After the disappointing 3-0 opening day defeat to West Brom last week, Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back against Premier League champions Manchester City this afternoon. The Anfield factor should give the Reds a much-needed boost, but beating City will be a tough task, and former Newcastle and West Ham star Shaka Hislop believes that Brendan Rodgers' team could be on the end of another hammering.
Discussing the City game on ESPN last night, Hislop - who recently insisted that John Terry deserves a bigger ban than Luis Suarez over the Anton Ferdinand affair - observed:
"They [Liverpool] won against Hearts but it wasn't a very convincing performance.
"It's a huge game for Brendan Rodgers, and Man City have enough quality to embarrass Liverpool.
"My fear is that Liverpool will get a hiding, and that honeymoon period we all hoped Rodgers would get will be significantly shortened".
With Daniel Agger suspended, Liverpool's defence will be slightly weaker than usual, especially if Jamie Carragher plays. No disrespect to a true LFC legend, but he's just not the same player he used to be, and City have the players to exploit his lack of pace.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson took a more positive view, and backed the Reds to come away with at least a draw:
"City got the job done, just about, against Southampton last week but there were one or two little cracks at the back which might mean a few teams taking a look at how they were undone and think they can have a go at them.
"I am going to go for a draw. City keeper Joe Hart was outstanding to earn them a point in this game last season, and I think we will see the same outcome again".
The pressure is well and truly on; the players will know that another defeat will leave the club marooned at bottom of the league, and with Arsenal and Man United to come, things will not get any easier.
I personally feel that Liverpool could surprise a few people today; Anfield will be buzzing, and the players will desperate to make amends for last week's crushing defeat. My team for today:
-------------------------- Reina
Johnson ---------- Coates ------ Skrtel ------------ Enrique
-------------- Lucas ------------- Allen
Suarez --------------- Gerrard ----------------- Assaidi
---------------------- Borini
EDIT: CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has sprung a couple of major surprises with his line up to face Manchester City at Anfield today.
I'm sure most fans - myself included - hoped to see new signing Oussama Assaidi in the starting line up but Rodgers has gone for Raheem Sterling instead, a positive choice that will definitey excite fans.
Additionally, Sebastian Coates is preferred to Jamie Carragher, a decision that seems to underline the fact that Carra's time at the club is drawing to a close.
FULL TEAM
Reina, Johnson, Coates, Skrtel, Kelly, Allen, Gerrard, Lucas, Suarez, Sterling, Borini
PROBABLE FORMATION
-------------------------- Reina
Kelly ---------- Coates ------ Skrtel ------------ Johnson
-------------- Lucas ------------- Allen
Suarez --------------- Gerrard ----------------- Sterling
---------------------- Borini
I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of Kelly on the right and Johnson on the left again; it creates imbalance in the team, and Kelly offers very little going forward.
Newly promoted Southampton scored two goals against City last week, so surely this comparatively superior Liverpool is capable of doing the same?
Jaimie Kanwar
Discussing the City game on ESPN last night, Hislop - who recently insisted that John Terry deserves a bigger ban than Luis Suarez over the Anton Ferdinand affair - observed:
"They [Liverpool] won against Hearts but it wasn't a very convincing performance.
"It's a huge game for Brendan Rodgers, and Man City have enough quality to embarrass Liverpool.
"My fear is that Liverpool will get a hiding, and that honeymoon period we all hoped Rodgers would get will be significantly shortened".
With Daniel Agger suspended, Liverpool's defence will be slightly weaker than usual, especially if Jamie Carragher plays. No disrespect to a true LFC legend, but he's just not the same player he used to be, and City have the players to exploit his lack of pace.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson took a more positive view, and backed the Reds to come away with at least a draw:
"City got the job done, just about, against Southampton last week but there were one or two little cracks at the back which might mean a few teams taking a look at how they were undone and think they can have a go at them.
"I am going to go for a draw. City keeper Joe Hart was outstanding to earn them a point in this game last season, and I think we will see the same outcome again".
The pressure is well and truly on; the players will know that another defeat will leave the club marooned at bottom of the league, and with Arsenal and Man United to come, things will not get any easier.
I personally feel that Liverpool could surprise a few people today; Anfield will be buzzing, and the players will desperate to make amends for last week's crushing defeat. My team for today:
-------------------------- Reina
Johnson ---------- Coates ------ Skrtel ------------ Enrique
-------------- Lucas ------------- Allen
Suarez --------------- Gerrard ----------------- Assaidi
---------------------- Borini
EDIT: CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has sprung a couple of major surprises with his line up to face Manchester City at Anfield today.
I'm sure most fans - myself included - hoped to see new signing Oussama Assaidi in the starting line up but Rodgers has gone for Raheem Sterling instead, a positive choice that will definitey excite fans.
Additionally, Sebastian Coates is preferred to Jamie Carragher, a decision that seems to underline the fact that Carra's time at the club is drawing to a close.
FULL TEAM
Reina, Johnson, Coates, Skrtel, Kelly, Allen, Gerrard, Lucas, Suarez, Sterling, Borini
PROBABLE FORMATION
-------------------------- Reina
Kelly ---------- Coates ------ Skrtel ------------ Johnson
-------------- Lucas ------------- Allen
Suarez --------------- Gerrard ----------------- Sterling
---------------------- Borini
I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of Kelly on the right and Johnson on the left again; it creates imbalance in the team, and Kelly offers very little going forward.
Newly promoted Southampton scored two goals against City last week, so surely this comparatively superior Liverpool is capable of doing the same?
Jaimie Kanwar
as a MUFC fan, I dont know why i find your blogs interesting. But that i do!
ReplyDeleteI can think of a few reasons.
ReplyDelete5 or 6 nil to City
ReplyDeleteSterling going to play! I'm excited :) assidi isn't
ReplyDeletethe problem is jamie BR will play carra instead of coates or kelly meaning we will be woefully slow at the back and if your playing a pressing game all your back 4 need to be quick otherwise your midfield soon gets overun ...if we play the team your suggesting ( id swap sterling for assaidi on merit ) we could give man city a good go
ReplyDeleteSterling is playing today :D
ReplyDeletehope hislop his wrong but fear the worse rodgers honeymoon period is already over imo last saturday was just not acceptable
ReplyDeleteFUK OF ALL
ReplyDeleteIf we play the right way, ie very deep and trying to soak up the pressure, then JC will be fine. If we try and have a go and push forward the space behind JC will kill us. I fear the latter.
ReplyDeleteClown
ReplyDeleteborini out for assaidi?
ReplyDeleteI think Downing could start at leftback with Sterling on the left wing if Enrique doesnt recover. Since City are without Micah Richards, their attacking down the left hand side might not be as potent as usual. Assaidi might play a part in the second half. You can read my preview at http://www.lfcopinion.in
ReplyDeleteJust saw a report saying that Sterling looks set to start the game. I feel that Sterliing has the same footballing intelligence as Owen, Rooney and Giggs did at 17 and all those players made a big impact in their debut seasons. Anfield is going to be electric this afternoon hopefully this will inspire a big performance from the lads.
ReplyDeletesitting behind with BR philosophy will be costly or playing an open game coz LFC dn,t hve the players to skilfully keep the ball n break away quickly especially at the back. the passing(tiki-taka) will lead to mistakes by the four back
ReplyDeletedream on
ReplyDeleteWe will bounce back today.........the passion will be at Anfield and we will silence our critics.
ReplyDeleteNope, he isn't going to play today because he only started training on Friday maybe the bench tho :)
ReplyDeleteis enrique back from injury? if he is we should put kelly in at centre back, bucket loads of pace compared to carra or coates, and strong enough to not be bullied.
ReplyDeletei hear that sterling is in starting line up- that settles the needing of winger story. luis scores 2, andy one- what a beautifull day this will be!
ReplyDeleteagree totaly ...problem is Br is already showing he is tactically inept ..if your midfield cant hold the ball and your centre defenders are slow you can not play the system he wants as gaps appear behind your defence...balotelli may have a field day
ReplyDeleteDon't see from the given quotes where Hislop "Insists" city will embarrass Liverpool as your headline clearly states, c'mon Jamie don't take a step backwards, your recent stuff has been pretty good and informative so don't ruin it by re-wording a quote to make up a headline. Leave that nonsense to the tabloids.
ReplyDeleteI hope we get our new signings up and running asap, Oussama Assaidi is a player that excites me and could prove to be a great bargain buy.
I don't see today's game as a one sided match at all, so long as we aren't static and can keep up with city's movement and pace we can get a result.
A Win would really put the wind in our sails and give everyone that extra belief that Rogers is the right man at the helm, I believe in Rogers but I think many have doubted him already after last weeks result which is sad. For our managers sake and a great kick start to the campaign a win today would be epic! YNWA
ReplyDeleteAs a city fan, I cant see it being an 'embarassing' scoreline, I think the home factor for liverpool will mean its close, nobody ever hammers liverpool at anfield, it will be a good game, ut we save the 6-1's for the rags
ReplyDeleteIf Carragher starts then i am afraid Liverpool could loose heavily, but still it is a difficult game to get result for Liverpool so early in the season as they have not yet gelled as a team. If Coates starts alongside Skrtel then it gives us better chance of getting a result.
ReplyDeletedowning at left back lol he cannot tackle and hes to lazy there right winger would think it was christmas
ReplyDeleteWhilst I can't be confident that we will get a result today, I don't see how anyone can base their judgements on Liverpool's last two matches. We sent out a second string team against Hearts, and whilst I was sorely disappointed with the WBA result, I don't think you can judge such a result in the same manner as if Liverpool ended up with 11 men on the pitch.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, Man City weren't all that convincing in their first match and Aguero will be missing. I feel the result will come down to who wants it more as opposed to which team has more quality.
No Henderson, Adam, Carroll or Downing. Hope we win this game so Kenny can see how much he got this all wrong.
ReplyDeleteHislop is still bitter about the F.A cup Final and has had it in for Liverpool ever since.
ReplyDeleteShit goalie who was easily beaten by one of(if not THE) best shot's in the world. Let it go Hislop....You still have that runners up medal ;)
haha
You've got to say , if you were a City player/fan, you'd be relishing the prospect of getting stuck in to that Liverpool side.
ReplyDeleteNot quite as much as they'd relish getting stuck into a side with Spearing and Carragher through the middle, and with Downing as the winger coming the opposite way!
ReplyDeleteFair enough, but I think we're only talking about the difference between losing 4-0 and 5-0.
ReplyDeletelol, and then you woke up!
ReplyDeleteWith City still finding their groove, defensively, I'm hoping we will cause them some serious problems. Hope Balo has one of his off-days and gifts us a his own early departure from the game!
ReplyDeleteNot overly hopeful of a win but I don't see us getting hammered.....
Yoikes. That is one expensive bench we got.
half time...1-0, we battering them, sterling is on fire, joe allen is looking world class.... borini, well, we'll give him more time...
ReplyDeleteyou would be shattered kanwar. What you going to complain about if Liverpool win?
ReplyDeleteblame gerrard for the goal not kelly or reina ...sloppy pass on edge of box started it
ReplyDeletetiki taka.....................
ReplyDeleteproud of the lads.
ReplyDeleteallen is a defensive midfielder, he played well. everyone did, just two sloppy errors. if we get rid of them things will be better. happy for sterling and begining to believe.
Absolutely proud of the boys today, a real class performance all across the park. We were in no way out classed, if anything city were lucky today, we gifted them 2 goals, lets see what Me2 has to say now !!!!
ReplyDeleteMe thinks you need to eat humble pie an give credit where's it's due, city were very lucky today an were out played.
ReplyDeleteAll things considered, it was a slightly disappointing result, but a great performance.
ReplyDeleteShould keep the naysayers and haters quiet for a couple of days!
Jaimie, we're playing a 4-3-3 formation now, Suarez is in the centre of the attacking 3. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, disappointed about the result as I thought we had enough quality to win this one and win it convincingly. The only tweak I'd make up front is to swap Borini and Suarez around and I would have brought Carroll on earlier.
It's still a work in progress, though and I can see the team building on this performance.
Sterling, as good as he was, made one or two mistakes but the way he had Toure in his pocket for large parts of the game was a joy to see. Losing Lucas early on wasn't such a drama either as Shelvey bossed Yaya, in fact, the Sky commentator even said that Liverpool were dominating the midfield and they played 3-v-5 in the middle.
Allen was superb and Stevie G looked almost back to his best.
Lots of positives but sloppy mistakes were punished by world class players.
YOU REALLY ARE A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE PERSON, KANWAR
ReplyDeleteFunny you so called pundits have no faith in the team, we outplayed them for large parts and we should have won.....get behind the team!
ReplyDeleteLosing 4-0 or 5-0? City were lucky to get a draw, fair play on your positive attitude
ReplyDeleteVery positive performance. Sterling is a revelation. You can see the battling spirit which was not there before. Rodgers pressing game is taking shape. Nice to see two players on an opponent player within seconds. I like.
ReplyDeleteReally disappointed. Final score should have been 2-0. I seem to be the only person shouting this, but this defense needs an upgrade, as long as we're talking transfers. Carra is a legend, but not what he used to be. He's not going to carry them the way he used to. Agger...is ok. Skrtel, really sloppy on D today. Coates got beat like a rented mule, Johnson is average at best. That first Man City goal, to me, showed a serious weakness. When LFC isn't controlling the ball and keeping it out of our side, we're really vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteHappy for the draw, should have been a win though. Sterling looked good, Suarez had an amazing shot, but flopped too much and ran his mouth off too much (as usual), and Stevie G is God. Really starting to have some hopes for this season. Just need to get a scorer like Jordan Rhodes, and some better defenders and we could make a serious run at the top 3.
I hope this spells the beginning of the end for Downing's LFC career. Sterling starting ahead of him must remind him of the Euros (Oxolade-Chamberlain).
ReplyDeleteWhat impressed me was his willingness to take a player on & cross intelligently. Downing does neither, he just whips in crosses irrespective of whether there's anybody in the box!
Shelvey was immense & it was a blessing in disguise, I think Lucas needs to be eased back gently!
just give the lads time to gel.we only played 4.5% of the season and we are already puting pressure on our benjamins.time will tell.i think BR knows exactly what he s doing and if we consider last week to this week s results you ll see we make a lot of progress.
ReplyDeleteHislop talking rubbish as usual.
ReplyDeleteUseless pundit
Firstly, got to give credit to BR for having the balls to play sterling from the start. We all knew for a while that he'd be more effective than Downing any day...I mean it takes real guts to play a kid @ anfield for the 2nd game of the season against the champs on the back of a defeat. Hats off to you Brendan, clearly already showing more merit than kenny and the style of football we all want to see but will not happen overnight off-course. Good show today by the team against the champions and allen already showing his talents, shelvey came of age and showed great maturity. The team looked settled after 15mins and pity we made two defensive errors which took the shine off a nearly perfect day. Alot of positives to take out of the day and with agger to come back and hopefully new players, should be a better season then previous.
ReplyDeletePS: Downing, adam's and spearing......please shut the door on your way out, coz ur never were and never will be good enough for LFC.
We've waited 20 yrs for a winger like sterling.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite simple really as a Liverpool fan I'd enjoy going to site where they where they hang there managers, players and supporters out to dry...
ReplyDeleteI suspect your no different!
Hisplop your having a laugh, we absolutely dominated City within the first 45mins, infact we made them look average at times, I hope you retract this utter drivel? I bet your kicking yourself now? you numpty. haha. Sterling was excellent, I agree. Just need to get shut of Downing, Cole and Spearing, and bring Dempsey in, he will bring us plenty of goals. Brenden needs to give big Andy a good run of games, he will produce the goods, Borini should be the back up striker for Suarez, Carroll and Dempsey, if we bring him in, Imo we will score pleny of goals, and i think all defences will be quakeing in there boots at the thought of a front line, like this.
ReplyDeleteHislop doesn't like LFC, simple as. It must be hard to get over letting in a 40-yarder in the last minute of a Cup Final..... :)
ReplyDeletehislop just another small time ex pro who likes the sound of his own voice.
ReplyDelete2 points dropped today after a great show from liverpool, but the atitude to attack at every given oppertunity was great to see , rogers got it spot on. need this week in week out now, home and away
Before the game, I'd have bitten your hand off for a draw. Now I'm absolutely gutted. Reminded me a bit of Hodgson's first game - undone by a howler......
ReplyDeleteGreat effort from the team though.
Just one point:
There's a time for football. And there's a time for hoofing it down the line.
Hislop is just a wanker. Luck wasn't our side.
ReplyDeleteLiking the direction our attacking play is going in. Will take time to get it up to scratch but definitely promising, especially with Allen in the middle. Allen, a very good performance from him. Good to see Suarez get a goal, even if there quite a few negatives as per usual from him (as well as positives such as his menacing movement too), as he needed a goal badly. For a kid of his age and inexperience, Sterling did great. Early days for both teams, with Liverpool under a new manager and City without two key players in their attacking play but for us, I think Rodgers has gotten a fair bit out of the lads in such a short time, in relation to his style of play. Still work to do but good start.
ReplyDeleteu could've seen adam's liverpool career was over when lucas picked up a slight twinge in the early 45 and jonjo came on :p... P.S read somewhere that liverpool rejected a 1.5 million bid for spearing from bolton i think
ReplyDeleteNow come on fellow red men, Shaka Hislop was a retard in goal so why should we expect wisdom on discussin football matters. Hislop is merely confirming that he knows nothing about the premier league teams. He thinks that because man city are champions and have lots of cash they will beat us.
ReplyDeletePost match analysis. Hislop was so far from the truth it's scary to think so
Done employed him to play in the top flight
Man u fans can go eat a prawn Sanger somewhere else. Ur not welcome
Great game today, sterling played superb, pressing and hassling man city. Joe Allen loos to b worth the cash, excellent performance, and not forgetting shelvey the new Gerard! in less than 3 years. Well done boys. It's always a tough day at the office, but as usual, we stepped up and stopped them playing. YNWA
RedTed
Me2 your a ignorant fool.
ReplyDeleteIf we are talking 'honeymoon periods' then, Shaka, yours has just ended.
ReplyDeleteWe got embarassed alright, not by City's quality, but a momentary lapse in concentration! 2 points gifted away I say!
ReplyDeletei have to disagree, skrtel made a howler, all teams have those atleast 3 times per season, he was great before that, and whta r u talkin about johnson, along with sterling, our left flank looked impregnable, stop criticising the guy, hes the best attacking RB in the PREM. Enrique looked rusty, Coated is very young and he is arguably facing the best attack in the league, only Kelly really disappointed me.
ReplyDeleteOkay we had a slip and lost the chance to win this one. I for one thoroughly enjoyed the way we approached the game , played the game and kept on getting into it up to the last whistle. If this is the start of our style then I am pleased to say I look forward to a few months down the line.
ReplyDeleteAgree. What I particularly like about Allen is the way he doesn't have to make too many tackles, but anticipates passes and intercepts them. He can still handle himself, though. Just dawned on me why he cost £15m !!
ReplyDeleteManchester City played extremely poor and Liverpool still could not beat them no matter how much effort they put in.
ReplyDeleteIf anything this is positive for Manchester, a negative for Liverpool.
Tactically inept?!
ReplyDeleteTactically inept which is why he went with Coates who is quicker than Carra and is more comfortable on the ball than Carra too. Which midfielders can't hold the ball? By the way, Coates had a solid match and Balotelli had such a field day that he was taken off.
ReplyDeleteYou do realise that Kenny also signed Suarez and Enrique, but you seem to conveniently forget them
ReplyDeleteI don't get your logic, "shit goalie who was easily beaten by one of (if not THE) best shot's in the world"? Regardless of if he was a shit goalie or not, and he was actually a very good goalie, especially when playing for Newcastle, he was beaten by one of (if not THE) best shots in the world, any keeper would have been beaten by such a shot, so your logic gets blown out of the water.
ReplyDeleteBorini, although not being on the score-sheet actually looked class today, made some intelligent off-the-ball runs, used his pace against a fairly slow defence, caused them all sorts of problems.
ReplyDeleteAllen is not a defensive midfielder, he is a holding midfielder, there is a significant difference between the two. A defensive midfielder is there to break up the play and protect the back four, a holding midfielder is there to be at the heart of the build up play, Xabi Alonso is a holding midfielder but is not a defensive midfielder. Mascherano is a defensive midfielder, but is not a holding midfielder.
ReplyDeleteYou are wrong on a number of issues here. Yes Skrtel made a howler, but other than that was solid and scored our first goal with a bullet header reminiscent of Sami, other than that mistake, he also looked solid on the ball, Coates was solid, made some crucial challenges and didn't make any mistakes, also looked solid on the ball. Johnson was superb and was a real threat going forward too, nearly and should have won us a penalty in fact. Agger is a lot more than ok. You should back that one up with examples to show why he isn't any better than ok. Oh and by the way, Liverpool are monotheistic and because of that, Stevie G cannot be God, as only one man can ever be God and that is Robbie
ReplyDeleteShelvey is our long-term replacement for Stevie imho and has the talent to maybe even become as good as Stevie, considering he is still only 20 and to think where Stevie was when he was 20
ReplyDelete"shit goalie, who was easily beaten by one of (if not THE) best shot's in the world"
ReplyDeletetut tut tut Gaz, so he missed out a comma !!
And his comments and bitterness are still as shit as he was a goalie,, (IMO)
And it may prove that 15m is a bargain. Certainly proving he isn't a small fish in a big pond and is stepping up to be counted.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty much the same XI that won the league for them last season and we are under a new regime with new players in, quite a different line up in fact, it's not that we couldn't beat them, it was more that we beat ourselves, so after the second Premier League match under the new gaffer, with a different playing style and new players brought in, it is very much a positive for us. Of course it is a positive for Man City as well. It's not that they played extremely poor as you put it, it's that we didn't allow them to play well, and they were lucky to come away with a point, so that is a positive for us. But the fact that we did outplay them, we can take a lot of positives out of the match
ReplyDeletewe need comments like these to spur us to performances like this..... every week
ReplyDeleteGaz you make a good point and theoretically you are right however I see it deeper than that. A defensive midfielder is a player where 80 percent of what he does is break down play were as a holding midfielder does it about 50 percent of the time. However both of these players duty is to protect the back four. When you are only playing with just one holding midfielder in the team he becomes the defensive midfielder. Allen played the deepest role in the team of midfielders and played it well. This added more to the team. He protected the back four effectively with the help of stevie and shelvy and also with his passing added more to the team.
ReplyDeleteThe point I am trying to make is at home I feel we would be too defensive playing Allen and Lucas in the same team. Shelvy or Henderson might make us more offensive if Lucas was in it playing along with Stevie.
ReplyDeletePositive performance from us. Now we need that same level of commitment against the so called "smaller teams".
ReplyDelete