Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has made some big changes for today's FA Cup third round clash with Oldham Athletic, and although some heavy-hitters are missing from the starting line-up, the team is still very strong.
FULL TEAM: Jones, Kelly, Cissokho, Toure, Agger, Gerrard, Henderson, Alberto, Sterling, Moses, Aspas
SUBS: Mignolet, Brannagan, Skrtel, Coutinho, Suarez, Lucas, Ilori
* It's good to see Luis Suarez getting a rest.
He probably wanted to play, but after the rough treatment he's received over the last few games (with zero help from referees), a break is just what's needed.
* Good to see Alberto and Aspas in the starting line-up. This is a great chance for both players to show what they're made of, and for Aspas, it may be last-chance saloon for him to step-up and prove that is a good signing for LFC.
* Nice to see Tiago Ilori on the bench. With any luck, we'll get to see the Portuguese defender make his debut.
* It's a little strange that Jordan Rossiter and Brad Smith don't make the bench. The likes of Lucas and Coutinho don't even need to be in the squad for this one (IMO), and it would've been nice to see Rossiter play some part.
* Interesting to see 17-year old Cameron Brannagan on the bench, though. Here's how the LFC website describes him:
"Likes to take up a position just behind the frontman. A flexible talent, Brannagan can also operate on either wing. A creative and inventive midfielder, Brannagan has the ability to fashion opportunities for his teammates as well take them himself".
Since the game is at Anfield, it should be comfortable win for the Reds, and there's clearly a great opportunity for several of the club's players to get confidence-boosting goals and assists. Having said that, it's an FA Cup tie, and as history proves, anything can happen (!)
Predicting a 3-0 win for Liverpool, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:
"Oldham famously knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup last season but a lot has changed since then. They are still at the bottom end of League One, and the big striker who scored two of their goals, has gone too".
My prediction: 6-1
Author: Jaimie K
FULL TEAM: Jones, Kelly, Cissokho, Toure, Agger, Gerrard, Henderson, Alberto, Sterling, Moses, Aspas
SUBS: Mignolet, Brannagan, Skrtel, Coutinho, Suarez, Lucas, Ilori
* It's good to see Luis Suarez getting a rest.
He probably wanted to play, but after the rough treatment he's received over the last few games (with zero help from referees), a break is just what's needed.
* Good to see Alberto and Aspas in the starting line-up. This is a great chance for both players to show what they're made of, and for Aspas, it may be last-chance saloon for him to step-up and prove that is a good signing for LFC.
* Nice to see Tiago Ilori on the bench. With any luck, we'll get to see the Portuguese defender make his debut.
* It's a little strange that Jordan Rossiter and Brad Smith don't make the bench. The likes of Lucas and Coutinho don't even need to be in the squad for this one (IMO), and it would've been nice to see Rossiter play some part.
* Interesting to see 17-year old Cameron Brannagan on the bench, though. Here's how the LFC website describes him:
"Likes to take up a position just behind the frontman. A flexible talent, Brannagan can also operate on either wing. A creative and inventive midfielder, Brannagan has the ability to fashion opportunities for his teammates as well take them himself".
Since the game is at Anfield, it should be comfortable win for the Reds, and there's clearly a great opportunity for several of the club's players to get confidence-boosting goals and assists. Having said that, it's an FA Cup tie, and as history proves, anything can happen (!)
Predicting a 3-0 win for Liverpool, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:
"Oldham famously knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup last season but a lot has changed since then. They are still at the bottom end of League One, and the big striker who scored two of their goals, has gone too".
My prediction: 6-1
Author: Jaimie K
Still think Toure and Agger should be our regular CB pair now that Sakho is injured. Lets see how they do today.
ReplyDeleteHappy for Kelly and Alberto to get a run. Hopefully Jones does not let us down.
whos brannagan? still no texeira, bet he will leave soon
ReplyDeleteHe another mid talent same as tex in a way i think he is still 17 and just signed his pro contract few months back. bs that the match aint the tele.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to watch this game. Want to see Alberto and Aspas play. Hendo doesn't get a break, does he?
ReplyDeleteHappy for Kelly and Alberto. Maybe Ilori will get some minutes in the second half depending on how the match goes.
ReplyDeleteStill believe Toure and Agger should be our regular CB pair. Lets see how the do today. Hopefully Jones is not rusty and good time for Moses and Aspas to try and gets some goals for us.
Come on you Reds!
What has Texeira done to deserve a place in the starting eleven?
ReplyDeletegood to see a more experienced defensive set up but a slightly more experimental attacking line up. Expecting a win for LFC maybe 4-1
ReplyDeleteDerby Chelsea just starting. I'm gonna watch until the LFC game starts to see how Will Hughes goes against Chelsea. Exciting lineup for the reds tonight hopefully we will see a good game from the new guys.
ReplyDeleteHope Big sam won't get sacked today's thrashing.After all he is the one who cleaned up all our mess.
ReplyDeleteGood to see a more experience defensive set up with a slightly more experimental attacking set up. If this defence does well i wouldn't be surprised to see them stick with it for the stoke game. A comfortable 4-1 Liverpool Victory here
ReplyDeletedoes anyone know were to watch this game online ? Seems that it is not being shown live anywhere..(bar Anfield)
ReplyDeleteThat Brad Smith substitution becomes even more bizarre now that he is not in the squad. The lad needed some game time today to get his confidence back.
ReplyDeletepremier-league-live.net
ReplyDeleteThanks very much mate
ReplyDeletegoogle this too, premier league live net
ReplyDeletetry a website called wiziwig they have a list of all the games, click on the game you want to watch (in this case liverpool vs oldham). you will have to change the software filter at the top to 'flash' (this is the same software youtube uses so your computer should be fine with it) then click on one of the remaining links. Some are foreign some are english it's just pot luck. I could send you a link at 3 if you want? hope this helps
ReplyDeleteYes nutjobeu or nut job tv are normally good and normally english commentary too.
ReplyDeletegood easy draw for the next round too.
ReplyDeleteNot finding any video feeds anywhere, audio only. bet365 might have a live feed if you have money in you account
ReplyDeleteI use zigi but all sites today are allowing audio only and this includes premier league net live....if anyone can get video stream then please let me know.
ReplyDeleteI meant wiziwig...use it all the time.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody actually have video? I keep getting audio only on the suggested sites below.
ReplyDeleteye i can't find any video today which is very rare
ReplyDeleteWhere do you watch it? it's no where on tv.
ReplyDeleteno video to be had unfortunately
ReplyDeleteThanks, I guess I'll just listen then.
ReplyDeleteNo video coverage for an LFC match at Anfiled. Epic farce
ReplyDeleteyeah, at least we can see the highlights on itv fa cup show tonight
ReplyDeletemaybe the liverpool site will have whole the match later on
ReplyDeletethink they cant show it for 24 hrs..so will show it monday
ReplyDeleteAll down to the FA...
ReplyDeleteDoes not sound like there are any highlights to watch. Aspas needs to grow pair and score.
ReplyDeletewhere and when can i find this show on the internet. Or what channel is it on?
ReplyDeleteSo coutinho on instead of Alberto - too bad he didn't get a full game - from what I've heard he was providing the creativity. He sounded pretty good today.
ReplyDeleteSounds to me that it has been Moses that was the culprit.
ReplyDeleteAlberto yanked off at half time for Lucas? Disgraceful decision, especially against lower-league opposition. I'll have plenty to say about that later, mark my words!
ReplyDeleteAspas!
ReplyDeleteFinally!!
ReplyDeleteKeep it down Coutinho!! I Can't believe he missed that one!
ReplyDeletewhere are you watching it? what site?
ReplyDeleteListening like everyone else - trying to be funny repeating what the commentators are saying.
ReplyDeleteI watched the Derby game for obvious reasons. Wisdon had a solid game the season with Derby is good for his development. Will Hughes looked a bit lightweight but what encouraged me is the belief his team mates have in him. Everything almost was fed through him. It seems he maybe a player for the future because the guys that play with him surely know him better than anyone. The other players really deferred to him and were looking for him to dictate play. Gerrard of the past kind of reverence and he's only 19.
ReplyDeleteWow, West Ham get air time and we don't lol poor
ReplyDeleteLuis must be looking at all this and thinking....How the heck can we look at a Top 4 finish when the players that are sup[posed to help me at least a little bit...... cannot handle a bottom tier club that is at the bottom of that tier to begin with?
ReplyDeleteOn the ball Jk Alberto should have been able to prove a point over the whole game. Lucas certainly is not gonna be a game changer substitution.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Aspas and Alberto need to have a full game here. BR seems to lose patience with some players very quickly.
ReplyDeletefirst row sports . eu its on around 10.30 pm
ReplyDeleteSwansea 1 Manure 0 go you Swans dump manure out of the cup hahahaha
ReplyDeleteBR defending 1-0 lead what a coward!
ReplyDeleteoooooops now 1-1
ReplyDeleteEmpire of the kop is showing goal video
ReplyDeletewho scored the 2nd goal???
ReplyDeletesterling
ReplyDeleteOwn goal - deflection off Sterling's shot
ReplyDeleteJob done. Well done. Don't agree with the substitution of Alberto but a result and the draw for the next round gives us a team we can experiment on as well. YNWA. PS Thanks BR is the manager not me.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain and agree entirely. He should have taken him off much sooner.
ReplyDeleteWe won the game in the second half. Maybe Alberto had a knock. We just don't know.
ReplyDeleteNobody but the Anfield crowd saw the match and from the commentary it did not sound like Alberto had such a great first half.
ReplyDeleteitv.com is showing highlights of the match now. It's only available to certain regions... I think only the UK.
ReplyDeleteYet you still make a judgement that it 'did not sound like Alberto had such a good half'.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you persistently point out the pointless obvious? We know that the game wasn't televised; you don't need to point it out just to further your 'Rodgers can do no wrong' agenda.
For me, I don't care if Alberto wasn't having the best game; he should've stayed on for the whole match. At least give the guy a frickin' chance to play himself into form. Don't destroy his confidence even further, and basically embarrass him by pulling him off at half-time. As I said, disgraceful decision.
itv dot com is showing highlights of the match now. It's only available to certain regions... I think UK only.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why I mentioned the match not being televised is exactly that. We do not know how poor Alberto was. He was taken off and it sounded like we started playing better. That is all I am saying.
ReplyDeleteToo dramatic.
ReplyDeleteIf a player can't handled being subbed when, by all the accounts I've heard so far (I also listened to most of the first half on radio), he was underperforming against poor opposition, then he hasn't the mentality to play for Liverpool.
You've criticised Logan for going with the opinion of the commentary, but by the same token you don't know why Rodgers has taken Alberto off. He could have picked up a knock.
I feel like Rodgers has under used Alberto, but to call the substitution of a player having a lukewarm performance a "disgrace" is way over the top. Winning the match is more important. He may very well get a game in the next round, but had we kept him on and things had gone sour, that would have been his last chance to play for a while.
You've got to wonder what Rodgers has seen in training to consistently give others a chance ahead of him.
AHH.... the voice of reason. If we lost can only imagine the article on how a two bit barca reject get games time at LFC. If he stayed on, and he gets out classed by a DIV 1 player, wouldn't this be more likely to put his confidence down the pan. End of the day its the victory that matters, first and foremost. If we win and play 'ish', scrutinise and nit pick then, this is when keyboard warriors really come into their own. As it is now Alberto lives to fight another day...maybe next round
ReplyDeleteHow do you establish that Alberto had an 'underwhelming' game. I listened to the commentary too, and not once did anyone say anything resembling 'Alberto is having a poor game'. He missed a couple of chances; big deal. Everyone misses chances, including Luis Suarez.
ReplyDeleteAlberto has barely played all season, and even when he plays well (i.e. his recent assists), he's dumped back on the bench.
Oldham are 2 divisions below LFC. In what universe is it good man-management to sub-off a player at *half-time* against massively inferior opposition? Alberto was no doubt massively excited to start the game, and being yanked off at HT is embarrassing, and he will be feeling that right now. If it was against Prem opposition, it may be more understandable, but League one opponents?!
Why didn't Aspas go off at HT? or Moses? Neither had a particularly great first half by all accounts, and both have had much more playing time than Alberto.
At HT, it was still 0-0 and all to play for; why should Alberto pay the price for the whole team's failure to score?
And again with the training thing? There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Alberto is not a good trainer.
As I said: disgraceful decision.
Nonsense. Do not misrepresent my views on LFC. If LFC had lost, I wouldn't have said a thing about Alberto; I haven't in the past, and I wouldn't today, so please don't presume to second guess me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou can watch ITV highlights from anywhere in the world if you use a proxy, just did it.
ReplyDeleteNo, you mentioned it because it's your backhanded way of trying to exempt Rodgers from criticism for taking off Alberto. You underlying argument is 'how can we criticise the sub if we didn't watch the game'.
ReplyDeleteYou say it 'sounded like we started playing better'. Are you kidding? Of course you'll say that because it supports your argument! How exactly do you establish that? That presupposes that LFC didn't play well in the first half because of Alberto, which again, is unbacked supposition. It's a team game; not just one player. No one scored in the first half, so why does Alberto get the (indirect) blame?
moses came off at half time for coutinho... double subs.
ReplyDeleteSorry for trying to second guess you, but some of your Suarez views make me feel clairvoyant. Thought I'd have a stab in the dark...
ReplyDeleteYou can watch ITV highlights using a proxy, I've tested it and this one works.
ReplyDeleteHTTP-proxy: 46.32.225.140 port: 8080
SOCKS-host: 46.32.225.140 port 1080
ITV-link: http://www.itv.com/sport/footb...
Postal code: SE1 0LH
P.S. use Elite Proxy Switcher add-on for Firefox
Now, if you'd predicted I'd blame it on Suarez, you may have been right ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am only going by what I heard on the commentary and the way the commentators were talking, Alberto was having a very tough time out there. I am not blaming Alberto for anything. Rodgers made a double sub at in the second half and changed the game as we managed to score.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what the issue is with what i was saying?
we are 'two peas in a pod'...
ReplyDeleteI don't have an issue, I'm just giving my view on what you said, which is what the comment section is for.
ReplyDeleteChill out! Alberto seemed to have had a knock hence the substitution! Do you think Rodgers would use two of three subs up at half time unless he had to? Alberto was doing ok.
ReplyDeleteMoses WAS also subbed in answer to your question above. He was poor so bringing Coutinho on was necessary unfortunately!
I didn't say he was a poor trainer, but it is something that Rodgers seems to value very highly and has given chances to unexpected people in the past due to their exploits in training. It just made me wonder why he seems to be perpetually left behind others and you never really hear Rodgers saying stuff about him. I don't have any answer to this end but I think the decisions Rodgers has made thus far this season provide fair foundation for speculation. I'm not saying he's a bad trainer, the most likely explanation is that Rodgers just doesn't think he'd be ready to cope with the hurly burly of the Prem but it bears thinking about.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of speculation, it is just as much conjecture on your part that Alberto will be embarrassed and devastated. You can't know how he feels. Similarly, I can't know why he hasn't played more or if he could have made an impact in the second half. Experience alone doesn't benefit players. I don't think Coates ever really recovered (in the eyes of fans and the manager at least) from his underperformance at Oldham last season and who is to say that Rodgers wasn't trying to protect Alberto from that kind of ignominy?
When you haven't played much football, you need games to get sharp, but equally you don't want to just be let loose if you're not sharp as that could do more harm than good. Alberto got 45 minutes today and will likely get more minutes in the next round. Had he not been substituted the latter very well may have still been the case, but we know for certain that he has a chance for more minutes now.
I don't necessarily agree that he had to be subbed, but it worked and I think the decision is understandable from Rodgers perspective. I could see the decision called disappointing or even negative but disgraceful? Not even close.
Alberto did not have a knock. Rodgers did not mention this in his post match press conference.
ReplyDeleteWow! A lot of heat below about Alberto coming off. There are good points to be made, but I give BR credit for making a tough decision when it had to be made. This was a must win game period...dot. These are the only games where the Aspas' and Alberto's of the world are going to get serious game time and we absolutely had to progress. BR could see this game slipping away with one lucky set piece on our own end. He had to give us a better chance to win despite Alberto and Moses' ruffled feathers. I still think Alberto will be a good player, but I think BR made the right decision to get the game back on track.
ReplyDeleteSaw the Aspas goal on you tube. Great composure for the kid. I don't know how he played the whole game but that shot was well taken.
ReplyDeleteI guess he grew a pair!!!
ReplyDelete