Pre Match - Man City (H) - Sunday 16:30

[Brizzle]

Right lads - huge game and we couldn't have had a better set of results midweek to prep for this. I can't imagine Pep will avoid playing a striker against us though!

I'll proceed as if Trent is out, we can get him a good rest through the internationals ready for 4-5 tough games in a row once we are back. Millie will be fired up against City too.

--------------Alisson--------------
Millie---Matip---VVD---Robbo
---------------Fabs-----------------
-------Hendo------Jones----------
Salah-------Bobby--------Mane


Jones keeps his place, he has been excellent. Bobby starts for me, we need his pressing from the start and we can use Jota has a great sub option.

I suppose there is also the option of Gomez at RB, but Milner is capable defensively and will be a threat attacking so i'd opt for the dual threat, although it would be fun to see Gomez vs Sterling reignited.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Can't believe you did this .. if we lose, we're banning you for the season.

 

[SummerOnions]

Why

 

[tombrown]

I'll proceed as if DB doesn't exist and Trent is out, we can get him a good rest through the internationals ready for 4-5 tough games in a row once we are back. Millie will be fired up against City too.

Fair

 

[Modo]

Yep same team for me.

 

[doctor_mac]

I'll be disappointed/ concerned if that isn't the team, unless Trent is fit.

 

[rurikbird]

I am almost certain Pep will try a strikerless system against us. Foden or Sterling up top or maybe even 2 “false nines” like he did vs United last season, I think. He will target the space behind the fullbacks, not try to challenge VVD and Matip directly.

 

[Brizzle]

I am almost certain Pep will try a strikerless system against us. Foden or Sterling up top or maybe even 2 “false nines” like he did vs United last season, I think. He will target the space behind the fullbacks, not try to challenge VVD and Matip directly.

Yep, he would be wise to see that he doesn't have players able to trouble the CBs like Brentford did. I'd like to think we could really snuff out the threat down the channels with Hendo & Jones really supporting their respective sides.

Ideally we'd have City on the back foot though rather than let them overload us.

I would also be confident of success at set pieces if they are using Dias & Laporte, they lose a lot of aerial strength without Stones.

 

[MomoWASright]

Pep is gonna pep. And I don’t mean by shagging dogs on Anfield Road. He’ll overthink it and fuck it up.
3-0 win for us.

 

[Halmeister]

We're getting beat unfortunately folks

 

[Modo]

Trent and I have trust issues atm. Even if he is fit, I'm not sure that I want him on the pitch.

 

[Frogfish]

Yep. Agree with Rurik and Brizzle. Can't see Pep going with Jesus and he's got no other option. Maybe Mahrez wide right (not Sterling). That leaves Grealish, Sterling and Foden for 2 slots. Can see Foden deep centre to help overload our midfield and Grealish left. The idea being to overload our right (regardless of whether it's Millie or Trent). And with Cancelo & Rodri both looking in ominous form that's what they'll do.

Klopp will need to come up with a team/plan to counter Cancelo/Rodri/De Bruyne/ Grealish on our right.

---------------Ederson

Walker---Dias---LaPorte---Cancelo

----------------Rodri
------Silva-------------De Bruyne

---------------Foden
Mahrez-------------------Grealish

 

[Brizzle]

Yep. Agree with Rurik and Brizzle. Can't see Pep going with Jesus and he's got no other option. Maybe Mahrez wide right (not Sterling). That leaves Grealish, Sterling and Foden for 2 slots. Can see Foden deep centre to help overload our midfield and Grealish left. The idea being to overload our right (regardless of whether it's Millie or Trent). And with Cancelo & Rodri both looking in ominous form that's what they'll do.

---------------Ederson

Walker---Dias---LaPorte---Cancelo

----------------Rodri
------Silva-------------De Bruyne

---------------Foden
Mahrez-------------------Grealish

Bluemoon seems to think Pep should have Foden, Jesus & Mahrez as the front three. But they started Grealish, Jesus & Foden for Chelsea game and that served them well.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Here's hoping Pep experiments with his inverted centre back, midfield-less formation

 

[moron]

Honestly, I think they will struggle to handle us big time. We will be out for blood.

 

[rurikbird]

Yep. Agree with Rurik and Brizzle. Can't see Pep going with Jesus and he's got no other option. Maybe Mahrez wide right (not Sterling). That leaves Grealish, Sterling and Foden for 2 slots. Can see Foden deep centre to help overload our midfield and Grealish left. The idea being to overload our right (regardless of whether it's Millie or Trent). And with Cancelo & Rodri both looking in ominous form that's what they'll do.

Klopp will need to come up with a team/plan to counter Cancelo/Rodri/De Bruyne/ Grealish on our right.

---------------Ederson

Walker---Dias---LaPorte---Cancelo

----------------Rodri
------Silva-------------De Bruyne

---------------Foden
Mahrez-------------------Grealish

I think he will play Jesus (either from the start or as a sub), but on a wing, not at CF. He’s the best pure finisher they have.

 

[Dreambeliever]

You can thank me all for the win on Sunday!

 

[binomial]

Team picks itself.

 

[Shay_K]

So .....no love for Tsimikas??

 

[MomoWASright]

You can thank me all for the win on Sunday!

Never. You cost us a European cup.

 

[SummerOnions]

Do I have to merge the threads to cancel out the jinx?

 

[Dreambeliever]

Do I have to merge the threads to cancel out the jinx?

Yes!

 

[Dreambeliever]

It is written.

 

[Dreambeliever]

So .....no love for Tsimikas??

Not a chance against City.

 

[SummerOnions]

God damn it I got shit to do.

But the jinx gods are ever powerful

 

[Dreambeliever]

God damn it I got shit to do.

But the jinx gods are ever powerful

My fear is everyone will want us to lose after LTW’s proclamation!

 

[Mystic]

Peps gonna play exactly as he did against Chelsea, and has before against us, five players pressing ridiculously high against our back line, choking our ability to build up into midfield. It's been successful against us before, and losing Trent whos one of the more competent ball players in our team worries me a lot in this regard, both Milner and Gomez has look clumsy and slow under pressure.

I'd love to have Thiago back for this game, we're gonna need that composure in the midfield to deal with their pressure, but either way, that pressure leaves them exposed and I do think we can take advantage there. As has been mentioned already, Firmino has to start this one, I think he's a player that scares City too because of the past performances he's had against them, so it's also good for the psychological edge, also Jones has to start too after that performance yesterday, but send him out in Thiagos shirt, the kids got it all, but he's got to go out their believing it's his game to run.

 

[SummerOnions]

Can't believe you did this .. if we lose, we're banning you for the season.

haha LTW how do i fix this so that when I merge threads there's not just us threatening poor Brizzle for doing the Lord's work

 

[SummerOnions]

I actually think the Brentford game is the blueprint here. Our midfield will just be putting out fires - how can we bypass their midfield?

 

[MomoWASright]

I actually think the Brentford game is the blueprint here. Our midfield will just be putting out fires - how can we bypass their midfield?

By breaking their legs.