Pre-Match: Southampton V Liverpool (11/02/2018 - 16:30)

Dissapointing obviusly to draw the way we did Sunday but we could easily have lost if Kane had put the first penalty away. We still find ourselves in 3rd so again we can push on here and cement that place further. Arsenal also travel to Spurs so at least one of them has to drop points also - hopefully both!

I'd bring Gini back in here. I would have said Ox bar his exceptionally ineffective sub appearance Sunday. Southampton will have some confidence after their big win at the weekend and like Swansea are fighting for their lives.

Lets not make the same mistake. 0-3 Reds!!! 

Lovren booo passes to vvd booo, to mane booo to ox booo

Thank god for this thread. Salvation amongst the controversy.

F**k the refs', and the FA. We've got 3 points to win away to a side coming back in to form. It's going to be a tough fixture for Van Dijk especially but I believe he will come through it unscathed. But I expect us to pull it off.

Shame about Lallana's antics who hopefully won't face a suspension for first team duties. Bizzare behaviour.

Will Danny Ings be available? Heard a rumour he was injured last night.

Klopp..." right I want 3 volunteers for diving practice....Mane, Salah......and you Mig....you need all the feckin' practise you can get..."

He's surprised me the last couple of times I expected some rotation, but I would expect some changes for this one with the Champions League game coming midweek. Of course up front is where you might want to see some players get a break and.....well, you know.

Was really impressed with our back 4 tbh, we held a damn good line throughout and both pen's should have been offside. I think Lovren and VVD could be our best pairing as they compliment each other. I'd like to see the same 4 defenders and 3 attacking players start.

Bollox had this in my head as a saturday game.Bobby on the bench? Not sure about this one at the moment,they'll be up to impress our scouts.crap it's only tuesday.

Thank god for this thread. Salvation amongst the controversy.

F**k the refs', and the FA. We've got 3 points to win away to a side coming back in to form. It's going to be a tough fixture for Van Dijk especially but I believe he will come through it unscathed. But I expect us to pull it off.

Shame about Lallana's antics who hopefully won't face a suspension for first team duties. Bizzare behaviour.

Will Danny Ings be available? Heard a rumour he was injured last night.

Danny is okay

Dissapointing obviusly to draw the way we did Sunday but we could easily have lost if Kane had put the first penalty away. We still find ourselves in 3rd so again we can push on here and cement that place further. Arsenal also travel to Spurs so at least one of them has to drop points also - hopefully both!

I'd bring Gini back in here. I would have said Ox bar his exceptionally ineffective sub appearance Sunday. Southampton will have some confidence after their big win at the weekend and like Swansea are fighting for their lives.

Lets not make the same mistake. 0-3 Reds!!! 

There is no way we should be putting that midfield out against a side likely to concede possession and defend deep against us. Southampton are only two points above the drop zone and are fighting for every point they can get, and one against us would go a long way to helping with their survival especially given that Swansea's playing Burnley this weekend, Brighton are playing Stoke, and Newcastle play Man United. A point against us could effectively take them up four places so the last thing I expect them to do is come onto us and attack, so with that in mind, we need far more creativity in the middle of the park than we've seen lately. Swap Wijnaldum for Chamberlain and Lovren for Matip and have Lallana and Gini on the bench allowing two different options for two different scenarios as the game progresses.

NB: Team no longer available

With Porto coming in the days after this one, I think it would make sense to rest Bobby. Gini is another one who doesn't seem to do well on 3-4 days rest, so assuming Klopp wants him in midfield for the Euro match, I would try to get Ox back into playing well for us. It's possible he would give  Moreno a runout here as well, again given the three matches in seven days bit. I will expect TAA to play in the Porto match.

Lovren booo passes to vvd booo, to mane booo to ox booo

Its almost like the Southampton A team against the reserves ;-)

Its almost like the Southampton A team against the reserves ;-)

Will be interested to see if lovren starts as the abuse seem to affect him previously

Would have Matip back for this to create another body in midfield if they surrender possession. Ox in for for Milner and same front 3. Think Milner will play in Portugal though

3 points here will be massive and will surely set us up nicely for Porto

I don't want to see Milner start this one.

Can, Hendo and Ox in midfield.

I don't want to see Milner start this one.

Can, Hendo and Ox in midfield.

Milner played well against the Divers last Sunday.

Milner played well against the Divers last Sunday.

He might have been needed against a top team like Spurs but even then he didn't really contribute much.

In a game where we will more than likely be on the front foot he will offer even less.

4-4-2 diamond of:
               Karius
TAA, Matip, VVD, Robertson
           Henderson
        Can    Oxlade
            Lallana
       Salah Firmino

Prediction: 1-3 reds’ win

Still a couple of years before we can field a complete first 11 of ex-Soton players.

This one shouldn't even be in doubt. Hammer them.

NB: Team no longer available

I would rest Firmino and Milner for the Champions League.

I predicted West Brom knocking us out FA Cup. I predicted the Spurs draw, Now I am predicting a Liverpool win v Southampton.

I predicted West Brom knocking us out FA Cup.

Erm?

"We have a bad history of results not going our way when a later kick off. I think it's going to be 1-1."

https://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,50105.msg2120947.html#msg2120947

Erm?

The West Brom result I put 3-1 to West Brom in predictor. It was 3-2. I think we'll win v Southampton, but I give up on trying to predict by how many goals.

I predicted West Brom knocking us out FA Cup. I predicted the Spurs draw, Now I am predicting a Liverpool win v Southampton.

Self indulgence at its finest.

NB: Team no longer available

I would rest Firmino and Milner for the Champions League.

I would go with that . Danny needs some first team action.

I predicted West Brom knocking us out FA Cup. I predicted the Spurs draw, Now I am predicting a Liverpool win v Southampton.

A medal perhaps ?

I predicted West Brom knocking us out FA Cup. I predicted the Spurs draw, Now I am predicting a Liverpool win v Southampton.

I'm a scouser-in-exile in Northern Ireland and yisterdee I said it would piss down today..

Go back to Matip with VVD. Alex back in midield. Cannot afford to drop points. Mane could've sat this one out had Lallana been fit so I'd like to see him get on the scoresheet to pep him up a bit.Needs a lift.

Is this the game that possibly sparks a revival in Sadio's form? I think it could be. Havent been too impressed when I've watched Southampton this year, I'll be disappointed with anything less than a win.

I know we've got a mixed record against the Saints in recent years but this is a team that doesn't create and score many goals.

With Spurs and Arsenal playing each other and at least one of those sides dropping points, it's so important we win this one in our bid for top 4.

Mane, Firmino and Salah all to score. 1-3 (With Karius in goal, probably no clean sheet, they only need a half decent shot on target and it's a goal  )

Come on the reds - don't let me down. Get that confidence high going into Porto.

I predicted West Brom knocking us out FA Cup. I predicted the Spurs draw, Now I am predicting a Liverpool win v Southampton.

Really?? You predicted the bottom team in the league would beat us at home in the FA Cup, how??? That was a massive, huge upset.

Really?? You predicted the bottom team in the league would beat us at home in the FA Cup, how??? That was a massive, huge upset.

I never feel confident with late kick offs, especially on a Monday. I don't know why, but we just don't turn up. Just from observations, we seem to do best with 3 oclock kick offs. Southampton will be turned over badly though I think. Can imagine this being 4 nill.

A medal perhaps ?

Recently (to me anyway) it looks as if there is a little bit of tension between Mane and Salah, much like there was between Messi and Suarez when he first jointed Barca' As if Mane feels that Salah is upstaging him. They rarely seem to look to pass for to another around the goal...

Like Messi and Suarez; they will have to learn that if they play as one, and set up one another instead of all ways trying the impossible then the goal tally for both players will hit new high's and defenders will find the front three of LFC near impossible to defend against...

We have three wonderful strikers, who work hard, and score goals,but they have to learn that as hard as you work for the team to work as hard for each other... Just look at who hard defenders had to work to stop Naymar,Suarez and Messi

Mane may be trying a bit too hard to match Salah.  He just needs to relax and his form will return.

Klopp - maybe Southampton will say thank you, for all the money...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES7vkIUXr24

With Porto coming up, would try give couple of guys a break:

      Karius
TAA Matip VVD Moreno
  Gini Can Lallana
  Salah Ings Mane

We should still have enough to be able to beat Saints.
Would try give Firmino a rest. Have him on the bench if needed, but not start.
Plus would be good to give Ings some crack of the whip before writing him off.
Also start Hendo on the bench. And would think Jürgen will bring Lovren back in for Porto for Matip.
Moreno I'm not sure about, but if Jürgen thinks he's up to it, would give Robbo a break.
Mane needs more time to get back on form. Karius has done well recently, keep it up.
Lallana hasn't looked great imho, another who needs playing time to get him sharper.

We need to win this.
But we also need to give some other guys more game time if we're serious about the CL.

Full strength team, no mistakes. Establish a comfortable lead and rotate through substitution. Get the job quickly and efficiently and onto Porto.

Karius
TAA   VVD   Lovren   Robertson
Chamberlain   Henderson   Lallana
Salah   Firmino   Mane

So going by Klopps comments Hendo will be reserved for the Porto game seeing as though Can is banned.

So a Can, Gini, Ox midfield.

So going by Klopps comments Hendo will be reserved for the Porto game seeing as though Can is banned.

So a Can, Gini, Ox midfield.

Really like to see Ox get back to top form - we could use an attacking spark from midfield.

I never feel confident with late kick offs, especially on a Monday. I don't know why, but we just don't turn up. Just from observations, we seem to do best with 3 oclock kick offs. Southampton will be turned over badly though I think. Can imagine this being 4 nill.

We played West Brom on a Saturday no?
Not being funny because I fully agree with what you say, I think it was Swansea we played on the Monday and I fully expected the loss.

I never feel confident with late kick offs, especially on a Monday.

Maybe that's why West Brom won?

We didn't show up until the Monday and the game was the Saturday

Full strength team, no mistakes. Establish a comfortable lead and rotate through substitution. Get the job quickly and efficiently and onto Porto.

Karius
TAA   VVD   Lovren   Robertson
Chamberlain   Henderson   Lallana
Salah   Firmino   Mane

No chance of lallana starting

Back to somewhere near normality tomoz against a Saints side battling to retain their league status, i don't envisage being fu**ed over by Perrigrino's team but it definitely won't be easy, think Jürgen will change one or two from the Spuds debacle.....

                        Karius
  Trent   Lovren  Van Dijk  Robertson
       Oxlade    Emre    Wijnaldom
            Salah   Firmino   Mane

Bench; Ward, Matip, Moreno, Milner,
              Hendo, Ings, Solanke

A nice draw in the Landan derby would be ideal for us, allowing us to widen the gap, providing we win of course, in all honesty tho we should come away with all the spoils without too much bother, I'd love us to be totally ruthless and absolutely batter them, but be equally happy winning 0-1.

1-3 Mighty Reds


YNWA

Draw today in London. Simple 3-0 win against the Saints. And on to Europe we go...

And then i woke up.

Don't think we'll see anyone 'rested' for the Porto game.

There may be some different logic if it was ahead of a second leg and we were a goal behind but no need to do so for a first leg IMO.

I'd imagine the whistle sellers in Southampton have been busy the past few days.  Saints fans are going to be hoarse at the end with all the booing they will be dishing out.

Draw today in London. Simple 3-0 win against the Saints. And on to Europe we go...

And then i woke up.

Arsenal win wouldn’t go amiss either.

Spurs won 1-0.....the HEAT is on......dun dun der...

Why do we have a Sunday game when we got Porto on Wednesday? Surely we could have had this game today.. It's not like Southampton have a big schedule. It's sh*t.

Spurs won 1-0.....the HEAT is on......dun dun der...

Arsenal lay down and let them walk all over them..rear gunners the lot of them...
Embarrassing performance from Arsenal.

Southampton have turned into a proper bogey team for us these last five years or so..
So what have we done about it? Bought a scutch of their best players 
Will it make a difference if we play these players against their old club tomorrow?
I have absolutely no idea.
Van Dyke, Mane, Lovren, Lallana, they could all play sh*t and let the occasion get to them.
or
They could all put deep the rooted love for their old team aside and shut the home crowd up big time with a top notch performance.

One things for sure, Mo Salah won't give a F**k who he's playing against.
 

Arsenal lay down and let them walk all over them..rear gunners the lot of them...
Embarrassing performance from Arsenal.

Arsenal have Man City next in the league, they are out of the top four race by February. They should replace wenger now rather than summer. We all know he is getting the boot.

Anything less than a win for us will be  deemed a failure.3 points please.

I'm finding it very difficult to watch Liverpool games when they are on Sunday

Hopefully, I would be able :/

Nonetheless, we need a good win to cement our place in top 4 plus gives us confidence for next Wednesday.

Arsenal lay down and let them walk all over them..rear gunners the lot of them...
Embarrassing performance from Arsenal.

who'd ve thunk that Arsenal with Aubey, Mickat, Ozil, Lacazette and Welbeck up front would ve done so little.

Gone for a 2  0 win, for the Reds. Important to bag 3 points today, with Spurs beating the Arse yesterday.

who'd ve thunk that Arsenal with Aubey, Mickat, Ozil, Lacazette and Welbeck up front would ve done so little.

In fairness they created a decent amount of chances, just a shame most fell to Lacazette, wow we swerved a bullet on that one.

First thing is get Matip in instead of Lovren. In amongst the controversy about Spurs first pen, it wouldn't have happened at all if Lovren had been able to put his foot through a simple clearance. He missed because he saw Kane running behind him and panicked, something he does a lot. Jürgen needs to stop F***ing about with liability defenders and put in somebody that at least has a chance of being a good defender for us.

Other than that, if Hendo is being kept for Porto, which makes sense, then I'd go Can, Milner and Ox in midfield. Milner played well against Spurs and should keep his place. Gini, as we know, ain't as good away from home, so I'd go Ox instead. Hopefully be able to take Salah off with half an hour to go and the game in the bag, to rest him for Porto, but I'm not counting on it.

So

                        Karius

TAA          Matip     VVD         Robertson

            Ox      Can     Milner

    Salah          Firmino        Mane

From a couple of weeks back hoping for a set of results to put us 8 points ahead of Spurs, I'm now hoping we can somehow find ourselves four points ahead of Chelsea by tomorrow at 10pm.

But call me an old cynic but I can fully picture us heading into this midweek Champions League game with us sitting 5th and unnecessary ramping up of pressure on that last 16 game (which should really be one to enjoy as a mark of our progress back to the top table).

I have plenty of faith in our players ability to hand over heavy beatings when they are in the mood but I'm still not fully convinced of their mental strength.  Going to Southampton is going to be a hostile environment, and can the likes of Mane, Lovren, Lallana, the Ox and (so soon after leaving) even van Dijk, completely forget about that?  I'm hoping they can.  Or I'm hoping the other lads drag them over the line.

No doubt about it - we should be beating these and if we don't then it's another question mark over the players mentality.

And on that doubtful note - up the reds!! 👊

Full strength team, no mistakes. Establish a comfortable lead and rotate through substitution. Get the job quickly and efficiently and onto Porto.

This has always been my take on it.
Anything other and we are in for a fall. It goes without saying, they are in a relegation fight, and all teams in that position seem to turn us over when we start with fringe players. Usually they go ahead, and too often we can’t claw it back, regardless of how much possession we have.
Surely we have learnt our lesson, and get comfortably ahead before we start testing players !

Karius
TAA   VVD   Lovren   Robertson
Chamberlain   Henderson   Lallana
Salah   Firmino   Mane

A bit nervous about this one.

I see Dejan has talked about himself being one of the best defenders in the league.

Nice one Dejan. Maybe could have waited until after this one mate?

If we don't treat this game with all the intensity of a must win cup tie then we're screwed. Let Spurs or Chelsea get the drop on us and all the pressure is stacked on us.Add one serious injury to the mix and the wheel comes off.

So pissing about and screwing it up defensively are off the menu.

May be Rafa can do us a favour....can't see it as they have been poor apart from the first half dozen games. Jonjo will get sent off...even money chance.

Saints 4th from bottom with a goal difference of -10 so either they are scoring plenty, or not conceding many!
If they are defending Door with the bus parked, we will struggle to score, so we need to be patient and not all push up. Make sure we don’t let a soft one in.
We can surely win it, but it’s not the time for rotation. Full strength, get the breakthrough, get a couple more when they open up, then rest a few.
Gone for 0-2 but am always nervous before these sort of games !

Well we are certainly in the must win stage of the season.
Don’t hold out much hope that we will keep a clean sheet and we desperately need Mane to start clicking into some goal scoring form
Gonna go for another nervy second half performance and to hold onto a 2-1 win.

The way it's looking at the moment with is conceding sh*t penalties and United getting away with hacking opponents over in the box, you have to feel they will get a lucky win at Newcastle and we/the ref/the linesman/the 4th official/phone a fried/ask the audience will find a weird and wonderful way to hand Saints a goal on a plate.

Live thread https://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=50142.new#new