My guess is that the team flew back to Merseyside after the game last night. Game didn’t end til almost 1AM local time, so the earliest they made the plane would have been 3-3.30AM? It would nearly make more sense to fly directly to Southampton and train there, no? I understand why they wouldn’t, but it nearly makes sense to do so.
dunno about flight times (my guess is they stayed overnight) but going straight to Southampton is a no-brainer surely. I bloody hope it was anyway.
that lineup gets my vote. I wonder if we'll see Brewster get mins also - assuming we are ahead - to rest some tired legs.
last season we went down 1-0 then struggled until Mo scored that great breakaway goal. final was a good-looking 3-1 scoreline but IIRC it was a nervy game for long stretches. no pushovers, Southampton.
So, now down to the serious business. The Prem. It's the most important item on our wish list this season. I know it, you know it, everybody including Jurgen knows it. The Prem
I think the front 3 all start. Trent and Robertson start. He will have to have to pick between Matip and Gomez. Wijnaldum should definitely start. He could go Milner again since he was subbed last night. He may want to rest Fabinho and Henderson and bring in Lallana. In any case, I don’t think we field a weakened team. After this one we have a full week off before Arsenal.
Isn't Lallana shit whenever we play Soton? Doesn't seem the game to throw him in at the 6, especially considering issues we currently have in midfield. I could see him in the 8. My guess is Klopp starts strong as possible. Firmino definitely starts. Mane and Salah probably do as well. Both looked strong yesterday. I Matip really the only question on the back line and that is form related. Midfield is tricky. Gini starts. Keita probably won't be risked. Milner came off early so he could go again. Fab probably sits this out. We don't have a game for a week, so he could ask Hendo to go again and give 60. Perhaps this is a game for Ox at the 8. Lallana could give 60 in the 8.
Salah is a machine and hardly looked spent in extra time. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes again. He had 5 days between the City game and Norwich, and 5 days between Norwich and Chelsea. We have a week off after Soton.
I doubt that rotation is such a big focus already... Fabino will play again. Wijnaldum and Henderson/lallana/Ox The front three will also play
Fabinho could be the one that rests. He has struggled a little bit so far this season and he was the one cramping up in extra time. If Fabinho doesn’t play, I would use Wijnaldum as the 6.
Flights as follows: Early AM Thursday Istanbul->Liverpool Friday (PM?) Liverpool->Southampton Presume training Thursday PM and Friday AM?
why in blazes couldn't the FA schedule LFC and CFCs games for Sunday this week.... ??? nincompoops....
Explained here https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/inside-liverpools-meticulous-medical-setup-18943342
CFC have a legitimate gripe about getting the late game Sunday afternoon in advance of the final. What was wrong with Saturday? Even the late kickoff Saturday?
Really interesting article about the nuts and bolts behind the scenes. I suspect there’s even a lot more not being told about what the club and backroom staff do. Something that did strike me: It would have been cheaper to fly back to the UK early Thursday AM. But of course it makes way more sense to stay in Istanbul for training and fly Thursday afternoon/evening. Just wondering how much it cost for the extra day and rental of the training ground? For all the hype surrounding transfer fees, salaries and sponsorship deals, these type of expenses, allowing the team the best preparation in the circumstances, have got to be some of the best money the club spends.
Keita is out - might as well hold him out until after the next international break on Sept 2-10 otherwise Guinea will try to play him. Adrian has a swollen ankle - from --- a supporter crashing into him during the celebrations.