WE all offered silent prayers a week ago. Pleas to higher powers not to spoil this for us. We should trust more.
I like to keep my expectations modest. A not very wise man once said to me “don’t cry before you’re hurt”. That can fuck right off. I like to prepare myself for the worst and go from there. Only fools count chickens.
Before last week’s Anfield leg I was preparing myself to be OK with taking a draw going into the second game. Just stay in the tie, boys. Don’t let them take the piss. They’re good.
In the boozer before the game, some brave souls spoke in hushed tones of unlikely 1-0 advantages for us. A cheeky 2-1 even. Steady, lads.
What happened was beyond dreams, but upon safe reflection, entirely plausible. The 3-0. Jürgen Klopp does this to good sides. Liverpool do this to good sides. They tear you apart.
I shouldn’t doubt. We shouldn’t doubt.
So now it all comes down to this. One night in Manchester. It feels unlikely that the second leg passes without incident. I fear a moment where we look into the abyss. I hope I’m not being rational.
The semi final of the European Cup looms, shining before us like a blinding sun. We can’t look up into the glare yet for fear of losing sight. We shelter our eyes, but we know the prospect is still there. Move beyond Manchester City and it will manifest as a red/golden sunset.
I’m getting carried away. Making a bit of a show of myself. But if we make the last four it will only be the ninth time in our history. Just the fourth time in 33 years. Who can take this possibility in their stride?
That goalless second half at Anfield was as slow as time moves. An actual 45 minutes, but a lifetime in our heads. We think that was bad? We start again with 90 odd to go in Manchester on Tuesday.
Liverpool will be briefed by the manager simply to score. We get one, they need five. It would break them. We must position ourselves to exploit the space they are compelled to leave. Pep Guardiola’s only option is to unleash a tornado on us. But we are already a hurricane, and he knows this.
Of course they will pin us back but we will be fresh enough — at least in the first half — to meet fire with fire. Our biggest threat at the moment is an injury list that seems to be lengthening daily. Emre Can is now added to Adam Lallana, Joe Gomez and the suspended Jordan Henderson as definitely not available for Tuesday night.
Any more absentees and we would become so stretched that Jürgen Klopp would have to contemplate a formation adjustment.
Starting Mo Salah will constitute a risk. He’s feeling his limbs now, and whatever decision the manager makes over him has dangers. Leave him out and it will offer the home side encouragement. Play him from the off and he may pull up with that recurrent muscle fatigue.
City benched Raheem Sterling last week and his freshness will be key to City’s proposition. They must simply front load with attackers, hope for an early breakthrough and build from there. No one on our side of this argument will have been thrilled to see Sergio Aguero back in action at the weekend.
City aren’t quite what they were. They’ve morphed from being the new “invincibles” into a team that has now been defeated five times this calendar year. Twice by Liverpool. They showcased their less awesome, more schizophrenic persona again at the weekend. Romping to victory over Manchester United, they surrendered a two-goal lead and ended the day having again let three goals in.
Klopp must urge Liverpool to use our strengths to prey upon their weaknesses. We must go to the Etihad only with thoughts of victory. Let’s not be talking about their powers of recovery but of Liverpool’s relentless desire to demolish.
Face to face with destiny here. Reds. I can’t wait, I’ll barely be able to watch.
Predicted 11: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Kick off: 7.45pm, BT Sport
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
Odds: Manchester City 1-2, Draw 22-5, Liverpool 11-2
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Bang on as usual Rob
Sorry to be that guy, but potential 4th semi final in 33 years (05, 07, 08)
Man City conceded 7 goals against us in the past two matches. Now they have to score 4 goals to win, all while keeping a clean sheet.
That’s my mantra. It beats thinking about Gini playing in a key position he’s not played since pre-season.
We’re 11/2 for the win???? That’s a bit mad.
” I fear a moment where we look into the abyss….” Yep, that about sums it up.
It is actually about trying to be rational and level-headed when your entire molecular structure has the jitters. Three-nil up after the first leg, no away goal conceded – and we’re every bit as good as them and on our day (twice already this season) we’ve been better. The fear is not really based around City, though they obviously do pose a very real threat – it’s based around the glittering prize that is tantalisingly close, we can almost touch it, and the devastation if we somehow fall short. We’ve got to shut that out – I have to shut that out. We can do this. We can go there and win, we can go there and draw, we can sure as hell go there and score. I don’t want VVD or Milner out injured after 30 minutes, I don’t want Mané sent off again, I don’t want Mo crocked, I don’t want us flogged with 10 to go and needing a goal or two, I don’t want City walloping in three or four worldies or the ref gifting them a few penalties or us hoiking in a few OGs. What I want is for us to approach this in a manner befitting the club we are – European royalty, A listers – and navigating the tie. Getting some luck. Getting out the other side, and into the semi-final. We can do it. Please God, let’s not listen to the noises in our heads, let’s shape up and pull ourselves together, and let’s do it. We can do it. We will. We must.
We did!
“I like to keep my expectations modest. A not very wise man once said to me “don’t cry before you’re hurt”. That can fuck right off. I like to prepare myself for the worst and go from there. Only fools count chickens.”
I agree with you on this Rob 100%. I especially worry with the likes of TAA, since he handled Sane, everyone came out started talking him up like we just won the CL trophy.
City are currently a wounded animal in a corner after badly being beaten especially by United’s crap team. Maybe not the best analogy, but here goes, just put it out of its misery. No questions asked. If you fuck with it, we are going to regret it.
Pep and some of the players are already playing mind games in the press, and everyone thinks they have a huge task. With Aguero back, this is not a huge task for them, not unless Klopp has the team well organized to take the onslaught.
I am going to be extremely nervous for sure, because City are going to give it everything they have to take this away from us. They have the firepower, but we can withstand it.
I wish the team, Jurgen and the away fans the best of luck. We’re/They’re going to need every bit of it.
Come on you Reds!
it is going to be a horrible 90 mins – unless we get an early goal. Or it could be like the Old Trafford game a few years back. Go 1 down, hang in there and get a goal before the break. That would be nice.
Also it would be out 10th semi-final.
65, 77, 78, 81, 84, 85, 05, 07, 08