Pre Match: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace, Sat 19th August 2017 K.O. 15:00

Welcome back Bentekkers! Let's hope you get stuck in cement on that beautiful new Anfield pitch:




So what's your preferred lineup? I think it's absolutely necessary that we get a positive result in this one, especially with the second half of our CL tie coming up this week.

We really have to kick this palace bogey team curse of recent seasons, and judging by them getting their arses handed to them by mighty Huddersfield in the opening weekend then there will be no better opportunity for us to do that than now. I'm a bit nervous about us defensively and I'd be very tempted to start with Klavan instead of Lovren but i think we will outscore them even if we are as crap defensively as we were against Watford.

Think Zaha is out for this one...that helps.

Must win, will win.  Benteke bound to score, so I'll go 3-1 LFC.

Will be at Anfield with my son (rare excursion) and we never lose when I'm there (nailed on kiss of death comment!). 

Hope Klopp drops one of the midfield 3 and plays Solanke up top, but doubt he will.  Also like to see Robertson get a run out.  Looking forward to seeing the pace of Mane & Salah and just hope we shift the ball quickly.  If so, a comfortable win, conceding a calamitous goal in the process!

Judging by the presser, Robertson will not start, so I'm looking at an unchanged lineup unless he possible uses Milner for Moreno. Sturridge will be on the bench so either Origi or Solanke likely dropped.

I'm sure Benteke eager to face off against our back line. I wonder if he Sakho will show up and celebrate all of Benteke's goals.

Welcome back Bentekkers! Let's hope you get stuck in cement on that beautiful new Anfield pitch:




So what's your preferred lineup? I think it's absolutely necessary that we get a positive result in this one, especially with the second half of our CL tie coming up this week.

It's great to see the old girl looking so well. That pitch looks immaculate!

Preferred:

                Karius
  TAA   Matip   Lovren  Robertson
              Henderson
            Grujic Firmino
       Salah Sturridge Mane

Predicted:

              Migs
 TAA Matip Lovren Moreno
           Henderson
         Can Wijnaldum
      Salah Firmino Mane

Over for this one. Hoping we can break our curse against this lot.

This game is a great opportunity for us to fill our boots; they really are a poor poor lot.

I'd start with Solanke up top. Firmino has been used a lot against Hoffelheim. Give Sturridge the last half an hour to ease him back into the fold and put Firmino behind the front 3 for the last 30 also.

Would play:

               Migs
 TAA Matip Lovren Moreno
         Can Henderson
     Salah Firmino Mane
      Solanke/Sturridge

Migs, wouldn't play if had choice, but still burnt from last time Karius had run in the PL side. And he mustn't be right yet if Jürgen is still picking Migs. Surely.
Moreno, would play at home. Get on the attack. As best form of defense.  And hope he gets by defending. Milner deffo better defender, but had it last year with him going up the line, stopping, and coming back on his right foot. Pace gone from attacks.
But basically two players we should have replaced 1 year back minimum.

Other 3 defenders pick themselves right now.
Drop Gini, been poor, and drop Firmino in behind striker. And play S or S up top who take up more traditional striker positions.
Ideally we have Cou in there too, BIG loss right now, gives me a pain in the hole just thinking about it.
Mane has been great, and Salah tho missed few chances has impressed so far.

But Klopp is getting pretty predictable - and so is the side - don't expect a starting XI change.

These beat us at home last season, so would love to cap a few in their ass at the weekend. If Zaha is out that's a big plus. Get Lovren on Benteke and get a few choice challenges in on him - no pressure on the turd, and thats when he does OK, so soften him up early.

Would say 'and we need to be tighter in defense', but we've had all summer and look at the state of things. Don't expect much change in less than a week.
We just need to outscore the sh*t out of sides until we can head balls out of our box.

Think we go with same lineup as the first two. From Jurgens comments it looks like Robertson isn't up to full speed with the squad tactics and fitness just yet. Moreno over Milner. Can't be willing to start him on the road in CL qualifier and not at home to Palace in a game that we need width and his left foot.

Would hope to see us jump out to a 2 goal lead (fingers crossed) and get Mane, Firmino, and one of the mids out of the game at the 60 min mark to rest up for Wednesday. Let Studge get the last 30.

In my personal dream world I want to see Karius, Firmino in the attacking mid role and Studge up top

Klopp " Daniel is in a good way, very very close, 2 more training sessions and he will be available for the weekend"

He's going to need to rotate the attack soon. Apart from Solanke (who is still unproven at this level), I don't see many other viable options.

Fingers crossed Klopp's right this time about Danny's fitness.

Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Daniel Sturridge is set to be fit for Saturday’s Anfield clash with Crystal Palace.

The striker returned to full training at Melwood this week and is likely to come into contention to make the squad for the Premier League encounter against the Eagles.

Elsewhere, Philippe Coutinho will miss the game due to a back injury.

Asked by journalists whether the duo would be ready to face Palace, Klopp told his pre-match press conference: “Daniel yes, I would say.

“Yesterday he was part of the complete session and looked really good, but always after injuries you have to wait to see how the player reacts to this intensity.

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/272310-lfc-injury-latest-sturridge-coutinho-and-clyne



like a new signing

Hasn't Firmino always played forward?

Gonna win this 6-4.

Their defence was God awful last week. Our attack will pick them off.

Our defence was God awful last week. Their attack will pick us off.

I'd like to see Salah and Mane switched for one game.

There have been plenty of chances falling to the weaker foot and I think playing from their strongest side might help.

Won't happen because klopp seems to like them cutting inside but I'd like to see how it works.

I reckon we'll destroy these for some reason... 5 - 1

I'd like to see Salah and Mane switched for one game.

There have been plenty of chances falling to the weaker foot and I think playing from their strongest side might help.

Mane could not train yesterday and neither could Can so i guess they must be doubtful for tomorrow

Same failings to bite us again. 2-2

Same failings to bite us again. 2÷2

1

Karius-Migs get out my life
TAA-Marry Me
Lovren- Better than Klavan (only just)
Matip- Needs to find form
Robertson- Don't sign a new LB and then pick Moreno over him

Henderson- Needs to find form
Can- Potential is maybe starting to show, needs the minutes to work out what type of CM he is
Wijnaldum- I like his smile

Salah- Needs all the prem experience he can get before we see the best of him (still rate him highly)
Mane- if fit. If not solanke through the middle and firmino to do a job out wider
Firmino- Through the middle or as a Wide attacking mid if Mane is injured.

Zaha out for 4 weeks, feeling more confident now!!!

we should smash them but I foresee another turgid grind... 2-2!

After last week's dropped points we can't make the same mistake again.  City are facing Everton, Spurs are facing Chelsea.  Don't want to be 5 points behind a couple of them having played nobody.

NB: Team no longer available

wish he'd play Sturridge in this... I know he wont