26 Dec 2014

Confirmed XI vs. BFC: £35m duo out; Shock debut for 'nightmare' starlet? New Injury blow for Jones

For the first time this season, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has named an unchanged team for today's Premier League clash with Burnley, which is the latest in a long-line of must-win games for the Reds.

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

SUBS: Mignolet, Lambert, Moreno, Manquillo, Can, Balotelli, Ojo

Keeping the same side is definitely a good thing, and will allow the players to build up rhythm/rapport, and solidify the new 343 formation, which seems to be working well at the moment.

The big surprise is that 17-year old winger Sheyi Ojo is on the bench. The official LFC website describes both players as follows:

"[Ojo] is a pacey winger who can play on the left or right flank, he can be a nightmare for opposing defenders to play against".

Predicting a 2-0 win for Liverpool, Reds legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:

"The 3-4-3 formation suits the players, and with Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho pressing, and Raheem Sterling playing through the middle, there is a nice balance to their team".

There's a lot at stake today. If Liverpool don't win, and results go the wrong way:

* Man Utd will move 13 points clear of LFC.
* West Ham will move 12 points clear.
* Arsenal will move 8 points clear.
* Liverpool could plunge down to 13th place.

I can't see the Reds losing this game, though. Burnley are in the relegation zone for a reason, and LFC's team is far superior in every way.

My prediction: 2-1 (Revised from 3-1)

EDIT: Brad Jones off injured after 18 minutes.

Author:


102 comments:

  1. 4-1 to lfc... Hey it's the holidays.. why not?

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  2. Yep Rodgesr confirmed earlier this week that
    Lovren,Allen , johhno,Flanagan and Sturridge all out

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  3. First time I have the same prediction as you. Please keep getting it right Jaimie..

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  4. It's about time we give someone a hiding, hopefully it will be today. 5-1 Sterling hatrick ;)

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  5. I just want a win, I'm not arrogant & assume we'll turn them over at Turf Moor. Some say low expectations, I say realism!

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  6. Yet another Martin Skrtel brain fart :-o

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  7. Jones moving the wrong way for Ings shot, good job the post did his job for him. Now he's just gone off!!!

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  8. Doesn't look good so far.

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  9. That's why you got dropped Mignolet.

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  10. Paper meet cracks.

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  11. Put Baloteli in goal now.... He can't do any worse than Mig and Jones

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  12. glad to see him off. utter garbage keeper

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  13. gerrard and lucas not working
    emre can

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  14. Just tuned in. BBC says Burnley have been the dominant force.

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  15. Amazing in training tho ;-)

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  16. Lucas and Gerrard, nowhere to be found.

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  17. too slowwwww

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  18. Same old same old desperate defending .... avn't got a clue !

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  19. MIGNOLET GROW SOME BALLS AND PROPERLY JUMP FOR IT

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  20. I have this recurring nightmare where I'm under attack from a group of maniacs with killer footballs. I know that if one of the footballs even touches me I'll die. I'm terrified, huddled in what seems to be a goal, surrounded by a tattered onion bag. It's a bit unclear at first but eventually.I realise I've got a goalkeeper and defence in front of me. For a second I'm relieved, these guys will keep me save. Then I see the names on the backs of the red shirts and a sick dread creeps over me ... Mignolet, Skrtel, Toure ... I'm dead for sure.

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  21. Sterling will never be a striker. He has no first touch and no killer instinct.

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  22. embarrassing themselves yet again !

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  23. Rodgers should get more money after spending almost £120m this season and this is the rubbish we get served up. Forget it.

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  24. At least you won't suffer for long

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  25. They are taking p...s out of Migno as if he wasn't nervy already ...

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  26. This pitch is properly awful. That's not an excuse for anything, just an observation. Keeping the ball on the ground is probably not going to be that effective.

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  27. Please give us updates on FB, Jaime. Cant bloody see the game in China.

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  28. Gone into Brendan's excuse book for later !

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  29. 0-0 and we are being out played.

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  30. First thing that needs to happen is to switch to a back 4?

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  31. You should see him on subutteo... gloves of glue.

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  32. From the 10 minutes that I have seen, Sakho seems to be doing well and the rest are crap as usual.

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  33. Problem there that we'd need two proper wing backs and there are only 2 subs left. I'd say get Can on the pitch.

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  34. God I'm almost indifferent to how the result pans out today, given how shocking we've mostly been recently

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  35. Ojo and Can both. I want something different than this crap we are seeing.

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  36. If we don't get a grip of midfield SH we can kiss this one goodbye

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  37. That is why I am not wearing my rose tinted glasses anymore.

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  38. MU 2 O against Newcastle

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  39. Oh no wait til we are losing then with 15 mins left bring on Balo

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  40. I just almost don't even care anymore.

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  41. Given em to Brendan ?

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  42. Nothing going to work for him mate or maybe a blow from a 14lb hammer on the head? That should wake him up.

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  43. Tuned in at 30 minutes and we looked woeful. Defenders have way too much work to do.

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  44. 1-0 'll do for me. Desperately waiting to see us not conceding, even B'mouth exposed our defense.

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  45. I'm not sure whether Gerrard is playing or not. Seen him once in the last 15 minutes of the half.

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  46. He's the only player in yellow that seems to be contributing positively (seen 15 minutes, me). But he's had so much work to do that a slip seems inevitable. Our midfield and forward simply have to start keeping the ball at the other end of the field.

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  47. Is SG playing? I saw his name in starting list, couldn't find on field though. In fact, do we have central midfielders playing, or Burnley is given a 2 men handicap by BR?

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  48. I would much rather have the winning mentality Van Gaal is feeding into his team and his no sense interviews than our manager who is so full of himself and will blame pitches, players and not being able to find the right solution sooner etc for what is happening this season.


    Taxi.

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  49. Its comical how B Rodgers does not have the balls to drop S Gerrard(34), We have so many central midfielders who do the same job. L Leiva(27) and S Gerrard(37) both do not have the energy, legs, mobility, pace or speed to protect the back four and the GK well playing the DM Position.


    Playing both of them is comical to say the least, no mobility or movement in Centre of park.


    How does B Rodgers chase Moreno(22) all summer then get him and leave him on the bench? He is a Left full back, Play him there.


    The problem is B Rodgers is used to managing youth and upcoming stars, he does not have the balls or persona to make the big decisions.


    J Henderson(24) , E Can(20) or J Allen(24) should be playing Alongside L Leiva(27) to offer some movement and mobility in Centre of park. Both L Leiva(27) and S Gerrard(34) get out run by the Referees


    B Rodgers needs to grow a pair, take S Gerrard(34) Off, Put J Henderson(24) alongside Leiva(27) Bring on Manquillo(20)


    How Manquillo(20) and Moreno(22) two young spanish fullbacks with energy, mobility, pace and speed do not get picked to play in the side week in week out in the quickest league in world football?

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  50. Tell me, who was the worst player? haven't seen it but sounds we ave only candidates for the worst player of the pitch....

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  51. Lukas and Gerrard can't make anything happen( Gerrard from there, Lukas..) Hendo is wasted back there. Lazar is not a defender but when he gets the ball, he is good. That is 4 midfielders not making enough impact, and it is down to formation. If we had assured defence and pressed it would be a good one, but it is actually a huge mistake.

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  52. Markovic at start but not enough possesion to make it happen.

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  53. Your correct but this is going to have to play out until the end of the season sadly

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  54. can come in

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  55. You make it sound like he's the missing link or something. He's done nothing for LFC yet so far (IMO). Plus, he's playing at centre-back, so what's the point?

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  56. Mignolet, Gerrard, Sterling, Hendo...

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  57. Oh I see. Well I hope we get him on the ball more often then. I'd like us to see bring Balotelli on, too, just to give their defence someone to keep an eye on.

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  58. Could not be any worse with him?

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  59. Perhaps. I don't see what Toure did wrong, though. Plus, it doesn't solve the problem of improving on the crappy first-half performance. Nothing has changed really.

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  60. We're really taking it to them, at last!

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  61. If I was LFC manager, not only would poverty be eradicated, but in that parallel universe I would have taken off Gerrard or Hendo for Can.

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  62. O' Did I REALLY expect something different?! :-)

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  63. Should have brought on Moreno or Manquillo for Skrtel and taken off Lucas or Gerrard for Can.

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  64. All that top 4 talk....The players have obviously decided that we created way too many chances against Arsenal, now it's time to level things out.

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  65. How frustrating.


    Just as I got excited about us creating an easy chance to fluff.

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  66. The thing is B Rodgers does not have the balls if he did: S Mignolet(26), G Johnson(30), S Gerrard(34) , M Skrtel(30) and K Toure(33) would be warming the bench week in week out unless there was injury or suspension for them to come on or if we needed to shore up defence and hold onto win.

    Away from Home: With players we have the team should be week in week out until we get D Sturridge(25) back fit and injury free:

    B Jones GK

    Manquillo RB Lovren RCB Sakho LCB Moreno LB

    Can RCM Lucas DM Lallana LCM

    Sterling RWF Balotelli FD Markovic LWF

    At Home: Week in week out GK and Back four should stay the same until we get D Sturridge(25) back fit and injury free:

    B Jones GK

    Manquillo RB Lovren RCB Sakho LCB Moreno LB

    Coutinho RCM Lucas DM Lallana LCM

    Sterling RWF Balotelli FD Markovic LWF

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  67. Certainly has the body strength and desire, however should be deployed with more consistency and in the right place of the pitch.

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  68. Wher are you waching it?

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  69. No movement No pace No penetration No idea

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  70. Can anyone give me a link to the game?

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  71. if you don't have the cash you won't get the gash

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  72. You don't want one... It will only make you depressed

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  73. This united team.. are playing with confidence, very high confidence. I would like to see what LVG has instilled in this garbage team who now look so untouchable? this is not all class as far I'm concerned since they were utter garbage at the early part of the season?

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  74. Please remind me someone This IS Burnley isn't it ?????

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  75. Don't worry lads I am sure after the game BR will tell everybody that we played well and gave 100% effort

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  76. Sterling boooyyyyyyy

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  77. Yeeeeaaaahh Sterling-Coutinho-Lucas make another goal like that!

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  78. sterlinggg yeaaaa

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  79. Who gives a shite how to spell his name! As long as he spells it right,
    On the contract!!!

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  80. Stewart Downing is one that springs to mind...

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  81. If he can sign for Arsenal he can sign for us. His agent has already said hed be interested and hed have more trouble taking Scezny's place at Arsenal than Mignolets with us

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  82. If you think us and Arsenal are on the same level to potential players numerous transfer windows have taught you nothing. He also won't go to Arsenal but if he did and it was his choice that has nothing to do with anything else.

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  83. No it's not like that at all. Pressing is about short bursts. Saying it's not part of his game is like saying running isn't part of his game. It can be if he does it.

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  84. Ridiculous that someone telling a professional what he should be doing and then calling HIM arrogant.
    There are more choices bud. Like saying he is arrogant but not being so foolish to think that I know any better.

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  85. If you really believe it there is no discussion. Suarez wasn't the only one performing ignoring that is easy.

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  86. Shame is, Gilstrap, Mourinho's done that before - he 'owned' Rogers last year with our game at anfield, and who knows how many countless times behind the scenes with transfers/loans....


    I'd love Rogers to do a Shankly and put one over psychologically on 'The Portuguese one' - but before that happens Rogers needs a team fighting behind him and then a bit of evolving himself..........can't see that just yet......maybe in a short while though.....


    ....and yes I am an eternal optimist......!
    YNWA

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  87. Ps, great pianos come out of the czech republik.......just saying.....;-)

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  88. What numerous transfer windows have taught me is that we have our priorities all wrong. Many top class players sign for man city and man united. Is Manchester that much more like London than Liverpool is? And even if it were, a player could easily live close to Manchester and Liverpool. Most players dont live in the city center. No, its all about money and matching salaries. All we get with our policy is players who punched above their weight for a season and has beens who ruined their career like Balotelli who no one decent would even touch with a ten yard pole. And sometimes we get lucky and "find" a Suarez who will want to play for a club with ambition and a matching wage structure three years later.

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  89. Money is the big one but when other factors come in to it being at a team that has been on the CL for so long and whp have players like Ozil and Sanchez they are more desirable. It's not just about London despite parts being a millionaires playground.

    But money is a massive one.

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  90. gerrard doent press tino doesnt press infact there is only lallana and hendo and sterling who seem to press

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  91. Your mistaken. Both those players press but they very rarely initiate a press. Cout presses quite well at times although he doesn't do it as often as the ones you mention. Gerrard does press but again not as much as the others. Balo doesn't at all but there is no reason why he cannot.

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  92. the planets lined up for Rodgers on a lot of fronts sturridge stayed injury free and was on top form and Suarez had a one off season are the two main reasons with honorable mentions to lack of cup comps and utd being awful other things went for us as well ,

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  93. I agree that Sturridge was one reason, that lack of cup games was another (two more than Suarez, seems we agree) United being cack would make sense if we finished fourth or third but second? That is not nearly a good enough reason. Some things that went for us include finding a sytem that got the best out of the players we had, that introducing a teenager in to the team and keeping him there despite some bad performances led to him being one of if not the best player in the team in the second half of the season. That we found a way to get the best out of Henderson, that our pressing style was very hard for any team to live with. That we not only beat all but one top side but demolished a couple. We had some fortune for sure but Rodgers did well and that is why he won the manager of the year award. Does that mean he is a top manager? No. A top manager will do this consistently. Does it mean he deserves praise for what happened last year? Yes. Like he deserves criticism for this. No one player can drag a team to such a sustained run. Unless we want to revise Rafa's reign too. It was all Gerrard see, he dragged us to Champions league victory, he dragged us to FA cup victory etc

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