[BusbyMalone]

Wtf? He'd die

Haha. Don't know what the feck happened there

Weird autocorrect

 

[JJ12]

If you wanted to represent a 3-4-2-1 why did you put them along the centerbacks in your little drawing, though? Even so, Pogba never did that position nor Mourinho ever used that system with him there, although he did use 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 with Pogba in central midfield.

Thought it would be quite obvious. My apolgies. Seeing as you are a footballing genius and tearing into everybodies lineup predictions - let's see your 'little drawing'

 

[Android1974]

Thought it would be quite obvious. My apolgies. Seeing as you are a footballing genius and tearing into everybodies lineup predictions - let's see your 'little drawing'

Don't sulk. I'm not tearing anything, just discussing it. My guess right now is pretty boring, you don't even need a drawing, the same simple 4-3-3 of Palace's game, with doubts about McTominay or Fellaini as rightcenter #8, and also Lingard or Mata as rightwinger.

 

[TMDaines]

I guess you miss stats about how many shots United concede per match, as well as Dr Gea leading the shots saved statistics by a country mile. Your defense is gash and it's made to look good by a genuinely top class keeper. I don't watch United often you're right, but I can still think of about 5 fairly recent matches you'd have lost if not for him and last season there were even more. The dude is responsible for you being in second place, with (is it Romero your back up?) in place I'd bet my savings account you wouldn't even be in the top 4. If LFC had De Gea we'd be miles in front of everyone barring City. That's how much of a difference a world class (probably best in the world) keeper can make and we're stuck with Clown 1 and Clown 2.

[...]

You're not wrong on much of this, but most teams would look far different if you hypothesised where they would be without their best player. We at least have the reassurance that Romero is a very handy backup, and many including myself considered his performances to be superior to De Gea's last season.

Personally, I'm quite happy with our defenders and I think our outfield defensive problems this season come from our transitions and deepest midfielders. De Gea has not been called upon to make this level of saves in seasons before. People have criticised this post-Ferguson defensive cohort for an eternity, but there's a reason why we still have a lot of defenders from the Ferguson era. They're unfashionable but actually quite functional:

Big 6 PL goals conceded post-Ferguson:

Liverpool 222
Arsenal 198
Spurs 189
Manchester City 175
Chelsea 171
Manchester United 166

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Contrary to what people think, this game will have a few goals I reckon.

 

[sunama]

Just say you want 4-3-3 to be dropped, then everybody will understand.

To be honest it isn't about the formation. It's about the personnel who were used and their attitude.

You could have the best formation in the World, but if the players being used either lack the skill level or the attitude to play hard, you won't win.
This is why we lost in games against Huddersfield, for example. Our players had more skill. Jose's tactics were superior. But the players just weren't interested in playing hard.

What we saw in the 2nd half at CP, was a team who was determined to win. They didn't know when to quit. And the result was that we overturned a 2-0 losing scoreline, into a win. Something which we haven't done since 2013 (I think).

 

[TMDaines]

I think this one is quite easy to pick;

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Lindelof Young
McTominay Matic Pogba
Lingard Lukaku Sanchez

Personally I’d be picking Shaw over Young, and I’d make the big call to drop Sanchez for Rashford, but I think Mou is less disappointed with him than some of us. Hopefully Sanchez can have a decent game tomorrow to make this thought look foolish.

 

[sunama]

Contrary to what people think, this game will have a few goals I reckon.

If so, let's hope that the goals aren't being conceded in our net.

 

[Rob]

Both managers could easily live with a draw, so that’s my prediction. Think both teams will sit back and try and lure the other forward.

 

[Cassady]

Obviously I'd like us to smash them. But I'd take a draw if it was offered right now.
Defense must have a top notch performance.

I think we all would . I think I'll work tomorrow just to avoid the stress this game brings

 

[Cassady]

With a cheeky little look on flashscores.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

1-0, Smalling with a no-look header in the 90th minute.

 

[Pace Abuser]

1-0, Smalling with a no-look header in the 90th minute.

So off his arse then.

 

[Canagel]

The midfield battle is key. Like someone mentioned we're not going up against KDB, Silva, Fernandinho here. It's can, henderson and oxlade Chamberlain. We have the better midfield by a mile and they can't be allowed to dominate us at Old Trafford. If we dominate the midfield then I can't see their attack posing any threat to us.

 

[Xeno]

I'd bet my savings account you wouldn't even be in the top 4.

As if a scouser has a savings account.

 

[NikSab]

@RobDawsonESPN

Suggestions that Paul Pogba had to stop training today because of an injury. Will have a fitness test tomorrow to see if he can play vs Liverpool.

 

[Cassady]

If so, let's hope that the goals aren't being conceded in our net.

They are both your nets though as it's at Old Trafford.

 

[Cassady]

@RobDawsonESPN

Suggestions that Paul Pogba had to stop training today because of an injury. Will have a fitness test tomorrow to see if he can play vs Liverpool.

Darn. Hope he plays .

 

[Dumbstar]

Oh ffs N.O O.O. Pogba must play. Why does everything always conspire against us when we play Utd?!

 

[Jaybomb]

For me, Mata absolutely has to play. His record against Liverpool is probably the best of our entire squad.

 

[Frank Grimes]

De Gea
Valencia Lindelof Smalling Young
Matic Mctominay Fellaini
Lingard Lukaku Sanchez

 

[minoo-utd]

Pogba injured?

 

[United_We_Stand]

 

[el3mel]

Fellaini to the resque.

 

[edcunited1878]

If Pogba is injured and misses tomorrow, I'll take my chances with a double pivot pairing of Carrick and Matic. Carrick can bust a lung for an hour or so then bring on Afroman or McTominay.

I'll take the point now knowing Pogba has been downgraded to doubtful, probable at best....assuming these media reports are remotely true.

 

[el3mel]

 

[el3mel]

Guess I'll put Lingard and Mata as starters then. Likely it'll be a double pivot of Matic and Scott.

 

[whatwha]

Oh ffs N.O O.O. Pogba must play. Why does everything always conspire against us when we play Utd?!

Are you serious?

 

[Fridge chutney]

I hope the many pathetic Scouse narratives emerging from the media and rivals in wake of us facing "the neutral's team" Liverpool are put to bed tomorrow.

Except the Pogba one. We are worse off without him but I hope it doesn't show.

 

[Sandikan]

No pogba will be a huge loss whatever the banter boys say.

No martial and no pogba is a worry.

Lingard and mata will have to have big performances and mctominay will certainly need to match his best bits from the chelsea game

 

[adexkola]

It's crazy that apart from the rivalry, the result will be insignificant for both teams, who are certain locks for top 4, barring a gigantic collapse. May cause Klopp to throw any abandon to the winds. Don't see that happening with Mourinho though.

 

[adexkola]

Pogba is injured? FFS.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

If Pogba is injured and misses tomorrow, I'll take my chances with a double pivot pairing of Carrick and Matic. Carrick can bust a lung for an hour or so then bring on Afroman or McTominay.

I'll take the point now knowing Pogba has been downgraded to doubtful, probable at best....assuming these media reports are remotely true.

If Pogba is injured ( ) and Jose has already said Fellaini is fit to play, I think he will start..

 

[el3mel]

If Pogba is injured ( ) and Jose has already said Fellaini is fit to play, I think he will start..

Don't think he'll be 100% fit for a start.

 

[Dumbstar]

Are you serious?

You seriously can't see how shit he's been this season because you support your club and the narrative that Pogba is world class. He might have shown glimpses of being world class, mainly in Italy, but he causes Utd endless headaches for midfield set up. Again, I won't expect you to see this and long may it continue.

He likes space and zero defending, which is a paradox in a Jose team. With him out Utd's midfield will be a lot more solid which we could do without.

 

[Loublaze]

Fellaini to the resque.

Thank the invisible man in the sky he's off in the summer.

 

[Canagel]

No Pogba?? Well that's bad news but surely that means 3 at the back. Fellaini should NOT start and I think McTominay and Matic alone will be outnumbered by Liverpool's midfield. My guess now is:

DDG
Bailly Smalling Lindelof
Valencia Matic McTominay Young
Lingard
Lukaku Sanchez

Not too bad but still would've been better with Pogba.
​

 

[Fridge chutney]

You seriously can't see how shit he's been this season because you support your club and the narrative that Pogba is world class. He might have shown glimpses of being world class, mainly in Italy, but he causes Utd endless headaches for midfield set up. Again, I won't expect you to see this and long may it continue.

He likes space and zero defending, which is a paradox in a Jose team. With him out Utd's midfield will be a lot more solid which we could do without.

He's in a slump and lacked confidence recently. But the narrative that we're better off without him is false. It is demonstrably untrue since he joined us.

Liverpool wums and their excuses.
"Without DDG youse are mid table"
"Wahhh Pogba isn't playing so that puts Liverpool at a disadvantage... wahhh"

Everything always conspires against your club right?

 

[whatwha]

You seriously can't see how shit he's been this season because you support your club and the narrative that Pogba is world class. He might have shown glimpses of being world class, mainly in Italy, but he causes Utd endless headaches for midfield set up. Again, I won't expect you to see this and long may it continue.

He likes space and zero defending, which is a paradox in a Jose team. With him out Utd's midfield will be a lot more solid which we could do without.

I'm not his biggest fan, so it's not like I'm blind to his faults. But I can also appreciate his qualities.

How many of United's games do you watch?

And it's not like our other alternatives in midfield are any better. You can't seriously claim you'd be more apprehensive of facing old man Carrick or McTominay compared to Pogba.

 

[Fridge chutney]

I'm not his biggest fan, so it's not like I'm blind to his faults. But I can also appreciate his qualities.

How many of United's games do you watch?

And it's not like our other alternatives in midfield are any better. You can't seriously claim you'd be more apprehensive of facing old man Carrick or McTominay compared to Pogba.

Liverpool fans for you. We lose one of our most important players and it disadvantages them. True delusion. Or plain wumming. No fanbase is more irritating.