(Scroll down for full team). The important games just keep on coming, and after results went Liverpool's way yesterday, the Reds have another great opportunity to further consolidate a commanding position in the top four. Will Brendan Rodgers' team be able to capitalise?
A win today against West Brom will see Liverpool open up a nine-point lead over Manchester United, and four/five points leads over Everton and Spurs respectively.
The Reds are still riding high on the euphoria of annihilating Everton, but that win will arguably mean nothing unless a victory is achieved today, and with Sturridge/ Suarez in such scintillating goalscoring form, the chances of another three points are extremely high.
On he injury front: Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Joe Allen is fit again, and will come back into the squad. Agger, Enrique, Sakho et al are still a few weeks away from returning to the fold.
Allen may be fit, but I can't see him coming straight back into the starting line-up. If it 'aint broke, dont't fix it, and Rodgers will probably pick the same team that started against Everton, and for me, that's a good idea (even though Gerrard as DM is still arguably a risk).
CONFIRMED TEAM: Mignolet, Flanagan, Cissokho, Toure, Skrtel, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge
SUBS: Jones, Kelly, Ibe, Allen, Alberto, Aspas, Moses
---------------- Mignolet
Flanagan ---- Toure --- Skrtel ---- Cissokho
----------- Gerrard -- Hendo
-------------- Coutinho
Sterling ---------------Sturridge
-------------- Suarez
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson cautiously predicts a 1-1 draw, but he's provided West Brom boss Pepe Mel with the following advice:
"The one thing Mel should not do is play with a high line. If he does that against Liverpool, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge will rip West Brom apart. I have seen Baggies centre-back Diego Lugano lots of times and you would be better playing me in a high line than him - he has no pace whatsoever".
Liverpool must win this game. West Brom are hovering just above the relegation zone, and if the Reds start with the same intensity displayed against Everton. it could be another hammering. Martin Skrtel agrees:
"We know it's not going to be an easy game but if we can continue with the way we played against Everton and show that form, we can get something."
Liverpool coach Mike Marsh also revealed that the Reds have done their homework on West Brom. He told LFC TV:
"Colin Pascoe went to watch West Brom's match against Aston Villa on Wednesday night and we had other people there watching. We've spoken about how they played and we'll get straight back into it. Psychologically, the 4-3 defeat could affect them, so with a little bit of luck, they will be on a downer and that will be a bonus for us."
My prediction: 4-1.
Author: Jaimie K
A win today against West Brom will see Liverpool open up a nine-point lead over Manchester United, and four/five points leads over Everton and Spurs respectively.
The Reds are still riding high on the euphoria of annihilating Everton, but that win will arguably mean nothing unless a victory is achieved today, and with Sturridge/ Suarez in such scintillating goalscoring form, the chances of another three points are extremely high.
On he injury front: Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Joe Allen is fit again, and will come back into the squad. Agger, Enrique, Sakho et al are still a few weeks away from returning to the fold.
Allen may be fit, but I can't see him coming straight back into the starting line-up. If it 'aint broke, dont't fix it, and Rodgers will probably pick the same team that started against Everton, and for me, that's a good idea (even though Gerrard as DM is still arguably a risk).
CONFIRMED TEAM: Mignolet, Flanagan, Cissokho, Toure, Skrtel, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge
SUBS: Jones, Kelly, Ibe, Allen, Alberto, Aspas, Moses
---------------- Mignolet
Flanagan ---- Toure --- Skrtel ---- Cissokho
----------- Gerrard -- Hendo
-------------- Coutinho
Sterling ---------------Sturridge
-------------- Suarez
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson cautiously predicts a 1-1 draw, but he's provided West Brom boss Pepe Mel with the following advice:
"The one thing Mel should not do is play with a high line. If he does that against Liverpool, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge will rip West Brom apart. I have seen Baggies centre-back Diego Lugano lots of times and you would be better playing me in a high line than him - he has no pace whatsoever".
Liverpool must win this game. West Brom are hovering just above the relegation zone, and if the Reds start with the same intensity displayed against Everton. it could be another hammering. Martin Skrtel agrees:
"We know it's not going to be an easy game but if we can continue with the way we played against Everton and show that form, we can get something."
Liverpool coach Mike Marsh also revealed that the Reds have done their homework on West Brom. He told LFC TV:
"Colin Pascoe went to watch West Brom's match against Aston Villa on Wednesday night and we had other people there watching. We've spoken about how they played and we'll get straight back into it. Psychologically, the 4-3 defeat could affect them, so with a little bit of luck, they will be on a downer and that will be a bonus for us."
My prediction: 4-1.
Author: Jaimie K
F*** Lawrenson is a pessimistic person...
ReplyDeleteSuarez show. Bloody auto correct
ReplyDeleteSure show today. Hatrick
ReplyDeleteGET IN!!!
ReplyDeleteMark Lawrenson, please can you STFU :-)
ReplyDeleteThey will beat us 4-1????
ReplyDeleteI think it may be tight, as I think they would be more than happy with a draw. I'll go for 2 - 0; coutiniho and Sturridge
ReplyDeleteFIRE UP LIVERPOOL. Time to go up a gear and kick away from the 3 below us! I still think Utd is our biggest threat. Hoping for a great 9 point gap.
ReplyDeleteI think everything boils down to whether we can score a goal early in the first half. Then it can be a rout as it opens them up. otherwise I fear they can frustrate us especially as they will be determined after letting go a two goal lead in the derby last week.
ReplyDeletejamie 4-1 to who westbrom or lfc?????????//
ReplyDeleteJaimie, your pre-game articles make me nervous.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok the stats show we'll win 9-7aet! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think his articles are meant for humans who have an ability to decipher whatever its written in a correct manner. For people like you, he still has lot to learn.
ReplyDeleteHahaha.
ReplyDeleteHis pre-game articles always have at least one substance of aggression relating to something negative.
Ever since Norwich, odds for Suarez to get hat trick have gone to Ronaldo or Messi type levels of 7-1 or 9-1. He's had a bit of a drought - only a goal a game, time to pick it back up!
ReplyDeleteMy prediction, LFC to win, 3 - 0,
ReplyDeletesame starting 11 as Everton game.
When he does use him, it will not be in a vital away game, and the team having just put in one the best performances in recent history.
ReplyDeleteWe also have to go to OT, so we need that gap.
ReplyDeletePressing is the name of the game.
ReplyDeleteHe is doing us plenty of favours where he is.
ReplyDeleteI would be absolutely devastated if we conceded a goal in this game. The way that we dealt with Lukaku (before his unfortunate collision with Barry) and Mirallas (in my opinion Everton's best player), was most heartening and West Brom just don't have players of that quality (as I understand it at the time of typing Anelka is out injured).
ReplyDeleteI would go with a more conservative 3-0, but if we play as we did in mid-week it could be a cricket score.
or more like australia's 12-1 score against england ;)
ReplyDeleteI would take a 1-0 victory but knowing Rodgers it will be all out attack.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness boring football is not in BR's vocabulary.
If we want to add more goals from midfield what about buying Charlie Adam back?? ................... Just kidding!
ReplyDeleteWhen will texeira get a start even on bench, hes been training for some months now with the first team, even rossiter smith and brannagan could make it, just texeira not, very harsh on that boy, feel for him, want to see him what his abilities are and what he could give for the team, but very unlikely br will ever use him.
ReplyDeletewe need to start fast and put them on the back foot....
ReplyDeleteNo more slip ups, every game is a must win now, fantastic chance to run away from rivals, just hope lfc wont disappoint us like they did it two weeks ago when we all were confident. I dont know if gerrard can do the job again there, could be risky but whos going off for allen? Would say coutinho but he played well last game so, I guess same team out. Sturridge must stop that selfishness, like carra said hes not beloved yet in the kop because of that, and the other problem if we re 2,3-0 up then everybody goes for own glory just like sturridge, that is very unprofessional, hope BR sorted this!
ReplyDeleteThink you may have to get used to Gerrard playing the deeper role. With two mobile midfielders ahead of him it can work.
ReplyDeleteYes, 100%.
ReplyDeleteI think he means 4-1 to LIverpool. Stop panicking, breathe, breathe, there, everything's alright ;-)
I see a worldy from Gerrard today.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. The "if you score 1 we'll score 2" approach is no good for the ol' heart, but it does make for some entertaining football.
ReplyDeleteWBA 0- 4 LIV
ReplyDelete