25 Oct 2014

Confirmed XI vs. Hull: Attacker dropped; BR makes shock £20m change. Big mistake?

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has sprung a major surprise for today's must-win game with Hull City, and benched vice-captain Jordan Henderson for the first time since March 2013.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet; Manquillo, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno; Gerrard, Allen, Can, Lallana; Sterling, Balotelli.

SUBS: Jones, Toure, Johnson, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic, Lambert

This is definitely one for the books (!)

It's possible that Rodgers is resting Henderson, but if that's the case, why is Gerrard - who is older and much more in need of being rested - starting the game?

Rodgers likes to wax lyrical about Hendo's amazing fitness levels, so unless he's carrying an injury, this looks to me like he has been dropped.

Coutinho also drops back to the bench to make way for Adam Lallana, who made a moderate impression against Madrid. Probable formation:

-------------------- Mignolet

Manquillo ---- Skrtel ---- Lovren ----- Moreno

----------------- Can -- Allen

------------------ Gerrard

---------- Lallana ------- Sterling

------------------ Balotelli

Rodgers may go with 4231 or a 442 diamond, but given his recent formations, it seems likely he's going to persist with Balotelli up-front on his own (which is a mistake).

I just hope he doesn't go with Gerrard in the DM role and/ or a Gerrard/Allen holding partnership. Whatever happens, Can should not play further up the field than the captain, who is infinitely better than the German in an attacking role.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the team performs without Henderson...

My prediction: 2-1 LFC.

Author:


345 comments:

  1. Hendo in for Stevie in the second, as an am.

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  2. Balotelli again......why not give Lambert a chance

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  3. I just hope Hull doesn't do a West Ham to us

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  4. Gerrard hasn't had international games like Henderson. When I think of all the games Hendo's played since 2 years or so I think he deservedly needs a rest, no matter how good his fitness is. We'll need him later on in the season for more difficult games than this one.

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  5. Bro BR is never gonna rest Gerrard

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  6. Gerrard won't play vs Swansea either and Hendo probably will.

    I can't see Jaimie's formation being right. Can is a swap for Hendo. He will play ahead of Gerrard.

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  7. I think he'll be rested on Tuesday, don't worry

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  8. I will believe it once I see it:p

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  9. Once again grandpa Gerrard starts 3 games in 6 days I don't mean it in bad way but only a injury will only stop Rodgers picking him for gods sake he's 34 years old!!! Rodgers managment skill are questionable he's alienated quite a few players also balotelli needs another striker with him and that would mean changing balance of team and dropping Gerrard coz he needs 3 midfielders around who will do the the donkey work!!!!

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  10. Steven gerarrd is the real manager of lfc
    he can sack rodgers if he wants


    why else will he be so scared of dropping him?

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  11. I see a 4-4-2 diamond with Allen and Can either side of Gerrard and Lallana in the n°10 role.

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  12. Rumour would have it he got Rafa sacked. Perhaps your right.

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  13. can gerrard be selfless and be this great captain fantastic by leaving to teh mls ?


    his service is no longer needed

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  14. maybe we arent as bad as though wet ham beating city

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  15. My thoughts exactly.

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  16. Why no Coutinho? Best player against Madrid and great cameo against QPR.

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  17. Exactly mate. This league means anyone can be beat.

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  18. because that would mean dropping gerrard
    and we all know rodgers cant do that

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  19. I think if they are pushing up he will get the nod in the second half. Of they are sitting back it will be Lambert.

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  20. i think rodgers is losing it
    henderson and coutinho dropped?


    while balotelli and stevie play every week?

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  21. come on man city i wanna be top 4 by the end of the weekend

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  22. Right. I would have picked Coutinho ahead of Can or Allen. We're playing at home and need to attack and put Hull under pressure from the first whistle...

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  23. Our midfield squad is way to thin, our atention in the summer market should have been on Song he has the physical presense and mobility neeeded right now

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  24. i think long term we dont need a player like him
    coutinho is turning into a number 8


    ............................................sturridge
    sterling................................ibe/lallana..............origi
    .....................................coutinho.........henderson


    with can rotating with coutinho and henderson

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  25. By the end of the weekend we can be point off second.

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  26. if you put it that way : )

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  27. I hate to say it but we have to look at West Ham. They moved from Carroll and Nolan to Sakho and Valencia because it suited them. BR's stubborness needs to stop. Gerrard should not be playing 3 games in 6 days.

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  28. The thing is i can understand
    if you watched the tours of liverpool gerrard is lfc main guy the face of liverpool even when suarez and torres were there


    some lfc fans worship gerrard
    if liverpool were to drop him then lose


    then calls for rodgesr head will grow like avb when he dropped drogba and lampard

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  29. It could be interesting to reshape him in that position, as Real showed us no real definsive midfielder is needed.
    But our future stategy should be based around to attackers i believe

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  30. On another note, do people remember the last time Hendo was not in the starting 11 in a league game.

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  31. sam allerdyce has turned west ham from a defensive team to an attacive team
    rodgers has to do the opposite but is he as talented as big sam?

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  32. His service is very much needed just further up the pitch, and with Can and allen known as defensive midfielders from their former clubs we could hope that gerrard would be allowed to focus more on the attacking play

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  33. i know it hurts my heart
    especially when old an stvie and balo playing

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  34. surely couts deserved a start

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  35. bizarre ..tino and hendo dropped..i really would have liked to see gerrard rested and a midfield 3 of hendo can and allen with sterling tino and lallana up front..can see diame having a big game for hull

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  36. gerrard has lost his legs he cant attack anymore
    chelsea a club that dont care who they step over dropp their legends


    liverpool we have no spine

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  37. i am starting to not like rodgers
    i will give him a year to experiment
    but we should be open to new managers
    such as ancelotti if real decide to axe

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  38. just hope we play the diamond

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  39. apart from the line up vs everton
    every line up rodgers has put up is so questionable


    i read he stays up all night and i think thats the problem over thinking

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  40. these games against the lesser teams are must win games and to start without your best and most physical midfielder against a physical hull team is crazy

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  41. if we lose today i will never ever forgive rodgers because he dropped my two faviroite players

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  42. If the midfield can dominate possesion more, as Rodgers praises is his philosophy, he "won't need his legs" as much, and his eye for the game is still way better than any other midfielder

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  43. i fear liverpool losing this one..BR has lost it completely...gerrard again and hendo dropped for rest..great selection..no attacking threat from that midfield..all will be again on sterling and lallana to do magic

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  44. the thing is passing has never been gerrard strong point he has never dominated a midfield
    it was his dynamism that made him one of the best

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  45. Pretty sure it will be


    Mignolet
    Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno
    Gerrard
    Can-Allen
    Sterling-Balo-Lallana



    Anything other than thios or 1 up front 2 holding midfielders Hodgson football and Hull will be have a practice match.

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  46. the hull remit will be to mark lallana and sterling keep tight on gerrard and pump slow balls into the box if they do that they should get a result on current form

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  47. Over the last 5 games the best attacking trio has clearly been Sterling, coutinho and lallana yet they rarely feature in the same game; clueless

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  48. i hope balotelli has such a bad game he never can be picked again


    but we still win

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  49. u cant deny SG passing ability surely

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  50. Now that is calling yourself a LFC supporter.

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  51. i dont see us putting up a convincing win even with the best 11 on the pitch today. so i could not care less who BR decides to drop.

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  52. totally agree with u logan we need to play 2 up front

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  53. 7th place, increasingly ugly football, a fall out with the owners and a lot of bad signings got Rafa sacked.

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  54. of cource i can
    he is good at the odd hollywood pass
    but thats one out of every 9 attempts it works


    pirlo,alonso ,modric thoose are good passers

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  55. why not hope we win and balo scores

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  56. song had a great game..and we had a chance to get him

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  57. i dont like him
    his body language is so disheartening it makes the game look ugly
    i would rather have andy carroll

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  58. Don't agree, for a man that made 15 assisst last season; what if he was further up the pitch could be even better, plus Liverpool fans really miss his iconic long shots!!

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  59. Once again grandpa Gerrard starts 3 games in 6 days I don't mean it in bad way but only a injury will only stop Rodgers picking him for gods sake he's 34 years old!!! Rodgers managment skill are questionable he's alienated quite a few players also balotelli needs another striker with him and that would mean changing balance of team and dropping Gerrard coz he needs 3 midfielders around who will do the the donkey work!!!!

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  60. i am thinking long term as a fan

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  61. all corners and free kicks

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  62. If we go 2 upront then it needs to be

    Mignolet
    Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno
    Gerrard
    Can-Allen
    Lallana

    Sterling--Balo

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  63. rodgesr confirmed


    " henderson has one or two little niggles"


    my world makes sence again

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  64. Long term. who should be our next manager then?

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  65. yep would have preferred couts in there though

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  66. We will win today.

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  67. his priority is clearly to keep a clean sheet wtih such a defensive minded midfield

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  68. five men shortlist :


    1) Klopp
    2) diego simeone
    3) ancelotti
    4)pochetinno
    5) prandeli
    in that order

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  69. Rested and should not need our best side to beat Hull at home.

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  70. just read he have had 30 shots so far without scoring, the worst statistic yet:(

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  71. our next important match is vs newcastle
    a whole week

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  72. Do not make it difficult for yourself. tell us who wants to come manage the team. Pick one who wants to come.

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  73. What's with the black flags?

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  74. Do corners and free kicks just not count? They're still assists for God's sake!

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  75. klopp
    but i never said i want rodgers sacked

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  76. And 'Enough is Enough'?

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  77. If skrtel and Lovren were going to start Balotelli had to start!........ I knew it! BR got rumbled about his scapegoating of Balotelli and was even asked about it during the pre-match press conference. Skrtel must have pictures of BR in an uncompromising position. If Big skrtel and Lovren get chance after chance for being rubbish then BR cannot justify Balotelli being dropped for exchanging some material at half time.

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  78. Skrtel again? Lovren again? Gerrard again? Mignolet again? Allen Again? whats your fixation with Mario fellow fan?

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  79. Henderson has probably been rested because he runs twice as much as Gerrard. Gerrard walks and jogs.

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  80. LOOK STERLING LOOK!!! YOU HAD A FREE OPTION TO YOUR RIGHT TO PUT HIM STRAIGHT ON GOAL

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  81. gerrard what a passenger

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  82. At least Johnson is dropped at last, I expect to see Gerrard replaced by Henderson at some point in the game too. Good to see the press didn't hound Balotelli out of the team, but you gotta feel for Coutinho, that's a tough call.

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  83. why is balotelli cominmg to defence and spraying balls does he know his roel?

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  84. Sterling isn't a wide man. With every game I see him play out there the less I am convinced he can. Stick him up front with Mario. We need to make use of Raheems main asset; his ability to make runs in behind off the ball.

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  85. balotelli so bad make a run in behind

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  86. he is like silva
    i saw silva do ten time s more in center
    but we have enough 10s


    sterling palyed on the wing last year though and was fantastic only last 5 agmes of last season he palyed 10

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  87. Pace up front. Pace upfront. Pace up front!!!

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  88. Klopp is not going to leave Dortmund. please try again.

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  89. Im not saying play Sterling at n.10 I'm saying play him where Suarez use to play, on the last man. Sterling isnt creative, he is effective... big difference.

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  90. Sakho and Valencia are showing the way.

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  91. FFS, can't this co-commentator quit with putting the microscope on every single little bad thing that Mario does? 'He shouldn't be swearing, he should be applauding Can for the right idea'...I mean ffs man, give it a rest!

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  92. balotelli so lumbersoem
    put lambert on he will atleast play as a striker

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  93. oh no corner

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  94. we are slow enough in attack without lambert

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  95. Average...Balotelli no running at all

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  96. Well he is being asked to play deep??? Who the f*** is asking him to do this?

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  97. you can be usain bolt but you have t amke use of your running ability
    lambert does that balotelli is as fast as a snail

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  98. I just heard Mignolet say "keeperS Keepers!" and Skrtel still headed it clear... i mean....

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  99. FFS. We need pace up front. Bring on Markovic and let him run.

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  100. he's a dick

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  101. from 1 to 11 we look very average

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  102. hull basically have 3 defenders marking one striker

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  103. At least we are not playing with 2 holding midfielders and 1 up front and luckily Hull are not testing our defence that much.

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  104. The groans of the Anfield crowd dont help when we are trying something different in the last third and lose the ball. The sound of that groan is confidence sapping.

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  105. yes balotelli is injured

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  106. Nonsense. Gerrard is a great passers of the ball. It has always been a strong part of his game.

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  107. no pace..no pace at all

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  108. I dont usually down vote but here you go

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  109. Rogers is not willing or capable of dropping Gerrard which is what needs to happen.
    Rogers should be playing Henderson, Allen, and Can and dropping Gerrard and Balotelli.
    I think we maybe about to see the unravelling of Brendan Roger's as our Manager he started out so well and I think he doesn't have the strength to drop players.
    Its a shame because if he did so he would demonstrate to ALL THE PLAYERS THAT NO ONE IS UNDROPPABLE.

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  110. The only way is the Barca way. Will will persist until the spirit of Messi blesses our players

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  111. when Diame runs with the ball in the last third.........get out the way!

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  112. Is he? Or is he deciding to pkay deep?

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  113. right so nothing is happening with our attack. Something needs to give. We cannot continue like this. Rodgers needs to start getting a grip.


    IMO the changes thaty need to be made for the second half


    Mignolet
    Manquillo-Toure-Lovren-Moreno
    Gerrard
    Can--Alen
    Sterling
    Markovic--Balo


    Pace upfront FFS!

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  114. Tactically Hull are pressing our back four and squeezing Gerrard forcing us to play long to Bobby Zomora :-) If we dont play out from the back we cant play. Same with Arsenal.

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  115. Noooo get out the way!

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  116. Skrtel goes :-o every time he sees Diame running at him :-o.

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  117. It's a pain to watch this. Hope he brings in Coutinho,Hendo asap

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  118. diame only plays well vs us

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  119. Allen absolute waste.......Skrtel made more forward passes than him

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  120. i think most teams have cottoned on to this fact now its just that rogers doesnt have the flexibility of tactics or the ability to make the hard decisions to solve it

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  121. loool LIke a rabbit in headlights

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  122. atleast better than side pass allen

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  123. rodgers needs to get rid of balotelli now
    he is so bad and frustrating reminds me of david ngog


    sterling up front markovic on now

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  124. bring on Ricky plz

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  125. Very true. What do you think is the way forward?

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  126. allen is our best player so far alongside lovren


    everyone else dissapointing
    sterling needs to improve he is not good enough for real

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  127. Brendan- please play two strikers... Almost the entire world knows this..

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  128. Ricky ain't goint to help in this slow paced game i am afraid.

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  129. impressed by Can...seems good with the surging runs

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  130. Lallana is our best player

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  131. easily our best player

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  132. then take off Balo for Couts and play Sterling there

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  133. Enemyofeverydisbeliever3:55 pm, October 25, 2014

    Coutinho the best player in last two games, brenda leaves him out, fair enough. Sterling balo allen dead men walking. How to win this game?

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  134. we are effectively playing with 3 Dm so that has to change id take allen and Gerard off and bring hendo and tino into midfield ......id take balo off and play sterling as cf with marko and lallan wide of him

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  135. really a pain to watch

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  136. Balo is a better right sided player than a lone striker in a 4-3-3. I say Just swap Sterling and Balo.

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  137. Balo is better at bench

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  138. Can has been good so for

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  139. That is not the solution. Coutinho is not the quickets player either.


    Lallana is also not the quickest. FFS i just wish Rodgers would grow some balls and try something different. Markovic has loads of pace. Play him and Balo upfront with Sterling right behind them.


    If we carry on the way we are Hull will just have a better chance of getting a goal.


    Getting fed up with this sh!te uninspiring football this season.

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  140. Enemyofeverydisbeliever3:58 pm, October 25, 2014

    Do u think he'll get a hat trick? Cant see him solving much problems out there, but yeah lets give him a chance, this mario is massive disgrace, shameful to even watch him on that shirt.D

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  141. I agree with everything except I would swap balo and Sterlings positions and give Mario a role where he faces the play.

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  142. yep no intent at all

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  143. i told liverpool
    to offer sanchez a blank cheque to join lfc
    but no we are too cheap

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  144. Then why did BR buy him?

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  145. snachez and schniderlin were what we needed this summer

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  146. He probably is but probably needs to work more on his delts

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  147. Interesting choice. Maybe it's a case of rotation. When was the last time Hendo had an actual rest? Can has looked decent enough, he's a good player and will only get better. Still not really the blistering Liverpool of last season but they are at least better than against QPR. Still moments of panic in defence. The ball watching is incredible.

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  148. id go with that id even go with balo playing in front of hendo and can in midfield ..the way we are set up at present offers little or no scope to attack , Hull are a poor prem team yet we don't look capable of troubling them

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  149. Hendo for Allen

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  150. bring on markovic next for balotelli ,coutinho for gerrard
    ...............................................sterling
    lallana......................................coutinho.................markovic
    ......................................can.................allen

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  151. I'd love to see the positives of Allen in the side though

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  152. Skrtel made more forward passes than him

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  153. allen is comfortable on the left hand side but because of can
    henderson on right allen left

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  154. sorry bro Allen doesnt create much chances

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  155. Guys have funn gonna watch 2nd half now......hope we win

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  156. At least we will see some decent football with El Clasico ...... O how I pine for Luis

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  157. yeah.. no.10. We have to at least try and accommodate our 16mill man in a way we havent with 16 other BR signings.

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  158. Some changes are needed now. Where is hender and cout, we need more pace and creativity.

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  159. co commentator just got it spot on " Hull have produced one of the best pressing performances I have seen all season"

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  160. only sterling ,skrtel,migs and gerrard from the arsenal win

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  161. Are we the away or home team? Fed f****** up.

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  162. get this ballo off now

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  163. take that for pressing hard..2 of them down

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  164. Lambert coming on for who? We need pace FFS not somebody who is going to hold up play!


    It really is frustrating

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  165. why cant we play
    sterling coutinho and lallana together

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  166. We are really over complicating this. We should go to a flat 4-4-2 with Henderson and Can in the middle. Play Lallana left coutinho right and stick balo up with sterling.

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  167. so man y soft fouls

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  168. and look at that Balo is a second striker...... surprise surprise

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  169. Let's be having you Can hear you now ;-)

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  170. a second striker who only got one assist in 89 games?

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  171. There is a rumour that Gerrard and Cara had lost respect for him and went above him to complain. Just to emphasise rumour.

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  172. He's playing wide left

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  173. We've been better ever since he came on...

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  174. take balotelli off get markovic on

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  175. Fair enough but it we still have not scored.

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  176. Stop making Balotelli a scapegoat.

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  177. Facing the play Balo is a completely different play. Not all number 10's or wide forwards can play false no.9

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  178. We need someone with pace pace playing behind and alongside Balotelli. Rodgers is to freaking blind.

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  179. joe allen was the most pathetic.. he doesnt pass like a footballer.. never contributed anything in build up play

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  180. Rodgers has a vision of Sterling and it is clearly wrong. His pace is wasted playing as a second left or right back

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  181. Joe Allen has noting to do with our mediocre displays. Just another scapegoat.

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  182. What happened to our team? Last season was all about emotions, be it we were winning or losing, this season the games are just plain boring, even when we win. Just bringing in one player in January won't fix this. I honestly don't know what Will.

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  183. We can forget about top 4. Rodgers has lost the plot.

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  184. Ballotelli what were you thinking!!!!!!??????

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  185. Gerrard right mid. Just keep pinging em in

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  186. penalty all day

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  187. We are so desperate.

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  188. stop putting in balls

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  189. Coutinho looks different since representing Brazil... looks like he believes.

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  190. we aint ever gonna score from a set peice

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  191. I suppose anyone losing Suarez and Sturridge would be too. But we dont have a go to guy out there. No one is demanding it and receiving it like Suarez used to. Lambert looks tidy though

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  192. We still have not scored though. We can be lucky Hull are playing for 1 point.

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