10 Feb 2015

Confirmed line-up vs. Spurs: £62m-trio benched; BR in risky game-changing midfield mistake?

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has named a pleasingly attack-minded team for tonight's must-win Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Markovic, Coutinho, Ibe, Sturridge

SUBS: Ward, Johnson, Lovren, Lambert, Lallana, Allen, Balotelli

SPURS: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Bentaleb, Mason; Lamela, Dembele, Eriksen; Kane

* Sterling and Lucas are out through injury. Sturridge starts his first game since returning from his long injury lay-off.

* Balotelli makes the match-day squad for the first time the League Cup defeat to Chelsea.

* Manquillo is once again dumped from the squad, which is disappointing considering he's a solid performer.

* £81m-worth of Rodgers' signings on the bench.

* Given the personnel, it seems likely that it'll be a Gerrard-Henderson midfield partnership, which isn't the most inspiring prospect. If Spurs target Gerrard, and overrun midfield, it could be the difference between winning and losing. Probable formation:

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

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

Markovic -- Gerrard -- Hendo --- Moreno

------------ Coutinho - Ibe

---------------- Sturridge

* It's also possible that Ibe may play right wing-back, with Markovic alongside Coutinho.

This seems like it should be a very tough match for Liverpool, especially with Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen in such great form. However, many fans - myself included - thought the same about the West Ham game, and Liverpool ran out comfortable winners on the day.

My prediction: 1-1

Author:


300 comments:

  1. Good line up... Not sure about Gerrard in midfield, would prefer Can. Come on lads!

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  2. Would have even preferred Allen in midfield rather than Gerrard. I don't know why Rodgers is doing this as it's clear it hasn't worked in the past. Well here's hoping that Spurs underperform.

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  3. Can't believe you deleted my last comment. I give up with you.

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  4. Maybe it is a good thing Gerard is leaving going out on his best
    While we sign a new cdm or sign a Pedro Chirevella

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  5. Two words. Harry Kane...

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  6. Mate we faced Cristiano Ronaldo,Karim Benzema,
    Alexis Sanchez,Edin Dzeko, Diego Costa




    Harry Kane is no one compared to them

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  7. Doubt it is going to be that easy as 3-1. Spurs are in top form. One of the best teams in the league at the moment.

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  8. Have you seen Kane this season?

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  9. just saying
    ronaldo scored
    benzema scored
    costa scored
    dzeko was close :)

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  10. At the current form, Harry Kane IS Cristiano Ronaldo

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  11. 3-1 DOESN'T NECCESARELY MEAN IT IS EASY. AND we have the best attack in the league.. Sorry bout caps lock...

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  12. Yes and what?


    Andy Carroll had a decent half season as well in 2010-11
    infact had 13 goals at this stage 1 more then Kane

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  13. 7 wins in nine EPL games for Spurs.

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  14. Best attack in the league? What?

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  15. No trust me, the guy Kane has the attacking instinct of Kun Aguero

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  16. I didn't say they weren't lucky ,-)

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  17. Neymar is Cristiano Ronaldo
    Kane can only ever be a Muller

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  18. If we stop Kane, it will be a mauling
    If we don't it will be crushing
    Simple really

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  19. Oh yeah, throttling Arsenal and Chelsea is dow to luck?


    So what happened to us against these two teams?

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  20. Cool
    BUT Augero has way more pace and is better at dribbling
    Kane is for me a clever player rather then an explosive one

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  21. at the moment we are the best team in the league. form giude.

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  22. And they will easily stop Daniel, Ibe, Couts...?

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  23. He's good, but he's no Sturridge though ;)

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  24. Seriously you guys by into the hype too much


    Harry Kane?


    Really?
    We are fearing him ?


    Aint fit to clean Sturridges boots

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  25. He can basically score from any dead ball situations, yes really clever for his age. Reminds me of Schevchenko.

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  26. He does not have to be Sturridge. Kane is deadly and will score if given the opportunity. That is all that counts.

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  27. No, but I have negative feeling about Sterling's absence. It might severely damage the chemistry of the frontline

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  28. How many did he score last season?


    He is going through a purple patch liek Adebayor in 07-08
    and it has to come to an end soon

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  29. we picked up 14 points from last 6 games. spurs managed 13 in their last 6.

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  30. A point off 1st if you look at last 5

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  31. No, but I have negative feeling about Sterling's absence. It might severely damage the chemi-stry of the frontline

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  32. A point off 1st if you look at last 5..

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  33. What I'm saying is your fear of Kane is a bit disproportionate, we've got Sturridge ourselves.

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  34. he is good though
    he has immense talent and has clean strike
    destroyed teams like chelsea and arsenal
    he is not the one to be taken lightly
    and yes i trust our defence now

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  35. Spurs have seven wins in their last 9 EPL matches. We have 5.

    We are not the best team in the league form giude

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  36. Cool, my comment awaiting for moderation for I don't for and I don't know reason;-)

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  37. Form goes out the window in these big games

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  38. the form guide goes as far back as a team's last 6 games. atleast thats the format on the premier leauge's website. how much further back do you want to go to consider form ?

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  39. Sakho will have Kane for dinner
    then a bit of Eriksen for desert

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  40. 3-1 Lallana to score...... wonder if we might see the Balo/ Studge combo again like last time.... The boss/wife is in town; LFC better win or else.....

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  41. Happpens... We'll win though...

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  42. They are cursed : )


    Remember the last time they came we drew with villa 2-2

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  43. hahaha..i hope it happens

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  44. Gotta be honest, I feel THIS spurs side are full of belief and it might just be the difference to win or lose this game. We are obviously on a good run too but Pochetino has really given the belief after Chelsea and Arsenal win and United draw.

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  45. Mate we are Liverpool , we have 5 European cups,Spurs have 0. We have 18 league titles , Spurs have 1.

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  46. Then how'd you explain the Palace loss?

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  47. i am beginning to see why everyone on here hates you

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  48. We are winners
    Our mentality should be the same .
    We should not fear spurs or Kane they should fear us .
    We have Anfield THE GREATEST STADIUM IN THE WORLD WITH THE BEST FANS IN WORLD , one of the greatest players ever STEVEN GERRARD .

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  49. I'm stunned Gerrard is starting alongside Henderson. That partnership was one of the reasons we lacked speed and creativity in the first half of the season. Henderson spends the game covering Gerrard. Also Gerrard has been so poor in recent games, he is only getting a game based on the fact he has Gerrard on his shirt, it's certainly not based on performance or influence.

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  50. Wow... I'm sold!
    Cool we're gonna win the league!!

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  51. And we beat that same team 3-0 on their own park. Correlations like this don't have much substance in football.

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  52. Well you are saying we have the best for guide when it is a lie?

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  53. back then there were no Kane nor an inspired spurs

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  54. Myp2p not working for me. . . Any sites people to watch game? Please.

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  55. Luckily i get to watch on TV but try firstrowsports.

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  56. Thanks logan. . .

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  57. No, but I liked your comment;-)

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  58. Well we were not playing well when we played Arsenal and Chelsea after such a defeat changed tactics and played far far more defensively against us. I'm sure there are other reasons too. No striker for instance.

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  59. He has looked great but slow down there hoss

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  60. Pleasure mate. Hopefully the stream is not jerky.

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  61. Changed tactics blah blah blah.


    Just imagine if Rodgers had stuck to last seasons tactics. Why couldn't he?

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  62. £80m of "Rodgers' signings" on the bench... aaand £90m on the pitch. Isn't this just an illustration of our growing strength in depth? Would you rather we had a bunch of free signings, ringers, and chancers on the bench? Meh.

    Excited about this match. Spurs' fullbacks don't cover well, and Dier and Vertonghen are mobile but can't dominate. And because Pochettino knows that, Spurs will come and try to play, to force the match to become a midfield battle. I think this will lead to big spaces opening up, either in behind or between the lines, even quite early on. There's a chance it will be like the Arsenal game last season, because we will be breaking on their defence carrying the ball -- could be a big win...!

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  63. Man may as well replace the rest of your post with blah bah. Your unwilling to actually discuss anything.

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  64. If Rodgers stuck with last season's tactics? We'd be in the lower half if he did that... We tried at the beginning of the season, but the Sturridge injury and terrible individual form kinda changed things...

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  65. Great play by Ibe, I love the way he runs at players

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  66. Lovely play by sahko there.. never thought I'd ever say that

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  67. Markovic should have done better

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  68. Markovic make me eat my words son!

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  69. Great block.. went past gerrard far too easily

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  70. Not the first time, already. Spurs are actually lining Gerrard up to run off him.

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  71. Did I not say we should start with Markovic in attack???

    It was a poor attempt by Lloris though.

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  72. they're lucky it's always faling on Sturridge's right foot

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  73. Dembele looks strong & confident, Gerrard won't cope!

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  74. To be fair my 2 yr old can give gerrard a hard time

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  75. But there was no reason to change from last seasons tactics at the start of the season.


    Why did he have to change. It cannot be that difficult to answer?

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  76. That was far far too easy

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  77. Hendo has to work hard

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  78. I said before the match. Two words.


    Harry Kane.

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  79. Anfield so quiet. Bizarre.

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  80. They are able to walk though our midfield. ..

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  81. I still think we can take 3 points

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  82. It is far to easy to finish top 4 too :-o

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  83. Sturridge should have scored at least 1

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  84. How many times do you need this explained to you. Just stop it.

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  85. Gerrard as a central mid? Rodgers doesn't want to win.

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  86. Jordan Ibe... the new Messi?

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  87. Coutinho's playing weird tonight.

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  88. Sturridge still not got match sharpness

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  89. Super half. We've been strong second halves recently, think there's a good win on the way.

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  90. We have discussed this more than once and you don't agree with what I have said. I cannot be bothered repeating myself. I will leave that to you.

    But what in the hell has that to do with the Chelsea game we were talking about anyway?

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  91. Get Johnson on at right center back
    Move Emre Can to the center take Gerrard off

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  92. Tired, has a knock and is getting double teamed every time he is on the ball.

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  93. Messi the old Jordan Ibe?

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  94. Sell Sterling for 40m get Lacazette
    Markovic and Jordon Ibe showing the way we don't need him anymore

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  95. Teams setting up defensively out of courage?

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  96. I'd rather 130m on the pitch and 40m on the bench

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  97. I had a similar thought. Only five players in the squad were not signed during Rodgers tenure. By next season we may be two fewer. At what point do we stop talking about how much the bench cost?

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  98. That reminds me I will have to get my clock fixed.

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  99. Our set pieces have been awful

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  100. Come on Steviee. Please do your stuff!

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  101. Danny Rose is rubbish isn't he.

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  102. Well done to the linesman.The Ref bottled it!

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  103. Mignolet well done

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  104. Can is a frustrated right back. Let him loose

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  105. Ref got that wrong. Come on Stevie

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  106. It is my considered view that referee Phil Dowd is a thick, fat fuckhead.

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  107. Wasn't a free kick!

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  108. Replay shows that he is in line actually.

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  109. Markovic for Lallana or Ballotelli

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  110. Balotelli going to help us bugger all in this match.

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  111. Well they ve just shown it again and both commentators said it was !

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  112. That was a penalty. Every. Day. Of. The. Week.

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  113. How was Gerrard's a free kick and that not a pen?

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  114. Coutinho looks jaded

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  115. Sturridge might inspire him

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  116. Borini would have been a useful player in this match. Lambert and Balotelli's immobility is going to slow us down.

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  117. Looks on side mate.

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  118. Go back to the rose coloured ones at least they were in focus ;-)

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  119. Looks like Sakho played him onside.

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  120. has a Henderson set piece ever resulted into anything ?

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  121. Kiss his backside!

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  122. Sorry Mario sorry sorry !!!!! All's forgiven !!!!

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  123. Hahaha... typical

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  124. Sure about that?

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  125. Apart from score a goal

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  126. What do you know, Balotelli scores :-)

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  127. Mario back from the wild and off the mark ... First of many now ?

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  128. Never doubted him :s

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  129. he actually has a decent record when taking corners in the recent past...

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  130. Went away for a while and now has the monkey off his back !

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  131. Worked for Mignolet.

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  132. Yeah yeah. He is going to have to do much more than that to prove he is good enough.

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  133. I will say this... Phil dowd has to be one of the worst refs going

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  134. He's been atrocious tonight hasn't he.

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  135. Steve Peters is earning his dosh at the moment ...

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  136. yes terrible yellow card calls for both sides

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  137. No argument from me there

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  138. Cheer up logan, sure we'll lose eventually. Keep making those predictions of doom, chances are one will come good ;)

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  139. His call on Gerrard's perfect tacle almost cost us the points.

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  140. Buggered Spurs for us ;-)

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  141. Nice pressing by Balo

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  142. Got to give credit to Brendan for the substitutions, Lallana assists and Balo scores.

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  143. No one disputes that but would like him see partnering studge.

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  144. GREAT 3 POINTS TONIGHT ONWARDS AND UPWARDS !

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  145. Come on Lovren get your game going then we can put big emre in midfield.

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  146. ??? Spurs Stuffed ;-)

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  147. Well good gravy that was exciting.

    They shouldn't have been even as Kane was offside and they got a free kick for less than the challenge when we had a second pen claim.

    I had an odd experience. A perfect stream but Phil Neville commentating. Like some sort of Hell realm.

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  148. He didn't do anything wrong which is progress.

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  149. Nicolas Chamberlain9:57 pm, February 10, 2015

    Well, who saw that coming?
    Great, great win.
    Im so happy right now.
    Great work Lallana btw.

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  150. That is precisely why the mute was invented

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  151. Yep I am an idiot.

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  152. Did you hear him actually criticize Balotelli for not getting to the ball on the first free kick cross when he first entered the game. The ball landed 15 yards away from him amidst a sea of players.

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  153. It wasn't mate. Angle is terrible.

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  154. but how good does Can look when in midfield, he's chomping at the bit to play there. Those surging runs from midfield might get us vital points between now and end of season.

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  155. You couldnt have dreamed it up.

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  156. Manquillo solid performer???

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  157. I didn't get on to that one. TBH by that point he was just an annoying drone.

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  158. Nicolas Chamberlain10:00 pm, February 10, 2015

    He was showing yellow cards like there's tomorrow.
    It was a perfect tackle. Gerrard was playing really well.

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  159. Never doubted he could do it in mid. He could do with being a touch more tactical but he certainly looks good. My worry was whether our defence could handle having Lovren or Johnson in it. Still not sure but at least (like I said) Lovren didn't do anything wrong.

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  160. Yeah that mystified me too. Not seen enough of him but spent most time going backwards and getting rid quick from what I saw. Might be for the future though

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  161. Nicolas Chamberlain10:02 pm, February 10, 2015

    Ibe is quality. He fits in like a senior player.

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  162. So happy for Mario.... never give up on our players

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  163. Nicolas Chamberlain10:04 pm, February 10, 2015

    He is very inconsistent and his deliveries are not that good at all.
    He is still young so there is much room for improvement.

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  164. Oh yes and Can is already superb and magnificent hair

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  165. Defensively our best FB. Second most tackles per game in the team. Only one who gets near Lucas. Most interceptions. Hardly ever gives a foul away.

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  166. It is not merely hair it is a mane

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  167. Yeah even if we have just solid 7 out of 10 performances from Lovren, keep it simple, that will do. Can only 21 as well, people forget that looking at him.

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  168. I love how in control he seems: effortless cruising over the ground, doesn't get stuck in for the sake of it, plays intelligently, head up and engaged. He looks about as good as any 19 year old winger I've ever seen.

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