4 Feb 2015

Bolton 1-2 Liverpool: Did BR get it wrong with surprise decision to rest Hendo and Lucas?

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has sprung a major surprise by leaving Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva out of the starting line-up for tonight's FA Cup clash with Bolton Wanderers.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Allen, Gerrard, Moreno, Markovic, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling

SUBS: Ward, Johnson, Lambert, Henderson, Sturridge, Manquillo, Borini

* This is one of Liverpool's most important games of the season, so it's strange that Hendo is on the bench. Rodgers will probably argue that he's being rested for the Everton game, but it seems odd to leave him out of such an important game.

* With Lucas and Hendo out, we're faced with the unappealing prospect of an Allen/Gerrard partnership in midfielder, which doesn't really inspire confidence.

* Sturridge starts on the bench, which is a good decision. No need to rush him back to the starting line-up, especially with Sterling capable of deputising.

* Lallana gets another start, and he really needs to start delivering the goods on a more consistent basis.

* Balotelli not in the squad yet again? What is the point in spending £16m on him if he hardly ever plays, or even makes the squad? It's ridiculous. Yes, Balotelli hasn't set the world on fire, but Liverpool are never going to get their money's worth if he's not even in the squad, especially against lower-league opposition.

Probable formation:

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

---- Can -------- Skrtel --------- Sakho

Markovic --- Gerrard - Allen --- Moreno

---------- Coutinho -- Lallana

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

Despite the changes, the team selected by Rodgers is more than capable of getting a victory tonight, and anything less than that will be massively disappointing.

Author:


67 comments:

  1. What no Henderson or Lucas Where are the goals going to come from!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wattup, dawg? Don't panic, bloody Johnson is on the bench.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can't believe Lucas and Hendo aren't included... Gerrard and Allen provide no screen for the back 4 and I can honestly see us getting beat tonight with that midfield. Gerrard doesn't have the legs anymore to play that role and Allen has the legs but very little else. Long hard night for me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Speaking of Johnson and goals, that last one was kinda heroic...

    ReplyDelete
  5. What goes on between Allen and Rodgers ? Expect the usual inoccuous display from him tonight. Totally beyond me

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can't believe Ibe and Suso are not starting. BR needs to go now before he destroys this once great club forever.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Doesn't look good for him - good that Lucas gets a rest - our next 6 games are real ring stingers

    ReplyDelete
  8. BR may want to keep him but Ballo's gone AWOL

    ReplyDelete
  9. Unless he is getting Migs treatment. Extra training, sitting with Steve Peters too. He may come back the Soto player we bought. Hmm my optimism gets the best of me sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Allen is player good enough, people see that he isn't on a level for the top4 and start saying he can't handle championship team?! It will worl out...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bolton have a guy called Ream

    ReplyDelete
  12. Suso... He's left for Milan pal. Ibe on the other hand should be on the bench, strange one that.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'd like to see Stevie start, though if that's the team that's out, I would be fine. Like you, I want to see what can has in the Midfield. Although, I have a feeling Allen will make an appearance -.-

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovren not even on the bench.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ibe is cup tied

    ReplyDelete
  16. The own goals come from Skirtel : ) no forget that- a Gerrard penalty we win a bum squeaking 1-0

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ibe is cup-tied from loan spell, presumably with Rodgers approval

    ReplyDelete
  18. Suso is already at AC Milan and Ibe is cup tied. Good thing you know that much about this one great club ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. So Borini scores his first goal in eons and is then left out of all games after that.. If Balotelli cannot play, why not Borini.. At least Lucas gets a rest but Allen and Gerrard is a grimful pairing.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lucas supposedly has a minor thigh injury.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Even better.. Add insult to injury or in this case injury to insult

    ReplyDelete
  22. You mean the cup tied guy and the Milan guy

    ReplyDelete
  23. I never had you down as an apologist, Tree. I see the disease of apologism is spreading like a plague :p

    ReplyDelete
  24. He does not need any encouragement!

    ReplyDelete
  25. one leg at a time?

    ReplyDelete
  26. you know, i change my opinion like my underwear :P

    ReplyDelete
  27. Only when there are no ladies present?

    ReplyDelete
  28. I want to say never but don't want to offend you: )

    ReplyDelete
  29. He prefers to be called Joe except at weekends

    ReplyDelete
  30. Why can't I be Emre Can.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Why can't we bloody shoot

    ReplyDelete
  32. Haha, Clough looks like he's auditioning for us :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a shot does he play for us

    ReplyDelete
  34. It's going to be a crazy 10 minutes

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hope Allen can have a good game tonight, the squad would be much stronger for having a plausible alternative to Henderson in the midfield busy-legs role.

    ReplyDelete
  36. The linesman has got it wrong - twice

    ReplyDelete
  37. No support for Raheem - different SH with Studge

    ReplyDelete
  38. Migno looking more confident

    ReplyDelete
  39. i was already awaiting those answers
    brilliant as always guys!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Think he intended it to be longer ..... Jones injury he's taken his chance and coming good

    ReplyDelete
  41. Good show from Migs so far. Confident decision making and seems to be communicating better with the back three. Encouraging to see.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Not from Hendo or Lucas, even if they were playing.

    ReplyDelete
  43. BR's decision to rest him paying off now .-)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great comment, shows what you know about LFC, Ibe cup tied, and Suso in Italy, he he he

    ReplyDelete
  45. Islesfan74 out.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Stats according to flashscores make it look fairly even but I'm sure we've dominated. We just lack an outright goal scorer when Sturridge isn't in the pitch.

    Sterling still cannot shoot, he is a midfielder and not a centre forward, but now his passing seems to be slipping too. Is playing him up front hindering his natural progression?

    ReplyDelete
  47. We don't want extra time esp wiv a derby game coming up Mutley doo something

    ReplyDelete
  48. I'm going to ask again, having watched the first half-


    WHAT DOES ALLEN BRING TO LFC?

    ReplyDelete
  49. -15m on the check book i guess

    ReplyDelete
  50. I've always said he is world class - has he got any Scottish blood in him?

    ReplyDelete
  51. So many apologists, Stu.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Yes he has improved so much, hope it continues, with Keepers its all about confidence in their own ability, and he seems to have really got over the bad streak he had.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Think Steve Peters might have had something to do with it

    ReplyDelete
  54. We really had a perfect storm at the start of the season. Migs probably lost a little form, but ahead of him Sakho lost form too, and it was amplified because the defence seemed so exposed: the midfield was giving them nothing and the ball wasn't sticking up front. Everyone seemed really uptight and they played with fear. Lovren was destroyed by it, Moreno nearly was too -- just started playing his own game and got through it.

    Once the pressure eased off, they were able to rebuild... er hang on, what was my point? Oh yeah, that the whole team's improvement is the most important factor in Mignolet's recovery.

    VERY INTERESTING I'M SURE YOU'LL AGREE.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I believe he eats Angus steaks, does that count, ???

    ReplyDelete
  56. Sorry to steal the limelight :/

    ReplyDelete
  57. I think Stuart told his boxer to do it. He's such a bad influence on him.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'm better of keeping a slightly lower profilet

    ReplyDelete