Manchester City v Liverpool Match Thread

[Frogfish]

Wow, that's so unlike what we saw. Thank goodness for stats.

Some people don't believe their eyes and seem to think City were awesome.

 

[Piedro]

I don't really worry about this team, but as for the fans, jesus christ, the snowflake element is fast approaching a fecking avalanche. It's like one loss of three points and it's a disaster. That's pretty much par for the course in a grown-up world. We don't play this team again. We've not lost to anyone else. At this stage you generally win titles just holding your composure, grinding out the results no matter what and using your squad cleverly. Some one here will be listening to TalkSport and crying tomorrow. For god's sake get a grip!

Maccas gone full drama queen. I’m sure most aren’t worrying about tonight. One of them things. We go again.

CALM DOWN ASIM.

 

[Rosco]

Here's all the stats for the game : makes interesting reading, we were far from outplayed, it was neck and neck and as I said earlier ... if just one of those opportunities had gone in everything could be different.

https://www.skysports.com/football/man-city-vs-liverpool/stats/390963

We were about a centimetre away from a draw, and that's ignoring the two good chances we had.
The margins were very fine even with the ever useless Lovren doing his best to gift City chances

 

[rurikbird]

Fernandinho's contribution tonight
72 touches
55 passes
10 duels, won 7
4 tackles
3 clearances
9 x possession gained

Great stats, but even that doesn't do it justice. He was there every single time to break up our attack, first to every lose ball and uncharacteristically didn't even foul that much. At some point I just started laughing in disbelief, he was so spot-on, every time.

 

[Woland]

I'd agree with that. It's just Klopp doesn't trust Keita nearly to the extent he trusted Ox and Shaq can't play in a midfield 3 – which we definitely needed to weather the initial storm. But again – I agree with you; once we weathered the initial period of pressure (I thought Hendo, Gini and Milner performed very well in that phase) our downfall was not being able to hit them right back like we did last season. The midfielders bottled a forward pass time and time again, the front 3 starved without service and City were able to regroup and prepare for 2nd wave of the attack, which brought them the opening goal.

I think Shaq can play in a midfield three. He was deepest out of the other two most of the time after he came on and won the ball back on the edge of our box. Agree that Keita isn't likely to walk into a big game at the minute but Shaq can, and control it.

Either way, Fabinho should start in front of Henderson unless he's just been in a car crash or similar

 

[davud graham]

The Brighton game is even bigger than the city game now and if we win it then we can forget about this. Disappointing to lose but going the season unbeaten doesn't matter as long as we win the league which we've still got a great chance of doing. We've managed to bounce back from defeats in the Champions league so I don't see why we can't do it the the premier league.
I'd still much rather be in our position than City or Spurs position.

 

[white-sox]

Chips are down? We were top of the league with 7 points clear of Spurs before KO today. We’re still in the CL.

Of all the media hype about clash of the titans match this is probably the biggest rubber-duck game of all time.

We just have to pick ourselves up and go on another no-lose streak.

Well like I said we will see over time. I hope it means nothing in the end.

 

[Rosco]

You said it better.

Name the time & place, and I'll happily fuck you. With or without lube?

I just want to make sure the single lads take note .That's how you get laid

 

[Rosco]

Fernandinho's contribution tonight
72 touches
55 passes
10 duels, won 7
4 tackles
3 clearances
9 x possession gained

5 yellow cards escaped

 

[Woland]

I didn't expect city to be able to keep up with the pace of the game in the second half. They've looked a bit lethargic over Christmas. Encouraging that they had to raise their game so much to beat us, when we weren't that good.

 

[rurikbird]

I think Shaq can play in a midfield three. He was deepest out of the other two most of the time after he came on and won the ball back on the edge of our box. Agree that Keita isn't likely to walk into a big game at the minute but Shaq can, and control it.

Either way, Fabinho should start in front of Henderson unless he's just been in a car crash or similar

Shaq played in the midfield 3 vs Arsenal and we could not control the midfield – against much better midfield like City's that would have been suicide. That's why Ox is so hard to replace, he could do both. In hindsight, maybe Klopp should have switched to 4-2-3-1 already in the 1st half – our attack came to life when we did in the 2nd, even before Shaqiri came on.

 

[tombrown]

And extra cladding .. otherwise you won't be touching the sides.

I know - its like chucking a sausage up down the mersey tunnel

 

[Woland]

Shaq played in the midfield 3 vs Arsenal and we could not control the midfield – against much better midfield like City's that would have been suicide. That's why Ox is so hard to replace, he could do both. In hindsight, maybe Klopp should have switched to 4-2-3-1 already in the 1st half – our attack came to life when we did in the 2nd, even before Shaqiri came on.

We beat Arsenal 5-1.

 

[Portly]

In the big games, Klopp likes to play a midfield of Milner, Wijnaldum and Henderson. He doesn't seem to learn that this doesn't work. We improved noticeably when Fabinho came on, Quite honestly I wonder whether Milner is up to this kind of match any more,

 

[doctor_mac]

Thank God for that! Best result all round. Imagine we had went 10 points ahead. We would have started playing Moreno and shit, and devalued the competition.

 

[rurikbird]

We beat Arsenal 5-1.

 

[Woland]

We don't play well with that three in midfield. I'd be optimistic before the game but I made the same point in the pre match topic when the team was announced, that was the wrong choice. We need someone who can break teams down and find a pass into the front three. That man is Shaqiri.

 

[doctor_mac]

We don't play well with that three in midfield. I'd be optimistic before the game but I made the same point in the pre match topic when the team was announced, that was the wrong choice. We need someone who can break teams down and find a pass into the front three. That man is Shaqiri.

I agree. Gini, Hendo and Milner is too samey. We had a free hit at City tonight and instead of attempting a haymaker, we tried to jab. Knock the fucker out Klopp!

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

We lost because we played right into Man City’s hands. Where was the angry football Klopp talked about ? Where was the gegenpressing and heavy metal football ?

Saw what happened when we played ‘angry’ football ? We whooped Arse 5-1.

We were 7 points ahead. Live a little and play our trademark attacking mad football. Instead we play cat and mouse with the mancs. Hunter to being hunted again.

 

[rurikbird]

I agree. Gini, Hendo and Milner is too samey. We had a free hit at City tonight and instead of attempting a haymaker, we tried to jab. Knock the fucker out Klopp!

Perhaps subconsciously Klopp didn't find the idea of defending a 10 point lead starting in January all that attractive.

 

[Woland]

 

[Mistadobalina]

I think they have to protect this 4 point lead with their lives now, stay at least 4 points ahead of City until they slip up again. It could be a long wait as City will get a massive boost from this, we just have to keep grinding them down like when we chased them down.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Don’t be daft. We’re back to cutting down that 24 point gap again.

 

[Ijg]

Fernandinho is unreal.

Fabinho was class coming on.

I’ve only read half this thread but it seems there’s some level headed responses on here, I was half expecting the forum to be on fire.

It’s true, we’re still 4 points clear, only got 3 of the top 6 to play and only United away out of that lot. It’s in our hands still, just massively disappointed as we didn’t turn up, midfield was shit, luck wasn’t on our side etc etc.

Oh, and fuck Lovren, he’s just shit, not consistent enough at all. Prick.

 

[kingjulian]

United away comes at a wrong time for us I feel.

 

[rurikbird]

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

Christ that's appalling grammar out of Niall Horan.

 

[Mistadobalina]

United away comes at a wrong time for us I feel.

Yes and Everton away same week, it's certainly the trickiest hurdle to jump, looking at the fixtures. I'd love to go into the United game at least 4 points clear so a defeat will not let City overtake us. Our 2 biggest rivals in their 'stop liverpool' cup finals, really could be shit or bust.

 

[moron]

Yes and Everton away same week, it's certainly the trickiest hurdle to jump, looking at the fixtures. I'd love to go into the United game at least 4 points clear so a defeat will not let City overtake us. Our 2 biggest rivals in their 'stop liverpool' cup finals, really could be shit or bust.

Means fuck all 4 point lead - we will lose it in no time - I think we will bottle it at United, and if we go for it they got the pace to pick us off, and probably draw against Chelsea, and even Spurs. Everton will put up a fight and don't forget the relegation battlers we will have to face. It means nothing those 4 points - other than temporary enjoyment of watching our team at the top of the table until after the next game. Fuck it feels so bad - sorry for polluting this site with my feelings - but really really upset with that team that Klopp put out tonight.

 

[Woland]

Fuck that, we'll twat them. Klopp will ground them, get them back in the zone, and beat everyone else in the league.

We just got beaten by very small margins even though we had the wrong team out and they played out their skins. This doesnt mean shite like Man U and Everton can beat us