v. Kick-off 1405GMT (905 EST) Venue Anfield Last meeting: Man Utd 3 liverpool 1 (Sept 2015) Ref: Mark Clattenburg Live: NBCSN, NBC Sports Live Extra, MUTV Online, Telemundo, Now TV UK, Sky Sports 1, Sky GO, ESPN (some countries) Liverpool Doubtful Lovren, Sturridge Injured Coutinho, Skrtel, Ings, Gomez, Origi Form LWWLD(9th) Leading scorer Benteke (6) Manchester United Doubtful Januzaj Injured Valencia, Shaw, Rojo, Schweinsteiger, Carrick, Jones Form LLDWD (6th) Leading scorers Martial, Rooney (5)
The team will probably look a little something like this: DDG AY Smalling Blind Darmian Schneiderlin Herrera Fellaini Martial Rooney Lingard If Carrick or Schweinsteiger would have been available, it would have allowed for Herrera to be pushed further up for creative purposes, but since they're not and Fellaini is really not an option in such a defensive role, it's got to be him. Fellaini keeps his place on the team even if it might be by default and we have to hope he'll be able to wreak havoc in Pool's box and give their CBs nightmares. I'd keep Martial on the right for this one as he and AY can go after hard after Moreno. The rest of the team pretty much picks itself out with all the players we have out at the moment. The key will be to withstand Pool's early blitzes as they've done vs Arsenal: if we can get thru the first 15-20mins relatively unscathed, we should be able to take the game to them and their relatively poor backline and put them on the backfoot.
I would rather move Darmian to the left and have Varela on the right. AY is too poor at defending, but he could play in the midfield. Remove Fellaini - his weird positioning last game mucked everything up; having him play so defensively to cover for Blind on set pieces interfered with the rest of his game.
It looks like Fellaini will start with Basti and Carrick out, but I would like to see Herrera next to MS with Mata in the hole, Lingard on the right and Martial on the left. Also have Borthwick-Jackson play on the left with Darmian at RB.
We will bore ... Actually dont mind those possession tactics as much away from home against the bigger teams, provided we try to counter quickly on any turnovers and at least try a few shots at goal
This is what I want to see not what we will see: De Gea AY Smalling Blind Jackson Schneiderlin Herrera (he can be flexible but has to be at the back when we are defending, when we go forward, Mata can help drop if he wants to go forward, or have Rooney drop move Martial left and have Depay up top) Depay (right) Mata (he needs to be in the hole, he needs to use his strength of unlocking teams, when he focuses on running and beating men he is being wasted) Rooney (Left) Martial
Not sure why a couple of you are advocating for Borthwick-Jackson when he hasn't really shown much to be considered good in the games he's played. Also I highly doubt LvG will take a risk in playing him away at Anfield.
Hell, it's arguable that we're Liverpool with a nice stadium and a big bank account. Things need to change.
Unlocking teams and dropping off to cover or offer defensive support. 2 things Mata doesn't do well in a UTD shirt.
Agreed. Him dropping off does not mean unlocking teams from that deep, it allows us to keep possession and have a player like Herrera confusing the opposition with his off ball forward movement. When defending Mata should stick either in the hole or on the right not deep, Herrera's job when not in possession to partner Schneiderlin and able to transition quicker than most of our mids this season, hopefully.
Thanks to the completely shambolic performances against the teams we should have been beating the last 2 months....this is now a must win game if lvg still has hopes for top 4.