…to say the least for the Merseyside reds but they still pose a huge threat ‘on their day’. Just ask Manyoo…
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| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: A poor 5/11 in a difficult-to-read F.A. Cup tie against a Championship side).
There was a bit of, ‘see how Haaland will be after Friday afternoon’s training session’ about Pep’s pre-match press conference, but…
Fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:
____________________Haaland____________________
Grealish_________________________________Mahrez
____________Silva_____________De Bruyne________
_____________________Rodri_____________________
Ake______________________________________Walker
____________Dias_______________Stones__________
____________________Ederson____________________
Subs: Ortega, Gomez, Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Phillips, Gundogan, Palmer & Alvarez.
Ederson starts in net.
There are many options in defence and many combos too but I’m going for a back-4 of Nathan, Ruben, John & Kyle.
Rodders to ‘sit deep’; while I think we’ll see an attacking quartet in midfield of Jack, Bernardo, Kevin & Riyad all in support of Erling; who I’m guessing will have recovered from a groin issue / scare.
Stefan is the back-up keeper; Sergio, Rico, Manuel & Aymeric are the reserve defenders on the side. Kalvin, Ilkay & Cole are just 3 midfielders / wingers in ‘the 9’, while Julian is the replacement striker option. We COULD see Maximo Perrone ‘in there’ on the bench instead of, perhaps, Sergio Gomez…
Notable absences:
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Phil Foden – Recovering from an appendix operation – possibly 2 to 3 week’s out, as I understand it.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Result? A defence that all-too-often, this season, has shown signs of vulnerability; a midfield that is often found wanting and, according to many observers, is in desperate need of an overhaul in the summer BUT…an attacking force that can still tear sides apart if the opposition’s defence & midfield isn’t ‘on it’. That’s exactly how I see our visitors on Saturday afternoon. Apparently their away record isn’t great this season but that they do have a habit of ‘turning up’ at big away games / venues…
Being a ‘club over country’ supporter, I don’t much care for international breaks, generally speaking. I totally get why we have to have them of course and, in fairness, if England are played good opposition in a meaningful game then I will-often watch / support them.
But what I can’t stand following national team games BEYOND the anxiety that one or more of our key players might come back with a knock, or worse, is the nervous anticipation about how City as a team will ‘restart’ after the pause. And what amplifies that foreboding feeling even further is when that break in domestic play comes just as we happen to be in very good form. 🙄
Come back as we were just before the break and this is a City win. Come back and find that OTHER Manchester City side from this season who looked ‘out of sorts’ / ‘a little off’ and this is a Liverpool win. Therefore – and just like this fixture last season – I’m actually going for an “I don’t know”, fence-sitting draw.
If, like last season, I’m right, that would be a devastating 2-home points dropped in our continued pursuit of Arsenal. I hope in the right way, therefore, that I’m wrong…
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: Draw
Result: Drew
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
Expected weather conditions during the game: An overcast & murky day but there’s little chance of any wet stuff. 10C with just a light northerly breeze isn’t bad at all for the players exerting themselves on the pitch but it might feel a little chilly in the stands.
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| Solidarity |
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