Liverpool has dropped 3 huge points at home to Crystal Palace. City are 2 points ahead having played an extra game than us. We win today and we go back to the top. We win today and we go three crucial points ahead of Liverpool with only 6 games to go. Every game is a cup final now for the boys and Mikel.
Team News
Strange decision to start Zinchenko ahead of Kiwior, because Kiwior has been doing better than Zinni and one bad game doesn’t mean we are going to hamper his confidence. If it’s purely for rotational purpose, I can live with it. Gabriel Jesus makes his way into the starting XI with Rice anchoring the midfield alone with Havertz playing the more forward role today. Trossard starts today ahead of Martinelli whom I think will come-in at some point to give Saka some rest.
Frankly, I had hated the concept of playing Havertz as CF but he has been doing better up top than he does in midfield. Gabriel Jesus does the dirty work but is not as clinical in front as you would expect your CF to be. Trossard gives me some hope though.
Liverpool is suffering the way we did last season. One loss and everything has gone bonkers for them. They were unbeaten at home from god knows when, and suddenly Atlanta wins 3-0 and they can’t even keep Crystal Palace to a draw. City, on the other hand, have gone full beast mode.
We need to win today. At any cost. First, because Pep is not going to drop any points now and the only way we win the league is by winning all our games. Second, I hate Aston Villa.
Right, a very short one today. See you during the game.
we need to get out of this rather scrappy period, as that favours them
the woodwork is our best friend today
That one broke the neighbour’s windows.
I think we could use Mart’s pace right about now
We can’t afford a draw.. #COYG
KP
I heard it here 😀
20 min that’s going to decide our Title run because I don’t fucking believe Pep is going to lose on any point.
We look lost not PL contenders
woodwork is our best goalie.
Just thinking same Ambarish. Wrong selection for this game. Jesus, Zinchenko and Havertz largely ineffective but this is El B.
Tony – El B’s three favourites.
Now we play who should have started.
What in the hell. You can’t bring on ESR when you are 2-0 up but when we need a win and Odegaard is playing well, you get a not-so-match-fit player for 10 min to win you a game? Really?
I seriously hope ESR wins this or Jorginho or anyone for that matter, but it’s a bad decision to get him at this time.
at this *stage rather
Havertz has 17 passes and 12 tackles only 4 sacks restful and has lost possession 5 times: his sum of his total input to this game, so far.
oh dear
Fuck me
And there goes our league hopes. Sorry Marc you had to witness this.
We have the squad but not the manager has always been my mantra.
AK – not while there are dogs on the street.
interesting to note how much Villa, a far more countering friendly team, has possessed the ball in these most important minutes…almost as if they want the 3 points more
Unai always seems to have El B’s number. That and El B’s pet nonsense.
what is going on. Emery’s revenge.
Alright, enough of football today. We fight another day now
No beating City now, same last season.
New manager please.
Tony – FAB 4 is waiting in the wings.
Just think of the shit Pedro hurled at Emery from day one.
Emery knew where Arteta was ahead in the first half. Countered it in the second.
Kudos to him.
Raya errors x 2.
Martinez faultless.
Buying Havertz instead of a 20+ goal striker has been the reason we won’t win the league.
Forget overturning the Bayern result. This is El B our clueless wonder mistake riddled manager.
We were once against n toothless up top and no real creativity in midfield.
Pep has just topped up his tempranillo and has a huge smile on his face.
Tony – perhaps Pedro is eating his own shit now.
the Emery karma tour continues…first in Europa and now a double that might be the difference…he’s undoubtedly the better manager, but, for the most part, we have the better horses…the key differences, clinical finishing and employing a real Striker…two shots on target = two goals…not to mention, if it weren’t for the woodwork, they could have been up by 4, although a 3-1 scoreline might have been fairer…if Emi gets a clean sheet that would be like pouring a bucket of salt on an open wound
Martinez is a joker and just loves winding people up – he is sure to say something in Spanish to El B if he gets the opportunity.
Arteta was right about one thing, the subs would decide things….unfortunately it was theirs not ours
it’s difficult not to imagine what we might look like if we had simply properly replaced Xhaka with someone with the ability to link-up play and, more importantly, finish, then brought in a real Striker
The sheer arrogance of El B is mind numbing in thinking he could out think Emery with his pets’ selection. Havertz did nothing and thus making us a one sided trick pony on the left and rarely through the middle.
Now we’re left with 6 games of misery like last season. So, the reality will be 5 years and nothing to show for it.
So glad I didn’t go to a pub to watch. Watched it in my hotel.
it’s certainly not over, as City don’t have the late season invincible feel they’ve had so often in the past, but that match definitely had more pretender than contender vibes