KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum The Opposition #01 : Stoke City vs Liverpool

We should, and I hope, will go there with the attention to attack, attack, control and attack. It is what we were best at when we went for the league, and what let the team down last season in creating and scoring goals.

I'd predict...

Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Skrtel, Gomez, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Ibe and Benteke.

I'd expect Origi and Ings to both come on, whether we're looking for goals or settled with the result 65-75 minutes in.

I'd expect to see the final sub to be dependent on injuries - i.e. hopefully not need to use it.

Subs: Bogdan, Sakho, Moreno, Toure, Lucas, Allen, Ings and Origi.

Can and Firmino may have to wait as their fitness levels might not be up to scratch just yet.

Isn't Allen injured?

I doubt both Ings and Origi would come on, unless we were behind and looking for a goal. If we're winning, i'd expect Benteke off around 70th minute and Ings on, with either Lalanna or Ibe off for a more defensive player or to give some minutes to Firmino for his fitness

I want Rodgers out but I would never go into the new season wanting us to start losing matches - what would be the point in even watching footy? Having said that, I only want Rodgers out because I think he's a weak manager - I could happilly put up with his smarmy face and unbearable interviews if were winning matches and proper competitive.

On the other hand tho, if we lost our first 7 matches I would be inclined to want us to lose a few more so we could just get shot once and for all. If Rodgers comes good I'll be the first to put my hand up and admit I got it wrong.

He's like a nest of hornets, and some of the members in here are the big stick.

Me?
I like him as he's controversial and creates a great deal of discussion.
I likes vociferous folk with their sometimes lonesome disagreeable opinions. Shows character, likeable to some or not, and that is actually irrelevant.

Nah. He only has an opinion when we don't win.

If we don't respect Stoke and we go in guns blazing I feel we will just get beaten again.
The team needs time to gel so sit a little deeper and slow it down a bit. Win most important sure but I want a clean sheet.

Don’t speak of hornets, brings back bad memories, let me put it like this:
Robert Burns could ode a mouse,
An ugly, blasted, creepin louse
Or haggis hanging in his house,
With a flawless grasp,
But woe to he with less resource,
Who odes a wasp!

And that while playing fell my lot,
For kicking of one damned lousy shot,
That hit a big tree on the spot,
The wasps call home,
And their quick retaliation caught,
My balding dome!

Ouch! He who made us humans share,
This planet with its bugs and bears,
Ought leave us with a bit of hair,
for our protection,
Against winged vipers in the air,
With their injections!

In truth I made a sorry sight,
swinging left and swinging right,
trying with my fist to smite,
Airborne attackers,
but they too nimble in their flight,
Just left me knackers!

Some bawling bowsies back behind,
Were yelling have ya lost yer mind,
There’s no ball in the air to find,
Turn around,
Are ya bleedin mad as well as blind,
Its on the ground!

Brendan will set the team up to attack, Hughes will set Stoke up to counter.

Brendan's tactic has always been to win the game in the first 20 mins, he swears by that philosophy, when that doesn't work we fall apart, last season we saw a lot of teams sitting back and biding their time and that's what will happen again. We don't have any unpredictable players like Suarez who can break defences.

Of course they still talk about it. We're still talking about it. Can't see it being another result like that though.