Line up. Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Lovren, Can, Skrtel, Henderson, Allen, Moreno, Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling. Substitutes: Ward, Toure, Lambert, Sturridge, Borini, Balotelli, Williams.
1. Agreed, this formation suits Skertl down to a T 2. Can is infinitely better than Johnson 3. Allen is rubbish, runs more than Gerrard though but last season you had movement and speed of Sterling/Suarez and Sturridge so suited Hollywood Stevie 4. Agreed 5. Not sure Sterling is better this year. Theoretically he should be but he still can't strike a ball and his impact has been less as he's been the man to mark/can't hold it up for **** in the cf role 6. Flanagan is a solid defender. Better than Moreno at the back, very steady not flashy and adds that energy and aggression (basically the LB version of Henderson). This 3-4-3 formation suits Moreno though, less defending more attacking
Defensive team which is probably the correct call, with the players they have out today they'll easily dominate possession, we might get some joy on the counter. Not surprised to see Sturridge out and Balotelli in a counter attacking team is pointless. Think it'll be a tight one, I hope we can edge it.
Works far better that your useless lump When we lose, and we will I think due to not being as good as them and missing sahko You'd better get your shot in quick cos the best your lot can do is a boring draw. A heavy defeat and you'll have to join uir on the missing list
The 'useless lump' who's scored 15 goals this season you mean? More than anyone in your squad and more than all of your strikers added together - OK mate x You're on a par with astro of late
Sterling is better overall I would not confuse the latter part of the season with sad with his full year last year I would agree than just about anyone would look a better defender than moreno in a back 4. You are right 343 suits him and that's why ibe said the formation last year got the most out of what we had then and the formation this year gets the most out of what we have this year Allen is bang average so lucas henderson is our only real cm option but Allen has got a bit fitter recently so is filling in Today Allen v yaya will be one reason we lose
Bar sturridge, their tactic works better with Sterling at CF, he pushes defensive lines back even if he can't hold it up for ****. Let's just hope he's put in a diva performance like in Besiktas. As for Lukaku, he's been a major disappointment for EFC, whether that's because he's not been as motivated or Martinez playing side to side football, i'm not sure as i haven't watched them enough. For someone so big he's very disappointing in terms of holding it up and bashing defenders out the way. His finishing this year has been pony too.
Eurgh, not impressed with the team. No striker yet again... can see a repeat of the United game where we create a fw chances but have no one to finish them and end up conceding and not being able to get back into the game
Yup, exactly how I see it going. Can't believe (Well it's Brendan, so I guess I can) that Balotelli doesn't earn a start. By far our best player 1st half in midweek, granted just as crap as the rest after that but still.
Wouldn't play him up front on his own though that's the thing. He'll need to play up top with a partner to link up with. I'm surprised that midweek we played 2 strikers when didn't need to, kept Sturridge on for a while and ended up tiring him out for todays game meaning he has to start on the bench. Would have been better to play Balotelli & Borini (or just 1 forward) against Besiktas and keep Sturridge fresh for this game to be honest.
Funny how Brendan was being criticised for playing Balo up front on his own earlier in the season and now he's being criticized for not playing up front on his own
Wouldn't be too confident with our strongest team, but with Allen and Lallana playing we have no hope. Yaya must be licking his lips in midfield
I'm criticising him for playing Sturridge midweek (in a game we didn't need to play him in) and therefor making him tired and unavailable to start today... meaning we start with no bloody striker. In Europe, Balotelli on his own isn't as bad as we didn't need to press Besiktas from the off, he could be the target man to relieve pressure by holding the ball and winning free kicks.
I think pace is the right way to go today, with that midfield and our formation it's inevitable that they'll dominate the game, totally agree with the Sturridge point because he'd fit right in today. Balo however, he's still just not good enough.
Slightly concerned about set pieces. Mignolet is going to need to be on his game today to deal with the threat they have. Some big players in there compared to us.
