Liverpool FC Forum

[Redman in wales]

Onwards and upwards now as we play Manchester City away on Sunday. IMO this will be quite a difficult game. They’ve scored 10 goals in 3 home games, and have only come a cropper against Chelsea at their gaff (9 goals in 2 games, excluding Chelsea). To me they are an all or nothing team – if Robinho, elano and SWP turn up, they can prove a real handfull, and are very dangerous on the break. but Robinho especially has games where he goes missing, and we’ve gotta hope this will be one of them.

If the players aren’t too tired, I’d either keep the exact same line up that started against PSV, or just bring Mash in. His pace and tackling will come in handy when they break.

Prediction: 2-1  hard fought game with the winner coming late on.

[tubby]

If we stay focused we can win this match, not with ease but we can win it. Especailly with so many injuries to Chelsea at the mo it could potentially be a chance to go a few points clear at the top. Lets not feck this up again please like we did against Stoke.

[europian-kings]

this fixture last season was 0-0 and if im not mistaken it was the game when city were defending for the entire 90 minutes with nearly every player behind the ball to hold out for te draw.
now they have more attacking players e.g. robiniho and SWP aswel as all the hype around there i think they will certainlky be mroe attacking in this game, which in my opinion suits us best.
1-0 win, Torres

[metalhead]

I think we will win 1-0, its going to be tough.

[SupitsJonF]

I really want a win but this is a game I can see being a draw, maybe even a high scoring draw (1-1, 2-2).  Hopefully the defense is ready for SWP and robinho and if we can keep them scoreless I can see us winning.  Torres had some assists last game, I can see him wanting a goal now 

[tonyeh]

1-0 at best. 0-0 probably.

[SupitsJonF]

A lot of 0-0s, city has a good defense?

[Toffeehater]

City have a good defense , Richards and Dunne , garrido is their weak link , if we can exploit that flank and kuyt is really up for this game , we could sluaghter them , might even consider bringing babel in on the right , his pace will give zabaleta and garrido something to worry about , depending on what flank he plays . Robinho , tends to go missing , saw him against wigan , very lazy , arrogant , never chased for balls , never tackled , just waited up front and hoped to attack on the break . SWP is the main threat for me , he's a good winger , got the skills plus the pace , if he plays , i'd like to see Aurelio start against him as he's now better than dossena defensively . Elano is good at set pieces and can pick out a good pass as well , so can ireland , i think these game we should drop xabi as masch will be a beter option to close them down and he has the pace to track back as well . I can see these perhaps being a 2-0 for us if we turn up with the right attitude and play well , give our all before the international break , torres and keane to net the goals .

[burjennio]

i think rafa will switch to the 4231 for the 1st time this season for this game, just a hunch

[Toffeehater]

If its not broken don't fix it , 5th season here and rafa should know that by know , 1 striker to 4 of city's defenders , torres won't have much joy . I think however it could happen as maybe rafa wants to accomodate both masch and alonso in the middle , thus gerrard will play in the hole .

[tonyeh]

Agreed Toffee, changing back to a single striker would be extremely stupid. You only have to look at the way defences have closed Torres down in the last 10 games. Look at Torres' two goals against Everton. They were both scored because the defence was watching Keane (and Kuyt for the first) and left him the valuable space. Just won't if he has to operate up front on his own.

Just because it worked for a few games last season doesn't mean it'll float this year.

Another thing, if Kuyt is to play Rafa better tell him to watch how he uses the ball. He needs to be a bit more conservative on how he passes. If he plays his usual game and loses the ball multiple times, City (who seem good on the counter attack this year) may snatch a goal and close up the shop for win.

BTW, this is not a "Kuyt bashing" post just honest opinion. I think we all agree that Kuyt gives the ball away too much and that can be dangerous for Liverpool in this game.

[Sabre]

garrido is their weak link , if we can exploit that flank and kuyt is really up for this game ,

Correct toffeehater, he's soft, he doesn't tackle and he always leaves tons of space because he's not quick in the turn. With the ball he's only average, and very inconsistent without the ball.

If Torres wants to fall to the wing, he can destroy Garrido.

[Effes]

Regarding team selection:

Will Rafa play Xabi or Masch in the middle with SG?- that's the question as far as I can see.

[account deleted by request]

I hope he sticks with the same team, but I could understand the temptation to bring Masch in to prevent Elano from playing.

I am concerned about our full backs for this one. It will be the first time this season that we will have faced wingers with real pace (Petrov played for 20 mins tonight) and Wright Phillips. I think the way to beat Citeh is to pressurise them when they have the ball and hit them down the flancs when we have it. I think it will be a totally different type of game to last season..... Citeh will be out to win this one!

We will have to watch giving too many free kicks away near our box as well, as they have a couple of freekick specialists.

Could be a cracker of a game this one, so I am going for a hopefull 2 -1 win, but I think we will need at least one goal from an on form Torres to CLINCH IT.

[Effes]

I hope he sticks with the same team, but I could understand the temptation to bring Masch in to prevent Elano from playing.

I am concerned about our full backs for this one. It will be the first time this season that we will have faced wingers with real pace (Petrov played for 20 mins tonight) and Wright Phillips. I think the way to beat Citeh is to pressurise them when they have the ball and hit them down the flancswhen we have it.

If that's the case s@int - maybe an arguemnet for Masch/Xabi in the middle and SG on the right?

That would be a solid midfield.