This game won’t determine either team’s season. Probably matters more to them than us. 

53 minutes ago, ozboy said:

This game won’t determine either team’s season. Probably matters more to them than us. 

Nerves are already kicking in for me. We are going for the league title, we can all see that and this is a HUGE statement game.

I disagree it means more to them. Pressure is off them, 3 of the last 4 titles. All pressure is on them to deliver a CL win but league titles are a secondary one for them now.

Lot of pressure on us to show how much we want this. Cause not only do we have to edge City to win the title, we have to stay ahead of a now full strength pool and a very lucky Ronaldo led Man United.

I'd start Chillwell over Alonso for this one.  City will have Walker bombing up our left side and while Alonso has been great since the start of the season, and has offered the opposition a headache, he gets caught up the pitch far too often which causes Rudiger to be pulled out wide to cover.  Chillwell is the better defender IMO and can still offer an attacking threat; I think the midweek Villa game was to blow off the cobwebs. 

Werner starts for me over Havertz and can pull City's defence out of position for Lukaku.   Kante / Kovacic / Jorghino in the middle with Kante / Kovacic sticking to DeBryune and Gundgan when they are on the offensive.  James at RWB with Rudiger / Christensen / Azpi.   Won't be surprised to see Kepa start in goal.  

Confident of 3points, although I hate early kick offs for us, but won't be disappointed with a point at least. 

22 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Sky Sports also report Gundogan, Rodri and Zinchenko are all in the treatment room as well. 

Would be big misses if all are out.

Mmm,the cynic in me thinks all will play.

5 minutes ago, erskblue said:

Mmm,the cynic in me thinks all will play.

I'm never ever cynical, but the Bitter One in me agrees with you.

14 minutes ago, Valerie said:

I'm never ever cynical, but the Bitter One in me agrees with you.

The realistic one in me agrees with you. The same realistic one knows Mendy, Werner and Pulisic may not be ready for this game. 

2 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

I'd start Chillwell over Alonso for this one.  City will have Walker bombing up our left side and while Alonso has been great since the start of the season, and has offered the opposition a headache, he gets caught up the pitch far too often which causes Rudiger to be pulled out wide to cover.  Chillwell is the better defender IMO and can still offer an attacking threat; I think the midweek Villa game was to blow off the cobwebs. 

Werner starts for me over Havertz and can pull City's defence out of position for Lukaku.   Kante / Kovacic / Jorghino in the middle with Kante / Kovacic sticking to DeBryune and Gundgan when they are on the offensive.  James at RWB with Rudiger / Christensen / Azpi.   Won't be surprised to see Kepa start in goal.  

Confident of 3points, although I hate early kick offs for us, but won't be disappointed with a point at least. 

Walker bombing up 🤔🤔

 

Mason injured, Mendy starting.

9 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Nerves are already kicking in for me. We are going for the league title, we can all see that and this is a HUGE statement game.

I disagree it means more to them. Pressure is off them, 3 of the last 4 titles. All pressure is on them to deliver a CL win but league titles are a secondary one for them now.

Lot of pressure on us to show how much we want this. Cause not only do we have to edge City to win the title, we have to stay ahead of a now full strength pool and a very lucky Ronaldo led Man United.

The pressure is definitely on them and especially Pep. He wont want to lose 4 times in a row to Tuchel. He probably hasn't slept since thursday

19 minutes ago, wizardous said:

Mason injured, Mendy starting.

I think sometimes Tuchel is too honest. All he had to say was that Mendy was back and that we had some players to check on before the game at 12.30. Pep was asked about his 5 injured players and didn't give any information on who could play and who couldn't , he just said some can and some can't. Now with Mason out it is obvious we will play a 352 .

28 minutes ago, wizardous said:

Mason injured, Mendy starting.

So who starts in Mason's place?  Werner or Ziyech?  

I am thinking Werner.  

8 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I think sometimes Tuchel is too honest. All he had to say was that Mendy was back and that we had some players to check on before the game at 12.30. Pep was asked about his 5 injured players and didn't give any information on who could play and who couldn't , he just said some can and some can't. Now with Mason out it is obvious we will play a 352 .

Likely although he may play Ziyech or Havertz as the deeper of the 10s and stick with the 343.

31 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

The pressure is definitely on them and especially Pep. He wont want to lose 4 times in a row to Tuchel. He probably hasn't slept since thursday

For Peps ego sure, for revenge sure. In reality though another title is just like another league cup to Cities owners imo, what they crave the most is a CL, almost as badly as PSG crave it.

Actually alright with the news that Mason is out as long as Werner starts ahead of Ziyech. I actually think Werner starting is very good for us. He injects that pace and he’s always good for an assist. Still think he’s likely to miss a golden chance but he might surprise us… and even if he doesn’t he will likely make up for it by winning a pen or assisting Lukaku… something mount could have been doing better lately

11 minutes ago, Valpo said:

So who starts in Mason's place?  Werner or Ziyech?  

I am thinking Werner.  

Jorginho, kova and Kante mid 3

Lukaku, Havertz up top 

Edited September 24, 20214 yr by Bob stark

13 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Likely although he may play Ziyech or Havertz as the deeper of the 10s and stick with the 343.

For Peps ego sure, for revenge sure. In reality though another title is just like another league cup to Cities owners imo, what they crave the most is a CL, almost as badly as PSG crave it.

Thank God we are past that stage with the UCL. The amount of heartbreaks i had before we eventually won it is indescribable. It honestly became an obsession and rather ironic that we won it with probably our weakest team of that era.  I think i will rank the heartbreak  it in this order

1. Moscow shootout ..... Final

2. Liverpool Ghost goal ..... Semi Finals

3. Barca's Iniesta ( Its a f**king disgrace)..... Semi Finals

4. Liverpool Penalties ...  Semi Finals

23 minutes ago, Valpo said:

So who starts in Mason's place?  Werner or Ziyech?  

I am thinking Werner.  

Kante does.. We will start with the team that started the second half against Spurs

I think we can safely assume one of Stones and Laporte will start with Diaz, Gundogan and Rodri will likely be in midfield unless one is benched for Fernandinho, though it sounds like Zinlenko is the one who has not made it.

Working tomorrow  can’t wait to start my mon-fri job with no weekends!

We will probably see a midfield trio of Kante, Kova and Korginho with Kavertz and Kukaku up top. But I think I would prefer Werner and Wukaku up top with Wavertz behind and Wante and Worginho in midfield

Mason is never injured but he played through injury and even took a penalty, I think this is a minor injury. Which is fine because he has been in a bad form in the most recent games anyway.

5 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

I'd start Chillwell over Alonso for this one.  City will have Walker bombing up our left side and while Alonso has been great since the start of the season, and has offered the opposition a headache, he gets caught up the pitch far too often which causes Rudiger to be pulled out wide to cover.  Chillwell is the better defender IMO and can still offer an attacking threat; I think the midweek Villa game was to blow off the cobwebs. 

Werner starts for me over Havertz and can pull City's defence out of position for Lukaku.   Kante / Kovacic / Jorghino in the middle with Kante / Kovacic sticking to DeBryune and Gundgan when they are on the offensive.  James at RWB with Rudiger / Christensen / Azpi.   Won't be surprised to see Kepa start in goal.  

Confident of 3points, although I hate early kick offs for us, but won't be disappointed with a point at least. 

That’s why you play 3 at the back so Rudiger is pulled out wide to cover! We don’t need 3 centre backs staying in the middle marking no striker lol. Let Walker worry about what Alonso is doing imo. 

 

3 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

I think sometimes Tuchel is too honest. All he had to say was that Mendy was back and that we had some players to check on before the game at 12.30. Pep was asked about his 5 injured players and didn't give any information on who could play and who couldn't , he just said some can and some can't. Now with Mason out it is obvious we will play a 352 .

So you argument is because Pep knows mason is injured we are at a disadvantage because he suspects we’ll play with a 352. If that’s the case then in 2020 every team should have found a way to beat Liverpool because they basically played the same formation throughout the entire PL campaign, yet they steamrolled everyone to win the title. 

The odds for that game are pretty even. It's really difficult to predict a winner in this top match.

Some Tuchel quotes:

“If you have N’Golo, you have something everyone is looking for – he is a top player,” Tuchel beamed.

“You have everything you need in midfield; you have work-rate, intensity, ball wins, skilful play, dribbles, half-field drives and even a goal.

“I see this every day in training and it is hard to believe how good he is. He is a unique guy, there are no more words from me. N’Golo is N’Golo, he is fantastic.”

This game might just be one of those tough derby games with little goals but I believe that due to the previous 3 meetings that there will be goals, lots of them.