vs 15:00 Sat 28th Oct 2017 Location: Anfield ******** it- I've got this. A few underlying issues here - Good mates as coaches, their Aussie we need to shut down, or at least to minimise his influence, and I'm sure, an anxious home crowd we have to settle early. A good response to the last game is needed NOW.
It can't be any worse, can it? Nice chap, Lovren may be but he's mentally shot at this stage to give a consistent performance. One week he is totally nullifying Lukaku (although that may be also because of sh!tcoat's negative tactics) and the next he is gibbering wreck. I think we also need to take a plunge on the goalkeeping issue; either Ward or Karius with Mignolet sitting out in the stands. It did wonders for him the last time he was dropped. Next to be looked at is central midfield. I'd start with ----------------Karius (or Ward)-------------------- --Alexander Arnold-----Matip-----Gomez ----- Moreno-- ---------Grujic-------Wijnaldum--------Henderson------ -------Salah-------Sturridge(Solanke)--------Coutinho--- And have Woodburn sitting on the bench. Is that too much change all in one week?
'uddersfield are playing well, this isn't going to be an easy game. But Klopp knows this, I hope he tells the players.
Anyone else remember this?......Huh! "The last time Huddersfield Town beat Liverpool, the year was 1959 and Bill Shankly was Huddersfield’s manager. The season before, Liverpool had lost 5-0 at Huddersfield’s old Leeds Road ground, with Shankly in the sort of punchy mood to remind that his team had played with ten men because one of his players had damaged his ankle ligaments in the first five minutes of the game. It was an occasion where Shankly later recalled a scene involving Liverpool’s directors, “leaving in single file with their shoulders slumped, like a funeral procession.”
The Telegraph are reporting a couple of injuries for the Reds ahead of our Huddersfield game. Coutinho has an abductor strain and Danny Ward has a back injury which rules him out.
Coutinho is a big blow. We will be facing a parked bus without the two most likely players to find the way through (Phil and Mane). I would like to see Woodburn make the bench at the very least. After Phil and Lallana, he might be our next best player in tight spaces. No excuses though. We must find a way to win the next two games at Anfield with Maribor coming up next.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he will make a late call on the fitness of Philippe Coutinho ahead of Saturday afternoon's meeting with Huddersfield Town. The 25-year-old is suffering from a slight adductor problem that forced him to withdraw from training at the Reds' Melwood HQ on Thursday afternoon. Klopp is unsure whether Brazilian playmaker Coutinho will play any part against Huddersfield, who are under the management of close friend David Wagner, as Liverpool attempt to put their disappointing run of form behind them. Providing an update at his pre-match press conference, the German told reporters: "It's not clear. Last week he had some back problems. During the week it settled with treatment. Now he has a problem with the adductor. We'll make the decision after training [on Friday]. He missed training yesterday, but that's all at the moment." Asked about his relationship with opposite number Wagner, Klopp added: "I think it's a special story. Our friendship will last for the rest of our lives, whatever happens in this game. But I want to win this game and that means we have to beat Huddersfield, that's that. "I know him well enough to know he thinks exactly the same. Nothing we say in the game will rest a second longer in our mind after the final whistle." Coutinho also struggled with a back problem earlier in the campaign, restricting him to five starts in the Premier League and a further two in the Champions League.
Dang - it's like a library in here this afternoon. WHERE ARE Y'ALL? WE'VE GOT A GAME TOMORROW! COME ON YOU REDS!!!
OK, no more of this negative sh*t. Let's do the business tomorrow and get back on track. THE REDS ARE COMING UP THE HILL!
It will be interesting to see how much Klopp changes things up. Grujic, Solanke, Ox, Robertson, Gomez (for CB), Woodburn, Karius, Ward (although injured) should all be chomping at the bit to get a chance to play. Its not going to happen and this is not the game to make so many changes but I would be interested in seeing the following: ----------------Karius (or Ward)-------------------- --Alexander Arnold-----Matip-----Gomez ----- Robertson-- ----------------------------Henderson--------------------- -------------Wijnaldum----------- Grujic --------------------- -------Salah------- Solanke -------- Firmino --- Solanke and Grujic will give an aerial presence for Robertson's crosses and AA's corners. AA, Robertson and Salah will be able to provide some direct running to try and get behind the defence. I'd also look to bring Woodburn and Ox on early for fresh legs, creativity and directness. Still wish we had a proper DM because at this point I would be dropping Henderson who has struggled to recapture his form before his injury.
Well, blow me a gale force. Only Can is dropped (Coutinho is injured!) That's some ballsy decision by Klopp. The players will have nowhere to hide if they fail to repay the faith. Come on redmen!
Liverpool: Mignolet, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge. Subs: Karius, Grujic, Klavan, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Robertson, Solanke. Well, I would have done the same thing, get Lovren right back out there, with Klavan ready if he doesn't react well.
Can't say I'm really surprised about Lovren - all week Klopp's been saying he doesn't throw players under the bus (or words to that effect). Bigger deal imo is no Phil today to attack the parked bus. hmmm .... lots of bus metaphors today.
Jürgen Klopp has explained his reasoning behind making two changes to his side for this afternoon's clash with Huddersfield Town at Anfield. Daniel Sturridge and Georginio Wijnaldum have come into Liverpool's starting XI, with Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can dropping out. Klopp revealed in Friday's press conference that Coutinho was facing a battle to be fit due to an adductor injury and the Brazilian is not included in the Reds' matchday squad. Can, meanwhile, is on the bench. "Phil is out today so it was clear that we had to make a change and that's what we did," the boss said, explaining Sturridge's inclusion during his pre-match media duties. "Gini is back and trained completely normal so it was then clear that we wanted to have him on the pitch." On whether he is expecting a strong reaction from his side following last week's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, the manager continued: "If training is the decisive sign then everything is absolutely in the right direction, the boys did really well in training, they were really focused and all that stuff but that's normal. "To be honest they're always like this, we never had problems in training so far, but of course we have to show a reaction, that's how it is. We have to show Huddersfield this is Anfield, this is our home and nothing else. "Of course I read after the Huddersfield v United game that United were surprised by the intensity, stuff like this, so we will not be surprised about the intensity, we need to be there from the first second, that's clear. "Of course you can imagine everyone spoke about our defending in the last week and we did the same, but in another way I would say. "As I said before, we have to show a reaction, we have to defend better and we have to still play football because we need to create chances."
Gomez is not providing the width on the right side. He stays back to support the centerbacks. Looks like a a tactical change.