I think we need to make sure we win the battle in midfield and I think we should go with just Suarez up front with Bellamy and downing causing issues on the wing. That leaves a midfield of Lucas Adam and Gerrard which would definitely boss the likes of carrick and Anderson.
I like this formation....I also like the fact that if we need to, we can bring the big lump Carroll from the bench to cause havoc and that we have the likes of Kuyt and Hendo itching to get on.
It's just nice having options tbh....I'd go with Bellamy if we have the 3 CM's mentioned above.....but wouldn't sweat if it was Kuyt.
I think rather than debate wishes we should debate what will kenny do. or in other words not "what i'd do if i were kenny" but what will kenny do and why?" I think kenny hasn't picked bellamy at all as a starter for a reason. I've not really divined that reason other than to think that he has downing down as no 1 and sees bellamy covering him. kenny started preseason and this season with a 4-2-3-1 formation with henderson but to be honest as carroll has come into it we're seeing a 4-4-2 now. with squarez being free in that formation. we've not yet really seen kenny play 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1 with carroll on his own but we do know he can from newcastle days. Adam is clealry a kenny first team pick also so for me he's sure to start Gerrard is not fit and another week or two doens't transformer 20min into 90mins. He may well come on in the seocnd half. I think kenny would like to start him but i don't see him over ruling caution in this case. Johnson is an unknown at this point as kelly returned for u21 duty with a tight groin and to be honest I don't see anyone sorting this one out until saturday morning. jonhons hasn't played hardly at all for ages so he's a big issues. Last time out kenny tried to give him 10mins only and his hamstring went after 2 mins. Agger is a total unknown as well but should not have to pick too much up to be fit, its whether he can play or not. .......................................... but lets just analyse the things kenny will want to target in the utd team. 1. , gibson and cleverely are out of the midfield... reportedly... so anderson will be a key man for them. Fletcher was back last week v norwich so that will be interesting. 2. young came of for england and iced his knee, so again interesting. he didn't even play v norwich (ferguosn hasn't taught him how to protect himself form england yet) 3. rooney's got things on his mind and his sending off v montenegro shows he could be got at.... 4. vidic is out and smalling had an injury too so Evans will play., ferdinand could be back. 5. de gea has to play this one. so utd may be short a few too..... .................................................................... I think kenny will want to have a go at the evans/evra channel I think he'll see how much anderson is giving utd in mdifield and will indeed want to counter that too. I think kenny will want nani to play right side where enrique will be fast enough to cover him but the right back channell could be weak for us. I expect a 4-2-3-1 to be honest Reina kelly/johnson Carra skertl enrique Lucas adam Henderson Squarez downing Carroll shock selection of henderson to run up and down with evra. kuyt, gerrard and bellamy on the bench to come on.
Heres my opinion. Contrary to what UIR thinks and he's managed to derail numerous threads with his anti Liverpool nonsense and he's not been banned as of yet from the Liverpool forum, something I've been threatened with. Its so obvious even Stevie Wonder can see it, that its UIR is the one that is derailing threads. UIR claims that Liverpool will raise their game especially for the visit of Manchester United, thats a load of nonsense. Liverpool will alter their tactics, good managers alter their tactics depending on the opposition. Barcelona didn't play the way they normally play against Man United in the CL final. They couldn't there was a reason for that. They played with one recognised centre back and Javier Mascherano a midfielder in central defence. They had no choice but to pack the midfield, ,Liverpool will do likewise, because Kenny knows only too well the middle of the park is where Man United are weak. Kenny has two options. He can go with five across the middle with quick movement with Suarez up top on his own, or he can pack the midfield and use Suarez as the extra midfielder and put Carroll up front on his own. Here's the options. Carroll. Downing Suarez Kuyt. Gerrard Lucas. Or Suarez Downing Gerrard Kuyt Adam Lucas.
What will Kenny do? I think it will be similar to yours MITO but with Kuyt for Henderson. -----------Reina----------- kelly--Carra--skertl--enrique ------Lucas--adam--------- Kuyt-----Suarez----Downing ----------Carroll------------ I think Kenny will call for Kuyt again as he did vs Everton in these type of games, experience is the key when football is played at 100mph. If Gerrard does start then I can see that being in place of Adam. Bellamy, Hendo, Gerrard/Adam on the bench.
Brilliant comment. Experience being the keyword. I can see Gerrard starting in place of Adam. I reckon Kenny has two other options, pack the midfield, get Lucas to boss it and go for quick movement, with Suarez starting up top but dropping off and letting the runners either side of him to attack and he pulls the strings. Or Suarez acting as the spare midfielder with the full-backs and Suarez dropping bombs in the penalty area for Carroll to attack.
This gets my vote especially since Kuyt was in the right place at the right time last season vs the mancs...!Id possibly consider even playing with Suarez/Bellamy but im sure Carroll will definately be hassling the United backline enough in order to give suarez time on the ball.
Gerrard shouldnt start imo, come off the bench to make an impact.Surely his fitness is still building up?
UIR will be correct aswell. I took a look at the game last season. Interesting to see you results in the games surrounding you visit to Stamford Bridge and the game v United at Anfield last season. 1 win 2 defeats and a draw against Sunderland, Wigan, West Ham and West Brom. Not the sort of form expected from a team like Liverpool who have beaten the top 2. As for the OP. Gerrard and Carroll would be brilliant. Carroll for the most part is useless and Gerrard wont be 100% on form just yet. Bellamy is a dangerous player and Adams was a pain last season in the first half. Bring him on in the second by all means though. Can I ask, as I read on RAWK when looking for some team info for Liverpool that Suarez is a doubt. Any truth in this? He played 90 minutes for Uruguay so cant be can he?
Carroll is useless? There is a difference between a player adapting to a different style of play and getting used to not being the ''main man'' and being ''useless''. You lot should know the difference as you lot have a number of ''useless'' players ie Carrick,Anderson, Gibson, Evans, Berbatov, Fabio. Only an idiot would think Man United have a massive chance of a victory on saturday. They have a chance albeit it a small one. Realistically the most they can hope for is a draw and that is due to them having a piss-poor central midfield, that Liverpool will easily dominate and tear to shreds. Lucas has been bullying Carrick and Anderson for years. He's become an expert.# If they allow Liverpool to boss the middle of the park, they are onto recieve a similar beating to the one they got in March, and that bordered on cruelty. It was downright ruthless.
Good comment, a lot of fans would want him out but I agree with you and would want all the best players available.
Spoils games if the best players are unavailable. I mean imagine no rooney, no nani, no suarez, no reina etc.
