Huge game. We won’t play one that’s not. I would go 4-2-3-1 with four forwards. Allison Trent Lovren(?) Virgil Robertson Wijnaldum Fabinho Mane Firmino Origi Salah Origi does a good job on the left. He is a handful with his pace and size and he is a threat to score. Having him stay out wide on the left opens up space for our other 3 forwards and allows them to work in close proximity to each other. Matip is due for a rest in this one. It’s likely that Lovren comes in, but it would be great if Klopp thinks that Gomez is ready.
I like that line up, but do we really want to throw Lovren in just to get booed non stop by his old club and lose his head?
Didn’t think of that. Won’t they be too busy booing Virgil to bother with Dejan? Without former Southampton players, it will be tough for us to field a team.
I would play the same formation, but maybe rest Wijnaldum and play Henderson, and prob start Shaqiri and bring Origi on for breakdown pace after 65 mins...
We might see Keita on Friday. Not sure if he'd start but I think he'll play some part in the game. Hopefully his injuries are taken care of now.
So long as Fabinho starts just about every game from here on, I've no problem with Hendo playing beside him. I don't think any of our midfield options are a walking trainwreck waiting to happen for any of them not to play (well, except if Lallana plays against anyone but Huddersfield), and for the most part its a much of a muchness who ever he picks. Fabinho just makes everyone better and he's one of the few on the squad who have actually won a league title.
I would be very surprised if he started - hasn't played for us in 5 weeks? But maybe a sub as you note.
Right now would be the perfect time for a fit and rested Naby to step in and show us the player we bought.
I totally agree, what's the harm in using him? I mean, Klopp might not use him, obviously. He seems uninterested in really using him... but all of Milner, Hendo, Gini looked more than a bit tired. Wouldn't mind at least 2 of them resting with Fabinho and Naby getting the start. I'd stick with 4-3-3, I don't feel a need to put Origi out there. But if it happens, I'd hope he can play well because he has looked good in his spot minutes this season. So if he does gets a start at some point, I think he's earned it.
I actually don't think Naby gets enough credit... he's been often injured and used very sparingly. I don't know if he's necessarily EARNED more minutes, but in moments he's been really, really good. He might need to be brought along a little more, but I think he's shown exactly what he can do. If he's just a LITTLE bit luckier the guy would be directly responsible for, what, something like 3-4 game winning goals in a limited role? Don't get me wrong, when he's been bad he's been bad... but if you can't come on against Southampton, with Fabinho behind you, when can you get a chance to prove yourself?
Agree with all that, basically... ps- folks - Wolves result against United today is good as it (given arsenal;s form, and chelsea and Spurs on top of them) puts them under a bit more pressure to play against City at OT..... I'll be urging them on from my bizarro world that day ... wheee-heee.....
Statistically Naby has been absolutely fine. I'm not really sure when he's been really bad, other than in a few moments here and there. Klopp just has pretty good options in midfield and has talked recently about playing those who are good at defending set pieces. I think that hurts both Shaq and Naby. Naby getting beat at WH is something he rectified in games after that, but we don't really have time for players knocking off, even for a second. I agree this would be game to give him a chance, especially considering Gini's volume of minutes seems to be catching up to him.
That's a fair point re: set pieces. Statistically, in an overall view and in limited minutes, yeah I think he's been okay, or mostly fine... and as I said, in certain matches I think he's been brilliant. I don't think LFC can complain much about the officiating this year, but the fact remains if the ref were to have spotted Naby's penalty LFC would have 2 more points right now and the title still in their hands, and it would be due directly to a great piece of all-around attacking that Naby did that went unfairly unrewarded. However, considering his talent, in terms of the numbers it's easy to find places where he has just not been absolutely fine -- his dispossessions and unstable touches far, far outweigh his dribbles and key passes, he's dribbled past more often than he's dribbling past people (slightly, but still), his forward and through ball passing hasn't been what I know he's capable of, etc. I'm sure there's a couple more things if we really did a deep dive on this.
I just have the feeling that if he had played a lot more those stats would have upended and he would be seen closer to the player we watched highlights of at Leipzig. An undoubtedly above average, near world class, talent ... But it's worth keeping in mind that we've had that before in a supposed key acquisition which didn;t pan out as planned .... (Aquilani)
I would think so as well... but regardless, the numbers are what they are; the reasons behind that are secondary when we are just talking about the numbers. But I agree there are lots of contributing factors to his not-great numbers, no question.