It’s a fine margin having to juggle those players who played 120 Vs Chavs and having them ready not only for the last hurrah, but for the CL encounter with RM, there will obviously be changes but we still need to be bold, too many changes in one area could go against us,
I don’t think Virgil, Fab or Mo will be risked Vs Saint’s and I can see Thiago, Trent & Diaz/Mane only playing 70 mins max in our next two, if at all, it’s a tough ask at the best of times but when players have played in the best part of 60 games it’s no surprise we’re starting to see wear & tear amongst the fittest of our boys, it’s not a case of being over playing the lads, it’s just a side effect of how successful we’re being,
So without changing too much that it effects the level of performance we have to remember this is still a must win game, so strong as humanly possible tonight, I’d be tempted to go with…….
Kelleher
Trent Matip Konate Kostas
Henderson
Naby Jones
Mane Origi Diaz
Bench; Alisson, Gomez, Thiago, Bobby, Robbo, Milner, Mo, Jota, Virgil, Ox, Taki, Stubbins
Gave Ali a rest for this one only chance he’ll get in the next two weeks, stuck with Trent @ RB, cos we need him and provides balance with Kostas, Robbo looks jaded recently to me so like Ali a welcome break will do him good, with Virgil taking a knock it’s wise we give him the max time possible to recover and NOT take any risks, both Joel & Ibou will be fine, thought of Gomez at CB but might throw him on for Trent around the hour, but we’ll see,
Thiago is so important to us and would normally be a shoe in, but again the amount of intensity we ask of players can be too demanding so like Virgil, like Mo, Like Robbo we need to look after him, Henderson has been rested of late, and without Fabinho we need the Skip’s leadership and steel, Naby & Curtis will need to step up a level especially Curtis, want to see a improvement from him, he’s in with the big boys now so no room for liability, or lack thereof?
Up top I’ve went with Mane in a familiar role to him, likewise for Diaz, and Big Div in his favoured role, and probably his last full game for us, room for rotation too with Bobby, Jota & Taki available if and when required, so there you have it my X1 for tonight, we need to stay strong and retain our ability to attack as we do, and maintain the way we press & Chase, I think I’ve done that with that X1 albeit without some key elements.
1-3 Mighty Redmen
You’ll Never Walk Alone
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