Pre-Match: Newcastle v Liverpool EPL (Wed 30th Dec 2020 8:00pm)

Thiago coming back would be handy so we can rotate that midfield three a bit more, felt the minutes caught up with the three that played on Sunday. Ox will help in this regard too and I can see him starting tomorrow.

Can see Minamino coming in for one of the front three (should have come on against West Brom IMO) and it's a toss up for whoever partners Fab.

The next two will be very tricky games, just hope we can find some of the grit from last season and dig out six points.

Just win the F***ing thing. Read last week before the WBA game that up until that point of the season Newcastle were the side with lowest possession and deepest setup in the league. Could be a carbon copy of the 6-4-0 formation we saw the other day.

I want to see a positive response, and I fully expect one. Intensity for the full 90 mins please. 3-0 liverpool.

Thiago coming back would be handy so we can rotate that midfield three a bit more, felt the minutes caught up with the three that played on Sunday. Ox will help in this regard too and I can see him starting tomorrow.

Can see Minamino coming in for one of the front three (should have come on against West Brom IMO) and it's a toss up for whoever partners Fab.

The next two will be very tricky games, just hope we can find some of the grit from last season and dig out six points.

Bloody hell if Newcastle is a tricky game then we really have issues. I fancy us to beat the barcodes without too much trouble

Bloody hell if Newcastle is a tricky game then we really have issues. I fancy us to beat the barcodes without too much trouble

Pretty sure a lot of people were saying that before Fulham, Brighton and WBA and we didn't win a single one of them!

They're all tricky for us right now. No shame in that either, points being dropped by everyone at the moment. Just have to become the side that clicks and puts a run together.

Pretty sure a lot of people were saying that before Fulham, Brighton and WBA and we didn't win a single one of them!

They're all tricky for us right now. No shame in that either, points being dropped by everyone at the moment. Just have to become the side that clicks and puts a run together.

Win against Newcastle and we will have gotten 10 out of the last 12 possible points. No one would be against that over any 4 game period.

I think we should beat Newcastle. But they probably have a better first team than wba, Fulham and Brighton. So we need to take our chances and maybe change things around earlier if things are not going to plan.

Theory !! Our players "getting up" for teams like Newcastle.Then Newcastle etc "getting up" for Liverpool.

Last year there was never a doubt we got up for all comers.This season seems like a "bit" of a problem

Even personally as a keen amateur back in the day.I'm sure we used to get "stuffed" occasionally by teams sitting at the bottom of our league.

Them low tabled teams often (and do) turn it on against the top tabled teams.

Answer ?? Drop the "shoe ins" as the kick up the arse that's needed.

Win against Newcastle and we will have gotten 10 out of the last 12 possible points. No one would be against that over any 4 game period.

I humbly disagree... while I’m not against this outcome, the perfectionists on our boards would be. It’s just that they have yet to surface...

On Hendo/Williams/Nat at CB, I'd consider Nat.

Williams could be a prospect, and is young, but imho doesn't really have much pace and doesn't dominate in the air.
WBA had a chance in the 2nd half before they scored where they just played a long ball over the top and their forward from being yards behind, passed Williams and got a shot away that Ali saved well.
He's comfortable on the ball, but most of the time he's under no pressure with opposition dropping off.
Against Spuds he was exposed a few times, they didn't capitalise [they had the better chances in the game] - and think for Son's goal he played him onside when Fab was playing him off.

In sayin that Jürgen obviously doesn't rate Nat, with Williams chosen ahead of him. Have only really seen Nat in the game he started, where he did well, and dominated in the air. Against Newcastle, might need his height/strength. In saying that, Jürgen must see a weakness we haven't really seen much of yet.

Wouldn't play Hendo at CB right now, miss him too much in the middle. Maybe with Thiago/Keita back, though even then I still wouldn't.
But would Hendo be a better option at CB than Nat/Williams - quite possibly, which doesn't say a lot for the 2 lads unfortunately.

Hopefully we sign a CB in Jan. I like Matip a lot, think he's a really good CB for us, but he's so injury prone.
Even if we don't sign a 'top' CB, if we got someone in to be a 3rd/4th choice ahead of Nat/Williams, particularly someone who's good in the air, that could be enough.
Otherwise, reckon we'll continue to leak points from corners/free kicks.

They're all tricky for us right now. No shame in that either, points being dropped by everyone at the moment. Just have to become the side that clicks and puts a run together.

And like road cycling, stay at the front of the peloton. It’s always nice to breakaway early. But no problem since we’re out in front.

We just need to beware of our competitors who MAY be on “boosters”, although that’s out of our control.

Has he yet participated in any full (contact) training?

If I’m not mistaken yes he has. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a few minutes this game.

I expect a few changes with Curtis going out for either Ox or Shaq (Shaq being my preference) and Philips coming in for Matip at CB, also might see Jürgen benching either Bobby or Mane for Minamino with a change on 65 minutes if not going to plan.I believe there will be a response from the weekend as Jürgen like all of us wasn't happy with the second half against WBA,Newcastle will play a lot like WBA with counter attacks and set pieces there only chance of scoring with ten men defending their goal,if we score in first 15 minutes then i can see a 4-0 with a Salah hat-trick and a goal from Bobby if not then 2-0.No more points dropped against the dross/negative teams near the bottom please. COYR lets smash em.

If I’m not mistaken yes he has. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a few minutes this game.

Might come a bit too soon think Southampton more likely and then play against Villa in Cup

If I’m not mistaken yes he has. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a few minutes this game.

Klopp provided an update recently on him:

"Thiago has trained in part with the team so far, but on Friday, he trained the full session," he told reporters. "But it was a reduced session so we couldn't do that [full session].

"He just has to be part of team training [regularly]. It's not about being part of team training one day and then you can play football in the Premier League.


"So it looks quite promising at the moment but I cannot say more about it, to be honest. I don't know. I think the plan was that if he trains [on Monday] completely normally then we will see.”

Klopp’s comments mean Thiago is unlikely to feature in Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle, but could return for the game at Southampton on Monday or the FA Cup tie with Aston Villa on January 8.

https://www.talkaloadofbull.com/en-us/news/klopp-thiago-update-midfielder-liverpool-return/stnvp7riw8oe14qwyfhpw2yfe


At least there's hope.

I think Jürgen is likely to play Thiago against Villa in the cup as i don't think he risk him for the league until he gets up to speed match fitness wise unless we are 3-4 goals up against Newcastle or Southampton and brings him off the subs bench.

Almost wondering if Phillips is about to leave. I know it seems counterintuitive given our injuries but he was apparently about to be sold to a Championship side and it fell through. Seems like he's behind Williams now and we've even seen Henderson play there ahead of him. I say this only if we are bringing a front line player in

Jürgen really needs to have a change of heart, there really is no choice now, as like you say Phillips is as good as gone we need to spend some money this window, surely letting Phillips leave is tantamount to madness unless there is something or someone imminent we or the media don’t know about,

We’re already down to the bare bones we simply cannot afford to further weaken that position, even if another comes in we’re still under strength, I would imagine though that our recruiting department will have been hard at work since Joe got crocked searching for a suitable candidate that fits perfectly,

We all know Jürgen prefers recruiting in the summer months but the latest Matip setback could force his hand and set in motion the possibility of seeing a new face in January, IMO  it’s pivotal we get someone in, if we want to hold onto our title we cannot burden the young lads with the inevitable pressure trying to defend our crown and expect them to be error free, also, I believe Jürgen would look to replace Matip this summer and find someone more reliable, so for me it would make sense to find that player now if at all possible, names like  Varane, Koulibally, immediately spring to mind, but I think Jürgen would prefer someone younger for longevity and perhaps versatility, Upamenacho (think that’s his name) maybe ?


The situation up until Sunday has been manageable albeit somewhat risky, but now it’s absolutely crucial we bring someone in, and I think we will, and as soon as fookin possible too ?




                                                                             Y  N  W  A

Theory !! Our players "getting up" for teams like Newcastle.Then Newcastle etc "getting up" for Liverpool.

Last year there was never a doubt we got up for all comers.This season seems like a "bit" of a problem

Even personally as a keen amateur back in the day.I'm sure we used to get "stuffed" occasionally by teams sitting at the bottom of our league.

Them low tabled teams often (and do) turn it on against the top tabled teams.

Answer ?? Drop the "shoe ins" as the kick up the arse that's needed.

Go on then, post a team without the ‘shoe ins’ and see if they can get up and beat the low tabled Newcastle,  don’t forget no shoe in’s means, no Alisson, Trent, Fabinho, Robbo, Hendo, Gini, Mane, Salah, or Bobby !


This’ll be interesting?

I think Jürgen is likely to play Thiago against Villa in the cup as i don't think he risk him for the league until he gets up to speed match fitness wise unless we are 3-4 goals up against Newcastle or Southampton and brings him off the subs bench.

Yeah, he could bring him on if we are leading comfortably similar to Chambo's return

I want to see a positive response, and I fully expect one. Intensity for the full 90 mins please. 3-0 liverpool.

I have the same prediction, all 3 up front to score imo

This may be a game.for that 4-2-3-1 attack and play Shaq.

Just batter them into submission Redmen.

Need a high tempo start and keep the pressure on