Pre Match: Ludogorets v Liverpool Weds 26th Nov 7:45 kick off

Our biggest must win game so far this season. If we win there is a chance of group qualification. Lose or draw and we likely won't even qualify for the Europa League. Over to you Brendan.

Im not so sure about availability but I'd select the following: Toure, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Coutinho, Suso, Borini. Also be tempted to drop Lovren, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, and if Balotelli is fit, drop him too. We need players who are not in consistently bad form.

F**k, I will be in a work meeting until the 15th minute of the game... adding to it a few more minutes till I get home... well, at least I should be able to watch the 2nd half. Shouldn't be that difficult to beat Ludogorest but given our current run of form, I'm scared of anything that moves!

Im not so sure about availability but I'd select the following: Toure, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Coutinho, Suso, Borini. Also be tempted to drop Lovren, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, and if Balotelli is fit, drop him too. We need players who are not in consistently bad form.

Prob bit soon for Suso to start doubt he's match fit. I'd also start Jones, Allen, Lallana and Markovic. Would start Allen as he was one of the only players that tried against Palace.

Good luck lads.

Backs against the wall time.

Dig in and get the points.


YNWA

F**k, I will be in a work meeting until the 15th minute of the game... adding to it a few more minutes till I get home... well, at least I should be able to watch the 2nd half. Shouldn't be that difficult to beat Ludogorest but given our current run of form, I'm scared of anything that moves!

Ludogorest are on a good run especially at home, we may end up with no points with added pressure.

Tough match.

Play more or less the same team as against Real Madrid but I'd play 2 strikers and include Coutihnio.

Come on Brendan prove me wrong, you have nothing to lose but if you go for the standard team and lose again then he'll get slaughtered.

Prob bit soon for Suso to start doubt he's match fit. I'd also start Jones, Allen, Lallana and Markovic. Would start Allen as he was one of the only players that tried against Palace.

Possibly so, for he will definitely be lacking in match fitness. It's a shame, given our recent performances and awful form, that he hasn't even had a look in. That may change by January if he remains here.

                     Mignolet
Manquillo  Skrtel  Toure  Moreno
                       Lucas
              Hendo         Can
                     Coutinho
                  Borini  Sterling

Borini and Sterling operating both as outlets. Sterling has pace and we need to utilise that in the most effective manner. Could try playing him off the shoulder off the last defender. Similar in how Torres operated for us. Sure he usually plays a little deeper, running at opponents, but we could have Can and Coutinho doing that job. Someone needs to get in behind the defense, and Sterling appears to be the only player capable of doing that (yet always deployed in deeper positions).

Will be interesting to see what team BR selects.

Have gone for a 2  1 win tonight, in the Prediction League, although not too sure where our goals will come from. Need to put out a side similar to the one that performed so well in the away game against Real Madrid. Another defeat certainly will not go down well with supporters that is for sure !

wouldnt go with Sterling. Hes done fook all for a while now.

Is Sakho fit? If he is Id paly him with Toure.

Jones

Henderson Sakho Toure Moreno

             Can   Lucas

Borini        Gerrard        Lallana

                Lambert

Gerrard only picked to see if he can spark playing the role he did under Rafa

Possibly so, for he will definitely be lacking in match fitness. It's a shame, given our recent performances and awful form, that he hasn't even had a look in. That may change by January if he remains here.

                     Mignolet
Manquillo  Skrtel  Toure  Moreno
                       Lucas
              Hendo         Can
                     Coutinho
                  Borini  Sterling

Borini and Sterling operating both as outlets. Sterling has pace and we need to utilise that in the most effective manner. Could try playing him off the shoulder off the last defender. Similar in how Torres operated for us. Sure he usually plays a little deeper, running at opponents, but we could have Can and Coutinho doing that job. Someone needs to get in behind the defense, and Sterling appears to be the only player capable of doing that (yet always deployed in deeper positions).

Will be interesting to see what team BR selects.

I think Suso is as good as gone in January to Milan though isn't he? Or was that just a rumour? Hope it isn't as I rate Suso and don't think he has been given near a fair chance here.

I like your team and formation perhaps Sakho could partner Toure if he's fit enough? I would bring on Lallana, Allen and Markovic in the second half. Or Lambert if we are struggling to score.

Mignolet
Manquillo - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
Lucas - Can
Suso - Coutinho - Sterling
Borini

Mignolet
Manquillo - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
Lucas - Can
Suso - Coutinho - Sterling
Borini

Curious, what has Suso done (or Sterling for that matter) to play ahead of Lallana?

Indeed, and if successful, we really should hope that Basel get sweet FA against Real Madrid.

I think there's a good chance of this. Messi just broke Raul's Champions League record, so I'm sure Ronaldo will be looking to score 4 or 5 tonight.

Mignolet
Manquillo - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
Lucas - Can
Suso - Coutinho - Sterling
Borini

Curious, what has Suso done (or Sterling for that matter) to play ahead of Lallana?

I like this team, but agree with FL - Lallana has to start as he's been one of our most promising players of late. Also, Suso isn't match fit. I do want to see him given some opportunities in the coming weeks though.

Curious, what has Suso done (or Sterling for that matter) to play ahead of Lallana?

I'm gonna be honest..... I totally forgot about him! 
I'm so used to him starting from the bench and I've been hearing a lot about Suso coming back from injury so he was fresh on my mind 

I am desperate for Suso to get a chance though, I'd say I'd rather have Lallana for Sterling than for Suso...

Go Reds

Biggest game of the season.

What a win here would do for our confidence.

Come on reds.

Can't believe our season has come down to this. No disrespect to Ludogorets, they are showing they are no push overs but we shouldn't be relying on a game against a team like them to make our season take off and hopefully build confidence, this should be a virtual certainty of a win with ease.

Can't believe our season has come down to this. No disrespect to Ludogorets, they are showing they are no push overs but we shouldn't be relying on a game against a team like them to make our season take off and hopefully build confidence, this should be a virtual certainty of a win with ease.

They should be shitting their pants. DOnt think they are

                          Migs

Johnson    Toure       Lovren   Moreno

                          Can   

 Henderson     Gerrard       Lallana

             Lambert         Borini

Subs: Manquillo, Skrtel, Rossiter, Sterling, Coutinho.



         

Lovren and johnson still in the team? And only 5 subs? ;-)

Going for a back to basics team.

                                Mignolet

Manquillo            Skrtel       Toure         Moreno

                                Lucas
                Henderson          Allen
                             
                              Lallana

                  Gerrard       Lambert

High energy midfield and Gerrard and Lambert will do the rest. Bring Coutinho or Sterling on after 60mins for Gerrard

2-1 Gerrard and Lambert
                       

They should be shitting their pants. DOnt think they are

They won't be shitting it at all, I do agree! They will go into this game thinking we are there for the taking and they are bang on if they are thinking that.

If we lose this, say 2-0, then does that mean we are officially out of the competition? Forgive me but I cannot whether it's determined by h2h or goal difference in the group stage (it's been that long).