Topic: Southampton v Liverpool (St. Mary's) August 17th, 2019 3pm

[andy07]

This game has got massive banana skin stamped on it.  Strongest  available team for this, get the points in the bag and put the pressure on City.

[Cruiser]

Goalkeeping crisis should encourage Southampton to come forward and attack more, potentially leaving them more vulnerable at the back.

Fingers crossed for this one, very tricky.

[vivabobbygraham]

Eazy Peazy Lemon Squeezy
Southampton are shite
Where's your fucking backbone
The reds will be alright

3-1 to the mentality monsters

[Lofty Ambitions]

Eazy Peazy Lemon Squeezy
Southampton are shite
Where's your fucking backbone
The reds will be alright

3-1 to the mentality monsters

This, please. Then there's a full week to get ready for the next one. Like, with actual training taking place in the meanwhile.

[vicar]

Be good to test his hamstrings' resolve, yeh

Is that you Hodgson?

[neutron]

Great OP!

Can anyone suggest a pub in town which might be showing this game? Ta in advance!

[Rush 82]

Top OP

Cracking read

Just win. That is all.

Good hunting lads.

[Perham]

I'm really starting to worry about this one now, it feels like one where we could slip up.

Just win!

[jckliew]

We are Liverpool FC!

[keyop]

I'm really starting to worry about this one now, it feels like one where we could slip up.

Every game is one where we could slip up but last season we showed how consistent we can be, and grind out results when not playing well, or concede chances but still keep clean sheets. I understand the concerns due to pre-season, lack of big signings, international tournaments, injuries (and Norwich/Chelsea carving us open a couple of times), but I think we'll be fine. A comfortable 2-0 win and then a week of no matches for the squad to recover. Spurs could well take points off City later which would be a nice bonus.

[Ste08]

Its the 4th game of the season no need for drastic changes

Play the big 3 upfront, get the game won and we get a midweek off.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Kicky-football!

Wham! Wham! Wham! 3-0 to the Tricky Reds.

Club Goalarama. Freedom from Stress.

Wham! Bam! Mane is your man. And probably Salah.

[Rush 82]

Insane that we're fretting and it's only the 2nd game of the league

[stockdam]

Games are coming thick and fast already. I’m concerned about the number of injuries that we are picking up and obviously Alisson in particular. The team will still be recovering from the win against Chelsea and we may get off to a slow start. However we should have enough strength in depth to beat Southampton.

[duvva 💅]

I know we’ve a so-so record down there overall but we’ve actually won the last two at St Mary’s and I’m sure we’re gonna make it 3 in a row today.

We saw time and again these players grind out results when tired towards the end of last season, have some faith they can do it again.

[Red-Soldier]

Great op!

Fingers crossed that Adrian is ok.

Gonna be a tough one I think, but hopefully we can come through it!

[keyop]

Insane that we're fretting and it's only the 2nd game of the league

Think it'll be like this every week, with multiple references to lack of signings, squad selection, and everything in between.

In some respects, its a sign of our progress - the bar has been set so high, and when we can't win the league with 97 points then some on here will panic at every dropped point, injury, or average performance. The only thing we need to do is keep within touching distance of City for as long as possible and control what we can control. When other league winners have played badly and won its the sign of champions, but when we do it, there is mass hysteria for some and the sky is falling in.

I'm just enjoying the fact that every single game is important when for a long time our season was over by Christmas, and a draw and defeat was often met with a shrug of the shoulders and a resignation that we're miles off winning the league.

[Caligula?]

Not worried here at all. It might be because it's so early in the season with 36 more matches remaining after this and even dropped points here won't feel nearly as bad as they would have done from March-May of last season where we were absolutely bricking it because of City winning game after game. Still, we saw the fine margins of last season and absolutely must win here particularly if City are to drop any points to Spurs. 1-3 or 0-2 to us.

[Syntexity]

Difficult match this. Going to Soton is always hard, but we have had good results there the last years. They will be full of energy and determination to make up for their bad loss against Burnley and the possibility to take a win against one of the top teams. Also, we had a tough match with ET less than 3 days ago, so this all screams of a slip up and cue all «experts» saying its because we didnt strengthen in the summer and all their gloaty bullshit.

What I hope is that we look more composed and solid at the back and that our counters are on the spot so we can rip through them and take 3 wonderful points. I hope that the early trophy to the season gets the lads going, gets them angry and determined. Anyway, the most important is getting three points and to avoid further injuries. Just take the points, whatever it takes and then we have some time to prepare for Arsenal.

Come on Liverpool!! YNWA!!!

[Believe]

[harleydanger]

Insane that we're fretting and it's only the 2nd game of the league

City has made every game a cup final

[Dr. Beaker]

I'm really starting to worry about this one now

Imagine what they're feeling like.

[aw1991]

I think it works better with Lonergan

[[new username under construction]]

City will take eye off the ball at some point so not too stressed even if we lose. But I still think we'll be ok today

[CraigDS]

Some people have forgotten very quickly just how good we are.

[Believe]

I think it works better with Lonergan

You're absolutely right - I haven't got the skills to do so though!!

Also, I think Adrian will play and Origi scores today hence me posting. Tough game but even if we drop points, it's a long season and as City proved you can lose four games, still get a ridiculous amount of points and claim the title

[RedSamba]

not arsed about the performance at all, just win

[disgraced cake]

Just fucking win, reds. By any means necessary. A full week until the next match after this so you'd expect everyone to be free of bizarre injuries and fully rested. Southampton is one of them ones I never feel fully confident going into, they've caused us a few problems there in the past but we've just got better and they've got worse. Didn't see any of their game last week but by all accounts they fell apart in the 2nd half. Can guarantee they'll not be making as many mistakes this week so we have to be sharp. As a couple have pointed out, perhaps with our goalkeeping concern we'll see them playing with a bit more creative freedom which will allow us to do our thing.

Adrian
Trent   Gomez   VVD   Robertson
Gini
Milner   Chamberlain
Salah   Bobby   Mane

The midfield will obviously be in contention. Fabinho looked fucked at the end of extra time but stayed on to score a penalty, can't see him starting today. Wijnaldum was poor in the Super Cup but I'd expect him to start due to his fitness. Milner was the same, poor given his usual quality, and Chamberlain looks completely wasted out wide, I'd like to see him back in the middle driving at teams because that's when he's at his best. In attack we have the options on the bench to rotate, in Div/Lallana/Shaq, possibly even Brewster. Think Bobby should be good for the 90, given he sat the first 45 out the other night. Don't expect both of Salah and Mane to start but I'd like to see our best front 3 starting.

Just get through these redmen, even if it's a nervy win as it was last season here. Despite being without our best 11, ultimately you still have to go and beat these. I think we'll do them 0-2.

COME ON THE FUCKIN CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!!!!!

[thekitkatshuffler]

City will take eye off the ball at some point

Good to see that mantra is retaining popularity this season, despite evidence to the contrary since the turn of the year.

[[new username under construction]]

Good to see that mantra is retaining popularity this season, despite evidence to the contrary since the turn of the year.

With us putting lots of pressure on them they had to ........but we know they can lose concentration especially when teams go at them

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Good to see that mantra is retaining popularity this season, despite evidence to the contrary since the turn of the year.

They aren't going to win every game, neither are we, they didn't last year,we didn't either. So points will be dropped. But RAWK will have you believe that they've been unbeaten for the last 3 seasons.

[CraigDS]

They aren't going to win every game, neither are we, they didn't last year,we didn't either. So points will be dropped. But RAWK will have you believe that they've been unbeaten for the last 3 seasons.

And will forever more.

May as well give up now.

[SinceSixtyFive]

Think I'm getting the hang of the new fad in terms of pre-match posts for this season - list 20 reasons to be worried then say we'll be fine!

Here goes - blah blah blah 1-3 Reds!

[PhaseOfPlay]

Some people have forgotten very quickly just how good we are.

Apparently, that includes some of the players...

[kennedy81]

It'll be tough but we should have too much firepower for them.

3-4 the reds.

[Caligula?]

They aren't going to win every game, neither are we, they didn't last year,we didn't either. So points will be dropped. But RAWK will have you believe that they've been unbeaten for the last 3 seasons.

Of course not, but they're as close to perfect as you'll ever see in this league. 100 and 98 point seasons means we're going to have to win 30+ games to win the title and we need to be dispatching teams like Southampton at all costs given that we still have to play every 'big' side home and away this season, and those are usually the games where you can foresee us dropping points, at least on paper.

Having said that I can see Spurs getting something this weekend, so I don't think any dropped points to Southampton will have us behind City after this weekend. But we should be winning regardless.

[FlashingBlade]

Goally on the spot is it today?

[SerbianScouser]

Defensive solidity is primarily how we reached all the success of last season.

If we get back to that we will continue to churn out these routine wins without needing to play spectacular football. Just gotta fix what's causing us to concede these big chances and we'll have a great chance of making these awkward games look relatively easy like last season.

[Caligula?]

Defensive solidity is primarily how we reached all the success of last season.

If we get back to that we will continue to churn out these routine wins without needing to play spectacular football. Just gotta fix what's causing us to concede these big chances and we'll have a great chance of making these awkward games look relatively easy like last season.

Yes, we need that defensive solidity back. This was the type of game we were routinely winning 1-0 at the beginning/first half of last season.

[4EverRed]

Adrian has been passed fit to play today and is part of the matchday squad.