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.
TRVL
Did you see the MA presser? So weak and feeble saying the right words.
Scrappy at best for 18 minutes but Merino should not be playing. Crazy selections
Our passing is too slow we need to move the ball faster.
Its what makes PSG so dangerous
Eze expression- what shit have I gotten into
Incidentally his boyhood friendships was what led him to here .
And Totties is never a serious option 😂
Merino is a total liabilty on the defensive side of the ball…he’s like a more awkward and somehow less effective version of Xhaka…that’s why I rambled on about how he made no sense as a transfer if he was expected to play in the 6 so that Rice could charge forward
I think Rice needs a change of boots!
TRVL
Eze should have started at 8. Ethan for Ode and Rice at 6.
What the fuck?
That’s all on Arteta – his fear, his negativity feeding its way into the players.
Tony—I never saw his presser, although I can just imagine what was on offer…for me I would look at the vulnerabilities of the opposition then set my side up to take full advantage…MA’s likely thinking that if we can hold off Pool into the second half that he’ll change things up with Eze and/or Ethan…get it, considering his usual tactical inklings, but I would have done otherwise
Fucking Spanish player always crumbling under the slightest touch or imagined touch
Merino and now Zubi.
This is utter shit to watch
I would have liked to have seen Noni cut back inside on his better foot once Kerkez had gone to ground, but beggars can’t be choosers considering our lack of chances
TRVL
Totally agree.
We could be playing so better with the right selections.
MA was talking up Merino saying what a great striker he was and how he scored goals.
Tony—this is Sociedad football to a T
Slot seems to have figured the set pices . Keek Gabriel and Merino down
We’re going to have a player booked for diving if we keep this up.
Marc /TRVL
Slot seems to be an astute manager with subs. So many times subs have saved Pool last year.
MA said in his presser he has a great bench now to win games and plans to make the right changes at the right time in the game.
I wanted to throw up 🤮
Hoopah
We’re also missing the usual takers from our right hand side.
What the hell
Noni could have gone in and shot
Guess struck instructions on which sideways to pass
Insipid performance
Half time
we would be wise not to protest too much when the opposition uses our dark arts against us, when defending our set pieces, or it might come back to haunt us…we can’t be cake and eat it too mfers
speaking of refs, Ambarish please don’t waste any of your time and/or energy on the whole officiating conspiratorial nonsense in your gameday posts…it makes us look like those other twats