Liverpool v The Arsenal, 17:30 BST (24/08) SS Main Event

[McNamara That Ghost...]

All in all. :sick:

We should be better equipped to be dealing with the insane pace they'll start at, more confident of us having the ability to control in midfield.

It is Anfield though so it could easily fall apart.

[Marc Overmars]

Hopefully we can pub ourselves a draw.

1-1.

[GP]

0-3

[Letters]

I think we can score but zero chance we’ll keep a clean sheet.
3-1 :(

[fakeyank]

A draw would be an amazing result, but I cant see anything past a loss.

[I am invisible]

Ugh, not looking forward to this one - probably the worst team in the league for us to face in terms of playing style: we like to start cautiously, whereas Klopp likes his teams to blow opponents away in the opening 30 minutes.

Heart says we might get something out of this one if we can weather that early storm, but my head says it'll probably all be over by half time. Prove me wrong, boys!

[Mac76]

We need to keep it tight at the start, am hopeful Pepe and Ceballos will give them something new to think about but l'd be more optimistic if i didn't think Emery was going to put xhaka back in - liverpool will run rings round him

Hopefully a draw but am not that sure about it...

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

4-4.

[Letters]

A draw would be an amazing result, but I cant see anything past a loss.

Emery Out!

[LDG]

4-4.

You said that last year.

You’re saying it again for luck.

Not having it. No lucky pants for you :sulk:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Good read on Sky and its clear Charlie is actually watching our games as his analysis is spot on.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11791128/how-should-arsenal-set-up-at-liverpool-on-saturday-night-football

Liverpool have not been that great this season and we stand more than a fighting chance if Auba and Laca are on the pitch together for a considerable amount of time. I totally agree with him with playing 6 deeply and would suggest even pushing Luiz as a DM with Torriera (Chambers as CB). Our best defensive strategy will be to attack (it has always been) and thats why the Laca- Auba dynamic should not be toyed with in this game.

Anyway I'm almost certain the manager will setup like Alan wants, cautiously, and we will lose unfortunately.

The good thing is both agree that Xhaka is pointless and useless in this game- hopefully this can continue being the consensus so fans can push him out of the club like we've done Mustafi.

[KSE Comedy Club]

The whole world and his dog has a Liverpool win written in stone for this one.


That's why we are winning this ;)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Kelleher, Milner, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi.

The Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, David Luiz, Monreal, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock, Ceballos, Aubameyang, Pepe.
Subs: Martinez, Chambers, Kolasinac, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Lacazette.

:popcorn:

[Master Splinter]

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1165283326430720002/ED3ow9pH?format=jpg&name=orig

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1165282854688964608/ZWzzvVX8?format=jpg&name=orig

[SMatthews]

That’s a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 then? Interesting line up.

[Master Splinter]

That’s a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 then? Interesting line up.

Probably Ceballos roaming from the left, which sounds decent. Laca from the bench is a good option too.

I like the line-up. Torreira would be preferable to Xhaka, but let's hope he concentrates fully for once and is a calm, captainly presence for the kids around him.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Updated with Liverpool's line-up.

Klopp chucking everything at it to get it done in 45 as per. :sick:

[SMatthews]

Probably Ceballos roaming from the left, which sounds decent. Laca from the bench is a good option too.

I like the line-up. Torreira would be preferable to Xhaka, but let's hope he concentrates fully for once and is a calm, captainly presence for the kids around him.

He was great in the home game last year. Auba and Pepe probably chosen for pace. Glad Willock has kept his place, he’s a natural fit for the first eleven.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programme starts in a couple of minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why does Sky's intro music keep mentioning Tottenham?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Redknapp and Carragher are pitchside.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I hope Emery pops that spot on his nose by full time, it'll annoy me all game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gary Neville on commentary. :lol:

Wonder what mood he is in. :whistle:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Robertson right across goal but just evades Firmino.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka hacking them down already.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz shovels it away.

[AFC Leveller]

3-1, we aren’t ready for this lot yet.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mostly good from Pepe!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AA boots it out of play.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Neville. :sleep:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wijnaldum. :haha:

[RomfordPele]

Boy we are going to get thumped here. Emery has set us up all wrong.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So close from Auba!

[I am invisible]

Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Kelleher, Milner, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi.

The Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, David Luiz, Monreal, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock, Ceballos, Aubameyang, Pepe.
Subs: Martinez, Chambers, Kolasinac, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Lacazette.

:popcorn:
Interesting... 2 passers + 2 runners in midfield with 2 rapid guys up top who can both play central or drift wide. Guessing this is going to be all about rigid lines when we defend and then kind of freestyling it on the break, with either Auba or Pepe chasing anything that goes wide (while the other stays central), supported by Willock, Ceballos and one of the fullbacks?

[SMatthews]

Adrian almost gifting us a goal.

Pepe looking sharp so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka get back in your hutch, we don't want you supporting the attack.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe strike, straight at Adrian.

Good move though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ceballos picks out Mane, Mane shoots straight at Leno.

[SMatthews]

Little bit of work needed on our playing out from the back perhaps.

[Master Splinter]

Pepe a bit pub but looks so dangerous.

Guendouzi is so good.

[SMatthews]

Good tackle Luiz.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe boots it out of play.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Leno.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Unlucky Pepe.

Sublime from Willock.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Checking red card. :haha:

WTF?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bit of a weak finish from Pepe.

[SMatthews]

Pepe should’ve scored that but good half so far.

[Globalgunner]

WTF is that from Pepe. Arsenal twice rejecting Xmas gifts because it's not yet September

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Emery has had it set up brilliantly so far.

No idea what Neville was on about earlier in the match.

[Master Splinter]

Pepe should be on a hat-trick.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not far off from Salah.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Matip.

[SMatthews]

Sokratis left ball watching for that one.

[SMatthews]

Just keep it together until half time and regroup for the second half.

[RomfordPele]

It was coming. Mental tactics by Emery.

Let them pummel us with crosses and hope we fluke a goal on the counter.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mane clears it for us.

[Marc Overmars]

We’re losing? Oh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 HT.

I'm alright with that, in the game, which is more than can often be said with us at Anfield by HT.

[Globalgunner]

We should be 1-2 ahead. Wasted from Auba and Pepe

[RomfordPele]

Glad it’s only 1-0 but could easily end up being four or five again if we carry on giving them so much space.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Percentage tactic to give us a foothold in the game I reckon.

[RomfordPele]

On the plus side Pepe looks fucking ace.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty to Liverpool.

Daft from David Luiz.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Salah.

Oh dear.

[SMatthews]

Just keep it together until half time and regroup for the second half.

Well done boys.

[Globalgunner]

More the seasons change, the more our trips to Anfield remain the same

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba too slow to take the shot on!

[Master Splinter]

Auba :doh:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN. :lol:

[Globalgunner]

Auba was offside anyway, but I knew he wouldnt score

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Salah clears it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-0 Salah, brilliant goal.

[SMatthews]

Here we go

[SMatthews]

Luiz :doh:

We’ve got our Mustafi back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ceballos off, Torreira on.

[hobson's choice]

The way we play under Emery really annoys me
. Too reliant on counter/quick attacks. No really great consistent build up possession play.

We don't have a team that can sit back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN can't help himself. :lol:

[Globalgunner]

AMN can't help himself. :lol:

Awful player. Another dud we will be pleading Everton to buy in 3 years time

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wijnaldum off, Milner on.

[Özim]

Strange sub when 3-0 down, we need goals now, Xhaka should have gone off.

I'd have considered taking Luiz off or moving him to midfield to be honest, he's had one of those calamitous days at the back he's well known for today.

Lacazette should be on as well.

[Özim]

Awful player. Another dud we will be pleading Everton to buy in 3 years time

He can't play in defence, it's taken over a season so far for Emery to see that, he's a midfielder at the end of the day, in defence he makes error after error and they usually cost us goals.

[Mac76]

Emery never gets it right against Liverpool...:rolleyes:

[Özim]

I think today shows that without a decent defence you're not going to get results against the best teams, however good your attack is. To be fair though Liverpool have been a class apart today.

[RomfordPele]

I think today shows that without a decent defence you're not going to get results against the best teams, however good your attack is. To be fair though Liverpool have been a class apart today.

It’ll help when we get our proper full backs fit, but that’s why it was so stupid to expose Monreal and AMN to everything Liverpool could throw at them. Accident waiting to happen.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mane off, Ox on.

[Özim]

Really went into today with some hope we may get a result.

That's brought me back down to earth with a bump though.

[hobson's choice]

Why is our midfield play so inconsistent. He has to work on this midfield. We talk bout our defense, but that midfield has been the biggest weakness now for bout 5 seasons

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Willock off, Lacazette on.

Willock. :bow:

[Özim]

It’ll help when we get our proper full backs fit, but that’s why it was so stupid to expose Monreal and AMN to everything Liverpool could throw at them. Accident waiting to happen.

Yes sure, but that's still a fair while away, they've got to recover and then get match fit, realistically our only form of defence with this team is attack, Laczette should have been on, because we just we never going to be able to keep Liverpool out.

We did need better than Luiz at CB though, he's good in midfield but in defence he'll cost us, he just can't cut errors out of his game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Really went into today with some hope we may get a result.

That's brought me back down to earth with a bump though.

Yeah right. :lol:

[hobson's choice]

I think today shows that without a decent defence you're not going to get results against the best teams, however good your attack is. To be fair though Liverpool have been a class apart today.

It's our midfield that's really the problem.

This has been a consistent issue with Emery's teams.

[Master Splinter]

Emery never gets it right against Liverpool...:rolleyes:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36254631

[Özim]

Why is our midfield play so inconsistent. He has to work on this midfield. We talk bout our defense, but that midfield has been the biggest weakness now for bout 5 seasons

Not playing Xhaka would be a start, we may as well play with 10 men, Emery hasn't cottoned on that this guy is substandard. If he was going to play Luiz in defence, Torreira should have been on from the start, I don't get why Emery likes Xhaka, time after time the guy lets out down.

[Özim]

It's our midfield that's really the problem.

This has been a consistent issue with Emery's teams.

It is a problem too, as mentioned Xhaka should never play, especially when we're playing 2 young players in midfield with him.

But we also have made errors defensively, so the defence is to blame as well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

TORREIRA!!!!

It's on!

[SMatthews]

Torreira scores.

[Özim]

Willock off, Lacazette on.

Willock. :bow:

After 81 minutes, there's hardly any point now, should have come on well before that.

Some of Emerys' decision making is appalling, it's his 2nd season now so no more byes for his errors.

[RomfordPele]

Not playing Xhaka would be a start, we may as well play with 10 men, Emery hasn't cottoned on that this guy is substandard. If he was going to play Luiz in defence, Torreira should have been on from the start, I don't get why Emery likes Xhaka, time after time the guy lets out down.

Agree with this. I would also have liked us to start with Lacazette too. Go down fighting.

[Özim]

TORREIRA!!!!

It's on!

Should have been on from the start and if Emery didn't love Xhaka so much he would have been.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Guendouzi off, Mkhitaryan on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Firmino off, Lallana on.

[RomfordPele]

Guendouzi off, Mkhitaryan on.

Ffs. Emery out.

[Özim]

Worst part is Adrian is really dodgy in goal, we haven't worked him enough, we should have fired a lot more shots at him, he's their weakness.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Four added minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN's tekkers. :cloud9:

[RomfordPele]

Getting patronised by sky. Great times.

[Özim]

This defeat is 100% Emerys fault IMO, poor starting lineup, not reactive enough with the subs, not realising he needed a RB as AMN is awful in that position.

Given the keeper and our defence, Lacazette should have started as well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 FT.

Let the pointless hand wringing commence.

[Maestro]

Emery does'nt know what he's doing and he's not going to take us up a level

[SMatthews]

3-1 FT.

Let the pointless hand wringing commence.

:lol:

[Mac76]

Should have been on from the start and if Emery didn't love Xhaka so much he would have been.

This - fucking annoying after the bright start we made with younger or newer players Emery still can't help but pick that useless tosser every chance he gets

[McNamara That Ghost...]

European Champions win at home shocker.

[RomfordPele]

No hand wringing, but we do need a new manager if we want top 4.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No hand wringing, but we do need a new manager if we want top 4.

I hope that manager can show how it is done at Anfield this season.

[RomfordPele]

I hope that manager can show how it is done at Anfield this season.

Well that killed that conversation. Nice one.

[dazthegooner]

Getting patronised by sky. Great times.

They had to do something there beloved Manure lost at home.

[Globalgunner]

Xhaka offers next to nothing. Even Stevie Wonder wouldnt keep picking him