Pre-Match Thread: West Ham V Liverpool

Today Training








Liverpool return to Barclays Premier League action with a tea-time clash against West Ham United on Saturday.

The Reds will journey to London aiming to bounce back to winning ways in the top flight following last weekend's 1-0 Anfield reversal to Aston Villa.

Last season's corresponding fixture ended 2-1 to Liverpool, with Steven Gerrard netting two penalties at the Boleyn Ground.


Outcome of last five meetings

                                P       L     D     W
At Boleyn Ground    5    1    0    4

I think Borini will play in the next 2 games, partner Mario at West Ham and Lambert v Middlesbrough. Flano 'out for a number of months'; Studge, Allen, Can & Johnson didn't train

Migs
Manquillo-Lovren-Sakho-Moreno
Stevie
Hendo-Lallana
Sterling
Mario-Borini

Subs: Jones, Markovic, Coutinho, Lambert, Lucas, Skrtel, Enrique

I think Borini will play in the next 2 games, partner Mario at West Ham and Lambert v Middlesbrough. Flano 'out for a number of months'; Studge, Allen, Can & Johnson didn't train

Migs
Manquillo-Lovren-Sakho-Moreno
Stevie
Hendo-Lallana
Sterling
Mario-Borini

Subs: Jones, Markovic, Coutinho, Lambert, Lucas, Skrtel, Enrique

What  No I would play that way too

I hope he doesn't play Lucas and Gerrard together :/

The only thing I hope for is BR to play Lambert/Borini up top with Mario, just offers better balance to the side and I think Sterling plays better in the role behind the strikers.

The only thing I hope for is BR to play Lambert/Borini up top with Mario, just offers better balance to the side and I think Sterling plays better in the role behind the strikers.

I think playing all 3 strikers would work too, but that would be for home games.

  Balo, Lambert, Borini
     Sterling Hendo
          Gerrard

                               Mignolet

Manquillo        Lovren      Sakho      Moreno

                                Gerrard

             Henderson                Lallana

                               Sterling 

             Balotelli                     Borini

Attack, attack, attack.

Hopefully we can get a goal early on to settle the nerves and then work our way into it.

Away from home we can't afford Balotelli to get isolated, we need to go full throttle and I think Borini  consistent pestering off the opposition will help us a lot.

We need to really up the tempo for this game.

Agree with others regarding Borini, with Luis gone we need someone to add mobility to the front pairing and I believe he could be just the right sort of player to partner Balotelli.

If he's fit I'd reinstate skrtel, probably for sakho. Lovren has been culpable for too many goals and close shaves already this season as well.

I hope he doesn't play Lucas and Gerrard together :/

I have a feeling he is going to.

I hope Lallana isn't starting.

Migs, Manquillo, Sakho, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Hendo, Coutinho, Sterling, Borini, Balotelli

Glad were away think were better suited on the road at the minute 2-1 reds though I crave a clean sheet

Mgnolet, Manquiilo Sakho Lovern Moreno: Allen Hendo Gerrard: Sterling: Blotelli Lambert Markovic Sterling Balotelli.

Lambert and Balotelli are a bit too similar

I think playing all 3 strikers would work too, but that would be for home games.  Balo, Lambert, Borini     Sterling Hendo           Gerrard

That's a crazy idea. I personally think we are a stronger a team with an AM behind 2 strikers, either Couts or Llalana.

West Ham are another sh*t filthy team who will make no attempts to play football. Good test for us to work on breaking these teams down.

I want to see

                           Mignolet

Manquillo        Lovren      Sakho      Moreno

                            Lucas

         Hendo                       Sterling

                    Coutinho / Llalana

             Balotelli                     Borini

Would be good to rest Gerrard and try a different system. I really don't see much of a threat from West Ham, but they will be hard to break down.

West Ham are another sh*t filthy team who will make no attempts to play football.

Without a doubt. A team managed by that w**ker will never look to play a proper game of football. Can guarentee they will just look to kick lumps out of us and just have all their players behind the ball.

They way things are at the moment, might get better scoring opportunities away from home, with opposition not sitting deep, and have bit more space to run into.
Or not.
As usual though, looking forward to the match. Interesting to see who BR goes with. Whether we'll play with 2 up top. If we can keep clean sheet. etc.
Great to get to see the lads playing so often with the games coming thick and fast.  Not so much fun for BR though I guess ...

How about:

                           Mignolet

Manquillo        Skrtel        Lovren       Moreno

                            Gerrard

         Hendo                             Llalana

                             Coutinho

             Sterling
                                         Balotelli             


Although personally with the exception of Skrtel's return, I think the formation will be unchanged.

How about:

                           Mignolet

Manquillo        Lovren      Skrtel      Moreno

                            Gerrard

         Hendo                             Llalana

                             Coutinho

             Sterling
                                         Balotelli             


Although personally with the exception of Skrtel's return, I think the formation will be unchanged.

Can't see Skrtel coming in on the left hand side mate, pretty sure we'll shift Lovren if Skrts is ready to go.

Brendan also doesn't tend to change a winning back line, although I would like to see him choose what he believes is his preferred choice as the pair rather than let results dictate. I think the results dictating option is flawed and actually makes you lose a game you wouldn't have without actually winning games that you wouldn't have already won anyway.

Think Coutinho also needs to sit down for a couple of games and reset his focus, he's completely out of sorts.

I'd go with:

                 Mig
 Manquillo Skrt Lovren Moreno
               Gerrard
     Henderson   Markovic
               Sterling
          Balotelli Borini

I'd be asking Markovic to stay narrow and give Borini the instructions of tracking their full-back should he choose to go forward. I think with a left hand side like that their full-back wouldn't actually get forward that often and it will result in us having a big numbers advantage on that side occasionally.

Can't see Skrtel coming in on the left hand side mate, pretty sure we'll shift Lovren if Skrts is ready to go.

Sorry, I was being lazy and copied and pasted then overtyped. Formation fixed for the pernickety amongst us

I want to see

                           Mignolet

Manquillo        Lovren      Sakho      Moreno

                            Lucas

         Hendo                       Sterling

                    Coutinho / Llalana

             Balotelli                     Borini

I'm liking the team. I really want to see Sterling in that role as a box-box. I can see Sterling becoming what Di Maria was to Real last season for us. Lucas and Coutinho would work perfect together as both are exceptional short passers.

That's a crazy idea. I personally think we are a stronger a team with an AM behind 2 strikers, either Couts or Llalana.

West Ham are another sh*t filthy team who will make no attempts to play football. Good test for us to work on breaking these teams down.

I want to see

                           Mignolet

Manquillo        Lovren      Sakho      Moreno

                            Lucas

         Hendo                       Sterling

                    Coutinho / Llalana

             Balotelli                     Borini

Would be good to rest Gerrard and try a different system. I really don't see much of a threat from West Ham, but they will be hard to break down.

That looks good to me and totally agree about resting Gerrard he was shattered around the 60min mark on Tuesday. Would hate to lose him for 4-5 games due to being overplayed.

Think Borini will get a run out in this game. I wouldn't be against playing Lambert and Mario in the same team though. Having two players to hold up play would be advantageous considering the lack of football West Ham will play and how much they'll restrict us from playing our usual game.

Need to step it up big time here, our form after the international break has been appalling and if it continues on Sunday we'll be leaving there with absolutely nothing.

Think Borini will get a run out in this game. I wouldn't be against playing Lambert and Mario in the same team though. Having two players to hold up play would be advantageous considering the lack of football West Ham will play and how much they'll restrict us from playing our usual game.

Never thought I'd be saying this, but his movement up there might help create space/chances for Mario. In with a good chance of starting.
Would rest Coutinho, gave the ball away too much the other night.
Lallana wasn't great either - if Allen was availabe, I'd stick him in instead. Then again, Lallana needs the games. Markovic might also feature, but would say it's one or the other.
Would not start with Lucas, but an option later on to close out the match when we are 3 up

                           Mignolet
Manquillo         Sakho        Lovren       Moreno
                          Gerrard
         Hendo                           Lallana
                           Sterling
             Borini                  Balotelli

Guarantee if we win then Fat Sam will come out with the same old excuses on how we didn't deserve it, were disrespectful etc.