22 Feb 2015

Confirmed lineup vs. Southampton: BR springs huge surprise; £20m star out. Punished?

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has made the bold decision to 'rest' Daniel Sturridge for today's crucial Premier League clash with Southampton.

After a quiet game against Besiktas, Sturridge drops to the bench, and is replaced up-front by Raheem Sterling:

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Henderson, Allen, Markovic, Ibe, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling

SUBS: Ward, Johnson, Toure, Lambert, Sturridge, Moreno, Balotelli

* Sakho is out with injury. The LFC site confirms: "Mamadou Sakho misses today’s game due to a knock to his hip"

* This is a great chance for Dejan Lovren to come in and stake his claim for a place in the team. If it goes wrong, though, it could spell the beginning of the end of his Liverpool first-team career.

* The decision to leave Sturridge out is bound to polarise opinion, and as I see it, there are three possible reasons why:

- Punishment for his behaviour during the Besiktas penalty incident.
- Game management to ensure he remains fit and is not overplayed.
- Dropped for an ineffective performance against Besiktas.

Whatever the reason, it's a gamble, but the good thing is that Liverpool have the players to compensated, which hasn't been the case in the past.

If Rodgers is punishing Sturridge for the Besiktas incident then he's simply cutting off his nose to spite his face. Hopefully, it's just a a strategy to manage the striker's fitness.

With Lovren in, and Sturridge out, it's a massive gamble from Rodgers, and if it goes pear-shaped, he'll inevitably face a barrage of criticism.

My prediction: Still 2-1 to Southampton

Author:


293 comments:

  1. Well West Ham did us a favour today so we need to take advantage of their slip.

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  2. It's a well stocked bench though isn't it? Sturridge, Balo, Moreno, Toure, erm....Johnson.

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  3. Prob BR's thinking is that Both Lovren and Lallana will both step it up against their old club spurred on by the crowd's barracking and then Lambo to come on later and score the winning goal .... no celebration of course !

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  4. Strange lineup

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  5. No doubt Johnson is being saved for Thursday and MC next weekend ...

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  6. If he is resting Sturridge surely he would play Balotelli? Coutinho still not rested. Would of preffered Lallana/Sterling and Balo ST

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  7. I wish Moreno played
    then we would ahve had Lallana,Markovic,Can,Lovren,
    all our new signings that were first choice and scouted on

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  8. wHO AE WB, mArkovic and Ibe?

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  9. I was just ready to comment on dodging another Andy Carroll by passing on Lukaku and he scores to bring Everton level. But he has been a club footed limbic most of the match.

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  10. is Moreno injured? and DS ..ok he needs to be managed however this is such an important game after the current results

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  11. It was an OG anyways. I think he has just lost his way and there is a lot of pressure on him.

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  12. Strangly enough I can see that...

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  13. Prob Ballo n Studge have had their wrists slapped after their spat on Thursday

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  14. I still don't think Balotelli has done enough to start. He's output is better but not yet enough. He probably does zilch in training too. The squad is improving and as such you really have to earn your shirt. ......and keep it

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  15. 3 strikers on the bench...strange

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  16. Oh $#it this is really strange

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  17. Yeah I was sure Couts would be rested against Besiktas, so it's an even bigger surprise to see him starting again here. He looked to be running on empty for much of that game. I can only hope BR sees something we don't.

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  18. One of our matches which will define our top 4 aspirations i have kept the faith Liverpool 3-2 come on lads.

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  19. But we do not have a striker on the pitch with 3 sitting on the bench???


    Either going to come back to bite BR or get us another 3 points. Let's see...

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  20. time to inject the JT

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  21. Love the positive attitude

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  22. Well its 2.30 am here it will keep me awake anyway.

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  23. Go read my other posts in this thread...

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  24. I don't think Sturridge would have played 90 against Besiktas if we had have been winning. He played ninety so will likely come on as sub in this game.

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  25. Look at the rain. This will be a sloppy mess that will probably be decided by a slip or a set piece.

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  26. So this will be plan A, plan B will be Studge with Raheem dropping deeper, plan C will be Balo and Studge. Isn't it nice to have options

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  27. Bet you've said that before...

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  28. This is a must win.

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  29. Cooooutinho fantastic

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  30. What a goooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  31. Why don't we rest Coutinho?? Because of this :-)

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  32. BRILLIANT so glad we didn't rest him

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  33. What a strike! Lovren on the right, Can on the left? Can't understand that

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  34. These conditions are difficult end to end stuff

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  35. Coutinhooooooooooooo

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  36. coutinho and penalties denied we are so lucky

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  37. southamton can feel hard done by!!!!!

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  38. Great goal, terrible reffing (thank god) and Skrtle acting dodgy. Add to that the experiment of Lovren and Can on their weaker sides. My *rse has gone.

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  39. Fair enough as long as he scores on Thursday

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  40. It looks like we might concede a goal or two in this game

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  41. Got to cut out the set pieces in this one

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  42. Yeah, Can has been playing on the right of the three so why switch him to the left and play Lovren on the right?

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  43. Squeaky bum time me thinks

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  44. Why is Markovic defending so much...he can't defend to save his life

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  45. We look nervous. Need to get a grip of this game

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  46. WB doesn't suit him that well

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  47. Because Soton are confident they can press and cause errors at home in the slop

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  48. Migno needs to keep grip of ball !

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  49. Mignolet is a keeper, I don't why he treats the concept of kicking a ball like a baby giraffe

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  50. Tannoy Accounment. ... Can the Liverpool Midfield please report for duty... thankyou

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  51. Difficult surface water - ball not travelling need to keep control

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  52. Bit more like it

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  53. We are gonna need longer spikes.

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  54. No slip ups Oh forgot Stevie not playing ....

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  55. Get Markovic off at half time. Not his game.

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  56. My thoughts is to get Lovren used to it so to switch Can in to midfield regularly soon. Can has played left back and left sided CB in the past.

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  57. Another fine display of shocking officiating so far

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  58. Crap refereeing YET AGAIN !

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  59. oh so now liverpool fans troll stevie too ??

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  60. And after Atkinson yesterday !

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  61. Sterling, please compose yourself more.

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  62. And stop running into people

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  63. sterling overrated!

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  64. come on lovren that is terrible marking

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  65. LOVREN IS A BLOODY TICKING TIME BOMB

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  66. That bloke gives me heart failures hes headin towards a red.

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  67. We can be lucky the half time whistle has gone.

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  68. Take off Lovren for Toure, the poor guy's completely lost.

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  69. Man I am glad for that whistle. I can put heart back for a few minutes.

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  70. Mignos going to be busy SH

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  71. I think we'll really miss Sakho back there....rather stating the obvious I know. Lovren a red card waiting to happen now...bring on Kolo

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  72. But why the f*** is he playing on the right when Can is looking just as lost on the left???

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  73. That's what it will be like until end of season...at least it means we're competing for things.

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  74. God knows 1 may ask though why the hell they play him just an accident waiting to happen shoulda been red carded by now.

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  75. Up votes more the maths lover.

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  76. And all of a sudden our defence looks inept without Sakho.

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  77. Yes it does amazing thank god they didnt sell him like some certain people wanted to cough J.K. cough.

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  78. I find it funny how many people were having a go at sahko and now look at our defence without him

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  79. So we have got to score more goals - Sterling on own not working
    Two strikers SH

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  80. I bet people aren't complaining about Sakho's 'awkwardness' now

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  81. and some fans give him stick for his 'awkward style' he's our best defender

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  82. Skrtel is a liability.

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  83. He has been worrying hasn't he. Doing that thing where he focuses on the striker too much instead of his position. He will do this too often at times.

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  84. Toure on for Lovren, Markovic Rwb Moreno Lwb Coutinho off Ibe in Coutinho's position and Balo/Sturridge on for Coutinho SH

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  85. Get Toure on ASAP may i say.

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  86. I would not go that far. He has improved in recent weeks but not having Sakho beside him makes him more exposed. Would ideally have Toure on and shift Can into middle of park but the way Lovren playing he is a red card in waiting, Kolo for Lovren me thinks then studge and Balo later

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  87. hahaha squeaky bum stuff

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  88. How many subs do you think we can make? Who off for Moreno?

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  89. You certainly may sir

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  90. Henderson has been awful
    he is not dominating teh midfield l

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  91. Haha yup me too

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  92. He is not concentrating on his job. Concentrating too much on Pellle.

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  93. Sterling , Henderson awful
    Lallana,Can,Lovren average
    Mignolet , Allen,Coutinho good
    Ibe ,Markovic fantastic

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  94. Who comes off for Balo/Sturridge? Lallana?

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  95. Not been at our best but still up at half time with a strong bench to utilise

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  96. based on todays performance

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  97. You seem awfully like NGCTC, horrific grammar and unjustified opinions. Please observe without your incrediby inept input.

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  98. Lovren average he shoulda been sent off.

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  99. He did his job. I would be happy making a swap now,

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  100. Sterling I say, poor game, been dominated by Sotons centre backs.

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  101. Soton smelling blood in the mid, Schneiderlin on.

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  102. Yea. It's not that ref's in England are biased, they're consistently rubbish for everyone. Linesmen are the same. And don't get me started on the ones behind the goal...

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  103. Not sure what game your watching.

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  104. we have to catch them out on counter with our pace

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  105. Does anyone else think we head the ball way too much when controlling it would be the easier move?

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  106. I think we playing the conditions

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  107. Sterling, say onside you f**king idiot.

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  108. I don't mean just today. Seems to be a chronic occurrence.

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  109. I think sterling should come off soon. We need a second goal and I don't think he's got the energy left.

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  110. Ballo and Studge on Sterling Lallana off Ballo n Ibe have thing going ...

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  111. sterling frustrates me so much. He's not winning the ball, nor keeping the ball, nor making any shots, nor staying onside.

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  112. Reckon Sturridge arriving will change things for him.

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  113. bring on his best pal Balo too

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  114. Great game by Ibe so far

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  115. GOD henderson perfect chance to make a break and you dish up that shite pass

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  116. And then follow up with a club foot chip to the stands.

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  117. Yes looks like an experienced prem campaigner. Old head on young shoulders.

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  118. just so poor when he has to make quick decisions..

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  119. Worries me under pressure like Lovren

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  120. get sterling off, he's not helping at all.

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  121. STTTTTTTRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLING

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  122. Get in! That should do it

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  123. I recant my prior comment

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  124. Oh god here comes Johnson to sabotage proceedings

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  125. GREAT what a difference Studge has made with Sterling

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  126. That one makes up for an ordinary game

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  127. No clean sheet now guys Johnson on

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  128. Well held migs

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  129. He is a different player with another striker

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  130. Lads done good in difficult conditions

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  131. Now I know what a "professional performance" means. Nice to see we can adapt our game to all sort of opposition and circumstances.

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  132. Migno prob has best stats in league now

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  133. Wow... we might beat a 30 year old defensive record

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  134. Bloody good performance in the conditions and away against a good team

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  135. Had Sturridge scored he would have broken Torres first 50 games record for Goals.

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  136. Pretty good management as well ;-)

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  137. He just might yet

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  138. I know sterling scored a goal but he's been getting the basics wrong far too often. For example, there was a simple pass to be played in front of henderson, yet he gives it straight to the saints defensive wall. stuff like that pisses me off so much...

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  139. All down to good fortune, some would have us think...

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  140. 3 points off third tonight chaps :-)

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  141. I personally believe that sterling doesn't have football intelligence. Hence why he does the things you say.

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  142. that's why the kid should stay and develop with us

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  143. Yep right up there now

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  144. 5 consecutive shut out away wins...!! but up next is city !

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  145. This was a must win so well done to the team!

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  146. told you we'd win you stupid pricks.

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  147. hopefully utd slip out the top four as well

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  148. After the Leicester game I said we wouldn't get top 4 but, without getting too carried away, it looks like a dead certainty now.

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  149. Thing is he is young he has plenty still to learn.

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  150. He is young and makes mistakes but he will always cause problems

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  151. Smash. And. Grab - Skrtel immense.......now I need to go and change my undies.

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  152. Great gritty win away in terrible conditions. No rest though. City next week.

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  153. Got his act together but I thought Skrtel was poor in the first half.

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  154. we have city next week.. united and saints have kinder fixtures.. so it could bring back the gap once again..

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  155. Another clean sheet and we are singing

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  156. A clean sheet and 2 goals and Coutinhos wonderful strike couldnt ask for much more top 4 here we come!!!!!!!!

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  157. Is the nurse there to help ?

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  158. It's not intelligence, it's just composure. Misplacing that pass had nothing to do with intelligence.

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  159. That's what we were saying before playing Everton, Spurs & Saints in a row and look how we've delt with that. I just think we've got that momentum now, the same we had last season.

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  160. A different kind of win but thought our second half performance was really good. First half was the maddest I have seen for a while.

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  161. You still think we've got no chance of top 4 this season?

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  162. Good win. Unfortunate Southampton, deserved a point at least. That's football though...Ibe was good again. I will like to repeat that Markovic need to play further forward or shouldn't play at all. Moreno/Ibe/Sterling/Maquillo are better options for a wing back position.

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  163. true but city have more to play for after chelsea's slip and they look to have found their groove back.. it will be our toughest test yet.. not even on the same plane as everton, spurs or saints..

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  164. Priceless 3 points today , we're right back in this top 4 race

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  165. Cout is a Genuis!
    NOT period!

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  166. Just want to tip my hat to Mignolet, he turned it around. Who would have though we would have the 5th best defensive record in the league.

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  167. As the home side they did no do enough in the second half, we dug in and got a hard earned result in difficult conditions.

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  168. cant see how southampton deserved a point?

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  169. to be honest, I love ugly wins

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  170. Yep sound GK performance again and much better defending set pieces . Skirtel owned it !

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  171. Won every header second half...kept Pelle in check

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