[Frank Grimes]

Agreed 101%

Just don't / can't see us winning this one....

Of course we can win it.

 

[Full bodied red]

Hope you're better at this forecasting stuff than me.

I just ' see ' two semi-decent teams cancelling each other out 'coz both will be happy with a draw at this stage of the season.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Fellaini is back apprently. Strange no mention of Martial.

 

[Klopper76]

I think you’ll play a back three personally and maybe leave out Sanchez.

Mourinho will go for players he thinks will be able to follow a plan over individual brilliance in my opinion.

 

[JJ12]

Fellaini is back apprently. Strange no mention of Martial.

Liverpool go 1-0 on 77th minute. On comes Fellaini and we turn into long ball United - I can see it now

In all seriousness I think it will be a surprisingly good game - or I'm just being overly optimistic

 

[Android1974]

I'd choose the same line-up we used in the 2nd half.
That team played with high energy and demonstrated a will to win that I have not seen in quite a while.

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

 

[Jaxa]

I honestly see something very different from Mourinho in the form of this, 3 at the back with Valencia and Darmian as wingbacks for example, it's going to be defensive and set up to nullify them and then try and hit them on the break,

Maybe Lingard for Fellaini but I definitely see him throwing Darmian in there to do a job on Salah.

De Gea
Bailly Smalling Lindelof
Valencia Fellaini Matic Darmian
Sanchez Pogba
Lukaku​

 

[Trizy]

Would like to see Mata in a minefield 3 with Matic and Pogab. Mata just seems to tie things together nicely when on form. Don't think it's going to happen, but would love to see it.

Wtf? He'd die

 

[Android1974]

Liverpool go 1-0 on 77th minute. On comes Fellaini and we turn into long ball United - I can see it now

In all seriousness I think it will be a surprisingly good game - or I'm just being overly optimistic

It actually would make much more sense to start Fellaini, if he's really fit, to contain them with a midfield three that offers a big option to head and chest the long balls. And then unleash them quick players when Liverpool tires in the end of the game.

 

[Cutch]

I honestly see something very different from Mourinho in the form of this, 3 at the back with Valencia and Darmian as wingbacks for example, it's going to be defensive and set up to nullify them and then try and hit them on the break,

Maybe Lingard for Fellaini but I definitely see him throwing Darmian in there to do a job on Salah.

De Gea
Bailly Smalling Lindelof
Valencia Fellaini Matic Darmian
Sanchez Pogba
Lukaku​

God help us all if Darmian is our only source of width on the left while also being tasked with marking Salah

 

[SirAF]

Wtf? He'd die

Nah, he's nimble.

 

[Jaxa]

God help us all if Darmian is our only source of width on the left while also being tasked with marking Salah

What is pogba the ballboy or something ? or isnt he across there too ?

 

[Android1974]

Why would Mourinho openly state Fellaini's ready? Seems fishy…

 

[Sensei]

Wtf? He'd die

 

[Android1974]

What is pogba the ballboy or something ? or isnt he across there too ?

You've seen him jogging in the same spot in Palace first goal?

 

[pauldyson1uk]

What is pogba the ballboy or something ? or isnt he across there too ?

I dont know after some of the games I have seen Pogba play, ball boy would be a good idea.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Why would Mourinho openly state Fellaini's ready? Seems fishy…

It's as if it's intentional.. his respond to Klopp perhaps unsettling their defenders.
Fellaini vs their defence, especially their young FBs whom I'm sure would struggle.
"Shiii, long balls incoming, prepare for elbows to the face."

He didn't even mention any other players except Bailly, whom everyone knew already he's fit for about 2 weeks now.

 

[Jaxa]

I dont know after some of the games I have seen Pogba play, ball boy would be a good idea.

fair enough

 

[Kapardin]

Heart says win, head says draw. But whatever the case, Salah ain't scoring tomorrow against us and will be kept quiet and harmless. Jose is a spoiler like that.

 

[Infra-red]

Heart says win, head says draw. But whatever the case, Salah ain't scoring tomorrow against us and will be kept quiet and harmless. Jose is a spoiler like that.

Young, Lindelof and Matic will be tasked with ganging up on him.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

That save, and that miss.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[SadlerMUFC]

If we are going to break down Liverpool's pressing then we have to bypass the midfield a lot. Only problem is our striker isn't that great with back to goal. However, one of our midfielders who just came back to the first team is probably one of the best in the world at winning balls in the air and is amazing at playing with his back to goal. So here's a line up that I highly doubt would be used, but makes sense to me

-------------------------DDG--------------------------
Valencia-------Lindelof------Smalling--------Shaw
------------------Matic------Pogba------------------
Lukaku--------------Sanchez--------------Rashford
----------------------Fellaini-------------------------

Doubt that would ever happen though lol

 

[Hullyback]

Oh come off it. De Gea is great but he hasn't been saving us as you suggest. Under Mourinho, we're quite solid defensively because we don't commit much offensively that is true. But to suggest that we're so bad and only De Gea comes to the rescue suggests you either don't watch us or you buy into the ABU narrative that we are one goalkeeper away from mid table mediocrity.

The reality is somewhere in between. Our level overall as a team is more or less similar to Liverpool's. We are better at certain things and worse at others which is why we are so close in the table. We are clearly less comfortable in the final third than your lot, we are less cohesive mainly because your coach builds towards that whereas ours is either incapable or unwilling. On the other hand, we are clearly much more comfortable at standing off teams and stifling them and I would put my money on us holding on a lead when under pressure more than Liverpool any day. I personally don't think that's a quality to brag about but it is nonetheless a quality and in a one off game like Saturday's, it can be the decisive factor depending on who scores first.

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.

Keep a good eye on the keepers tomorrow and I bet you De Gea stops at least one goal going in that a lesser keeper wouldn't save, and I'd not be shocked if ours is solely responsible for letting one in.

You can't be that blinkered you think Smalling, Jones and Lindelof would have such a good goals conceded record this season if they had someone like Cech or Mignolet behind them surely? You'd have lost to Palace in your most recent match alone if not for the Spaniard so be going into this match 3rd, you'd have lost at Anfield earlier in the season so you'd be 4th, did he make a few screaming saves at Arsenal when they had the better of the game, and one against Chelsea when it was finely balanced? Add the other matches he's gotten you out of the shit and you'd potentially be battling Arsenal and Burnley for 6th place.

I'm all for defending your team, but I for one am honest enough to admit my own teams failings, our keepers are shite, we have one decent defender and very mediocre centre mids and without our blistering frontline we'd also be battling for 5/6th place. You should also be able to admit without De Gea you'd be screwed cos you can't play pragmatic or park the bus football successfully with a dogshit keeper unless you've got quality Defenders, and Bailly aside all of yours are Stoke level, no better than Lovren or Klavan who are also dogshit. Mourinho should worship De Gea, the guys kept him in a job so far and carries the rest of the so called world class players on his shoulders.

I'm sure there'll be some nerdy site out there that compares how many points are earned rather than lost by a keeper saving with a worldie or games lost by keepers letting in things they shouldn't and I'm also sure De Gea would be front and centre on that list for saving United a lot of points, probably at least 10pts each season. It was only today I read yet another article about Pogba not performing, and De Gea got mentioned in that for papering over cracks. Nicol and Burley were talking about it the day after I made my post, it's kinda common knowledge he's papering over the obvious cracks that other folks can see with United, so many skilled individuals that don't play as a team as yet and De Gea is the glue keeping it from falling apart. Once you bin Mourinho that team will show its true potential I'm sure cos he definitely isn't getting the best out of them, like the narcissist he is he's only interested in adding things to his own personal CV and will bore his way there which means not taking risks. With the talent at your disposal you should be blowing teams away and not reliant on a once in a generation keeper to bail you out of tight games you realistically shouldn't be getting out of 3rd gear in.

 

[sunama]

Fellaini being back is quite nice for this game. If he's fully fit, I'd go (though I'd expect lingard for martial here).

De Gea
Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw
Fellaini Matic Pogba
Sanchez
Martial Lukaku​

I think Martial is injured.

 

[Full bodied red]

God help us all if Darmian is our only source of width on the left while also being tasked with marking Salah

Although he's rubbish going forward, I still reckon that Darmian is our best defensive FB and I'd have him in tomorrow to keep tight on Salah, with Shaw in front of him to provide some width when needed.

 

[JJ12]

DDG

Valencia
Bailly
Smalling
Lindelof
Young

McTominay
Matic

Pogba
Sanchez

Lukaku

 

[RexHamilton]

Although he's rubbish going forward, I still reckon that Darmian is our best defensive FB and I'd have him in tomorrow to keep tight on Salah, with Shaw in front of him to provide some width when needed.

What could be better than an average full back who hasn't played much recently? Two average full back's who haven't played much recently.

 

[the unknown one.]

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.

Keep a good eye on the keepers tomorrow and I bet you De Gea stops at least one goal going in that a lesser keeper wouldn't save, and I'd not be shocked if ours is solely responsible for letting one in.

You can't be that blinkered you think Smalling, Jones and Lindelof would have such a good goals conceded record this season if they had someone like Cech or Mignolet behind them surely? You'd have lost to Palace in your most recent match alone if not for the Spaniard so be going into this match 3rd, you'd have lost at Anfield earlier in the season so you'd be 4th, did he make a few screaming saves at Arsenal when they had the better of the game, and one against Chelsea when it was finely balanced? Add the other matches he's gotten you out of the shit and you'd potentially be battling Arsenal and Burnley for 6th place.

I'm all for defending your team, but I for one am honest enough to admit my own teams failings, our keepers are shite, we have one decent defender and very mediocre centre mids and without our blistering frontline we'd also be battling for 5/6th place. You should also be able to admit without De Gea you'd be screwed cos you can't play pragmatic or park the bus football successfully with a dogshit keeper unless you've got quality Defenders, and Bailly aside all of yours are Stoke level, no better than Lovren or Klavan who are also dogshit. Mourinho should worship De Gea, the guys kept him in a job so far and carries the rest of the so called world class players on his shoulders.

I'm sure there'll be some nerdy site out there that compares how many points are earned rather than lost by a keeper saving with a worldie or games lost by keepers letting in things they shouldn't and I'm also sure De Gea would be front and centre on that list for saving United a lot of points, probably at least 10pts each season. It was only today I read yet another article about Pogba not performing, and De Gea got mentioned in that for papering over cracks. Nicol and Burley were talking about it the day after I made my post, it's kinda common knowledge he's papering over the obvious cracks that other folks can see with United, so many skilled individuals that don't play as a team as yet and De Gea is the glue keeping it from falling apart. Once you bin Mourinho that team will show its true potential I'm sure cos he definitely isn't getting the best out of them, like the narcissist he is he's only interested in adding things to his own personal CV and will bore his way there which means not taking risks. With the talent at your disposal you should be blowing teams away and not reliant on a once in a generation keeper to bail you out of tight games you realistically shouldn't be getting out of 3rd gear in.

No one cares about your opinion dipper

 

[Mickfoley]

..............Lukaku................
Sanchez...................Young

.......Pogba........Fellaini........
...............Matic..................
Shaw...Smallings..Lind...Val

1-0

 

[Parry Gallister]

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.

Keep a good eye on the keepers tomorrow and I bet you De Gea stops at least one goal going in that a lesser keeper wouldn't save, and I'd not be shocked if ours is solely responsible for letting one in.

You can't be that blinkered you think Smalling, Jones and Lindelof would have such a good goals conceded record this season if they had someone like Cech or Mignolet behind them surely? You'd have lost to Palace in your most recent match alone if not for the Spaniard so be going into this match 3rd, you'd have lost at Anfield earlier in the season so you'd be 4th, did he make a few screaming saves at Arsenal when they had the better of the game, and one against Chelsea when it was finely balanced? Add the other matches he's gotten you out of the shit and you'd potentially be battling Arsenal and Burnley for 6th place.

I'm all for defending your team, but I for one am honest enough to admit my own teams failings, our keepers are shite, we have one decent defender and very mediocre centre mids and without our blistering frontline we'd also be battling for 5/6th place. You should also be able to admit without De Gea you'd be screwed cos you can't play pragmatic or park the bus football successfully with a dogshit keeper unless you've got quality Defenders, and Bailly aside all of yours are Stoke level, no better than Lovren or Klavan who are also dogshit. Mourinho should worship De Gea, the guys kept him in a job so far and carries the rest of the so called world class players on his shoulders.

I'm sure there'll be some nerdy site out there that compares how many points are earned rather than lost by a keeper saving with a worldie or games lost by keepers letting in things they shouldn't and I'm also sure De Gea would be front and centre on that list for saving United a lot of points, probably at least 10pts each season. It was only today I read yet another article about Pogba not performing, and De Gea got mentioned in that for papering over cracks. Nicol and Burley were talking about it the day after I made my post, it's kinda common knowledge he's papering over the obvious cracks that other folks can see with United, so many skilled individuals that don't play as a team as yet and De Gea is the glue keeping it from falling apart. Once you bin Mourinho that team will show its true potential I'm sure cos he definitely isn't getting the best out of them, like the narcissist he is he's only interested in adding things to his own personal CV and will bore his way there which means not taking risks. With the talent at your disposal you should be blowing teams away and not reliant on a once in a generation keeper to bail you out of tight games you realistically shouldn't be getting out of 3rd gear in.

Agree on some of that, though not all. (Under Mourinho in any case) it's not just on the cbs and gk to do all the work defensively, the quality arguably hasn't got to be stellar across the board as the team have to defend too and we're less open that the likes of yourselves- Matic being especially important. Liverpool miss that, especially an out and out DM like Matic.

Baily, Jones, Lindelof (still growing after a rough start) and Rojo are my preferred 4 cbs and decent, though not top quality. Lacking depth in fullbacks but Young/Shaw and Valencia are decent to great defensively, I'd say our backline is better than yours or Stokes, even without the fact we have a more defensive shape. Not sure who has a better set in the league, Spurs do, probably Chelsea, weirdly Arsenal might on paper (though they're in a state atm).

GKs are there to save goals, good ones win you the league, I'm sure people used to say similar about a WC goalie papering over poor performances during our title wins with Schmikes. Especially the runs at the backend of seasons where we'd win by one goal via Cantona and Schmikes would save bullets - Newcastle away in particular. Don't think De Gea winning points is a huge problem, he should be doing that.

Doubt United are as shit as gets made out, disjointed yes and less aesthetic, but I think the amount of monomaniacal managers focused on playing a certain style has fecked with or changed people's thinking about the game. Mou's teams are pragmatic and reactive and the style changes with the opponent - the aim is to do enough to win, not to play 'our' game. I think a lot of our sides (though not all) under SAFs did that too and had success, yet to see if the game has totally changed now, might have. Won't always win style points but effective football has delivered consistent results in the past vs the 'entertainers' of the past like Newcastle, Arsenal and yourselves, City might only be an exception to the rule, remains to be seen.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Rashford Lukaku Sanchez
Pogba Matic
Carrick
Young Smalling Bailly Valencia
deGea​

 

[Android1974]

DDG

Valencia
Bailly
Smalling
Lindelof
Young

McTominay
Matic

Pogba
Sanchez

Lukaku

That's the craziest lineup I've seen here, and there are a few… So, 5-2-2-1? No width whatsoever, to start…

 

[Android1974]

..............Lukaku................
Sanchez...................Young

.......Pogba........Fellaini........
...............Matic..................
Shaw...Smallings..Lind...Val

1-0

Young as winger/wide-forward in 4-3-3 is super depressing.

 

[JJ12]

That's the craziest lineup I've seen here, and there are a few… So, 5-2-2-1? No width whatsoever, to start…

You think Valencia and Young are just going to stand there do you?

 

[Android1974]

Rashford Lukaku Sanchez
Pogba Matic
Carrick
Young Smalling Bailly Valencia
deGea​

With that midfield three, Pogba would be forced to play on the right, cause Mourinho would never put Matić on the right. The only recent time I remember Carrick and the Serbian together in a 4-3-3 was Huddersfield away and it was Matić–Carrick–McTominay. Carrick did have a first half chance in 4-3-3 with Pogba on the left against Liverpool at home, but Herrera was there, not Matić.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Rashford has to play from the left. We had zero cutting edge without him at Palace.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

With that midfield three, Pogba would be forced to play on the right, cause Mourinho would never put Matić on the right. The only recent time I remember Carrick and the Serbian together in a 4-3-3 was Huddersfield away and it was Matić–Carrick–McTominay. Carrick did have a first half chance in 4-3-3 with Pogba on the left against Liverpool at home, but Herrera was there, not Matić.

Yeah if Fellaini was fitter he'd start and Matic would go back to DM but this is a case of all hands on deck in midfield now. I like the idea of Rashford stretching the right back and creating more space for Pogba playing from the left rather than Sanchez cutting into the same areas.

 

[Android1974]

You think Valencia and Young are just going to stand there do you?

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.

 

[MThomas]

Rashford has to play from the left. We had zero cutting edge without him at Palace.

He didn't offer much cutting edge the second half he played either. But he did provide width.

 

[Full bodied red]

What could be better than an average full back who hasn't played much recently? Two average full back's who haven't played much recently.

Average ? Agreed....

But still the best two LBs we have at OT, I'm afraid, because we've all known for some time that Tony V and Ashley Y are not real FBs and get the run around against anyone who targets them because they're only makeshift FBs.

Although I agree with you about neither have played much recently, at least Darmian and Shaw are career FBs.

On his own ( because we know Pogba won't help much defensively ) Ashley Y could have a nightmare tomorrow against Salah, so I'd go with a duo on the left of Darmian and Shaw just for their defensive abilities and a duo of Young and Tony V on the right for the same reason.