Match Thread : Man City v Liverpool

[justme]

Horrible half from us. so typical of how we play away to them.. we have tried to play from the back. but we have no time to do it. City have had an a whole week off most of their players. due to their constant cheating. feigning injury, fuck all wrong with them.

[Crimson Dynasty]

Our problems of course always arising from our dicking around at the back instead of playing that ball through and getting it out of danger early against a dangerous team like City.

I also see we continue to insis and persist with that "Macca as a Defensive Mid" experiment/delusion.
No wonder then that City have had all the freedom of the world in the middle of the park.

[faridtoxteth]

Jones and Jota both look off the pace.
Trent hasn't been able to get on the ball with his distribution.
Macca doesn't have the pace to get back and help out Trent when City break.
Defensively we've done well though.
Alisson slipped when he kicked that ball to Ake. Made up for it with that fantastic save from Foden.
Still in the game. I think we'll see Luis and Gravenberch second half.

[justme]

I take off Jota hes and put on Diaz give us more width to spread the play.

[Crimson Dynasty]

Curtis Jones I really wanted him to be a success. But he is so ponderous and indecisive. Don't see what he offers. He is no more than a squad player.

I don't get it.
Why is he in the starting line up here?
Of all the games.

He's barely putting any effort in helping cover players or high presisng when his teammates are, and his decision-making on whether to pass (and pass early when a teammate is open) or take a shot has just been godawful.

He's the player you bring on in the 86th minute when you have a 2-0 or 3-0 lead.
Not the starter you hope will create for you some chances early on.

I really don't get it.

[teesred]

Curtis Jones I really wanted him to be a success. But he is so ponderous and indecisive. Don't see what he offers. He is no more than a squad player.

I was actually happy enough he was starting as he doesn't lose the ball. Offers little else but one thing we can't afford to do is give up the bal easily against this lot.

[HLOGI]

Jones and Jota both look off the pace.
Trent hasn't been able to get on the ball with his distribution.
Macca doesn't have the pace to get back and help out Trent when City break.
Defensively we've done well though.
Alisson slipped when he kicked that ball to Ake. Made up for it with that fantastic save from Foden.
Still in the game. I think we'll see Luis and Gravenberch second half.

I know Klopp won't do it but a slight tactically change would help.

Go to a 4-1-4-1 or 451

Nunez up top
Salah and Jota wide as a 4 or 5 midfield.
Dom Grav and Mac in the middle

As I said as a tweak one of the 3 midfielders deeper and the other 2 as 2 8's. Those 2 can then hunt in a press.

[ianlfc]

We competed there.

We weren't stellar, but we competed.

Better decision-making and first touches around their box required and hopefully keep Doku slightly quieter.

I thought we played well and held our own. I guess that's the fine margins we're up against. Mac is playing really well in the middle.
And that's the luck you need, a poor kick out could've went anywhere, but it had to go to a City player.
My man Jota just isn't getting into the game so maybe get Diaz on. Mo also not really in it and the less said about Darin the better. The offside got me worse than his attacking !!
Also Alverez should've been booked.

[Insidious]

I don't get it.
Why is he in the starting line up here?
Of all the games.

I know he isn't having a good game.

In terms of why he is there, he's one of our more press-resistant players. Often receives the ball, gets pressed, holds them off then releases it so someone else.

A bit of a Wijnaldum-lite you might say.

On paper, his inclusion could be said to have made sense, much as I would have liked to have seen Gravenberch start. He isn't showing his best today mind.

[miller0863]

Gravenberch and Diaz for Jones and Jota is how we should have started and I’d be looking at Gakpo for Nunez if he’s not going to shoot ffs. Two excellent opportunities for him to test Ederson and didn’t get a shot off either time.

We’re trying to beat them at a possession game, we’re never beating City at that game.

One or two need to step up plus one or two subs and go at them. It’s our only chance.