Topic: Liverpool FC vs Man City, Sunday 13 April KO 1:37pm

[KFC]

I will be there wearing my HJC pin, singing my hearts out, I hope I can still speak after the 90 minutes.

I live in Hong Kong so I don't come that often.  It will be my 3rd time to Anfield for the past 10 years.  We won on my first two visits and I believe that this time will be no different.

[rickardinho1]

No need to change our attacking philosophy now. I hope we play that counter attacking style that proved successful against Arsenal and Everton. Draw them onto us then hit them hard and fast.

Thats pretty much what Chelsea did at the Etihad to beat them 1-0. If we play the way we did against Arsenal i'm very confident that we'll get a few goals. Just a question of whether SAS have their right boots on. A couple of quick ones from Skrtel would be most welcome as well

[rickardinho1]

Hart to get sent off in the first half for fouling Suarez inside the box and Gerrard to score from the spot...we go on to win 3-0 with Anfield erupting with joy and belief..A loud roar followed by YNWA resulting in goosebumps..By God's grace we win, nevermind if it doesnt translate the way i expect A win is all that counts...YNWA...

I was thinking more that Flanagan will unfairly get sent off for a great challenge on Navas, Cissokho will come on for Sturridge, but we'll put in a heroic title-winning effort to win 2-1 with Suarez scoring two individual beauties.

This club never does it the easy way, and the way some of the referees have performed lately I wouldn't be surprised by a couple more horrific decisions going against us in the run-in

[rickardinho1]

Last time the lineups were:

                     Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Lescott Kolarov
                 Fernandinho
              Toure      Silva
  Navas                            Nasri
                  Negredo

               Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Sakho Cissokho
                Lucas
           Allen Henderson
Sterling                    Coutinho
               Suarez

I thought we dominated the midfield quite well with that lineup. What changes now though is that we'll be playing with another striker. I would think we'll be looking to play 433, otherwise we could leave a lot of space on the wings for their fullbacks and Navas to exploit. My guess is that we'll try to contain David Silva and Toure as a unit by limiting their space rather than do anything special like man-marking him.

I'm expecting the Arsenal/Everton/Spurs treatment: an aggressive press in a medium block, keeping our midfield and defense close together to close the space between them for their midfielders to roam. That sort or tight energetic game suits us more than them, as they like to move around the pitch at their own slow almost-laboured pace. Coutinho is really suited to that style as he's great at making those runs forward and threading the through-ball so I'd expect him to play, especially as its a home game where he usually excels. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Allen playing though to help out defensively a bit more.

My choice would be our optimal Blitzkrieg lineup:

                 Mignolet
Johnson    Skrtel Agger(if fit) Flanagan
                  Gerrard
Sterling Coutinho Henderson Suarez
                 Sturridge

Keep the two rows compact and hit them on the break at pace.

[RedRedTom]

Biggest game since Athens....

I despise city and their sense of entitlement.  I'm sure they have a few decent fans out there but they do a good job hiding behind the shithouses.  I remember being at their souless bowl stadium a few years ago, two nil down at half time, listening to them singing "we've got Robinho" and "we'll buy your club, and burn it down".  Horrible Manc bastards.  Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt say hello you horrible incestous rabble.

Allez les Rouges.

[Bobinhood]

This one is very interesting. City could bunker for a draw but its not in their DNA, we need to guard against an obviously free scoring team but we are at home and the atmosphere will be white hot we may just have at them from the off.

Either manager could set up in any way from all out attack to all out defence, and then of course every goal scored will change everything as soon as it goes in. I have a feeling both teams are going to settle on attack as the best form of defence and we are going to see a 4-3 or 5-4 or some such brain breaking shite.

 

[Macedonian Red Reborn]

The team that has already scored 90 league goals this season, carried by 96 angels and 40,000+ faithful.

There is really only one outcome to this game.

[rickardinho1]

The team that has already scored 90 league goals this season, carried by 96 angels and 40,000+ faithful.

There is really only one outcome to this game.

The 96th goal we score this season will be the one that clinches the title. 

You heard it here first.

[ThePeetmix]

The 96th goal we score this season will be the one that clinches the title. 

You heard it here first.

Would be lovely! Although I think we will need more. We should do something special for that 96th goal though.

[Big Red Richie]

Whats the current Prem record. 105?

Is it greedy to want 15+ goals in 5 games?


The 96th goal should certainly be marked by an occasion though.

It's meaningful on several levels.


A nice chant of:

96.
96 Reasons.
96
96 Reason.
96
96 reasons.

etc.etc.etc.

[diegoLFC7]

Whats the current Prem record. 105?

Is it greedy to want 15+ goals in 5 games?


The 96th goal should certainly be marked by an occasion though.

It's meaningful on several levels.


A nice chant of:

96.
96 Reasons.
96
96 Reason.
96
96 reasons.

etc.etc.etc.

That would be special if we score and the whole team lines up and does something honoring the 96. 6 more goals.

[swordfishtrombone]

So important that people make it into the ground early. If not well before kickoff, then definitely before 3.
Any idea what the club have got planned for the anniversary?

[Always_A_Red]

So important that people make it into the ground early. If not well before kickoff, then definitely before 3.
Any idea what the club have got planned for the anniversary?

I'd hope the majority are in well before 3 mate considering we kick off at 1:37pm 

[Big Red Richie]

So important that people make it into the ground early. If not well before kickoff, then definitely before 3.
Any idea what the club have got planned for the anniversary?

i think you'll find everyone is in well before that.

[andy07]

First choice LFC is better than first choice MCFC.   Add what will probably be the best ever PL atmosphere and ........

[Red_Irishman]

The West ham game wasnt good for the heart at all. Think Ive definetly cut a month off my life watching it.

Next sunday Ill probably just pass away during the game, not easy this title run.

[andy07]

Anyone else keep waking up in the night in anticipation?  FFS been there before in the glory days but this feels extra special. Have a look at one of them whopping Tsunami waves surging forward.  That is LFC at the moment.

[Po The Panda]

Current goal record is 103 by Chelsea remember them winning the last game 8-0 and 1 or 2 before that 7-0.

[swordfishtrombone]

I'd hope the majority are in well before 3 mate considering we kick off at 1:37pm 

i think you'll find everyone is in well before that.

Ha! Not sure what I was thinking - 5 minutes ago I was bemoaning how early I'll need to get up for the drive on Sunday morning.

[Megasuperb]

Absolutely buzzing for this.

Confident we'll do them in, I really am.

[Big Red Richie]

Ha! Not sure what I was thinking - 5 minutes ago I was bemoaning how early I'll need to get up for the drive on Sunday morning.

The confusion is obviously as the official KO is given as 13:37.

[gamble]

Only 15mins or so until Tuesday, I'm counting down the days already.

At the end of the season the league table won't lie, whoever wins it will have deserved it. City are a top team though and will give us a game. They have goals coming from all options, lots of width, lots of runners into the box and will be happy with us bringing the game to them and trying to pick us off.

But BR and the lads will be ready. I can't believe we haven't beat them yet in the three games BR has managed against them. Feels a lot like rafa versus chelsea in 04/05 and that we will win the one that matters.

[Newman96]

Why are we kicking off at such an odd time? 1:37?

[Red_Irishman]

Why are we kicking off at such an odd time? 1:37?

In remembrance of the 96. 

[Gifted Right Foot]

Buzzing for this already.  Might as well cancel work this week cause nothing is going to get done. 

Edit: Also this weekend just isn't about football.  No matter what happens in the game i am proud of what the team has achieved this season and i'm proud of the everyone who has fought for the justice of the 96. 

[MerseysideBrum]

nvm im dumb

[Big Red Richie]

I can't beleive there's so many reds who just don't get the significance of the 13.37 KO time.

This weekend more than most.

Why 7 minutes btw? The significance of 7? Apologies if this is me being really stupid. 

Not a dig at you personally, but your the umpteenth person to ask.


This weekend is the closest footballing weekend to the 15th April and the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough.

In memoriam, the Premier League and the FA have decided that all professional games this weekend will kick off at 7 minutes past their normal kick off times in honour of the fact that the original game at Hillsborough in 1989 was stopped at such a time into the game.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

It's only monday, I'm going to be shitting bricks every day till kick off.

[swordfishtrombone]

The confusion is obviously as the official KO is given as 13:37.

Nope nothing to do with that, I was just being dim

[antuan]

The 96th goal we score this season will be the one that clinches the title. 

You heard it here first.

Lovely idea. You should post a specific thread on here and the official forum etc to encourage some kind of arranged crowd mosaic in The Kop or the away end (if the 96th goal is scored away from home).

[jaffod]

To be honest mate, I'm not that arsed about getting a homer( although it would be nice, for a change).

I just want a strong referee and linesmen, who gets their decisions right.

If we win, great. If we get beat by a better side, then painful as that would be, I can take that one on the chin.


What i don't want, is to be cheated out of anything, because the referee fucked up.....again.

Some of the officiating in the Premier League this season, has been nothing short of criminal, and It would just be nice to talk about the football, not the shit refereeing.



We get a strong referee, who gets his shit right,  -  I have no fears for us in the game.

Exactly how I feel. If we get shafted again in a match of this magnitude it will be too much to take.

[Pelé as a Comedian]

the Kop will play a big part in this. inspiring the players and intimidating the opposition. Yaya has already said that Liverpool are the hardest to play against, so playing in a final of sorts at Anfield ? stay down champ, stay down..

[artanis]

I love Lucas to death but we've been at our worst when he and SG have both started; I wouldn't let the second half against a gassed West Ham change the view of this

We're yet to play meaningfull time with both in the team with their new roles in 2014.
The little we know is that they did well v. Stoke, the 25 minutes v. Villa (before Lucas injury) and a half v. West Ham.
I'd role the dice on Lucas to stamp our authority against Toure and Silva.

[Pelé as a Comedian]

We're yet to play meaningfull time with both in the team with their new roles in 2014.
The little we know is that they did well v. Stoke, the 25 minutes v. Villa (before Lucas injury) and a half v. West Ham.
I'd role the dice on Lucas to stamp our authority against Toure and Silva.

also, it was Lucas who split the WH defence for the 2nd penalty, looking sharp there my man

[Tom18]

This game is massive.

[YoungKopite]

Really looking forward to this. We didn't have Gerrard and Sturridge last time we played these and I think it's fair to say the linesman robbed us a point at least.

[Canuck33]

It'll be the same defence as last game. Gerrard with Henderson and Allen in the middle. Triple S up front.

[Number 7]

Biggest game since Athens....

Definitely. They will keep getting bigger until the end as well. But this one here is the biggest since Athens. Bigger than the league cup final a few years ago too.

[Kashinoda]

Gerrard to score the winner in the 96th minute, nothing would be more fitting.

[rickardinho1]

Whats the current Prem record. 105?

Is it greedy to want 15+ goals in 5 games?


The 96th goal should certainly be marked by an occasion though.

It's meaningful on several levels.


A nice chant of:

96.
96 Reasons.
96
96 Reason.
96
96 reasons.

etc.etc.etc.

Chelsea got 103 under Ancelloti. A big reason for that was that they scored 8 once (against Wigan on the last day) as well as 7 on three other occasions. Thats 29 goals in 4 games, when in contrast we might get less than 103 but our goals have been more spread out, and its telling that we've scored 4 or more a record 11 times already, but only scored 6 once. I'd take consistency over the odd blow-out now and again.