21 Dec 2014

Confirmed line-up vs. AFC: BR dumps £15m star; surprise on the bench; injury woe for £20m signing

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has gambled once again for today's crunch clash with Arsenal, and for the second game running, full-backs Javi Manquillo and Alberto Moreno are dumped on the bench to facilitate the manager's ongoing experimentation.

The 343 formation worked against lower-league opposition, but will it work against a top-team like Arsenal?

FULL TEAM: Jones, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas, Henderson, Markovic, Coutinho, Gerrard, Lallana, Sterling

SUBS: Mignolet, Enrique, Lambert, Moreno, Manquillo, Can, Borini

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud, Welbeck

* Lovren is injured, so Sakho returns to the starting line-up for the first time in months.

* After weeks in the wilderness, Rodgers has deigned to grant Fabio Borini a place on the bench.

* Joe Allen seems to be the latest LFC player on Rodgers' hit-list as the Welsh midfielder is not in the match-day squad.

Probable formation:

------------------- Jones

------- Toure --- Skrtel ------ Sakho

--- Gerrard -- Lucas - Hendo -- Lallana

--------- Coutinho -- Markovic

--------------- Sterling

I like this kind of line-up as it contains six attack-minded players, but whether it'll be enough to down Arsenal remains to be seen.

My prediction: 2-2

Author:


358 comments:

  1. I agree with ur formation but he will swap SG with hendo

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  2. Gerrard play RWB? Highly doubt it.


    Like vs Bournemouth it will henderson RWB, Markovic LWB and Lucas/Gerrard in central midfield.

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  3. Lucas and Gerrard in the middle is BR really a football manager?

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  4. That back 3 is a disaster waiting to happen

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  5. Lucas is our only dm he has to play
    Gerrard is our captain and id bigger then rodgers and needs to play every game
    how would you work round that?

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  6. Would have preferred migno to Jones

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  7. Lucas as DM and Gerrard as no 10

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  8. Only one worry
    I just by looking at two pics knew starting 11 three days prior
    i am sure Wenger knew the line up as well then
    they probably know how to beat this now


    But we dont know anything about them

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  9. Agreed J.K 2-2 result lets go get em.

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  10. Except that slows play down
    Gerrard played there vs qpr lfc got battered only time it worjed was last 10mins vs west brom and teh bottom of table team


    if we are gonna press gerrard cant be number 10 simple as that
    especailly when you have Llalana and Coutinho

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  11. too much even for a genius?

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  12. And Gerrard and Lucas as double pivot has worked wonders for us hasnt it?

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  13. Who's making sanchez, kolo or sakho? Either way sanchez must be smiling, hopefully BR has a plan.

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  14. My exact sentiments.

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  15. We beat Man u
    td last season at anfield with that pivot

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  16. and we beat stoke , villa with that pivot

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  17. We will lose this game

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  18. Welbeck worries me if he is playing left wing
    Hnederson has to keep going back
    i think we might ahve ben better off with moreno

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  19. Dont watch it then

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  20. Are you certain i am betting on this?

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  21. Wrong probable formation


    ...........................................Jones
    ................................Toure..............Skrtel............Sakho
    Henderson.....................Gerrard.........Lucas.............Markovic
    ..................................Coutinho...........Lallana
    ................................................Sterling


    this is the set up

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  22. We are at Anfield so it should be 3 points or nothing.

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  23. yeah ur right after how many posts have mentioned this

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  24. Allen is injured jaimie..

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  25. first time i think

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  26. maybe u should read the posts..loganfc

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  27. what does gerrard have to do to get dropped grandad needs a rest!!

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  28. Yeah, all that 'Gerrard will be used sparingly' talk from Rodgers is where exactly?

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  29. I cannot see us winning it either.

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  30. So a draw is out of the question,, ??

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  31. Two utterly sh*t defences and a load of attacking players on both teams. It's going to be an open game; defibrillators at the ready.....

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  32. "Defribrillators" dont be such a pansy, 2 bottles of Southern Comfort at the ready.

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  33. Gerrard always plays big games

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  34. WTF is with all this enthusiasm but first touch of an under twelves' team!?

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  35. Need a Goal - Luis or Studge would have had a hat trick by now !

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  36. COme on guys, end product!!

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  37. No way we should lose this

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  38. The team just needs someone to get some shots on goal, how we could use sturridge right now

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  39. YESSSS MY LITTLE BRAZILIAN

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  40. Is coutinho reading the thread, he must have heard me lol.

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  41. Finally a well deserved goal

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  42. Finally after all that possession we get a goal. Match is not over by a long shot though. So far we have been very comfortable.

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  43. OH COME ON JONES!!!

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  44. THAT'S DISGRACEFUL DEFENDING

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  45. SKRTEL YOU ARE SO BAD SOMETIMES...

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  46. Oh my word. Skrtel brain fart again.

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  47. AT LAST Bloody deserve it - should be spanking em !

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  48. ALL THE HARD WORK FOR THE WHOLE HALF AND THEN A TYPICAL F***ING SKRTEL F*** UP RUINS IT ALL. WHAT A MYTH THIS GUY IS.

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  49. Jones could have done something about that, wow

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  50. AND WTF WAS JONES DOING

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  51. Arsenal Dont deserve to be level just knew that was going to happen.

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  52. You know it because our defence can not cope with the simplest of f***ing crosses into the box.

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  53. He didn't even try to clear it, he hopped across goal

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  54. Markovic looks awesome
    has so much pace and control

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  55. even my man utd mate is impressed with markovic today

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  56. He was waving to someone in the crowd sure of it.

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  57. I guess we still don't need a defence coach

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  58. Just needs to be stronger and hold onto the ball better

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  59. the thing si this happens all season
    liverpool do not pick up second balls when clearing free kicks
    and why do we kep fouling sanchez

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  60. That Arsenal goal was coming. I could sense the sucker punch because they have been useless. Luckily we scored before that so we can get that out. We cannot bloody defend a long ball. How weak our our players? Skrtel got beat by Debuchy of all people. But Sakho and Markovic have bossed Sanchez.

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  61. Skrtel needs to leave soon
    Lovren when he is back put him there

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  62. Our defence is so weak and do we have a 3rd choice keeper

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  63. Shut up you are not funny

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  64. Hes just as bad he can go too.

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  65. C'mon Debuchy used Skrtel like a rock climbing wall. That was a clear foul. The faults were Sakho's poor clearance and the free header back across goal mouth.

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  66. SERIOUSLY LIVERPOOL. DEFENDING 101. GOALKEEPING 101. IS IT REALLY TOO MUCH TO ASK...

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  67. Markovic is good. Needs to work on his dribbling. Sterling makes sime great runs but doesn't get the pass early. Weak defending for the goal.

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  68. Well u cant blame jones thats his 3rd game in 20yrs I think. ..he should be nowhere near the 1st team

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  69. Some things cannot be taught. Skrtel should have dealt with Debuchy

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  70. Yep we will never have decent defence with Skirtel

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  71. Markovic will get better each game - this sort of play suits him .
    More of same SH - wonder how Wenger will sort em out

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  72. Code the self acclaimed genius

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  73. Easy jus put ball into our box and laugh

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  74. Face it they cant defend simple crosses.

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  75. I have said it before. Markovic needs to be converted into a striker.

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  76. RODGERS- GET YOURSELF A F***ING DEFENSIVE COACH. YOU'VE BEEN HERE OVER 2 SEASONS AND YOUR TEAM STILL DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH BASIC SHIT.

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  77. He needs to find a little more composure, but I'm liking the determination he's showing to get the ball and get forward.

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  78. Worth a shot we certainly need one !

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  79. defending......how can skrtel get bossed by debuchy

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  80. Been saying that all along ...... I fear it will ultimately cost him his job

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  81. and now because of that goal, arsenal come out upbeat, and liverpool a bit more downbeat.

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  82. It will really be his stubbornness. And his recruitment, depending on who you believe about that transfer committee stuff.

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  83. We are consistently our own worst enemy

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  84. Southern comfort? Don't be such a pansy get the Jameson's.

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  85. lucas can't shoot.

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  86. No ball skills just physical stuff

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  87. Well at least Jones can distribute...

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  88. Oh for god's sake. Horrible defending again.

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  89. Now all that's left is fit him to learn how to make saves

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  90. THERE WERE 4 DEFENDERS IN THAT BOX. 1 ARSENAL PLAYER. THEY STILL SCORE.

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  91. That was terrible. No hustle on D.

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  92. Wouldn't be surprised if aresnal go on to score a few more

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  93. Sums up our season, nice passing, nice possession, nice flow, lose games.

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  94. That's what happens when you don't pay with a reconsigned striker, awful GK and Skrtel

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  95. Not really. We've had absolutely no attractive qualities at all this season.

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  96. Think he should become a postman

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  97. Wimps. I've moved on to the heroin now

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  98. Lucas heads the ball to nowhere and hendo has all the creativity of a ump of clay.

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  99. Same as last season ..... difference is then we could always score more goals than we conceded

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  100. Gerrard needs to go
    arsenal scored ebacuse he tjopught he was xabi alonso thinking he can pass it 100 yerds
    done with him

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  101. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee Borini !

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  102. Ha ha, Rodgers not even giving Lambert a sniff now. The arrogance of the man.

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  103. Why the actual f*** is he taking off Markovic...

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  104. More desperation now I feel

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  105. Gerrard's Hollywood fail gifted Arse a goal.


    Unlucky for Lucas with that shot. Would have been a very good goal.

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  106. After sticking with him up top game after game. Face palm.

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  107. COUTINHO, YOU'VE GOT NO SHOOTING TECHNIQUE! 1 OUT 20 OF YOUR SHOTS WILL GO IN.

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  108. Lucas cannot score.

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  109. Think we should give Jesus Navas a call.

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  110. Team of attacking players who cant finish

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  111. Good control in that move though.


    Coutinho scuffs his shots and Lucas skews his shots.

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  112. so demoralising when lambert somes on
    never should have bought him

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  113. Fact of the matter is, if we do not get a defender who can command our defence and two top quality central midfielders then we are buggered.

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  114. Why is it that hard!? Nearly every time he shoots, he kicks into the ground, which makes his shots tame and powerless. Adding to that, his aiming is incorrect. He aims at the keeper.

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  115. And a keeper. A good keeper would have had that disaster at the end of the first half well covered.

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  116. A striker would be more helpful. We have had 18 shots on target so far where as Arsenal have had 2...

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  117. Practise and coaching thats all probably thinks hes good enough already

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  118. How many has Jones now let in ?

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  119. In his last 2 league games, I think 5 of 8

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  120. Gerrard out from now on
    emre Can in


    lamberta nd borini are bas why play them when we have sinclair banging them in
    if rodgers was manager there would never had been no fowler or owen

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  121. Another good call Brendan

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  122. Every time he shoots, he rushes it, and therefore doesn't allow himself time to think about what he's doing. Because shooting technique doesn't come to him naturally, he'll shoot like shit because he doesn't allow himself to use technique.

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  123. Different game now ..... We are chasing it :-(

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  124. Should be putting extra time in working it out and practising Suarez did and look at him

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  125. As we are always doing at this point of the game, rarely closing our a win.

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  126. I don't know why he doesn't. It's half the reason why his goals/assists return is shite.

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  127. I have never seen such poor decision making in attack than I have seen in the last 30 minutes.

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  128. Oh my f***ing god this team just cannot finish.

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  129. At least borini is trying to get shots on goal

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  130. Sterling needs someone with pace to run WITH him as he has to check his pass as everyone else is so static . It would be so different with Sturridge

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  131. F***ing Arsenal always come away from here with a result. We make Wenger look like a genius. Arsenal have been utterly ordinary.

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  132. Showcasing for January

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  133. How does it feel to say 3 wins in 12 BR?

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  134. If we can't get a win playing like this then we never will !

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  135. The way Borini sprinted down the tunnel was hilarious.

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  136. It's not going to get any better

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  137. He knew that was the end of his lfc career

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  138. BR- do you ever teach these players how to shoot!/

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  139. Borini ygbsm. What a knucklehead.

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  140. Imagine if he tripped down the stairs

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  141. at least he showed some heart really

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  142. Hopefully that little incident will at least put paid to any fears I have of Borini ever playing for Liverpool again.

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  143. It was like when Denethor sprints to throw himself off the edge of Minas Tirith in Return of the King.

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  144. Liverpool and Arsenal are the two funniest clubs...

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  145. He needs to be hit on the head more often

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  146. We can win this...or still lose it

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  147. All I can say is welcome to mid table mediocrity.

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  148. HOW DOES JAIMIE ALWAYS GET THE SCORE PREDICTION RIGHT!?

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  149. The joy of picking up a point, thanks BR

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  150. Oh well at least i won some dough on the game and they showed a bit of heart today.

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  151. How unsatisfying. With a real striker I think we win like 5-2.

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  152. he showed 100% heart and 0% brains. You need to balance them both.

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  153. Cannot fault the effort. But we should have won that comfortably,

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  154. A match between two mediocre teams.

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  155. Jaime please predict a Liverpool win next time

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  156. Too true m8 should have been 3 up at HT

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  157. With a keeper a defence and a striker we could be reall good

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  158. Skrtel could and should do better for both their goals but then scores the equaliser. What do we do with that lad?

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  159. Expectations became too much for him. He showed some heart....his shots were much more dangerous than any other liverpool player today

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  160. convert him into a striker??

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  161. They don't have the power to shoot accurately from any sort of distance, unless they have sufficient time to roll the ball and run onto it, or hope to catch the ball on the half volley.

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  162. stick head bandage on him more often.

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  163. Keep him and buy him a pint that's what.

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  164. There are not enough votes up for you Ash.

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  165. Slam his head in toilet door before he comes on to the field

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  166. If we had Alexis he would have scored a hat trick for us first half

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  167. Was the bandage that done it

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  168. alexis was kinda shite today imo

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  169. Even if we had Remy we would have won this comfortably.

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  170. It's been done. Didn't quite work. He would be as good as Carrol.

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  171. That may be how it is in Sunday League, but not Premier League.

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  172. We thwarted him and the rest of the team easily.They wer all shit and we just gifted them two free goals.

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  173. Putting a horseshoe under the bandage could have had something to do with it

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  174. But the whole team was shite first half - we would have given him the service

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  175. Finally we have got some rhythm going on. Borini was excellent IMO. BR should have given him more run of games. I would suggest the same team for coming matches except for one change. Sterling should play as a wing back instead of Markovic and Borini should play as a striker.

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  176. same here...borini should be played often

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  177. I think one can teach them how to head the ball and defend as a unit. When KK was the gaffer we had the second best defence in the league

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  178. You kidding me? Perfect excuse for BR to banish him. 'Argh he's just a stupid hot head'.

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  179. Ah that's what they were doing - wondered why it took them so long

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