Pre-match Liverpool vs Sheff Utd EPL 4/4/24 Ko 7.30

I will get this one going.

Thursday see's us welcome Sheffield United to Anfield in our final match before the business end of the season and a tough run in begins on sunday.

Hot on the heels of a chaotic and tough game against brighton I am expecting this one to be much more straight forward. All that matters is collecting another 3 points and with Arsenal hosting Luton on wednesday its 99.9% certain we will be 2nd come ko time.

I am not expecting any of our injured party to return for this one. It is not worth risking Konate, nor do we need to. He can return sunday. Maybe Jones for the bench? Im not sure where he is currently but Ali and Jota no chance.

I really hope we dont make the same mistakes in selection as we did the last time we had United less than 3 days later. Our under 21s could beat these. Its time to rotate with a busy period ahead. I would line up like this:

Kelleher
Gomez
Quansah
Virg
Tsimikas

McConnell
Grav
Elliott

Salah
Danns
Gakpo

With plenty of ammo on the bench that should be more than enough to take 3 points off a beleaguered Sheffield United who are doomed.

Night game, full house at Anfield. It is going to be good.

I'd rotate somewhat, but not that much. I'd rest Endo cos he's on 8 yellows and we do not want him getting suspended ( he'll probably need one of his remaining 2 yellows against the Mancs), but start Mac.

Gakpo to start instead of Darwin (who comes on 2nd half for Diaz). Elliot to move to RW instead of Mo in 2nd half when Grav or Clark comes on for him.

They are genuinely sh*te and if we go after them from the off should win and boost our goal difference while we're at it.

Three points surely, anything less would be a near disaster. The blades will be fighting for every point, but the Reds will prove too strong. Predicting a 4  1 scoreline for the Reds.

Plenty of action for the Anfield crowd to enjoy !

Hopefully a better crowd in than were there for Brighton.

A few goals in the plus column could prove useful, but realistically all that matters is the points.

Don't think we should overly look at team rotation ahead of United as this time around they will have the same gap before the weekend's game.

3 points is all that matters

Just keep getting them and the GD will be irrelevant


Kelleher

Bradley
Konate
VVD
Kostas

Gary Mac
Elliot
McConnell

Mo
Nunez
Diaz

Another must win this, no f***in about get after them and don’t stop until we’re 8 nil up(@ht😁),
Seriously though this is a opportunity to cut the goal difference, Blades know their on a hiding we just don’t know by how many, but three points is what we need and what we will get,
Arse host Luton and wouldn’t be at all surprised if that ends in a draw, of course form tells us otherwise but Luton can be f***in awkward!!

We have nine finals left to be crowned Champions, Nine, so let’s just tick one of at a time, we’re the mentality monsters so let’s do this!!!

5-0 Champions Elect!!


YNWA

Hopefully a better crowd in than were there for Brighton.

A few goals in the plus column could prove useful, but realistically all that matters is the points.

Don't think we should overly look at team rotation ahead of United as this time around they will have the same gap before the weekend's game.

Im just purely looking at it as a chance to rotate mate. Obviously it would be different if it were arsenal at home.

We have the chance here to give a good chunk of our players a breather before the last 8 games. We dont need to be risking too many here. Use the squad and if nerded the big guns from the bench. But they should not be needed.

I dont expect my team to be the one named. Its purely what i would go for and i believe they would win by 2 or 3. Why risk konate bradley mac endo dom nunez diaz etc when we dont have to? Salah will always want to play ... id get him off after 60. Alot of games ahead ... much harder than this.

Some very interesting posts, rotation etc, another big game on Sunday. Take one game at a time, as for Sheffield Utd, just go out and tw*t them !

Focus on the task, play well, get the three points and the goal difference will take care of itself. I wouldn't overly rotate, maybe one or two fitness depending. Best time to rotate is once the game is secure.

Focus on the task, play well, get the three points and the goal difference will take care of itself. I wouldn't overly rotate, maybe one or two fitness depending. Best time to rotate is once the game is secure.

Im looking at it mate as a chance to give plenty a breather. We dont need our first 11 or close to it to beat these. But we have plenty in the squad to keep sharp and giving them minutes is the way to do that.

Use the squad ... and if required we have power to bring on. But they should not really be needed. The big one is sunday and i want our best 11 out there, fresh and ready to go for 100 minutes.

This isn't the time to start bringing kids in.

Kelleher Bradley Konate Virgil Kostas Endo Szobo Mac Salah Nunez Diaz

Smash Sheffield and take the momentum into the Utd game.

This isn't the time to start bringing kids in.

Kelleher Bradley Konate Virgil Kostas Endo Szobo Mac Salah Nunez Diaz

Smash Sheffield and take the momentum into the Utd game.

McConnell and Danns more than capable. Do you think we need that team to beat these? Endo at risk of suspension. Konate wont be playing v united if you play him here. He needs to be managed. We have a squad. I think we should use it and this is the ideal game.

Strongest possible team I expect. Potentially Grav in for one of the other 3 but that’s the extent of it I imagine. Don’t think Klopp will be underestimating the opposition thankfully.

The recent international break was actually ok for us, obviously had a few playing but think we would have come back fresher with the games played in Europe, Salah rested, Japan’s second game cancelled… Also got a good few players returned or returning from injury. I don’t think now is the time for heavy rotation.

Never underestimate any team that’s fighting for their survival

This isn't the time to start bringing kids in.

Kelleher Bradley Konate Virgil Kostas Endo Szobo Mac Salah Nunez Diaz

Smash Sheffield and take the momentum into the Utd game.

100%.......anyone thinking this game is already won are deluding themselves. Of course I expect us to win...but Sheffield U. will be fighting hard and anything less than total commitment might be a problem. Start a strong team and hopefully score a hat full by half time, break their will, then bring on some of the kids to see it out. Starting the other way round with McConnell & Danns invites SU to have a go.  Strong team and get it won early.

Think Gakpo gets a game here.

Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac, Elliott; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

Can’t make it up if true Taylor the ref aided by pawson and brooks fckin hell you just can’t make it up 🙈

McConnell and Danns more than capable. Do you think we need that team to beat these? Endo at risk of suspension. Konate wont be playing v united if you play him here. He needs to be managed. We have a squad. I think we should use it and this is the ideal game.

No but I'm still putting out our strongest available team....absolute no error for margin. Get the game wrapped up as early as possible then when it's time, save the legs of the big boys.

Ibou can play Thursday, Sunday no problems. Done so many times in the past. Time to rotate is inbetween the Utd and Palace game.

100%.......anyone thinking this game is already won are deluding themselves. Of course I expect us to win...but Sheffield U. will be fighting hard and anything less than total commitment might be a problem. Start a strong team and hopefully score a hat full by half time, break their will, then bring on some of the kids to see it out. Starting the other way round with McConnell & Danns invites SU to have a go.  Strong team and get it won early.

I dont think putting some squad players in invites them to have a go. The team i named has kells, virg, tsimikas, gomez, elliott, salah, gakpo, grav in it ... are these not good footballers? Are they not capable of beating sheff united? Are Mcconnell and Danns not capable? Are they not committed?

I think its a good opportunity to give some good players a game on the eve of potentially a titanic struggle on sunday.

Thats not taking them lightly. Thats knowing our squad is miles better than theirs and we should be using it. But you see it the other way obviously. All good.

No but I'm still putting out our strongest available team....absolute no error for margin. Get the game wrapped up as early as possible then when it's time, save the legs of the big boys.

Ibou can play Thursday, Sunday no problems. Done so many times in the past. Time to rotate is inbetween the Utd and Palace game.

No way konate is playing thursday/sunday. He doesnt back up games. I think thats well established mate. He needs to be managed.

No way konate is playing thursday/sunday. He doesnt back up games. I think thats well established mate. He needs to be managed.

Why not? He's been back since before the break. He played 105mins in the cup final 25.2, played 45mins 3 days after and another 90mins 3 days after that so if we need him to we can.

Whilst managing does help to lower the risk, it will never prevent injuries plus in the position we're in with what's at stake we simply can't afford to disrupt our team selections with multiple changes.

Let's say he doesn't play Sheffield and we end up drawing 1-1, then Konate picks up an injury the next day in training.

I dont think putting some squad players in invites them to have a go. The team i named has kells, virg, tsimikas, gomez, elliott, salah, gakpo, grav in it ... are these not good footballers? Are they not capable of beating sheff united? Are Mcconnell and Danns not capable? Are they not committed?

I think its a good opportunity to give some good players a game on the eve of potentially a titanic struggle on sunday.

Thats not taking them lightly. Thats knowing our squad is miles better than theirs and we should be using it. But you see it the other way obviously. All good.

They're all just throwaway opinions on a fan forum; nothing we say has any baring with what will or won't happen...There are two approaches to the Sheffield fixture; start strong get comfortably ahead, then change the personnel...the other way is to start with a slightly lighter team, made up of one or two kids and if it's still in the balance bring on the senior players. There is no right way and there is no wrong way...I have the opinion the former is potentially less tasking on the squad...you see it fractionally different....the forum would be odd (Redundant) if we all agreed on everything.
Have a good day fella.

I personally think we pick as near our strongest team as poss with one or two carefully considered exceptions e.g. Kostas at LB given we are at home. Too much and we might lose rhythm which I think is important at this stage of the season. I also don't like the idea of going into any PL game thinking it's a given as that's a recipe for an upset/needless chasing of the game (which itself probably increases the risk of injury/disciplinary issues as well as collective well being of all reds). If we're 2-0 up with 60 mins played, make some changes then.