Champions League Quarter Finals (3rd - 11th April)

What i'd like to happen in the game is for city to win 3-0 and take it to penalties, and then neither team be able to win the shootout so it just goes on forever and ever and ever until the end of life on earth as we know it.

The game will be forgotten to history, until one day in a few thousands years archaeologists from another planet discover a fossilized skeleton with horribly stained yellow teeth on the site where they'd been excavating the ancient city of Manchester, UK.

And, thus, that twat Klopp will be responsible for the myth that all the British had terrible teeth spreading across the universe.

They were unable to explain why the other skeleton they discovered had the remains of a grinning Spanish football journalist lodged firmly where his anus used to be, and it remained a scientific anomaly until the end of time.
 
I believe the Sevilla game was used as a motivational tool by the manager. Pogba was left out for Fellaini, and then brought on to change the game. Pogba has United in his heart, and I believe that he was one of the 'sad' players that the Manager and Lukaku talked about after the game.

It was a way to tell Pogba, 'you either perform, or the club you love will not win anything'. The manager knew that the team wasn't good enough yet to win the CL, so he took a risk on the game to try to motivate his star player.

The selection for the Sevilla game was mind-boggling, long balls to Fellaini is nothing new, but that was him as a third midfielder. Against Sevilla, we had one genuine midfielder on the pitch, that sort of arrogance is not something Mourinho does in a big game.
 
Klopper76 said:
It really is amazing how much that one defeat put such a negative spin on your season and Mourinho. Around that result you’ve beaten Chelsea, City and us. You’ve also reached an FA Cup semifinal.

I guess it was the manner of the defeat more than the defeat itself?
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It was definitely the manner. To be honest I could understand the attitude to the away game, they're not a bad side at home and gave Bayern a good run for their money last week. I mean we were bad and could well have lost the tie in that game if not for DDG, but still understand what the manager was doing.

No excuses in the home leg though, it was just an abysmal showing.
 
Klopper76 said:
It really is amazing how much that one defeat put such a negative spin on your season and Mourinho. Around that result you’ve beaten Chelsea, City and us. You’ve also reached an FA Cup semifinal.

I guess it was the manner of the defeat more than the defeat itself?
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Absolutely. Infuriating, cowardly tactics and poor performances.
 
Not only will we go through, we will on the night

Man City 2-3 Liverpool

Very confident about tonight!
 
No idea if this is a leak but this is definitely the team I’d go for.



Only six of that side started on Saturday.
 
City could easily score 4 goals but without reply? I can’t see that. Liverpool will score at least once. City’s lack of an away goal will cost them.
 
Klopper76 said:
No idea if this is a leak but this is definitely the team I’d go for.

Only six of that side started on Saturday.
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Anfield Express normally get the squads right and they have the same line up. Basically the only line up we can really go for though assuming Salah and Robertson are fit (which I think they are). More interested in seeing what City do. I have my money on a 3-5-2 with Aguero and Jesus up top.
 
Cassady said:
True. Ive not really put in any hours since last Weds though . Aintree to on Saturday. Knowing me it will get to about 7pm tonight and the old footie heart will kick in . Offy...... then home.
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Work lasted long as just been the offy.

:D
 
This can only go one of two ways.

A
City 5 (Sane, 5; Danilo, 55; Aguero, 90; Jesus, 120; Sterling, 120+15)

Liverpool 1 (Salah, 120+5)

Milner missed penalty, 90+4
Mane missed penalty, 120+17

Red cards (City)
Otamendi, 87; Laporte, 90+3; Sterling, 90+3; Ederson, 120+4; Guardiola, 120+6

(Liverpool)
Henderson, 94; Milner, 98; Clyde, 100; Klopp, 120+16)

Or
4-0 to Liverpool
 
Crustanoid said:
This can only go one of two ways.

A
City 5 (Sane, 5; Danilo, 55; Aguero, 90; Jesus, 120; Sterling, 120+15)

Liverpool 1 (Salah, 120+5)

Milner missed penalty, 90+4
Mane missed penalty, 120+17

Red cards (City)
Otamendi, 87; Laporte, 90+3; Sterling, 90+3; Ederson, 120+4; Guardiola, 120+6

(Liverpool)
Henderson, 94; Milner, 98; Clyde, 100; Klopp, 120+16)

Or
4-0 to Liverpool
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:lol:
 
Addictive said:
Not only will we go through, we will on the night

Man City 2-3 Liverpool

Very confident about tonight!
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You just not need to make a mistake of sitting back and aimlessly clearing the balls. Not gonna work at Emptyhad.

Put that defence under a little bit of pressure and goals will come.
 
Retrokicks said:
I think this will be a total borefest with Liverpool, quite rightly, sitting back and waiting for an occasional counter.
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Liverpool are not good on the deep-sitting counter. All their goals come from high-press, win ball, one pass and finish in spaces. That´s how the technical limitations of some players are minimized. Liverpool led City 3-0 for 60 minutes and managed ONE goal scoring opportunity from deep-sitting positions. It´s just not how Liverpool functions, cause they don´t have the skilled players in defense/defensive midfield that can regularly play these long perfectly timed passes, when under pressure. Since they don´t retain possession either to make the other team chase the ball and wear down, this could very well become a game.
 
ti vu said:
That's bold prediction for either teams inability to defend when the other's attackers are on song.
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Just a hunch, people were expecting another swashbuckling Barca comeback after Juve won 3-0 in Turin, only for the game to be a dour 0-0.

I have a feeling it could be similar today.
 
Cal? said:
Just a hunch, people were expecting another swashbuckling Barca comeback after Juve won 3-0 in Turin, only for the game to be a dour 0-0.

I have a feeling it could be similar today.
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I can't saying one's hunch is wrong or anything, but Juventus is known for their defensive game. Here we're talking about 2 teams who use an unconventional way to defend and even at their best, their attacking is their strength. Less of their defense.

A draw is possible. So is scrappy attacking play (due to City wants to rush thing while L'pool is less committed than mormal). However, goalless IMO is very unlikely
 
ti vu said:
I can't saying one's hunch is wrong or anything, but Juventus is known for their defensive game. Here we're talking about 2 teams who use an unconventional way to defend and even at their best, their attacking is their strength. Less of their defense.
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Very true, I got 20/1 for 0-0.

We'll see
 
Will be interesting to see Liverpool's approach in this game. They need to get the right balance between attack and defence. If I'm the manager I'd instruct them to go all out attack in the first 20 minutes and try to score the goal that probably ends the tie. If they don't get it they've got sit back and play more counter attack. And then at the start of 2nd half do the same and then wait for them to come onto you. Man City can score goals but the question is will they be able to stop Liverpool scoring? Because that is what will decide the tie. Klopp cannot afford be naive in this game. He has to excute the perfect game plan and not be gung ho in attack. The more the game goes on the more frustration that will build around the stadium and he can use that to his advantage later in the game. You can tell he is unfamiliar with protecting leads and there's a potential risk he might get caught in two minds. Mourinho is the perfect manager to manage a game like this but I'm not sure Klopp will recognise the situation and hold back a little. Will be interesting to watch what happens.
 
Manchester City win- The Pros

  1. Say bye bye to 6 times
  2. Klopps face
  3. Liverpool fans literally and figuratively red face
  4. Sounnes and Thompson might say enough is enough and retire from punditry
  5. Trophyless season for Liverpool AGAIN
Liverpool win- The Pros

  1. City love in would be over
  2. Guardiola failing in Europe again
  3. In terms of expectations, city won’t have had a great season

Do I want the pain of the last 6 days to continue for city fans, or do I want a whole new level of pain and embarrassment on those smug scousers?

I think for best value entertainment and comedy wise,5-1 city win is in everyone’s interest tonight followed by a hammering by Real in the semis
 
Red Katie said:
City need an early goal.
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Not necessarily. They can easily score 3 in a 10 minute period, so long as they make it 1-0 before the 85th minute, Liverpool will crumble a little. After that, changes will come it’s about taking them. These Liverpool players aren’t anywhere near the necessary mental standards for a CL quarter final second leg with their backs against the rope protecting a lead.
 
Arbitrium said:
Manchester City win- The Pros

  1. Say bye bye to 6 times
  2. Klopps face
  3. Liverpool fans literally and figuratively red face
  4. Sounnes and Thompson might say enough is enough and retire from punditry
  5. Trophyless season for Liverpool AGAIN
Liverpool win- The Pros

  1. City love in would be over
  2. Guardiola failing in Europe again
  3. In terms of expectations, city won’t have had a great season

Do I want the pain of the last 6 days to continue for city fans, or do I want a whole new level of pain and embarrassment on those smug scousers?

I think for best value entertainment and comedy wise,5-1 city win is in everyone’s interest tonight followed by a hammering by Real in the semis
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Personally love to City absolutely hammer the scousers. Pro - Liverpool and Klopp another trophyless season, and end of season for scousers as no motivation anymore. City will get turned over by the big teams left in the CL. Cons - Media love in for Pep.
 
SalfordRed1960 said:
Personally love to City absolutely hammer the scousers. Pro - Liverpool and Klopp another trophyless season, and end of season for scousers as no motivation anymore. City will get turned over by the big teams left in the CL. Cons - Media love in for Pep.
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As Gary Neville once said, it’s like choosing which fella you want to run away with your wife :lol:
 
Klopper76 said:
No idea if this is a leak but this is definitely the team I’d go for.



Only six of that side started on Saturday.
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Likely. There's been leaks in the Reddit Fantasy Football sub with Liverpool recently that have been dead on every time.
Reason I switched Firmino to Vardy at the weekend :cool:
 
I see City scoring in the first half, then Klopp grits his teeth to players, and they score at the beginning of the 2nd half, City collapses and Liverpool wins, by scoring 3 goals in 17 minutes.
Pep in post match interview: "I'm happy with the way we played. Happy New Year."
Klopp in post match interview: "Booom!"
 
Arbitrium said:
Not necessarily. They can easily score 3 in a 10 minute period, so long as they make it 1-0 before the 85th minute, Liverpool will crumble a little. After that, changes will come it’s about taking them. These Liverpool players aren’t anywhere near the necessary mental standards for a CL quarter final second leg with their backs against the rope protecting a lead.
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Think it's important for City to get off to a good start and make Liverpool nervous. If City go a goal down I see no way back for them.

Regardless, I think this will be pretty comfortable for Pool. 2-1 or maybe a draw.
 
Has Pep been taking advice from Giggsy?



R Giggs on Sportsnet:

"It's emotionally tiring, when you concede six goals against your two biggest rivals, and to get yourself back up again. City have to play the perfect game in midweek now, to go through to the Champions League semi final. But knowing at the back of your mind, that they have conceded goals, so there is that element of doubt right from the goalkeeper to the defenders. So they have to play the perfect game, no mistakes whatsoever. And to do that you need the concentration, you need to be at your best; not for 89 minutes but for 95 minutes and that is very difficult to do against good sides. From a City perspective, go home, have your ice bath, shut the curtains; don't watch the TV, no social media... Until Tuesday night. Just concentrate on Tuesday night. Emotionally, this sort of game (Manchester derby) takes so much out of you. And to get back up, you know, it will take the perfect match to go through".
__________________​

Pep pre match second leg...

"...Of course, to go through you have to make almost the perfect game. So create a lot of chances, be clinical when you create the chances, concede few chances, and the chances we are going to [concede], defend well, and [have] our keeper save it. All the conditions. you have to make almost a perfect game to go through because the result is tough. but you have ninety minutes. In football, in basketball, in other sports everything can happen. So only we can only do [our best] and know we are going to do it right. Of course we don't have to think about how many goals we have to score. We have to score the first one. And after try to make the second one. And we will see if the momentum - the good momentum that's happened in the Champions League - try to [extend] it longer... And we have ninety minutes plus extra time..."​
 
Have a feeling City are going to win 4-0, get an early goal and put Liverpool under pressure.
 
Arbitrium said:
Manchester City win- The Pros

  1. Say bye bye to 6 times
  2. Klopps face
  3. Liverpool fans literally and figuratively red face
  4. Sounnes and Thompson might say enough is enough and retire from punditry
  5. Trophyless season for Liverpool AGAIN
Liverpool win- The Pros

  1. City love in would be over
  2. Guardiola failing in Europe again
  3. In terms of expectations, city won’t have had a great season

Do I want the pain of the last 6 days to continue for city fans, or do I want a whole new level of pain and embarrassment on those smug scousers?

I think for best value entertainment and comedy wise,5-1 city win is in everyone’s interest tonight followed by a hammering by Real in the semis
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I mean we're almost certainly gonna have a trophyless season anyway. I always gave us a chance versus City, but I really don't think we stand much chance vs Bayern/Real/Barcelona over 2 legs anyway.

Whatever the case, I've loved watching us in the CL this year, hope to enjoy tonight, and (at least) the next two games too. So glad we're (seemingly) in it next year.
 
As expected, but the bench is shocking.



No Aguero for City. On the bench.

 
Pep's playing up front, by the look of it.
 
Fernandinho LB? Pep going all out attack but that team lacks balance. Too attacking. Liverpool will definitely get chances. Man City should've left some options on the bench.
 
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