Pre-Match: Swansea v Liverpool Sun 1st May 12:00KO

I can see Klopp making loads of changes in preparation for the second leg against Villarreal:

Ward

Randall
Skrtel (c)
Caulker
Smith

Brannagan
Stewart
Chirivella

Ibe
Benteke
Ojo

Subs: Bogdan; Flanagan, Ilori; Rossiter; Teixeira, Kent; Sinclair.

Swansea are pretty bad so I can see us winning this even with a lot of young/fringe players.

Pre-match press-conference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRCztxnntDk

All change for Swansea.

I think we have to give ourselves every chance against Villareal so hopefully we can manage to win with the kids.

Great opportunities this season for our younger players, hopefully it will stand them in good stead next season. 

Think it will be a hard game as Swansea while not playing particularly well this season will keep the ball and maybe even try to use our players inexperience against them by keeping the ball and making us work.

1-2  but a draw wouldn't be too unexpected.

I would play our starting X1 for Thursday as Swansea are a good technical side and we need to blow them away

I would play our starting X1 for Thursday as Swansea are a good technical side and we need to blow them away

Not sure if serious.

Thanks for posting the vid red john
Another great press conference with the gaffer.
As for Swansea, we all realize that he will select a very different squad to that of last Thursday and probably for next Thursday.
I hope he goes with:
Ward
Flanno
Skrtel
Illori
Smith
Chiverella
Allen
Teixeira
Kent
Ojo
Benteke

Subs:
Mig
Lovren
Randell
Ibe
Firmino
Milner
Brannagan

Sturridge has not played since last week, he needs to stay sharp I hope he gets at least 45 mins.

Sturridge has to start to keep his form IMO. Pull him at 60 if you want but he needs to keep his sharpness for Thursday

Meh

Ibe doesn't deserve another chance this season to be honest. Ojo should get more time. I'd love to see Cam Brannagan again but not sure if he's fit to play?

Sturridge has not played since last week, he needs to stay sharp I hope he gets at least 45 mins.

Yep, 45 for me and ready vs Villarreal!   

Ibe doesn't deserve another chance this season to be honest. Ojo should get more time. I'd love to see Cam Brannagan again but not sure if he's fit to play?

Agreed, think both will probably get minutes and really looking forward to seeing Ojo.

Agree with PM also, Studge could ideally do with 45 minutes to keep his sharpness up as he will be needed on Thursday but do you risk the 45...

It should not matter what team we put out we can beat those Taffy Apples.Give the young lads a chance to prove themselves.

Feeling very Meh about this game, I kind of invested all my hopes in the European game, and feel we could probably do without this match. I'm sure when it starts I'll be fully into it, but for now my mind is still in Europe.

It should not matter what team we put out we can beat those Taffy Apples.Give the young lads a chance to prove themselves.

Feeling very Meh about this game, I kind of invested all my hopes in the European game, and feel we could probably do without this match. I'm sure when it starts I'll be fully into it, but for now my mind is still in Europe.

 

coyr

we can win this!

ynwa

 

Ibe doesn't deserve another chance this season to be honest. Ojo should get more time. I'd love to see Cam Brannagan again but not sure if he's fit to play?

I don't think he does either, I know he is still young but some of the things he does time and again are really starting to annoy me.

Don't think I've ever seen a professional footballer no matter what age run the ball out of play for a goal kick soooo much.

He needs to grab these opportunities he's being handed by the gaffer and prove his worth to not only his place in the starting 11 but also the selected squad for any given match.

And lately he has failed miserably, I have a hunch that he may fall down the pecking order more than he already has done.

EDIT: I think we'll win this one however I'd gladly lose every match in the prem from now till the end of the season if we win the Europa League

Plus...

I'm in Florida for three weeks from the 3rd of May and I'd love to watch both the semi and a final with some reds from across the pond

Sturridge has not played since last week, he needs to stay sharp I hope he gets at least 45 mins.

Deffo!

Why couldn't Sturridge play in last match and next match instead of needing to get minutes today? What a joke. Fuming over Sturridge not playing in last match and no doubt I am going to see him play against Swansea in this match I don't give two hoots about. It might as well be a damn friendly.

Ibe doesn't deserve another chance this season to be honest. Ojo should get more time. I'd love to see Cam Brannagan again but not sure if he's fit to play?

I want rid of all our frindge players like Ibe, no point in keeping him. We have too many established players in those positions. We need to get focus on youth development more on u18 that will be ready to break into our side in a few years when we will have spaces. If we need another winger, I would just rather go out and get Willian from Chelsea in the summer if we get in CL.

Stat:

We've surrendered 19 points so far this season from winning positions.

Something no doubt Jürgen and co are aware of and will fix close season,  in the window.

Stat:

We've surrendered 19 points so far this season from winning positions.

Something no doubt Jürgen and co are aware of and will fix , close season,  in the window.

Indeed mate, also highest individual errors, errors leading to goals and defensive errors I believe (perhaps Villa ahead but who cares about Villa).

As much as we've been improving on set-piece defending and our organisation, reducing the total shots on target to an extremely low number the errors just creep into the game. It was much like the Villarreal goal, there were probably 7 or 8 poor decisions leading to that goal; from Lallana over committing and finding himself on right wing from centre mid; Milner compounding the error and then a domino effect on Moreno; Lucas with a bizarre challenge; Lovren doing nothing at all and Kolo playing them all onside.

Sometimes it just comes down to the individual's ability to make the right decision and at times that has let us down this season too frequently. As you say I'm sure Jürgen will address it, either through coaching or replacing those that simply can't make the correct decision on a consistent basis.

Moving on to this match I'm very much looking forward to seeing some our fringe players get a chance, they could well be playing for their squad places ahead of some of the seniors here, especially so close to the summer window. I think we're all keen to see more of Ojo and hopefully put in another solid performance. 2-0 Reds.

Stat:

We've surrendered 19 points so far this season from winning positions.

Something no doubt Jürgen and co are aware of and will fix , close season,  in the window.

It is down to trying to defend leads with a bad defence. We would be better just scoring more goals instead.

Think a score draw may well be on the cards.

Surpisrd at the "meh" comments - we are LFC and 4th is still a possibility.

If the players go out with that attitude ill be mightily pissed off.

We really should blow Swansea away with ease so we'll probably lose, only kidding I think we'll back to old ways and win this at a canter. I'm not sure I'd risk Sturridge though, just imagine if he picks up an injury in this game then we really are screwed for Thursday.

It is down to trying to defend leads with a bad defence. We would be better just scoring more goals instead.

Been there did that .

Eye on Thurs, definitely. But we can still field a strong side here...

       Mignolet
Smith Toure Skyrtel Flanno
        Lucas
Ibe Texiera Firmino Ojo
        Benteke

Then think on Thurs we'll be..

        Mignolet
Clyne Lovren Toure Moreno
      Milner Allen
Ojo/Firmino Coutinho Lallana
      Sturridge

Swansea are no great shakes, we just need to go at them.
No pussyfooting around, play attacking side and go for it.

If Benteke and Ojo play well, could figure on Thurs. Don't think Firmino did well against Villareal, maybe his spot could be up for grabs.
Would be really surprised is Sturridge played tomorrow from the start, but would be good for him to get a run out later on. Still scratching the head over that since last Thurs.

Probably wouldn't be broke up if we don't win tomorrow, but would be good to get 3 pts and finish the PL strongly.

Stat:

We've surrendered 19 points so far this season from winning positions.

Something no doubt Jürgen and co are aware of and will fix , close season,  in the window.

Crazy isn't it. We'd have been on 74 points... Just 2 behind Leicester with a game in hand.

I can see a mixture of first teamers but mostly reserves for this game, but whoever wears the Red shirt tomorrow, just give 100% and get the three points, forget about Thursday until after this game, passion, pride and commitment please boys 

Not sure if serious.

yes because playing your strongest X1 never works does it. They have 4 full days to recover and we need a win to keep us in the hunt for a Europa league Spot.

yes because playing your strongest X1 never works does it. They have 4 full days to recover and we need a win to keep us in the hunt for a Europa league Spot.

We probably need to win a least 3 games to get a Europa League spot... only need to win 2 to get a CL spot

We probably need to win a least 3 games to get a Europa League spot... only need to win 2 to get a CL spot

As long as the win against Villarreal is more than 1-0 mate,I have confidence in the boss and the lads that we can achieve the desired results.First things first though let's get 3 points of Swansea.I don't know if there is any truth to the rumour though that Brendan will be cheering Swansea on.

Swansea are pretty bad so I can see us winning this even with a lot of young/fringe players.

They're a good but rather unlucky side. I wouldn't take them lightly.

My side:

Ward

Flanno
Skrtel
Caulker
Smith

Stewart
Brannigan
Chirivella
Ojo

Sturridge (c)
Benteke

Both side to score but LFC going with the 3 points.

Just over an hour and a half to KO.....can't wait, let's go Boys.

Have to admit there has to be one eye on the return leg with Villareal.

One of my ambitions was to see us beat the Mancs over the Europa double header .
Done.
Then to finish above them.
Do-able .  Doubtful.  4 points off.

(Would be cool to see Leicester do them over this afternoon and damage their CL ambition.)



Fielding a second string team today seems the logical choice with Thursday's game ahead of us.

https://twitter.com/Musker_LFC/status/726700212731953152

Daniel Sturridge is in the Liverpool squad for Sunday's Premier League clash with Swansea City – but Jürgen Klopp has left a host of key players behind.

The Reds striker is expected to feature at the Liberty Stadium after being overlooked for Thursday night's Europa League semi-final first leg away to Villarreal.

However, Roberto Firmino, Joe Allen, James Milner, Alberto Moreno and Kolo Toure have all been spared the trip to South Wales with one eye on next Thursday's second leg at Anfield.

The rest of those players who were involved at El Madrigal have travelled to Swansea, including Philippe Coutinho, who has recovered from the sickness bug which forced him off at half-time.


Klopp will field a much changed side with the likes of Martin Skrtel, Connor Randall, Brad Smith, Kevin Stewart, Danny Ward, Cameron Brannagan, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Pedro Chirivella and Sheyi Ojo all in contention.

However, there is no place in the Liverpool squad for Jon Flanagan.

Let the kids prove they have enough to stay in the summer