Liverpool V Aston Villa - January 18th at 17:30

Another must win for Liverpool. Aren't they all? Whilst home advantage and form make us favourites complacency is to be avoided at all costs. Benteke finally shook the monkey off his back yesterday and agbonlahor can not be left isolated with Cissokho.

I have lots of respect for Lambert as a player and manager. A champions league winner with Dortmund, he worked miracles at Norwich and did really well with Villa last year with a very young squad. Where they were when he took over must be remembered although it is worth noting that they are playing terrible football this year, look very vulnerable down the left and Weimann and Benteke have regressed.

The question of whether Sturridge comes in for Coutinho or Lucas is an interesting one. Sterling probably too good to drop at the moment. 3-1 home win I reckon

I reckon we'll comfortably win this one. I am going for 3-0

Anyway, question to you guys: what do you truly believe is our current strongest XI? (Of course when fit, Enrique walks into this team)

Personally I'd have to go with: mignolet, cissokho, sakho, skrtel, Johnson, Lucas, gerrard, Henderson, sterling, sturridge, Suarez.

I don't think Coutinho warrants a place at the expensive of anyone in our current front three. Unless he drops Lucas, I just can't see why he should be getting into the team. He's disappointed this season. Needs to stop trying too hard and play his normal game.

Have to be beating Villa at home, no excuses. Defence in midfield seem to be playing different games from what I can see. Apart from Gerrard, I think our midfield was a bit poor versus Stoke. Cissokho has to be dropped, he simply isn't good enough, deflected goal or no deflected goal. I would rather we play Kolo at left back than Aly. Is Mamadou fit?

Looking forward to it. First game at for me at Anfield for a few months now and my brothers first game in a few years. Looking forward to seeing all the regulars in the pub beforehand as well.

I seem to remeber last season we got a bit of a mauling at home to Villa - so another opportunity to see how far we have come, or indeed they have drifted... Benteke is playing worse than he should, so expect something from him like he did last night against Arsenal - it would appear he likes to play in the big games.

Selection is straight forward for me and we start with the same we did last weekned... Sturridge on the bench and to come on and score again please - I would not want to start him as he is only back from injury and we cant risk it IMO.

This is a great chance to reverse the situation we had on Sunday - as we get to go first. If we win it will put pressure on others (Swansea vs. Sputs, Chavs vs. Utd, West Brom vs. Toffies) who have away games this weekend. I would like to see us put together a run of wins and get some space between us and 5th place. We are 1 point clear of Everton, by Monday this could be 4 and although not safe starts to build up a cushion that we need - especially if we beat them the week after!

OP - could have done with a few pics etc thrown in there!

-------------------------------Mignolet-------------------------

Johnson------------Skrtel--------------Sakho--------------Toure

--------------------Gerrard-------------Henderson--------------

-------Sterling---------------Suarez------------------Coutinho

-----------------------------Sturridge---------------------------


That's probably our best side until Enrique and Agger are fit again. Fluid 4-2-3-1 and our best attacking players all on the pitch.
Slight risk until we buy a dedicated, specialist DM, but Lucas isn't good enough and Gerrard and Henderson in tandem should be solid enough, as long as they both are sensible regarding defensive duties.

Cissokho cannot play, as he is useless.

I think Coutinho needs a rest, but I am not really happy with Lucas playing in a more advanced role either. I think we may start with Lucas as we don't really have too many options.

                         Mignolet

Johnson          Skrtel        Sakho      Cissokho

            Lucas    Gerrard     Henderson

           Stirling       Suarez    Sturridge     

Very worried about our fullbacks in this game as Villa have players with pace and if we allow them to get as many crosses in as we have done recently we could pay a heavy price.

Apart from that threat I think it will be business as usual and a routine win against a Villa side lacking in quality. 3-1 with SAS getting our goals.       

Cissokho is useless. Could Kelly play Lb or rb with Johnson at lb?

Cissokho is useless. Could Kelly play Lb or rb with Johnson at lb?

He could.... but for some reason Brendan doesn't seem to want to play him (fitness?)

Mignolet; Kelly, Skrtel, Sakho, Johnson; Sterling, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Sturridge, Suarez.

Should be a solid win, just have to watch them on the counter attack.

top 3 will all draw & we beat all three! 

This is a very poor Villa side. They're relatively toothless in attack and have pretty much 1 way of scoring goals and that's through a pacey counter-attack.

They'll set up to stifle us and I don't think any team in the world could currently contain Sturridge and Suarez, I am concerned that we may expose ourselves quite a bit if we persist with Gerrard as the DM simply because we will have the lion's share of the possession and he will get dragged further up the pitch. This is in no way to suggest we'll struggle to win the game though because I think we'll win quite comfortably but a clean sheet, even against Villa might be too much to ask.

3-1 to the lads.

-------------------------------Mignolet-------------------------

Toure------------Skrtel--------------Sakho--------------Johnson/Cissokho

--------------------Gerrard-------------Henderson--------------

                   Sterling---------Coutinho---------Suarez

-----------------------------Sturridge---------------------------

Could we not play Henderson as the DM, he has a good engine on him, can make a good pass but doesn't offer much in terms of shooting? BTW I'd play Glen and Kelly, surely Kelly can't be any worse than Cissokho??

Villa started off decent then fell off. I reckon we will do them 3-0, Villa are a proper bogey team though and when they turn up then can beat anyone in the league as seen with the likes of Arsenal. Is Sakho back? Seen his name placed in some posters line ups.

A must win, as all games are for us, especially at home. Watched their game with Arsenal last night, and although they got 1 goal back and perhaps were more dominant in later stages that wasn't a big surprise, a team at home trailing get one back, obviously Arsenal weren't going to carry on with their fluid attacking football and risk conceding, especially with Villa at home, and although Villa had a few attacks, Arsenal never really looked that threatened. They seem very week down the left hand side and virtually all their movement was coming from the right (both good and bad for us). But in regards to the former points I dont think we have a lot to worry about.

I would expect Sturridge to start so the big question is who will be dropped, 4 candidates Lucas, Coutinho, Sterling and Henderson (in that order also for me), I think with it being a home game against a team that has struggled of late we can afford to have another attacking option by taking Lucas out for Sturridge, but I would perhaps take Coutinho out as I dont think he has performed well of late, although it could be a different ball game as they will have to mark up on Suarez + Sturridge now, but then again I think B-Rod really likes him and can't see him being dropped.

Sakho being fit would be a big boost for us, especially going into the derby in 10 days time after the game, still believe that Skrtel-Sakho is our best partnership at the back. I think Agbonlahor can expose Cissokho on our left but Aly has been a lot better in the past couple of games, seems to stand strong against advancing wingers and doesnt get beat very often, although he still struggles getting forward a little. For this reason I would also have Henderson playing largely down the left as he can cover Cissokho defensively and be a threat going forward.

                                       Mignolet
                      Johnson  Skrtel   Sakho/Toure  Cissokho
                                   Gerrard
                                                   Henderson
                          Sterling                 Coutinho
                               Sturridge     Suarez

Jones; Kelly, Sakho/Toure; Lucas, Alberto; Moses, Aspas

I think Sterling, Johnson and Sturridge down that right hand-side will be a great threat to Villas defence and we should expect a good number of chances coming from there.

From our recent home form, and with an almost full strength squad now I simply cant see us losing. If we dont concede more than 2 goals I think we have easily got the 3 points. Im going with 4-1 Sturridge, Suarez (2) + Sterling

-------------------------------Mignolet-------------------------

Johnson------------Skrtel--------------Sakho--------------Toure

--------------------Gerrard-------------Henderson--------------

-------Sterling---------------Suarez------------------Coutinho

-----------------------------Sturridge---------------------------


That's probably our best side until Enrique and Agger are fit again. Fluid 4-2-3-1 and our best attacking players all on the pitch.
Slight risk until we buy a dedicated, specialist DM, but Lucas isn't good enough and Gerrard and Henderson in tandem should be solid enough, as long as they both are sensible regarding defensive duties.

Cissokho cannot play, as he is useless.

Agree with the line up except Toure at LB, either play GJ there and Kelly other side or Sissokho gets another game.

Agree about dropping Lucas and going with our pace and creativity up front.

Real shame they didn't get something from the Arsenal game.  Feel it will fire them up even more for Anfield.

As ever, going to be fascinating to see the formation/team.  I'm expecting yet another defensive reshuffle.  And how is Gerrard going to enjoy Anfield - the scene of all his great bursting forward runs - this time as a glorified defender?

I think it's going to be a toss up between Sterling and Henderson as the makeway for Sturridge and my feeling is it will be Sterling. Toure will likely start to give Sakho a little more time, especially with the derby up next (in terms of League).

                                     Mignolet
                      Johnson  Skrtel   Sakho/Toure  Cissokho
                                   Gerrard
                                                   Lucas
                     Henderson                             Coutinho
                               Sturridge     Suarez

As others have said, the thing that worries me is our fullbacks against Villa's pace. They where simply horrible against Stoke and I don't see us keeping our 4th Clean sheet in this match. Right now we seem to be relying on outscoring our opposition. I'd go for us to win 3-2.

Assuming BR sticking with the experiment of Stevie as DM then I would have Mig, Kelly, Sakho, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez.
No need to rush Sturridge back when he is fit then its between Sterling and Coutinho who misses out. On current form Coutinho might be the one warming the bench soon.

Ideal opponent for Rodgers to try and accomodate Sturridge. I can see Sterling playing at right back, with Johnson switching to the left. Sakho back in place of Toure. Same midfield three of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson, although I'd consider Alberto to start if he was in rotation recently. Coutinho's finishing been abysmal this year but he is still very important to us esp. at Anfield so he should not be dropped imo. Despite our opponents finding more about Mignolet's short-comings with every passing game, and Jones's brilliant display vs Oldham I don't think it'd do Simon any good being dropped at this stage. Expect another goal-fest, and if Brendan starts with the same 'keeper and back-four like against Stoke then I fear we'd need to score 3 or more goals again to get much needed three points. 4:2 to LFC.

                        Mignolet

            Skrtel                   Sakho
                        Gerrard
                                                   Johnson
Sterling
                             Lucas
            Hendo
                                      Coutinho

                  Suarez   Sturridge

Fancy us to batter these to be honest.

Keep the pressure on.

Ideal opponent for Rodgers to try and accomodate Sturridge. I can see Sterling playing at right back, with Johnson switching to the left. Sakho back in place of Toure. Same midfield three of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson, although I'd consider Alberto to start if he was in rotation recently. Coutinho's finishing been abysmal this year but he is still very important to us esp. at Anfield so he should not be dropped imo. Despite our opponents finding more about Mignolet's short-comings with every passing game, and Jones's brilliant display vs Oldham I don't think it'd do Simon any good being dropped at this stage. Expect another goal-fest, and if Brendan starts with the same 'keeper and back-four like against Stoke then I fear we'd need to score 3 or more goals again to get much needed three points. 4:2 to LFC.

                        Mignolet

            Skrtel                   Sakho
                        Gerrard
                                                   Johnson
Sterling
                             Lucas
            Hendo
                                      Coutinho

                  Suarez   Sturridge

Sterling at right back? You being serious?! He struggled like F**k in the more advanced alternative role of right wing back a few weeks/months ago. Where have you got the idea of dropping Mignolet from? Please tell me you're on a wind up mission!

Mignolet

Kelly Agger Sakho Johnson

Gerrard
Hendo      Coutinho

Sterling

Suarez   Sturridge

I'd like to see that team in that formation (if the gaffer is to stick with Gerrard as the holding mid). Aston Villa have been playing with 3 centre backs (they changed to a back 4 once Baker got injured against Arsenal though) so I think playing Sturridge as a loan striker  against 3 centre backs could possibly limit the amount of chances Sturridge has in free space. Play Suarez up with him like the Brendan has done on quite a few occasions would mean that Suarez or Sturridge could drag a few of them out of position and therefore create the space. If needs be Coutinho could be pushed to wide left (although I'd rather he remained central), Sterling to wide right and Suarez behind Sturridge.

Having players who can play in more than one position is so beneficial in circumstances when the opposition gets stubborn.

I'm going to predict a rare clean sheet and a 2-0 victory for the red men with the 2 usual culprits getting the goals.

Dont want to sound over confident but Villa are bloody awful, I know a few of their fans and they are really pissed off with the way they are playing. Only word of caution as we will probably have over 70% possession is making sure the back 4 concentrate for the full 90mins.
I would go with the following -

Mignolet, Kelly, Sakho, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez.

No need to rush Sturridge back from injury and he comes on after 60mins for either Sterling/Coutinho.

4-0