08 Nov 2020 18:37:12
I'll take a draw, we've not won at city since 2015 but I have to say, second half was pretty poor from our point of view.

For me, we lost our way when Bobby went off, it just shows how important he is to the team, pressing and more importantly keeping hold of the ball.

Not one for formations but the 442 works with Jota in the side - better than when we go 4321.

1.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 18:44:44
Personally i think losing Trent was bigger. Without Trent or Virgil the only reliable way we get out of defence is with Robertson running it away. Matip was passing to Guardiola at one point. After we lost Trent we couldn't get out.

2.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 18:52:03
Sorry Drogie, but I think we lost our way long before Bobby went off. Again, it was the right call to bring him off as it just wasn't working for him.

I'm not going to question Klopp, he's forgotten more about tactics than I'd ever know. But my own opinion was that we were crying out for 4-3-3 for the last 15 mins, just so we could get some possession further up the field.

All in all, I'll take a point. Pointless international break coming up.

3.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 18:54:09
Jota has to play through the middle and Salah out wide.
It’ll probably take them a while to figure out but it’ll happen.
A bit like when we used to play Firmino out wide and Gomez at full back. Took a while to see the obvious now it never happens
Now we do it with Minamino who can’t play upfront. And get Jota and Salah positions mixed up. It’ll happen eventually.

4.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:00:30
Disagree Macko - Without Bobby, we resorted to long balls, no ball retention and constantly kept giving the ball ball to city. In tight games like this, the importance of having someone that can hold onto the ball is imperative. Yes Bobby not at his brilliant best but he does the simple things well.

5.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:01:25
MK - we lost our way before Trent went off mate.

6.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:05:52
To play that poor in the second half and get away with a point ill definitely take that especially since we are missing virgil and fab and thiago.

7.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:10:01
That was a decent game and given the horrible weather conditions and players risking injury, I would definitely take that result. We have already played Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea and Now City, so happy where we are at the table.

Bobby started to get some good touches, dropping in and creating space. He passed well. I am happy with his return seeing he is getting better. And Matip had a very decent game for me, barring a few passes that went astray.

And we created enough chances and were defensively solid enough (given the injuries at different positions) . So, well done, boys!

{Ed025's Note - so bobbys getting better hey? hmmm..

8.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:10:11
I'll take a point. One of those fixtures were you can't be disappointed with a point. Fair result imo.

Plenty of difficult fixtures out the way already an we're still right up there.

9.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:13:24
Drogie, hope you don't think I'm getting on Bobby's case. far from it! Love Bobby and his attitude. I just thought he was a bit wasteful tonight, particularly in the opening 20 minutes.

We seem to have the same opinion about what the problem was in that second half. We couldn't keep hold of possession in the middle if the field, therefore no quality ball getting to the forwards. Lost count of the amount of times Matip and Gomez lumped (and lost) it forward. I thought Gini and Hendo, who bought played well, could have done with a little help.

I would have loved to have seen Salah have 20 good minutes on their left back. I reckon he would have destroyed him.

10.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:16:54
Think Drogie and MK are wrong, Guardiola changed tactics second half and it worked for City so let's give him the credit he deserves there. Salah, Jota and Mane were fantastic in the first half anf had ran themselves ragged, city exploited that extra man in the middle and the rest is history. Decent game, great point and fingers crossed we have a few players back after the international break and we really kick on. Very happy with that draw today, very well earnt.

11.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:32:23
I'm quite happy with that. We were the better team for the first 20 mins then they City had the rest of the game.
If we win the league by a point it could have been that one today. Away at your biggest rivals is always going to be tough.
Think TAA will be OK when we get back after the international break.

12.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:34:23
Bobbies gone at the minute - needs a break - his head was down a bit in the game quite early on - he could have done better with the first chance of the match. He's looking tired. Needs a rest but then he loses his rhythm so god knows how Klopp will help him get his form back. Jota was no better today though - didn't get into the match as much and pressing wasnt great in second half. Mane was superhuman in first half. They need to look at the handball rule and offside rule and fast as its ruining the game.

13.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:34:44
@ED025 You seem still frustrated from yesterday's result, mate =D
I have a link to a collectors' edition of Everton at the top of league after 5 games. Some dodgy guy has made a calendar out of it and selling online. Let me know should you need one =D

BTW did you watch every minute of the game today ;)

{Ed025's Note - i did das, you done ok with 10 men mate.. :)

14.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:44:15
We had a great start, but as very often happens, if you don't take chances when you are so on top it comes back to bite ya backside! . last quater of the game we shouldve gone back to 3 in the middle and got more compact in my opinion. Bobby still struggling, love the fella, but eyes don't lie I thought when klopp made the change Shaq was going into a 3, but wrong. Take a draw but after that start, a bit dissapointed. Y. N. W. A.

{Ed025's Note - for me stevie the first half was pretty even but city shaded the second and missed a pen, so i wouldn,t be too disappointed mate..

15.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 19:48:34
Playing 4 up front just doesn't work for us.

{Ed025's Note - you only had 3 adam, bobby was anonymous again mate..

16.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 20:03:11
One more point than we got last season. Hard place to go and get a result.

17.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 20:05:31
Drogie is absolutely right. I can't remember a player who can bring a ball under control and keep it under pressure better than Firmino. Mane is good at it, so is Hendo and gini. But Bobby is great at it. Against a high energy team like city, someone like that is vital.

I think it was the right call to play jota, and also yo keep Bobby on. But at 1 1, in a tight game, I can totally understand why klopp took Bobby off and kept jota on, Diogo is more likely to grab a goal, perhaps on the counter, and thus bringing on a more defensive player than Bobby.

In the end, a oint at city is very good. That's it. Don't have to play them there again, and we'll beat them at home. I think we are nicely poised now. Some easier games coming up (I know Leicester will be tough, but we have a great record against them)

I'd like to see matip bring the ball out of defence more. He's very good at it. Goes on sol Campbell-like runs through oppo midfield, I get why he didn't do it today but in the future I'd like to see more of it.

What does everyone think of the gomez pen? I thought it was harsh, he is trying to bring his arms in, closer to his body so as not to give a pen, but ghe ball is blasted in that area. If it were not given for us I'd probably have a moan, but it was another example of a ridiculous penalty. Its the rules that are ridiculous. A handball in ghe area used to be if the defender used his hand to stop an advantage to the oppo. This was just hit hard and hit his arm, he knew nothing about it. Its ruining the flow of the game. If we'd lost 2 1 I'd be fuming.

{Ed025's Note - to be fair robbie he stuck his hand out to stop the ball, of course it was a pen, medowlark lemon of the harlem globetrotters couldn,t have controlled it better mate.. :)

18.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 20:23:34
Under the current rules you would be disappointed if your team wasn't given a penalty. It was a good game by easily the 2 best teams in the League. City will be more annoyed at a point than Liverpool. Great to see another body back in Matip, let's hope he can stay fit and Trent isn't too serious. We've done really well since our Villa shocker. Plenty to be happy about.

19.) 08 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 22:29:15
A lot of talk about firminio in midfield and it's a tough call to play all four at the same time but what options did we have. Jones, Keita and Milly. I wouldn't be upset with Milly or Jones and I think the space Keita leaves would of hurt of us but I was ok with any of the other 3. If Thiago or fabs were fit were not playing with all four upfront.

20.) 09 Nov 2020
08 Nov 2020 22:52:35
Come off it ed025. Are you winding me up? Gomez was bringing his arm in. Are you saying he was trying to stop the ball with his arm? That's ridiculous, man.

{Ed025's Note - watch it again robbie, it was t best bit of goalkeeping seen at the weekend mate and alisson must be under pressure for his place now..

21.) 09 Nov 2020
09 Nov 2020 09:21:45
Edo25 on the wind up again! Gomez clearly trying to pull his arm out the way and turning away at the same time! But, under the current rules its a pen.

{Ed025's Note - that was not a wind up stevie..

22.) 09 Nov 2020
09 Nov 2020 12:20:18
Lol ed025. 5 years ago that was never hand ball. It'd be one a few players would shout at ghe ref, then the game would go on.

{Ed025's Note - a lot has changed in football robbie...but not for the better imo, but if you stick your arm out like you are turning left then it will always be given mate..