The first time we suffered a season hiccup it was a 3-2 away defeat to Norwich City. What followed for us was a 5-game, unbeaten run in all competitions, in which we scored 19 and conceded just-yer-1.
Following our second ‘blip’, a slightly-more-worrying 0-2’er at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, we’ve managed 2 back-to-back wins in 2 competitions; where we’ve smashed home 7 goals and only leaked 1, which was a penalty.
So, as we face the Villans in the early KO tomorrow (12:30pm BST), we need to, of course, continue to that roll but hopefully, this time, for a considerably longer time (bearing in mind that Liverpool would be the 7th game in any such run…).
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| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 9/11)
Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Jesus____________________
_________________Fernandinho__________________
____________________Ederson____________________
Ederson between ‘the sticks’.
Fit again both; I think we’ll see a partnership in the middle of the defence of John & Nicolas (may that please start to ‘bear fruits’). Either side of those is likely to be Benjamin on the left and Joao on the right, although I’m going for the Portuguese in my prediction over Walker only on the fact that Cancelo played less minutes in midweek (I WAS thinking also that our manager might want to give the England man some continued ‘build-up time’ following an illness that left him with weight loss and some weakness).
With Rodders out injured (my LORD when will these injuries to ‘key players’ end!), Fernandinho should ‘take up’ his more-usual slot as a defensive midfielder, which isn’t a bad thing.
Both Silvas, who were not used in midweek, should take up their central midfield and right-wing positions accordingly; Kevin & Raheem to join those in the middle and left-wing likewise.
More striker rotation, I think, for this one; with Gabriel being given the starting limelight.
Claudio the reserve stopper; Angelino & Walker the only defensive replacement options form the bench. Ilkay, Phil (very good game from the young Englishman in midweek), Riyad & Sergio make up the very impressive, more-creative / attacking choices form the side.
Notable absences:
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Some concerns about the central-2, defensive pairing, of course; not too much though and not quite as much as my wobbles about Mendy on the left; who I am STILL yet to be convinced about. Other than that? No probs at all with that line-up.
Result? There’s no doubt that our visitors have it ‘in them’ to hurt anyone and a draw plus two wins in their last three games sees the newly-promoted side in some league form.
AND, of course, there’s the Douglas Luiz factor; a defensive midfielder we sold to the Midlands side in the summer and who could come back to haunt us - long-standing City fans will know EXACTLY where I’m coming from there…
However, that’s a strong City side and I just get the feeling that we’ve ‘got the bit between out teeth’ again now. It’s a City win for me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match
prediction and result…
Prediction: N/A
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during the game: Flippin' awful! Damp doesn't even do it justiice and if over 24-hours of heavy rain prior to the game doesn't soak the pitch enough; continued rain throughout the match should PROPERLY ensure that the playing area is soaked! Could be 'a leveler'...
For those readers who it will affect…
…don’t forget to change those clocks over the weekend!
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