Don't worry Fran, I predicted we'd beat Sunderland 2-0 and have also predicted we will beat Stoke 2-0.
Mane in for Long and Wanyama in for Cork. Play Cork, Long, Gardos and Target in the Cup game. We never beat Stoke, so 1-1.
Can't see us keeping a clean sheet, my thinking is we've kept far to many clean sheets already what with selling 2 of our "best" defenders in the summer. So my prediction is 8-1.
Mane worries me, very much the same way Wanyama used to (he doesnt now, he's learnt and I'm entirely happy when he plays). My concern is Mane giving the ball away when we are committed to attack, but hopefully it'll always happen too far forward to be an issue. That being said I want us to stick with Long. His goals will come, he puts so much effort in for the team, and hopefully the ref will notice next time he's punched in the head At least 2 clear penalties should have been won through Long's endevours, both missed by the officials.
Not just by implication, he outright admitted that: "“It is not so easy to lead all the time. I was used to other players leading before" in this interview after he joined Liverpool: http://www.thenational.ae/sport/cha...art-says-with-time-and-the-games-it-will-come - in other words, Fonte was the leader down here at Saints, even if Lovren was technically better on the ball. Now he's got no leadership, he's gone to pieces. Ironically, Rogers apparently bought him partly for his leadership ability: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...ndan-rodgers-dejan-lovrens-leadership-7517134 - He obviously bought the wrong CB if that's what he thought they needed.
Agreed. But whilst he's learning during training and sub appearances, I'd like us to play Long instead
This will probably be a physical game and as such I would start Cork over Wanyama. This isn't me being blinkered on Cork. My logic is that we shouldn't take them on in a physical battle but play round them. When we play the likes of Chelsea and Man City I'd play Wanyama. I'd also start Long. I think he deserves it, he was decent against Sunderland. If nothing else he will wear down the defence ready for Mane to clean up. So basically, same as Sunderland.
