Tottenham vs Liverpool: Sunday, 13:30 BST

And to be clear, I wasn't talking about a fitness break necessarily, just a break from starting. Keep him hungry and keep his mindset right.

Obviously a believer in the "treat 'em mean keep 'em keen" philosophy then FL?

Obviously a believer in the "treat 'em mean keep 'em keen" philosophy then FL?

What can I say.....hungry dogs are going to eat when they get a chance. Well fed dogs get lazy and sleep.

In the formation above drop Coutinho

Don't have a problem with that, just think he would link up well right behind Sturridge and Balo. He seems to flourish in that role vs. out wide.

Does anybody know if the team has travelled yet?

I'm in San Carlo on Castle Street and Sky Sports Italia are in with the cameras to do a Balotelli doc. Hearing Monday mentioned a lot so not sure if that's when they're doing the Balotelli bit or when it goes out.

Don't have a problem with that, just think he would link up well right behind Sturridge and Balo. He seems to flourish in that role vs. out wide.

Prefer Raheem behind Stu and Mario for the raw pace and finishing that Cou lacks. Cou is more creative but as Raheem demonstrated in the WC he can play a tasty through ball or two. Like you said it's a nice headache for BR to have deciding who to pick.

Sounds like Lallana is back in the squad but doesn't sound like he'll start from Brendan's presser. Doesn't sound like Glen will be included (Halellujah) in the squad.

                                Mignolet

Manquillo     skrtel             lovren          Moreno

                                  Gerrard

                   Henderson               Can

                                  Sterling

                        Sturridge        Balotelli

Subs . Jones Sakho Lallana Lambert Allen Markovic Coutinho.

                                Mignolet

Manquillo     skrtel             lovren          Moreno

                                  Gerrard

                   Henderson               Can

                                  Sterling

                        Sturridge        Balotelli

Subs . Jones Sakho Lallana Lambert Allen Markovic Coutinho.

Unlikely. Allen played much better than Can last game, and Skrtel is probably still injured come sunday - maybe the same with Moreno, though BR has been keen to downplay that injury. Allen probably gets another start, or Coutinho is moved back into central midfield.

I think Brendan was too conservative in his starting line up on Monday. He has to be a bit more brave on Sunday I think.

Unlikely. Allen played much better than Can last game, and Skrtel is probably still injured come sunday - maybe the same with Moreno, though BR has been keen to downplay that injury. Allen probably gets another start, or Coutinho is moved back into central midfield.

That all makes sense.  Also doubtful that Lallana will start due to lack of fitness, so depending on whether Balo starts it will probably be:

Mig
Manquillo  Lovren  Sakho  Enrique
Gerrard
Hendo     Coutinho
Sterling
Studge  Balo

OR

Mig
Manquillo  Lovren  Sakho  Enrique
Gerrard
Hendo     Allen
Coutinho
Studge  Sterling

I'd like to see Balo given the nod to start because it seems Studge does better with a partner than he does on his own....

Well if allen is to partner henderson id be fine with that.

Can looks more solid to me though ... hence why i put him in my team.

But even if allen starts next to henderson id rather see sterling behind sturridge and balotelli with coutinho dropping to the bench.

Mignolet
Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Enrique (I think Moreno won't make it)
Gerrard Can
Henderson
Balotelli Sturridge Sterling

We need to enforce our midfield and others teams already know how to stop Coutinho.

Here's my best guess what our lineup will be...this is assuming Moreno isn't fit, if he is, swap him for Enrique


                   Mignolet

Manquillo  Skrtel    Lovren    Enrique

                    Gerrard

            Hendo           Lallana

                    Coutinho

            Ballotelli       Sturridge

Subs: Jones, Sakho, Can, Markovic, Allen, Lambert, Sterling

Think Sterling might need a break and could make an impact off the bench with Markovic.

No chance Lallana starts from the off.

Migs; Manquillo, Loven, Sakho, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson; Markovic, Balotelli, Sterling; Sturridge

For me, atleast.

Moving away from Allen and Henderson playing ahead of Gerrard is the only thing in particular I really want to see in Sunday. It's a partnership that could do a very good job away from home in Europe but I think we have to be a bit more adventurous in the league as they aren't creative enough.

Wouldn't surprise me if we go 4-2-3-1 to match Spurs actually.

I actually can't get over the name the more I think about it. Did a drunk toddler name them? I've eaten Alphabet soup and shat out more coherent and better names.

Also if Lallana starts, which I don't think is likely, I doubt it will be at CM, as its a bit much to ask him to play in a position he hasn't played before in his first game at the club.

I f***in hate spuds, cocky kunt's,  think there bigger than they are whereas they are just pretenders,
I'd love us to there and hand out another f***in mauling, they will be better than last season's sh*t side no question, but yet so are we, I'd go at them with this.......

                          Mignolet
  Manquillo. Lovren  Sakho Moreno
                           Gerrard
     Henderson.                  Lallana
                            Sterling
          Sturridge.                 Ballotelli

I reckon we'd give the Yids the Yips with their hands on their hips, as the ball rips their net again and again,
Tbh, I can't see us losing this, we need to get back to winning ways and pronto,  get at them from the off, fast tempo pass & move is the Liverpool groove,

Don't give these kunt's a chance, we'll never hear the end of it if they were to do us,

0_3 Redmen,  Sturridge,  Balo,  Sterling bagging the goodies.

YNWA

Bit surprised Lallana is back for this game, thought he was still a week or so away. Hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling he will start.

Hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling he will start.

When he is fit I bet Lallana will start more away games than Coutinho. At Anfield when we're often on top of teams, Coutinho's superior vision and incisive passing will mean he starts more games there.

Here's my best guess what our lineup will be...this is assuming Moreno isn't fit, if he is, swap him for Enrique


                   Mignolet

Manquillo  Skrtel    Lovren    Enrique

                    Gerrard

            Hendo           Lallana

                    Coutinho

            Ballotelli       Sturridge

Subs: Jones, Sakho, Can, Markovic, Allen, Lambert, Sterling

Think Sterling might need a break and could make an impact off the bench with Markovic.

You know Adam lallana hasn't started a game since before the WC fella? I don't believe he has even had any genuine pre-season competitive minutes either. I think we're talking 10-20 minutes top for the Spurs game.

I'd also be worried about starting with Enrique, I don't think he is there either. I'm not sure he managed more than 60 mins in one hit during pre-season?

We're that short of full backs we. Might even run with 3-5-2 for this one, wouldn't surprise me.

Need to crush these. Lets kick this season on. Champs league draw should have given the players a boost. We need to start strong, finish stronger. Other than the Dortmund game we haven't put in a punishing performance. Needs to change on Sunday.

Bit surprised Lallana is back for this game, thought he was still a week or so away. Hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling he will start.

I highly doubt he starts. I think he might come on towards the end of the match, but he did not play any preseason games nor has he had a chance to gel with any of the players or develop chemistry. Would be kind of dumb to toss him in there against Spurs where there is a possibility, due to lack of match fitness, he re-hurts himself and is out even longer.

Prepared to see some pressing from them, and particularly on Gerrard.