We are visiting Anfield today. One of the most important games of the season, clash of the No #1 and No #2, and two teams fighting for 90 minutes to sing ‘I am better than you’ at the end of day. Quality wise, we are on par with them. It will all come down to the players and their passion to beat the best team in Premier League and the manager to devise a strategy to neutralise the Mo Salah threat while breaking that defence to score some goals. Trent is gone so that’s a relief, we always hated his long balls to Salah.
We haven’t won at Anfield since 2012. In recent years, we have proved to be a match to them sharing points in our last 6 encounters. Today is the day to reset both these numbers.
Their new striker, Ekitike, had a wonderful start in Liverpool color. He has scored 2 and assisted 1 in his first 2 games. We have got our own fighter up top in Gyokeres, who scored 2 against Leeds after a sus first game. It’s the battle of the Forwards primarily and we will see who is the geezer of two.
Then, they have one of the best CB of recent Premier League era and we have got one for the present and future. VVD has enjoyed his fair share of praises, but Saliba has taken over. They have the best player on the planet in Mo Salah which we don’t have answer to as Saka is injured but we as a team have better chemistry, better defence and a better midfield to counter that advantage.
Team News
We needed everyone for one of the biggest games of the season, but unfortunately we are without 2 of our main team players. Saka is out injured for about a month and Odegaard for probably a couple more weeks.
Smart teams anticipate such kind of scenarios and cover it in advance. Last season, Saka and Ode injuries would have meant we go into the game with Nwaneri on the wings and no idea who as the sole playmaker in the midfield. Today, we have options. Madueke is a premier league player, played in the Chelsea team against the likes of City and Liverpool and he knows what it takes to play in such a game. Eze, another premier league ready transfer, can cover the Odegaard’s position, without any drop in quality. We overpaid for both of them, but at least we have the confidence in both these signings to continue what Saka and Odegaard does.
Saka is a big game player and it’s impossible in current football world to replace him with a similar player. There would be some drop of quality on the right wing but it won’t lose us the game. Same for Eze.
Arteta will most likely stick to his back 4 of Timber, Saliba, Gabriel and Calafiori. The Italian will have a massive job today to handle Mo Salah who has a great start of the season with a goal and assist in previous 2 games. If he fails, we have MLS on the bench who can do that.
In the midfield, we would see one Eze coming in for Odegaard. Rice and Zubimendi will keep their place. I am not sure if Arteta will ever try one of Zubimendi or Rice in the middle with both Odegaard and Eze on either side, but if he does, it won’t be today.
Front 3 will be interesting. Madueke on the right means Martinelli will keep his place at the left and Gyokeres will start in the middle. Martinelli is menace for defenders with his pace and he is a big game player. For me, he starts today and he will end up benching Madueke once Saka is back.
Don’t be shocked if …
On the referee part, we are not in luck. Chris Kavanagh would be officiating the game, the last time he did that in an Arsenal game was against Chelsea in March. He ignored the Cucurella handball in the penalty box and totally missed to see Fofana stomping on Declan Rice. This is the same lad who red carded Declan Rice against Brighton for kicking the ball away where in fact he didn’t kick it while missing the leg kick only a fraction of second before, also totally ignoring Joao Pedro kicking the ball away a few minutes later. I am not really conspiracy theorist but lets just say he was born in Manchester and as far as I know, those cunts don’t really like us.
Wrapping Up
I think we will make it today and break the Anfield curse. 2-1 to boys with Martinelli scoring one in a counter and Gyokeres proving his worth and letting the world know he has arrived. It’s not going to be an easy game at all but lets see how much we can keep our focus on, not let Salah break free and keep our heads in the game. It’s too early in the season to make 1 single game important for the title, but having earning all 3 points against a top 4 teams given you the luxury to not think about a draw later in the season against a bottom half team – like Manchester United.
We have some big games coming up after this, so a loss could derail the confidence. Hopefully the new signing in Eze was able to get in the mix comfortably and Madueke does 9/10 of Saka on that right side.
Also, please don’t laugh about Tottenham, they lost to a mighty Bournemouth at home with 1 shots on target to theirs 6. Thomas Franc is a great manager, but so were Mourinho and Conte, you can’t coach the Spuds to play football, can you?
See you during the game.
City conceding a second in the 89th – with 7 minutes added.
Apart from winning today, two things I want to see today…
Annous making his debut
And him not making an arse of himself.
I’ll get me coat.
Marc – you and Starmer would make a great couple just like Elton John and David Furnish. I think you’d find his politics a bit too right wing though.
I really did think City would look a different team this season with last being a combination of injuries, people taking their foot off the gas after winning so much and Pep’s personal problems.
They really don’t look right.
Marc
It’s going to be interesting.
Junior is reading LG where Raptora says he’s feeling invincible to win the league.
He’s in fits reading the crap LG provides bar a few who Junior says are talking sense about MA.
Will they get banned by pedro Pete?
Marc
I was feeling the same as they finished strong and did ok in the World Cup.
Now they look lacklustre and disjointed in their passing and moving the ball forward. Like it was their first preseason against BHA who did well to keep the score to 1:0.
Tony
I don’t know if you saw my comment after the Leeds match but a couple of the regulars who sit behind me were chatting and one said Arteta’s got to win the PL or CL this season or go.
The expectation level seems to be moving to do or die.
Not unfairly with the spending – especially this summer, its looking like Hincapie is coming in in a similar deal to Raya to spread the cost.
Marc—just so you know, I replied to your last post on the previous thread
City are traditionally a much better side in the second-half of the season, but even that doesn’t explain away their present predicament…just take a look at their defensive shape on BHA’s winner…Rodri can’t be expected to play DM and both CB spots…Haaland might have scored his 88th in 100 appearances, but he should have put that match to bed in the first-half…I still think they’ll be a CL side moving forward, but only just, as I would suspect that it will be a 3 horse race between Pool, Chelsea and ourselves…if only we had put someone else in charge of our transfer business a few years back we might be looking for 3 titles in 4 years
TRVL
Hi mate – I did see it.
I just see how such a bloated squad can be kept happy unless Arteta expects mass injuries. Kiwior’s got to be on his way with another CB coming in.
Arteta given the armband to Gabriel? Would have thought Rice was the obvious choice.
I fucking hate scousers.
not starting Ethan or Eze was a gutless move by MA…what are we Real Sociedad, who btw were known for their inability to score goals with that duo in the midfield…no worries though, as we all knew that was likely going to be the case with you know who in charge
Marc—he couldn’t have given it to Rice as that would have fed into a narrative that has already generated far too much chatter within the fanbase
it’s starting to look like Saliba could be coming off
That’s really bad news.
Didn’t see much contact on Saliba.
TRVL
Good point on Rice.
if it was Gabs instead of Saliba I would have moved Cala over and had Skelly out wide
he might have just hyperextended his knee when the Pool player backed into him…it looked rather innocuous at the time though
let’s hope Salah looks like he did last week, especially with Cala on the left…we have to be careful not to pay too much attention to him so that we don’t get burned on the backside, like how they ultimately punished Newcastle
How slow is Merino? Just let the pool player take a shot.
it’s been a long time since we saw Rice playing so deep…he could be making a call to his agent if that continues
Marc
Yes read that with interest and happy finally fans are seeing sense