Southampton FC v Liverpool FC 22nd Feb 4.15pm

A must win game for us to show our credentials to achieve the holy grail of Top 4.
This in effect is a 6 pointer as we need to make sure one of our competitors does not pick up any points.

Brendan usually sticks with the same team so the back 3 pick themselves unless Future Captain has done enough to earn a recall and push Can further up into midfield, but I think we would miss his passing out from the back.
Ibe and Moreno as wing backs unless Marko is preferred then for the front 3 I would pick Coutinho, Raheem and Sturridge with Balotelli coming on in the second half.

1-2 to the mighty Red Men

I actually think this would be a good game to rotate a couple of players and get in some fresh legs myself as we are at that stage of the season where the squad will have to be used. I would put Sterling back in there for Lallana and controversial as it might be, i'd throw Markovic in for young Jordan Ibe. It will be a tough game and i'd be happy enough with a draw to be honest, the big one I think will be at home to the mancs in terms of one we have to win.

Markovic and Sterling in for Ibe and Lallana.
Maybe start Balotelli and switch to a 3-4-1-2.

I actually think this would be a good game to rotate a couple of players and get in some fresh legs myself as we are at that stage of the season where the squad will have to be used. I would put Sterling back in there for Lallana and controversial as it might be, i'd throw Markovic in for young Jordan Ibe. It will be a tough game and i'd be happy enough with a draw to be honest, the big one I think will be at home to the mancs in terms of one we have to win.

would have sterling back but it will be a cold day in hell when i will be happy with a draw, the game is there for us to win as Southampton recent performances haven't been great

Markovic and Sterling in for Ibe and Lallana.
Maybe start Balotelli and switch to a 3-4-1-2.

YEah, been thinking about the 3412 formation. I would start Balo with Sturridge as I feel Southampton will be defensive and sit deep. Not sure which #10 to go for, Sterling, Coutinho or Lallana? As for the wing backs, I would like to see Markovic on for Ibe with Hendo and Allen in midfield.

Mignolet
      Skrtel
  Can---------Sakho
 
   Henderson---Allen
Ibe-------------------Moreno
             Markovic
Balotell-------------------Sturridge

I think a rest will do Coutinho good and I don't think Sterling is ready.

YEah, been thinking about the 3412 formation. I would start Balo with Sturridge as I feel Southampton will be defensive and sit deep. Not sure which #10 to go for, Sterling, Coutinho or Lallana? As for the wing backs, I would like to see Markovic on for Ibe with Hendo and Allen in midfield.

Start Sterling, give Coutinho a break.

I would start Balo for this - I think if he takes this chance, it could prove to be a decisive moment in his career for us. I was screaming for him to take that pen and whether or not it has created friction in the dressing room, the right person took it and scored. He is starting to show some of that x-factor and experience our team has needed for some time.

--------------Mignolet---------------
-----Can------Skrtel-----Sakho-----
-Ibe-Henderson-Allen-Moreno-
--------Markovic---Sterling--------
--------------Sturridge---------------

Subs: Ward, Manquillo, Lovren, Coutinho, Lallana, Balotelli, Lambert.

Give Coutinho a break, bench Lallana if his 'head' is not right, bring Balo on at hour mark as 2nd striker if circumstances dictate like recent games.

I challenge anyone to provide a good argument as to why this is not the biggest game of our season so far.

I challenge anyone to provide a good argument as to why this is not the biggest game of our season so far.

6 pointer. Massive.

6 pointer. Massive.

Just some thoughts on the phrase "six pointer". In terms of the general meaning of the term it is accurate and useful - we get 3 points and deny the other team 3 points, but on a more precise level it isn't quite numerically accurate.
3 points for us yes, and then the denial of what would be the expected points for a team in the area of the league you are competing in; Ie Approximately 1.8 points per game against top 4 teams (as that is there expected ppg return from any game as it takes you to 70) or 1.05 points for teams in a relegation fight (teams that are getting relegated lose more often than not, so the denial of points is less relevant), or even 2.3 points for title chasing team.
So six pointers can vary in actual value, and indeed those values vary from year to year as the number of points required to achieve an objective does.

  musings

4    Southampton   25   14   4   7   38   17   +21   46   1.84   48%   28%
5    Arsenal           25   13   6   6   47   28   +19   45   1.80   32%   8%
6    Tottenham   25   13   4   8   39   34   +5   43   1.72   24%   20%
7    Liverpool           25   12   6   7   36   29   +7   42   1.68   36%   24%

When we beat them, we will get 45 pts and narrow it down to 1 pts behind them, they are on 46 pts now.

Lets go reds, up we come. 

Just some thoughts on the phrase "six pointer". In terms of the general meaning of the term it is accurate and useful - we get 3 points and deny the other team 3 points, but on a more precise level it isn't quite numerically accurate.
3 points for us yes, and then the denial of what would be the expected points for a team in the area of the league you are competing in; Ie Approximately 1.8 points per game against top 4 teams (as that is there expected ppg return from any game as it takes you to 70) or 1.05 points for teams in a relegation fight (teams that are getting relegated lose more often than not, so the denial of points is less relevant), or even 2.3 points for title chasing team.
So six pointers can vary in actual value, and indeed those values vary from year to year as the number of points required to achieve an objective does.

  musings

Wow, you do know that you would absolutely kill a conversation down the boozer coming out with that. But thank you for some nice stats and facts.

I think we'll need a Benayoun style last minute winner.

Fingers crossed we can do it.

I won't be able to create the Live thread

I won't play Lallana for this game if his head is not right.

I won't be able to create the Live thread

I won't play Lallana for this game if his head is not right.

Heard a short interview with him earlier, his head seems like it's in the right place. Quietly confident for this one. Shhh.

Heard a short interview with him earlier, his head seems like it's in the right place. Quietly confident for this one. Shhh.

Then he is a good asset to have in the team.

I'd start Mario, reckon he showed enough form to get a chance / maybe deserves a bit of backing based on penogate where he made the right decision / is fresher than some of the others. Would leave Lallana on the bench after his gushfest on how he much he loves Southampton. Then bring Markovic back for Ibe, who did well against Besiktas but his final ball was generally poor, though there's not much between the two.

           Migs
   Can Skrtel Sakho
Markovic Hendo Allen Moreno
Sturridge Balotelli Sterling

Would rest Cou, but think BR probably won't start Mario though after his latest comments on how he needs to work harder so Cou might start
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/liverpool/story/2308951/mario-balotelli-must-increase-his-work-ratesays-liverpools-brendan-rodgers

Expecting tough game but we are the form team, but we should go in confident. Will the Thurs night game catchup with us? Hope not. CMON BOYS!!!

Wouldn't surprise me to see Markovic come in considering his European ban but I wouldn't go for that personally. Also think Balotelli will miss out despite his recent performances which would be a shame. Team for me:

Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Ibe, Hendo, Allen, Moreno; Sterling, Balotelli, Sturridge.

I won't be able to create the Live thread

I won't play Lallana for this game if his head is not right.

Tut tut Clint, very disappointed, how dare you take a day off, some might question your commitment   


YNWA

Coutinho definitely needs a rest and Lallana has been a bit off of late so would perhaps be tempted to start with Sterling, Sturridge + Balotelli. Or if not Markovic over Balotelli, depends how B-Rod sees it.

                         Mignolet
                  Can   Skrtel  Sakho
           Ibe  Henderson Allen  Moreno
                          Sterling
                  Sturridge  Balotelli

Ward; Lovren, Johnson; Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana; Borini

Le Tissier is a right dick, on Soccer Saturday now saying that Balotelli would have taken the ball off Gerrard if he was on the pitch. Obviously he wouldn't.

I won't be able to create the Live thread

I won't play Lallana for this game if his head is not right.

You do know that if we lose ,your heads on the block for the Wum's!