Pre-Match: Liverpool v Arsenal (Again), EFL Cup (Thurs.1st October 19:45 KO)

So fewer than 72 hours after putting in a strong performance to beat Arsenal in a league match, Liverpool face the Gunners again at Anfield, this time in the EFL Cup.

Last week Jürgen made 10 changes to the team from the previous match (when he had more time between games) Last year he made between 8-11 changes to the starting XI for every single Cup match we played. With Villa coming up in the league Sunday in even less time from the end of this one, I expect Jürgen will go full rotation again.

Lineup certainties:
I think we see Adrian in goal, Neco Williams at right back and Kostas Tsimikas at left back.
James Milner and Curtis Jones will start in midfield.
Diogo Jota and Taki Minamino will also start, either in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (in which case Taki would be the central attacking midfielder).

Lineup Uncertainties
After that I'm not so sure about the other four starting positions. Last week Fabinho and Virgil split the game at one center half, with Rhys Williams at the other making his first team debut. But now Fab, Virgil and Joe Gomez have all played 90 minutes just last night. Joe in particular is coming off an injury, but Fab and Virgil probably could both use night off. Joel Matip is still out injured, but using Rhys, 17-year old Billy Koumetio and/or Sepp Van Den Berg to play the two center half positions seems extremely risky, no matter who Arsenal decide to use in the game.

Then there is the third midfield spot. Does Jürgen go with Shaqiri again, or does Marko Grujic get the nod after a good outing last week? Shaq could also play in a front three, but then there may be no room Divock Origi and/or Harvey Elliott.

Obviously a much tougher task than last week vs. Lincoln. What do you think Reds? How is Jürgen going to play it?

                              Adrian

Neco            Joe           Rhys W     Tsmiskas


                 Jones   Milner Gruij

        Shaq         Minamino      Jota

Subs: Kelleher Virg Trent  Naby Eliott Origi Mo

Probably wrong of me to say this, but I'd really prefer to concentrate on the league and champions league

To be blunt, really don't give a sh*t about this cup.

Im greedy I want it all

Should want to win everything we enter the CB area the only issue everywhere else covered bearing in mind Arsenal will make changes also

Would love a trip to Wembley & a "cup final" but with everything that's going on there's probably 0 chance of that happening via the League Cup due to the final being played in February, so this competition has lost a lot of it's pull

Obviously love us to win it but won't be too arsed if we get knocked out

          Adrian
Neco Rhys Dijk Tsimikas
          Milner
    Grujic    Jones
          Shaqiri
   Minamino   Jota

I would expect Arse to have s similar fixture pile up to ours.
Don’t think Auba will play after seeing him limping last night. Not sure how much Arteta wants it. Does he have a chance of wining anything else ? Probably not, so I’d expect him to go as strong as he can.
As long as we don’t over do the rotation, I think we’ll still win it.
2:1 the Red Men 😊

I want us to become a bastion of invincibility,  want us to win everything

I want us to become a bastion of invincibility,  want us to win everything

We can. We have good bunch players who can step up when called upon. We just know how to win don’t we?

Probably wrong of me to say this, but I'd really prefer to concentrate on the league and champions league

To be blunt, really don't give a sh*t about this cup.

There’s no right or wrong. It’s your own opinion and preference. If you don’t prioritise this, so be it. It’s not the biggest trophy and prize money anyway. Let’s just say your ambitions are on the bigger prizes. You do not lack ambition at all... in that sense.

Even if we play our bench, we could still win it. It was so sweet our kids beat those blueshites next door.

I think Virgil is still a human being and we saw in the last few games last season that is subject to a little fatigue. He shouldn't  be asked to play every single match.

Obviously the dilemma is at centre half. Play the kids at both spots and there’s a good chance we lose no matter who is in front of them. So then you play one of Gomez, VVD or Fab but you risk them fir the weekend. I’d like to see us have a cup run this season but clearly we need another senior centre half if we’re serious about, particularly given the condensed season. I suspect we will see one if the senior CBS in the first half and the other in the 2nd. The rest of the side should be decent enough.

I like this tournament, it’s been devalued over the years but LFC have won it more than any other club and it would be great to win it again I also think it’s a great proving ground For the young lads specifically Williams and Elliott (and regretfully not Brewster)

I like this tournament, it’s been devalued over the years but LFC have won it more than any other club and it would be great to win it again I also think it’s a great proving ground For the young lads specifically Williams and Elliott (and regretfully not Brewster)

Agree, I like this trophy too, we have always done well in the past with it and Shanks and Bob used to excel in it, like you say it's a great little competition to keep playing our youngsters and the experience is vital for them.

Home advantage is a big plus and although the team will be different on Thursday, the win last night will be at the forefront of their minds, expecting a few goals and another solid win for the redmen.

Ljinders handling the presser at 1230 GMT.

Pep reports that Tsimikas is not available. It also didn't sound like Billy Koumetio is very likely to play, so I guess that is Virgil or Joe alongside Rhys Williams and then maybe Robbo or Milner at left back.

If recent reports are correct I’d be tempted to play thus.....



                          Adrian

       Neco   Gomez  Koumetio  Milner

                       Fabinho
        Grujic                        Jones
                     Minamino
         Origi                        Jota

Bench; Kelleher, Trent, Gini, Shaq, Elliot, Mo, Mane



Anyone’s guess but I like that, it’s unlikely Billy will make his bow, but never say never, I’m guessing Arteta will rotate but to what extent, hence me opting for a bit more experience than usual, I’m not to enamoured about the carrierbag cup, but since were in it may as well give it a proper go.




3-2 Champions




                                                                           Y  N  W  A

Don't want to keep banging on about CB, but if we had options there, think we could challenge in all comps. We have the players in all other positions - but for CB, would prioritise PL/CL, and ideally not play VVD/Gomez if at all possible in EFL/FA.  If we still had Lovren for example, he'd be playing in both these comps. How could we justify either of those 2 getting injured in EFL/FA?  Bad enough if we loose one for a period of time in a PL/CL match.

If both sides dip into the squad, we win again imho. But Arse will probably use more of their more senior guys than we will.

                              Adrian

Neco            Joe           Rhys W     Tsmiskas


                 Jones   Milner Gruij

        Shaq         Minamino      Jota

Subs: Kelleher Virg Trent  Naby Eliott Origi Mo

Milly to left full, Shaq in mid Origi up top

Will this still go ahead with the new lockdown in place. I know there are different travel arrangements and the clubs also have their bubbles. But what about officialdom, could government legislation put a stop to   it ?
I’m hoping not, anyone got any inside info on this ?

Will this still go ahead with the new lockdown in place. I know there are different travel arrangements and the clubs also have their bubbles. But what about officialdom, could government legislation put a stop to   it ?
I’m hoping not, anyone got any inside info on this ?

The local one? That's been in place since Tuesday last week. Or are you on about a different lockdown? (Honestly can't keep up with them at the minute! )

Either way I think the football will be sound. The procedures are in place now so that even if we go do into a stricter national lockdown football should be able to continue

I want a win tonight, and a big win, the squad is very very strong, we can go all the way.

Tsmiskas is injured btw, robbo might start, or milner at LB.

I want a win tonight, and a big win, the squad is very very strong, we can go all the way.

Not sure the boss will be that arsed, you seen when the next round is? 😬

Tsmiskas is injured btw, robbo might start, or milner at LB.

Larrouci possibly, still here, played against united u23s last week
Cant see him playing Robbo in this and asking Milner to go again at LB seems a bit much. Could do like but seems a bit arl arse

If we only had the choice of winning one, we’ve won the game against Arsenal that I wanted to win... so I’m not too nervous for this one, as long as some of the young lads get a game against decent quality and we have a decent game... saying that, Jones will batter them 

Not sure the boss will be that arsed, you seen when the next round is? 😬

Larrouci possibly, still here, played against united u23s last week
Cant see him playing Robbo in this and asking Milner to go again at LB seems a bit much. Could do like but seems a bit arl arse

I think the boss is arsed, but wont risk any of the superstars if he can help it.

Not sure but I think larrouci played for u21s v tranmere in the EFL cup on tuesday.

It'll be nice to see what the fringe, and younger players can do against more meaningful opposition than (no disrespect intended) Lincoln.

I think the boss is arsed, but wont risk any of the superstars if he can help it.

Not sure but I think larrouci played for u21s v tranmere in the EFL cup on tuesday.

Larouci did not play on Tuesday. I thought about him there possibly as well so Milner could play in midfield. Supposedly Yasser wouldn't sign a new contract in the close season and the club were looking to move him on. He hasn't been training with the first team unless he did so Wednesday. That game he played with the U23s was his first back from injury.

So it's probably Milner at left back, but I'm a lot less certain of our lineup tonight than I was last week.

Lets hope that most posters realise these games are part of the development of younger players. Neco has taken some stick, totally unjustified. He's coming along fantastically but like any player will make mistakes.

As to the game Arteta might play a strong team so we need a strong bench.

Lets hope that most posters realise these games are part of the development of younger players. Neco has taken some stick, totally unjustified. He's coming along fantastically but like any player will make mistakes.

As to the game Arteta might play a strong team so we need a strong bench.

I liked what Pep Ljinders said yesterday about Neco, that as a young player he is "a doer" and doers will make mistakes because they are trying to make things happen on the pitch.  He also said you are only a supporter "if you support."

I think the particulars of that can be fleshed out a little, and for me if I was on social media I would just ignore my mentions, but agree the criticism of Neco has been over the top.

I liked what Pep Ljinders said yesterday about Neco, that as a young player he is "a doer" and doers will make mistakes because they are trying to make things happen on the pitch.  He also said you are only a supporter "if you support."

I think the particulars of that can be fleshed out a little, and for me if I was on social media I would just ignore my mentions, but agree the criticism of Neco has been over the top.

Yes I noticed that about Neco.He tries stuff as if he's playing wing back.That is encouraged here I think.We saw it with Trent when he came in. One of the reasons we went for Robbo was that although Hull were relagated Robbo still wanted to get forward to try stuff.

The slight downside is that it occasionally can see us lose possession or get to high on the flanks giving teams the chance to exploit the space in behind. But it's a risk reward strategy in a sense but high support from the full backs is in our DNA so it will carry on being part of our game plan. Neco is an exciting prospect and he should not be put off from playing his game by the odd error.

Neco no will already have learnt from his experience against Aubameyang, and have had a bit of coaching on it, as well as a huge hug, and encouragement to keep on doing what you’re doing, just remember to iron out the little blips  as you go along.

He’ll get better, or he’ll hide.
Think he’ll do the former myself. 😊

Probably wrong of me to say this, but I'd really prefer to concentrate on the league and champions league

To be blunt, really don't give a sh*t about this cup.

Squad is better now, I think we can cope with giving this a go. Unlike FA Cup whose later stages screw us for the CL.

Squad is better now, I think we can cope with giving this a go. Unlike FA Cup whose later stages screw us for the CL.

Quarter finals of this are in the week run up to Christmas. Semis in new year

Already hectic time of year. I think Klopp won't shed any tears if we go out

Rumoured

Adrian

Neco
Rhys
VVD
Milner

Grujic
Jones
Shaq

Mo
Jota
Minamino

Word on the street is Billy the kid in with Joe

Word on the street is Billy the kid in with Joe

Oh conflicting reports here it seems.

I’ve heard Sebastian Coates is lining up beside Kolo Toure.

Oh conflicting reports here it seems.

I’ve heard Sebastian Coates is lining up beside Kolo Toure.

Id say more likely to be Gomez and Koumetio though

Id say more likely to be Gomez and Koumetio though

Well according to WAHS it’s Virgil and Rhys Williams so we’ll soon see who has the inside information.

Ill settle for Williams and Koumetio