A Key Title Race Match to End the Prem Holiday Footie Fixtures
There isn't a bigger way to end the festive fixtures than a key match in the tile race, which is Citeh vs Pool. Kickoff is at 3 PM on NBCSN. Join me if you can for this massive fixture.
posted by manunitedrules @ 1:58 PM
199 Comments:
Afternoon, MUR! Thanks for getting us going today. I'm here and looking forward to this afternoon's big clash.
This one is fascinatingly poised. In November all the talk was of City going another season unbeaten or breaking the 100-point barrier. When Liverpool grabbed that bizarre last-minute winner in the Merseyside derby at the start of December, it almost felt like the race had been prolonged for another week or two. Yet the picture has changed in the past month. One theory is that City are so geared towards achieving footballing perfection that they don’t know how to react when their supremacy is challenged. They’ve stuttered since losing to Chelsea, giving Liverpool a leg-up after defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City over the festive period. They’ve started making sloppy mistakes and have looked mentally uncertain during their moment of self-doubt. Perhaps it’s a flaw in Guardiola’s approach; his teams have always been liable to self-implode when challenged. It could be a personality glitch.
This evening's line-ups:
Manchester City: Ederson, Danilo, Stones, Kompany, Laporte; Fernandinho; Sterling, Silva, Bernardo, Sane; Aguero. Subs: Muric, Walker, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Otamendi, Jesus.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Mignolet, Moreno, Fabinho, Keita, Shaqiri, Lallana, Sturridge.
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Manchester City make two changes after beating Southampton. John Stones replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko, meaning that Aymeric Laporte moves to left-back, and Leroy Sane is in for Riyad Mahrez. Kevin de Bruyne starts on the bench. Mohamed Salah might fancy his chances against Laporte.
Liverpool make two changes after thrashing Arsenal. Jordan Henderson replaces Fabinho and Jurgen Klopp stiffens his midfield by starting LUFC Academy star Jamie Milner instead of Xherdan Shaqiri.
Wahay! I’ve got the coverage up and running on my father-in-law’s telly- magic!
Of course I’m all in for Liverpool this afternoon. A win today would increase their lead over Citeh to 10 points.
Good afternoon, Bob. Back from walkies and glad to join you for the big match
Both teams playing with a Brazi keeper while Milner and Sturridge are former Ctieh players with Sterling a former Liverpool player
How was your walkies?
Yet, Liverpool have Brazil’s #1.
Thank you for asking. Walkies went well . Breezy , but the sun is starting to make an appearance after being overcast the past few days.
Perhaps this is a sign that Liverpool will finish #1.
Perhaps, yes. I hope so. I want the double!
If Liverpool win then you can tell RD to mail you the shield!
The Citeh Kompany leading the sky blues while Hendo leading the reds!
They're off from The Eithad!
It's Arlo and Lee with special guest The Neviller today. Both sides in the strips that they were intended to play in. Magic!
As Arlo is stating, it's an electric atmosphere. Bob will be hoping that the electric Kompany will be footing a losing bill!
Liverpool get us underway at the Etihad.
Agreed. Great to see the sides in their traditional kits.
I will indeed. Allison with a bit of a flub early on.
There was some speculation that City would be playing with a back three, but Laporte is at left-back. How conventional from Guardiola. Liverpool, meanwhile, look a little nervous early on. Alisson, normally so cool with the ball at his feet, shanks a clearance straight out for a throw, much to the amusement of the City fans. Liverpool need to be careful here.
Fernandinho with a foul from behind on Mane.
Silva gets to the by-line but can only find Alisson in the middle.
Agreed. There seem to be e few nerves among the reds.
Citeh really getting after Liverpool early on, as they'll need to. It's a must win for them. A point would suit Liverpool just fine.
Fernandinho's have a couple of nibbles already and he may be in trouble with Anthony Taylor.
Home fans livid as Anthony Taylor stops play because Andrew Robertson is down injured. He played the advantage after Fernadinho was fouled, who immediately ran in to Robertson
A few nibbles from Fernandinho could result in a bite or a Chunk taken by Anthony Taylor.
Very chippy at the moment. Referee Taylor will have his hands busy.
A Liverpool counter starts with a long ball from Robertson off a miss hit pass from Allison. The long diagonal found Fabinho , whose cross was back headed to Ederson. Could just as easily have been an OG
Oh - that could easily have been an own goal by bad boy Fernandinho as the dangerous cross came in and it flicked up off him into Ederson's arms.
It’s a big night for Sterling, who never seems to play well against his old side.
Liverpool are keeping City away from Alisson at the moment. In fact, we haven’t seen much from City’s creative players yet.
Oh - off the bar from Mane! And then it nearly went in off a defender. What drama!
OH!!! Liverpool nearly took the lead twice in a matter of seconds. First Salah put through Mane and his shot came off the post with just Ederson to beat then A Citeh clearance was about to go in when another Citeh player cleared off the line
Great save in the end from Stones from that deflection off his own teammate. A certain goal there.
It looked over the line there on the replay.
And now it's a volley that Ederson does well to hang on to.
Loveren booked for a nasty foul on Aguero
And now it's Aguero streaking away and Lovren was forced to hack him. Yellow card.
A long way out but perhaps Bernie Sanders or Silva can fashion something.
Nope - the grey lady Aguero is offside.
OH! The goal line technology showed that the clearance from Stones that bounced off of Ederson then was cleared off the line by a back pedaling Stones. It showed that only a slight sliver off the ball was on the line.
Half way through this first half and Liverpool should really be one up. But Citeh are well capable of scoring a quick one or two. This is fascinating stuff.
All but one half of a percent of the ball crossed the line. Not a goal since 100% of the ball didn't' cross the line
Yeah - that was definitely one for the VAR purists.
Agreed. Not sure how this will end. Pool with the clearer chances , but Citeh doing most of the attacking
The goal line clearance from Stones was not even a pebble's throw from crossing the line
One of the saves of the season.
Close range effort from David Silva blocked off a pass from Sterling who gathered a fantastic long ball.
Oh - great quick move from Citeh there from the ball from Fernandinho. Sterling was away and found Silva. Should have hit it first time but he dithered and was closed down by Van Dyck.
Agreed. May be one of the few times a player other than a keeper wins that contest
Bad Kompany booked for a foul on Salah .It's not a Salah's market for those type of challenges.
Kompany penalized there when it looked a good challenge. Booked while Salah is down.
Useless free kick given away there.
Aguero plays a pass for Sane and his pass is cleared by Van Dyke for a Citeh corner. Bernie Sanders called for a foul off the Citeh corner.
Mane OH Mane! Danilo makes a meal out of that challenge
Wijnaldum booked for a crunching foul on Sane
Sane skips past Loveren and his cross is pushed away by a diving Allison
GOAL !!! AGUERO GIVES CITEH THE LEAD A FEW SECONDS LATER
GOAL! Aguero draws first blood!
Allison won't be happy to be beaten at his near post there. Only the ninth goal that he's conceded in the Prem.
After Allison pushed away that cross from Sane , a cross from Laporte was headed away by Van Dyke then Weekend at Bernie's played a pass to Aguero to score a rocket of a shot from a very acute angle.
There’s been no response from Liverpool yet. City fancy a second before half-time.
Even though Allison was beaten at the near post , not sure if he could have done much do to the sheer power of the shot.
A pair of stoppage time minutes for this pair of teams.
Into two minutes of stoppage time now.
Laporte booked for a clumsy foul on Milner after uncharacteristically sloppy passing
Citeh defend the free kick well and are one up at the half.
Laporte with a sloppy one and picks up a yellow for his trouble.
One last chance to bring the big boys up. Cleared out and thats' half time. Liverpool will feel somewhat aggrieved to be going in 1-0 down given the chances that they had. Back in a tick.
I am home from my first day of school! LONG day!!
I'm here of the second half
Matt says Liverpool have been on top
Shaqiri poised to come on for the second half. They need to forgo the three defensive midfielders approach.
Welcome, UWS!
Teams out for the second half
Has the game been attacking?
Good afternoon, UWS. Glad you are here to join us. It's been a pretty even match , but Liverpool should have taken the lead when it was 0-0
Second half underway
It's been off and on attacking with each team doing about the same amount of attacking
Citeh get us underway in the second half. It's been an interesting encounter but a bit cagey at times.
Mane hit the post with just Ederson to beat then Stones with a clearance that came off of Ederson and missed crossing the line for a bizarre OG by a whisker.
Mane called for a trip on Sterling , who had tackled Van Dyke.
Don't know who I want to win this
I don't want either to win the league
I DEFINITELY don't want Liverpool... I know they deserve it. I know they are playing great but just can't root for Liverpool
I hate City and Pep
Clumsy push in the back on Mane by Danilo.
How about a draw then?
Arlo having a City Love Fest again
A draw seems to be the lesser of the evils.
Liverpool seem a bit out of sorts at the beginning of this half. They need some changes.
Is there anyway they can both lose?
Maybe a brawl and point deductions for both sides would be nice
According to him and Lee, Citeh should have been leading by several goals What numpties!
Sterling goes down looking for a penalty as he always does.
That's a great idea, UWS!
Big appeal for a penalty as Raheem Sterling hits the floor. Nothing doing from Referee Taylor.
Happened to United and Arsenal back in the First Division in 91
Fernandinho with a curler that lands in the corner of Row K
Fernandinho tries a curler from distance and gets it all wrong.
I remember that . Definitely a great plan
Defoe is going on loan at Rangers!
Robertson has a cross headed it then three names slices a shot wide off the stanchion.
I HATE both of these teams!
Oh - Terence Trent Darby had a chance to hit one on the half volley. Well wide.
Fabinho on for Milner,
I am sure Arlo went nuts with the goal, right?
Fabinho replaces LUFC Academy.
Wasn't aware of that. Rangers is about the only place he'll get a game other than L1 or L2.
He did indeed. To be fair, it was a tidy finish by Aguero.
Danilo not too far off with a long range effort.
Arlo purring about Ederson's pass.... Route 1.... why isn't that abused
They talked about how ll placed it was from such a narrow angle. Lee mentioned that it was such a powerful effort.
Oh - Danilo with a pop with his left peg. Wide of the mark.
Citeh lost their first Prem match of the season at Liverpool last season in January. A role reversal this January? One match day earlier than last season, pending the final result.
Are back in the Empire State?
Liverpool almost in... terrible goalkeeping by Ederson there!
OH!! Ederson completely missed the free kick after colliding wih Komany then back pedaled to save from compatriot, Bobby F
Oh - from the free kick, Firmino had a chance but Kompany cleared it off the line.
GOAL... great cross by three first names.... headed back across!
GOAL !!!! BOBBY f TIES IT UP WITH A FAR POST HEADER FROM A YARD OUT!
Liverpool starting to flow again now.
Great ball from Three First Names... great cross by Robertson..tidy finish
TAA cut inside Sane and put a cross into the box that was volleyed across by Robertson and easily headed in by a wide open Bobby F
GOAL! What a goal from Liverpool. Brilliant cross field ball from TTD who found his opposite number on the backpost. Little volley and Firmino could scarcely miss.
David Silva comes off... not going to be making the difference today
Aquero almost in... Arlo has kittens
Bobby F called for a foul on Sterling. Didn't see much wrong with that challenge.
I think I am leaning toward Liverpool because how much I detest Pep for him ruining football
I would have liked Klop at OT
Ilkay Gundogan replaces David Silva, who hasn’t done much tonight.
Are Liverpool going to go undefeated??
Nice one, UWS!
A draw is a better result for Liverpool than Citeh. They would head into the Cup fixtures seven points clear of the Spuds and Citeh
Asked you before the goal, are you back in the Empire State?
They could well do. This is their last difficult match of the season, unless you count the one at OT.
Agreed. Klopp would have been a great fit at OT! Some similar characteristics to SAF
Do Liverpool still have to play Spurs?
End to end stuff now - great stuff!
Sane puts City back on top but Arlo goes nuts about the goal.... it was a nice shot!!
GOAL !!! ARLO GOING INSANE AFTER SANE PUTS CITEH AHEAD 2-1 WITH SHOT OFF THE POST
Sorry, mate - last day in VA before driving back tomorrow.
Amazing how many times the ball goes thru the defenders legs on the shot
Nice finish by Sane. 2-1.
Still twenty minutes for Desmond Tutu to make an appearance. Come on!
Do you think he needs to go insane? He really needs to calm down... sounds like a South American commentator
There have been plenty of games end to end!
These guys are over the top
End to end stuff. A long ball intended for Salah was cut out by sweeper keeping by Ederson. H passed to Danilo, who passed to Sterling. His pass found Sane with that shot from the corner of the box off the inside of the post.
Arlo having a lot of kittens this evening.
I won't be around for the cup match tomorrow either. Will be driving Melanie to San Marcos. Will b around for the weekend matches.
UWS should be pleased that Arlo won't be around for the Cup matches , which are on ESPN Plus.
On comes Shaqiri for the last fifteen minutes.
Shaquiri on for Mane. Can he be a super sub as he has been this season?
First time this season that Liverpool have conceded more than one goal in a Prem match
By the way, UWS, when is the Lancer Cup going to arrive?
Hate this foreign booing when the other team has the ball
can't find the box... you were supposed to come pick it up
City lucky there
Oh - mad scramble in the Citeh box!
City should have scored there!
Sterling leads a Citeh counter after desperate Citeh defending. Goes on a solo run,, puts through Aguero, who is forced wide by Allison and his hand pushes the ball away for a corner.
LOL! I will before long.
Under ten to go
Haven't been here in YONKS!
I know, I know.
OH!!!!!Salah was through and his shot was pushed inches around the post by Ederson
Salah almost in.. Ederson saves
Why is Pep so annoyed....send him off!
Send him off send him off send him off
Only a warning
Oh - Salah nearly in there. Ederson did well.
Ederson hopless again... another mad scramble.... City survive
Pep lets fourth official , mArtin Atkinson, have it for what he thought were Liverpool fouls. Just a lecture from Anthony Taylor
Oh - off the line again!
Despicable late substitutions
Sterling a former Cite player, on for Wijnaldum while Kyle walker i on for Laporte , who is walker off the pitch
More desperate Citeh defending off that corner as a near post effort was cleared off the line/.
Danny Sturridge on for the last five minutes or so.
Kyle Walker as well.
More time wasting as Kompany takes forever to come off a s he's replaced by Otamendi
And another late substitution just to make UWS' day.
United the last team to defend the Prem title when they three peated. It's been a decade.
Weekend at Bernie's booked for a high foul on Van Dyke.
Bernie Sanders picks up a yellow card.
Allison with a near post save from Bernie Sanders then wide by Sterling after awful Liverpool defending
Just about time's up now. Liverpool have to get the ball up the pitch.
Two chances for City... Sterling can't hit the target!
ONLY five minutes of added time
Too inconsistent... something has to be done about this clock crap
A quintet of stoppage time minutes , which is music to Bob's ears, but not Arlo's
Oh - Citeh could have scored twice there. Bernie shot into Alisson and then Sterling fizzed it wide from 8 yards.
Can Liverpool save their record like they did at Stamford Bridge?
Doesn't look like it
Horrible pass from Shaquiri, which finds Sterling.
These commentators are overstating EVERYTHING
It's got to be now!
Ederson just gets a hand to that... 90 seconds to go
Liverpool can't get a decent cross into the box
Goalkick
Van Dyke annoyed with this teammates there
Again, has this been the greatest game of all time...like these guys seem
Terrible throw in for Liverpool....they don't have the time
No - but it's been great.
Game over
City win
Liverpool lose
Arlo goes nuts... over the top... will some please tell him
It's over and Liverpool lose their first Prem math of the season as Citeh win 2-1 and cut Liverpool's lead to four points.
What if Spurs had beaten Wolves... it was would be so close at the top
Have a safe trip back to Fred Town Bob... talk to you on the weekend
That's it - Citeh have closed the gap to four points now. What a match!
I have trip to San Marcos tomorrow.
Cheerio, mate - looking forward to Cup Weekend.
Becky says best match of the season by a country mile. I disagree.
Agreed. Cup weekend should be a great time.
Cheers everyone. Will miss the Cup match tomorrow, but will be around for the weekend matches.
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