Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Man City vs Liverpool

Having recorded two goalless draws in their previous three outings, Manchester City can ill afford to drop further points when they do battle with Liverpool at the Etihad. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be looking to bounce back following their 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace in Gameweek 12.

Since their resounding 5-1 victory over Bournemouth in Gameweek 9, Man City have mustered just two goals and nine shots on target in three outings. In addition, they weren’t as dominant on the creative front during that stretch, amassing 15 fewer key passes (38 compared to 52) than Liverpool. That being said, their opponents managed just nine shots inside the box and one big chance, which bodes well for their clean-sheet prospects.

Liverpool ranked top for attempts (65) over the last four Gameweeks, yet only Bournemouth (one) carded fewer big chances (three). Fashioning clear-cut opportunities has been an issue for the Merseysiders throughout this campaign, as evidenced by the fact they place bottom for big chances (four) in road clashes. On a more positive note, only three two teams permitted fewer shots inside the box (23) in the last four Gameweeks.

2,374 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Strikers are becoming outdated.

    1. Zasa
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Now with Ighalo....

  2. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Pelle replacement options please guys! Cash no issue

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Lukaku

    2. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Ronaldo

    3. King Kav. QC at law
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Aguero.

    4. Numb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Lukaku

    5. AverageJoe
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Kane

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Good shout, let's see how he looks tomorrow

    6. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Only 1 out of 3 sensible answers. Thanks guys! Lukaku then..

      1. King Kav. QC at law
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Whatever.

    7. Bolivian Seaman
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Little old lady

  3. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    -50 for Aguero put on hold!

    1. C_G
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      not even a multiple of 4 ha

      1. The Mandalorian
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        sarcasm wasted on the blind

  4. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Am I wrong in thinking City did something like this last season as well? Not with Pool, but I have some lasting memory of there always being a couple of games where Pelle benches some players he shouldn't and they make fools of themselves. 😛

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        8 years, 6 months ago

        He does it every season and it never makes sense

        1. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          I thought so. Every single time I think he'll get sacked for doing it.

      • King Kav. QC at law
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Not that I recall. Nothing like this.

        1. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          I definitely recall him doing some bizarre things whenever City are looking like the PL winners.

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Every single year he has. Usually dropping one of the full backs who are in form

      • JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Bloody hellfire

        fair play IM, I hearby eat humble pie

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Me too

        2. Sjaugen
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Same. Kudos were kudos is due

          1. Sjaugen
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            +h

      • The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Will Firmino play more 90 minute games though?

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          After a performance like this?
          Only Rodgers or Benitez would bench him

          1. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            This. His linkup with Coutinho outrageous

        2. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Why wouldn't he?

      • Arteta
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Mane to Coutinho? Long term transfer 🙂

        1. jackluhg
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          yeah was thinking same before the game, and now 100%

        2. King Kav. QC at law
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          They're always long term, when you make them.

      • Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Sod Aguero, Wijnaldum and Mane to Coutinho and Firmino 😎

        1. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          They won't play against such a poor defence every week

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Haha

      • Numb
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Wow, the Liverpool supporters in work will start watching them again at this rate!

      • denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Coutinho or firmino then

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          See above 🙂

      • Venom Snake
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Soft yellow

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Don't eat soft yellow snow.....

      • onionbarje
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        So Madrid sacked Ancelotti for this

      • Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        And to think we still have Flanagan to come back 🙂

        1. Nascimento
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Martin Kelly too when he returns to his parent club

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            And Sterling....

            1. Nascimento
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              I'm surprised he was allwed to play today

              1. Jafooli
                • 12 Years
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Not a cup game, therefore not cup tied.....

        2. King Kav. QC at law
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Your year, it's clear to see.

      • Bøwstring The Carp
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Will Coutinho continue to produce goals? Historically he hasn't, but I guess he could with the form he's in.

        Will Firmino continue this form? Or rather will he keep a fully fit Benteke/ Sturridge out of the CF spot?

        1. adidasOriginals
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Hard to predict...Liverpool good fixtures but squad to rotate too!

      • adidasOriginals
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        why would you go with that CB pairing? madness

      • Jose's Magic Omelette
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Scenes!

        1. King Kav. QC at law
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Where?

      • jam sandwich
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        bit annoying.. this makes Kola more of a rotation risk even though the problem is clearly the CBs

      • Jay10
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Benched Firmino for Mane. Everybody plz laugh.

        1. Zizoulicious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          I don't know what to say... Apart from he will probably score again

          1. Jay10
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            I am not gonna lie but I saw his goal coming,but thought Mane would score more.

      • tisza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Liverpool performance gotta be good for breaking up template midfields.
        Need a couple of Chelsea & Utd midfielders to wake up and that'll really shake things up.

      • Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Lucas suspended next game, not that it matters.

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Lucas was the real differential in this game, the unsung hero

        2. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Can and hendo in the middle could happen

      • Every Dog Has Its Day
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        0.1 away from Firmino. 🙁

        1. Jazz!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Firmino or Coutinho? If you could afford both...

          1. internal error
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Firminooooo. He could have and should have scored 3 today

            1. Jazz!
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              won't play upfront every game though. Is he even 100% nailed?

          2. Every Dog Has Its Day
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Coutinho.

          3. NATSTER
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Coutinho will start and usually last 90 minutes.

        2. Optimus.
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          You know you're going to take the hit

          1. Every Dog Has Its Day
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            I'm going to try and not to for the rest of the season.

        3. KingNidge
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          No one is unattainable with ur transfer poilicy mate 🙂

          1. Every Dog Has Its Day
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            No more hits for me, I swear!

      • Zizoulicious
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Quick someone do a coutinho vs Firmino article please.. I need to get rid of Payet tonight 🙂

      • Venom Snake
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Not gonna lie, I wouldn't mind a Kolarov assist..

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          I wouldn't mind a Moreno goal

      • Total Foot 5 - romario 11
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        brazilian talents coutinho and firmino killing it against manchester city. Brazilian samba is back strong.

        1. King Kav. QC at law
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          No it isn't.

        2. Nascimento
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Coutinho's Scottish, mate. Inverness through and through

        3. King Kav. QC at law
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Thanks though Stealth.

      • troller
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        ighalo and kdb> lukaku and wijnaldum -4 yay or nay

      • Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Pellegrini to be blamed for this. Benched Otamendi & Fernandinho.

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Bizarre

          1. denial
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Was thinking this. Why bench otamendi?

        2. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Under estimated Liverpool

        3. Jimbo123
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Senile

      • JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        we can ask questions about team selection now, but let's be honest, no one saw this coming

        1. Nascimento
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          I did say it would be 3-0 at the 42.02 mark

      • 4vets
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        So Leicester, bar a miracle, are TOP!

      • Barryyuen
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        HI ALL! Bad week for me 🙁

        For next week bench two of

        Smalling, Bellerin, Kolarov, Nyom and Dawson! Am thinking Dawson and Smalling or should I bench Nyom?

      • Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Sterling " i will never play for Liverpool again" So right lad, they have better.

        1. 4vets
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          🙂