Pre Match: Liverpool vs Sunderland - Wed 26th March 2014, K.O. 20:00

This looks a straightforward home win, which always worries me (it doesn't take much). Sunderland have been on a downward slide since the second half of the cup final. They won't have borini, or alonso. I think fletcher is injured too. Us on the other hand are absolutely flying. We need  good couple of goals by 60 minutes and then we can make spurs related decisions like;
1. Do we rest Gerrard?
2. Does sakho come in for the run in?
3. Cissokho vs Flanagan after yesterday's shaky display.

I don't think this will be 6-0 or anything of the sort. 3-1 would be fine.

For the first time in a long time I am also cheering on united

This really should be a comfortable home win, we are very very good at home and Sunderland are fairly poor.

This looks a straightforward home win, which always worries me (it doesn't take much). Sunderland have been on a downward slide since the second half of the cup final. They won't have borini, or alonso. I think fletcher is injured too. Us on the other hand are absolutely flying. We need  good couple of goals by 60 minutes and then we can make spurs related decisions like;
1. Do we rest Gerrard?
2. Does sakho come in for the run in?
3. Cissokho vs Flanagan after yesterday's shaky display.

I don't think this will be 6-0 or anything of the sort. 3-1 would be fine.

For the first time in a long time I am also cheering on united

Full team until the job is done.

Attack Attack Attack.

I'd like to see Cissokho, Sakho and Sterling come in for this match, replacing Flanagan, Agger and Allen.

This looks a straightforward home win, which always worries me (it doesn't take much). Sunderland have been on a downward slide since the second half of the cup final. They won't have borini, or alonso. I think fletcher is injured too. Us on the other hand are absolutely flying. We need  good couple of goals by 60 minutes and then we can make spurs related decisions like;
1. Do we rest Gerrard?
2. Does sakho come in for the run in?
3. Cissokho vs Flanagan after yesterday's shaky display.

I don't think this will be 6-0 or anything of the sort. 3-1 would be fine.

For the first time in a long time I am also cheering on united

Shhh, keep it quiet, most of us are with you on that but it may get misconstrued!

I didn't see the game yesterday but did Flanno do so bad that he should be dropped for Cissokho?

Same as Agger for Sakho?

I'd rather see an unchanged back four from now to the end of the season.

Drop Allen because he was terrible against Cardiff. Bring in Sterling.
Flanno is better than Cissokho.

Agger wasn't great against Cardiff, but that's only one game. Sakho can stay on the bench

Gerrard and his cards may be an issue Rodgers is considering

I didn't see the game yesterday but did Flanno do so bad that he should be dropped for Cissokho?

Same as Agger for Sakho?

I'd rather see an unchanged back four from now to the end of the season.

Flanno and Agger were both underpar certainly. Not bad enough to play Cissokho though

Flanno should definitely play. This is a game he should handle quire well and it'll give him back a little bit of confidence after Cardiff.

I also think Sakho has to get a run out. He needs game time, not only to get back to match fitness but also to get up to speed with the EPL. Half an hour would be ideal.

What I think is more important is whether we stick with the diamond. Sunderland went with a 4-3-3 against Norwich. The diamond has worked but SASAS up front as a trio would tear O'Shea and Brown apart!

Be surprised if Sakho just came straight in for this one - though I could see him being involved against Spurs.

Dropping Flanagan would be totally counter-productive.  I'd stick with the same eleven.

Flanagan had an off day but he's so young. He's obviously going to have those type of days from time to time and considering the opposition he has come up against so far, having an off day against a team like Cardiff is the right time - if there ever is - to have one. It's down to the more experienced players at the back to help him out and Agger was even worse than him so if anybody should be dropped from the back 4 it's the vice-captain. I think this will be a comfortable home win, I can't see their attack causing us any major problems. Altidore is possibly one of the worst strikers I've ever seen in this league, the only good asset of his is his strength. Their defence isn't great and I have the confidence in our attack to do a job on them but without expending so much energy considering we have a game next weekend too.

I'd like to see Lucas come in for Gerrard and Sterling in for Allen. Gerrard seems to be on the border of a possible suspension so starting on the bench may help that situation be avoided. If any other changes are to be made then possibly Sakho in for Agger but that's as far as I'd go.

I actually think Cissokho is better defensively than Flanagan as Left back. I think maybe we should give him a rest or, If he does play, shift him to the right and Johnson left. I worry about Adam Johnson vs Flanagan on the left.

I have got to go for another win and 3 more points for the MIGHTY REDS,I can't see Sunderland matching us in any position.

More of the same, no room for complacency, play a full strength side. It is obviously important to secure all 3 points, a win by a two goal margin will do nicely indeed.

I would take a scrappy 1-0 at this stage of the season, just keep the winning streak going.

C'mon the Redmen.

I would take a scrappy 1-0 at this stage of the season, just keep the winning streak going.

C'mon the Redmen.

Funny you say that, was listening to TAW there and one of the guys predicted a 1-0 win and the rest of the guys nearly fell off their seat, shocked into disbelief :-)
The other guy went 8-1 and the other a 'safe' 4-1. (It is funny though to think how improbable a 1-0 victory is these days for liverpool, especially considering that was the scoreline in each of our first 3 league fixtures.)

I'd like to see Sakho in for Agger, Sterling for Allen with a revert to 4-3-3

Can't imagine Stevie will be dropped for protection. I honestly would drop Coutinho for Sterling and leave the rest unchanged.

To echo Brendan it has felt like an eternity since we have played at home looking forward to it, will take any sort of win.

Hopefully Anfield will be rocking and lads will be well up for it.

I'll start the same team, and that means Allen and Coutinho. Both need goals, I thought Phillippe was coming good at Cardiff with his set pieces and short passes. Get the goals, give minutes to Sakho, he is incredibly important for the run-in

Same team as Saturday with Sterling, Sakho and Lucas to come on in the second half for Cou, Agger and Stevie.

I am wondering whether Lucas will figure against Chelsea and Citeh or if Gerrard will stay there  with Allen and Hendo. If Lucas is going to figure against the two big guns then he needs practice. It may be too much of a risk to try and incorporate him now. I would give him a run against Sunderland and see how he is.

I would actually rest Flanno for this one, he's a big game player so Spurs and City are better suited for him.  He needs a rest, he's still a young lad who'll have dips in form and he's  performed out of his skin the last few games so take the pressure off and get him ready for the tough ones to come.

I'd also bring Sakho in, he needs to be match fit again ready for the bigger games coming up.

Bring Sterling/Coutinho back in place of Allen, not because Joe's not played well but because we're at home and really don't need the extra protection in midfield. 

We need to bump up our goal difference again so we need our most lethal attacking players playing.  Back to 433 please Brendan.

I'd like to see Lucas start possibly for Allen, I'd stick with the same back four..