24 Aug 2013

LFC Predicted XI vs. AV: Drop defender? Cissokho key to stopping Benteke/Weimann...?

After a well-deserved opening day victory over Stoke City, Liverpool's defenders will face a much tougher attacking test this afternoon against Paul Lambert in-form Aston Villa side, and with Manchester United coming up next week, a win for the Reds is vital if the team is maintain confidence and momentum.

On the injury front, Sebastian Coates - now ruled out for the rest of the season - is the only new injury worry, which means Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will have a strong squad from which to choose.

In his pre-match press conference, Rodgers conceded that he expects a 'very tough game', and highlighted Villa's strengths, and his areas of focus going into the match:

"They [Villa] are very much a counter-attacking team that set up to defend half a pitch and then break out with the pace of Benteke, Agbonlahor, and Andreas Weimann on the side.

"Weimann makes good runs and has got a knack for a goal. It's just about trying to control the counter-attack, they have got fast and energetic players.

"Those three are a real threat going forward and they've got three energetic midfield players that pass and move. Young Westwood likes to get on the ball and pass it, and Delph likes to get forward".


Rodgers insists that the 'focus is on our own game', which suggests that he won't set the team up specifically to counteract Villa, but I have a feeling we'll see a different team to the one that started against Stoke last weekend. Given Rodgers' acknowledgement of Villa's attacking strength and speed, we'll probably see a more defensive set-up, possibly along the following lines:

OPTION ONE

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

Johnson ----- Toure ----------- Agger ---- Cissokho

---------------------- Lucas

-------------- Coutinho --- Gerrard

------ Aspas ---------------------- Enrique

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

* Toure and Agger will have their hands full with Benteke, and neither defender is particularly fast, so it's possible Rodgers will include the powerful, pacy Cissokho in defence as extra cover.

* A Cissokho/Enrique partnership on the left would also be a good tactical approach to nullify the threat of Weimann down the right.

OPTION TWO

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

Johnson ----- Toure ----------- Agger ---- Enrique

---------------------- Lucas

-------------- Gerrard ----- Allen

------ Aspas ---------------------- Coutinho

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

* Rodgers could decide to bring Joe Allen back into the fold to add extra solidity in midfield.

* The overall plan (as Rodgers confirmed this week) is to have Coutinho playing in the middle, but there may be occasions where he plays further out wide, and today may be one of those situations.

OPTION THREE

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

Johnson ----- Toure ----------- Agger ---- Cissokho

------------------ Lucas -- Gerrard

--- Henderson ------- Coutinho -------- Enrique

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

* It would be harsh to drop Hendo from this game. He played on the right of the midfield attacking three for large parts of the game, dropping central occasionally to provide cover, and could've grabbed two goals.

OPTION FOUR

This is my preferred line-up:

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

Johnson ----- Toure ----------- Agger ---- Cissokho

----------------- Lucas -- Gerrard

------- Hendo ------ Coutinho -------- Aspas

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

* I'm not a great fan of playing Henderson wide on the right, but Coutinho will play higher up the field, which will allow him to play a little more central, and cover Johnson when he raids down the wing. Hendo's stamina and strength will also be useful against Agbonlahor.

* Jose Enrique's end product (in terms of passing/crossing accuracy in the final third) continues to be poor, so why not give Cissokho a go? I doubt Rodgers will be that bold, though. He'll probably have Cissokho on the bench.

Predicting a 2-1 Liverpool victory, Reds legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:

"Villa played very, very well [against Chelsea] and they look a useful team, but we don't know how much the trip to Stamford Bridge took out of Paul Lambert's side. Liverpool have had the week off and there is a bit of a feel-good factor around them at the moment. If Villa had not played in midweek I would say they would at least get a draw, but I think that will catch up with them".



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19 comments:

  1. I wouldn't play Cissokho just yet. Let him get to know his teamages better and then introduce him to the action in a home game in the near future against a 'lesser' team. But I think your predictions of starting X1 won't be too far off

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  2. my thought exactly that Enrique might play on the left with Cissokho LB, its the closest to seeing Riise and Aurelio against chelsea a few seasons back playing on the left.

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  3. I think he will want to load out the midfield to stifle Villa. So the team will be the same at last week with the exception of Aspas dropping to the bench, Hendo moving into his position, and Allen slipping into midfield.

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  4. Option 4 looks pretty decent to me. I think Henderson will score a few this season, so today will be a good day to start.

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  5. Option 3 would do it for me with aspas Alberto Allen and sterling waiting as subs depending on the game. You're right jaimie cissokho is powerful and pacy he could be the key to stop benteke and a combination of Enrique + cissokho on the left and the hard working Hendo on the right could be vital to freeze villas attacks. It may be a little bit defensive but IMO its the best choose to fight villa

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  6. Discussing the team for tonights match reminds me of the Arsenal and City consecutive away games last season. Rodgers got everything spot on and we should of won both games. It's down to the players but I feel that if Rodgers can get his tactics right in difficult to predict games like this we could do pretty well this season.

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  7. Consistency is the key. The players individual mistakes set us back last year so often. If we can stop these errors were not worse than Tottenham or arsenal !

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  8. Agree. Also a bit of luck is needed. In years gone by that penalty last week would of been smashed home, or we would of controlled the entire game but eventually lost it. But lets not rely on luck :P

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  9. why change a wiining team....

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  10. Mr. Point Of View1:38 pm, August 24, 2013

    I think the major threat is not benteke ....is Agbolahor pace will counter us !!!!

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  11. I know it's a little out there but I'd actually have Cissokho at left back and Hendo cutting in from the left. The lad has a decent shot, delivery and work rate. I'd have him on the left and keep Aspas on the right with Tino as the most advanced Mid. Stevie and Lucas holding and the other defenders as per last week.

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  12. Theycallmemrburt1:51 pm, August 24, 2013

    The beauty of the the way we play now is we let THEM worry about US. The only changes would be tactical for me in terms of our full backs over committing.

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  13. Luckily toure is a bit more adept compared to Skrtel when having to defend and play the ball out of defence.


    How do we go about stopping Benteke though? Not many teams have been able to do that.

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  14. Yip, our play is not about counter attack, route one or 4-4-2.


    All we need to do is improve on our goal conversion rate!

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  15. Just hope that aspas wont miss sitters again, wouldnt play him at all tbh, can see a tight draw here villas playing great atm that guy benteke looks unstoppable what a pity we never chased him this window, last time we barely won there with a pen plus suarez was on the field, a win of us might surprise me!

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  16. No other club chased Benteke either.

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  17. Well it seems Mignolet is the answer to that one ;)

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  18. YOU REALLY ARE, ONE OF THE MOST ANNOYING PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET

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  19. -------------------mignolet--------------------
    johnson-----toure-----agger-----cissokho
    ------------gerrard-----lucas-----------------
    ---------------- coutinho----------------------
    sturridge----------aspas-------------suarez

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