Pre-Match: Liverpool v Leicester Sat 10/9/16 17.30 KO

Think Sturridge should be in the side to play Leicester on Saturday. Always has the knack of scoring, to leave him side lined may well be a mistake.

Assuming Leicester are going to sit deep and try to counter our high line with balls over the top for Vardy, I think I'd leave Sturridge on the bench to start with, then bring him on when we go ahead because Leicester will have to come out, and that will leave space behind them for Sturridge to exploit.

Kante is a big loss for them, and we need our best pressers harassing that position.

3-1

Is that Slimani fit enough to play? He scored about 30 goals in 40 games last year.

Is that Slimani fit enough to play? He scored about 30 goals in 40 games last year.

Ranieri said he is good to go.

Went for 3-1 to us in the prediction, but think might be closer. Hard to know. Too much time to think between games   Don't see this as an easy game by any means though. Would love to see Danny play, but not sure Klopp feels he's 'ready' to start.

I have gone for a 3-2 win but no idea why other than we look like scoring goals again but we will concede .

Mignolet

Clyne
Matip
Lovren
Milner

Lallana
Henderson (c)
Wijnaldum

Mane
Firmino
Coutinho

Subs: Manninger; Moreno; Lucas, Stewart; Sturridge, Origi, Ings.

2-1 to us. YNWA.

Let's admit it, Firminho is no striker, he's too inconsistent to be one and we missed the opportunity to buy a proper striker, DM and LB. It's been said many times over here. Instead of buying players of these positions we continue to crowd our midfield with little success so far. It's gonna be a long hard season ahead. Klopp has to stop making substitution in the last 5 minutes. It is meaningless. He must start replacing player or players in the 1/2 hour mark to send a signal to the players that he mean business. Otherwise, players will continue to stroll and not make any real effort knowing that they will continue to be on the pitch till the last 5 minutes of the game, lasting almost the whole game. So, it makes no difference.

Many would have noticed, the effects have taken place, too many goals leaked on the left side, don't blame Milner he's no left back, too many attack coming through the middle, we have no DM to counter that and we don't score enough goals as we don't have a proper striker. The signs are all there and it did not happen by coincidence and it appears that we have lost focus of the big picture and procrastinated on important acquisition of players and wasted too much time on trivial issues. Spent too much time on moving in potential players and  moving out players as we bought a busload over the years. Very frustrated to the point of demoralisation.

I have gone for a 3-2 win but no idea why other than we look like scoring goals again but we will concede .

Slimani, if he starts, will score I reckon. Think we will need our Arsenal shooting boots on to get the points.

Would have studge upfront for this with lallana, couts and mane behind.

Would have Damny up top for me , we have struggled against teams sitting back , with chances at a premium we need a dead eye dick in front of goal ,
Despite what people are saying Danny is still the best finisher of a chance imo.

I think we are going to see:
 
               Mignolet

Clyne     Matip    Lovren    Milner

          Henderson        Wijnaldum
                         Lallana
Mane             Firmino           Coutinho

I would like to see:

                    Karius
Clyne      Matip      Lovren     Milner
                 Henderson
Mane          Firmino             Coutinho
          Sturridge      Origi         

I started to type that out with Coutinho in the hole behind the strikers as I think everyone agrees that's where he plays best but then who would play out left? We are wide open down the left at times, especially with Milner playing left back and cutting inside.

So much attention was put onto left-back during the summer I think left wing was completely overlooked as a problem area. That's not to say Coutinho can't play there but he is wasted out there.

Moreno anyone? 

Anyway as for the game I think Anfield will be well up for it, the players should be well up for it. I'm going with 3-1 to Liverpool and a miserable as F**k Sturridge to come off the bench and grab the 3rd.

I think we are going to see:
 
               Mignolet

Clyne     Matip    Lovren    Milner

          Henderson        Wijnaldum
                         Lallana
Mane             Firmino           Coutinho

I would like to see:

                    Karius
Clyne      Matip      Lovren     Milner
                 Henderson
Mane          Firmino             Coutinho
          Sturridge      Origi         

I started to type that out with Coutinho in the hole behind the strikers as I think everyone agrees that's where he plays best but then who would play out left? We are wide open down the left at times, especially with Milner playing left back and cutting inside.

So much attention was put onto left-back during the summer I think left wing was completely overlooked as a problem area. That's not to say Coutinho can't play there but he is wasted out there.

Moreno anyone? 

Anyway as for the game I think Anfield will be well up for it, the players should be well up for it. I'm going with 3-1 to Liverpool and a miserable as f**k Sturridge to come off the bench and grab the 3rd.

Maybe Lallana could play left midfield and Coutinho as attacking midfield in your formation ?

I seem to remember when he first arrived Lallana played there a few times, not very well but....

I think we are going to see:
 
               Mignolet

Clyne     Matip    Lovren    Milner

          Henderson        Wijnaldum
                         Lallana
Mane             Firmino           Coutinho

I would like to see:

                    Karius
Clyne      Matip      Lovren     Milner
                 Henderson
Mane          Firmino             Coutinho
          Sturridge      Origi         

I started to type that out with Coutinho in the hole behind the strikers as I think everyone agrees that's where he plays best but then who would play out left? We are wide open down the left at times, especially with Milner playing left back and cutting inside.

So much attention was put onto left-back during the summer I think left wing was completely overlooked as a problem area. That's not to say Coutinho can't play there but he is wasted out there.

Moreno anyone? 

Anyway as for the game I think Anfield will be well up for it, the players should be well up for it. I'm going with 3-1 to Liverpool and a miserable as f**k Sturridge to come off the bench and grab the 3rd.

I like the formation (2nd one) but I'm not sure on Henderson as a lone defensive midfielder. He likes to come forward with the ball too much, lacks the ability to control the game. Trouble is I'm unsure who you could put there in his place. Can is the same, Lucas lacks the pace. Maybe Grujic? It exposes the problem we have in not singing a defensive minded midfielder in the Summer.

I like the formation (2nd one) but I'm not sure on Henderson as a lone defensive midfielder. He likes to come forward with the ball too much, lacks the ability to control the game. Trouble is I'm unsure who you could put there in his place. Can is the same, Lucas lacks the pace. Maybe Grujic? It exposes the problem we have in not singing a defensive minded midfielder in the Summer.

Yeah I thought that after I wrote it. It would rely on Firmino tucking into the centre mid as well but that wouldn't really link up the strikers.

It again comes down to having too many attacking midfielders and not enough in defensive roles as you say. Playing a lone defensive midfielder relys on having someone like Kante who will just run himself into the ground making challenges, we don't have anyone like that, meaning we're reliant on playing two centre mids in deeper roles.

In doing so I think you would have to drop Firmino to get Sturridge in the team but Firmino is always going to in the starting line up which leaves Sturridge on the bench unless Klopp adopts a 2 striker system which he hasn't so far.

There is some real unbalance in the squad!

Had a dream, wasn't positive.

If we go with Sturridge for this I can see us grabbing the points.

Go with Firmino as a striker and I'm a bit worried.

Finally Premier League football again! I hate it when there is a break for international games, I tend to get a bit disillusioned with football so I'm glad to see it back.

If we go with Sturridge for this I can see us grabbing the points.

Go with Firmino as a striker and I'm a bit worried.

saved me a post..but while im here if it was me id go all out on our first home game of the season, the new stand etc..party atmosphere add to it by going all out attack..3-4-3

            Mignolet

   Lovern  Matip  Klavan

Clyne  Henderson Coutinho Moreno

   Mane   Sturridge  Firmino

7-4 get in happy days
 

The players are confident. Home game at Anfield. Should be a walk in the park. Who's Leicester? We are Liverpool. Same attitude as going into the Burnley match. We should easily score two goals and walk all over them. The players will take it easy. No problem. Three points already in their head before the ball is kicked.

Even with the special arrangements for travel, I wonder if Klopp might opt to start with Coutinho on the bench. Anyone things so?

Also, Grujic should have a spot on the bench for this, I saw some teams with Origi, Sturridge and Ings all on the bench and no Marko - doubt it.

saved me a post..but while im here if it was me id go all out on our first home game of the season, the new stand etc..party atmosphere add to it by going all out attack..3-4-3

            Mignolet

   Lovern  Matip  Klavan

Clyne  Henderson Coutinho Moreno

   Mane   Sturridge  Firmino

7-4 get in happy days

Interesting post, mate.
 
The old 3 at the back scenario with wing backs - I'm no Jürgen Klopp (or even a Mike Bassett) but to me that's the solution to the LB problem and, partially at least, the DM problem.  Maybe that was your thinking, too?

We've got the CBs to do it, I think, and it will utilise Moreno's strengths while minimising the damage caused by his weaknesses.

Very out of fashion as a formation, but all it takes to change fashion is someone to succeed doing something different.

Didn't BR try it with Can as a CB (which he never was of course)? But when Can comes back as a CM it could work.

I'm old enough to remember the similar formation Bobby Robson (bless him) used at Italia 90, which allowed him to unleash the combined attacking/midfield talents of Lineker, Barnes, Beardsley, Waddle and Platt while making England hard to break down (except from the penalty spot, but I digress...)!

Until Sturridge plays 9 and Coutinho 10 we will never be playing our best team.