Topic: Match Preview: UCL QF 1st Leg Liverpool v Man City [4 April 2018, K.O 19:45 GMT]

[riismeister]

Do the stats back up the idea that being home in the 2nd leg is a big advantage ?  It always seems to be considered as one, but I don't buy it.
The idea that "you know what you have to do at home" seems to be the line, f**k that shit.

In the 196 CL knockout-ties since 2003-04, 125 (or ~64%) saw the team playing at home in the 2nd leg advance.

Numbers are from this article written about a month ago by Andrew Beasley ;

https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Soccer/champions-league-match-predictions/D3E2R38B3CRB5ZZX

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Nobody cares about Everton or the derby right now.

[Sevens and Eights]

Nobody cares about Everton or the derby right now.

What’s an Everton... what derby?

Only one match matters this week, it’s making my stomach ill thinking about it. Thank god I’ll be working, I’ll watch the match when the dust settles...

[Fiasco]

The ideal scenario for us would be to race into an early lead, forcing City perhaps be indecisive over what their plan would be from there on out. You'd expect them to still attack and get a couple of away goals but if they go all out and panic we could get a lot of joy on the counter-attack. They're going to have the lion's share of the possession anyway, but to what extent they'd be willing to have a shootout with us should they be chasing the tie early on would be interesting to see.

That said, the nightmare scenario for us would be to be losing by a couple of goals early on. We must still keep ourselves in the tie going to the Etihad, as long as we do that I will be confident. I was happy when the draw was made that the second leg will be away from home and I still am. This City side is legitimately outstanding and we cannot underestimate them but they are not unbeatable. We have shown that. Sure, they didn't have Silva but we didn't have Van Dijk either. I think he could be the difference.

It's going to be frenetic. It is something we should treasure and we should take it all in. It has been a while since we've been here. If we play to our best and the tie is fair over 180 minutes then we absolutely can advance to the semi-finals. Klopp is no mug tactically and he's got a great record against Pep. Let's fucking do this.

[jckliew]

Sh1tting bricks now waiting for this.

Hope I won't be disappointed! 

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Trying to decide if I should follow text commentary on here whilst the game is on and I'm working or not check the score until I get off work. Either way my heart is going to bits.

[Number 7]

Trying to decide if I should follow text commentary on here whilst the game is on and I'm working or not check the score until I get off work. Either way my heart is going to bits.

I’ve been contemplating doing that as I’m travelling that day. However, I can’t remember the last time I shunned social media completely while a match was ongoing and watched it later that day. It probably was the CL and it must have been a good 10 years or so ago. Even if I haven’t been able to watch a match live I’ve followed the score online.

Not really sure what I’m going to do here but I’ve been deliberating different scenarios in my head. Part of me wants to watch it later and avoid the score but I worry that some friend is going to text me and I’ll inadvertently read it. I also don’t think we’re going to fuck this up, especially at Anfield. I mean they’re great but we’re a bloody good side now and if I watch it later I’m confident we would have done alright.

[farawayred]

I feel strange about this game - nervous as hell, but having the knowledge that I'd be satisfied whichever way it goes. I feel that we have a good chance if Lady Luck is on our side, but I know for sure that we will watch a wonderful game. 

[harleydanger]

I think this tie might be done either way after this 90, just the feeling i get

[Giono]

Could there be a PSG factor at play where they are unfamiliar at not totally dominating a matching m the start, so when they encounter a real challenge they are in unfamiliar territory? Let’s hope we score first and stun them and cast doubt early.

[Lycan]

I think the Everton tie is much less importance than usual and you make plenty of changes... I can really see Solanke getting a chance again..

Yes, I agree but it won't be 10 changes.

[RedKenWah]

Casting my mind back to the Man City game at home earlier on this season, they still are the only side that has really put us under immense pressure, both on the ball and off it. Their pressing that day was impressive.
I’m of 2 minds really, I’m slightly worried about our team defending as a unit, and I believe that if TAA is playing at right back then I worry about him being targeted. In fact it’s almost a certainty really, and our midfield need to learn to offer him a lot more protection. The other thought though is; we are Liverpool and we are going to absolutely twat ‘em. Bobby, Mane and Salah are going to get the pace bouncing.
Bring on tomorrow night, bring on the smoke, bring on the noise, bring it all on!

[Riquende]

Weirdly I'm in the cinema tonight at almost the exact time the game is on, so not only am I not watching but won't be able to stay informed. It's going to be a tense few seconds waiting for the phone to come back on after.

[TealC]

Weirdly I'm in the cinema tonight at almost the exact time the game is on, so not only am I not watching but won't be able to stay informed. It's going to be a tense few seconds waiting for the phone to come back on after.

 

Oh tonight - or do you mean tomorrow night?

If not i have good news for you 

[jooneyisdagod]

I've been trying not to think about this game as it gives me the jitters but it's done now. The excitement has set in. It's time to batten down the hatches and get ready for what I suspect will be an absolute nailbiter. It has the feeling of Juventus 2005 for me. Go out in the first leg against an all-star team that look like a top European side and fucking do them with a flurry at the start. Rafa was criticised back then for being negative but he promised that Liverpool would come out and attack against Juve and that's what they did. The start to the game was fucking rousing and I think Finnan? put in a cracking tackle to win a corner early in the game and you knew it was on. That's what we need against City. That spirit and that fire. Let's smash them and leave them quaking.

[Riquende]

Oh tonight - or do you mean tomorrow night?

If not i have good news for you 

Actually both, hence the confusion...

[Ski]

has anyone posted this yet?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8nz5m

[TepidT2O]

Looking like there’s no Can.... big loss that...

[Barefoot Doctor]

Looking like there’s no Can.... big loss that...

Presumably going to be Henderson, Gini and Ox in midfield then? Milner's been great recently but not sure he's got the legs for City.

[Qston]

Presumably going to be Henderson, Gini and Ox in midfield then? Milner's been great recently but not sure he's got the legs for City.

I would be tempted to play Milner. We need someone who will get in the face of silva and de bruyne as the 2 players that make them tick. Milner is very good at that - better than wijnaldum in my view

[LFC when it suits]

Would be happy with a 0-0, 1-1 or any kind of victory. Would back ourselves to score at the Etihad so I believe we will go into the 2nd leg with an advantage of needing a score draw to not go out or go through.

[Geppvindh's]

I've been trying not to think about this game as it gives me the jitters but it's done now. The excitement has set in. It's time to batten down the hatches and get ready for what I suspect will be an absolute nailbiter. It has the feeling of Juventus 2005 for me. Go out in the first leg against an all-star team that look like a top European side and fucking do them with a flurry at the start. Rafa was criticised back then for being negative but he promised that Liverpool would come out and attack against Juve and that's what they did. The start to the game was fucking rousing and I think Finnan? put in a cracking tackle to win a corner early in the game and you knew it was on. That's what we need against City. That spirit and that fire. Let's smash them and leave them quaking.

Yeah, call me old fashioned, but we need a couple of crunching tackles early on to get the crowd up another notch and to batter them mentally. Show Sterling why he's been such a failure every time he's come back to Anfield.

[Phil M]

Weirdly I'm in the cinema tonight at almost the exact time the game is on, so not only am I not watching but won't be able to stay informed. It's going to be a tense few seconds waiting for the phone to come back on after.

You're actually choosing going to see a film over one of the biggest games of the season involving the team you support? I don't get it.

[JackWard33]

Looking like there’s no Can.... big loss that...

Really? Bollocks that’s not good. For all the criticism of him he’s our best CM and we lose a bit without him.
The other challenge is we’re getting thin for in game changes if he’s out - if he’s out with Lallana out that leaves us with one front 6 change (of palyers he trusts / proven first teamers)

[Gerry Attrick]

I think the last 20 minutes of the first leg could be massive. In the league game we burnt ourselves out after about 65 minutes and nearly ended up drawing. We need to do it for the full 90 this time. Any goals conceded near the end could be absolute crushers.

[Golyo]

In the 196 CL knockout-ties since 2003-04, 125 (or ~64%) saw the team playing at home in the 2nd leg advance.

Numbers are from this article written about a month ago by Andrew Beasley ;

https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Soccer/champions-league-match-predictions/D3E2R38B3CRB5ZZX

57% of those matches are round of 16 matches, where the group winners play home in the second leg. Most of the time those group winners are the better teams. We had an unusual year this time with Beşiktaş, PSG, Tottenham and the mancs going out.

[Geppvindh's]

Kuyt urges Reds to 'show who we are' in Anfield leg

Being drawn to play at home first gives Liverpool an opportunity to 'show who we are' in a Champions League quarter-final Dirk Kuyt expects to be decided by the finer details.

Anfield will host the first leg of the Reds’ last-eight clash with Manchester City on Wednesday, with the second match taking place at Etihad Stadium six days later.

Traditionally, it is seen as favourable to have the second leg of a European tie at home but, with the memory of January’s thrilling 4-3 Anfield victory over City in the Premier League still fresh, Kuyt doesn’t think Jürgen Klopp’s team have been disadvantaged by the order of the games.

“Because it’s football it’s difficult to say. Everyone always tries to predict football but nobody does really!” the former forward told Liverpoolfc.com, after being asked whether playing at home first or second makes a difference.

“That’s why football is such a great game, nobody can predict it. Always people say, ‘it’s better to play away first’, but if you get beat 3-0 in the first game then you don’t even have to bother playing the home game anymore!

“For example, if we beat City in the first game with maybe one or two goals difference, then the mental game at City will be totally different.

“You just have to give everything in those kinds of games. I think it’s great to play the first game at Anfield, to show who we are in the same style we did in the league game. Then we will have a great chance to win at Anfield, and we will see [what happens] when we go to the City stadium without any fear.”

Kuyt knows from personal experience that the power of Anfield can influence the outcome of contests with Europe’s elite.

The Dutchman was, of course, a leading protagonist in several huge continental ties during his six-year Liverpool career, with his knack of popping up with vital goals on such occasions one of the reasons for his enduring popularity among the club’s supporters.

The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Arsenal were beaten over two legs in Kuyt’s time on Merseyside as Rafael Benitez’s side established themselves as mainstays in the latter stages of the Champions League.

And the 37-year-old explained that even opponents of the highest calibre can be left in awe of Anfield’s ‘unique’ atmosphere on big European evenings.

“First of all the crowd is amazing, and also the history of the Champions League nights is something you can feel even before the games,” he said.

“It’s unique [and] I’m not only speaking for myself. For example, when I was with the national team and I was speaking with guys like [Arjen] Robben or [Wesley] Sneijder or [Robin] Van Persie, they also felt the same - only they were wearing the wrong colour shirt!

“They had the same feeling. When I was playing at Anfield, I was feeling so strong and especially on Champions League nights. The crowd is going to get behind the team from the first second until the last, even before the game it all starts. Those days are the days I miss the most.”

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/295553-liverpool-fc-manchester-city-champions-league-anfield-dirk-kuyt

Wouldn't mind a couple of old timers from Rafa's side getting in the players' ears before these big European ties. Dirk, Gerrard, Carra, Alonso maybe.

[SingFongFC]

Had a look at a few Man City forums to see how they were feeling. Lasted about two minutes. Bunch or bitter, arrogant knobheads who feel sort of self entitlement to success nowadays. They basically think they just have to turn up.

Yeah I had a scan at Blue Moon in the early hours when I couldn’t sleep. Some absolutely vile stuff going on over there, actually couldn’t believe it.

Don’t want to even dignify the post that horrified me the most by mentioning its actual content.

One of ours made the mistake of posting, absolutely nothing wrong with what he put - basically just said that they were an outstanding team, miles ahead of the rest this season, either team could win and how much he couldn’t wait for the games.

All he got for his trouble was a load of absolute abuse, topped off by an astonishing rant by someone who is apparently married to an LFC fan, went to Uni in Liverpool and even went to the odd game when City were away on the south coast. He now apparently despises us as a club, fan base etc. In fact, there were quite a few in there claiming to hate us more than they do United, which staggered me.

Strange, strange bunch!

[Qston]

Yeah I had a scan at Blue Moon in the early hours when I couldn’t sleep. Some absolutely vile stuff going on over there, actually couldn’t believe it.

Don’t want to even dignify the post that horrified me the most by mentioning its actual content.

One of ours made the mistake of posting, absolutely nothing wrong with what he put - basically just said that they were an outstanding team, miles ahead of the rest this season, either team could win and how much he couldn’t wait for the games.

All he got for his trouble was a load of absolute abuse, topped off by an astonishing rant by someone who is apparently married to an LFC fan, went to Uni in Liverpool and even went to the odd game when City were away on the south coast. He now apparently despises us as a club, fan base etc. In fact, there were quite a few in there claiming to hate us more than they do United, which staggered me.

Strange, strange bunch!

They do seem to be. I know a few city fans (old timers and not the new influx that has followed the fantasy football signings) and they are sound. They remember the days of playing a few leagues down and know how lucky they have got with their investors - although in fairness it doesn`t sit right with one of them because of who is pumping the money in. You tend to find online that some so called fans take just having a bit of banter way beyond acceptable discourse because they are hiding behind a keyboard. Most fans of other teams I know are, in the main, sound enough and you can have a good footy chat with them.

The atmosphere tomorrow will sort the men from the boys. They won`t have seen or heard anything like it.

[slaphead]

57% of those matches are round of 16 matches, where the group winners play home in the second leg. Most of the time those group winners are the better teams. We had an unusual year this time with Beşiktaş, PSG, Tottenham and the mancs going out.

Good read that. So if we factor that portion in, when it comes to quarter final games, its probably about even.  Wouldn't it be nice to celebrate a semi final spot in Manchester 

[Yesitsanextender]

Every single one of us going to the game has a responsibility, a call to arms a fakin iob to do 2moro night....we are liverpool, this will be anfield..every single
Supporter needs to dig in.
Been to too many games were its a joy to see the kop in full
Swing while the rest just sit in awe. Sometimes feel the kop is the 12th man. Anfield can be the 13th!
No love for city, all love for lfc

[SingFongFC]

They do seem to be. I know a few city fans (old timers and not the new influx that has followed the fantasy football signings) and they are sound. They remember the days of playing a few leagues down and know how lucky they have got with their investors - although in fairness it doesn`t sit right with one of them because of who is pumping the money in. You tend to find online that some so called fans take just having a bit of banter way beyond acceptable discourse because they are hiding behind a keyboard. Most fans of other teams I know are, in the main, sound enough and you can have a good footy chat with them.

The atmosphere tomorrow will sort the men from the boys. They won`t have seen or heard anything like it.

I must admit, I had a little smile to myself every time someone on there rubbished Anfield and the atmosphere. I hope all those that did that are actually going to be present tomorrow!

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

You're actually choosing going to see a film over one of the biggest games of the season involving the team you support? I don't get it.

He won't get it either, if he doesn't go to the cinema.

[Dench57]

Absolutely buzzing my twat off for this. City are the last team I wanted to face but CL knockouts are CL knockouts. This is what its all about. We know we can beat them. Anfield will be rocking so I really hope we don't concede early and deflate the mood. Need to keep up the concentration for 90 minutes this time too!

[Qston]

I must admit, I had a little smile to myself every time someone on there rubbished Anfield and the atmosphere. I hope all those that did that are actually going to be present tomorrow!

and funnily enough the old timers I have spoken to have said that they know that anfield could be a deciding factor. They will walk out to a wall of noise and their fans will experience a full ground for once !

[gjr1]

Would take a win of any kind... even 0-0, 1-1 and we'll be in the tie.

Wonder if he'll play Sterling...

[Smellytrabs]

Fuck off Man City, you ain't got no history...

[clinical]

Think Gomez would have played in this one if he was fit. TAA has to be on his best defensive performance. We are the underdogs and we excel in this position. COME ON!

[Marty 85]

"“You saw it against Everton at the weekend. They have a good crowd but if you are three goals ahead, then it is really difficult for them to get into it. Let’s hope we can do the same at Anfield."

http://www.football365.com/news/de-bruyne-dismisses-european-nights-anfield-talk

Boys in for a rude awakening. He'll be made to eat those words.

[spider-neil]

"“You saw it against Everton at the weekend. They have a good crowd but if you are three goals ahead, then it is really difficult for them to get into it. Let’s hope we can do the same at Anfield."

http://www.football365.com/news/de-bruyne-dismisses-european-nights-anfield-talk

Boys in for a rude awakening. He'll be made to eat those words.

I've always thought that the ferocious atmosphere was more to push us rather than to intimidate the opposition.