Liverpool v Man City Sun 1st March 12pm KO - Pre match talk

Hopefully all the lads with minor injuries will return v City, as well as the rested Coutinho.

Mignolet

Can
Skrtel
Sakho

Markovic
Henderson (c)
Allen
Moreno

Sterling
Coutinho

Sturridge

Subs: Ward; Lovren, Toure; Ibe; Balotelli, Lambert, Borini.

I think this side can beat City.

Silva, Yaya Toure and Aguero are their main threats, so we need to be on our game to stop them.

Let's do it, 2-1 to us!

YNWA!

Had to turn down late offer of a ticket for this one :-(

Have a feeling we'll struggle given the exertions of last night and the lack of fit bodies, particularly in the midfield. Fingers crossed Henderson, Coutinho and Sakho are all available and fit to play. I wonder if Studge will get a start? He played a lot of minutes last night and the risk if him breaking down is pretty delicate.

I'd take the draw right now, just so long as we beat the mancs in a couple of weeks.

Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Ibe, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Lallana, Coutinho, Balotelli.

Sterling and Sturridge on the bench for the sh*te they produced last night.

I wouldn't mind seeing the same side they put out last night start the City game. Factor in PC back in the lineup but I like that look. Balotelli continues to be an enigma. BR has to have a chat with him about him being physical early in the game. Picking up a yellow definitely had an effect on the physical game that he plays. He looks like a NBA center when he backs down defenders and slows the game down.

City is going to be a tough test. This could be a huge momentum game for us to make that final push to the top 4. Nobody thought that we would be in this position to make a serious run back into the top 4. It begins on Sunday. They matches we have coming up are tough and what better way to start this run then with a thrashing of City at Anfield.

2-0 Redmen .

Coutinho and Henderson are shoe-ins to start. Sakho might be up for grabs. Hope he's fit, though, because he's obviously much more preferable to Lovren.

Any word on Ibe's injury?

Sakho tweeted on Wednesday he should be ok for Sunday which is good news so with Hendo, Couts and Marko back there should be plenty of energy although Allen looked fooked last night. But he usually plays well against City or maybe it's just my imagination!

Hopefully Sterling and Sturridge have had a rocket up their jacksy as we will need them.

I'm expecting a reaction from last nights performance and a win to keep up the pressure on a Top 4 finish.

Am expecting a really tough test, Shitty have so much talent in their side, and we've had a marathon in Turkey. Hope Cou and Hendo and Sahko start. Playing for 90 mins instead of 45 would mean an improvement over Thurs. Will need the players and BR to be on top form to come away with all 3 pts ...

                        Mignolet
                   Can  Skrtel  Sakho
      Markovic  Henderson Allen Moreno
                     Sterling Coutinho
                        Sturridge

Ward; Manquillo, Johnson; Ibe, Lallana; Lambert, Balotelli

If that had been our best team playing in mid week then I wouldn't be at all positive about the game against City at the weekend. I'm glad that we will have a few people coming back into the team, at least hopefully anyway (Sakho, Coutinho, Henderson etc.). I'm going to miss the first half an hour because my 11-a-side game doesn't finish until about 20 past 12. Thanks Sky for making it a 12pm kick off!

Can looked absolutely knackered after about an hour last night, let alone after two hours. 

wonder how much he'll have left in the tank.

Hopefully all the lads with minor injuries will return v City, as well as the rested Coutinho.

Mignolet

Can
Skrtel
Sakho

Markovic
Henderson (c)
Allen
Moreno

Sterling
Coutinho

Sturridge

Subs: Ward; Lovren, Toure; Ibe; Balotelli, Lambert, Borini.

I think this side can beat City.

Silva, Yaya Toure and Aguero are their main threats, so we need to be on our game to stop them.

Let's do it, 2-1 to us!

YNWA!

No one had injuries, it was lies.

Will be tough. BR will have us up for this...we will see the real Liverpool tomorrow.

This will be tough, especially with Henderson out of the midfield and Toure back in their line up. Allen and Gerrard trying to  contain him doesnt fill me with hope.

Studge needs to step it back up, hes been back a few weeks and his last two performances have been poor. Tough coming back from injury I know, but hes a quality player and needs to get that sharpness back asap.

 Hope the players with little knocks will recover for this one
 anyone knows who surely is out apart from Lucas?
 And why is this match is so early, was thinking it was at 16.00 GMT

YNWA

Well we Liston pens with some of our best players out.
City were almost full strength and got torn a new one.
They will be more psychologically damaged than us.
Opportunity Togo get em, 3:1 the red men, as long as Sturridge realises he is part of a team again!

I really wouldn't mind seeing Borini. I think we should just give him a run of games and see how that'll turn out.

I just feel he could offer better support play for the whole team, from pressing to movement and creating space.

I really wouldn't mind seeing Borini. I think we should just give him a run of games and see how that'll turn out.

I just feel he could offer better support play for the whole team, from pressing to movement and creating space.

I think Fabio's ship has sailed in Brendan's eyes mate. Don't think he has been given a fair crack to be honest. He has more to offer than Balotelli.

I think Fabio's ship has sailed in Brendan's eyes mate. Don't think he has been given a fair crack to be honest. He has more to offer than Balotelli.

It's a shame he never got a run of games to prove his worth.

He's like a Hendo for me, not the greatest footballing player but would offer a lot to the team in our current system, maybe more so than Sturridge & Balo in my opinion.

All Borini offers for me is running. If that's all we want from a player then sign up Mo Farah! What has Borini ever offered, seriously?

All Borini offers for me is running. If that's all we want from a player then sign up Mo Farah! What has Borini ever offered, seriously?

He has good movement, tenacious, presses and hard working which is beneficial to how we play. I think his style of play can bring out the best in our players.

For me, it's about having the right balance and players in a team to succeed, and I still believe Borini would fit well in our team, but I doubt very much he'll have that opportunity to prove himself.

Forget the Besiktas game,this is a totally diferent game.I think we have a good chance of winning this.With a couple of player rested and with Sturidge plaing a lil les selfish role we could really win.I would enjoy in trashing of Pelegrinis mercenaries.I wish best of luck to the lads.

Have we yet seen a Sturridge & Borini up front combo ?

I'd be happy enough with a draw tomorrow . To lose would be a big knock back for a few games . But if we win then 4th or 3rd is a big possibility and the blue sh*te could do us a big favour too . They've got a decent record against the arse .

Have we yet seen a Sturridge & Borini up front combo ?

Do we want to?

Think we'll teach these a new lesson, they are a slow team, use our pace or we don't win. My conclusion.

Think we'll teach these a new lesson, they are a slow team, use our pace or we don't win. My conclusion.

Use pace.... etc....

Sorted Brendan's team talk there lad 

Really not expecting much from this one. Anyone know what the chances of a Sakho return is? We average 2.2 points per game with him and only 1.5 without, granted that was an awful period but he has as much to do with the resurgence of our defense as do any. We only lost 1 game when he played. 1 Since he has been out.

What do we need to beat them? Everyone in top form and pressing them all over the pitch. Studge, Sterling, Markovic and Can and to some extent Coutinho, all have to be soooo much better than they have been the past few matches. We need to take our chances when they present themselves. We need our defense to be rock solid. Its a big ask.

Sakho could be the difference. Poor our Lovren, bless him, will be fecked after that sh*t on thurs...confidence wise and we all know what an unconfident Lovren looks like on the pitch.

Not looking forward to it.

I'd be happy enough with a draw tomorrow . To lose would be a big knock back for a few games . But if we win then 4th or 3rd is a big possibility and the blue sh*te could do us a big favour too . They've got a decent record against the arse .

No doubt they will F**k it up then. 

It'll be good to see Coutinho back in the XI tomorrow, hopefully well rested and ready to repeat last year's heroics.

I can see Balotelli keeping his place as he'll be fired up to play against Shitty - which means he'll either score the winner or get sent off.

                      Mignolet
     Can         Skrtel    Sakho/Lovren
Ibe    Henderson   Allen  Markovic
     Sterling   Balotelli    Coutinho

come on you reds.

It'll be good to see Coutinho back in the XI tomorrow, hopefully well rested and ready to repeat last year's heroics.

I can see Balotelli keeping his place as he'll be fired up to play against Shitty - which means he'll either score the winner or get sent off.

                      Mignolet
     Can         Skrtel    Sakho/Lovren
Ibe    Henderson   Allen  Markovic
     Sterling   Balotelli    Coutinho

Sturridge will start today not Balotelli.

Cant wait for this one KO at 11pm tonight my time, work tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Not much sleep but 3 points will get me through the day.

COYR.

Help me, the defeat in thursday still let me down ... we can still played bad...

^^ Going to ignore that one.

I think we can do this- we have a good record against them at home, we have a midweek loss to bounce back from.
Any news on Hendo? As seeing Allen on the team sheet makes my heart sink a little.

^^ Going to ignore that one.

I think we can do this- we have a good record against them at home, we have a midweek loss to bounce back from.
Any news on Hendo? As seeing Allen on the team sheet makes my heart sink a little.

We have to win this one Misty, no excuses no tired players just get out there and get the job done. I agree about Allen, we need someone out there with a bit of mongrel in them who can dictate how we play.

We need to be more positive with possession and territory - we were far too passive in long spells on Thursday especially second half.

We weren't pinned back and Citeh will punish us if we set up and play like that.

Front foot football mighty red men - "up an' at 'em!"

Citeh's weakness link is in their defence. Pin them back at their own half and put in as many crosses as possible into their box, they're prone to defensive lapse as much as i observed their games. Play that unorthodox pass from time to time, their defence can't handle, they're like workmanlike 

Im sure we will be much better today, we have to be no question. Hopfully hendos fit, we know coutinho plays, so there will be a lot more service for the forwards. Weve got to be careful not to run out of steam in second half coz if that happens it could be painful. But got confidence in these lads..thursday was a bad night, lets get on with this game! Soton lost, utd won and hopefully the blueshite can take something from arsenal, opportunity knocks redmen, take your chance. If we get 3 pts be absolutely huge for us, COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDMEN!!

If Hendos not fit I'd drop Coutinho into midfield and put lallana and Sterling in behind Sturridge. Lets hope Jordan is fit though.

Cant wait for this one KO at 11pm tonight my time, work tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Not much sleep but 3 points will get me through the day.

COYR.

11pm is the worst possible kick off, selfishly speaking. Wish we were in the UK afternoon so i can wake up and go straight to class after the game. Or they did the fair thing and pushed this game and the Burnley game back one day.

The head to head stats for this one aren't bad. Haven't lost to them at home in last 12. Worst case draw.

Amazing to get 3 points but right now I would quietly take a draw.

Any word back on sakho scan? This is a weird one how quite it all is

Think we're gonna be quite lethargic after the late flight back from Turkey.

Hopefully I'm wrong though

Think we're gonna be quite lethargic after the late flight back from Turkey.

Hopefully I'm wrong though

I don't think so mate, the magnitude of this game should be enough to see us through, plus we have a few fresh legs today.

Sturridge on the bench apparently. Hendo back but no Sakho

Over 2.5, Mario to get the last goal of the game.

No Sahko. 

4 strikers on the bench!

Live topic:

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,47458.0.html