Huh…just what we didn’t need.

-      Arsenal 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

-      Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

-      Manchester City ?-? Brighton & Hove Albion

After 7 games without a win, which included 6 defeats and 1 draw, our visitors, tonight, have only gone ‘n’ hit some flippin’ form with 2 back-to-back wins against top-4 contenders!

At least that should keep us on our toes; we can’t let them make it a hattrick of excellent results and this will be another test of our patience, ability to break down organised opposition as well as it being an assessment of our recovering energy levels.

Brief thoughts about our last 4 results…

Before we played the first of our 4, very testing and energy-sapping games, if someone had offered me a chance to-still be top of the league, go through to the Champions League semi-final without conceding a goal over both quarter final legs but exit the F.A. Cup by being beaten by just 1 goal…I’d have taken that without a second’s thought. Moving on…

v Brighton & Hove Albion

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

______________________________________________

 

Sterling__________________________________Mahrez

 

_________Foden____Gundogan____De Bruyne______

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Ake___________________________________­__Cancelo

 

___________Laporte____________Stones___________

 

 

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Steffen, Zinchenko, Dias, Fernandinho, Grealish, Palmer, Silva, Jesus, Delap.

Ederson takes back the gloves and is likely to keep them for the remaining games now.

I can see a back-4 line-up of Nathan, Aymeric, John & Joao for this one.

Rodders is the deeper-lying midfielder and ahead of him is our usual, fluid, interchangeable 5 which, for this fixture, I can see being made up of Raheem, Phil, Ilkay, Kevin & Riyad.

Zack reverts to the bench as keeper cover; Oleksandr & Ruben make up the defensive replacement options on the side. Fernandinho, Jack, Cole, Bernardo, Gabriel & Liam are the midfielder / wing / attacking choices in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Kyle Walker – Hasn’t recovered from a recent, twisted ankle and there was no news on a possible return date.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

I think I’d be tempted to go with Oleksandr in the left-wing back slot in order to give us a little extra wing thrust and try to stretch our visitors but, on the other hand, I can understand our manager perhaps-wanting to use Nathan instead for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the Dutch defender has been in good form whenever reintroduced into the side. Secondly, he’s not the biggest central defender in the league but Nathan certainly has more ariel ability than Oleksandr and that might be needed against a side containing some big players. Lastly, having, effectively, 3 central defenders on the pitch does allow them to ‘shuffle over’ on occasions to make ‘a 3’ whenever Joao decides it’s time to turn himself into an inverted wing-back / midfielder to bolster our attacking options even more.

Other than that, if we don’t start with Ruben tonight, I can see him being given 30/35 minutes in the second half depending on how things are going.

Also, I’ve decided to stick Cole Palmer on the bench purely going off Pep’s comment that, apart from Kyle, “…the other ones are better”. I could be wrong; he may just have forgotten about Cole when asked the question about the status of his players and the young, England attacking midfielder might still be receiving treatment for his long-term foot injury and slow recovery from.

Result? Wins do indeed breed confidence so I expect a south coast side rocking up at our ground with their collective chests sticking out proudly.

And it’s not just the two “shock” away results that they’ll be proud of; at Spurs in their last outing, they had 51% possession over the in-form home side, 7 more shots more than Tottenham and 5 on target to the Spurs’ 0. City beware.

I think it’s going to be interesting to see how we come out of the traps tonight – a side still rubbing its aching muscles & joints, to some degree; one that might still be licking its wounds also following a Wembley defeat to our only title rivals and perhaps a few nerves; as we find ourselves 2 points behind Liverpool going into this match. If any & all of that should happen, then I hope they can shake it off quickly because The Seagulls will no doubt smell any fear / vulnerability just like the sea-dwelling birds can smell chips.

It could be an edgy start and we might even go into the break on ‘level pegging’. I hope the home crowd keep their nerve and, furthermore, get behind the lads.

It’ll be a close affair but with just 2 trophies left for us to focus on and with a stronger 11 [than last Saturday’s] sure to start; it’s a home win for me and back to the summit of the table come 9:50pm, or there abouts.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Dry and decent. Of course, by the time we kick off (8:00pm BST) the sun will have almost disappeared and the temperature will start to drop from 13C to a mere 10C. That is gonna feel a little chilly with a steady, easterly breeze but it’s certainly not a bad night for footy if you dress appropriately.

Solidarity

 

Underdogs!

Well, there’s a phrase I’ve not used often in recent seasons to describe us!

But it’s a justified label – a team battered, bruised and exhausted against a side who, yes might be feeling some tiredness themselves, but who also manged to rest SO many key players in midweek when we didn’t / couldn’t.

That’s not a case of “early excuses” from me…it’s simply a fact.

I can see a lot of changes for this one; time for other players to ‘step in’ AND ‘step up’, I would say; as I try to guess more than ever what team our manager will field this afternoon…

v Liverpool

Wembley

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

First of all, Pep informed us that he will not know himself until this morning who he will have available to choose from; assessing, as his team does, the fitness of many players (fatigue / recovery as well as ‘knocks’). Nor would our manager disclose whether he’ll go with Zack in net or stick with Ederson – again, it’s a decision he said he was going to make ‘on the day’.

Put it another way, it’s even harder to predict ‘an 11’…

On both Kyle & Kevin, once again they will be checked on for a final time this morning before a decision will be made before today’s game – Kyle had twisted his ankle but is improving while it sounded more promising for Kevin; with the Belgium international receiving stitches rather than it being a muscular or ligament issue.

Fluid 3-7-0 / 3-5-2 / 5-3-2:

______________________________________________

 

___Sterling____________________________Jesus___

 

___________Grealish___________Gundogan________

 

___________________Fernandinho_________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Cancelo

 

___________Ake_______Laporte______Stones_______

 

 

______________________Steffen__________________

Subs: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, Silva, Mahrez, Delap.

Right…so what I’m doing is sort of assuming the worst; the worst, in this case, being that the likes of Kyle, Phil, Kevin & Bernardo are not deemed fit enough to start / potentially play for 90+ minutes for a variety of reasons…but ARE deemed fit enough to be on the bench / potentially play some part in the game late on, as opposition legs begin to tire.

It’s 50/50 but I’m going for Zack to start in net.

If I’m right with so many key personnel not starting, I can see a shift in formation; partially forced by those absentees but also a tactical one.

A central-back 3 of Nathan, Aymeric & John are flanked by Oleksandr & Joao. Call it a ‘back 5’ if you want but should we go with this system, I would expect Zinchenko & Cancelo to spend 60%+ of their time going forward and helping to stretch Liverpool as wide as possible to help thin-out their midfield; giving our midfield-3 more room to do damage through the centre (that’s the tactical switch I was referring to).

Fernandinho might ‘get the nod’ if Rodders hasn’t fully recovered from Wednesday night’s scrap; Jack & Ilkay just ahead of the Brazilian with Raheem & Gabriel the wide, more advanced attackers.

Ederson steps back to the bench; Kyle & the returning Ruben, who may well start having successfully trained once again yesterday, are the defensive replacement options on the side. Rodders, Phil, Kevin, Bernardo, Riyad & Liam make up an impressive list of back-up midfielders / wingers / attackers in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Cole Palmer – No update, yesterday, on the England Under-21 attacking midfielder following a foot injury he sustained back in January. However, the last we heard was on Tuesday, where we were told that Cole was feeling better and that there was even a chance that he could have travelled to Spain with the rest of the squad. As it turns out, he didn’t. I’m assuming, therefore, that he’s still not ready to be in contention but having been kept behind in midweek, I just wonder also if the physios were continuing to work with him back home and whether he could be a surprise inclusion this afternoon; even if it’s on the bench.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yeah, I sort of like the look of that under the circumstances.

Result? I’ve already mentioned the advantage that Liverpool has with-having-resting so many of their star men in midweek but do we have any advantages? I say, yes.

Firstly, there is so much uncertainty about which of our players are going to be fit enough to start and, so, if Pep didn’t even know last night who was going to be available to him; what chance does Klopp have? Should we, therefore, go with a completely different system that the squad may have been training for since they returned from Spain, they could throw the opposition off balance a little.

An additional note to that is…if we do go with this system & personnel and have so many ‘big guns’ on the bench, then with 5 subs allowed from 9 this afternoon; we could completely change the system and dynamic of the game as opposition energies begin to fade.

Secondly, league points are SO important to both sides and as clubs find themselves back in Premier League action in midweek; while we get a full 4 days off before we kick a ball in anger once more, Liverpool get just 3…and it’s against their old enemy, Manyoo. Manyoo might be a shadow of this current Liverpool side and are in poor form too…but it’s rare that you’ll see even a poor Manyoo side roll over and give Liverpool an easy ride.

I’ve had this scenario in my head for around 36 hours now, where our starting 11 do us so-very proud for the first 65 minutes or so; where they hold Liverpool before we make wholesale changes and slice our way through to take the game ‘in the 90’. It could happen.

Slightly more likely is that this largely-rested Liverpool side are just to flippin’ strong for our 80%-charged lads and they win it before extra time is needed.

I’m going for somewhere in-between…

I can see us, somehow, taking this to extra time and, so, my ’90-minute prediction’ is a draw.

Extra time then? I think that will be one step too much for our legs and they’ll hit us with a winning goal or two.

Should it go to pens? Well…that’s when it becomes a lottery and we could end up nicking it. 🤞

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Absolutely glorious day for a game of footy at Wembley! 19C / 66F and clear, unbroken sunshine is likely to feel more like 22C / 72F in the stadium and other suntrap areas. There’s just a light, easterly breeze wafting over the area to keep it from feeling even warmer.

Solidarity

 

2nd leg predictions v Atletico Madrid

‘Day 3’ of seasonal lurgy and, so, no waffle / straight to it…

v Atletico Madrid

Wanda Metropolitano Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0:

______________________________________________

 

Grealish_________________________________Mahrez

 

________De Bruyne___Gundogan___Silva__________

 

______________________Rodri____________________

Cancelo__________________________________Walker

 

___________Laporte_____________Stones__________

 

 

_____________________Ederson__________________

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Zinchenko, Ake, Dias, Fernandinho, Lavia, McAtee, Foden, Edozie, Sterling, Delap.

Ederson in net.

Even with the risk of picking up a yellow and, therefore, missing the first leg of the semi-final, should we progress of course; I can see our manager starting strong tonight and that means the inclusion of Joao Cancelo in defence. The Portuguese wing-back is likely to be joined by Aymeric, John & Kyle in a back-4 that sees no changes from last Sunday.

Rodders is highly likely to ‘go again’ as our deepest midfielder and then, for Kevin, read Joao; with the 1-yellow-card, Belgium international joined by Jack, Ilkay, Bernardo & Riyad.

Two keepers on the bench in the form of Zack & Scott; Oleksandr, Nathan & Ruben make up the defensive replacement options on the side. Fernandinho, Romeo, James, Phil, Samuel, Raheem & Liam are the midfielders / wingers / attackers in ‘the 12’ (5 subs allowed from that dozen).

Notable absences:

-       Ruben Dias – Back in training having been out for 6 weeks following a hamstring injury. It’s unlikely, we were told yesterday, that the Portuguese international will be ready to play in tonight’s game but there’s a better chance of him featuring on Saturday. However, information released since yesterday’s pre-match press conference has revealed that the 24-year-old has travelled with the squad, at least. He might find himself on the bench, even if he’s not risked.

-       Cole Palmer – Improving news also on Cole, yesterday, when we were informed that the young England Under-21 attacker feels better and may even travel to Spain with the rest of the squad. His manager and the club’s medical staff are also more hopeful of avoiding surgery, such is the improvement in the last week or so. (Hasn’t travelled…)

-       Gabriel Jesus – Suspended for this match.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yeah, I’d go with something like that myself.

I’ve got a feeling that Pep will want to start strong, as I’ve said, as the home side need to come at us. They’re not too good at playing open, attacking play without making themselves vulnerable and we might, therefore, pick off another goal in the first half.

Depending on how the first half – and possibly the first 10/15 minutes of the second – goes/go; I think our manager will want to start withdrawing the likes of Joao, Kevin & Barnardo to begin with in the hope of protecting their yellow card statuses as well as resting / protecting some key players ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Result? I think it’ll be another close affair and there are a few extra considerations in this one:

-       We’ve already seen them practice ‘the dark arts’, as they’re referred to, and I can see them having another pop at our players; particularly targeting Joao, Kevin and Jack once again. I don’t think they’ll discriminate though; I can see them hacking at and trying to wind up any player in a City shirt.

-       The home crowd – minus 5,000 after a section of their ground was ordered by UEFA to close following their fans’ ‘discriminatory behaviour’ in the first leg – will undoubtably be their ‘12^th man’ tonight. They’ll be ‘up for it’ for sure…

-       The referee: How will he handle both of those factors.

-       Sendings off: I can see at least 1 side, possibly both, not ending up with 11 men tonight.

I just hope no stupidity on their part leads to injuries on ours.

On the night? At least a draw but I actually think we’ll nick it again. A City win for me and progression through to the semi-final stage.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: A pleasant 15/16C, partly cloudy and with little chance of any rain.

Solidarity

 

It’s ‘the biggy’ and it should be…

…a totally different affair to last Tuesday’s game against Atletico Madrid.

v Liverpool

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

______________________________________________

 

Grealish_________________________________Sterling

_____________________Foden____________________

_________De Bruyne______________Silva__________

 

______________________Rodri____________________

Cancelo__________________________________Walker

 

___________Laporte_____________Stones__________

 

 

_____________________Ederson__________________

Subs: Steffen, Ake, Mbete, Fernandinho, Gundogan, McAtee, Mahrez, Jesus, Delap.

Ederson in net.

Unless our manager springs a surprise, it’s highly likely that our back-4 will consist of Joao, Aymeric, John & Kyle.

Rodders is the deeper-lying midfielder whilst ahead of him is our usual, fluid, interchangeable 5 that I can see being made up of Jack, Kevin, Phil, Bernardo & Raheem.

Zack is the reserve keeper; Nathan & Luke are the back-up defenders on the side. Fernandinho, Ilkay, James, Riyad, Gabriel & Liam make up the midfielder / wing / attackers in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Ruben Dias – As reported and expected, the Portuguese international central defender is still out injured with a hamstring issue.

-       Cole Palmer – Is having problems recovering from a foot injury he sustained back in January. The young, Mancunian attacker continues to be monitored and season-ending surgery is one option that the medical staff are, presumably, still considering.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

 

Mostly, but I’d tweak that ever so slightly and go with…

A fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-2-4-0 / 4-1-1-4-0:

_____________________________________________

 

Foden_________________________________Sterling

 

_________De Bruyne_____________Silva__________

____________________Gundogan________________

______________________Rodri___________________

Cancelo_________________________________Walker

 

____________Laporte___________Stones__________

 

 

_____________________Ederson__________________

Subs: Steffen, Ake, Mbete, Fernandinho, McAtee, Grealish, Mahrez, Jesus, Delap.

First of all, going with Ilkay in the middle would see us increase our capability of-having even MORE possession of the ball than usual – the more we have it, the less chance of them doing damage to us. I also think having the German international 'in there' in a kind of dual attacking-creative & defensive role would give us a little extra security when needed.

Raheem Sterling rarely or never has a good game against his former employers…but I’ve just got a sneaky feeling that he might be handed the right-sided attacking position tomorrow afternoon and I would agree with that move. He’s had a couple of appearances on that side in recent weeks and he’s done well there / appears to enjoy it; he looks to have more freedom of movement attacking from a different angle.

We need all of our ‘big guns’ starting tomorrow and, so, whilst that includes Kevin & Bernardo; that must also include Phil. We need his pace & aggression to get at / counter Liverpool; there’s no room for slower, Jack Grealish-like build-ups in this encounter.

Result? For me, this is a ‘must not lose game’. That’s not to say that we should do something Pep would NEVER dream of, which is to ‘sit in’ and soak up Liverpool’s attack in the hope of hitting them on the break and / or “just hoping to share the points”. No way!

But what I am suggesting is that a draw wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for us, as it would leave Liverpool still-trailing by a point and, therefore, our fate would remain in our own hands; as close and as-still-nervy as that would leave it. I don’t think Liverpool would see a draw as a good thing; although some people do say that it’s better to be the chaser than the chased.

If that’s shocked you a little then I’m possibly about to shock you once again – I believe Liverpool have a more-dangerous, all-round attack than we do at the moment; a situation that may change next season with the incoming Julian Alvarez and possibly A.N. Other joining us in the summer.

Whenever you reel the names off in the Liverpool side of attacking midfielders, wingers & forwards it’s a frightening list of talent! Of course, we have our many threats too – it’s not by pure luck that we’ve only scored 7 less than our visitors in the league so far this season. But I think it’s the sheer number of fast-attacking, creative & goalscoring players they have in their side…PLUS the pace at which they go at the opposition as a pack.

 

As I’ve already alluded to, what a vastly-different game this is going to be to the ‘two banks of five’ we faced against Atletico Madrid!

 

However, I was slightly surprised to see that The Reds have only conceded 2 more than we have in the league because, as excellent as I think they are; I always get the feeling that they look a little more vulnerable towards their rearguard than we do. Just as we have done in some games since the turn of the year, they too have come away with all-3 points having not played particularly well on occasions. What I’m trying to say is, for all the high praise that I’ve thrown at them; they’re not ‘all powerful’ and can be ‘got at’ if you’re on your ‘A game’.

It's a tense, sort of derby affair with so much riding on it and, therefore, it’s so hard to judge how things are going to work out in the end.

I must admit that I do go into this match fairly confident but, on the other side of the coin, I see how difficult-a-task lies ahead...for both sides of course.

Therefore, I’m going ‘straight down the line’ and predicting a draw on Sunday late afternoon. If that turns out to be the case, then it’s ‘status quo’ and, for us, moving on to Brighton & Hove Albion at home in the league to continue our battle to keep ahead of our one & only title rival…

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Draw

Result: Draw

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Nice. As the game kicks off (4:30pm BST) any sun from behind some light cloud should still be visible low in the sky and the 11C pre-match temperature is forecasted to hold throughout the match as day to turns to evening; assisted by a light, southerly-direction breeze. Dry & perfect conditions for all.

Solidarity

 

v Atletico Madrid

They’re all tough from hereon in…

v Atletico Madrid

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 8/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

______________________________________________

 

Sterling_________________________________Mahrez

_____________________Foden____________________

_________De Bruyne______________Silva__________

 

______________________Rodri____________________

Zinchenko_______________________________Cancelo

 

___________Laporte_____________Stones__________

 

 

_____________________Ederson__________________

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Ake, Egan-Riley, Mbete, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Grealish, Kayky, McAtee, Jesus, Delap.

A bit of a question about whether our manager will want to deploy John Stones as a makeshift right-wing back but I’m GUESSING that he will want to try ‘n’ stretch Atletico as much as possible and, therefore, perhaps go with flanking defenders who are more accustomed to driving forward in support of their winger teammates. And so…

…Ederson in net.

A back-4 of Oleksandr, Aymeric, John & Joao; the latter in his more-natural right-wing back position.

Rodders ‘holds’ and then ahead of him; a fluid, interchangeable, attacking-5 of Raheem, Kevin, Phil, Bernardo & Riyad.

Two back-up stoppers on the bench in the form of Zack & Scott; Nathen, Conrad & Luke are the defensive replacement options in ‘the 12’. Fernandinho, Ilkay, Jack, Kayky, James, Gabriel & Liam make up the midfield / wing / attacking players hoping to ‘get the call’ at some stage…SHOULD Pep go with a full complement of 12. A caveat to some of those that I’ve listed on the bench is that the EDS players did have an away game in London last night and, therefore, might not feature - we might not see a ‘full 12’ on the bench. It was a 3-3 draw against Arsenal’s second team with two injury time goals from Liam Delap & James McAtee within 60-seconds or so of each other salvaging a valuable point in their pursuit of the Premier League 2 title.

5 subs from 12 are allowed in this competition.

Notable absences:

-       Kyle Walker – Suspended for this game; his last of a 3-match, European ban.

-       Ruben Dias – Closer to his maximum expected time out of 6 weeks following a hamstring injury but not ready for this game nor, we were told recently, for the Liverpool clash on Sunday.

-       Cole Palmer – Having problems recovering from a foot injury he sustained back in January. He is being monitored and season-ending surgery ‘could be on the cards’…

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yes.

Result? A hard-working, organised side; hard to break down and who are in good form. It’s a toughie for sure.

Apparently, earlier on in the season their manager did try to tweak their system that’s proven so effective in-keeping the opposition out and wanted his side to cause a little more threat. From what I heard, this didn’t work out too well and they lost early ground in the league; leaving them joint second on points but 12-points behind the leaders. Whether they’ve reverted to their previous formation & tactics I couldn’t tell you but, as I’ve said; they’re in good form at the moment with 7 wins and 1 draw in the last 8 in all competitions; scoring 17 and conceding just 4 in that time. Like us, our visitors do have a key defender out with injury.

A bonus for us, I believe, is that we sailed through our last outing against a very lethargic-looking Burnley side in front of an unusually-quiet Burnley home crowd. We didn’t need to get out of second gear nor break sweat and so, for me, it was like a nice-little warm-up game after the international break and before tonight’s fixture. That’s something I never expected at Turf Moor…

There are some confident noises coming out of our camp in recent days, which is good to see of course, but I think it’s gonna be a really tight affair.

It’s one I think we will win but we’re going to have to work very, very hard for it; much harder than last Saturday. It’s a home win from me.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: N/A

Result: N/A

Expected weather conditions during the game: Some lovely, Manchester spring weather to welcome the Spanish side – showery, breezy and just 10 or 11C. Should make for a fast pitch and the drizzle will help keep the players cool as they exert themselves in, what is sure to be, a close-pressing game by both sides whenever they don’t have the ball. A waterproof jacket is advisable for the fans.

Solidarity