Rafa jhust confirmed Fat Boy Slim and Jonjo will be missing the game, be interesting to see who he pairs with Diame in the middle. Saw Mo Sangare training with the first team yesterday. Looks like a lad who can handle himself, hopefully he'll get a run out. Think Keeper and defence pick itself but midfield of Kenedy-Merino-Diame-Ritchie with Perez just infront of them, then Gayle if fit up top.
This, but one more in midfield for me with Gayle up top on his own,can't see us having loads of chances,but a draw could be on
Defo gotta be Merino taking Shelves spot, dropped a little but still a cut above. Whilst Diame's looking more like a footballer than he has his whole career I'm dying to see how those two connect. To be fair it's Pool away so I would accept those 2 at CM, Hayden, (in an ideal world Mbemba) as a DM and either Perez/Gayle upfront. See if Merino can push forward and defend further up, let Diame just run allover the shop and hope Hayden miraculously learns to defend. Anything that pushes Merino forward and liberates him a bit defensively. On-form he can act fast on his vision and I think we'll need it to stand chance of attack against the gegenpressing. Now just need a Striker to make a capable run...
Thank god for no Shelvey. Has to be Merino in as he should be an automatic choice anyway. Still think we will win.
Dubravka Yedlin Lascelles Lejuene Dummett Atsu Merino Diame Mr Anderson Murphy Gayle Not unhappy with that
Not entirely sure about Kenedy as wing back, nor Atsu and Murphy on the opposite flanks to which they usually play and are best on.
Liverpool pass it around well. We will struggle to get the ball off them. Yet again, though, it's not helping that we just kick the ball back to them when we get it.