Pre-Match: Liverpool v Norwich (9th August 2019 - 8pm)

I figured it was time we got a pre-match thread going.  I have a feeling we are going to come out of the gates swinging.  5-0 win for LFC.  Salah with 2, Origi with 1, Bobby with 1, and Lallana with 1 off the bench. 

Alisson
Trent - Matip - VVD - Robbo
Fab
Hendo - Gini
Salah - Bobby - Origi

Can't wait for real footie to be back!!!!

 

It wouldnt shock me, if Mane has come back in top top condition and starts the game, or is at least sub for last 20/30.

Cant wait. Should be 3 points go top and stay there

I figured it was time we got a pre-match thread going.  I have a feeling we are going to come out of the gates swinging.  5-0 win for LFC.  Salah with 2, Origi with 1, Bobby with 1, and Lallana with 1 off the bench. 

Alisson
Trent - Matip - VVD - Robbo
Fab
Hendo - Gini
Salah - Bobby - Origi

Can't wait for real footie to be back!!!!

 

Oh no Divock starts. Gonna raise some eyebrows here... for those who want him to be replaced.
But I think Origi is good enough. Hope he does the job. Did alright for the Charity Shield.

Oh no Divock starts. Gonna raise some eyebrows here... for those who want him to be replaced.
But I think Origi is good enough. Hope he does the job. Did alright for the Charity Shield.

I'm a huge Divock fan, but he is not a left winger, and if we have to start him there it signals we are not strong enough in that position. He is far better centrally and should be the first one off the bench to give Bobby a break, but he is not suitable backup for Mane, IMO.

If Bobby goes down we have Divock and Klopp has also used both Salah and Mane centrally in his absence, so we have 3 options.
If Salah goes down, Mane can move to the right as he played there before or Shaq can fill in, so we have 2 quality options.
If Mane goes down, we have to play Divock in a weaker position, or put a midfielder in that role. We have seen Keita, Lallana and Ox play on the left and all look equally subpar in there. We have no quality option.

Just signed a keeper.Plenty of competition in defence and midfield.Little bit concerned about the strikers.Have enough for Norwich..(they are making sure Suarez has gone)..so 3 or 4-0 for me.

Team selection for EFL trophy match tonight and article on official site now make me think Hoever may be in the 18 Friday as cover for both fullbacks.

In all honesty, Bobby is better suited on the left wing than Origi.

I love Origi coming off the bench and filling that central role

After the difficulties in pre-season I think we should be glad that our first PL game is both at home and against a newly promoted team.

Expect a good bag full of goals and I wouldn't say no to the European Cup being paraded at Anfield.

Like to see us go with;

Alisson
Trent/Gomez, Matip, Virgil, Robbo
Keita, Fab, Hendo
Salah, Bobby, Shaqiri

Adrian, Trent/Gomez, Lovren, Ox, Gini, Milly, Origi

Like to see us go with;

Alisson
Trent/Gomez, Matip, Virgil, Robbo
Keita, Fab, Hendo
Salah, Bobby, Shaqiri

Adrian, Trent/Gomez, Lovren, Ox, Gini, Milly, Origi

Sadio not even on the bench?

Debating whether or not to triple captain Salah or will that jinx someone continuing the Suarez tradition vs Norwich?

cant see them sitting back from the off, they have nothing to lose. We NEED to put them on thier back foot staight away

I'm a huge Divock fan, but he is not a left winger, and if we have to start him there it signals we are not strong enough in that position. He is far better centrally and should be the first one off the bench to give Bobby a break, but he is not suitable backup for Mane, IMO.

If Bobby goes down we have Divock and Klopp has also used both Salah and Mane centrally in his absence, so we have 3 options.
If Salah goes down, Mane can move to the right as he played there before or Shaq can fill in, so we have 2 quality options.
If Mane goes down, we have to play Divock in a weaker position, or put a midfielder in that role. We have seen Keita, Lallana and Ox play on the left and all look equally subpar in there. We have no quality option.

We don't play with "wingers".
We play 3 attackers, with 1 central and 2 wider, and all three of them are in the box, when our fullbacks (who are our kinda wingers) put crosses in.

How many times does this need to be said.
It's like people didn't even watch us play the last few seasons.

Sadio not even on the bench?

If he’s considered an option for Klopp. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chelsea game is his first back.

Oh no Divock starts. Gonna raise some eyebrows here... for those who want him to be replaced.
But I think Origi is good enough. Hope he does the job. Did alright for the Charity Shield.

If Origi scores important goals for us this season like he did last season he will do the job for me.I say to doubters give the lad a chance and give him your full support.

Let's smash this lot, go Top of The League on GD after the first week and stay there for the rest of the Season.

Let's hope we all suffer from sore necks this season......coz we been looking down at everyone else for the campaign. 

Should win this comfortably if we play like we did 2nd half Sunday.

Really hope we can carry forward that performance from the second half of the last game into this one. Norwich are suppose to be a more open and pressing side (from what preview shows say I don't follow the Championship too close) which should play in our hands. Bag a couple of goals early to take the pressure off and be nice to see Mane get some minutes off the bench to get his fitness back up after a short break.

As far as line-up goes would like to see us with either Ox or Naby in the middle to give us a bit more attacking threat in the middle and Matip partner VvD as oppose to Gomez.

---------------Alisson-------------
TTA----Matip------VvD----Robbo
----Gini------Fabinho---Ketia----
Salah--------Firmno---------Origi

Subs: Adrian, Gomez, Milner, Hendo, Shairi, Ox, Mane

Can't wait! Think we'll come out flying, score early and see Norwich crumble.

6-0 

Should be a comfortable win, but as we've been conceding throughout pre-season, this trend may continue.  3-1 Firmino, Salah, VVD with the goals.

Debating whether or not to triple captain Salah or will that jinx someone continuing the Suarez tradition vs Norwich?

keep triple captain, till theres 2 games in a game week, xmas period. ;-)

Should be a comfortable 3 points.  Think Mane will be on for last 20mins

It's here ate last!!!

Cannot F***ing wait. Bring 'em all on, let's do this!

I'm working from home tomorrow so i can watch the game. Anfield is going to be a madhouse.

The Reds should hit top form at home to Norwich. Gone for a comfortable 3  0 win, for us at Anfield tomorrow night.

We should have enough to see off the Canaries ...fancy the scoreline to be 4-0 with Mane returning..

Important  get off to a flyer here . Would love to see Naby start and think Sadio on the bench to have 1/2 hour

Does Norwich have an English player in their first choice XI?

Buzzing for tomorrow night.

Footy is back!

Ok how did I not realize this game was tomorrow night and the first game of the season?? This summer has flown by, I need to take a break it looks like so I can get properly sidetracked by discussing footie with you all.

I've got us for 3-0, wouldn't be surprised to see a Salah hat trick.

I thought the game was at Norwich till a couple of days ago.Off  for a friday afternoon pub watch,don't think there will be the same numbers as last liverpool game i watch there!

Start as we mean to go on.....straight for the throat....and rip this league apart,

Norwich are simply our first victims,

This is our time, This is our league...this is our Title...

                        Allison
       Trent  Gomez Virgil  Robbo
                         Fabinho
            Hendo                 Keita
           Salah    Firmino      Origi

Subs; Adrian, Matip, Milner,  Oxlade,  Mane, Lallana,  Shaqiri

3-1 Champions Elect



YNWA

Just over 24 hours to go....get in

Can’t wait to watch the game, I need my mind elsewhere..

Interested to see how norwich approach this. Last season saw quite a bit of them they were very open and attacking which promises an open game

Does Norwich have an English player in their first choice XI?

The right back aarons

I thought the game was at Norwich till a couple of days ago.Off  for a friday afternoon pub watch,don't think there will be the same numbers as last liverpool game i watch there!

The EFL Trophy game vs. Oldham last night?   

The right back aarons

Good player as well.

What better way to start the new season than an evening game under the Anfield floodlights, new home kit, carpet pitch with the volume levels a notch higher than last season(if that's possible )...with the whole world watching.

Poor Norwich... They really have no idea what's about to happen to them.
Park the Bus, and they're fu**ed..
Push men forward, and we'll rip them apart on the break.

Let's lay the first marker down in this long slog for the league.
6-0 would be cool but i'll settle for 3-0 

Good to be back. I think Norwich will be brave and try to impose themselves a bit. Sort of make a statement ‘we are back’

So for all that, I’m going for 4:0 😁
Gotta get over to the prediction league quick !

i hope we win this match. treat every match with greatest respect no matter who. hopefully gomez will play right back and let royal trent rest for a while.

NB: Team no longer available

I will be home exactly for kick-off, hope I will be earlier but do not know. Hope for a good performance to go top from the 1st second.

Norwich at Anfield is the perfect start.

Start with a big win and keep going till May!! Fancy us for 3-0. Salah with them all

I think we'll win but it might be a tighter game than some think, Norwich are a decent team and unless they get intimidated by Anfield, which is a very real possibility, then they'll give us a game and might even nick a goal but I fancy us to beat them and get the season off to a good start.

5-0 to the redmen . Cant wait
Ynwa

Think mane will start score two then come off about 70

I think we will win but it won't be as one-sided as some on here think. They are a good side, and we no longer have a certain Mr Suarez, who loved to score against them! In all seriousness though, they are a good side and have had a very similar summer to ourselves in terms of transfers which speaks volumes about how highly their manager rates their players. They do like to play, and with the weather forecast for rain, it should make for a great game!

Match Day!!!! 

What an opportunity to make a huge statement to this new season. 

Important  get off to a flyer here . Would love to see Naby start and think Sadio on the bench to have 1/2 hour

Agree on Naby. No more often than not against sides like this I'd like him in the side as he gives us something the other midfielders don't.

God I’m looking forward to kick off, I really need to be watching us..

Buzzing! Got Sky Q installed all round the house now so even if my wife starts being funny about all the football I can F**k off to the bedroom or kitchen to take in the games in ultra HD.

Football is back! Finally.

God I’m looking forward to kick off, I really need to be watching us..

And so say all of us Shabs,they should do away with off seasons.

Buzzing! Got Sky Q installed all round the house now so even if my wife starts being funny about all the football I can f**k off to the bedroom or kitchen to take in the games in ultra HD.

Football is back! Finally.

Ultra HD is only on the main box I think, but got to love Sky Q, very clever technology

Buzzing. Can't wait!

Buzzing. Can't wait!

This Is The Season!!!

4-0 to us

I really do hate playing newly promoted sides, need the 1st goal to settle my nerves!

Dig in pal, it's going to be another rollacoaster.Could be stretched to the limit, but the spirit should be high after the adrenalin rush of last season.

Could be scrappy 1-0.

Not sure if it seems like last season has barely finished or it seems an age ago, but here we are again!

Looking forward to the attacking contributions of Keita & Ox this season adding an extra dimension to our attack.  Think we have more options than last season if we need a goal with 25 to go, despite our lack of activity in the transfer market.

If the defence is as resolute as last season, we've every chance of going all the way this season.

In 2018 we came agonisingly close in the CL before making amends in 2019.
In 2019 we came agonisingly close in the PL........

Anyhoos - we'll win 3-0 or 3-1 comfortably against the Canaries.

COYR!!!!

I really do hate playing newly promoted sides, need the 1st goal to settle my nerves!

They were in the PL not too long ago, but tonight is going to be epic at Anfield after last year's CL win so i think Norwich melts under the pressure and we win comfortably.

Guard against complacency and you'll never be disappointed.

This might be tougher than people think.

I still fancy us to win, although I think it will be a hard game, with us showing our superior quality in the last 30 minutes.

Been a bit since my last post; recently promoted at work & have been crazy busy.

Sucks I'll have to watch today's opener at my desk, but I'm ready! Excited to have the boys back in full 

Guard against complacency and you'll never be disappointed.

This might be tougher than people think.

I still fancy us to win, although I think it will be a hard game, with us showing our superior quality in the last 30 minutes.

Norwich shouldn't feel pressure for this. I still think they will defend in numbers and see if we can break them down. That's still the biggest question facing us in these matches against teams of lesser stature: on a given day, can we sort out the bus parkers?

Been a bit since my last post; recently promoted at work & have been crazy busy.

Sucks I'll have to watch today's opener at my desk, but I'm ready! Excited to have the boys back in full 

Congrats on the promotion!!  I have a F***ing meeting that starts at kickoff....  So I'm just gonna DVR the game and watch it tonight after I get the kids to bed.  Gonna have to power off my mobile to avoid getting unwanted updates during the match.

Congrats on the promotion!!  I have a f**king meeting that starts at kickoff....  So I'm just gonna DVR the game and watch it tonight after I get the kids to bed.  Gonna have to power off my mobile to avoid getting unwanted updates during the match.

Plight of the American fan. Oh the lengths we sometimes must go to avoid seeing the result, and most of us have some stories of the times our best efforts to that end were not enough. Harder than ever before with the game's growing popularity and Liverpool's growing visibility over here

Plight of the American fan. Oh the lengths we sometimes must go to avoid seeing the result, and most of us have some stories of the times our best efforts to that end were not enough. Harder than ever before with the game's growing popularity and Liverpool's growing visibility over here

First world problems, eh?   

I literally cannot sit still!  I'm so F***ing excited!  T-minus 7 hours and 15 minutes until I get to grab a cold brewski and settle into my sofa for the return of the Mighty Reds!!   

Well, feeling refreshed after the summer break, all ready for 2019/20 !!!!!
Brilliant to have won the CL / gotten something from last season - feels like a monkey off our back, have made that breakthrough and won the big trophy - that's one, now let's get some more ...
Have to admit thought we might sign an attacking player, but guess with AOC back, and Lallana looking better [apparently, I've seen shag all preseason] they're like new signings.
No clue about the budgies, haven't seen them recently or last year, but we've a decent record against them over the years I think, seem to remember a few 5-0 pummelings.
Salah's in my FF team as captain, hoping for more of the same from him.

Aug9 - season starts earlier every year - hope we get out of the blocks quick, nab the 3 points and settle back and watch the rest of em over the weekend.
CMON BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NB: Team no longer available

I will be home exactly for kick-off, hope I will be earlier but do not know. Hope for a good performance to go top from the 1st second.

Home... can't wait to start...

Norwich shouldn't feel pressure for this. I still think they will defend in numbers and see if we can break them down. That's still the biggest question facing us in these matches against teams of lesser stature: on a given day, can we sort out the bus parkers?

Don't think their manager is the bus parking type.

But we''ll see, in a couple of hours.

Starting to get excited for this now.

Just went to refresh my mind about their manager, and it seems there's a lot of similarities with Klopp, but maybe not as talented.

Fast, possession based football, employing similar tactics, but with our superior players we should beat them, hopefully comfortably.

I think since it is their first league game they will try to show off and we will break them apart.

Don't think their manager is the bus parking type.

But we''ll see, in a couple of hours.

Starting to get excited for this now.

Just went to refresh my mind about their manager, and it seems there's a lot of similarities with Klopp, but maybe not as talented.

Fast, possession based football, employing similar tactics, but with our superior players we should beat them, hopefully comfortably.

I also read their free transfer striker, although in  the championship, has similar stats to Mo FFS.  need VVD all over him like a rash.

Matip or Gomez then?

What's everyone's thoughts?

I'd be inclined to go for Joel simply because he ended last season in undroppable form and think he has earned the spot.

I think we should go full on from the start in every match now. Impose ourselves and go for it. early lead and keep building. gotta win every game. We are capable, we just gotta wanna do it.

Missed this ridiculous amount of loo visits kinda life on the weekends...

Salah triple captained!! gave in to the hype and excitement of a new season.

Let's go boys!!!!!

Matip or Gomez then?

What's everyone's thoughts?

I'd be inclined to go for Joel simply because he ended last season in undroppable form and think he has earned the spot.

Yeah, Matip for me. I don't think Joe has got his rhythm back since his injury. It will come back, and hell be a force again, but may take a bit of time.

Matip or Gomez then?

What's everyone's thoughts?

I'd be inclined to go for Joel simply because he ended last season in undroppable form and think he has earned the spot.

Matip for me at this stage.Could be Gomez might compete with TAA for right back.There will be many permutations throughout the season but Matip has earned his place.

Don't think their manager is the bus parking type.

But we''ll see, in a couple of hours.

Starting to get excited for this now.

Just went to refresh my mind about their manager, and it seems there's a lot of similarities with Klopp, but maybe not as talented.

Fast, possession based football, employing similar tactics, but with our superior players we should beat them, hopefully comfortably.

He typically wasn't in the Championship, but think he will have to bunker more, especially against the best. As you say, we will see. I hope you are right, for multiple reasons.

Matip or Gomez then?

What's everyone's thoughts?

I'd be inclined to go for Joel simply because he ended last season in undroppable form and think he has earned the spot.

Matip without question. He has been fantastic for a while now and should be the de-facto partner to VVD until Gomez wins it back on merit (or injury, i guess).

Matip has that ability to turn defence into attack very quickly.He can bound forward 4/5 yards getting an attack up & running.Used and timed properly it can be very useful tactic. He can get up and score as well.A big plus that he came back into the side last season and I'll bet the Boss is more than happy with him.

Matip has that ability to turn defence into attack very quickly.He can bound forward 4/5 yards getting an attack up & running.Used and timed properly it can be very useful tactic. He can get up and score as well.A big plus that he came back into the side last season and I'll bet the Boss is more than happy with him.

Unless it's with his head. Dude has some epic misses when heading the ball 

but i agree, he is very good at running the ball past/through midfield and turning defense into offense.

If we aren't 3 points ahead of everyone going into tomorrow's matches then we may have a few problems.

Hopefully get a good convincing win and open up the season in good fashion.

Matip or Gomez then?

What's everyone's thoughts?

I'd be inclined to go for Joel simply because he ended last season in undroppable form and think he has earned the spot.

I'd go with Matip, at least until Gomez plays well enough to displace him.
But I haven't seen preseason, maybe Jürgen wants to go with Joe from the start

Come on lads

It's like Christmas eve! ☺️

MATCH THREAD HERE!