Liverpool have looked vulnerable in their first two matches. Emery prepares the team well for big games. We have an opportunity to cause an upset and build belief. I would be very confident if we were at home but I think we could get at least a draw here.

I have given up on predicting results at Anfield or how we will perform.

Every year we will have match threads and people being somewhat confident we can sneak a result, then out of nowhere we get thumped upside down. Really kinda sick of Anfield, a harder place to get results these few years than OT.

Anything respectable will be good for me. Just don't get thrashed again.

If it's up to me, go full defensive 2 banks of 4 and hit long balls to our strikers. Something like what Wenger did to Rodgers at Emirates in FA Cup right after our 5-1 thrashing.

Our attackers could do some damage.

I wonder if we might see a 4-4-2 this game, sitting deep and hitting them on the break. Something like:

Leno 

AMN - Sokratis - Luiz - Nacho

Pepe - Ceballos - Xhaka? - Nelson

Laca - Auba

Gives us some protection from their overlapping fullbacks while with Luiz, Ceballos and Xhaka we have 3 players who can get the ball forward for Pepe, Laca, Auba and Nelson on the break.

3-1 to the good guys.

Pretty worried we'll see Monreal exposed by Salah and TAA. Think we'll be ok across the rest of the field, just can't let those two rip him apart.

Think it's likely we'll see 3 at the back for this one

Hate Anfield.

Narrow loss. The main question is which of Firmino, Mane and Salah do the damage again.

I think Liverpool haven't looked as assured defensively but they are still a big threat offensively and our defence just isn't that good really. I expect us to concede a number of goals which I think will mean we lose.

Shady wrote:

Narrow loss. The main question is which of Firmino, Mane and Salah do the damage again.

Mane is the one I fear most, but in a 442 I think AMN can hassle him. Out left, Salah will trouble us whichever fullback we deploy. A deep destroyer role for Torreira might be useful. He can track runs from the Pool wide men.

Pretty much a free game.

Shady wrote:

Narrow loss. The main question is which of Firmino, Mane and Salah do the damage again.

firmino torches us pretty much every time we play them

I think it'll be a close game but they'll run out 3-1 winners. Auba for us.

mdgoonah41 wrote:

Shady wrote:

Narrow loss. The main question is which of Firmino, Mane and Salah do the damage again.

firmino torches us pretty much every time we play them

Yeah, those blinding white teeth.

I'm gonna tentatively go for a draw.

Need to see the line-ups. Pretty certain of what our game plan will be but hoping for a surprise or two.

Just hope Emery doesn't revert to 5 at the back. I'd like to see last week's team with Xhaka in for Guendouzi and Pepe in for Nelson.

We need to score first and then pummel them on the break. No playing around from the back , send it long and diagonal. Let Pepe and Auba stay wide when we dont have the ball.

My feeling is that we're gonna try and play defensively against them and get beaten by numbers, but I hope we don't. Our attack is as good as theirs individually, if not yet collectively. We should just go for it.

need to improve our counter attacks. at the very least i don't this being a route like last season

Liverpool and City away are the two games during a season I'm not looking forward to, but a point would be great. Pépé in for Nelson, maybe Chambers back as well.

I'm tipping an honourable away draw in this top of the table clash!

I expect 3-1 loss but if Emery takes a risk and starts Pepe (or even Kola for that matter) anything could happen.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Liverpool and City away are the two games during a season I'm not looking forward to, but a point would be great. Pépé in for Nelson, maybe Chambers back as well.

We drew 7 games and lost 10 last season. Isn’t it early to have specific games we are particularly worried about? This team was able to deflate us any given weekend regardless of type of opponent

Claudius wrote:

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Liverpool and City away are the two games during a season I'm not looking forward to, but a point would be great. Pépé in for Nelson, maybe Chambers back as well.

We drew 7 games and lost 10 last season. Isn’t it early to have specific games we are particularly worried about? This team was able to deflate us any given weekend regardless of type of opponent

It's quite logical, actually. Despite us being able to lose against anyone, the chance of a loss increases as the level of opposition does the same. This is why bookmakers gave higher odds on us to beat Liverpool away than Palace at home last season, instead of the same odds just because we were capable of losing to both teams. Only Liverpool and City away are opponents on such a level that I don't have much faith in Arsenal to do something there.

banduan wrote:

I expect 3-1 loss but if Emery takes a risk and starts Pepe (or even Kola for that matter) anything could happen.

Same for me but voted "win" as i'm abandoning logic and hoping for a Pépé start and a 5-6 away win.
Their defence has looked ropey all pre-season and hasn't looked as solid as last year in their last 3 games.
I think the Champions League victory has made them complacent and feel, if we play Luiz who can beat the press and drop Xhaka who is a liability when pressed, we can outscore them.

Xhaka receiving this ball is 100% giving it straight back to them.

I just want to see a brave approach from Emery.

Leno
AMN Sokratis Luiz Monreal
Torreira Xhaka Ceballos
Pepe Laca Auba

We're at Anfield so the fullbacks aren't getting far. Otherwise, counter with the front 3.

Definitely think its time to introduce someone like Torriera into the lineup. I might go with Willock or Reiss Nelson out wide if we're looking to do something like the above. Just don't know if starting Pepe pans out well if he's unfamiliar with the intensity.

Wilson wrote:

...
We're at Anfield so the fullbacks aren't getting far. Otherwise, counter with the front 3.

I would like him to continue with his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation.
Apart from being susceptible to the press, Xhaka is useless at covering the FB where Liverpool are strongest with the dual threat of Salah and TAA. For this reason Willock is the best option as they are not getting a free run on Monreal with him on their case.

Leno
AMN - Sokratis - Luiz - Monreal
Torreira - Willock
Pepe - Ceballos - Auba
Laca

I’ve long advocated for Aubameyang wide with Lacazette up top as I think it bring the most goals overall, but in this game I reckon there’s a good tactical argument for Auba wide to try and pin back Alexander-Arnold. Same with Pepe on the other side, might be early but I think we need to try and nullify their fullbacks.

I’d go Guendouzi, Willock and Ceballos in midfield. It’s a gamble but I’d rather gamble and be positive. Willock deserves his place after his recent performances, Guendouzi has also shown some good signs, and we need Ceballos in there to try and get his foot on the ball and control the game. We’ve missed the influence of such a player. If that three have a good game we’ll control midfield, and if Pepe and Auba can have an impact on Robertson/Alexander-Arnold then we’re in with a shout.

Wilson wrote:

Leno
AMN Sokratis Luiz Monreal
Torreira Xhaka Ceballos
Pepe Laca Auba

We're at Anfield so the fullbacks aren't getting far. Otherwise, counter with the front 3.

Thats the team I'd go for. Its an awful pity Tierney isn't fit, its games like this I think we need him most.

I hope we sit and counter.

I'd pull Willock and Nelson out of the team to protect them a bit.

I don't want Xhaka in there - he's far too ponderous on the ball to cope with the Liverpool press.

Yeah, no Xhaka whatsoever.

Willock-Torreira-Ceballos

Would rather Guendouzi started instead of Willock - Ceballos can be the most attacking midfielder. Given that we're playing our reserve fullbacks and our offensively minded wingers provide limited support, we'll need all the energy we can get in midfield to cover.

I don't think we should be starting anyone who can't finish the game so I'm not sure Torreira is ready to start here.

I reckon same team as Burnley with Pepe in for Nelson.

Hopefully we get the first goal as would be good to see our players have the opportunity to exploit them on the counter.

Mirth wrote:

I don't want Xhaka in there - he's far too ponderous on the ball to cope with the Liverpool press.

He coped pretty well with it when we drew 1-1 at the Emirates, got MOTM even if I recall correctly. Still would agree that he can't play this one as he's not fit or in form, Guendouzi Torreira Ceballos is the way to go.