21 Nov 2015

Liverpool-XI vs. City: Surprise up-front; £40m-duo benched; Klopp makes big Rodgers-esque mistake?

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is has left £32m summer signing Christian Benteke on the bench for this evening's Premier League clash with Manchester City.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Milner, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino

SUBS: Bogdan, Toure, Randall, Allen, Ibe, Sturridge, Benteke

MAN CITY: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Toure, Fernando, Navas, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero

SUBS: Caballero, Clichy, Otamendi, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Delph, Iheanacho

* I just don't get it: what is the point of spending £32m on a striker if he's not going to play in Liverpool's biggest games?

* Playing Firmino up-front is a Brendan Rodgers-esque decision (i.e. a square peg in a round hole), and given the fact Firmino has a grant total of Zero goals this season, it makes little sense (IMO).

* If Klopp can't rely on Benteke against Manchester City, then what's the point in having him? It may well work out (and I hope it does), but it's still disappointing, especially since Benteke has 5 goals/assists this season.

* It's also disappointing to see Klopp persist with Can and Lallana, both of whom continue to make little impact on Liverpool's league games.

* On the plus side, City's central defensive-duo have rarely played together, and from what I've seem, Demichelis is an accident waiting to happen.

Probable LFC formation:

--------------- Mignolet
Clyne --- Skrtel --- Lovren ---- Moreno
------ Milner -- Lucas --- Can
--------- Lallana - Coutinho
-------------- Firmino

This may have worked against Chelsea, but Mourinho's team were on a serious downward slide, and were almost totally devoid of their usual confidence. City are unbeaten in nine games.

PREDICTION LEAGUE

With Lallana and Can in the team, forget about it. I'm going for a 3-1 City win, though I'l love it if Can/Lallana prove me wrong and make a game-changing impact.

Please post your predictions HERE, not on this this thread. Thanks.

Author: Jaimie K


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