I'd be tempted to play all the kids, get totally trounced and then go on every Saints forum and social media outlet to watch the meltdown. I t would be more entertaining than a 2-1 or 2-0 loss.
If we go full strength I think we have a great shot at winning due to their injuries and the cup final. It's just whether we risk that to probably just get knocked out when we play man city or someone in the next round!
A good performance tonight would be a massive shot in the arm for the squad after the recent disappointing results whereas a spanking and a poor game for us could set us back even more for future matches.
Can't even put my negative bet on as Liverpool are 2/1 on. Tempted to lump £100 on to get an easy £50.
Not sure why everyone is so negative. We have a real chance if we take it seriously, with all their injuries.
If they play anything like the team they did on Sunday they should win comfortably. Even if they play half that side and half kids with some strength on the bench they should win comfortably. Their fans be up for it celebrating the cup win and Kuadruple. Not really sure how anyone can see it any other way. Obviously I hope you are right and we have a good chance but really wouldn’t surprise me to see a big defeat. Maybe if we go a couple down early both teams will just cruise through to save legs with their busy schedules
Well they won't as Endo and Gravenberch won't be there. It's unlikely they'll have Gakpo. If Nunez plays, I think we're in trouble, but other than their defence I can't see how they can do anything but put out a team of kids. Now these kids might be talented (and I suspect that Bradley, if he plays on the right will cause trouble to our left side. Equally, the other issue being if Diaz plays, he could be an issue), but ultimately they don't have a lot of first team experience, and we should be able to get at them if we play a proper team. Liverpool are favourites, of course, but I wouldn't say they're far and away favourites, as they would be if they weren't in the midst of an injury crisis.
I know that football doesn't work like this, but we're better than Blackburn, and Newcastle are better than the Liverpool kids team. Blackburn took Newcastle all the way last night, and were unlucky not to beat them...so...
Like LTL said, Gravenberch is out, Endo likely out. Diaz, VVD and Elliott played 120 mins. For me, it depends on how Klopp is willing to gamble on the fitness of the likes of Nunez and Salah. I guess we'll find out at 7pm when the team news comes in. But if Klopp doesn't risk his star players, which I think is probable, we have a great chance of winning compared to when we've been to Anfield in the past.
We seriously struggle against a good press and they're one of the best at it. Despite all their injuries they've still far much more quality than us and won a cup final at the weekend so in one match those kids have equalled our entire clubs success throughout our history. I don't think they'll be that tired personally. It's not like those kids have played **** loads of games this season and they'll be ok cloud nine and hungry for another shot at Wembley. There's always a chance cos football but I'd put ours at less than 5%. Don't think Martin's comments about this game would have helped either. If the manager is saying publicly it's a game we don't need etc then it's hardly gonna act as a huge inspiration.
I wouldn’t mind seeing us put someone on the back post for corners as VVD has been looking very dangerous lately, especially when getting across the front of the defence. Plus we aren’t great at defending set pieces. I get the impression that Bree might start in this one.
Bookies have slashed the odds on us winning from 9/1 to 19/4 over the last few days so they clearly disagree. For me, it's probably 25-30% chance for us.
