Well the cards ARE stacked in our
favour…
Fully fit squad v
just back from a European trip
That sub-heading pretty much sums up the situation really as
we go to Anfield for a 12-noon KO on Sunday in
about the best position possible.
- Everyone fit ‘n’ available
- A Captain itching, I’m sure, to not-only prove the recent doubters wrong but also to banish his OWN demons of last season’s trip to Liverpool; where his miss-clearance lead to their winner in a 3-2 thriller
- Yaya Toure rested and returning in a week where
he’s also apparently said he wants to finish his career at City and
stay here in some capacity afterwards (all
this coming a few days after I posted my letter
to him – Mmmm.…)
- Wilfried Bony keen to get on the score sheet
- A
Thursday night, extra time trip to
- ...God
I hope they play Mario from the start!
Easy pickings then tomorrow, isn’t it? Yeah right…
But if we ARE the
‘real deal’ in the Premier League at least [if not the Champions League] then this IS a game we should be winning. Anfield is rarely, of
course, an easy place to go; they still have a lot of class players that can
hurt you and there’s always that 12th man from the stands whenever
the Kop really gets going.
But for all the
afore mentioned reasons – and, for once, before I do my usual predicted
line-up etc. - I’m nailing my flag to a City win, which is a 100% change from
my pre-season prediction of a defeat in this fixture.
v Liverpool
4-4-2:
____________________Bony__________
__________Aguero___________________
____________________Toure___________
________Fernandinho_________________
_________________Hart_______________
Joe to carry on in
net.
Away from home –
and the better of the 2 defenders – Gael to keep his left-back place despite
and busy red-carded night on Tuesday. Likewise Pablo, who had a crackin’ game
against Newcastle
On form I’d
definitely go for a midfield pairing of James & Yaya but it’s never going
to happen is it? Fernandinho, therefore, to partner the Ivorian in the middle.
Tucked in from the
line slightly and allowed to roam, I’m sure, are our creative wizards David
& Samir.
Sergio slightly
deeper in, in a way, an attacking
trio with Nasri & Silva and, I think,
just behind Wilfried, who I think will get his first Manchester City
As for the bench, huh…well, it’s just shows you that when
they ARE all fit / available some proper first team names do have to miss out.
The biggest casualties, if I’m correct of course, are Sagna,
Fernando & Jovetic.
I’ve already given my prediction and I’ve already said they have players
that can do some serious damage if allowed to – Coutinho,
Gerrard, Sterling
and Sturridge all spring to mind but also, as
the Manchester Evening News pointed out yesterday,
Skrtel; who has a habit of ‘sticking one on
us’.
It’ll be a tough
one alright but I’m fairly convinced that our superior class throughout and
fresher legs will see us through in the end.
Concerns
beyond the threat that they pose?
- Kompany trying too hard and having one of those games / moments
where he’s just a little bit TOO ‘pumped up’ and, therefore, not quite focused
(my only ever and rare criticism of ‘our skip’)
- Kolarov getting chosen instead of Clichy to face their pacy, attacking players
- Mangala having a stinker (and
Lord if all those 3 fears come together at once it’ll be a disaster!)
- Bony trying too hard and becoming too anxious to be effective
- Dzeko being chosen instead of Bony (or coming on) and having one of
his sulking / can’t trap a ball days
- In a strange way…that James
Milner, how ever long he’s on the pitch for, has a ‘proving (another) point’ / come
'n’ get me Liverpool, blinding game…
Looking
forward to…
- Seeing Mangala having the same kind of game he had on his debut at
home to Chelsea
- Samir, Yaya, David, Sergio & Wilfried ‘clicking’ and
absolutely tearing the home side to pieces!
- All 3 points and piling the pressure on Jose’s men, who take a break from
Premier League action as they KO at 4:00pm after us against Spurs in the League Cup final.
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