v. Saturday - March 10th, 2012 @ 15:00 Jordan Henderson is finally going home. Will any of our starters return from recent injury? Their captain, Lee Cattermole, is out because of a red card, as well as the key cog in their offense, Stephane Sessegnon.
Re: Sunderland AFC v. Liverpool FC - EPL - March 10th, 2012 [R] Another bogey venue for us. Cringing at the possibility of another disappointment but ready for anything after last weekend.
Re: Sunderland AFC v. Liverpool FC - EPL - March 10th, 2012 [R] Should be 3 points but you never know with this team. Hoping for the best, expecting the worst. Over/under on chances created/posts hit?
Re: Sunderland AFC v. Liverpool FC - EPL - March 10th, 2012 [R] Well we better work on defending corners and set pieces because that's how they score. Play big Andy with Suarez. Henderson has to play. Adam has got to sit but won't unless SG is back. Maybe give Bellamy some run. And play Coates while saving Carra for the Derby at midweek
Re: Sunderland AFC v. Liverpool FC - EPL - March 10th, 2012 [R] I believe that cattermole and sessenon are out from card accumulation... Red for some, yellow for others... Bellamy and Suarez up front... That's all I want to see...
Re: Sunderland AFC v. Liverpool FC - EPL - March 10th, 2012 [R] that and the ol' onion bag stretched out a bunch.
Sunderland have 14 points since O'Neil took charge while we've earned 16 in the same amount of time. This is going to be a tough one on the road. Luckily we do well when the opposing team is obliged to attack, so as long as our defense has a solid outing, this could be a satisfying win.
PhysioRoom.com is listing both Gerrard and Johnson as doubtful for this match, which would mean there is room for Rodriguez/Bellamy/Shelvey/Spearing instead of Adam, but I think Dalglish is committed to the Scot's playing. Personally, I would like to see a big shakeup, with Downing on the bench, a midfield with Bellamy and Kuijt, along with Henderson and Spearing, and Suarez behind Carroll. Backline is Kelly, Skrtl and Enrique, with Carragher or Coates, but I think Carragher is the preferred choice. That midfield setup would put Henderson in a role similar to what Gerrard plays at times. The reason for doing that would be to give him a show of support when returning to his old ground. Might pay off -- who knows?
OR we play our hottest goal scorer up top, instead... Kuyt... Spearing... Henderson... Bellamy Suarez... Skrtel
Also, with Carroll so good at set-pieces and corners, maybe we switch Skrtl back to the striker he started off as a kid, and Carroll to the defender lump-o-skull he's always been
Kenny's blind spot when it comes to Adam is increasingly infuriating. Adam is okay with Lucas around, both to provide cover and to contribute to moving the ball forward from deep. Spearing can kind of do the former (though not as well as Lucas), but not so much the latter, while Gerrard (when healthy) can do the latter--not his best role, but he can do it--but not really the former. Without Lucas's presence, Adam is an active hindrance to our play. We all can see it; why can't the manager?
While I don't disagree, I also don't really see what options we have at CM. I was really hoping we'd make a move for a guy like M'Vila (pipe dream as it may have been) once Lucas was out for the year. Henderson--Gerrard is really our only other decent option. I had high hopes for Spearing but he seems a bit out of depth as a Premier League starter.
Spearing struggles without Lucas, because no other Liverpool player is good at taking a controlled/measured first first touchin deep positions and slowing the tempo of the play. Spearing's passing isn't the best, so he needs someone alongside him who will tidy up after him and be able to offer him an outlet closeby. Parker has the same problem for Spurs when Modric isn't around.
Apparently Coates and Bellamy are starting but not Gerrard, Johson nor Carroll. Only beef is Adam- I'd rather Shelvey did but, then, I don't see the players in training each day.