Topic: MATCH PREVIEW: PL Liverpool v Man City, Anfield, Sun 1 Dec 16:00

[Samie]

Federico Chiesa has now returned to full team training.

It remains to be seen if he will be included tomorrow. Likely to be in the squad for Newcastle.

[Kalito]

Who gives shit about favourites, underdogs or what other crap being spouted. Just concentrate on ourselves.

Is right.

[SerbianScouser]

agree.  as long as they don't park the bus - Ped's never been in this situation in his career before, who knows if he'll jettison his "principles"?

He did in 18/19 after getting thrashed twice at Anfield in 17/18.

He held back his fullbacks and it turned out to be quite a cagey affair. Fully expect something similar this time around. I'd be afraid of Arne too if I was him.

[scalatore]

I suspect that Pep will set them up conservatively - he's done that with us before and with Arsenal over the past couple of seasons. Could be frustrating. Still, they're spread thin and look leggy, our turning the screw and slowly beating them down seems tailor made for this fixture.

Since I'm always wrong, what will actually happen is he'll set them up open and attacking, and we'll try to blitz them at the start.

[Samie]

https://xcancel.com/LFC/status/1862874477731717552

"The best teams don't admire their work - they keep on pushing" 👊

[koptommy93]

I'm shitting it, haha

[Dr. Beaker]

I can see us smothering them and a load of tetchy shithouse fouls from the likes of Bernardo Silva.

[88_RED]

We really need to be winning this.. And I think we will..

Agree on the Gomez should start shouts..

Rest of the team picks itself, provided TAA is good to go..

Would go with the same midfield that started against Real, with Szobo to come on with his energy in the second half..

Diaz gets the nod ahead of Gakpo, with Nunez through the middle..

Into these Redmen.. 3-1

[William Regal]

The one aspect that worries me for this game with Konate injured is set pieces.  I think theres a chance Guardiola will play all of Dias, Ake, Stones, Gvardiol, and Haaland,  Stones possibly as the holding midfielder.

That will make them a threat from set plays imo, and considering Konate has the best aerial success rate in Europe (83%), this might be something Pep Allardyce targets.  Maybe Slot might decide a couple of selection dilemmas based on height? Gapko over Diaz? Szoboszlai over Jones?  Then again, maybe Guadiola and Slot might not look at that aspect at all with them both being total football managers.

Got a feeling that this will actually be a game city play well in but we end up knicking the points.

2-1 Liverpool (Salah, Gapko)

[amir87]

I seem to be getting bubble guts for this extra early. Not a good sign for my well being tomorrow.

[the_red_pill]

I think the main issue is that he is trying to buy himself a yard. Against Arsenal and Brighton he dropped off to give himself a yard in the first half of both games.

Yeah, I've noticed that. He's all-action is our Robbo, but hopefully he finds a way to manage his exertion better.

[the_red_pill]

Meh those two injuries have made Wednesday night not very useful at all.

Has to be Gomez for me as Quansah just isn’t that good for me yet. Really stuck with no cover at full-back though. No timeframe on Tsimikas or Konate is worrying me.

Quansah's plenty good. We seem to forget how good he actually is, just because of a game where he didn't win enough headers and wasn't on the front foot- ie, an "off-game".
One, solitary game.
In fact, he is better than someone like Simpson-Pusey, who will feature for City.

[Jólaköttur]

Fully expect to get fucked up the arse again by Taylor, Tierney and fucking Kavanagh.

Only difference this time is that PGMOL can't pretend that it's some kind of aberration or make some sort of mad excuses.

The whole thing is in the open, not that I expect they'll care.

We'll have a couple sent off and after the raft of pennos today I expect them to have a couple tomorrow.

No fucking way PGMOl are ever going to let us get anywhere near to winning tomorrow.

4-0 to City.

[The holly and the jillc]

Fully expect to get fucked up the arse again by Taylor, Tierney and fucking Kavanagh.

Only difference this time is that PGMOL can't pretend that it's some kind of aberration or make some sort of mad excuses.

The whole thing is in the open, not that I expect they'll care.

We'll have a couple sent off and after the raft of pennos today I expect them to have a couple tomorrow.

No fucking way PGMOl are ever going to let us get anywhere near to winning tomorrow.

4-0 to City.

Yet here we currently leading the title race, they haven't done that good a job of stopping us so far. So I will back the Reds to finish the job.

[Jólaköttur]

Yet here we currently leading the title race, they haven't done that good a job of stopping us so far. So I will back the Reds to finish the job.

They've barely given us anything.

We've got there completely on merit. Slot and the lads have done amazing to get this far.

I'm still fucking angry about that boot in the chest at Anfield. Still waiting for any explantion about what the actual fuck that was.

[rocco]

Yet here we currently leading the title race, they haven't done that good a job of stopping us so far. So I will back the Reds to finish the job.

Agree 100%

Let’s just do it ourselves

[JJ Red]

The Konate thing is a kick in the knackers...especially going into this week in particular where we will need to rotate and hope the squad copes.

As we saw with the injuries in the second half of last season (and where City and Arsenal have really benefitted the last couple of years without them), its more the complete momentum killer that they can be, including the weeks it takes (once the player is back) to get them back up to speed.

Not sure what to do tomorrow and it will be interesting to see what Slot does regarding RCB/RB. I worry that a cold Trent might struggle if he finds himself up against Doku or Grealish, especially if he isn't exactly 100% fit. But then, you worry that if he goes with Quansah at RCB and Gomez at RB, will Quansah have got past his early season wobbles? He's been protected for a little bit it seems, which is good (progress for a youngster is rarely linear), but it is difficult to then say "right, now we need you and you're up against Haaland!"

Back of your mind you could also be thinking that we have a massive 3 games in quick succession. One more defensive injury and we could be snookered, but VVD is likely going to have to play all these games? Hopefully Tsimikas gets back for at least the derby because i'm not sure Robbo can handle 3 games in quick succession anymore.

Hopefully the lads can do it because this is a massive opportunity. Regardless of how many Arsenal score in other games, if we can win this one (IMO) it is a massive psychological hit to other teams. Just praying the lads can do the business.

[Nick110581]

Calm before the storm really.

It feels a huge match in the context of the season.

[JC the Messiah loves Chrimbo, hates Easter]

Gomez will do us proud

[RedG13]

Great OP  Luvva.
Excited for this.
Trust whoever the CB next to Virgil

[StevoHimself]

Massive game.

[LFC_R_BOSS]

Liverpool v Man City and PGMOL .

[In the Name of Klopp]

Gomez will do us proud

I hope he does Jill proud

[Keith Lard]

lack of lineup predictions in ere

[PaulF]

Gomez will do us proud

He's shown he is a very capable player.

[MNAA]

Looking forward to the game with optimism. Not because of City awful form but more so due to us being resourceful and able to come up with solutions whenever required. Slot and his coaches have been brilliant and I expect them to continue to be brilliant

Up the Reds!

[xbugawugax]

I can see us smothering them and a load of tetchy shithouse fouls from the likes of Bernardo Silva.

and pretty much getting away with it while macca gets a yellow on his first tackle winning the ball cleanly while setting up a counter.

we all know how the PMGOL works.

[spider-neil]

This game isn’t a foregone conclusion and we shouldn’t treat it as such. City could and should have scored goals against Spurs and despite coughing up 3 goals midweek they still scored 3 goals. There is a job to do and we’ve got to be professional.

[jckliew]

Any team news yet?

[Nick110581]

Any team news yet?

Chiesa is available for selection is the only new news.

[JRed]

Chiesa is available for selection is the only new news.

No, he meant this season.

[LFCEmpire]

City will be well up for this. Obviously a win would be massive but a draw is not the end of the world.

Can not wait for this game.

[Nick110581]

City will be well up for this. Obviously a win would be massive but a draw is not the end of the world.

Can not wait for this game.

They have a point to prove having been written off by many.

However, Anfield is not exactly the place you would choose to play when you need a pick me up.

[At the Xmas works do asking someone to give them one]

"If Liverpool win, although it makes them favourites for the title, it is no way decisive at this stage," continued Murphy. "They are under a new manager and, at the moment, things are going well and they have had no serious injuries to contend with. But there might be a spell later in the season where they do have a little wobble."

So we've moved on from "injuries happen to everyone. Just get on with it", to our injuries not even counting. We started the season with Jota up top, he scored the decisive goal away to Palace but has done nothing for weeks. Can't imagine why. And as Kelleher is a CL standard keeper, losing Alisson doesn't really matter anyway.

City will stuff the midfield with players that can keep the ball even if they haven't done much with it this year. That back line, though. I'm sure that Walker and Akanji are carrying injuries and Gvardiol has had a nightmare few games for club and country.

 

[William Regal]

lack of lineup predictions in ere

I think Gomez and Trent come into the backline

Its Jones or Szoboszlai in midfield, I think hes got to stick with Jones

Up front, I'm not sure. I think Gapko is likely to start after being benched for Real Madrid, I'm not sure if Slot goes

Gapko Nunez Salah

Or

Gapko Diaz Salah.

Diaz was sensational in this fixture last year, I'd like to see him start  preferably in

Diaz Nunez Salah 

In short, I've no fucking idea.

[JRed]

This is likely to be Abu Dhabi’s only cup final this season , so they will put everything into it. We will have to be on top of our game but still see us winning comfortably.

[Hark the Howard Angels Sing]

This is likely to be Abu Dhabi’s only cup final this season , so they will put everything into it. We will have to be on top of our game but still see us winning comfortably.

I don’t think they’ll go hell for leather as it’s not their style.

I’m looking forward to seeing what weird tactical combo Guardiola comes up with though.

[Caston]

Finally match day. Massive game this!!!

[kvarmeismydad]

Been sorting a few bits and bobs out of late so not really had the game too much on my mind. The fact that we are ahead as well reduces the pre match day nerves but all of a sudden, here we are, today, cold and dark, under the lights, starting to feel festive. A big atmosphere and another Connor Bradley type challenge away from taking the roof off. This is a really hard game they are very capable of hurting us at any moment, and the referee line up doesn't feel trustworthy, but, bring it on. RAAAAAAHHHHGGHHHH.

[Zlen]

We shuld be honored to welcome four time champions. Slot might even get an autograph today from Guardiola and I hope our younger players manage to get a jersey from one fo the City stars. Wonderful stuff really to have this opportinity. Hopefully the crowd supports the referees as well, in full understanding of how hard the job is and that mistakes are only human. May it be a nice, pastoral atmosphere where wonderful football is celebrated.