Sunderland v Liverpool Sat 10th Jan 12:45ko - Pre Match discussion

Mignolet

Can
Skrtel
Sakho

Henderson
Gerrard (c)
Lucas
Moreno

Coutinho
Sterling
Markovic

Subs: Ward; Manquillo, Lovren, Enrique; Ojo; Balotelli, Borini.

Guessing the same players will be out injured and I think Toure has gone to the Africa Cup of Nations so I expect Can to continue at RCB.

2-1 to us, Gerrard and Sterling with the goals! 

Mignolet

Can
Skrtel
Sakho

Henderson
Gerrard (c)
Lucas
Moreno

Coutinho
Sterling
Markovic

Subs: Ward; Manquillo, Lovren, Enrique; Ojo; Balotelli, Borini.

Guessing the same players will be out injured and I think Toure has gone to the Africa Cup of Nations so I expect Can to continue at RCB.

2-1 to us, Gerrard and Sterling with the goals! 

No joke, I sincerely hope that doesn't end up being our bench for the match.

No joke, I sincerely hope that doesn't end up being our bench for the match.

Never mind the bench it's the team that start that matter.

Never mind the bench it's the team that start that matter.

The starting 11 looks like it could do the job but with everything that's been said about Brendan's questionable substitutions etc. in recent months, the bench matters an awful lot.

Ward; Lovren, Skrtel, Sakho; Markovic, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno; Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling.

Shame Toure has gone as I would have certainly had him in for Lovren but with Can being terrible the last couple of games I think this might be a good chance for Dejan to prove himself.

Need a PL match to clear the cobwebs away. Seems like ages since Leicester (I can never spell that f'ing place).

Migs; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Markovic, Moreno, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Mario

Migs, who else is there.
Stay with the back three post 'the beast'.
Moreno in so Hendo can play middle with SG.
Mario back in after looking bright vs Wombledon.

CMON BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Mignolet

                     Manquillo        Skrtel     Sakho       Moreno

                                       Lucas        Hendo

                                             Coutinho

                             Gerrard        Raheem        Markovic


No doubt Rodgers will revert to his 343 but this is what I would like to see.

Mignolet

Can  Skrtel  Sakho

Manquillo  Henderson  Lucas  Moreno

Markovic  Sterling  Coutinho

I wouldn't mind us reverting to a 4-2-3-1 for this one:

Migs
Manquillo     Skrtel         Sakho         Can
Lucas     Hendo
Sterling      Gerrard       Coutinho
Balotelli

Not that I particularly want or think Mario should be starting, but who else can we really play there? If he's sh*t in the first half, bring on Markovic and move Sterling up top for the second 45.

And yep, I'd try Can at LB. He got done hard there by United in the CL last year, but Adam Johnson's entire game is cutting onto his left (Can's right) and shooting.

This could prove another tough game, always make thing difficult the way the defence has been playing lately. On a more personal note a win of some sort would be great, to celebrate my birthday !

                       Piece of cheese

       Can               Skrtel           Sakho


Manquillo      Henderson Lucas      Moreno


                           Gerrard

             Sterling                  Coutinho

This game will be piss easy, comprehensive win I think.
I wouldn't go with no out n out striker, I'd actually put Lambert and Balotelli on from the start. Mario scoring two with one assist from Lambert and Lambert getting a goal with possible goals from Sterling or Coutinho.
Don't place no bets on my intuitions though obviously.

A win for our lads as long as we do not get a dodgy Ref and unwanted beach balls on the pitch.

We need a win badly. Any sort of win.

It's impossible to be confident we'll get it though.

Borini to come on with ten minutes left and show exactly what Sunderland are missing. F**k all.

Mignolet

Can  Skrtel  Sakho

Manquillo  Henderson  Lucas  Moreno

Markovic  Sterling  Coutinho

This is what I'd like to see as well!

Cmooon, let's be bold.


                  Migs

    Skrtl      Toure      Sakho

          Can       Hendo

Lallana       Couts        Markovic

               Sterling

Subs: Balo, Borini (need to sell him to them, so gotta advertise a bit), Lovren, Moreno, Manquillo, SG, Lucas

Mignolet

Can
Skrtel
Sakho

Henderson
Gerrard (c)
Lucas
Moreno

Coutinho
Sterling
Markovic

Subs: Ward; Manquillo, Lovren, Enrique; Ojo; Balotelli, Borini.

No he can't

Cmooon, let's be bold.


                  Migs

    Skrtl      Toure      Sakho

          Can       Hendo

Lallana       Couts        Markovic

               Sterling

Subs: Balo, Borini (need to sell him to them, so gotta advertise a bit), Lovren, Moreno, Manquillo, SG, Lucas

Lallana is injured mate.

Lallana is injured mate.

Sh*t, balls. Aight, Moreno on left, Markovic on right

A win for our lads as long as we do not get a dodgy Ref and unwanted beach balls on the pitch.

And not forgetting Mignolet proving to us how well Sunderland have sold him to us for.

                   Begovic
Manquillo, Lovren, Sahko, Enrique
           Hendo  Schneiderlin
                  Coutinho
        Firmino  Sterling  Moreno

Hopefully, we'll get  Begovic, Schneiderlin and Firmino signed up by tonight and ready vs Sunderland on Sat, in our committee I trust.

0-0 written all over it, unless they score of course.

Migs
Can Skrtel Sakho
Lazar Hendo Lucas Moreno
Stevie Coutinho
Sterling

Cmooon, let's be bold.


                  Migs

    Skrtl      Toure      Sakho

          Can       Hendo

Lallana       Couts        Markovic

               Sterling

Subs: Balo, Borini (need to sell him to them, so gotta advertise a bit), Lovren, Moreno, Manquillo, SG, Lucas

It would be bold to play only 10 players 

Sunderland are sh*te. Unfortunately, we are not much better.
Wonder what frame of mind our players turn up in ?
 Gonna go for a very fortunate 2:0 win to us. The quote of the day will be something akin to......
"How the F**k did we get away with that"
But the sin is what matters at this stage !

Going to miss this one,  usually enjoy reading the match thread to make up for my loss, but as of late....

Migs
Can Skrtel Sakho
Lazar Hendo Lucas Moreno
Stevie Coutinho
Sterling

Yup that's our best available team right there.

Can has started to look a bit dodgy in the CB position, understandable as he is a midfielder so unless Rodgers has faith in future captain then I think we should go back to 4 at the back.

Can has started to look a bit dodgy in the CB position, understandable as he is a midfielder so unless Rodgers has faith in future captain then I think we should go back to 4 at the back.

This. I really think we should look into a Can & Hendo partnership ASAP. They could really help solidify our defense and add that extra bit of physicality, grit, energy and speed in the middle.

Could potentially be our midfield pairing for the next 5-6 years.

                 Mignolet
         Skrtle. Lovren Sakho
   Lazar.                    Moreno
                  Lucas
             Can      Hendo
               Coutinho
             Sterling

Bench ; Ward, Manqillo, Enrique,Gerrard,Ballotelli,Williams , Borini

I'd give this an hour see what occurs, can always bring Stevie on for half hour if things get sticky , time for Lovren to step up, we need him , Balo to, looks like no ones going no one coming in so we need to rally the troops , everyone to a man to give their all from now on in, no
Whinging no moaning , these are Stevie's last days give him the respect he deserves and play like he has done for over. 15 yrs,
Passion , desire , never say die,

LETS DO THIS  ! !  !

YNWA

Very bad feeling about this one  They have a good few headers of the ball on their team. We saw against Wimbledon yet again that we struggle to deal with Sunday league tactics of pumping high balls into our penalty area. Ive been really optimistic despite our stop-start season. But I can see our top 4 aspirations all but dead and buried at that dirty ground and then we focuse solely on the cups - like in King Kennys season.

Would go with billys team but I think we need Gerrard in it as we´d be a bit blunt in front of goal Im afraid. 3:2 Sunderland, heres a hope I´m totally wrong.

So, Sterling apparently is in Jamaica and may not feature vs Sunderland, can anyone here confirm?

So, Sterling apparently is in Jamaica and may not feature vs Sunderland, can anyone here confirm?

It's reported that he will be back in time for Sunderland. He flew out to Jamaica after the Leicester game and took the Wimbledon game off.

"Rodgers decided the time was right to give him a breather with Sterling missing Monday’s FA Cup tie with AFC Wimbledon.

Sterling is expected back at Melwood in time for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Sunderland."

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/raheem-sterling-returns-jamaica-mid-season-8396693

It would be bold to play only 10 players 

Seriously, what is wrong with me? That's the third time I've suggested playing with 10, and didn't know about Lallana's injury. I'm literally the worst fan ever. I'll try again...given the injuries...


                    Migs

Manquillo  Skrtel     Sakho    Moreno

              Can         SG

Hendo        Couts       Markovic

              Sterling


Subs: Balo, Borini, Lovren, Lucas, Lambert, Toure, Enrique

                                          Mignolet
                               Can        Skrtel     Skrtel
                   Manquillo  Henderson Lucas   Moreno
                                      Gerrard  Coutinho
                                            Sterling
 
                    Jones; Toure, Enrique; Markovic, Ojo; Balotelli, Lambert

It's reported that he will be back in time for Sunderland. He flew out to Jamaica after the Leicester game and took the Wimbledon game off.

"Rodgers decided the time was right to give him a breather with Sterling missing Monday’s FA Cup tie with AFC Wimbledon.

Sterling is expected back at Melwood in time for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Sunderland."

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/raheem-sterling-returns-jamaica-mid-season-8396693

Thanks, was a bit worried!!! Hope he doesn't start from the bench though.

Few people saying that it looks like Borini up top tomorrow!

                      Mignolet

          Toure     Skrtel     Sakho

Manquillo    Can        Hendo     Moreno

          Gerrard          Coutinho

                    Sterling

Markovic, Borini, Enrique from the bench.

                                          Mignolet
                               Can        Skrtel     Skrtel
                   Manquillo  Henderson Lucas   Moreno
                                      Gerrard  Coutinho
                                            Sterling
 
                    Jones; Toure, Enrique; Markovic, Ojo; Balotelli, Lambert

One Skrtel is enough.

Few people saying that it looks like Borini up top tomorrow!

Christ, I hope not!

Few people saying that it looks like Borini up top tomorrow!

Sterling was promised a post-christmas rest. I'm glad. It will make the game tougher, but in the long run it will be worth it. I'd prefer Balotelli up there, but maybe we are trying to persuade Sunderland to come back in for Borini 

So Sterling will be out of the lineup tomorrow ?

Few people saying that it looks like Borini up top tomorrow!

Shop window much?

Few people saying that it looks like Borini up top tomorrow!

Up top of the stand I hope

If Borini starts tomorrow ahead of Balotelli, assuming there is something wrong with Raheem we can kiss 3 pts away.

Ideal scenario: We're immense and Borini gets a hat-trick with Sunderland promptly bidding £25m for him.

Realistic scenario: We draw or barely scrape out a win.

Ideal scenario: We're immense and Borini gets a hat-trick with Sunderland promptly bidding £25m for him

And then we use that 25m on a mediocre player on a purple patch.

Important to get the three points. Some confidence starting to return, think we can get them. Sterling back will help.
With Lallana injured, surely one striker will play. Bit of a coin flip, but being on the verge of an early exit, surely Mario must be dying to show, well, something. The laws of probability say he's going to convert one of his many chances. He's one hell of a frustrating git, but he could bang 2 in.
On the other hand, he might sulk about, get caught offside regularly, start stupid handbags stuff, when you want him giving 110%.
Over to you BR ...

Sterling back will help.

Still in Jamaica on his break apparently.

This is the leaked team doing the rounds

Mignolet
Can Skrtel Sakho
Lazar Hendo Lucas Moreno
Stevie Coutinho
Borini

Without Sterling and Lallana, I think that's the best team we can field. Worrying options from the bench though, with 2 target men who'll offer us nothing. Would be great if Suso can make the bench

Ward, Lovren, Manquillo, Ojo, Suso, Lambert, Balotelli

Proper nervous about this one

This is the leaked team doing the rounds

Mignolet
     Skrtel 
Can      Sakho
Lazar Hendo Lucas Moreno
Stevie Coutinho
Borini

Without Sterling and Lallana, I think that's the best team we can field. Worrying options from the bench though, with 2 target men who'll offer us nothing. Would be great if Suso can make the bench

Ward, Lovren, Manquillo, Ojo, Suso, Lambert, Balotelli

Fixed it for you.

i think this one of these games that i'm happy with a draw.

i think this one of these games that i'm happy with a draw.

really ? , sunderland are awful, mind you if it's like the game at anfield I'll make sure I've got a book handy

Any genuine team news ?

No bullshit paper talk. !


YNWA

i think this one of these games that i'm happy with a draw.

I will never think like that before a game. It will kill the joy to watch that game. However depending on the way we play, it will change.
No matter how bad we are playing, i am expecting for a thumping win.

They're a tough nut to crack at home and if they score first we'll be bang up against it. Our form at the moment ranges from the very good (Swansea) to the absolutely awful (most other games) without too much in between. Perhaps we'll get an "in between" performace today, a decent enough performance and a sneaky 1-0 win. 

Feeling confident about this one (don't ask me why!) Coming from behind for a 2-1 win!

Any win will do me. Sunderland are tough and Gus will have them organised.

Pre Match Topic now locked.

In game and Post Match thread is here http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,47266.0.html