KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum 5th Required for Europa

Sure, but say that this particular player faces an opponent who hasn't been playing another game that particular week. Then you might see a difference between the pair - if not at the beginning of the game, then maybe at the latter parts of it.

People do get tired during a football match.

It's not a straight forward as Player A being tired hence Player B being used in any particular game.

Managers chose to pick and rotate squads to ensure that the bench warmers are ready to go and come in if injury's happen. All the training in the world does not make up for real match day fitness.

Sometimes players can be going through dips in form and require micro managing and being used little and often to entice the player to step up their game.

Sometimes players can be carrying injury's or slight niggles which could be aggravated by being used week in week out. Look at Agger he is a prime example of this. He is rarely used in the Europa games and this Season has been relatively injury free. Sometimes sacrifices of an individuals needs override the teams wants.. Better for Agger to be used in 30+ League games and have consistency then risk having him out for 4-5 months and missing chunks of each season.

It's usually less about the game and more about the travel compunded with the game. Flying from Liverpool to Russia takes a lot out of a player, and they usually begin the game jet-lagged and tired before they've even kicked a football. It usually takes about 2 or three days to aclimate to a new time zone (there usually only over for 2), and flying alone can be physically draining. Then they play football, fly back, and they have to fly back and re-adjust with another game in 3 days. It is physically demmanding.

That all said, we did better this year with EL footy than we did without it last year. Saying good ridance, let's not bother is a loser attitude, IMO. 5th is certainly attainable, and 4th is an outside possiblilty. Coming off a 5th place finish with EL footy next year would be something to build on. With a few more squad additions we might even have an outside shot at winning the thing next season. I personally love European night. The last leg of the Zennit game was a heart-breaker, but what a game! It felt like I was really supporting the Liverpool I remembered again.