That would be very inexperienced. Would have many players over Cole too. If so, we are set up for the draw. Good news on Johnson though.
Rodgers: Spirit will see us right http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-spirit-will-see-us-right Brendan Rodgers believes the spirit and camaraderie among travelling Liverpool's squad will stand them in good stead against Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday night – despite the absence of several senior first-team stars. The boss named a youthful-looking 19-man group for the trip to Moscow from John Lennon Airport on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the Europa League Group A encounter. The likes of Dani Pacheco, Danny Wilson, Conor Coady, Samed Yesil, Jon Flanagan, Stephen Sama and Adam Morgan boarded the plane, while Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Raheem Sterling remained at Melwood. However, Rodgers was eager to stress his belief that he'd named a squad capable of taking all three points in Russia as he shuffled his pack in the midst of a busy run of fixtures that will continue against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The manager told reporters in Moscow: "I have the utmost respect for Anzhi, but because our squad is very thin in numbers and we have a lot of games and young players, I've had to look at the games and which I can change the squad around [in]. "But if you look at the games in this competition, we've played three and won two games and have changed the squad around. "In the first half against Udinese - the game we lost - we played very well. "There is certainly no lack of respect. We have a good squad here that we feel can get a result and then we can prepare them for this weekend's massive league game - but our focus is on tomorrow night." He added: "We're very much one team and one spirit. We have left a number of players behind, but that won't disrupt our spirit. We have great character within our group and hopefully that's something we'll see again tomorrow night." With top-scorer Suarez remaining behind on Merseyside, local journalists questioned Rodgers on where he felt his side's goal threat would emanate from on Thursday night. "I look at the team - there is no one individual player that has the responsibility to score goals," he replied. "For us, it is very much about the team and there is a responsibility with every player both to attack and defend. We've got enough talent in the group that travelled here. We've got some outstanding players, some young players and some players with great experience." Stewart Downing - who is with the squad in Russia - netted the only goal when the two teams went head-to-head at Anfield a fortnight ago. Liverpool were fully deserving of the win that took them to the summit of Group A that evening, but Rodgers is fully aware of the threat a side that can boast players such as Samuel Eto'o and Lacina Traore will pose on home turf. He explained: "When we have analysed Anzhi over the period of games we've watched, they've got a number of outstanding individual players and a lot of their threat comes through central areas. "Tactically, it'll be about controlling the spaces to try and deny them the space of their talented players, but also when we have the ball we will look to control and dominate the possession. It'll obviously be difficult when you're away from home, but our idea is always the same - to control and dominate games with the ball. "I respect how difficult this game is going to be, but we always play to win. Every game we play, we go out with the mentality to win the game - but, of course, you can't always win. So if you can't win, you don't want to lose it. If that gets us a point, then great and we'll move onto the next game - but our intent is to go and enjoy, play with freedom, quality and fight for the result. " Meanwhile, reporters quizzed Rodgers on whether Liverpool had began to prepare to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window. He replied: "The plan is to reinforce the group. "The concentration now is purely on the group of players we have, but we have to plan ahead and our colleagues back at the club and recruitment team are scouring the world in relation to trying to get players who can come in and improve our squad. "January is always a difficult window, however we want to improve the group and we know there are certain areas we have to improve the squad."
Cheers Jaffa! Well done, mate. I agree with most of the comments so far. I'm also worried we haven't got the experience to win this one, what with having one eye on the Chelski game on Sunday. I'd take a draw to be honest. Anyone know what the stadium / pitch is like? Despite their billionaire owner, I've never heard that they have a big stadium / decent pitch. Bad Russian weather coupled with a poor pitch/surface (if that's the case!) certainly won't help our cause. As ever, I'll be hoping that the less played and/or younger players can rise to the occasion and give Anzhi a bit of a shock. Good interviews with BR and JH, posted by Luv. I'm liking what BR is saying:that we're fielding a weakened team, but he still sounds confident in the players and is not putting pressure on the younger players by singling them out but he's referring to the whole team/squad. He could easily have pointed out that Jonjo has three goals so far in this competition when asked where the goals were going to come from, but refused to add pressure to the youngster by mentioning that. JH sounds like he's working hard and hopefully he can play and put in a good performance to boost his confidence. He deserves a run-out and I hope he forces his way into the first team a bit more. Here's to a good game, lads.
I'm not keen on this editing and updating lark. Once I've read it (), I've read it...there's no going back!
If you read all the preview about Anzhi, you will have seen that we are not allowed to play in Anzhi. Instead we are at the rather larger Lokomotiv Moscow stadium.
that weren't there last night! shame, because their stadium is ****e, I'd have liked to have seen you get thumped there
I dont mind Downing starting at LB...But would be extremely worried if Cole and Downing start in attacking positions. I wouldnt have Cole in there at all..... Play the guys that will improve from this. Looking forward to seeing my mate Dani get a game this evening. Has been plaing really well and I hope he can make the most of this opportunity. Anzhi at home will be looking to run the play.....So quick players such as Assaidi could really benefit from the clever passing of Suso and Pacheco.. I would play: GK: Jones RB: Wisdom (presuming Enriqua and Johnson as FB vs Chelsea) LB: Downing/Robinson CB: Coates CB: Carragher (Sama/Wilson on after 60 minutes) CM:Henderson CM: Suso CM: Shelvey RF: Pacheco LF: Assaidi CF: Yesil, (Morgan after 60) To be honest i would have taken Ngoo ahead of Yesil and Morgan with this lineup. You have Shelvey, Pacheco, Suso, Assaidi who can all move off of a cf who can stay central and hold the ball well especially on the counter. (Im expecting our biggest threat to be on the counter.) Still, I like the looks of what we could put out tonight, but im slightly worried that Downing may play in an advanced position ahead of Pacheco/Assaidi and extremely worried that Cole might play.
Looks like its dropping to -2C tonight in Moscow,it will keep the lads moving. Happy with a point out of this one.
Red - I hope we play with your team. And I share the same concerns that both Downing and Cole will be used in advanced positions at the expense of the youngsters and Assaidi. The Echo are reporting that Coady will be starting or at least play some part of the match.
Echo reports that it looks like Downing and Flannagan will be used as the attacking full backs and Coady is likely to start. Yesil picked up a slight injury and is unlikely to feature.
Think I might have to get off work early. Typical that I have spent the last few days doing **** all waiting for the conditions to be right and today the weather clears up.
In no relation to the post by Gerrez, mods can I be given mod power when creating a match day thread?
So something like this? ------------------------JONES -------------CARRA-COATES-WISDOM FLANO----------HENDERSON---------DOWNING --------------COADY---------SHELVEY--------------- -----------------------COLE ---------------------MORGAN
