Pre-Match: Liverpool vs. Stoke City 28/04/2018 - 12;30 pm

I suspect the discussion about this will be almost entirely about team selection with the 2nd leg at Roma looming.

Our squad was thin to begin with. Now with a variety of injuries, Jürgen may feel very reluctant to risk any first choice players vs. Stoke, although that will be a battling occasion with them fighting relegation.

He could sport an all-change back four of Clyne, Gomez, Klavan and Moreno. This conjures images of general shakiness, if I'm honest, but it would allow Jürgen to rest our starters.

He could use a completely different front three of Ings, Solanke and Woodburn, not that this sounds appealing in any way other than preserving the starters.

But to change midfield he would be dipping into literally the 4th string of players.
Henderson, Milner and Gini are the three remaining regulars at that position.
Can, Lallana and Ox are all out injured.
Then you have Grujic, Ejaria and Harry Wilson all on loan (add Pedro Chirivella for good measure).
That's 9 players preferred to the three who have been training with the first team.
So I guess he has no choice but to use Hendo, Millie and Gini, but what a disaster if one of them would go down.

Add to all of this the fact that we haven't qualified for next year's CL, yet.

I suspect the discussion about this will be almost entirely about team selection with the 2nd leg at Roma looming.

Our squad was thin to begin with. Now with a variety of injuries, Jürgen may feel very reluctant to risk any first choice players vs. Stoke, although that will be a battling occasion with them fighting relegation.

He could sport an all-change back four of Clyne, Gomez, Klavan and Moreno. This conjures images of general shakiness, if I'm honest, but it would allow Jürgen to rest our starters.

He could use a completely different front three of Ings, Solanke and Woodburn, not that this sounds appealing in any way other than preserving the starters.

But to change midfield he would be dipping into literally the 4th string of players.
Henderson, Milner and Gini are the three remaining regulars at that position.
Can, Lallana and Ox are all out injured.
Then you have Grujic, Ejaria and Harry Wilson all on loan (add Pedro Chirivella for good measure).
That's 9 players preferred to the three who have been training with the first team.
So I guess he has no choice but to use Hendo, Millie and Gini, but what a disaster if one of them would go down.

Add to all of this the fact that we haven't qualified for next year's CL, yet.

We have to play a strong team, hopefully steamroller them and then take off some key players.

We need to make sure we qualify for next year.
There should be a balance of resting players and going for the win.

                                                          Karius
                                               Gomez Lovren VanDijk
                                        Clyne Henderson Milner Moreno
                                               Ings Solanke Woodburn

Bring Gini on for Milner or Henderson in the second half to rest one of them.
Ings Solanke and Woodburn are playing for their places and should play their hearts out.
Rest Mo, Mane and Bobby to keep them fresh to terrorize Roma.
But swap them for any of the top three if its not going to plan.

I'm pretty sure Klopp will rest two out of the front three for this with Ings and Solanke coming in.

We could rest Lovren, Arnold and Robertson too, with Clyne, Klavan and Moreno. I think Klopp has kept van Dijk playing due to his lack of game time this Season so feels he is still ripe.

Not many options in midfield, with Can and Lallana penned in to return for the 13th May we are fu**ed. Could be an option to play Masterson as a defensive midfielder? Possibly give Woodburn a run out as well.

Seems we are cursed in the midfield department.

Klopp will sort it out, we should have enough in the tank to turn these over at home.

Extra day of rest,  full strength best 11 for me.

NB: Team no longer available

No need to be drastic with the changes but probably need to be inventive with the formation. A back 3 allows us to rest one of the midfielders. Rotate the full-backs; in fact, the formation might even benefit Clyne and Moreno.

Keep the momentum going with Salah and bring him off around the hour mark. 2/3 of our forwards to start, preferably Firmino alongside Salah as Firmino is more effective when starting and Mane can make an impact off the bench if needed.

8 head of Chelsea. Call it 5 with the game in hand. And with them to play. Add in we will need huge energy levels Wednesdsy and I side with rest players.

Our midfield is wafer thin we  cant risk playing the 3 lads but must start at leat 1 so my starting 11

                             Karius
Clyne         Lovern          Klavan    Moreno

                             Gomez

                   Hendo        Woodburn

Salah                   solanke          Ings

Get Mo off on the hour and Hendo.

We need to make sure we qualify for next year.
There should be a balance of resting players and going for the win.

                                                          Karius
                                               Gomez Lovren VanDijk
                                        Clyne Henderson Milner Moreno
                                               Ings Solanke Woodburn

Bring Gini on for Milner or Henderson in the second half to rest one of them.
Ings Solanke and Woodburn are playing for their places and should play their hearts out.
Rest Mo, Mane and Bobby to keep them fresh to terrorize Roma.
But swap them for any of the top three if its not going to plan.

Oh F**k no, that's a nightmare lineup and would probably see Stoke winning the match or at best us drawing. Have you forgotten how F***ing useless Solanke and Ings are at doing their jobs, ie scoring?
We NEED to win this game, hopefully early so that we can rest some players, but we start strong, almost full strength.

Can't take to many liberties with Stoke. Top 4 is still obviously our aim. Stoke need a result so if we play a much weakened side they will be even more motivated.

Who can we ill afford to lose for the rest of this campaign...Salah. At least 4 games left..5 if we get into the C/L final.....WTF.... sod it...all hands on deck...we go for it..full throttle...

Salah to start. Grab a hattrick. Get taken off with the reds 3-0 up.

Stoke to mount a comeback. Score 3 goals. Fans to slam the substitution.

Then Firmino to score the winner.  From the bench. Having replaced Salah.

coyr

lets win this and condemn them to championship

aleh aleh aleh

 

NB: Team no longer available

Team exposed in midfield.

Mane, Firmino & Henderson as subs for Salah, Wijnaldum & Milner in 2nd half.
5 or 6 changes guaranteed for the game. Only real question is who starts in midfield.

Salah to start. Grab a hattrick. Get taken off with the reds 3-0 up.

Stoke to mount a comeback. Score 3 goals. Fans to slam the substitution.

Then Firmino to score the winner.  From the bench. Having replaced Salah.

The last time Stoke mounted a comeback beer was a penny a pint and they had Stanley Matthews on the wing..

NB: Team no longer available

Team exposed in midfield.

Mane, Firmino & Henderson as subs for Salah, Wijnaldum & Milner in 2nd half.
5 or 6 changes guaranteed for the game. Only real question is who starts in midfield.

I think we need at least 2 of our normal 3 in attack, I'd be OK starting with Bobby, Mane and Ings and then bring on mighty Mo if we need him. All other positions I'd like to see us more or less full strength, if we field a weakened team then Stoke will smell blood and they'll be massively up for this game anyway as they still have a glimmer of survival.
After the F**k up as West brom we need to win this game to take the pressure off otherwise we'll have it hanging over us going to Rome which won't be good.

I think Woodburn has to play. When is he going to play otherwise - this is Stoke for fuuuuk's sake. Also, Ings as 9 not Solanke.

I go for 2-1 to redmen.

I think we need at least 2 of our normal 3 in attack, I'd be OK starting with Bobby, Mane and Ings and then bring on mighty Mo if we need him. All other positions I'd like to see us more or less full strength, if we field a weakened team then Stoke will smell blood and they'll be massively up for this game anyway as they still have a glimmer of survival.
After the F**k up as West brom we need to win this game to take the pressure off otherwise we'll have it hanging over us going to Rome which won't be good.

Had 2 of the 3 originally, but wary of playing too many of the 3+3 for a full 90 minutes.

Can't see Mane starting tomorrow, seen limping into Spire Hospital yesterday.

We need to make sure we qualify for next year.
There should be a balance of resting players and going for the win.

                                                          Karius
                                               Gomez Lovren VanDijk
                                        Clyne Henderson Milner Moreno
                                               Ings Solanke Woodburn

Bring Gini on for Milner or Henderson in the second half to rest one of them.
Ings Solanke and Woodburn are playing for their places and should play their hearts out.
Rest Mo, Mane and Bobby to keep them fresh to terrorize Roma.
But swap them for any of the top three if its not going to plan.

Fully agree.

Like I've put in Mo's thread ... stick him and Bobby in cotton wool. 

The prize is too big.

Can't see Mane starting tomorrow, seen limping into Spire Hospital yesterday.

F**k off, really?

I think Mo will be busting to play in this. He's still wants the record and the Golden Boot. So with that I think Bobby would have to play aswell as hes so important to Mo with his play. So maybe play Ings wide left or even Moreno. Our midfield is the problem so I'd rest Hendo and play Gini in that 6 role with Milner and Woodburn. If Clyne is fit then he's in. So this would be a perfect opportunity to play Gomez alongside VVD and se how it goes. Klaven can play left back.

                          Karius
Clyne        Gomez        VVD   Klaven/Al M
                      Wijnaldum
          Woodburn         Milner
Salah             Firmino             Ings

Not ideal I know but as it stands we are still 3rd in the league and even if we lost we would stay 3rd if Spurs win because of our better goal difference. Even if the Chavs won aswell they would still be 5 points behind. We've got this one chance to get into another final finishing 4th doesnt sound so bad if we do get there so putting out a weakened team would not be a travisty to me.

I think Mo will be busting to play in this. He's still wants the record and the Golden Boot. So with that I think Bobby would have to play aswell as hes so important to Mo with his play. So maybe play Ings wide left or even Moreno. Our midfield is the problem so I'd rest Hendo and play Gini in that 6 role with Milner and Woodburn. If Clyne is fit then he's in. So this would be a perfect opportunity to play Gomez alongside VVD and se how it goes. Klaven can play left back.

                          Karius
Clyne        Gomez        VVD   Klaven/Al M
                      Wijnaldum
          Woodburn         Milner
Salah             Firmino             Ings

Not ideal I know but as it stands we are still 3rd in the league and even if we lost we would stay 3rd if Spurs win because of our better goal difference. Even if the Chavs won aswell they would still be 5 points behind. We've got this one chance to get into another final finishing 4th doesnt sound so bad if we do get there so putting out a weakened team would not be a travisty to me.

I like this team!

I would go full strength. We cannot afford more dropped points as we are still not sure of Top Four.

The lads will have had three full days off and then will have another full three days until the 2nd leg.

Keep that winning feeling going to Rome and win for Sean Cox!

F**k off, really?

Yeah think it was a scan, nothing too serious, he'll be fine for next week, but could obviously be a doubt for tomorrow.

Yeah think it was a scan, nothing too serious, he'll be fine for next week, but could obviously be a doubt for tomorrow.

Hadn't heard this. Wow. Well as you say, if there's any question he will be kept out on Saturday.

Can't see Mane starting tomorrow, seen limping into Spire Hospital yesterday.

Some very important games to come, need really to beat Stoke. To keep us on course to qualify, for next year's Champions League. After this game obviously Roma and then Chelsea, another game the Reds can ill afford to lose, otherwise the season could end up going pear shaped, with lack of midfield quality, with all the injuries at present. Another point why so many 12.30 kick offs ?

We have to play a strong team, hopefully steamroller them and then take off some key players.

Not sure I fancy this one bit, we are down to 11 first team players, the alternatives make us so much weaker. I have a bad feeling that the Chelsea game we are going to need something.
Saying that I am not unhappy with our season, just that the inuries and squad are killing us.

must win game and it will see us just about over the line. We are so close to having the best season for over a decade just a few more games to see out.

NB: Team no longer available

Team exposed in midfield.

Mane, Firmino & Henderson as subs for Salah, Wijnaldum & Milner in 2nd half.
5 or 6 changes guaranteed for the game. Only real question is who starts in midfield.

Nat phillips the cb ?

Its LadyBoy taking the easy way out now ... before the humiliation that would come when meeting us.

Playing Stoke can be a pain in the ass, but there will have to attack, they are fighting for their lives

Nat phillips the cb ?

*Captain

Curse our run of injuries at this time of the Season.

Can't wait to get this game out of the way!

Play same team (expect Gini for Ox) as Roma

Get the 3 points done in second gear, and treat it like a training session - then onto Rome !

Any news on Mane?

Had a few texts yesterday about him being in hospital and limping around?

Any news on Mane?

Had a few texts yesterday about him being in hospital and limping around?

Update in his player thread mate ,doubtful for the potters but  should be fit for the return leg at Roma.

Update in his player thread mate ,doubtful for the potters but  should be fit for the return leg at Roma.

Thanks Jim.

Jürgen bullish about playing the strongest 11 available. Can see Gini and Hendo starting in midfield, latter taken off after 70 odd mins for Milner.

Bobby-Ings-Salah
Woodburn-Hendo-Gini
Robbo-Virgil-Lovren-Clyne
Karius

Subs- Migs, Klavan, Moreno, Gomez, TAA, Milner, Solanke

They've got to be put away, a draw here allows Chelsea a real chance to pile on the pressure.

Mane and Milner should be saved for Wednesday but apart from that we should really go full strength with there being a decent gap to the second leg and of course the huge importance of winning and taking the pressure off.

They've got to be put away, a draw here allows Chelsea a real chance to pile on the pressure.

Mane and Milner should be saved for Wednesday but apart from that we should really go full strength with there being a decent gap to the second leg and of course the huge importance of winning and taking the pressure off.

A draw would not be catastrophic because of our goal difference and even if we lose to Chelsea a win against Brighton would be enough to seal Top 4.

Not that I’m expecting anything other than 3 pts tomorrow, managed to get tickets so buzzing.

A draw would not be catastrophic because of our goal difference and even if we lose to Chelsea a win against Brighton would be enough to seal Top 4.

Not that I’m expecting anything other than 3 pts tomorrow, managed to get tickets so buzzing.

Not catastrophic but just opens the door a little bit further for Chelsea. Wouldn't mind Brighton being a dead rubber before (hopefully) the CL final.

I do think we'll win though like you said, can't see us being complacent again so soon with one of the bottom sides. Enjoy the game!

Just go out there Red men and smash the men from the potteries.

The Stoke of about 4/5 years ago we might have struggled to break down but I think these lot are for the taking.

Not catastrophic but just opens the door a little bit further for Chelsea. Wouldn't mind Brighton being a dead rubber before (hopefully) the CL final.

I do think we'll win though like you said, can't see us being complacent again so soon with one of the bottom sides. Enjoy the game!

 

They are resigned to go down and all Lambert will care is to NOT lose. Even in his presser, he was beaming about not losing at Anfield. So, I expect a 5 man defence with the 2 CMs sitting deep. Can get a bit frustrating but our quality should take us through. Might be a game where we'll not be required to play intensely, so that could be good.

                                                         Karius
                                               Gomez Klavan VVD Moreno
                                                   Henderson Milner
                                                         Woodburn
                                                   Ings Solanke Salah

Should be able to sneak a win with this team?

Looks like we will be near full strength minus Mane if you believe the presser.

 I'll settle for a point & no more injuries..

I'll settle for a point & no more injuries..

A point? Really?

I'll settle for a point & no more injuries..

A point is unacceptable. We can't keep dropping points. Had we beat west brom a point is okay, but now this is must win.

                                                         Karius
                                               Gomez Klavan VVD Moreno
                                                   Henderson Milner
                                                         Woodburn
                                                   Ings Solanke Salah

Should be able to sneak a win with this team?

Moreno out of position again

https://twitter.com/AnfieldExpress/status/989895831028461568

3-4-2-1 from the look of it

Karius
Gomez-Virgil-Klavan
TAA-Hendo-Gini-Moreno
Salah-Bobby
Ings

Slightly concerned with Klavan vs Shaqiri but that should be good for 3 points!

Moreno out of position again

Agree, Moreno should be left in the dressing room 

Gone for 2  0, for the Reds in the prediction league. Certainly do not want Chelsea to close the gap on us.

From the ITK Twitter guy.

Karius
Alexander-Arnold
Gomez
Van Dijk
Klavan
Moreno
Henderson
Wijnaldum
Salah
Firmino
Ings

Back 3 with wing backs, probably the safest option with Moreno!

Moreno out of position again

NOT Moreno  p-lease.

NOT Moreno  p-lease.

I agree Skip,Moreno had his chances and blew it.

I agree Skip,Moreno had his chances and blew it.

Had a decent season in my book but seemed very unprepared and reverted back to type against west brom, hopefully if he plays as a wingback he will be more comfortable

https://twitter.com/AnfieldExpress/status/989895831028461568

3-4-2-1 from the look of it

Karius
Gomez-Virgil-Klavan
TAA-Hendo-Gini-Moreno
Salah-Bobby
Ings

Slightly concerned with Klavan vs Shaqiri but that should be good for 3 points!

Id be ok with that, it's more or less the team I was suggesting.

2 Home games for the rest of the Season, let's win them both and go through the whole season undefeated at Home.

NOT Moreno  p-lease.

I'd rather have Bertie fookin Bassett playing instead of Bertie Moreno, you get 'Allsorts' of sh*t when he plays !! 😉


YNWA

Moreno too much of a liability tbh.