The Liverpool Thread

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mersk said:
Any predictions for Saturday's match?

I'm assuming we'll start with the same back 4, which to some degree makes sense. Gomez is a better defender than Moreno, and it's Old Trafford. Personally I don't rate Lovren at all, but throwing Sakho into the team away against United might not be the best timing. But I probably would anyway, if I had the choice. Skrtel and Clyne are obvious choices.

Henderson and Lallana will miss the game, according to the latest reports. Henderson will be a huge miss for us, Lallana not so much judging from how he's started the season. I'm assuming Lucas will be in the starting eleven, along with Milner and probably Can.

Coutinho will definitely not be in the squad, another huge blow. Firmino and Benteke will occupy 2 of the 3 last spots, which means our starting eleven will be identical to the team that got humiliated by the Hammers, with the exception of Coutinho. That last spot in attack will likely be given to Ibe, though there's a chance Rodgers could surprise me and pair up Ings with Benteke, with Firmino behind them - although that could make us vulnerable out wide.

So how are we supposed to turn a 0-3 home loss into an away win at Old Trafford with almost the same team, only weakened by the absence of Coutinho? Hopefully Rodgers has an answer to that question, because I honestly have absolutely no idea. The only thing speaking in our favour is that United has been about as non-threatening in front of goal as we have. We could very well see the first draw on Old Trafford in 15 seasons.

In any case, I just can't see us winning this game, however negative that sounds. The only positive thing about our start was 3 clean sheets in a row and the impression of a solid defence - an impression which was quickly erased by Lovren, and the rest of the defence, refreshing our memories from last season in the previous game. And that leaves us (well, me at least) with the impression of a vulnerable defence and an ineffectual attack which lacks creativity. At this point I'd definitely welcome a draw.
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I wouldn't mind this:

Migs
Clyne - Skrtel - Sakho - Gomez
Lucas
Milner - Can
Firmino
Ings - Benteke

But everyone know's that line-up wont be the one against United
 
LFCMarshall said:
I wouldn't mind this:

Migs
Clyne - Skrtel - Sakho - Gomez
Lucas
Milner - Can
Firmino
Ings - Benteke

But everyone know's that line-up wont be the one against United
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This was along the lines of what i was thinking too. a diamond to help give support to benteke as without coutinho he will be isolated.
 
dilakh2 said:
This was along the lines of what i was thinking too. a diamond to help give support to benteke as without coutinho he will be isolated.
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Yep.

Milner and Can have the work-rate to both attack and help cover the full backs when needed and Ings potentially gives more space to Benteke and Firmino with his movement
 
LFCMarshall said:
Yep.

Milner and Can have the work-rate to both attack and help cover the full backs when needed and Ings potentially gives more space to Benteke and Firmino with his movement
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A diamond will also mean milner when were in possession can act as a wide man on the right of the diamond and put in excellent crosses for benteke. When we dont have the ball he can than tuck into the middle and give us more bodies in central midfield. He certainly has the workrate to do so.
 
dilakh2 said:
A diamond will also mean milner when were in possession can act as a wide man on the right of the diamond and put in excellent crosses for benteke. When we dont have the ball he can than tuck into the middle and give us more bodies in central midfield. He certainly has the workrate to do so.
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I'd say the same except maybe Milner on the left, as whilst he's right footed he can still provide more width out there than Gomez, who is probably better sticking to his defensive duties, and we have Clyne on the right.

I know it won't happen, and would surely attract criticism if it failed (and there's a high probability it would), but I'd be tempted to start Sakho and Gomez in central defence and Moreno on the left in a diamond, as he offers actual width. Baptism of fire, sure, but it's not like we can have plenty of faith in the "tried and tested" defence.
 
PatrickLFC said:
I'd say the same except maybe Milner on the left, as whilst he's right footed he can still provide more width out there than Gomez, who is probably better sticking to his defensive duties, and we have Clyne on the right.

I know it won't happen, and would surely attract criticism if it failed (and there's a high probability it would), but I'd be tempted to start Sakho and Gomez in central defence and Moreno on the left in a diamond, as he offers actual width. Baptism of fire, sure, but it's not like we can have plenty of faith in the "tried and tested" defence.
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Why would it attract criticism its certainly a valid point. Skrtel and lovren clearly dont work as a partnership but its seems they are both undroppable especially skrtel. I would seriously applaud brendan if he gave gomez a chance to show what he can do in his natural position against united but it wont happen. I wouldnt play moreno against mata we saw what happened last time, unless you mean play moreno in front of gomez as a defensive winger which suits him then sure.
 
The only slight reservation I'd have with throwing Sakho back in is his complete lack of match fitness. I'd more be looking at the next bunch of games after Utd and hoping Lovren learnt from West 'Am that he can't play football and just goes back to defending like he did so well the first 3 games of the year.

As for a prediction, this is one game you can't predict by its mere nature. And even less so there given our complete lack of luck at OT. Which was in evidence again last year. Any other game, we win that 6/7- 3 with all the chances. Instead, Sterling was beyond profligate, Ballo had no luck at all, De Gea was in beast mode and they took the few chances they had.

The amount of times we've gone there in the PL era, had most the play and chances, yet still contrived to lose beggars belief.

Hopefully our luck changes this time out.

Oliver has pulled the reffing gig sadly so wouldn't be surprised to see someone walk for something and nottin' and/ or a very bad game changing decision happen at some point.
 
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Excellent (even in a truncated 37 mins as its a subscription channel) pre-match discussion between 3 Scouser's from 'The Redmen TV' and a United lad from one of their fan channels, covering everything and anything about the game and the current state of both clubs.

NSFW.

[video=youtube;iI_dX88Os0A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI_dX88Os0A[/video]
 
[video=youtube;FL2Xk8EraLE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=FL2Xk8EraLE[/video]
 
No Suarez, Gerrard or Carragher. Henderson out injured. Who do we currently have in our team that are truly aware of the magnitude of this game, and will go out there with their war face on? Anyone except Skrtel? Hopefully Lucas.
 
mersk said:
No Suarez, Gerrard or Carragher. Henderson out injured. Who do we currently have in our team that are truly aware of the magnitude of this game, and will go out there with their war face on? Anyone except Skrtel? Hopefully Lucas.
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I hear yer, but IF ANY of them AREN'T aware of just what L'pool/ Utd means, then they don't belong at the club.

Rodgers shouldn't need to give a team talk Sat'day. If yers aren't up for this, then you don't deserve to be a pro.
 
All the above are correct and true but **** it,we are Liverpool we can be last in the relegation zone and still beat utd.
 
sunilvk7 said:
Not sure if you are mistaken but that fight was not when Shelvey was shown red.
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I was referring to the full blooded 50/50 Rodgers first Utd game in 2012 where Evans goes in worse if anything to everyone bar Mark Halsey that's somewhere near the end of that montage. (Can't find a stand alone full run of it.). At worst both players should of walked.

Even Gary Neville said afterward L'pool were robbed 3 points by the referee.
 
Scouseinthehouse said:
I was referring to the full blooded 50/50 Rodgers first Utd game in 2012 where Evans goes in worse if anything to everyone bar Mark Halsey that's somewhere near the end of that montage. (Can't find a stand alone full run of it.). At worst both players should of walked.

Even Gary Neville said afterward L'pool were robbed 3 points by the referee.
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Yeah that was incorrect decision. Either both should be red or none.

IIRC Carra should have seen red before that season when he didn't. It's hard to be in charge in these heated games as one mistake by ref and he sets up dangerous precedent.
 
mersk said:
No Suarez, Gerrard or Carragher. Henderson out injured. Who do we currently have in our team that are truly aware of the magnitude of this game, and will go out there with their war face on? Anyone except Skrtel? Hopefully Lucas.
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And who do United have exactly? Rooney? We're not San Marino.

It's sad to think we'll probably never see the sort of United/Liverpool matches that we did 5-10 years ago. Football is changing and it's a great shame.
 
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Aannddyy said:
And who do United have exactly? Rooney? We're not San Marino.
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Schneiderlin, Carrick, Rooney, Fellaini, Smalling...

I'm not sure where you got the impression I claimed we're San Marino, I'll attribute that to your vivid imagination. My point was simply that we have a lot of players who might not be aware of the task they're up against. Players like Clyne, Gomez, Milner, Firmino and Benteke will be experiencing it for the first time, and I wouldn't count on Lovren or Ibe to pep-talk much in the dressing room beforehand. In other words we lack experience, which in ties like these is underrated.
 
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