1 Sept 2013

Predicted LFC Line-Up vs. Man Utd: Great news as Reds receive surprise boost

With three straight wins this season, and the signings Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori in the bag, Liverpool go into this afternoon's game with Manchester United full of confidence and possibility, and hopefully, David Moyes' team will feel the full force of the club's renewed hope and optimism.

On the injury front, Joe Allen and Aly Cissokho are definitely out, and despite Brendan Rodgers confirming on Friday that Kolo Toure's injury is 'not as bad as first thought', it seems likely that he will also miss out.

The great news when it comes to injuries, however' is that Wayne Rooney is also set to miss the game. According to The Mirror today:

"Rooney suffered a sickening gash to his forehead after an ­accidental collision with team-mate Phil Jones during the champions' final preparations for today’s clash with Liverpool.

"The striker is now out of United’s Anfield ­showdown and looks ­certain to miss England’s ­crucial World Cup games against Moldova and Ukraine".


Any LFC fans who'd like to send Phil Jones a message of gratitude for this great public service can do so via his Twitter account: @Ph1lj0nes. Thanks Phil!

Rodgers also confirmed this week that Martin Skrtel 'will be okay' for today's game, so he'll probably come back into the team and partner Daniel Agger. Cissokho and Allen probably wouldn't have started anyway, so Skrtel is likely to be the only change to the team. We'll probably see:

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

Johnson ------ Skrtel --- Agger -------- Enrique

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

---------- Henderson ---- Gerrard

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

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

Skrtel aside, this is the same team that took six points in the first two Premier League games without conceding a goal, so why make any further changes?

Predicting a 1-1 draw, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:

"It will be 120mph, not much football will be played and both teams could cancel each other out. They [Liverpool] have options in attack and will be tough opponents for anyone this year".

I disagree with Lawro here. Liverpool are (IMO) superior in attack to Man United right now, and if Sturridge and Coutinho are on song today, then the Reds will win the game.

The atmosphere at Anfield is sure to be electric, and with only one defeat in the last sixteen competitive games (10 games unbeaten in the league) I just have a feeling that Liverpool will smash United today.



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


79 comments:

  1. Not very confident with Skrtel in our back four especially if he has hardly played football since january this year.


    Hopefully Toure is fit or otherwise go for Wisdom.


    RVP is going to skip his breakfast and will rather have a large lunch with Skrtel being on the menu.

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  2. bring on the mancs ,we can win we will have to play well as a team ,but its not impossible far from it ,2/1 hendo man of the match,cannot wait 1st man u match took my lads to ,they are rocking better than christmas

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  3. Me too, my nephew had a baby a few hours ago so he cannot (wont be allowed) go, and i'm next on that ticket, i'm coming in every way possible, WOOOOOOOOOW

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  4. Feeling very optimistic about this one. My only concern is maintaining our level for the full 90 minutes. If we go to sleep in the second half like we have in the previous 3 games I think we will be in trouble. Coutinho and Sturridge will rip Rio and Ferdinand apart though!

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  5. Feeling very optimistic about this one. My only concern is maintaining our level for the full 90 minutes. If we go to sleep in the second half like we have in the previous 3 games I think we will be in trouble. Coutinho and Sturridge will rip Rio and Vidic apart though!

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  6. Especially if the Mancs are only playing with one center back!

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  7. We just have to keep 11 men on the pitch, keep our heads and play well. If we carry on creating our chances, we have a great chance but we must not switch off at the back. This is a tough game for both teams but if we win we will be top of the table?, during the International break, that could give the players confidence to stay there????.................. :-)

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  8. Could be Skrtel's last game for us?, he won't let us down!!!

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  9. Enjoy Jas!!!!!......................the roof will come off today!!!

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  10. The manc defence hasn't get the legs to deal with our pace and from Ibe and Sterling later on!!!

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  11. Wisdom is a liability!, he is not ready for just yet, the goals we have let in so far came through him, needs maybe a couple of more years maybe longer.

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  12. Skrtel is an even bigger liability! Wisdom my choice thank you very much.

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  13. As always, I have a bad feeling about today. I'll be happy with a draw. 7 points from 9 I would have taken from the start of the season, especially without any quality signings in the side.

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  14. I never feel optimistic going into these games.


    Its not because of Liverpool, I am a sure we will give it everything, its just that the Mancs always seem to get some lucky break.

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  15. We'll win this, COYR

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  16. Too right...remember last year's game at Anfield? We played them off the park and the ref handed them the game...

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  17. yep, and its happened a few other times as well. I am not saying that there is some massive conspiracy in regards to refs and Utd, its just that they do seem to get a lot luck when playing us :)

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  18. Wisdom needs to go back to the academy he is NOT ready for first team. His positional play is aweful!!! He cant really tackle aswell and his passing is sometimes wayward. Play Skirtel with Agger please. Kelly as a sub if need be. 2-2 draw is my prediction.

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  19. Have to agree with this. Wisdom is a good player with lots of potential but he is not ready for big games like this.


    As you and others have stated his positional play is pretty bad

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  20. Agreed, but since I started watching LFC-MU, there is a major change this year. That great ugly red nose 'll not be there. Nobody, no even an arrogant Mourinho can match the great man in English games.

    Sir Alex had his spells on his players, opposition & even on the officials. Al most in every match, it's his personality turned 1-2 crucial 50-50 decision in favor of MU. Moyes is a good manager, may be a great one for what he did with Everton, but he is no Ferguson, none can match that personality.

    I always feared the wounded Devils & the last 15min of the match; but this time if we get a lead, I put my money to go 2-0 up rather than being hunted to 1-1 or submission to 1-2.

    If Kolo is 100%, without Roo, I believe we can stop RVP scoring, & we are too good for aging MU defense to keep this match scoreless.

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  21. And I have no doubt that alot of that was due to Fergie's influence. If they get the same decisions going for them today I'll gladly wear my conspiracy hat!
    Here's to played 3 won 3 in the League!
    YNWA!!

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  22. I feel that Sterling can play this one better than Aspas right now, as for Aspas still don't have the confidence to achieve is full form just yet.

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  23. The atmosphere will b fantastic. The fans AND team will b buoyed by the great new signings (phew) & the great start we've made. Still feel nervous tho.......let battle commence!

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  24. Still, knowing that Aspas will be sharp for today i would have preferred him, so i don't know. . .

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  25. I'm fearful of RVP's positioning and Skrtel's lack of match fitness but surely you can't have Wisdom over Skrtel in Centre back. There is nothing in favour or Wisdom over Skrtel other than age.

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  26. Eh... Fu*k Manchester. If we play just play our football we'll beat the sh*t out of them!

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  27. I don't care about Ronney situation.All I want is Liverpool to win. I will be very disappointed even if we get a draw from this fixture. WIN WIN is only matter.....

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  28. Hahaha, hope so mate. COME ON REDS!!

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  29. Lucky sod! (It's Sly Sports for me.)

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  30. WISDOM is not ok..at all, he needs some more experience ill be happy if skrtel bailed himself today , celtic and the notts county goal , thanks to wisdom...he needs to be loaned out for experience ...i say we win this match.

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  31. Skrtel's lack of match fitness is not the only thing you should be fearful of.


    When Skrtel panics which is the reason why Carra took over from him in the second half of last season then we are in the ****. He might look mean with a bald head and tattoos but Skrtel and his lack of playing time since january vs RVP is not something I am looking forward to.

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  32. agree totally ..he is aggressive but intelligent strikers beat him..and when?...all the time.

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  33. Having Rooney would have made the game very much interesting...Beating them with their best player would be worth the watch....i have a feeling Aspas and courtino to score today....
    East or west ....Northerners are the Best...

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  34. Liverpool can definitely win this! With the form of Sturridge, Henderson and the general class of Coutinho we can win. I just hope Skrtel has a good game, with the new signings coming he will be out to impress. I also have a feeling that UTD are going to give Coutinho a kicking in this match to try and scare him out of it.

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  35. if kolo is out thats the best team we can go with...id love skirts to have a great game...as for Rooney im not arsed if he plays i hope moyes has his best team available because if we win or draw all i get from the mancs is we had half a team out ...IMO to be the best you have to play and beat the best plus Rooney is a liability in these games

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  36. i think wisdon should cut his cloth at rb for a few years

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  37. Fair enough but Wisdom got skinned by some League 1 players a few days ago so I'd rather Skrtel in this instance. Wisdom needs some time at right back or playing centre back for U21's to develop.

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  38. Wisdom? No thanks he was shocking vs notts, better skrtel even though he hasnt played for a while now, worried about the defence, also without suarez seems difficult to score for us, only sturridge up front will be hard to score, should keep quiet rvp, im also going for a draw, but hoping for a win..

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  39. It's great news that Rooney isn't playing but I'd rather we stopped short of celebrating a head injury to any player. I don't really care if it's United and even that it's one of their most disliked players, it's a bit classless to gloat about it. I don't extend my football passion to enjoying the physical suffering of an opposition player.

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  40. I'd like to see Sterling get some decent game time today - I think he could be a nightmare for the Utd back 4.



    2-1 Liverpool and top of the league tonight :-)

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  41. Skrtel got skinned alive last season Oldham so not sure what you are on about.

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  42. still skrtel has more experience and eventho he lacks playing time i would use him over wisdom to partner with agger, skrtel will do everything to jump at the chance and i expect him to have a good game today

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  43. i think you owe that baby a lot :)

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  44. if we use him we should use him as a rb - if we loan him out he should have a go at CB same for u21

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  45. I agree. But it seems Wisdom is the next Franz Beckenbauer or something and having only played a few games he's already better than Skrtel.......

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  46. For every good thing Skrtel does, there's a f*** up.

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  47. Let him do something good then sub him off :)

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  48. stop moaning about skrtel, hes still a good CB and he will prove that today, he hasn´t got a real chance recently, he´ll have a good game

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  49. off topic, but does anyone know if us signing Honda is still on the agenda?

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  50. honda would tick all the boxes, but i doubt he ever was...

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  51. Totally agree. Loving the optimism in the air at the moment; let's hope we can maintain it, even if we don't win today.

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  52. if he does we will win.


    it's a shame we didn't get Sakho signed in time, but hopefully Skrtel can rise to the occasion - big ask though when you've benched for so long...

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  53. I'm hoping we can get him. but yeah, it looks unlikely, i was wondering if he can sign a pre-contract agreement if his current one ends in december?

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  54. wouldn´t mind spending 2-5 million to get him now :)

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  55. Hey guys, a regular reader of this website and comments. Just an off-topic question. what do you guys think of Ilori (if he gets signed) about being used as a CDM ? he seems to be fairly quick, and might have good positioning skills given he is a CB. I've read many post here suggesting Agger to be a CDM, but IMO i think Ilori would be better suite to it too.

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  56. Agreed - as Jaimie said the other day "no brainer"

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  57. come on lfc, do us and yourselfs proud

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  58. i think you need a specialist in this role. I know Mascherano isn't loved by all LFC fans, but he was as good as any CDM I've seen, - he was disciplined, quick, great tackler and a had a real instinct for spotting early signs of danger in oposition attacks and closing them out. he'd be the type of player i'd be looking for, rather than looking to convert a CB.

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  59. Is he clearly a better option in the midfield than Henderson?

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  60. I agree. It's too easy to remember a handful of individual errors but every defender makes mistakes. Skrtel has always been quality and lost his place because of his lack of organising, not any inability to defend. He's still tough enough and solid in a tackle, I think if he doesn't do something stupid he'll have a very solid game.

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  61. Exactly my point. The guy has hardly kicked a ball lately. I am praying that Toure is fit otherwise if Skrtel does play then here is hoping he does not cost us the game.


    He has his chance to prove me wrong :-)

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  62. he can play in every offensive position - even played striker for cska sometimes, i wouldn´t compare him to hendo - hes more the type of a flair player, and his free kicks are incredible

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  63. Nobody said that. My point is that the guy has hardly kicked a ball, not even in preseason. Why take a risk like that in a massive match like this?

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  64. He has to fit somewhere in the team. When Suarez is back it's Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge up front and Gerrard and Lucas sure for the midfield. That means Honda would have to be preferred over Aspas and/or Henderson. Hendo is on the up and playing better each week. So how much football would Honda really play?

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  65. I know I'm just joking...But you're a big critic of Skrtel. I like Wisdom but he was pretty bad against County and he did not earn himself a starting role today. If he had a fantastic game then I would argue that based off that and Skrtel's lack of match fitness he should start. Skrtel still has more experience and all around, at present, is a better defender.

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  66. we´ve got a thin squad so i think a little bit of depth wouldn´t hurt us - especially such a quality player, there can always happen something (suspension/injury/etc)

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  67. Exactly - our bench today isn't great (I know this will change with the new signings). I'd like another attacking player

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  68. All that remains up for debate is whether he moves now or in January - he's going to Milan

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  69. great result so far. I think we need to keep possession better, and defence looks a little dodgy sometimes...maybe i'm paying far too much attention to it

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  70. KEEP THE F**
    KING BALL!!

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  71. they've just looked more keen than us in this half!

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  72. How are they rocking now?!

    Top of the league!!!!!

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  73. Not the best performance today but we're top of the table on maximum points.DAVID MOYES could put out a MAN U team with the quality of Brazil 1970 or Holland 74 and he'd still come up short lol

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  74. hope you got there mate

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  75. it certainly did it was electric at the final whistle

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  76. i would have been happy with a draw ,but a win is fantastic

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  77. the whole ground was rocking ,my heads rocking this morning

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  78. Worth a sore head i reckon! My 7yr old lad started supporting city last year (to my shame, disappointment and bewilderment). i bullied him back round to us at the end of last season and yesterday cemented it - he's a read for life now! :-)

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  79. the sore head may have something to the large amount of alcohol i consumed yesterday,and as for kids its hard being a parent sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind:-)

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