Since this is a two legged affair I’d take a gamble and have a Phillips & Kabak CB pairing, especially if Fabinho is back, otherwise I’d have Henderson as the DM in front of them, Trent & Robbo either side with, Thiago & Gini / Henderson in midfield, Salah Mane & Bobby up top,
Alisson has been total f***in gash of late and normally I’d have him sit this one out, however, only Kelleher’s lack of European experience keeps him out of my X1.......
With Fabinho......
Alisson
Trent Phillips Kabak Robbo
Henderson Fabinho
Alcantara
Salah Firmino Mane
Without Fabinho..... Alisson
Trent Phillips Kabak Robbo
Henderson Wijnaldom
Alcantara
Salah Firmino Mane
Wafer thin Bench ; Kelleher, Neco, Rhys, Jones, Shaqiri, Oxlaid, Tsimikas, Origi, Clarkson
I think it’s more likely we will see Hendo with Kabak again, with a Gini, Jones & Thiago midfield trio and the usual suspects atop, but again it kind of stifles how we play, we lose so much without Hendo & Fabinho controlling with the creativity of Thiago, it also allows Bobby to drop back creating the space for Thiago to slot thru balls in between defenders and allows Mane & Mo and of course Bobby room to do their magical best,
It’s why I’d gamble and have Phillips with Kabak, we may not have Fabinho but with Henderson as DM, he can control and give support to the CB’s, it is a gamble but one I think worth taking, what have we got to lose ?
1-2 European Royalty
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