Newcastle v Liverpool Sat 1st Nov 12:45 KO - Pre-Match discussion

Hoping for another strong performance against Newcastle.

It will be interesting to see Brendan's team as I thought both Toure and Borini were great yesterday.

I would go with this side:

Mignolet

Manquillo
Skrtel
Lovren
Moreno

Gerrard (c)

Henderson
Coutinho

Sterling

Borini
Balotelli

Subs: Jones; Johnson, Toure; Can, Allen; Markovic; Lambert.

Can see us winning this 2-0 with Balotelli and Coutinho scoring the goals.

 

Bring back the diamond I say

Migs
Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno
Stevie
Lallana-Can
Sterling
Mario-Borini

Subs - Jones, Johnson, Toure, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Lambert

Good opening post. Thats the team id pick.

                                 Mignolet

Manquillo       Skrtel             Lovren          Moreno

                       Gerrard         Henderson

                                  Coutinho

                    Borini                         Sterling

                                   Balotelli

Its a 433 or a diamond with Hendo and Cou in the centre and Borini alongside Balotelli with sterling in behind.

Just get the 3 points please.

Just get the 3 points please.

Seconded.

Shame sakho is still out. He should come straight into the starting 11 when he's fit. Flano will also be an automatic on the right side when he gets fit. These two should help us tighten up at the back. We will still concede goals due to the way BR sets us up and has us play, but those two defend like pit bulls and will put it all on the line to keep a clean sheet.

I'm not sure who should play in midfield. Lucas had a good showing the other night, so he could be a possibility. Allen was awful against Hull and Hendo has been rather poor so far this term, so perhaps that will open the door for Can or Lallana. Coutinho should be nailed on to start along with Sterling, while Markovic needs to be benched for a few games and work on his link up play and finishing on the training ground.

A lot of people calling for two up front and I agree. Could possibly play Coutinho as a 2nd striker and have him play right off of Balotelli. Otherwise, stick with Fabio and Mario.

I'd probably field:

 

Migs
Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno
Gerrard-Can
Sterling------Coutinho
Balo-Borini

Have Henderson, Lallana, Markovic and Lambert available from the bench to help if needed.

Looks like they are on form at the minute

Looks like they are on form at the minute

Aye .. good win at spurs and taken care of citeh tonight. Will be a tough game saturday.

Mig
Manquillo - Skrtel - Lovren - Moreno
Gerrard
Henderon - Lallana
Sterling
Borini - Balotelli

Aye .. good win at spurs and taken care of citeh tonight. Will be a tough game saturday.

City have been awful especially at the back. If you thought Lovren has been having a tough time..........Mangala 

I think its clear we need 2 up top. Would have gone for Lambert had Mario not got a goal last night. Went for Hendo in the middle instead of Lallana as Gerrard needs some help covering ground.

                                    Mig
      Manquillo     Skrtel     Lovren     Moreno
                                 Gerrard
       Sterling           Henderson         Coutinho
                      Borini            Balotelli

Looks like they are on form at the minute

Every team we've played against so far this season we seem to have caught just as they are hitting top form.

Every team we've played against so far this season we seem to have caught just as they are hitting top form.

Or is it we are just way off with ours?

True they have had a good run of late but we always get time and space to play at St James' and hopefully it'll be the same Saturday.

Borini has to start alongside Mario for me.

May be a lot tougher game than I was expecting after their midweek win over Citeh.

Still think we will have too much for them and if we play with two up front (not sure we will) I think we can win this convincingly.

Going for 2-0 but not as confident as I was a couple of days ago.

May be a lot tougher game than I was expecting after their midweek win over Citeh.

Still think we will have too much for them and if we play with two up front (not sure we will) I think we can win this convincingly.

Going for 2-0 but not as confident as I was a couple of days ago.

I hope we play 2 up front. Or at least have Borini in the team.

We will need to score at least 3 to win i fear.

Kolo, Lucas and Jones to start for me. Defence looked far more comfortable without Skrtel and Mignolet flapping around against the Swans.

                       Jones

Johnson      Kolo       Lovren    Enrique

                       Lucas

           Gerrard        Coutinho

                      Sterling

             Balotelli         Borini

                 
             
           

Mig
Manquillo - Skrtel - Lovren - Moreno
Gerrard
Henderon - Lallana
Sterling
Borini - Balotelli

So Coutinho, who has been far away our best player of late, doesn't make your team? That's bizarre.

So Coutinho, who has been far away our best player of late, doesn't make your team? That's bizarre.

I would also start Toure ahead of Skrtel after his performance Tuesday night.

Newcastle on a bit of a good run after a slow start, hopefully we can put them back in their place.

I'd go with...
                                 Mignolet
            Manquillo   Skrtel   Lovren   Moreno
                                 Gerrard
                        Henderson   Coutinho
                                 Sterling
                          Borini       Balotelli

Jones; Toure, Johnson; Can, Lallana; Markovic, Lambert

Its clear that Balotelli needs a player up there with him and it seems that Borini has played his way into the team with his performance v Swansea. Hopefully we can be a bit more efficient going forward than in previous weeks and I'm sure we will take the 3 points.

2-0 Balotelli + Gerrard

I would also start Toure ahead of Skrtel after his performance Tuesday night.

Cannot go much wrong with that given our defence of late.

Wont ever happen but

             Mignolet

Manquillo Gerrard Lovern Moreno

Sterling Hendo Coutinho  Lallana

           Borini  Balotelli

Balotelli only because after scoring he might liven up. I can see now people saying "that midfiled would get torn up" They wouldnt they are actually all very good at tracking back and putting the foot in

Sterling and Lallana huggingthe sidelines all day Stevie would put them away a few times with his passing from centre half

Or is it we are just way off with ours?

True they have had a good run of late but we always get time and space to play at St James' and hopefully it'll be the same Saturday.

Borini has to start alongside Mario for me.

We've played West Ham and Southampton who've had outstanding starts to the season. Hull we caught just as they had got a result against Arsenal, QPR suddenly hit top form against us and have now won their next game, Aston Villa were unbeaten when they played us. Tottenham had just beat QPR 4-0 when they played us and West Brom had just won 3 games in a row when they played us. Now Newcastle have also won three games in a row and they are about to play us.

We've been a bit unlucky in that while we've been struggling with our own form we've caught most of the teams we've played so far on their best form.

Wont ever happen but

             Mignolet

Manquillo Gerrard Lovern Moreno

Sterling Hendo Coutinho  Lallana

           Borini  Balotelli

Balotelli only because after scoring he might liven up. I can see now people saying "that midfiled would get torn up" They wouldnt they are actually all very good at tracking back and putting the foot in

Sterling and Lallana huggingthe sidelines all day Stevie would put them away a few times with his passing from centre half

Interesting suggestion to put Gerrard at centre back. It's crazy how many positions he could/can play. The most complete player in that sense that I've seen or heard of in a long, long time.