Your non-Gerrard/Lucas/Henderson starting XI?

Just for fun: suppose, for whatever reason, that Stevie, Lucas and Henderson are all unavailable to start against Fulham.  The reasons aren't relevant; many of us think they need to be dropped, but you can imagine whatever you'd like just to pretend: they need to be dropped, they're tired, they're hurt, their wives miraculously go into labour on the same day, etc.  so, assuming you're the manager and those three will either be out or on the bench against Fulham, what would your starting lineup and formation be, given the players in the squad at your disposal? 

I would give this a try:


Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Sakho Enrique
Agger Allen
Coutinho
Suarez Sturridge Moses




Agger has played in midfield before, so we could give him a go in a holding role, Allen being the outlet between him and Coutinho, with him and Allen having license to get forward.

What would you do?

Against a team like Fulham i would actually stick to a 3-5-2 coz they dont posses the same danger which Arsenal does in midfield.
I would have:
             Toure  Skrtel Sakho
    Johnson Allen Agger Coutinho Enrique/Cissoko
                 Suarez Sturridge

I would also alternate between Moses/Ibe/Sterling on the 2 wings and give Alberto some game time in place of Coutinho.

Alternatively a 4-2-3-1 of :

Johnson Skrtel Sakho Enrique
        Allen Agger
Moses Coutinho Suarez
          Sturridge

I'd throw Jose in the DM role and have an inverted triangle of;

                 Jose
      Coutinho   Alberto

Hes the best shepherded of the ball we have and not easy to get round. Has some legs on him too.

Obviously would need someone along side him for those Top 6 clashes away from home, but would love to try this out against one of the lower table teams (Fulham/Palace at home) etc.

Jose Enrique as a DM.

Jesus wept.

None of the above

Three £20m+ players in January would see us alright

Like that's going to happen

At this rate, we're going to need a new sub-board just to discuss our midfield. 

Jose Enrique as a DM.

Jesus wept.

Yea we don't want a Fiorentina moment. I.e. Rafa putting Fabio Aurelio in DM, and he had a shocker.

If the current three midfielders were unavailable then I could probably stick with the current formation.

I'd bring Moses in behind Suarez-Sturridge. 

Toure - Skrtel - Sakho

Johnson - Allen -  Agger
Coutinho

Moses
Suarez-Sturridge

Not a team I would necessarily pick away at the likes of Arsenal though!

For the craic:

                       Mignolet

               Kolo                 Sakho

Johnson              Agger                  Enrique

             Coutinho        Allen

Suarez              Sturridge          Moses

For the craic:

                       Mignolet

               Kolo                 Sakho

Johnson              Agger                  Enrique

             Coutinho        Allen

Suarez              Sturridge          Moses

That's something similar to what I'd play on Saturday Racer.

Time for a big change I think and home to Fulham the perfect opportunity.

That's something similar to what I'd play on Saturday Racer.

Time for a big change I think and home to Fulham the perfect opportunity.

Yeah, I think we have seen our squad exposed quite a lot.
3-5-2 was/is the best use of what we have available to us,
but only when Johnson, Enrique and Coutinho are available.

With poor full backs and absolutely no wide outlet we got
hammered.

Without it taking the pressure off or opening up the game
our immobile midfield got exposed fairly quickly.

I'd like to see Agger given the role of Libero.
Not sure that will happen as long as Lucas plays,
but why play Lucas and have 3 at the back, none of whom
are named Agger?

Yeah, I think we have seen our squad exposed quite a lot.
3-5-2 was/is the best use of what we have available to us,
but only when Johnson, Enrique and Coutinho are available.

With poor full backs and absolutely no wide outlet we got
hammered.

Without it taking the pressure off or opening up the game
our immobile midfield got exposed fairly quickly.

I'd like to see Agger given the role of Libero.
Not sure that will happen as long as Lucas plays,
but why play Lucas and have 3 at the back, none of whom
are named Agger?

Agree.

Something different has to be tried but I'm almost certain it wont.

I was actually thinking about an attacking sweeper this morning.


I dont know whether that would commend Rodgers for being pragmatic. Or ask the question "what the hell is going on"...


Personally, I think a sweeper SHOULD be considered as a solution until Jan.

That's something similar to what I'd play on Saturday Racer.

Time for a big change I think and home to Fulham the perfect opportunity.

I'd go that way too or if we're reverting to 4 at the back I'd try Agger and Sakho as cb's with Glen and Jose fb's with Allen holding, Jordan and Alberto either side, Cou just ahead and SAS up front.  Iow a diamond 4 in the middle with Glen and Jose providing the width.  Or keep Lucas in his usual role and Allen replacing Jordan but personally I don't believe we need so much protection against Fulham.

We need to find our control, flair and possession.

I would put the accent on our attack and go 4-2-4... we may not win many but we would score a few goals.

                          Mignolet

Johnson         Toure      Agger         Enrique

                Coutinho       Allen

Stirling       Suarez      Sturridge      Moses

If I wanted to win the odd game rather than just entertain :-

                         Mignolet

Johnson         Skrtel      Agger        Enrique

                Toure                Allen

                           Coutinho

                 Suarez    Sturridge   Moses 
       

                  Mignolet
          Skrtel - Agger - Sakho
Johnson - Touré - Allen - Enrique
                   Coutinho
             Suarez - Sturridge

I was actually thinking about an attacking sweeper this morning.


I dont know whether that would commend Rodgers for being pragmatic. Or ask the question "what the hell is going on"...


Personally, I think a sweeper SHOULD be considered as a solution until Jan.

why not its a good an idea as anything else we have heard.

Interesting to know how many would actually go for a Lucas/Gerrard free team on Saturday?

Obviously I would like to see it and feel a change is needed.

Interesting to know how many would actually go for a Lucas/Gerrard free team on Saturday?

Obviously I would like to see it and feel a change is needed.

I would Si.  They need resting and we need to give others their chance, better doing it against Fulham than be forced to do it in the derby.  They're both on International duty next week and we never play well after internationals and usually have injuries because of them.

               Mignolet

Skrtle- Agger- Sakho- Enrique

                 Toure

   Johnson-Coutinho-Sterling

           Suarez  Sturridge

     

why not its a good an idea as anything else we have heard.

Yes its a good idea. But my worry is, if BR tries this, does that mean he had no idea what he was doing previously? Does that mean he's gonna keep "rolling the dice".  Big big changes can be unsettling for teams. I just think "surely he had an idea our midfield was weak against decent teams". If not, why not. And if so, why didn't he do more to improve this area? Were Fenway already sharpening the axe even? Or just not bothered?


Our big problem is when we DONT have the ball. When we have it, and arent over-harried in midfield, we arent as bad. So will a sweeper help us regain posession etc?

Interesting to know how many would actually go for a Lucas/Gerrard free team on Saturday?

Obviously I would like to see it and feel a change is needed.

I think a change is needed, but losing both Gerrard and Lucas is overkill for me. Danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Until Christmas I think we have to try to get the best out of the midfield TACTICALLY rather than just dropping players as we don't really have many alternatives. Allen for Lucas OR Gerrard is worth a try, but personally I think if we get Johnson, Enrique and Coutinho back to stretch the play I think half our midfield problems will disappear anyway.

One of the problems we have had this season in midfield is we have no one who "travels" with the ball. (The best example would be McManaman at his peak) Everyone is looking to pass but only Coutinho and Johnson really run with the ball for any distance (without losing it I mean )

I wonder if he's thought about dropping Coutinho in the middle, just playing Luis and Sturr, then having 4 midfielders and widemen?


Probably is Hendo, Lucas and Stevie are pretty ropey playing deep vs good teams..

               Mignolet

Skrtle- Agger- Sakho- Enrique

                 Toure

   Johnson-Coutinho-Sterling

           Suarez  Sturridge

     

That's almost hilariously sh*t.
 
Toure isn't a DM; Skrtel at RB, a position he played so badly last time it was tried, I nearly cried; Johnson as a RW, which he isn't; and no CM players at all.
 
I don't think I've seen a more appalingly ill-considered line-up suggestion. The only way it would get a result is if the opposition laughed so much when they saw the teamsheet, they all got injured.

That's almost hilariously sh*t.
 
Toure isn't a DM; Skrtel at RB, a position he played so badly last time it was tried, I nearly cried; Johnson as a RW, which he isn't; and no CM players at all.
 
I don't think I've seen a more appalingly ill-considered line-up suggestion. The only way it would get a result is if the opposition laughed so much when they saw the teamsheet, they all got injured.

I think Shabs is obviously going for a long ball game, knocking the ball over and missing the midfield out entirely, with Johnson, Coutinho and  Stirling picking up the loose balls.

That's almost hilariously sh*t.
 
Toure isn't a DM; Skrtel at RB, a position he played so badly last time it was tried, I nearly cried; Johnson as a RW, which he isn't; and no CM players at all.
 
I don't think I've seen a more appalingly ill-considered line-up suggestion. The only way it would get a result is if the opposition laughed so much when they saw the teamsheet, they all got injured.

But the thread title does read a bit like "what line up without ANY of the 3 midfielders of Saturday".
I think thats where the confusion started.


I also wonder what sort of an effort one of the defenders would make, if we tried to convert one to defensive midfield. For example Marcel Desailly (terrific defender) was also used as a midfielder early in his career - at AC Milan.

The only way to replace the 3 is to open up the purse in January take out anything from 40 to 60 million quid...
However to answer the question in the op
 
               Mignolet
 
Johnson Skrtel Agger  Jose/Cissokho
 
    Toure/Sakho  Kelly
 
Suarez   Coutinho   Moses
 
              Sturridge
 

That's almost hilariously sh*t.
 
Toure isn't a DM; Skrtel at RB, a position he played so badly last time it was tried, I nearly cried; Johnson as a RW, which he isn't; and no CM players at all.
 
I don't think I've seen a more appalingly ill-considered line-up suggestion. The only way it would get a result is if the opposition laughed so much when they saw the teamsheet, they all got injured.

 

I think we need an overhaul in our midfield, I'm afraid we are just not good enough in that area and we need 2 midfielders who are better than Lucas and Henderson, and a Gerrard replacement in order to make a step up.


We will struggle this season against quality midfield, same way we did against Arsenal.

None of the above

Three £20m+ players in January would see us alright

Like that's going to happen

don't hold your breath mate   

                  Mignolet
          Skrtel - Agger - Sakho
Johnson - Touré - Allen - Enrique
                   Coutinho
             Suarez - Sturridge

Now THAT is a team that I would love to see against Fulham.  I think it would work.

I must ask, what would be the need in playing three centre backs other than trying to keep them all happy?

Unless we actually have genuine wing backs, which we don't, I'd stick to a 433 formation. It's Fulham ffs. The only 352 I would play is this:

                  Mignolet
   
         Skrtel  Agger  Sakho

              Lucas   Hendo

Sterling        Coutinho      Moses

            Sturridge  Suarez

That's three in defence, five in midfield, and two up front... as the formation suggests...

EDIT: woops, wrong thread

                  Mignolet
          Skrtel - Agger - Sakho
Johnson - Touré - Allen - Enrique
                   Coutinho
             Suarez - Sturridge

I quite like the look of that line-up, I'm not surei'd go with three at the back necessarily but a midfield three of Toure, Allen and Coutinho is deffo the option I would go for. I think Toure would be FAR more effective in an emergency holding role compared to Agger.

I must ask, what would be the need in playing three centre backs other than trying to keep them all happy?

Because Johnson and Enrique have the pace to go forward and supply SAS as well as track back with any counter attacking footballers. It's only when those two aren't in the team the three at the back doesn't work.

Because Johnson and Enrique have the pace to go forward and supply SAS as well as track back with any counter attacking footballers. It's only when those two aren't in the team the three at the back doesn't work.

They can do exactly the same being part of a back four though.

I must ask, what would be the need in playing three centre backs other than trying to keep them all happy?

To boost up Skrtels price for next window wage cut maybe

Unless we actually have genuine wing backs, which we don't, I'd stick to a 433 formation. It's Fulham ffs. The only 352 I would play is this:

                  Mignolet
   
         Skrtel  Agger  Sakho

              Lucas   Allen

Sterling        Coutinho      Moses

            Sturridge  Suarez

That's three in defence, five in midfield, and two up front... as the formation suggests...

EDIT: woops, wrong thread

I really like that attacking lineup when we play at home against not very strong team. 


EDIT : Hendo not available (by the thread title ) so I'll put Allen there.

I can't wait til young Suso returns, this boy deserves to be in Liverpools starting XI, certainly over Henderson. I know he's young and needs first team football but with the way he played last season I thought he deserved to compete for a place considering how poor our midfield is.
The reports from spain are saying that he has been Almerias outstanding player and he has 5 assists in the league already.
 

                Migs

Kolo   Skrtel   Agger     Jose

  Sterling    Allen    Alberto
             
              Coutinho
      Sturridge   Suarez

                Migs

Kolo   Skrtel   Agger     Jose

  Sterling    Allen    Alberto
             
              Coutinho
      Sturridge   Suarez

No chance that midfield would work.

No chance that midfield would work.

Acknowledged. What would you do then? Bring in Ilori?

I'd certainly like to see us try something new, Gerrard and Lucas in the middle quite simply doesn't work against a good midfield. I think its to risky to replace both of them in one go though, unless we absolutely had to.

Acknowledged. What would you do then? Bring in Ilori?

Ilori's a defender and I think we have more than enough square pegs in round holes at present.

To answer your question and the whole purpose of the topic we don't have a midfield if you remove all 3 of them.  Change 1 or even 2 out of the 3 and we could probably cope but leave them all out and we'd have problems.

I must ask, what would be the need in playing three centre backs other than trying to keep them all happy?

Unless we actually have genuine wing backs, which we don't, I'd stick to a 433 formation. It's Fulham ffs. The only 352 I would play is this:

                  Mignolet
   
         Skrtel  Agger  Sakho

              Lucas   Hendo

Sterling        Coutinho      Moses

            Sturridge  Suarez

That's three in defence, five in midfield, and two up front... as the formation suggests...

EDIT: woops, wrong thread

Love the look of that team but would swap Gerrard for lucas then around the 65min mark sub Gerrard for Lucas, but against the lesser teams at home i would defo give that a try.