Unchanged from last week isn't it? Guess Pochettino was happy enough with performance against West Ham then. Will be interesting to see if they play the same way too.
Johnson is injured. If the boot was on the other foot, I'd have no problems with us adjusting our XI to fit in with an opponents. If it doesn't work for them, they can always change it. But at the moment, I'm looking an opponent who like to keep the ball and are playing four CBs, and am consequently struggling to see us score. It's not like Liverpool will be keeping 10 or 11 men behind the ball, a la Sunderland and West Ham. They'll still attack us. They're just, in my view, ensuring that they keep it tight defensively and keep us out. Wisdom might offer them something slightly more offensively than Toure, but Toure is comfortably the better defender in my view.
Its because: 1) Johnson is injured. 2)Wisdom and Enrique have been poor so far, especially against Swans last game, they have both been weak links that have been the course of attacking plays breaking down as we move up the field nd they have been weak defensively as well, allowing teams to really get at us down the wings. No surprise to Reds that, after the Swansea game, BR has gone with this setup. It is though, despite our issues last game, a very bold move and a huge gamble by the Manager. All the best for today lads. Hope its a really fun game to watch and the best team prevails.
We don't play with any wingers so it makes some sense for them not to bother with any fullbacks. Would like gaston starting but can see the logic of trying to get current 11 to gel. Have a feeling we could get something IF some of our players start living up to their ability
Agger and Sahko are both very comfortable as LB's. Toure due to injuries is our best option as RB. All four of them are big lads, so I expect us to be very strong from set pieces, both defensively and offensively. Should be a good game with 2 teams that like to play. All the best
They're playing without full backs, people, come on! At least we very well know what's it like to play without a proper full back and how we struggle in the attack when Shaw and Clyne aren't playing. Liverpool will experience the same problems in this game. Moses, per example, won't have the support from his full back so he will be isolated in the attack, and we will have the option to mark him with two player and therefore eliminate any treath he might pose. And not to mention they're playing without Coutinho, who is their most influental and creative player!