***Official City v Liverpool Match Thread***

[Dameerto]

What an excellent half - I'm struggling to find anyone playing badly for us (Lescott got tackled too easily a couple of times near the halfway line but that's about it)

[mr_nool]

I don't even feel nervous any more (might also be the Pastis 51 I was sipping on during the first half).
We look totally in control. If we score one more it's definitely game over.

[Whassat]

And can I just say how much classier Roberto looks in his sassy jacket, navy blue pullover and dark tie, compared to Roy with his Primark suit and clown tie.

Indeed.

Apart from that, impressive first half! :)

[Paul68]

I'm well happy with that half. couldn't work out what was wrong as I was watching, and then it dawned on me.. I'm not worrying when they attack. defence looks pretty solid. we do need to get another striker on tho'...

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Good first half, well played lads

[carl_feedthegoat]

Impressive.....we have to up the tempo in the second half ....

[xavi6]

I still have my doubts. Been let down too many times before.

[Chopper]

Love it.

Composed, probing play.

Cracking First Half.

Wonder who will be sniffing the seat where Balotelli missus was sitting.

[avoidconfusion]

Well played indeed. What a stark contrast between Ireland, who was total shit in his debut and completely anonymous, and Milner who is very much at the heart of nearly everything good we did this half.

Still disappointing that we play Tevez alone up front again.

[MBash721]

Just curious to whether there has been an update on Balotelli. I'm assuming the knee still isn't good enough to play, but has there been an official diagnosis?

[TomS]

The Sky commentators are really bigging us up. Haven't heard any negative, bitter shit so far. Instead they constantly talk about our immense squad, how great players we have, how much we will score this season, etc. Liverpool hardly get a mention.

The german commentator is doing it the other way.....
Knowns every Scouser with his second prename, known who is expected to come to Pool and so on.
City? Decent game, but a club who buys without knowledge and a team who are not yet ready to play with each other.....

[Good Times]

I still have my doubts. Been let down too many times before.

Cast your doubts aside (for a bit). You might enjoy it more.

[petrov]

Anybody think that was very like watching Mancini's Inter in full flight. Lots of triangles in possesion and we look brilliant at the back.

YaYa playing as a box to box player as is Barry, only NDJ playing the DM role which is nice considering I was cringing when I saw the tactics. AJ and Milner dominating the half big time, but its all thanks to the way our 3 in midfield and just stomping all over Gerrard and Lucas. Silly tactics on Hodgsons part.

Kolo, Vinnie and Lescott are very solid, Micah having a stormer, hope he keeps this up and puts the past couple of seasons behind him. He looks to have his pace back and it looks like he's being working hard on his positioning, either way its great too see and I hope he keeps it up, this is the Micah I expected the last couple of years.

Tevez sometime looks a lost figure on his own, but he's being doing quite well. keeping possesion and working his socks off. Maybe bring in Ade or Jo who'll sit more up top after 60 or so minutes I'd say.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Quality first half. Now let's finish them early in second half.

[Slim]

I think Tevez looks a bit lonely and a bit incapable at times(high balls to a 5'8" player, good move). Kompany gave the ball away a couple of times, one very stupidly outside our area, then went and chased it down and won it back. Hart needs to read his defenders a bit better and Lescott needs to remember he is a defender and choose his scampers down that line a bit better.

But these are all minor points and we are playing some crisp football, Johnson looks amazing when he gets a chance to run at players, Richards, de Jong, Barry and of course Yaya are all magnificent.

[Dameerto]

It's slowly starting to dawn on Andy Gray that we havent bought Yaya to play him as a DM

[dikdik]

I also cannot shake off this veil of pessimissm. I was at the 2-0 up lose 3-2 loss a couple of seasons back and it really shook my confidence.

Please City prove your pedigree...

[Chopper]

Man of the match will be a tricky one if this continues.

Micah, AJ, YaYa Milner and Barry all handling their business.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Barry having a blinder. His technique in keepig the ball in tight spaces is brill. Some great tackles and a tidy goal.

Milner and aj on form as well. Thought the lineup was a bit negative but the attitude is proving me wrong.

Go on city.

[fees]

This is the best football we have played in a while, fighting for the ball, keeping possession, picking up loose ball quickly and we are showing a lot of composure. Loving Milner on his debut. Liverpool are chasing ghosts out there. Someone say it was going to take forever for our Rolex gang to gel?