We should go for the jugular. Liverpool are looking all over the shop right now an international break isn't going to help that because most of the players will be away.
FA Premier League
Liverpool 0:0 Manchester United
Anfield
- Kick-off
- Sat, 14 October 2017 @ 12:30pm BST
- Status
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Closed
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) look forward to a new life under Ruben Amorim. What system will we be playing? What players will impress? and how will it all go? We also say goodbye to Ruud Van Nistelrooy and review United's 3-0 win at home against Leicester City.
Discussion Your Lineup Prediction
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- Status
I'd personally prefer another standard, convincing 4-0 win, just to make it clear how much better we are than them.
Saying that, your option could also be fun.
I don't normally do bullish. I prefer anxious and superstitious. But it's been a long time since we came to Anfield with a team this good playing with this much confidence. And back when that was the case, you also had a good side. This season, not so much.
I honestly think it's rational to expect something along the lines of a comfortable 1-3. Your defence hasn't got a hope of keeping us out. If you have a midfield, I haven't really noticed. But your attack is dangerous, and will probably get something too.
This is all under the proviso that Mourinho shows a bit of backbone and sets us to do what we've done in every other game of the season so far. If he shows you a lot of respect and makes defensive changes, it will probably all go to shit.If there wouldn´t be the damn break now, i would be 100% confident we beat them. As we played our worst game after the first international break (Stoke) and Jose´s teams are usually shit in "after international break games", i think we will not win this one.It'd be good if this was the one where we score more than 4.I think Lukaku will be vital in this game as he will be the key target-man to bypass pool's pressing from the front.
I would either play 4-2-3-1 or 5-2-1-2. Herrera or Fellaini is a difficult choice. Herrera will probably be better to close down quicker and better passing, but Fellaini is a threat at set-pieces which is a weakness of Pool.
I'm quite confident of a good result here, so we will probably lose 3-0.
How many "first" big tests of the season are we gonna have? It was Stoke away first, then CSKA away, then Soton away and now Liverpool?The problem with playing like we are this season is where usually I would be completely satisfied with a point from this fixture, in the current circumstances anything less than a win will be a bit disappointing.
I expect Mourinho to change his approach in this one and keep it tight, a proper, old fashioned Mourinho bus-parking job. But I reckon we'll pull it off and get the points.---------------------DDG---------------------
Valencia ----- Bailly ---- Jones ------ Young
-------------------- Matic --------------------
------------ Fellaini ----Herrera--------------
Mkhi --------------------------------Rashford
--------------------Lukaku -------------------
Reckon this will be it. I'm confident we're good enough to shut them out and equally confident their defense will be open enough for us to have a few decent chances.Any day now, new thread, 'I'm growing fond of the Dippers'?This stupid fecking international break drives me nuts. The International games should be held after the season ends in the early summer.I just saw some clips how liverpool defend corners. We just must score at least one from set piece
So, you're recommending precisely the same change we did for Stoke?
No, I'm saying we shouldn't intentionally make "classic away" game changes, changing formations etc. as above posts are suggesting. Just adding Herrera should be enough, I'd expect us to still play with a 4-2-3-1 unlike how we set up with Stoke in a 4-3-3 of Pogba, Herrera and Matic.
Mainly, we shouldn't play Darmian as we did against Stoke and nullify our left-wing.
Oh, ok, I see. Fellaini as #10, then.
Regarding Darmian, unless we go 3 at the back (and even then, he could be one of the centerbacks; I remember he did a job on Chelsea's Pedro), he might be needed to keep Salah or Mané tight.
And that result would be a surprise to nobody but I fancy we'll nick this one 2 - 1. Defensively we'll be professional, tight and hard to beat and their frailty at the back will be tested often!
Agreed. As much as I hate to say it, I was impressed by Citeh today for that reason. They were "on it" from start to finish and won fairly comfortably away to Chulski even without Aguero. And in Delph they have a younger version of either Valencia or Young.
And that's why it's too early to pick a lineup just yet; and that can be said for both teams. It will be a contest, no doubt about that. I think we'll have just enough to get all three points regardless.
Future injuries aside, it's certainly looking like it will be something like that line up. And I do like the way Lukaku & Martial break together. The Pool defenders ARE going to give away a penalty as a result methinks.
Yeah, a point would not be the worst result but I think Mou will really want to win this one. He can take the sting out of the Pool attack better with the first lineup by blocking out the midfield while the pace up-front can get in behind Matip and his defense
And that's why I'd really like flexibility of the 3-4-3 line up above. If Pool don't bring their best game that formation still creates tons going forward!
Exactly!
Mane will likely be too much for Darmian too. The option to slide into a back-5 (from a back 3) when required, would allow Young to support defensively as well as provide something going forward ... something Darmian rarely does.If we win 4 or 5-0, Klopp is sacked.
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Smalling Darmian
Rashford Fellaini Matic Herrera Young
Lukaku
Dropping Mkhi and Mata is risky but I think we need extra support to stop the pace up front. Young AND Darmian on the left will help with that. And the three workhorses in the centre will dominate Liverpool's three physically.Mikhi must play. I see Mata being dropped.
But who can really predict Mourinho.
The man is Special.Liverpool will play like they're on amphetamines and swarm our defence for the first 30 minutes of that you can be sure while in this thread people will start ruing Jose's conservatism and comparing us unfavorably with City then at some point in the middle of the second half Mata or Mikhi or Martial or Matic will trouble Mignolet and he'll do an incompetence and the ball will be scrambled into the Kop end goal and the bitches who complained will be trampling all over their x-boxes in celebration and it'll be all yeah Jose is a genius look at Klopp's teeth feck the dippers etc.
That's a bad thing, right? Will be happy with 3-0 if it means Klopp holds on to his job! But seriously speaking, Klopp is the best they could get. Good thing he is absolutely terrible at transfers and organizing the defense.I think we can learn a lesson from the Chelsea City match - if we go into it too negative and hand them the impetus they might build confidence - they will fly into us but if we are sensible and keep them under control until the 20th minute or whatever their confidence will slide
really think this is a great time to play them and they look fragile in terms of finishing and defending.....
think a 3-4-3/3-5-2 would maybe be too negative - though we were superb against a poor CSKA team - this game is a completely different game and with Mane/Salah it would be a 5-3-2 with our wingbacks playing deep
I'd play 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and keep it tight
---------------------------------DDG---------------------------------
Valencia--------Bailly--------------------Jones--------------Blind
------------------Matic--------------------Herrera------------------
Mhiki------------------------Fellaini----------------------Rashford
------------------------------Lukaku--------------------------------
We can hurt this team on the break with Mhiki/Rashford/Lukaku
We can hurt this team in the air and at set pieces with Lukaku/Matic/Fellani/Bailly and Jones
I feel quite positive but then the game is 11 days away - the nerves will be jangling on the 14th
Not that I disagree, but we've yet to play a team in the top 11. It's obvious this will be a different kind of test.Regardless of Pogba's presence, I think it will be a 3-5-2, which is much more effective than Jose's version of tight/defensive 4-3-3. My view is that Jose is trying to replace his 4-3-3 with 3-5-2/3-4-3. It's not about matching the opposition's formation like we did against Chelsea. It's much more than that.
3-5-2 (more like 3-5-1-1)
---------------------Lukaku--------------
--------------Rashford-------------------
------------Fellaini---Herrera------------
Young-----------Matic----------Valencia
----Smalling---Jones---Bailly-----------
5 key points to beat Liverpool with a 3-5-2 system
1. Close down their midfield by playing 3 in midfield
2. Rashford's work rate and defensive duty will be important in this high pace, high intensity game (similar to Lingard's role in Chelsea game)
3. Defend against their biggest threat of LW & RW (Mane & Salah). Depending on situation, on the left, all of left CM, DM, LWB and left CB will all play a part in directly defending against Mane. Same goes for the right.
-------------Fellaini----Herrera---------------
Young----Mane---Matic----Salah--Valencia
--------Smalling-----------Bailly--------------
---------------------CB------------------------
4. Directly go for their biggest weakness, that is, defense. The game plan is to keep it tight and counter directly as soon as we get the ball. Both Lukaku and Rashford are the perfect players for this. It will be a high pace, high intensity and a very direct game. Jose wouldn't want us to keep the ball for too long for obvious reason. Mane and Salah are super deadly on the counter.
5. Compared to 4-3-3, 3-5-2 is more capable of freeing up the wingbacks, allowing them to cross into the box. Fellaini has a huge advantage there, he will surely storm into the box on the counter.
-----------------------------
This system also brings the best out of everyone.
Also, who knows Jose could use Herrera to man mark Coutinho/Mane/Salah. If man marking is used, 3-5-2/3-4-3 is a better option than a 4-3-3.
Having an extra CB behind Young also offset his defensive weakness.
Given our form, if the game plan is executed perfectly, I think it is sensible to expect a 2 goals margin to us. With Liverpool's attack so strong, I am predicting a 3-1 to us.
IMO our squad is so strong that, and with Fellaini hitting top form at the right time, I don't feel like we are missing Pogba !
Feel sorry for Martial. It's not about pleasing an on-form Martial, it's about winning the game with a squad.Last edited:Liverpool don't look good now. That's a double-edged sword.
Last year they looked in supreme form and many regarded them as heavy favourites to win the derby. Jose surprised them in the first half by pressing them and they barely created anything. The second half Jose parked the bus and earned a well deserved draw.
This time United are favourites though. How to surprise them? Because of their current form they are likely to be more cautious and won't go all guns blazing. After watching their insipid display vs Newcastle my thoughts were that this game will be easier than expected. I'm not so sure now. Everything's possible. The first goal will probably be crucial.I'd go with a 2-1 win, with a late goal conceded as we took our foot off the gas.
Then we retain the ball and Henderson gets sent off for a second yellow for a late tackle after getting his first for chewing out the ref.
I'd like to hope that Mou can see how defensively fragile they are and get some of our big lads to put pressure on them and get them panicking early.4-0 to United.
First goal: Lukaku goal just before half time, 5 min past the 1 min stoppage that was actually stipulated. MILES offside by the way. Klopp to "talk" to the ref until they reach the tunnel.
Second goal: Fellaini elbowing the ball into the net from 10 yards out, completely unmarked in the penalty area.
Third goal: Young comes up with 'the goods' and Martial takes the penalty only for it to be saved. He dashes for the rebound but gets brought down by mignolet. Mignolet gets sent off and United get a second penalty that Martial converts this time right down the middle.
Fourth goal: Long ball over the liverpool backline. Their defenders step forward to play the offside trap but do it a second too late, so they can't get back in time. Lukaku has an exquisite first touch which also takes him past the keeper who has rushed out but doesn't commit because he doesn't want to get sent off. Lukaku rabonas the ball into the empty net.
Or you know, a standard 4-0 would be nice too.I'm 100% sure they'll come at our defence full steam from the get go. If we can keep them off and get the game under control we should beat them.
Would be happy with a draw here thou.Surely one of Coutinho, Mane or Salah won't start, right?
I see them playing 433, unless Coutinho is going to play as one of the CM, then they have to sacrifice either Mane, Salah or Coutinho for a striker.So much confidence in this thread and some brave scoreline predictions, IMO. Like we hardly ever go to Anfield and whip out hidings.
Usually quite nervous for this match, as Pool always seem to raise their game and we struggle to show up for this, a couple of matches here or there aside.I do feel a fair bit more confident than usual going into this one to be honest. Obviously I wont be surprised if we struggle, and a draw would be a perfectly fine result - but I wouldnt take it if offered now. I reckon we can win it.
I definitely see them play 4-3-3 with Coutinho on the left-center midfield, the way they played Newcastle and Spartak. The only doubt is Wijnaldum or Can, I guess.I think Mourinho might go for a 3-4-3 in this game. Not my preferred formation, but it makes sense here. Liverpool are at their best playing against possession based teams that play a high line. They can force turnovers from midfielders and defenders on half way then break into lots of space with plenty of numbers. Mou being the spoiler he is will have no interest in playing the game that suits them, so I dont think he'll turn it into a midfield battle for possession by playing 4-3-3.
I reckon he'll play 3 central defenders, with Matic and Fellaini in front of them, completely choking the space that Firmino and Coutinho like to work in, and giving us plenty of bodies to track late runs into the box from Wijnaldum or Can. Then he'll make sure the wingbacks cover the wide areas that Mane and Salah start out from.
Which sounds very defensive, but it leaves Mkhi, Martial and Lukakau to run the counter attacks as a trio. Given the mismatch in pace between those three and Liverpool's back line, I'd fancy us to create two or three clear opportunities over the 90 minutes. Then it just becomes a question of whether we can bury our chances. Given our form on the counter attack this season, you'd have to say we have a decent chance of doing so.Regardless of Pogba's presence, I think it will be a 3-5-2, which is much more effective than Jose's version of tight/defensive 4-3-3. My view is that Jose is trying to replace his 4-3-3 with 3-5-2/3-4-3. It's not about matching the opposition's formation like we did against Chelsea. It's much more than that.
3-5-2 (more like 3-5-1-1)
---------------------Lukaku--------------
--------------Rashford-------------------
------------Fellaini---Herrera------------
Young-----------Matic----------Valencia
----Smalling---Jones---Bailly-----------
5 key points to beat Liverpool with a 3-5-2 system
1. Close down their midfield by playing 3 in midfield
2. Rashford's work rate and defensive duty will be important in this high pace, high intensity game (similar to Lingard's role in Chelsea game)
3. Defend against their biggest threat of LW & RW (Mane & Salah). Depending on situation, on the left, all of left CM, DM, LWB and left CB will all play a part in directly defending against Mane. Same goes for the right.
-------------Fellaini----Herrera---------------
Young----Mane---Matic----Salah--Valencia
--------Smalling-----------Bailly--------------
---------------------CB------------------------
4. Directly go for their biggest weakness, that is, defense. The game plan is to keep it tight and counter directly as soon as we get the ball. Both Lukaku and Rashford are the perfect players for this. It will be a high pace, high intensity and a very direct game. Jose wouldn't want us to keep the ball for too long for obvious reason. Mane and Salah are super deadly on the counter.
5. Compared to 4-3-3, 3-5-2 is more capable of freeing up the wingbacks, allowing them to cross into the box. Fellaini has a huge advantage there, he will surely storm into the box on the counter.
-----------------------------
This system also brings the best out of everyone.
Also, who knows Jose could use Herrera to man mark Coutinho/Mane/Salah. If man marking is used, 3-5-2/3-4-3 is a better option than a 4-3-3.
Having an extra CB behind Young also offset his defensive weakness.
Given our form, if the game plan is executed perfectly, I think it is sensible to expect a 2 goals margin to us. With Liverpool's attack so strong, I am predicting a 3-1 to us.
IMO our squad is so strong that, and with Fellaini hitting top form at the right time, I don't feel like we are missing Pogba !
Feel sorry for Martial. It's not about pleasing an on-form Martial, it's about winning the game with a squad.
Good analysis. I was thinking the same thing -- a 3-5-2. Same formation but me heart says Martial instead of Rashford.Instead of the late 3-4-1-2, Mourinho could start really conservative, with a true 3-5-2 with Mkhitaryan alongside Lukaku upfront. Hope not, because this game is made for Martial/Rashford.
If that's how they will set up then I don't see anything than a United win.
There's no way their midfield with Coutinho can outclass our 3 (Herrera, Matic and Fellaine). Stocking the midfield will stop their attack and we can just hit them on a counter or just play them off the park.
Playing Matic, Herrera and Fellaine also means one of Mkhitaryan or Mata will be on the bench and if we are going by our other games and how effective our subs are then I see us destroying the Liverpool backline when we start bringing in the subs.Regardless of Pogba's presence, I think it will be a 3-5-2, which is much more effective than Jose's version of tight/defensive 4-3-3. My view is that Jose is trying to replace his 4-3-3 with 3-5-2/3-4-3. It's not about matching the opposition's formation like we did against Chelsea. It's much more than that.
3-5-2 (more like 3-5-1-1)
---------------------Lukaku--------------
--------------Rashford-------------------
------------Fellaini---Herrera------------
Young-----------Matic----------Valencia
----Smalling---Jones---Bailly-----------
5 key points to beat Liverpool with a 3-5-2 system
1. Close down their midfield by playing 3 in midfield
2. Rashford's work rate and defensive duty will be important in this high pace, high intensity game (similar to Lingard's role in Chelsea game)
3. Defend against their biggest threat of LW & RW (Mane & Salah). Depending on situation, on the left, all of left CM, DM, LWB and left CB will all play a part in directly defending against Mane. Same goes for the right.
-------------Fellaini----Herrera---------------
Young----Mane---Matic----Salah--Valencia
--------Smalling-----------Bailly--------------
---------------------CB------------------------
4. Directly go for their biggest weakness, that is, defense. The game plan is to keep it tight and counter directly as soon as we get the ball. Both Lukaku and Rashford are the perfect players for this. It will be a high pace, high intensity and a very direct game. Jose wouldn't want us to keep the ball for too long for obvious reason. Mane and Salah are super deadly on the counter.
5. Compared to 4-3-3, 3-5-2 is more capable of freeing up the wingbacks, allowing them to cross into the box. Fellaini has a huge advantage there, he will surely storm into the box on the counter.
-----------------------------
This system also brings the best out of everyone.
Also, who knows Jose could use Herrera to man mark Coutinho/Mane/Salah. If man marking is used, 3-5-2/3-4-3 is a better option than a 4-3-3.
Having an extra CB behind Young also offset his defensive weakness.
Given our form, if the game plan is executed perfectly, I think it is sensible to expect a 2 goals margin to us. With Liverpool's attack so strong, I am predicting a 3-1 to us.
IMO our squad is so strong that, and with Fellaini hitting top form at the right time, I don't feel like we are missing Pogba !
Feel sorry for Martial. It's not about pleasing an on-form Martial, it's about winning the game with a squad.
Agreed, I like that analysis very much and I could see Martial doing a similar job to Rashford in that formation.
I'm struck by how Van Gaal's 5-3-2 put us all to sleep because the front players were incapable of breaking quickly. This has been solved by Jose's personnel and I very much look forward to seeing it in action (if Lukaku doesn't get beasted by Bobby Mart and miss the game).Regardless of Pogba's presence, I think it will be a 3-5-2, which is much more effective than Jose's version of tight/defensive 4-3-3. My view is that Jose is trying to replace his 4-3-3 with 3-5-2/3-4-3. It's not about matching the opposition's formation like we did against Chelsea. It's much more than that.
3-5-2 (more like 3-5-1-1)
---------------------Lukaku--------------
--------------Rashford-------------------
------------Fellaini---Herrera------------
Young-----------Matic----------Valencia
----Smalling---Jones---Bailly-----------
5 key points to beat Liverpool with a 3-5-2 system
1. Close down their midfield by playing 3 in midfield
2. Rashford's work rate and defensive duty will be important in this high pace, high intensity game (similar to Lingard's role in Chelsea game)
3. Defend against their biggest threat of LW & RW (Mane & Salah). Depending on situation, on the left, all of left CM, DM, LWB and left CB will all play a part in directly defending against Mane. Same goes for the right.
-------------Fellaini----Herrera---------------
Young----Mane---Matic----Salah--Valencia
--------Smalling-----------Bailly--------------
---------------------CB------------------------
4. Directly go for their biggest weakness, that is, defense. The game plan is to keep it tight and counter directly as soon as we get the ball. Both Lukaku and Rashford are the perfect players for this. It will be a high pace, high intensity and a very direct game. Jose wouldn't want us to keep the ball for too long for obvious reason. Mane and Salah are super deadly on the counter.
5. Compared to 4-3-3, 3-5-2 is more capable of freeing up the wingbacks, allowing them to cross into the box. Fellaini has a huge advantage there, he will surely storm into the box on the counter.
-----------------------------
This system also brings the best out of everyone.
Also, who knows Jose could use Herrera to man mark Coutinho/Mane/Salah. If man marking is used, 3-5-2/3-4-3 is a better option than a 4-3-3.
Having an extra CB behind Young also offset his defensive weakness.
Given our form, if the game plan is executed perfectly, I think it is sensible to expect a 2 goals margin to us. With Liverpool's attack so strong, I am predicting a 3-1 to us.
IMO our squad is so strong that, and with Fellaini hitting top form at the right time, I don't feel like we are missing Pogba !
Feel sorry for Martial. It's not about pleasing an on-form Martial, it's about winning the game with a squad.
I don't know if the mentality of us not allowing the opponents to play their normal football, while sacrificing our usual game play, started when Mourinho came to United or us fans always had it.
Before every big match, the build up to the game is always centered around how we are going to stop the opponents, their strengths, players to look out for... Build ups are rarely about us stick to our game and letting the other team worry about how they'll stop us. It's always us who have to change our game or formation in order to match the other team.
I personally don't know how to feel about it, on one hand it means we ain't naive enough to play our usual game plan where there's something else that can work better, we appreciate that every match is different and should be approached differently on the other hand is why the hell do we always worry too much about other teams, isn't our game plan good enough to blow any team out of the water?
I think there was an element of this under SAF as well but not to the same extent you see with Mourinho. For SAF it was more a case of acknowledging when an opponent deserved that kind of respect - when you were facing off against a particularly good team. But this kind of pragmatism is right at the centre of what I guess Van Gaal would call Mourinho's football philosophy, he will adapt for anyone, not just the teams he doesnt feel confident going toe-to-toe with.
That's my impression anyway.We need to be at the top of our game. You know when you play Liverpool at Anfield they invariably up their game and with players like Salah, Mane & Coutinho they're going to score for sure. We'll need Lukaku to do the usual here and hopefully Mkhi steps up too.- Status
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 574 ratings.
Score Predictions
569,73,176
- Man Utd win
- Liverpool win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 22% Liverpool 1:2 Man Utd
- 15% Liverpool 0:2 Man Utd
- 14% Liverpool 1:1 Man Utd
- 11% Liverpool 1:3 Man Utd
- 7% Liverpool 0:1 Man Utd
- 5% Liverpool 0:3 Man Utd
- 4% Liverpool 2:2 Man Utd
- 4% Liverpool 2:1 Man Utd
- 4% Liverpool 0:4 Man Utd
- 3% Liverpool 0:0 Man Utd
- 2% Liverpool 2:3 Man Utd
- 2% Liverpool 2:0 Man Utd
- 2% Liverpool 0:5 Man Utd
- 1% Liverpool 1:4 Man Utd
- 1% Liverpool 3:1 Man Utd
- 1% Liverpool 1:0 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 5:0 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 2:4 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 3:2 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 3:0 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 1:5 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 3:4 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 4:0 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 4:3 Man Utd
- 0% Liverpool 5:1 Man Utd
Match Stats
- Liverpool
- Man Utd
- Possession
- 62% 38%
- Shots
- 19 6
- Shots on Target
- 5 1
- Corners
- 7 3
- Fouls
- 7 13
Referee
Martin Atkinson
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Victor Lindelof
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replaced by Jesse Lingard
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-
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replaced by Marcus Rashford
