The 222nd Merseyside Derby - Anfield, Tuesday 28th January 2014. KO 20:00

8 O'clock kick off? Why so late? I'll be pissed by then!

it is midweek, it's generally 7-45 or 8pm anyhow!

Ming

Kelly
Ninja skrtel
Toure
Flannagan

Allen
Gerrard
Henderson

Suarez
Sturridge
Sterling

A simple 4-3-3 limited by injuries. We need to have 3 in midfield.

             Migs
Kelly Skyrtel Toure Flanno
  Allen Gerrard Hendo
Suarez Sturridge Sterling

Fingers burned vs. Villa - we need 3 CMs - so Sterling or Coutinho will probably drop to bench. Am a big fan of Coutinho, and compared to Sterling imo better suits the 3 CM + S&S formation - but he has been a bit wasteful recently/having a small dip. Does the better form of Sterling outweigh the slightly less in form Coutinho + his slightly better suitability tactically?  It's a tight call. Will be a tight, fast match - need to retain possession and get tackles in when not going forward. All things considered would go with Sterling, but not by much. Also reckon BR rested Sterling in the Cup match to keep him fresh - but we'll see.
Cissohko starting from the bench would be good news too. In the middle Skyrtel and Toure will need to be on top form, they did OK vs. Bournemouth and kept a clean sheet so little bit of confidence for them there. 3 CMs should help them, so expected BR to have SG/Hendo/Allen. And hope none of them gets injured!
That leaves S&S. What's there to say. We need to lads to click and rack up some goals. We know they can do it, and given their form, I reckon they'll (at least 1 will) be on the scoresheet.

Crucial match. Don't like saying matches are 'must win' - but this is deffo 'must not loose'. A win for either side is big physcological victory. They have a few injuries to, and imo, assuming we stick with 3 CM, we should shade it. Need to make home advantage count. 3-2 to the Reds    Can't feckin wait.

it is midweek, it's generally 7-45 or 8pm anyhow!

Here is me thinking it's a Saturday 

Skrtel and Toure at centre back. Gerrard and Henderson is midfield. Not encouraging.

I'm not confident but Everton are the weakest of the three teams we're fighting for 4th and we're at home so we need to win the game. We need the Spanish Xavi available (never thought I'd say that) because Gerrard's lack of legs and Henderson's lack of brains would leave us wide open in midfield like against Villa. I'd start Kelly and Flanagan in the full back positions because Martinez is smart enough to target Cissohko if he plays. Kelly looks sh*t too, but at least he'll scrap in a derby and won't pull out of any tackle.

Because of our defence and midfield frailties, and possibly Mignolet being dodgy again, it's going to be a nervy night unless Suarez or Sturridge blow Everton away with great individual performances.

it's going to be a nervy night unless Suarez or Sturridge blow Everton away with great individual performances.

and that right there is why I think so many are still on the fence with regards Brendan. Not once in this thread yet have I noticed anyone willing to say that Brendan might just pull something out of the bag and surprise Martinez, nobody is expecting anything other than us fully relying on the SaS.

a big win would certainly lift the gloom that has descended .Our back four and Gerrard playing deep scares the sh*t out of me.

and that right there is why I think so many are still on the fence with regards Brendan. Not once in this thread yet have I noticed anyone willing to say that Brendan might just pull something out of the bag and surprise Martinez, nobody is expecting anything other than us fully relying on the SaS.

Apart from SAS, Luke, we look a mid table team at the moment.

I look forward to the formation of 4-5-1 ... with rapid wing attacks as well as the accuracy of the bait nice and single goal-hungry striker and an attacking midfielder who could be looking for an opportunity to make good bait for the attackers and steal a goal. .. the Red's forever 

Apart from SAS, Luke, we look a mid table team at the moment.

I think a lot of us go to bed at night and pray luis stays fit and healthy or we will be fu**ed.

Without doubt, this is the biggest game of the season. Im already nervous. With City playing Spurs, this is a must win and could be our chance to get a bit of daylight between ourselves and 5th. Lose this and we will be in 6th...Must win!

Lukaku/Traore (if he plays) v Toure and Skrtle is our biggest concern, closely followed by our full backs ineptness on the ball and going forward.

Would love to see us set up as a 433 and the DM coming and getting the ball all the time off Skrtel and shifting it forward as opposed to working it to Aly and losing it on the wings. We need to be on our game and hassle the life out of them. Keep the tempo high and get Sterling, Suarez Sturridge and Coutinho on the ball as quick as possible at all times. Once they are constantly going forward in waves we can beat anyone.

I think Gerrard will set up as DM again as we have no one else. Hopefully he has a stormer.

                     Migs
Kelly, Skrtel, Sakho (Toure ;-( ), Flanno (Cissokho ;-( )
                   Gerrard
             Coutinho, Henderson
        Sterling Suarez Sturridge

Cant see us playing anything other than 442. Moses sterling on the wings. Midfield a problem anyway you look at it. Key is good start and going a goal up

Something to look forward to after Everton.
Arsenal away in the FA Cup.


    Man City vs Chelsea
    Sheffield United/Fulham vs Nottingham Forest/Preston
    Arsenal vs Liverpool
    Brighton vs Hull
    Cardiff vs Wigan
    Sheffield Wednesday vs Charlton
    Sunderland vs Southampton
    Everton vs Swansea

Good draw. We need to concentrate on 4th

Something to look forward to after Everton.
Arsenal away in the FA Cup.


    Man City vs Chelsea
    Sheffield United/Fulham vs Nottingham Forest/Preston
    Arsenal vs Liverpool
    Brighton vs Hull
    Cardiff vs Wigan
    Sheffield Wednesday vs Charlton
    Sunderland vs Southampton
    Everton vs Swansea

We'll have our new transfer window signings out, and give em more to think about than the limp enough 0-2 defeat last time out.
Live in hope...

We'll have our new transfer window signings out, and give em more to think about than the limp enough 0-2 defeat last time out.
Live in hope...

That is some positivity you have there.

Can I have some please ..... ?

Is Sakho a definite non starter? I'd feel much more comfortable going into this knowing he's there as he could handle Lukaku.

Let's do these wannabes. It's going to be oe hell of a tough game but hoping the crowd get us over the line. One of our biggest home games of the season and a midweek game, with the stakes so high, gives me massive confidence that the atmosphere inside Anfield will be electric and it will surge our lads onto Victory.

That is some positivity you have there.

Can I have some please ..... ?

Sorry mate, when it comes to positivity w.r.t. transfers. if I give you the bit I have left, will have nothing left for me

Flanno will get his first derby goal on Tuesday. Bullet header from a corner, I can picture it now.

I'd start the three and anybody suggesting otherwise didn't watch the first 45 against Villa. We will get totally over ran by an Everton side that has a lot more to offer than Villa.

Agree 100% mate.

We have to go with a 3 in midfield for this one and I'm pretty sure Brendan would feel the same.

Thank F**k its a derby.

If we were playing any other team, I'd genuinely fear for us given their team vs our current team/form.

That being said... their Everton. Scared fuckless of us at Anfield.

Suarez the match winner.

3-1.

Thank f**k its a derby.

If we were playing any other team, I'd genuinely fear for us given their team vs our current team/form.

That being said... their Everton. Scared fuckless of us at Anfield.

Suarez the match winner.

3-1.

True, they are guaranteed to bottle it like they always do hahaha.

Apart from SAS, Luke, we look a mid table team at the moment.

We don't just look a mid table side .. without SaS we would be .... or worse !