Starting 11 next season

Reina (Jones)

Johnson (Kelly)
Skrtel (Carragher)
Agger (Coates)
Enrique (Robinson)

Lucas (Spearing)
Allen (Henderson)
Gerrard (Shelvey)

Suarez (Pacheco, Sterling)
Carroll (Borini)
Downing, Borini (Assaidi)

what would be nice:

Adam out
Cole out
Spearing out

LB in (Aly Cissokho)
CM in (Suso)
CDM in (older type - not a junior - I'm talking a van Bommel type to back Lucas up)

With the players we have now I would say...

Looks a little bit crazy but if the Sahin-Deal is done:


                     Reina
Johnson  Skrtel    Agger   Enrique
                 Lucas  Sahin
                   Allen

                Gerrard
     Borini              Suarez
                   

I know it sounds a little bit weird  with Gerrard as a "striker". But why not? He has a strong midfield behind him. He would have a lot of freedom to influence the game.  And with Suarez and Borini in front of him he has good players aside .


   

I think with Sahin as a furtehr addition,our squad is not as thin and lacking the depth that some have made it out to be. Now with the starting XI pretty much decided with the addition of Sahin ,we could have a bench of

Jones,Carra,Downing,Assaidi,Hendo,Adam,Carroll

which is a pretty strong bench with players who could come late on and influence a game. Even after that we are left with players like Shelvey,Sterling,Cole,Kelly,Spearing,Coates so these things are not bad on squad strength fromt.It's just players have to adopt to BR's system and start giving their best and we could have exciting times ahead.Mind you we are still not finished in transfer window and could still see someone like Dempsey coming in who would make the bench atleast.

For the league:
                         Reina

Glen J.     Skrtel     Agger     Enrique
                      Lucas
                Allen
                           Sahin
Gerrard                                 Borini/Assaidi
                        Suarez

For all cups:
                        Jones
Kelly          Carra            Coates       Robinson
                         
               Henderson    Adam/Spearing
                          Shelvey
Downing                                      Sterling
                        Carroll

Not many people have Assaidi in their team. I personally think he will do well, just a gut feeling.

With the players we have now I would say...

I think that in terms of player quality, that is our best 11. But where does our width come from? Can the fullbacks really bare the responsibility of being the only ones to run the flanks both defensive and attacking?

We will play 4-3-3 whatever.

It's what Rodgers does and quite a few players have mentioned the 4-3-3 in interviews etc.

Carragher
Carragher     Carragher
Carragher                         Carragher
Carragher     
                   Carragher
Carragher         
Carragher                             Carragher
Carragher

                                Reina
                    Glen Skrtel Agger Enrique
                                Lucas
                           Allen    Sahin
                               Gerrard
                      Suarez      Assaidi

Looking at the starting the new starting XI I think we are significantly better than last season. I think losing the experience of Kuyt/Maxi/Bellers has weakend our bench somewhat but hopefully Sterling/Morgan and having Carroll now as squad player will help offset some of that.

I really don't see where our width will come from. For me, the Lucas-Allen-Sahin midfield three looks set in stone, and Rodgers' determination to play 4-3-3 suggests that Suarez, Borini and Gerrard will play up front, but Gerrard isn't a winger. If Dempsey comes in, he could play the other side of Suarez, but then Gerrard would have to slot into the midfield three, removing one of the current three. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out once Friday comes and goes.

It seems to me that everyone is trying to find a place for Gerrard and it is not obvious... This has not been the case for some time. I think it will be good for Gerrard to fight for his spot in the starting 11. IMO Sahin and Gerrard will be fighting for the same offensive midfielder role. Gerrard does not face the traits of a winger, not the way BR likes them to play...

4-2-2-2

Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique

           Lucas Allen

Gerrard              Sahin

       Suarez
                       Assaidi

What about playing Stevie in the middle of the front three?

Absolutely loving this dilemma that we are facing now regarding team selection.I trust BR to select the best team but what a change from last season when we had difficulty putting together a decent starting XI.

What about playing Stevie in the middle of the front three?

Exactly my point of view.

I agree that Stevie is most lethal when he plays in the midfield behind the front 3. My point was that Sahin also plays that position and is damn good at it. Therefore, I see both Sahin and Stevie competing for the same position, their preferred position when we play 4-3-3. And I believe as many do, that such competition for spots will make everyone give their best and thus improve the team.
That said, I can see that for some games BR might opt for a midfield of 4 that would include Stevie, Sahin, Allen and Lucas in a 4-4-2.

Reina/Jones

Glen/Kelly   Skrtel/Carra   Agger/Coates   Enrique/Robinson

Lucas/Jonjo      Allen/Sahin

Stevie/Jordan

Dempsey/Downing       Suarez/Assaidi

Borini/ST

Sales - Carroll, Adam, Spearing, Cole
Buy - Dempsey, NEW STRIKER/POACHER
Loan out - Wilson, Pacheco (probably their last year in a Red shirt if they dont prove their worth)

Sterling, Flano, Morgan, Suso, Teixeira, Gulacsi among the reserves who are gonna knock on the door for European and Cup games. I've to admit, I'm optimistic for the first time since 2009