Liverpool v. Sunderland - March 3 - EPL [R]

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Ho Hum.

Have to rebound after that disappointing loss to Boro. We aren't going to win the title this year, but second place and automatic CL qualification is still very much up for grabs. Also there is this little thing called pride that remains important to LFC supporters and players.

Need to get an early goal to get the crowd into it, and then we score often.

If there is a poor performance from this one, expect to hear the Kop really give it to the players. I hope Rafa shakes up the lineup once again...sit Alonso, Skrtel, Kuyt, and Babel. If Agger is fit, I would like to see him start, but I am not sure if he will be, so Hyypia gets the nod, he had a good match against Boro.

Here is my best guess at the lineup...

----------------------------Reina-------------------------------
Darby----------Carragher--------Hyypia------------Dossena
--------------------Lucas------Mascherano--------------------
Benayoun---------------Gerrard-----------------------Riera
---------------------------Torres--------------------------------

3-1 to the good. Then we have a week off before the visit of Real Madrid.

[AussieLFCfan]

Torres won't play....surely. And I believe Gerrard will be touch and go.

It will be very interesting to see how the lads react after the loss.

How about giving Pacheco a run ahead of N'Gog?

[Grinners89]

Torres won't play....surely. And I believe Gerrard will be touch and go.

It will be very interesting to see how the lads react after the loss.

How about giving Pacheco a run ahead of N'Gog?

Pacheco is probably less ready than El Zhar for 1st team football.

Also, he doesnt even have a 1st team number so its almost a certainty that we wont see him this season. Im with CCSC...keep Pepe (of course), Carra, Hyypia, Masch and Gerrard in the line-up and bench all the others. Every other player looked completely lacklustre and lazy.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Also, he doesnt even have a 1st team number so its almost a certainty that we wont see him this season. Im with CCSC...keep Pepe (of course), Carra, Hyypia, Masch and Gerrard in the line-up and bench all the others. Every other player looked completely lacklustre and lazy.

Yes. Lackluster and lazy is a good way to put it.

I still highly rate the likes of Alonso, Kuyt, etc. I just think that we need a bit of a shake up.

I hope the boys come out firing on all cylinders and just kill Sunderland. I would love to see that!!!

[Red Bird]

One thing the Middlesbrough game exposed is our lack of decent cover at striker, left midfielder and right back. What ails Babel? I agree with Grinners, a few sacred cows need to be "rested".

[Grinners89]

I like CCSC's line-up...something similar to that would be good to see. As i said though, with only Pepe, Carra, Hyypia, Masch and Gerrard (if fit) retained. Darby SHOULD be fine starting this match given that he will hopefully be playing next to two experienced veterans of the game who can always pull him into line and point out where he needs to be.

Reina
Darby Carra Hyypia Dossena
Lucas Masch
Yossi Gerrard Riera
Ngog

Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso, Babel, Kuyt, El Zhar/Torres


Who wouldve thought this time last season that Arbs would be such an important player?

[Red Bird]

I like CCSC's line-up...something similar to that would be good to see. As i said though, with only Pepe, Carra, Hyypia, Masch and Gerrard (if fit) retained. Darby SHOULD be fine starting this match given that he will hopefully be playing next to two experienced veterans of the game who can always pull him into line and point out where he needs to be.

Reina
Darby Carra Hyypia Dossena
Lucas Masch
Yossi Gerrard Riera
Ngog

Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso, Babel, Kuyt, El Zhar/Torres


Who wouldve thought this time last season that Arbs would be such an important player?

I think the only problem with this is that Ngog would be isolated. I think, if the eleventeen games we have drawn have any lessons for us it is that we make it too easy for defenders from small teams by giving them only striker to deal with. I should much prefer another striker to open space into which Gerrard and the other striker would run. So maybe swap Babel (no barracking at the back!) for Lucas?

[Vasu]

Is Torres ruled out for sure? What about Agger? If they are, then here's my line-up:

---------------Reina-------------
Carragher---Skrtel----Hyypia--Aurelio/Insua
----------------Mascherano-------------
Benayoun------------Alonso---------Riera
--------------Gerrard---------------------
-----------------Kuyt------------------

If they aren't, then I want Agger instead of Skrtel, who deserves a nice good benching after that match against Boro, and Torres instead of Kuyt.

[Grinners89]

I think the only problem with this is that Ngog would be isolated. I think, if the eleventeen games we have drawn have any lessons for us it is that we make it too easy for defenders from small teams by giving them only striker to deal with. I should much prefer another striker to open space into which Gerrard and the other striker would run. So maybe swap Babel (no barracking at the back!) for Lucas?

True...given that we are at home its probably wise to have two up front.

Maybe this???

Reina
Darby - Carra - Hyypia - Dossena
Yossi - Gerrard - Masch - Riera
Kuyt - Ngog

or this ;)

Reina
Masch - Carra - Hyypia - Dossena
Yossi Gerrard Alonso Riera
Kuyt Ngog

[Red Bird]

True...given that we are at home its probably wise to have two up front.

Maybe this???

Reina
Darby - Carra - Hyypia - Dossena
Yossi - Gerrard - Masch - Riera
Kuyt - Ngog

or this ;)

Reina
Masch - Carra - Hyypia - Dossena
Yossi Gerrard Alonso Riera
Kuyt Ngog
Any one of those will do. Opposing centre-halves need to be tested. We don't them, mainly because they find themselves (about two of them and a defensive mid) marking a single player with the nearest Liverpool supporting player about a yard outside the centre-circle. Put two players against them and they won't find life so easy.

This fixation with a lone striker, even when his name is Torres, is a contributory factor to our losing points. I think 4-2-3-1 is fine when we play "equally-matched" teams such a Man U etc. and the action is all over the pitch. As soon as we play lesser teams we struggle to break them down I think it largely largely is because we have too few players in attacking positions to occupy the defending players. Look at how many of the team in the bottom half we have dispatched and you begin to find a worrying pattern. Playing two strikers is by no means guaranteed to succeed as bunker teams are just that-- and by the way, Middlesbrough defenitely are not-- but maybe we ought to be winning 1-0 (as do Man U) rather than losing 1-0 or drawing 0-0. I just want to see something different when plan A is clearly not bearing fruit. There was a hint in Benitez's comments that he seemed to be coming to the conclusion that Plan isn't working and time for the plan B. Or C. Or whatever results in our scoring goals.

[newterp]

I am still stunned that essentially the entire team failed to show up en masse on Saturday.

I get it when 1 or 2 guys look bad, because that happens....but when the following first team regulars and semi regulars - Alonso, Kuyt, Babel (well I expected that though was hoping for the opposite), Skrtel, Carragher all shit the bed at once....well it's a scary sight.

The lineups being tossed around above also do very little to warm my heart.

Oh well - watch and support.

[usscouse]

I'm feeling a little "Lackluster" myself today. Basically just hoping the we make a CL spot, preferably so we don't have to qualify.

At the risk of seeming pedantic I'll post our formation again. :)

***
***------***------***------***
***--------***
***--------***--------***




xxx





xxx
xxx *** xxx
xxx

[liverbird]

No game at the weekend.

-------------reina
Carra---Skirt -----Hyppia-----Insua
banayoun---Mash---Alonso----Riera
---------Kuyt-----Babel

Torres
Lucas
ngog
Gerrard
Aurelio
Darby

[blanconi]

in.

[poopoobigelow]

this game is on the 3rd, no?

i want riera and yossi on the pitch and lucas and babel off it... anyone else will do...

in other news, voronin is on fire at hertha... scored twice against bayern and then again this weekend... any chance (or way) we can bring him back for the end of the season push?... he wasn't my favorite when he was here, but he's a healthy body that's been putting the ball in the net against quality competition...

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Oh well - watch and support.

That's what we all have to continue to do...YNWA.

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

I've had this thought for a while and i just want to see if anyone else agrees with my assessment of our poor form lately.

I've noticed that the real factor that has let us down this last couple of months is the movements from the players off the ball. Theres just no space being created by anyone on the field, which comes to show a big attitude problem i think.

if you've noticed carefully, lately our midfielders tend to give alot of the ball to the CB instead of our fowards. That's esentially because the players don't seem to make enough runs off the ball to find some space or open up space for others.

[liverbird]

I've had this thought for a while and i just want to see if anyone else agrees with my assessment of our poor form lately.

I've noticed that the real factor that has let us down this last couple of months is the movements from the players off the ball. Theres just no space being created by anyone on the field, which comes to show a big attitude problem i think.

if you've noticed carefully, lately our midfielders tend to give alot of the ball to the CB instead of our fowards. That's esentially because the players don't seem to make enough runs off the ball to find some space or open up space for others.

when you are not playing well then energy gets sapped and you slow down physically and mentally. That slump has gone on for about 6 weeks now. There is nothing like winning to get people running around again. Lets beat Sunderland and get a new streak of victories going:D

[usscouse]

I've had this thought for a while and i just want to see if anyone else agrees with my assessment of our poor form lately.

I've noticed that the real factor that has let us down this last couple of months is the movements from the players off the ball. Theres just no space being created by anyone on the field, which comes to show a big attitude problem i think.

if you've noticed carefully, lately our midfielders tend to give alot of the ball to the CB instead of our fowards. That's esentially because the players don't seem to make enough runs off the ball to find some space or open up space for others.That last para is the essence and also the difference between Xabi and Lucas.
As LB says though, a good win will bolster a lot of confidence.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I have a question:

Why do British people say rocks are "slippy"?

When it should be said rocks are "slippery"?