Saturday 14 December 2024 Ashburton Grove USA “TV”: Peacock 10am ET Hot off the presser... Arteta just “said” Big Gabby should be fit for this. Actually he didn’t say that explicitly, but when asked for an update on him & Cala, he said that 1 of the 2 trained today and looks good, then went on to talk about how the medical staff is still being cautious with Ricardo. So that may set up a binary choice in fullback pairings: Timber & Partey or Kiwior & Timber? I’d probably vote the latter. (assuming Zinny’s banished, KT’s getting shipped out soon & MLS won’t start back-to-back) Otherwise, no new injuries Mikel said... always a relief! We’re big favorites in this match, even though we’ll play on barely 3 days rest, compared to Everton’s 10 days. Against a desperate Dyche team, we should expect a low(ish) block. So perhaps the key performance positions for us will be more MF & A, rather than D. And perhaps it’ll all boil down to whether we can create/finish chances ruthlessly and clinically. Who cares whether that’s from open play like on Weds or as Set Piece FC... Just Do It!
Still feel like they owe us debts that need to be repaid. Hopefully we throttle them at least 8-0 with heavy rotation and no new injuries, with Jesus getting 5 (all with Saka assisting) and Sterling a hat-trick just to rub it in. No, I'm not smoking anything - just in a wish-making mood right now.
Hope we batter them so bad they get relegated and have to open their new stadium in the Championship for what they did to Tomi's beautiful face. Must win. These are always banana peel games. Need the win. 3-0 to Le Arse, with goals to Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli and Saliba to shithouse Pickford.
Wow. Back to back starts for MLS. I’m surprised, but based on his last outing, I’m down with that. Still… crossing my fingers for the youngin. ps. Where are you gettin that info more than one hour before KO? And is Partey in the lineup? That might be telling Edit: Answer: Thomas is on the bench. So I think that might’ve played into the MLS decision. Plus Myles has earned it on merit.
Wonder if we see Rice as 6 and Merino L8, or Merino deeper and Rice to roam. Timber back to RB to let him build again with Ode and Saka is the right call. I would rather MLS and Tierney at LB so that we get Timber at RB then ever see Partey at RB and Timber at LB.
I was wondering that before the last match, and the answer then was Rice deeper/6, Merino advanced/L8
Posted officially 75 min before kickoff now, but I'm trying avoid the bad place and while there are plenty of journos/fans on bluesky, the official account isn't on there to post the graphic.
Watching Multiview on my second/backup screen. Fulham up 1-0 at Anfield. Meanwhile Ode has a go from 20 yards... drags it just wide.
Unlucky from Ode, a goal is coming but I do worry Everton might pinch one on a counter so we really need to batter them.
People saying he is a midfielder we have put at LB in his development and it shows. Might develop to be a very good LM.
He's played predominantly MF in the reserves. You can totally see it. Saka was introduced to first team football also as LB IIRC. I'm pretty much expecting to see MLS in MF proper before too long.
LFC just went down to 10 men. Robertson sent off for DOGSO. Things are looking interesting up there today.