Rotten form, “unexpected” results, sitting just 3-points above the ‘drop zone’ after 6 games and with rumours that their manager will be the next Premier League one to be ‘shown the door’. Doesn’t sound good for them, does it?
However, I’ve followed football long enough to know that, depending on the type of dressing room and the majority of players’ feelings towards their boss; that CAN have a galvanising effect.
Could be a tricky fixture (I purposely avoided using the word “sticky” there)…
v Everton
 |
| Goodison Park |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct
from starting line-up in the last game, which was in the League Cup against Preston: 7/11).
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Aguero____________________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
__________Fernandinho______Otamendi___________
____________________Ederson____________________
Ed takes
the gloves back from Claudio.
Fernandinho
& Nicolas take back their slots too in the middle of the defence and I
think our manager will go for Premier League experienced Kyle on the right for
this game. Who’ll get the left wing-back position? I think Benjamin might get the
'starting nod' this evening.
Rodders ‘holding
/ protecting’.
A
familiar and strong attacking quartet of Raheem, David, Kevin and, I’m going
for, Bernardo on the right. I make a point of saying the latter because Pep had to face a barrage of questioning in his pre-match press conference yesterday about the
Portuguese attacking midfielder / winger about THAT tweet and although he
looked a little irritated [at having to]; he made a strong point about the overall character
of Bernardo that he has seen over the last 3 years. To drop him for this game might
just fuel more unwanted questions…not that Guardiola chooses his
player on such things…
Sergio
back ‘up top’.
Claudio
back on the side; Joao (to study this sort of game from his side-on position)
& Oleksandr the replacement wing-back options from ‘the 7’. Phil, Ilkay,
Riyad & Gabriel make up the rest as more attacking threats.
Notable
absences:
- Leroy Sane – Now expected to be
ready around January 2020, which is better news than the initial February /
March return-estimate!
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
As long as Mendy
remembers to defend as well as attack, I’m absolutely fine with that.
Result?
Well, I’ve mentioned the possible reaction of our hosts but I want to add also
that it will be a greasy pitch for sure and under the floodlights of Goodison,
it could be a 'boiling pot' of a match.
A lot also depends on the mood of the home
fans and I’m reminded that we faced a very inconsistent Everton side on ‘their patch’
last season / February; where Evertonians were becoming increasingly
disgruntled then too. In fact, I recall a lot in dark blue being interviewed
before the game about whether they wanted their own team to beat us and, therefore, give
Liverpool a helping hand and most struggled to want their own side to win.
7 months on and we’re in an almost identical
situation!
We overcame all of those issues / doubts then
and I think we’ll do the same tonight. It’s a vital, keeping-up-with-the-reds
away win. I’ve got a feeling we’ll see a
sending off or two in this match…
Last season’s,
corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Win
Expected weather conditions during
the game: Wet, wet, breezy and, did I mention, wet? Potential pitch conditions, I’ve already mentioned, but with the rain and wind, 15C will feel more like 11 or 12 for the fans, I’m sure.
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