Pre Match : Chelsea v Liverpool FC : Friday 16th Sept : 8.00pm

Going to be some interesting selection problems for Jürgen for this game with Karius, Lovren, Klaven(if Lovren is not fit), Can and Coutinho all pressing for inclusion.


                    Mignolet

Clyne          Lovren         Matip       Milner


       Henderson   Coutinho   Can     


  Mane          Sturridge       Firmino   

Don't think Jürgen will see things quite the same way though    

Going for a low scoring draw in this game. We rarely play well twice on the trot and Chelsea while still a little over-rated aren't as poor as they were.   

I'd loved to see this starring XI, no way Lallana is getting dropped though at the minute.

            Karius
Clyne  Lovren  Matip  Milner
        Can Henderson     
   Mane Coutinho Firmino
          Sturridge

Karius in for Migs, Can in for Giji.
Would go with Sturridge up front, needs more game time, and even if not putting chances away his movement and passing was good vs. Leicester and created chances for others. And he deserves a chance in a big fixture.
Tough choice though, cause if Cou comes back in, Lallana looses out even though his form has been very good.

Feeling confident enough given our recent form. 3-2 to us

I'd loved to see this starring XI, no way Lallana is getting dropped though at the minute.

Yeah, but it was the only way I could keep Sturridge and bring in Coutinho. I think Coutinho AND Lallana in midfield would be too lightweight so something had to give! 

I agree it's highly doubtful that Klopp would rest Lallana, but maybe he needs a rest after running so far against Leicester

                        Migs
Clyne     Lovren     Matip    Milner
                       Hendo
         Lallana            Coutinho
               Mane        Firmino
                       Sturridge
I think coutinho playing from deeper in midfield would suit him better in this formation than as a left forward.
2-1 to us.

gutted Terry isn't playing but then again if he doesn't go to the ground his team mates are going to be wondering were the F**k he is. I really want to win this one

Yeah, but it was the only way I could keep Sturridge and bring in Coutinho. I think Coutinho AND Lallana in midfield would be too lightweight so something had to give! 

I agree it's highly doubtful that Klopp would rest Lallana, but maybe he needs a rest after running so far against Leicester

Could possibly happen,  Klopp proper loves lallana but maybe he will rest him.

Hopefully, I'd like to see sturridge, mane, Phil and Bob line up together. That'd be frightening pace and passing

Ouch.

He's a young lad. 5am is when you get back from your Friday night out.

I think Matip will relish putting Costa in his pocket he is big but he is also immensely strong. I think Migs is still number one as far as Jürgen is concerned and he did have a decent enough game on Saturday.

Really feel taking it to them is the way to go. They'll expect firmino up front so go with sturridge.

Run them for an hour bag 1 or 2 get can or Lucas on tighten it up and play them on the break

A lot of people seem upset about the day/time of this one, but I'm excited about it.... I've already got my excuse to cut out of work early and hit the pub!!  The wife will be at work, girls at daycare, and I'll be having a few of my favorite bevvies while watching our lads rip Chelsea to pieces!!! 

I'd bring Lovren in for Lucas, but leave the rest alone.  We were lethal in attack last week, so let that same group do their thing again.  I'm going for a 3-1 win. 

What is this rubbish about resting players.

Its a massive F***ing game against one of the title favourites.

Play the same team that spanked Leicester with the exception of Lovren for Lucas.

You could make an argument for Can for Winaldum to beef it up a bit but otherwise you stick to what you have.

Coutinho / Origi they wait simple as. 

5am.

This Friday night footy needs to piss off. Sh*t time-slot for everyone except Europe. I wanna sleep in on Saturday, not get up earlier.

There is only burglars and coppers out at 5am John,the kick off is 7am in NZ so that is a respectable time for me to enjoy watching us thrash Chelsea.

Did not realise that this was a Friday night fixture tbh. I would settle for a draw knowing our up and down form.

I think we'll go back to the false 9 (I wouldn't do it myself but I think we will). I think Lovren will be back in (I would do that) and that'll be the only changes. I think rather than wait until the inevitable Migs howler I'd stick the new goalie in now, if he's genuinely good enough what's the point in waiting, but I don't think we will.

Contrary to many I think it'll be tough to get a result, but I think we will. 2-2 draw. (Costa and Lovren sent off).   

This is the fixture I look forward to least each season.

But I do think we can come away with 3 points here, we've done it before and we'll F***ing do it again.  They'll park the bus against us, even at home, and wait patiently for us to make a mistake or nick a goal from a set piece perhaps.  If they score the first goal they will shut up shop and it will be difficult to get back into the game then.

If we score the first goal though, they have no other choice than to come at us which will just play into our hands, leaving space for us to counter.

I'd make two changes, Lovren in for Lucas and Can in for Wijnaldum.  I thought Lucas was superb on Saturday despite his blunder but I'd bring in Dejan (if he can see) for his aerial presence.  Wijnaldum has got off to a poor start for us in my opinion and we can't afford any passengers in this game. Take him out for this one and bring Emre in.


                 Mignolet

  Clyne   Matip     Lovren   Milner

             Hendo  Can

   Mane       Lallana     Firmino

                 Sturridge

I hope Jürgen keeps Danny in rather than playing Firmino up top and bringing Coutinho in on the left. I love Coutinho but we played really well on Saturday so lets leave things how they are. I'd like to see coutinho in a central role but he might be a bit too weak for this game playing there.

I'm very interested to see how Henderson performs. I've slaughtered Henderson left right and centre, especially since he has taken the armband, but on Saturday he really impressed me and it was his first real captain-like performance I've seen from him. I hope he takes that into this game now.

Come on redmen we can do these. Be brave, be confident and just play football. If we win we will be in a very very healthy position indeed considering our opening fixtures. Come on lads!!!

Firmino will tear them apart. 3-1 win.

Chelsea while still a little over-rated aren't as poor as they were.

No s@int they aren't but with Conte being 'a new ('foreign') manager, in a new league, with new players'? Surely, if any of those excuses are still valid, then they are there for the taking? 

I reckon we will do them... both on Friday and in finishing league position. 

A first that I can remember with a league game on a Friday evening for the mighty red men. Not an easy one for the travelling Kop getting in and out of central London.
The money men certainly have no consideration for the fans!

A ground where until recently we have not had a huge amount of success however this season I'm not fearing any team home or away - The Klopp effect.

Will be interesting does Klopp go back to his favoured false number nine with Firmino up top which we have utilised very successfully against the big guns or stick with the team that dismantled the Champions.

On performance no one deserves to be dropped form the game on Saturday.

I have a feeling we will see the following :

Migs
Clyne
Matip
Lovren
Milner

Hendo
Gini
Lallana

Mane
Coutinho
Firmino.

With Studge or Origi replacing Coutinho/ Firmino at some point depending on how the game is going.

Seem to remember the last time this happened there was a book written about the game, it was the end of season title match against the gunners at Anfield

I think we'll squeeze this one 2-1 (I'm stuck in hospital for a week so no Alcohol for this one ) so If we lose I'll need a double dose of anti-depressants!

Why anyone would change a winning team is beyond me, barring injury or suspension stick with a winning formula!
COYR

This will be a very tough game.
I would say, if we can keep Hazard quiet, then we have a great chance of winning.
Our attack has goals in them, so the front 4 can remain unchanged...biggest threat for me will be central midfield,so i hope Henderson and Can/Gini can do a job there.

Going for a hard fought 1-2 win to the Reds.

Our confidence is sky high. They're no longer the Chelsea of previous years. Even finished lower than us last year. But that's the fear. That overconfident players think it's going to be a walk in the park and take them lightly. We'll then return to Burnley all over again. Our greatest enemy is ourselves.

I'd stick with the same team as last game, except for Lovren in for Lucas. I haven't really seen enough of Chelsea this season to know how they are playing, but certainly with Italy Conte had them playing a lot of long balls, with all their midfield bar one pushing up to win the second ball ( I suspect thats the main reason he's brought back Luiz - so he can be the one playing the long passes forward).

So our CB's are likely to be tested in the air more than so far this season - hence Lovren.

If they do play a lot of long balls, then we may be able to get at them if Hendo, Wijnaldum etc can be first to the second ball and get us breaking quickly in numbers. I was surprised the gap Conte had between front and back for Italy - there was a lot of space to attack there if you could make it past their initial high press.

Anyway that is all based on Italy not Chelsea, so I may well be off the mark. I'd still bring Lovren in though.

I don't really buy the idea that we are going to be overconfident going into this one. It's going to be a tough game. Should be a good one though, and will probably give us our best test of where we are so far this season.

https://twitter.com/jamespearceecho/status/776029348474261504

What the hell is  going on with a  Friday game??

I'm likely going to miss this now. 


Think we need to field the same team until someone shows us they don't deserve to be in there (although I would probably put Lovren in for Lucas).

Must have 3 points. We need to make up ground early and get some momentum going.