat and that now means that against our rivals, we have to get 3 points, especially at home.

Time for mistakes is over. It's time to put a run together and put this lot back in their place!

Hopefully we'll see a midfield of Gini, Hendo & Thiago. If we do, I think we'll win convincingly. 

[McSquared]

They’ll be coming into this overconfident. If the officials don’t let their bias turn the game, we are going to twat these sistoh fingering c*nts

[Wingman]

When's the last United game that had so much riding on it?

It feels like a direliction of duty for us to have allowed this game to be so important.

In the league, probably not since 08-09.

I have a feeling we’ll create and finish a whole lot better than we have of late, and put this lot away comfortably. I’m looking forward to watching Maguire on the ball just outside their area as our front 3 cut down all his passing options.

[Suareznumber7]

Hate this game. I just want the 3 points. Don't want to see any silly early goals for them or penalties or one of ours getting sent off. If we play the same as we did against the other pretenders then that should be enough but feel we could be nervy going into this one.

Someone let me know on monday what happened.

I can never understand how people can say this about these games.  I fucking love these games.  I love everything about them.  The buildup, the game, giving my friends who support Utd shit when they lose.  It's fucking great

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I can never understand how people can say this about these games.  I fucking love these games.  I love everything about them.  The buildup, the game, giving my friends who support Utd shit when they lose.  It's fucking great

I hate it because it makes more anxious and nervous than any other game ever, leading up to it and during it, regardless of our form, their form, whatever the case may be.

[duvva 💅]

Thanks for the OP, sets the scene nicely.

This is a massive game no two ways about it, as it’s actually rare we’re involved in top of the table clashes and that we both have teams good enough to challenge at the same time (although I’m still not convinced they ultimately will).

I’d stop short of calling it must win as it’s too early in the season for talk like that. However a defeat definitely puts us on the back foot and needing to find out form quickly and get re-energised.

I do think even with our defensive problems we have the Better team, Matip being fit would be massive here, but we can still win with Williams or Phillips so long as we’re clinical at the other end of the pitch.

It’ll be right and nervy as it always is but as long as there’s no unnecessary help from the officials we win this by the odd goal.

[Caligula?]

Just get the three points. We can't afford any more draws let alone losses. We really need to step it up a few gears though as we've been absolute rubbish as of late. Even the first half against Villa's kids was atrocious.

I'm thinking that this game will be a statement. Either the one where we lay down a marker and say to the rest of the league that we're not going away any time fast and are still pribably favourites for the title along with City, or that we're just nowhere near as good as we've been the last two seasons and are about as likely to finish 5th as we are 1st.

[rob1966]

The game will NOT be on in our house.

[red1977]

Hopefully Joel is fit. If so I would like to see Hendo at 6 so we can play Thiago at 8, he can pick holes in their back line with his passing and they won’t get near him.

[King_doggerel]

If Matip is fit the fuck it, play him with Williams/Phillips

Henderson-Thiago-Fabinho is our best midfield. Push Thiago up to the #10 position

[nerdster4]

We need to win well I think. A 2-0 dominating possession and shots and in no way being a nervy win will clearly send a message to both manc clubs. Anything other than 3 points is inviting a top 4 chase .

Matip return important. Means we can start our first choice midfield . Will miss jota. Shaqiri coming on can again make a difference . Key game for trent, thiago and firmino
 

[kezzy]

I’m going for 6-2 to the mighty reds.   Thiago will take the piss in midfield and our forwards will find their shooting boots again.  Yernited will get two pens.  One will be a cross that hits Fabinho on the back of the head and that c*nt Tierney will point to the spot and say VAR has already reviewed it within 3 seconds and the other one will be someone will sneeze in the directors box and Penandes will throw himself on the floor like he’s been twatted by Mike Tyson and then do 50 roll overs from the centre circle to the penalty box and Tierney will again point to the spot saying he’s reviewed it on the monitor and there was defo contact from a stray piece of snot that looked like it came from a Liverpool director.  Defo pen.

Anyway we’ll still twat them with goals from Salah 2, Mane 2, Bobby and Wijnaldum.   Come on the redmen. 

[The G in Gerrard]

If Matip can't play then hope we put Shaqiri in midfield.

[PoetryInMotion]

If Matip can't play then hope we put Shaqiri in midfield.

If Matip can't play, it's furthermore a reason not to put Shaqiri in midfield.

[SinceSixtyFive]

I’m going for 6-2 to the mighty reds.   Thiago will take the piss in midfield and our forwards will find their shooting boots again.  Yernited will get two pens.  One will be a cross that hits Fabinho on the back of the head and that c*nt Tierney will point to the spot and say VAR has already reviewed it within 3 seconds and the other one will be someone will sneeze in the directors box and Penandes will throw himself on the floor like he’s been twatted by Mike Tyson and then do 50 roll overs from the centre circle to the penalty box and Tierney will again point to the spot saying he’s reviewed it on the monitor and there was defo contact from a stray piece of snot that looked like it came from a Liverpool director.  Defo pen.

Anyway we’ll still twat them with goals from Salah 2, Mane 2, Bobby and Wijnaldum.   Come on the redmen.

Jeebus  how weird can you get? EXACTLERLY what I've been thinking!

Agreed - 6-2. 

[killer-heels]

If Matip can't play, it's furthermore a reason not to put Shaqiri in midfield.

I dont agree. If Matip doesnt play then its more likely that Trent will be deeper as to protect that channel next to Williams, Phillips or Henderson. That will have a knock on effect to our attack and we may very well need more creativity in midfield to compensate.

[ConqueredAllOfEurope]

I would love to see a midfield 3 of Hendo, Thiago and Gini but I guess that depends if Matip is fit. If he's not, I fully expect Hendo to go CB and Milner to go into midfield.

It's going to be another game where we will dominate the possession. Our final pass has been lacklustre these past few games and that will have to change for this game otherwise we will have another frustrating evening. We should have decent options off the bench with the likes of Shaq and Ox being able to make a difference if things aren't going our way.

Utd will obviously look to get us on the counter, so we need to be sharp and concentrated throughout the game and be ready positionally as we don't have much pace with our CBs. On paper, our front three should ruin their defence, especially the likes of Shaw, Bailly and Maguire. All are rash and prone to silly errors. Need to capitalise on this.

I'm feeling strangely confident ahead of this, so I'm going to predict a 3-1 win to us.

[4pool]

They won't score.

The question is, will we?

[Clint Eastwood]

I sure hope Matip is back.

[Van Halen]

Came into this thread a bit nervy, but seeing the imminent 6-2 result has me settled.

Wish we could keep the clean sheet, but subbing on Shaq at CB late to taunt them will be worth conceding a couple.

[Dr. Beaker]

At set pieces we shut put Thiago up against Maguire. He will win most, and know how to 'behave' when fouled.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

A part of me would love to see us play a diamond with Shaqiri as the 10 and Mane and Salah up front.

[Tony19:6]

Hope we don't play Hendo @CB we've already lost Fab from our MF, to lose our captain from his natural position would severely deplete both positions IMO.

Marshy-Al likely being out reduces the threat of pace from their attack, with Cavani providing more of an aerial threat.

For me Phillips/Williams partners Fab at CB on the assumption that Matip is out.

[PoetryInMotion]

I dont agree. If Matip doesnt play then its more likely that Trent will be deeper as to protect that channel next to Williams, Phillips or Henderson. That will have a knock on effect to our attack and we may very well need more creativity in midfield to compensate.

We will be open as it is to their counters. If Shaqiri plays without Matip, we'll be sliced open and then you'll be blaming Williams/Phillips for a blunder in the setup. Klopp will never do this anyway.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I think Klopp will trust Williams over Phillips if one of them needs to play

[Fruity]

I hate it because it makes more anxious and nervous than any other game ever, leading up to it and during it, regardless of our form, their form, whatever the case may be.

What he said.

I'm a bit of a shitter at the best of times but united has too much riding on it for me. Brothers, sisters, Brothers in law, nephews - a whole bunch of manc loving family I have to deal with. I'm pretty sure  that is a big part of the reason I hate united so much. For me - when we beat them its momentary joy followed by relief. If we lose I will just be filled with hatred.

[stockdam]

At set pieces we shut put Thiago up against Maguire. He will win most, and know how to 'behave' when fouled.

Be serious

[Dr. Beaker]

What he said.

I'm a bit of a shitter at the best of times but united has too much riding on it for me. Brothers, sisters, Brothers in law, nephews - a whole bunch of manc loving family I have to deal with. I'm pretty sure  that is a big part of the reason I hate united so much. For me - when we beat them its momentary joy followed by relief. If we lose I will just be filled with hatred.

Don't worry mate. That's what it's like for the rest of us too.

[Dr. Beaker]

Be serious

Sorry.