Ah okay. If it's as close as a late fitness test, then Cork should play. Would have been the sort of game for Vic to shine though. Shame.
Looking forward to a great game and three points. We're only two wins behind United, let's make it one. Onwards and upwards!
The stats certainly point towards the possibility of at least a draw. I just read on the BBC website that it's 11 years since Liverpool have won at Southampton! I hadn't realised it was as long as that. The other stats that I am conveniently ignoring are that Saints have lost a league-high 15 points from winning positions this season and that we have only won one of our 12 matches against opposition in the top half of the table this season (Liverpool). COYS!
From a Liverpool perspective I'm not confident at all with this one, you're a good passing and pressing side - the sort we struggle most against. If Henderson over commits you'll easily bypass our midfield and be left with free runs at our defence.. Hoping Rodgers throws Allen in for Coutinho, sacrificing a bit of creativity for an extra body in midfield. Which leaves Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge upfront which is plenty of attacking intent in itself. Not sure if Sahko will be fit to start so we'll more than likely have Flanagan, Skrtel, Agger and Johnson at the back.. The former being a major weak spot in defense, especially at LB which isn't even his strongest position, so it's more than likely if we are to grab a win we'll need more than 1 goal. One thing that does give me hope is that we've beaten most of our bogey teams this season, I'm hoping today will continue that trend. Today aside, good luck for the rest of the season
I don't really understand this point. Before the Stoke and West Ham games people were saying that they were the sort of games that Wanyama would do well in (i.e. battling sides). Now, it seems that he will do well against the more technical sides. Admittedly, he did play well at Anfield but last season Cork and Schneiderlin totally dominated the midfield (of course Gerrard was selected for England soon after). I also remember Johnson having a mare and Clyne being superb, guess who was selected?
I have absolutely no complaints with Chambers this season, but I do think that the battle for our right back birth has cost Clyne an England call up this week, but if you play for England you should at least be able to get into our team. Keeping Clyne could be a problem in the summer if a half decent side shows an interest.
Just saw this on twitter, made me laugh 'Hes here every week Hes here every weeeeek Roy hogdson Hes here every week'
The general point makes perfect sense to me. Wanyama's biggest assets are his strength and his ability to break up the opposition's attacking play. Of course Cork does this quite well too but he's more of a terrier - continually hassling opponents until they hopefully make a mistake - while Wanyama is a wrecking ball who ruins attacking moves and wins the ball back quicker. Cork is better on the ball for me. Against physical sides like Stoke and West Ham playing Wanyama should help prevent us getting bullied in midfield (something that I think happened a couple of times last season when Cork and Schneiderlin played together) and against the top sides he should help us defensively. Against poorer, less physically imposing sides (Fulham would be the best example for me) we shouldn't need the "wrecking ball" in defence (because we should be dominating the game) and shouldn't be out-muscled, meaning Cork's superior ability with the ball comes into play more.
Agree. Chambers has been good, but he's only young and not played a huge amount of games. He should be introduced gradually so he isn't overused and picks up niggles every now and then, like Shaw.
Unstoked for this one. We'll probably lose and I'm sleepy. I'm gonna spend the whole game grumbling about foreigners to try to fit in.
