[Klopper76]

The pressing offered from your front 3 and the midfielders is the main reason why your defence has been excellent. VVD and Robertson's contributions are a bit overblown at the expense of the excellent defensive work of the whole team. Think Buvac left because he had a different view of the balance between attack and defence. Apparently, Klopp was right even though the attack is now less spectacular than last season.

Yeah true, although I do think we'd be worse off without Van Dijk.

Based on the team news from Klopp's press conference I think we'll go:

Alisson

TAA
Matip
Van Dijk
Robertson

Fabinho
Wijnaldum
Henderson

Salah
Firmino
Mane

 

[RedDevil@84]

So we'll play City on 24th Apr (Wed) and then play Chelsea on 28th Apr (Sunday).
Naaaiceeeee

 

[Trizy]

I think we'll need a bit of luck with their and a great performance for big Dave to stop them scoring. We'll definitely score but it's just a case of trying to out score them because we're not gonna keep a clean sheet.

 

[Treble]

I think we'll need a bit of luck with their and a great performance for big Dave to stop them scoring. We'll definitely score but it's just a case of trying to out score them because we're not gonna keep a clean sheet.

Based on the PSG game that is far from certain. We didn't trouble PSG at all and they are supposed to have a weaker defence than Liverpool. Maybe we were a bit too cautious against PSG and won't make that mistake against Liverpool without however going in the other extreme and being too open.

 

[Member 115509]

The news that Martial and Lingard are possibly fit for this is a real boost, if it is true. Even fit enough for the bench is a bonus, considering that when they were first injured they were ruled out for a few weeks.
A win in this game will go a long way to defining how the remainder of the season plays out.

 

[Trizy]

Based on the PSG game that is far from certain. We didn't trouble PSG at all and they are supposed to have a weaker defence than Liverpool. Maybe we were a bit too cautious against PSG and won't make that mistake against Liverpool without however going in the other extreme and being too open.

PSG's midfield had a master class against us. All technically gifted and quality players. Liverpool haven't got one great midfielder.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Looks good though, doesn't it.

Not too bad at all. That front three would cause havoc.

 

[Stacks]

Yeah true, although I do think we'd be worse off without Van Dijk.

Based on the team news from Klopp's press conference I think we'll go:

Alisson

TAA
Matip
Van Dijk
Robertson

Fabinho
Wijnaldum
Henderson

Salah
Firmino
Salah

It's quality that you can play your best player twice

 

[Stacks]

PSG's midfield had a master class against us. All technically gifted and quality players. Liverpool haven't got one great midfielder.

Yep. a CB

 

[Siorac]

It's quality that you can play your best player twice

If Martial is out, we should play a diamond of Herrera, Pogba, Herrera, Pogba and a Rashford-Rashford strike partnership.

 

[Klopper76]

It's quality that you can play your best player twice

Do you think anyone will notice?

 

[Treble]

PSG's midfield had a master class against us. All technically gifted and quality players. Liverpool haven't got one great midfielder.

Nah, Liverpool's midfield is an important reason why they don't concede many chances: they might be unproductive going forward but can press all day. Their running stats will dwarf PSG's.

PSG's midfield included a player who played untill recently as a CB and a 35 y.o. fullback, hardly the stuff of dreams. Truth is we were a bit average that night and didn't press them well. Repeat that performance and we will struggle.

 

[Siorac]

Do you think anyone will notice?

If he plays like he did against Bayern or last year at Old Trafford then no.

We might notice the absence of Mane though.

 

[The Brown Bull]

PSG's midfield had a master class against us. All technically gifted and quality players. Liverpool haven't got one great midfielder.

This.How we could do with Veratti!

 

[Klopper76]

If he plays like he did against Bayern or last year at Old Trafford then no.

We might notice the absence of Mane though.

He's been poor all season in the big games.

 

[0le]

Watched the press conference. Already excited but also nervous!

 

[Speedy30]

Will Klopp try a defensive setup?

Compared to how we were last season, we play a more defensive set up every match. We will let you have the ball and look to counter at every opportunity but we'll also press you like mad if we see a chance.
My concern is our right hand side of defence. If Rashford plays like he did last season and Trent has an off day, it'll be easy to exploit that side and you'll probably get some joy.
I think a 2-2 draw is on the cards

 

[Canagel]

Statman dave reckons we should deploy a flat 4-4-2 instead of diamond this game as it will cause us to be exposed in the flanks. used the example of PSGs win over Liveprool. interesting

 

[jymufc20]

Do you think anyone will notice?

Michael Oliver will turn a blind eye and let you get away with it i bet.

 

[Random Task]

Statman dave reckons we should deploy a flat 4-4-2 instead of diamond this game as it will cause us to be exposed in the flanks. used the example of PSGs win over Liveprool. interesting

I've got a lot of time for Statman Dave but I think he's wrong on this one. Herrera isn't good enough on the ball to perform such a demanding role - he's no Verrati.

The ball over the top is an effective counter to the high press, and far more suited to our somewhat limited ball-players in defence and midfield. Plus Klopp will be wary of deploying his team in a high-press system given how vulnerable it makes them at the back. I'm sure he would have taken note of how effective Ole's system was against Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs this season.

They might not press nearly as much as we expect them too.

 

[Sandikan]

I've got a lot of time for Statman Dave but I think he's wrong on this one. Herrera isn't good enough on the ball to perform such a demanding role - he's no Verrati.

The ball over the top is an effective counter to the high press, and far more suited to our somewhat limited ball-players in defence and midfield. Plus Klopp will be wary of deploying his team in a high-press system given how vulnerable it makes them at the back. I'm sure he would have taken note of how effective Ole's system was against Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs this season.

They might not press nearly as much as we expect them too.

They haven't done at our ground the last couple of seasons have they? They've played a more cautious game.
That time they got 1-0 up through a pen for Milner, they defended very deep after that.

 

[Klopper76]

I've got a lot of time for Statman Dave but I think he's wrong on this one. Herrera isn't good enough on the ball to perform such a demanding role - he's no Verrati.

The ball over the top is an effective counter to the high press, and far more suited to our somewhat limited ball-players in defence and midfield. Plus Klopp will be wary of deploying his team in a high-press system given how vulnerable it makes them at the back. I'm sure he would have taken note of how effective Ole's system was against Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs this season.

They might not press nearly as much as we expect them too.

This would fall in line with how we've played in other away games against top six sides.

We've not been particularly aggressive in these games and take a more cautious approach for the most part.

 

[Random Task]

They haven't done at our ground the last couple of seasons have they? They've played a more cautious game.
That time they got 1-0 up through a pen for Milner, they defended very deep after that.

I cannot recall that game to be honest but if King Dipper himself (hey @Klopper76) verifies it, that's good enough for me.

Got me wondering how this game will pan out now. Makes me more nervous, too.

 

[Klopper76]

I cannot recall that game to be honest but if King Dipper himself (hey @Klopper76) verifies it, that's good enough for me.

Got me wondering how this game will pan out now. Makes me more nervous, too.

People have trusted my word ever since I got it right with Fabinho.

 

[Oga on top.]

This will be England's biggest game no matter how many plastic, fake clubs come about. Anyway I'm not as worried as I was in previous weeks building up to it. If we can essentially try and replicate that PSG game plan by just smothering Pogba then I think the pool win it. Gini is the only one I would trust to hunt Pogba down all game. This is also the one remaining away side Klopp hasn't won at and we need to win...

Going with 1-3.

 

[the chameleon]

This will be England's biggest game no matter how many plastic, fake clubs come about. Anyway I'm not as worried as I was in previous weeks building up to it. If we can essentially try and replicate that PSG game plan by just smothering Pogba then I think the pool win it. Gini is the only one I would trust to hunt Pogba down all game. This is also the one remaining away side Klopp hasn't won at and we need to win...

Going with 1-3.

I’m not predicting a result. But it does feel like someone from Rawk has invaded the forum.

 

[Brightonian]

The ball over the top is an effective counter to the high press, and far more suited to our somewhat limited ball-players in defence and midfield. Plus Klopp will be wary of deploying his team in a high-press system given how vulnerable it makes them at the back. I'm sure he would have taken note of how effective Ole's system was against Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs this season.

Defence I'll give you but I wouldn't describe our midfield as limited ball-players and in particular they fare up well under an intense press. Matic and Pogba both combine physical strength and composed close control to be able to work the ball calmly away from pressure, and Herrera's brain and little box of tricks (particularly that shoulder-drop first touch of his) have always made him good in those situations too.

Personally I'd rather see them try and 'gegenpress' us than sit off. We're better at exploiting gaps than creating them, so escaping a high press and then attacking into the gaps it leaves will suit us much better than trying to pick open Liverpool's very solid defence and thus making ourselves vulnerable to their equally dangerous counter-attack.

 

[Brightonian]

Their midfield is where we can win this game. They're playing so effectively to Klopp's game plan at the moment, so I'll be jumped on by dippers and United fans alike here but they Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson just don't have the quality of Pogba, Herrera and Matic at their best, and if we come fast out of the blocks we can simply outplay them at their own game - pressing them hard off the ball, then evading their press to create attacking opportunities.

That's our best shout, because if we win that midfield battle, we starve that scary front line of theirs of good service. Mane and Salah might be able to wait for opportunities and take them, but Firmino in particular needs ball to do his thing, and we need to cut him off.

 

[bondsname]

Shaqiri will score a hattrick and Sir Alex will come out of retirement.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

This was the combined XI when we played at Anfield earlier on in the season.

Allison
Arnold Gomez Van Dijk Robertson
Kieta Milner Pogba
Salah Firmino Mane
​

Not that it matters, but I suspect it would be slightly different going into tomorrow's game.

I would say:

De Gea
Young Lindelof Van Dijk Robertson
Herrera Wijnaldum Pogba
Salah Rashford Mane
​

 

[quackattack]

I would say:

De Gea
Young Lindelof Van Dijk Robertson
Herrera Wijnaldum Pogba
Salah Rashford Mane
​

Young over Arnold? Also, I haven't seen too many Liverpool games, but maybe Keita for Wijnaldum, but I understand that he is in pretty great form as of late. An in-form Martial would maybe knock out Mane too.

 

[langster]

Bring back LvG, he always managed to batter the Dippers.

 

[Sereques]

Statman dave reckons we should deploy a flat 4-4-2 instead of diamond this game as it will cause us to be exposed in the flanks. used the example of PSGs win over Liveprool. interesting

The day Ole starts coping other teams instead of playing with his own strengths is the day Ole's tenure ends as a United manager.

 

[Irrational.]

Just like how Jose lost his job after losing to Liverpool, I think Ole will get the job after beating them.

Knowing the build-up and hype, it'll probably end in a 0-0 stalemate.

 

[r3idy]

Scouse are there for the taking depending on who is fit for us. Liverpool can play a highline which is great when you have Rashford and Lingard who can run in behind all day long. Goals per game for them has dropped for them so maybe not as potent. My only concern is if we try and press high and hard from the get go, chances are the team will burn out like PSG game and hopefully Ole has learned from that. Confident for tomorrow

 

[jymufc20]

Just like how Jose lost his job after losing to Liverpool, I think Ole will get the job after beating them.

Knowing the build-up and hype, it'll probably end in a 0-0 stalemate.

It's almost poetic isn't it ? Which is ironic, given the opposition.

 

[Adisa]

Liverpool don't really play that aggressively in big away games. Think it will be a tight game. 2-1 to us I think.

 

[Ban]

Let's replicate those days under Fergie when they'd come and from the 1st minute it would be obvious don't stand a chance.

 

[Halds]

De Gea
Young Lindelof Van Dijk Robertson
Herrera Wijnaldum Pogba
Salah Rashford Mane​

Thats a fair combined 11 now. You've really raised your game and proved that you have quality players around the pitch. How I miss Mourinho.

I expect a tough match for us. You are on fire and we don't look as confident as earlier in the season. I would take a draw right now if offered.

 

[westmeath]

Their midfield is where we can win this game. They're playing so effectively to Klopp's game plan at the moment, so I'll be jumped on by dippers and United fans alike here but they Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson just don't have the quality of Pogba, Herrera and Matic at their best, and if we come fast out of the blocks we can simply outplay them at their own game - pressing them hard off the ball, then evading their press to create attacking opportunities.

That's our best shout, because if we win that midfield battle, we starve that scary front line of theirs of good service. Mane and Salah might be able to wait for opportunities and take them, but Firmino in particular needs ball to do his thing, and we need to cut him off.

Our midfield has been absolute crap in all games against really top class opponents this season and it’s hard to know why this will be any different. We are going to struggle tomorrow. Our midfield lacks composure and our defense, particularly in wide areas, is there for the taking by the Liverpool counter attack.