As expected, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has dropped Philippe Coutinho for this afternoon's Premier League clash with Manchester United.
After making way for Joe Allen against Southampton, Raheem Sterling is back in the starting XI, but the Reds' Brazilian maestro will have to make do with a place on the bench.
TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanagan, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge
SUBS: Jones, Sakho, Cissokho, Lucas, Coutinho, Moses, Aspas
MAN UTD: De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Vidic, Evra, Mata, Fellaini, Carrick, Januzaj, Rooney, van Persie
SUBS: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Cleverley, Kagawa, Valencia, Young, Welbeck
As I argued earlier today, replacing Coutinho with Allen is a mistake. When Man Utd see LFC's team-sheet, it will inevitably give the players a confidence boost to see one of the Reds' most dangerous players on the bench. Will Rooney et al fear Joe Allen? No chance.
If Juan Mata was on the bench today instead of starting, LFC players would take massive confidence from that, but you don't see Moyes playing Tom Cleverly ahead of the Spanish maestro.
Still, perhaps this decision will prove to be a master-stroke. Maybe Allen will have a major impact on the game, and help Liverpool win. I certainly hope so, but I can't see it happening.
Author: Jaimie K
After making way for Joe Allen against Southampton, Raheem Sterling is back in the starting XI, but the Reds' Brazilian maestro will have to make do with a place on the bench.
TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanagan, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge
SUBS: Jones, Sakho, Cissokho, Lucas, Coutinho, Moses, Aspas
MAN UTD: De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Vidic, Evra, Mata, Fellaini, Carrick, Januzaj, Rooney, van Persie
SUBS: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Cleverley, Kagawa, Valencia, Young, Welbeck
As I argued earlier today, replacing Coutinho with Allen is a mistake. When Man Utd see LFC's team-sheet, it will inevitably give the players a confidence boost to see one of the Reds' most dangerous players on the bench. Will Rooney et al fear Joe Allen? No chance.
If Juan Mata was on the bench today instead of starting, LFC players would take massive confidence from that, but you don't see Moyes playing Tom Cleverly ahead of the Spanish maestro.
Still, perhaps this decision will prove to be a master-stroke. Maybe Allen will have a major impact on the game, and help Liverpool win. I certainly hope so, but I can't see it happening.
Author: Jaimie K
BR knows what he's doing. I like Coutinho but this season he hasn't shown anything that suggests he's irreplaceable or deserves to start every single game. Come on you Redmen!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIts still a good team. I expect a terrific match!!
ReplyDeleteSimple .... No silly defensive mistakes giving ball away or defending set pieces and 3 points are ours ;-)
ReplyDeleteI dont like it either, but must admit coutinho hasnt been the best so far, but neither allen offers anything to the team.. Maybe br was afraid of going too offensively there, could be good or a fatal decision!
ReplyDeleteI believe Allen will provide the energy along with Henderson in the middle of the park and take as much pressure of Stevie but our front three will be devastating and nine out of ten times we will score with them.If nothing happens in the first 60 minutes Coutinho will come in and hopefully provide the creativity and spark to get us the three points.
ReplyDeleteHe's been dropped on merit, form has dipped of late.
ReplyDeleteI have faith in Brendan, he's earned that over the season.
SaSaS will do the job today. Allen for coutinho 55 min. 2-3. I promise. CMON LIVERPOOL!
ReplyDeleteAny team that BR fields and brings home three points suits me just fine ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is not Rooney vs Allen. More like Rooney vs Gerrard.
ReplyDeleteCMON REDMEN!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCoutinho is an awesome player, i think we will all agree with that. Rodgers with his selection today is just showing that he is not a one trick pony.
ReplyDeleteYNWA!
ReplyDeletestarted really well
ReplyDeletepressing well
ReplyDeletestarting to agree with JK here allen looking shaky
ReplyDeleteIn what sense?
ReplyDeleteis sterling playing the number 10 role?
ReplyDeleteYup.
ReplyDeleteNo signs of Gerrard being overrun.
ReplyDeletehe lost the ball with his first touch a couple of times
ReplyDeleteYes. Loose passes. No discernible impact on the game so far.
ReplyDeleteOh so no other players have lost the ball? Give me a freaking break!
ReplyDeleteyou asked me for my opinion why ryt? theres no need to come down on me ok
ReplyDeleteOther players have lost the ball too. Does that make them shaky too?
ReplyDeleteWhich other players have lost the ball? I've counted 3 separate times now that Allen has lost the ball. Who else?
ReplyDeleteI just feel we are better of with couts playing the 10 role and putting sterling out wide were he can do his damage
ReplyDeleteHas marshalled Mata out of the game. Blocked shots. Won the ball in the opposition half. Stopped Rafael a couple of times. Linked up well with Flanagan (who has been immense!). Two loose passes, yep. Other than that he's playing pretty well. Justified his selection. Amazingly intense game. Looking good for us but increasingly concerned that we've not scored.
ReplyDeleteAre we watching the same game?
ReplyDeleteThe mancs are there for the taking! Come on boys!
ReplyDeleteAre you telling me know other players have lost the ball? You are way to fixated on Allen i am afraid.
ReplyDeletepenalty!!
ReplyDeleteYes Yes Yes!!!
ReplyDeleteyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get in
ReplyDeleteGET IN .. we are much better team . BUT Flanno has got to be more careful ....... BR had a quiet word !
ReplyDeleteIt's daft, but I would have given almost anything in my life to be able to strike a football, or indeed a Fellaini, the way Gerrard does.
ReplyDeleteCaptain fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI said I wanted blood. I got it.
ReplyDeleteHaha, the irony...
ReplyDeleteOh you know it!
ReplyDeleteSuarez playing with a knock or something today? Looks sluggish.
ReplyDeletewow love that commitment from skrtel and migs
ReplyDeleteAllen is the only player to lose the ball today. Ha Ha!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke!
ReplyDeletewe r 45 mins into the match
ReplyDelete