26 Aug 2012

Line-up vs. Man City: Carroll/Enrique out. Major surprise on the left!

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has sprung a couple of major surprises with his line up to face Manchester City at Anfield today.

I'm sure most fans - myself included - hoped to see new signing Oussama Assaidi in the starting line up but Rodgers has gone for Raheem Sterling instead, a positive choice that will definitey excite fans.

Additionally, Sebastian Coates is preferred to Jamie Carragher, a decision that seems to underline the fact that Carra's time at the club is drawing to a close.

FULL TEAM

Reina, Johnson, Coates, Skrtel, Kelly, Allen, Gerrard, Lucas, Suarez, Sterling, Borini

PROBABLE FORMATION

-------------------------- Reina

Kelly ---------- Coates ------ Skrtel ------------ Johnson

-------------- Lucas ------------- Allen

Suarez --------------- Gerrard ----------------- Sterling

---------------------- Borini

I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of Kelly on the right and Johnson on the left again; it creates imbalance in the team, and Kelly offers very little going forward.

Newly promoted Southampton scored two goals against City last week, so surely this comparatively superior Liverpool is capable of doing the same?

Jaimie Kanwar


78 comments:

  1. Филип Митровић11:44 pm, August 25, 2012

    Maybe he's not fit? Did he train with Real Madrid? I agree with the line-up btw...

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  2. liverpool4life56511:45 pm, August 25, 2012

    He wasn't in the squad? Because he only started training Friday I think

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  3. Hes not eligible. He had to sign before 12pm saturday.

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  4. Any takers for Downing?

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  5. friday deadline for weekend matches

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  6. Sahin would have had to be registered by noon on Friday to be eligible to face City.

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  7. And this is the same Sahin who you said obviously wouldn't be impressed by Ian Ayre when he allegedly went to Spain to do the deal?

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  8. No, that was in relation to Cristian Tello, not Sahin, so perhaps you should get your facts right.

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  9. I think Rodgers is going to pick Carragher even though I too think its Coates time to get a chance. 
    I hope that sterling is on the bench...the lad is ready to make an impact in the league. It will be also interesting to see how Suarez performs tomorrow. This the first time since he has been at Liverpool where has been under pressure for his footballing performances. I still feel that he can hit a goalscoring purple patch he just need find a way of not snatching his opportunity's.  

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  10. the best line-up we  can have, shame the managers never pick the best though. God god Jamie I am in agreement with you for the last 5 or 6 posts

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  11. Dan - it's just a form of temporary insanity. Don't worry, it will clear soon.

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  12. Not sure if registrations go through too quickly, and they don't work weekends.

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  13. Good team. Sahin great addition. Let's hope Assaidi is our own Michu! I believe its simple: Suarez, Borini & Carroll score more than 50 between them and we'll have CL...if we can add Dempsey (some competition for Gerrard who has not chipped in with the required goals himself over the last few seasons...) it would be great...and if we could snap up Walcott (we need a threat down the right) we could be awesome!

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  14. the reason people who read this site dont believe the transfer rumours is because sahin apart 100% of your reports have been incorrect.

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  15. Im 99% sure sky sports news reported he had to sign before 12pm sat to be eligable.
    An the only reason we got him (if you can believe reports) is because we paid 5 m to madrid and were paying all of his 2.2m a year salery.

    Considering madrid only paid 8m for him i think its alot of money for 1 year. Hopefully thers a sign on fee after the year as i think he's a class act. Could even be our long awaited replacement for alonso.

    Were does he fit in tho in a 4-3-3?

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  16. Going forward, if there is no injury-WHERE WILL SAHIN PLAY?  SG is still worldclass, he demonstrated that again at EURO. Maybe,Allen will not have enough game time.

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  17. Until 2 days ago he was signing for Arsenal so don't pretend u knew his destination 7-10 ago even Sahin didn't know. Until next time mystic Meg more like Septic Peg!!!

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  18. Right, and how do you know he was joining Arsenal? You're just regurgitating what you read in the press. Thanks, but I'll take what my sources say over what the press makes up.

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  19. My thots exactly. I personally would play him ahead of allen

    -----------------Reina
    Johnson-----Agger----Skrtel----Enrique
    -------------------lucas
    ------------sahin--------allen
    ------------------gerrard
    .------------suarez------borini

    With suarez and gerrad drifting wide. Cant c it but just a thot.

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  20. WOW, you are absolutely desperate.

    That post has been edited BY YOU to take out any reference to Sahin because it made you look somewhat silly.

    It's absolutely obvious that's what you've done, since a lot of the comments are about Sahin and Ayre (and yet you now reckon the piece isn't about Sahin at all)

    Yet another falsehood from you when people point out things you get wrong!

    I'll screengrab this to show you've deleted this comment as well.

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  21. You are a LIAR

    Again

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  22. Sahinwasmentionedinthatarticle12:35 am, August 26, 2012

    Thanks very much for highlighting to everyone how you edit your own website to delete stuff days and weeks after you originally wrote articles.

    I would never have realised how much you LIE if you hadn't just posted that link.

    THANKS

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  23. I bet you know nothing about football. Why do you throw a player you sign in less than 48hrs into your lineup?

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  24.  I now have collected all the evidence I need that clearly shows how you post-date your website to make you look better.

    I will be letting all the relevant authorities know about it.

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  25. Why did he not sign earlier Jamie? I would like to think you are right and we aren't his second choice but Rodger's has indicated Arsenal had still been a possibility until the end of this week.

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  26. It's pretty easy to claim you've got it right when you just go back and edit your website to fit the facts after the event!

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  27. I enjoy you site jamie but uv dun youself no favours with this post.

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  28. Sahin is a quality player without a doubt, now get Clint Dempsey as he is desperate to play for us. He would add experience and fight like Kuyt did, as well as a scoring mentality. Forget WBA it was a weird game, good first half but no goals as per last season, then Phil Down went mad and we were stuffed!!!

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  29. Looking forward to this one, usually we fare better against better sides for some strange reason... so it could be a good game, basically its up to how our players perform on the day as to whether we have a chance of winning it or not though.

    IF Reina Enrique and Suarez are all up for it then that will help....

    Assaidi looks to be a good buy and it will be interesting to see how he gets on, not expecting miracles but i would like to see some consistency in our play this season, consistently good would be nice....as for Sahin well, that could prove to be our best signing so far (hopefully) there's a lot to like about Allen as well, just need to get the ball into the back of the net.....

    My prediction for the game will be that Suarez will miraculously find his scoring form and Reina will miraculously look like a decent keeper again, both players have been sweet talking to the press so i reckon they will up their game for this one....

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  30. I cannot wait to see Assaidi. We will lose tommorow though. This may seem harsh but i'm tired of speaking with optimism. We need realism, it will take a few years for us to be competing for trophies so its pretty standard for us to not do much against the champions tommorow. I'm enjoying the football we are playing and hoping LFC board don't sack Rodgers prematurely.

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  31. I'm liking the lineup, but I would probably play Kelly at CB instead of Coates as he has more EPL experience.

    If we stick to playing with our full-backs high up the pitch, we will get murdered and the scoreline could be humiliating. None of our centre-backs or Lucas have adapted yet.

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  32. what about the bench Jaime, equally as important as the starting 11,
    as was shown v WBA. Agger sent off Carragher came on, & as per he
    was woeful,& it affected all the players around him.
                  Also i would start with Downing at LB. Against Hearts he
    looked promising,him & Johnno as wb`s could be good.

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  33. Just remember Downing was up against a very inexperienced winger in that game. However, I would rather him  Left back and have Johnson Right back. Coates is better than Kelly at CB, and a bigger threat from corners. I think Kelly still relies on having Carra talking to him for the full 90. When Carragher retires Kelly will probably progress better.

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  34. Ffs why should it take years, maybe to become the English
    Barca but Swansea are prooving you can be successful in
    the Prem. against some very mediocre teams. If we improve
    our pressing, intelligent & quick movement off the ball,accurate
    & quick passing,admittedly we have to sign players who are
    comfortable with this.We also have some very exciting young
    reserves.But to keep playing the likes of Carragher defies all logic.

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  35. For me the reason we have been better against the likes of
    City for some reason they give you more time on the ball.
    eg v Hearts they outplayed us because the team BR picked
    had no answer to the pressure applied,luckily for us they
    could only keep it up for an hour, before they tired.
    But once BRs tactics become 2nd nature to all the players
    reserves included we will then once again become the
    great liverpool team all true reds fans desire.

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  36. Joseph, Swansea have beaten two teams I expect to be fighting for relegation this season. I think West Brom is proof that things don't happen overnight. This is frustrating of course but if Rodgers is given time we can definitely be successful. English Barcelona is something i'm pretty prepared to wait for, even if it means another few years in the wilderness.

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  37. When Carragher retires the whole of LFC will Progress.
    I only wish he would announce it today.To save BR
    the embarrassment of having to sack him.

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  38. Stevie is not comfortable with the `new way`as shown against.
    WBA, when he probably had his worst game ever for LFC.

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  39. Yeah. No time for sentiment, it was very much these situations under Paisley that marked what a ruthless manager he was and was another reason we were so successful. He would get rid when they were too old. This is something even Shankly didn't have the heart to do. I think Rodgers will out a word in his ear and he will retire next season. i do think Carra has the potential to be a great coach/manager someday. 

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  40. ------------------Reina------------------
     Johnson----Skrtel-----Coates-----Enrique
    ----------------------Lucas--------------
    --------------Allen-----------------------
    Assaidi-------------StevieG-------Sterling
    --------------Suarez--------------------

    I'd pick Suarez over Borini as centre forward against Man City. Suarez will torment them, Borini much less.
    Sterling on the left and Assaidi on the right will bring pace and trickery.
    Stevie G to pick his passes and shots.

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  41. Oh no the world's going to end, 'Nostradamus' is alive and well, seriously Jamie akl you have done is passed on a message, that many others had already passed on. I would have thought that you would know he wasn't registered in time to play, maybe the world won't end afterall.

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  42. It doesn't matter if others 'pass it on' - it is only fact when a factual source confirms it, and Sahin confirmed it.

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  43. I agree with the team, apart from, wait for it, Sterling. He is far too young and lightweight to be playing up against a team of City's quality. I can't imagine him fairing to well against their back four. I don't think Enrique is fit either, so Downing is or Johnson will probably play LB.

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  44. Agger is suspended. So it is either Carra or Coates. I hope to God it is the later. With the free scoring Mancy players,
    it is going to be a very busy day at the office. 

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  45. Regarding Dempsey...heard on Fox Soccer in the US today that "their cameras have stayed behind to document any late developments..." This is in relation to the documentary they are doing on LFC for the US audience... This might just refer to any developments in the final week of the transfer window or this might just all but confirm us signing Dempsey, I mean in true US fashion, what better way to market the documentary than with their best player "dramatically" joining LFC in the last week of the window...

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  46. It does not necessarily take years. After watching Swansea roll over West Ham yesterday, it was a very impressive performance. Rodgers hard work seems to be bearing fruit. 

    It will take time but do we have the patience to wait?

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  47. "Just regurgitating what you read in the press"



    Should be the strap-line of this entire website!

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  48. No way will BR have Carra in his coaching
    setup what can he teach the young lads
    about BR`s tika taka style, the only he
    knows his sreaming & shouting which is
    completely alien to Brendans way.
    When/if Carragher ever does retire he
    should concentrate on running his bar.

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  49. Are you not aware of simple facts Kanwar? If a player is not registered by noon on the friday they are not eligible to play over that match weekend.

    And the deal was nowhere close to be doing on the 16th. An agreement with Sahin was not in place at the time and only a very wide ranging agreement had been put in place with Real.

    Comical stuff as always.

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  50. The "likes of Carragher".  I know you are not trying to be disrespectful to Carragher, but you are. You are not the only one.

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  51. That defence you set out would get hammered! The only reliable player is Skrtel !

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  52. Boring and consistently underwhelming as Downing is, I think starting Assaidi over him tomorrow would be a bad idea. He won't be used to the system and has been fasting for Ramadan which I would imagine wouldn't have the best effect on his match readiness.

    Downing should at least offer good cover for the defence and we can bring on a fresh Assaidi late on to run at the tired City defence.

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  53. I would really like Danny Wilson to make a appearances off the bench this season, maybe not this game. But he has talent, and we're short of cover at centre back (Carra is old and in reality we have Coates and Kelly who the managers seem to prefer on the right even though he's traditionally a centre back).

    Maybe in the Europa league games? Carra is a legend but is only getting older.

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  54. We were in for hi earlier, Xabi played his part in selling him the 'Kop Dream' and woosh we got him

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  55. I think lucas is crap, watch him give the ball away and chasing shadows this afteroon.He was so slow v WBA it was so painful to watch.a defensive midfielder?what did he do.Cara is a legend but please go

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  56. thats the team id run with also, but you just know carra, kelly and maybe downing will be playing.
    a well fought draw today unless luis finds his scoring boots.

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  57. Really surprised that someone can describe LUCAS as crab! Same thing you guys said 5 yrs ago and the guy came out good! He's only returned from injury now and people expect him to be top class again! Doesn't work that way mate...will take sometime and gametime too. Even City with all its millions took 3 or 4 seasons to become a real threat in the EPL and they are still struggling in Europe. Time is about the most important thing in football! Everyone needs it.

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  58. Very good player but at 5million signing on loan fee and 5 million in wage for the year and at the end no option to buy....so 10million spent and player walks away at end of yr....where's the logic......

    As with Arsenal...they insisted on the buying the player option at the end of the loan......

    no wonder Madrid sent him to us

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  59.  liverpool will lose today because BR has already shown that carra and gerrard and co have him scared and pick the team ....Carra over coates ....pathetic....asking gerrard to play any other way than what he wants ...not a chance

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  60. Lucas , top class lmfao,when...... Time...took him 4 yrs to become an average player at best.Aquilani was much better than him and yet was never given the chance because of his wages.Remember how many managers got the sack using  this CRAB.i agree with you his movement is just like a crab lol

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  61. Rafa had the same problem with carra and gerrard

    so did hodgson

    Gerrard.s best days are long gone.....he's in the team only because we have the likes of ....spearing ....Adam and Henderson...who he has to compete with....so he is guaranteed a start unless he's injured.

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  62. sadly to say we will be bottom of table with 0 point

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  63. I think Assaidi is going to be the one to watch. He was cheap as chips but the guy has pace to burn and every trick in the book. It'll take a little time to get used to the lack of time you get on the ball in the EPL but this guy is instinctive so gives defenders a real headache. Mark my words, two years from now and this guy will be worth £15m to £20m instead of the £3m we paid for him.

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  64. So what defence would you propose exactly then?
    Kelly-Skrtel-Carragher-Robinson?

    fwiw, I'd much rather see the defence, and the entire lineup that JK has proposed here

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  65. Yea, that's probably the best 11 available atm - assuming that Assaidi is fit & any good, and that Borini is actually better than Carroll up front (I'm least convinced by this than any of our other signings this summer tbh)

    Gulacsi/Kelly/Downing/Henderson/Shelvey/Sterling/Carroll and we're set methinx!

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  66. Wouldn't the same principle apply to any player we try and sign?

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  67. Just a thought. If there is no agreement to buy Sahin at the end of the season he may take an aging Alonso's place in the Madrid team and Xabi has always said he would like to return to Liverpool :)

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  68. Muhsin V Muhammed12:43 pm, August 26, 2012

     For Ur info...medical fitness checkup is not meant to be some drama....the medical staff checks each inch of d player and their physical fitness...then only d paperwork clause hav its validity.....that's Y BR keeping some players from being injured till d  deadline of transfer window..!!

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  69. NO Henderson, no Adam, no Downing, no Carroll. Very very good times ahead

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  70. 4-5-1? I dont think so ahahahahah

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  71. my god youre delusional.

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  72. Looks like Sterling is a "surprise" then. If Enrique is still not match fit, then it makes sense to have Johnson at LB cos Samir Nasri is not a natural winger and will look to cut in onto Johnson's favoured foot, and Kelly at RB is the best we would have once Johnson is at LB. This would essentially be a slightly more defence minded and less of an attacking threat and might suit this game.

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  73. The more time that passes, the more ridiculous it becomes to believe that we spent close to £80m on that lot - talk about giving haters a stick to beat you with!

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  74. The whole 'lack of time in the Prem' thing is severely overplayed imho - English football has changed a lot over the years

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