1 Jan 2015

Confirmed XI vs. LCFC: Shock news as BR axes €20m star. LFC to sell? Surprise on the bench

As expected, Steven Gerrard returns to the starting line-up for this afternoon's Premier League game with Leicester City.

Javi Manquillo drops to the bench to make way for Gerrard, which probably means that the shape of the team (specifically in midfield) will change to accommodate the captain.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Can, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling

SUBS: Ward, Lovren, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Markovic, Ojo

LEICESTER: City: Hamer, De Laet, Drinkwater, Morgan (c), Hammond, James, Vardy, Schlupp, Simpson, Mahrez, Wasilewski.

* Gerrard will probably play alongside Lucas in central midfield, with Henderson moving to right wing-back.

* It's a shame as Hendo played well in the middle. Why not use Gerrard on the right, and keep Hendo alongside Lucas?

* Sheyi Ojo once makes the bench once again, and if Liverpool are lucky enough to be winning the game comfortably at some stage, then perhaps Rodgers will hand him his debut as a second-half substitute.

* Despite training with the first team, Suso is ignored yet again.

* Balotelli is not even in the squad, which seems strange since he's not injured. Perhaps his exit is imminent?

Aldo's prediction: "I'm going for 3-1 today, but not bothered as long as we win".

My prediction: 3-1 to LFC

Author:


303 comments:

  1. No Balotelli in the squad? Could be leaving...

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  2. i do not understand why bring gerrard in and ruin the balance of the team i feel for poor old manquillo he has done nothing wrong only 1 change was needed toure for skrtel but rodgers needs to grow a pair.........

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  3. hendo wing back ,,,,,,,,gerrard lucas in the middle .....give me a break

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  4. Hopefully a nice win today. wouldnt mind seeing ojo get on the pitch just for a little fire up for the squad and fans.
    IMO suso is just not good enough, which is a shame cause i always hoped he'd be a star

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  5. i hope your right because anything less than 3 points today will be a disaster

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  6. Has he had the chance to show it?

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  7. the problem with this line up is the midfield is painfully slow and hendo is negated out wide so i can see us sitting deep or moving forward and getting hit on the break Leicester have a couple of fast players who can cause us problems

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  8. I just don't get BR when it comes to Suso, why won't he give him a go? Maybe he's not fit enough yet but let's be honest he's never really given him a chance when he has been fit.

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  9. How about swapping SG and Can positionally?

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  10. but whats the point ....why move a player if hes playing well ....a back 3 of gerrard kolo and sako is about as slow and immobile as you can get

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  11. Why play Gerrard? Why not the same team as a few days ago? FFS Rodgers. We don't need Gerrard in a home game against Leicester.

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  12. I had a nice New Year's Eve and I hope everyone else has a brillig 2015, too.


    I thus won't allow Rodgers' predictably illogical selection to dampen my good spirits. Enjoy the game, people. I'll be catching a replay later.


    By the way, Jaimie: thanks for the 3-1 prediction.

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  13. We all thought Sterling would never be good enough but Rodgers showed faith in him. If he shows the same faith in Suso, he can be a star as well.

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  14. Gerrards influence is too much
    now we need to reduce it

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  15. true. However, in a passing game immobility at the back should not be a problem. A greater problem in midfield.

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  16. It's f***ing Gerrard FC under Rodgers sometimes, not Liverpool FC. The only reason I can think of that explains his selection is purely because of his name.

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  17. it a problem m8 if the other team breaks trust me

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  18. Can right mid cover for SG right back?

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  19. but you shouldnt have to cover for players thats my point....we played well against swansea for the most part because we had a mobile team of players all in there best positions ,as soon as players have to look over there shoulder because there scared of a player getting exposed you lose that player from your team in effect at this level its inches that separate teams so why do it.

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  20. But why. What is Gerrard going to do if he does not play? We are just assuming it is Gerrard who is forcing Rodgers to play him. Gerrard wants the best for this club and he is not the type of person to play to the detriment of the team. I think Rodgers is in la la land like with Johnson and Lovren when it comes to Gerrard.

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  21. we dont live in a utopian dream land i think you will find Gerard does whats best for Gerard, players become deluded in there ability i remember Gaza in his mid thirties thinking he could still play for England when in all honesty there where pub players who could run rings around him

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  22. I agree. Are you saying SG shouldn't be in the starting 11. That would be my opinion. However, you can almost guarantee that SG will score a penalty and be named hero for the day after contributing nothing in the game.

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  23. I have no words for it anymore.

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  24. Lets crush em i reckon 4 1 again.

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  25. i hope your right greg because its bad enough starting back work tommorrow as it is

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  26. Maybe but it seems weird. What is the worst Gerrard could do if not played? Why does Rodgers have to play him?

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  27. i just cant get the rational of changing a winning team regardless of Gerard or not

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  28. Trying to be optimistic no work for me bad gastro so i am immune from any disaster.

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  29. Leicester are fully patking the bus. Let's see if we can break it down.

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  30. Meanwhile I'm pretty happy about Stoke 1 United 1

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  31. its liverpool and rodgers may feel he needs him on side with fsg or who ever or maybe he is just in awe of him ....i mean with all the houses available and the money you are payed would you rent a house of a player you manage ,from a psychological standpoint alone i find that strange

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  32. bad gastro get in yer wuss

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  33. How do you know that 'he is not the type of person to play to the detriment of the team'. He's had his time and has been brilliant for the most part. Remember how we played when he was injured and Alonso was then able to dictate games?

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  34. i do not understand why bring gerrard in and ruin the balance of the team i feel for poor old manquillo he has done nothing wrong only 1 change was needed toure for skrtel but rodgers needs to grow a pair......... i've been screaming this for months gerrard needs to be dropped

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  35. Is there a good reason to rotate the squad and formation again? If we don't win today, his tactics will surely be questioned.

    As for Balotelli, I hoped he would come good, but his game just doesn't suit ours. Even worse, telling him he will be spending more time on the bench because of this surely makes for an irretrievable situation.

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  36. We almost got Aurelioed. Mignolet in dreamland.

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  37. just another prove that BR hasn't got any balls

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  38. Zero confidence in Mignolet

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  39. Does anyone have a link or a place to watch it on the internet?

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  40. Can't believe BR didn't play the same team again.

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  41. streamfifamatches . tv / ch3ustream . php

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  42. That wasnt a penalty oh well

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  43. LUCKY No way a pen

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  44. type in google ronaldo 7 liverpool

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  45. thanks ref for being blind

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  46. no way a pen take gerrard off at 60 mins

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  47. maybe 2015 will be lucky because we should be 2 nil down

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  48. Luxury to have him in just as a pen taker

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  49. Disgraceful decision by the ref. He should be demoted for that. I take absolutely no joy in that goal.

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  50. shocking decision

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  51. expect the ref to try and level things up ...which in effect ruins the game ...im with jk he should be demoted

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  52. we're still defending awful, lucas is best at collecting yellows and giving away free kicks for free

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  53. the balance ot the team is lost

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  54. No space in mid for coutinho to move around today, cmon lallana.

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  55. Cannot see us keeping a clean sheet

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  56. Actually not sure about Can in defence anymore.

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  57. What hapoened for the penalty?

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  58. Leicester player slid in block a cross, ball hit him in the face, but referee thought it was a hand ball.

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  59. why did BR change the team? there's just not a single reason

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  60. thats because gerrard is coming into his space and hes not got a rb at the side in manq ...gaps appear and you look poor.....the balance is out

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  61. hes in awe of Gerard ....its quite sad really ...im no better than any other man but no other man is better than me ....

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  62. It just shows the managers has no balls and S Gerrard(34) is being picked on his status and not his recent performances. As he should be on bench permanently and Manquillo(20) should be on at Right back with Henderson(24) alongside Lucas(27) to offer some energy, mobility and movement in centre midfield. S Gerrard(34) and L Leiva(27) playing together messes up the balance of the side.

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  63. its obvious to anyone that's why Rodgers isn't the man to take Liverpool forward .....

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  64. And this is why BR is not the man for us- stubborn and etc etc etc etc

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  65. Thanks whe are you watching it?

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  66. He's made shit reads in defence however which have nothing to do with Gerrard.

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  67. And people have wondered why Lovren(25) has looked so poorly at times? With Gerrard(34) and Leiva(27) both in centre midfield there is no energy, mobility, pace or speed in centre of park. And with Henderson(24) playing at RB , Can(20) will be exposed as Henderson(24) can play that role but he is a CM

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  68. he lives in his house he lavishes praise on him constantly its borderline stalker

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  69. Dude, trust me, you'd be able to post your comments in half the amount of time without adding in every player's age

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  70. its all relevant nick ...do you feel more relaxed going down a motorway with a learner driver or someone with 20 years driving ...if you don't feel relaxed you don't look good

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  71. Yeah but you still have to make the effort to even research their ages to activate the habit...

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  72. Maybe it's the real Rain Man

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  73. But does that mean you start swerving all over the place just because you feel a bit less confident with a learner driving nearby? That's what Can is doing.

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  74. On TV at home :D

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  75. you gotta feel for Leicester

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  76. BR will say he played SG for these reasons ( pens free kicks)

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  77. yep but this one was a clear handball though

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  78. im suspended by cable via a blimp over the ground

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  79. Its not his natural position and he is still relatively inexperienced yes he will make plenty of errors but we really dont have much ATM.

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  80. listen we need the 3 points but we have been awful imo

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  81. /apart from the penalties where has gerrard been all game invisible

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  82. ATM isnt a good abbreviation m8

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  83. Eh?!? Never thought t wsas o telly

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  84. type in google ronaldo 7 liverpool

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  85. totally agree, ugly but we need this especially with united draw

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  86. Yeah he'll be off to greece or somewhere like that. Hope that's the last time we do business with Mino Railoa.

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  87. prepare your sick bag for the Gerard superlatives after the game

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  88. Awful? Pure exaggeration really

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  89. im being honest ,we have been gifted this game

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  90. Suso has just come back from injury. I wouldn't read too much into that. It's when he's not on the bench in a couple of weeks that it's clear he's being ignored.

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  91. Maybe but we're very far from awful, I'm sorry. The football is fluid and we're creating chances. Burnley was awful, not this.

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  92. Berahino scores for Baggies - back up to 23.5m

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  93. Against Stoke, Man Utd player had a clear handball which wasn't given. We got a very fortunate penalty. Disgraceful standard of refereing in the league.

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  94. Coutinho's playing magnificent again! What a beautiful player to watch.

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  95. I think you mean Stoke had a handball that wasn't given. Are you talking about the Smalling one ?

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  96. Even Burnely wasn't awful. Can't people see how well Burnley played in that game, the intensity and effort they put in? They upset our young players rhythm and concentration, as they'd upset any team with that kind of effort.

    I think we've looked terrific in this match so far to be honest. I go and see Cambridge United most weeks -- if you want to know the meaning of *awful*...

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  97. So we are benefiting from terrible refereeing today I think for the first time this season. It is a ridiculous fallacy that it evens itself over a season. I think it is worth saying while we are benefiting from it that the sooner they bring more technology in to the game the better. I am sick to death of matches being decided by these hugely incompetent men in yellow and black.

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  98. I said something similar Chirag. More technology please.

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  99. What gives? We look shaky at the back for once........


    Hopefully we'll bag a goal in the second half that isn't from the penalty spot. I'm happy to get the odd penalty but it isn't especially satisfying.

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  100. He's a little miracle. There might be better players in the world right now, but there's none I look forward more to seeing. His ball skills and intelligence are just fantastic, and added to his work rate and untiring effort -- he's nearly a complete player. The progress he's made in the last 2 years is very impressive too. I think it's only a matter of time until the big Spanish 2 come in for him.

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  101. Take Gerrad off now put Hendo in middle and Markovic on right

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  102. always works for me

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  103. Well yes if you're in Oz...

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  104. Hence why I'm very iffy about Can at defence, Greg...

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  105. That isnt gunna happen after Gerrard just netted 2 penalties.

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  106. But he annoys me when he chooses to shoot instead of playing ball forward to sterling ot lallana. Its ok if he was good at shooting but he is terrible at it.

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  107. To be fair the first looked like a blatant penalty at first, don't think it's due to the referee being incompetent.

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  108. with tech available why cant the use a replay for the big decisions which change a game like sending offs and penalties its crazy ..why dont they have the 4th official watching a monitor of the game

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  109. Tbh both the decisions were not that hard.

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  110. We deserve it after Man utd got away with that offside goal

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  111. His shooting won't improve if he doesn't try though ;)

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  112. Slightly shaky but I think they have been dealing with tings well enough. Trouble comes from midfield an the pressure they are putting on us high up. They are playing a good percentage game and if it wasn't for a terrible ref that half would look a bit more ugly.

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  113. Got to play higher up SH and for Christ's sake keep ball well away from Migno

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  114. but that is what makes him good he is so brave on the ball

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  115. I would sack him just because of his team selection today.

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  116. Rest him still
    we need him for wimbleton

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  117. It ruins flow of game

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  118. It hit him in the face. Nowhere near a hand. Those decisions need to be right as they change the game. He cannot have been sure so should not have given it.

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  119. Is he playing singles or doubles?

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  120. what two penalties ......

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  121. So noone else can score a penalty?

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  122. Winning is all that matters at the end of the day
    his team selection is right if he wins the game

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  123. On a hat trick ....

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  124. Gerarrd vs nadal

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  125. Gerrard like any player wants to play and believes they should play. He wants a new contract and sitting on the bench doesn't help. Don't imagine these millionaires put anything above themselves.

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  126. Manquillo next to him gives him protevtion

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  127. I don't believe that theory.

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  128. I'd like to see the refs view again before I decide whether he made a really poor mistake. From seeing it first time the ball looks like it rebounds off along a similar angle to his arm (not hitting it though I thought), so the refs view will be important.

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  129. Everton and Martinez the genius in complete crisis by the way.

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  130. what a wonderful display by steve..he really has been a revelation im my time as a manager in fact my house is wall papered with posters of him

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  131. Southampton is leading against Arsenal btw

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  132. spot on jay ......as Kissinger once said power is the greatest aphrodisiac

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  133. A draw would be perfect

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  134. Major exaggeration imo, awful is an awful description of this performance.

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  135. Will Migno ever find one of our players ??????

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  136. most of the dead wood average players i mention most of time i know their ages now by heart as so badly want club and manager to get rid of them . And only few people researched their ages

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  137. sterling first touch is very poor!

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  138. i heard he once nearly manged to pass the soap in the showers

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  139. Gerrard off now
    he is pointless manquillo on

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  140. borini on....in the words of al pacino ....here comes the pain ........or maybe not

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  141. But slipped thro fingers

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  142. you got it brother

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  143. Legend, I think its very clear to see S Gerrard(34) offers the team nothing apart from set pieces unless he is given time and space on the ball which no midfielder in the premiership ever gets. But because he has scored 2 penalties and we are winning B Rodgers will be happy


    But n Hindsight we are playing Bottom of the league, we should have kept same side that convincingly beat Swansea barring Skrtel(30) due to his suspension.


    But no B Rodgers does not have the balls, courage to keep his Landlord on the bench. Its comical managing


    If S Gerrard(34) was not needed against high flying Swansea why would he be needed against bottom of the league Leceister City and lastly did he deserve to shift J Henderson(24) back to RB When Manquillo(20) did nothing wrong to be put on the bench against swansea

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  144. Just hope we don't think we can sit back and defend the lead

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  145. WTF Sakho!? 2 weeks in a row...

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  146. This is why you dont paly gerarrd gaps occur

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  147. here we go again

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  148. You are literally the only person in the world who thinks that.

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  149. They deserve it Game On

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  150. here comes the pain ahaha

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  151. where's the midfield ?

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  152. THIS is what happens if you have lucas and gerrard in front of the CB's.

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  153. like i said we have been awful

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  154. playing with gerrard is palying with 10 men

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  155. plsu why bring borini on when markovic has been doing so well

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  156. B Rodgers instead of taking of S Gerrard(34) who has been played solely on his name and status and bringing on Manquillo(20) and reverting to back to team that played so well last week. He Keeps S Gerrard(34) on gaps will start to appear and brings F Headless Chicken Borini(23) on for what? And he takes our most consistant Performer this season off?


    Great Management

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  157. Bottom of league at Anfield folks !

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  158. Rodgers can go down with Gerrad
    a manager with guts will take him out and reap teh rewards

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  159. gerrard needs to go

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  160. Anyone can teach a team how to defend ;-)

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  161. BR is not the man to take us forward, he hasn't got the balls for the job. even a blind man can see that gerrard and lucas in CM is NOT working

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  162. retire to the USA

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  163. Rodgers GO AWAY you don't know what you are doing

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  164. Pablo Von Mooneyo4:28 pm, January 01, 2015

    Stevie G is an absolute passenger in this second half, jogging around not affecting the game in any way shape or form.

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  165. Now he is taking Lucas off
    Gerrard is a liability

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  166. Passenger all season mate only 1 person on Earth who can't see that

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  167. Na been sensational ;-)

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  168. well defended markovic, would have been a goal

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  169. i can already see Rodgers post match press conference:
    "Stevie had an outstanding game, he's a brilliant technician, the team did a brilliant job. He scored two well deserved penalties.
    you know as i already said, we knew it was going to be a tough game against an outstanding opponent. Were unfortunate not to get 3 points"

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  170. -----we were unlucky to lose it right at the end

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  171. We defend their goal better than our own.

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  172. he was literally jumping in the shot

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  173. Bloody Mignolet, he looks like a commanding, organised keeper when you see him shouting, but it's only after near defensive calamaties that he does it.

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  174. Crap defending again and Migno like a fart in a trance ...

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  175. Pablo Von Mooneyo4:45 pm, January 01, 2015

    Borini is fucking terrible isn't he! lol at every aspect of the game he is just ballix!!

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  176. Arsenal are down 2-0 we could've been TWO points behind them.

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  177. HOW DID MARKOVIC MISS THE WHOLE GOAL FROM THERE...

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  178. that's why Liverpool will not get champion's league

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  179. Blow a 2 goal lead to bottom team is utterly pathetic and Rodgers needs to clear off

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  180. I really hope this is a lesson to Rodgers to not change a good winning team. What an idiot he really f***ing is...

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  181. 2 days ago i said that if BR goes with Gerrard and Lucas in midfield for the Leicester game I will loose all my believe in him.

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  182. well ti happens every time and every time Rodgers go with it again, hardly a surprise

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  183. I think it is clear B Rodgers is not the manager to take us forward as we need a manager who will be blunt honest and ruthless, not meek and sentimental in order to get S Gerrard(34) as far away from first 11 as possible.

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  184. Season over !
    no top 4
    nothing to play for


    Gerrard be the so called lfc saint you are and reject that contract offer
    so i can look forward to next year

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  185. If a manager is not willing to learn from repetitive mistakes, he should be shown the door.

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  186. Yep change a winning side
    and system


    does he want to be Gerrards best friend or lfc manager?

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  187. f*** off Liverpool you disgust me.

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  188. Rodgers GO AWAY didn't u hear me first time

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