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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605 |
Will be interesting to see how we cope at lb and rb when Andy and Trent can't play due to fatigue and/or injury in the PL and CL games coming up!
We simply HAVE TO play without them against Everton. They need resting now, and there are no fullbacks coming back from injury shortly. This is where our squad is the most thread bare thin.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
Something I noticed from our last outing v Wolves was Gini when he was replaced late in the game looked shattered. Klopp did state that he was not feeling well prior to that game but he played him anyway. With VVD also having a similar problem that kept him out of the Monterrey game this really is not the time to gamble with players.
Newcastle had to field a man short towards the end of their game v Leicester yesterday because 4 of their players got injured during the game. Bruce blamed the fixture schedule for 3 of those injuries, having to play 4 games in 10 days.
Since the last International break in November (10th to 23rd)
we've been playing games at a rate of one every 3 days (12 games in 36 days) and throw in a trip to Qatar for good measure with the Final going to ET and you can see this is not normal. Our players are probably a lot fitter than most players but they are not superhuman!
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542 |
Trent and Andy are young lads, they don't fatigue easy, though I'd probably rest at least Andy vs Everton. He out sprints/runs most players in the prem.
Get through tonight and we should have most players back for the next prem game so we can rotate a little more then.
As much as I don't want to crash out the cup this early, we have to prioritise the PL. Besides, despite a slight resurgence, they're still very average. I think a front 3 of Origi, Minamo and Elliot might suprise them.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
Come on guys its a derby, we can't play with that inexperienced backline, we can give Vvd off and maybe Robbo as Milner can slot in at lb, but too many changes and we are bound to crash out. We can deal with the extra games as we will have players returning soon and players actually want to play as we are in great form. At the start of the season when we had a full squad half a dozen of them were not playing so we need these games to give these fringe players rythm. Don't think Klopp will risk his main players in the FA cup, but it's true that our squad is thin, so we will have to live with it
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605 |
Trent and Andy are young lads, they don't fatigue easy, though I'd probably rest at least Andy vs Everton. He out sprints/runs most players in the prem. They both looked totally jaded in the Wolves game. Didn't see their usual pace at sprinting up/down the pitch. Hope they have recovered for tonight's game. Rest them on Sunday in the FA Cup, and then get them ready for next Saturday against Spuds in the PL!
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,746
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,746 |
If we had no injuries the Everton game would be ideal to rotate players to keep them sharp. As it is we will probably have 3 or 4 youngsters starting supplemented by the subs bench v Sheff Utd.
Some of our youngsters are ready and can take their chances. Looking back to the game v Villa that line up was crazy but necessary. There are some that are clearly way below the level needed at the moment. From that game Harvey Elliott and Hoever are clearly ready. The rest including Van den Berg are clearly not.
Others that I would certainly include v Everton are Curtis Jones, Brewster, Neco Williams and Larouchi. Stick Alisson and Gomez in to marshall the defence and we start to look difficult to beat at home.
Origi has a sign over Everton and horses for courses he simply has to play. Lallana and Minamino with Jones and Elliott would be a strong enough midfield. Put the big guns on the bench to cover ourselves.
So;
Alisson
Williams
Gomez
Hoever
Larouchi
Jones
Lallana
Elliott
Minamino
Origi
Brewster
This is probably as weak a line up that we could field but could be made stronger if the likes of Milner, Keita, Nat Phillips and Shaqiri (if fit) are included.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,988
1st Team Regular
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1st Team Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,988 |
We have Philips back from Stuttgart, I think he is ahead of hoever and Sepp as he has gained some game time.
Back to Back World Champions baby!
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
I wouldn't start Minamino v Everton, I'd look to bring him on in the 2nd half when hopefully the game has settled down. Could be dangerous to introduce Minamino from the start in a feisty derby game...Everton will be heavy handed and Minamino will have the adrenalin pumping for his first start which could be a recipe for disaster.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,936 |
Barring a miracle collapse or us being thrown out the league, it surely is now only a matter of time before we mathematically win our 1st ever Premier League Title.
Leicester are now 13 points behind and we have a game in hand on them.
Man City are 14 points behind and the rest are nowhere to be seen.
Liverpool would have to effectively lose 5 games out of those 20 remaining and City would have to win everyone of their remaining games.
Liverpool's schedule as it currently stands does not have what I would call a bad set of games between now and the end of the season. The only tricky period would be our last 3 games Arsenal away - Chelsea home - Newcastle away, although if we progress to the next stage (qtr finals) of CL we would play the 1st leg 3 or 4 days after the City game at The Etihaad.
Man City have a nightmare set of games starting up in February which I believe will put paid to them ever believing they could reel us in:
22/02/20 - PL - Leicester v Man City
26/02/20 - CL - Real Madrid v Man City
01/03/20 - Carabao Cup Final
01/03/20 - PL - Man City v Arsenal
07/03/20 - PL - Man Utd v Man City
14/03/20 - PL - Man City v Burnley
17/03/20 - PL - Man City v Real Madrid
21/03/20 - PL - Chelsea v Man City
04/04/20 - PL - Man City v Liverpool
If Man City beat Man Utd over the 2 legged semi-final of The Carabao Cup then their Arsenal fixture will have to be rearranged to the midweek immediately after The Final - probably to Wed 11/03/20.
I'm putting my neck out here and boldly predicting a win at home v Palace on 21/03/20 wraps up the title, mathematically.
Does anybody else want to guess when?
Barring a miracle collapse or us being thrown out the league, it surely is now only a matter of time before we mathematically win our 1st ever Premier League Title.
Leicester are now 13 points behind and we have a game in hand on them.
Man City are 14 points behind and the rest are nowhere to be seen.
Liverpool would have to effectively lose 5 games out of those 20 remaining and City would have to win everyone of their remaining games.
Liverpool's schedule as it currently stands does not have what I would call a bad set of games between now and the end of the season. The only tricky period would be our last 3 games Arsenal away - Chelsea home - Newcastle away, although if we progress to the next stage (qtr finals) of CL we would play the 1st leg 3 or 4 days after the City game at The Etihaad.
Man City have a nightmare set of games starting up in February which I believe will put paid to them ever believing they could reel us in:
22/02/20 - PL - Leicester v Man City
26/02/20 - CL - Real Madrid v Man City
01/03/20 - Carabao Cup Final
01/03/20 - PL - Man City v Arsenal
07/03/20 - PL - Man Utd v Man City
14/03/20 - PL - Man City v Burnley
17/03/20 - PL - Man City v Real Madrid
21/03/20 - PL - Chelsea v Man City
04/04/20 - PL - Man City v Liverpool
If Man City beat Man Utd over the 2 legged semi-final of The Carabao Cup then their Arsenal fixture will have to be rearranged to the midweek immediately after The Final - probably to Wed 11/03/20.
I'm putting my neck out here and boldly predicting a win at home v Palace on 21/03/20 wraps up the title, mathematically.
Does anybody else want to guess when?
Barring a miracle collapse or us being thrown out the league, it surely is now only a matter of time before we mathematically win our 1st ever Premier League Title.
Leicester are now 13 points behind and we have a game in hand on them.
Man City are 14 points behind and the rest are nowhere to be seen.
Liverpool would have to effectively lose 5 games out of those 20 remaining and City would have to win everyone of their remaining games.
Liverpool's schedule as it currently stands does not have what I would call a bad set of games between now and the end of the season. The only tricky period would be our last 3 games Arsenal away - Chelsea home - Newcastle away, although if we progress to the next stage (qtr finals) of CL we would play the 1st leg 3 or 4 days after the City game at The Etihaad.
Man City have a nightmare set of games starting up in February which I believe will put paid to them ever believing they could reel us in:
22/02/20 - PL - Leicester v Man City
26/02/20 - CL - Real Madrid v Man City
01/03/20 - Carabao Cup Final
01/03/20 - PL - Man City v Arsenal
07/03/20 - PL - Man Utd v Man City
14/03/20 - PL - Man City v Burnley
17/03/20 - PL - Man City v Real Madrid
21/03/20 - PL - Chelsea v Man City
04/04/20 - PL - Man City v Liverpool
If Man City beat Man Utd over the 2 legged semi-final of The Carabao Cup then their Arsenal fixture will have to be rearranged to the midweek immediately after The Final - probably to Wed 11/03/20.
I'm putting my neck out here and boldly predicting a win at home v Palace on 21/03/20 wraps up the title, mathematically.
Does anybody else want to guess when?
I’m still thinking we get the Guard of Honour at The Etihaad which would really rub Pep’s nose in it
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,564
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,564 |
I would love to see it rubbed in those Oil Barons' faces.
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