Liverpool face Cardiff City in yet another away game today, and given the club's fantastic form this year, it should be another vital three points on the board. Nothing is guaranteed, though, and although it seems unlikely, things could come crashing down very quickly if the Reds show any kind of complacency, but hopefully, Brendan Rodgers will ensure the players are focused enough so that doesn't happen.
Everyone is on a high at the moment, but historically, this is exactly the type of game in which Liverpool slip-up, so absolute professionalism is required.
If results go Liverpool's way, the club could end the day five points ahead of Manchester City, and only one point behind Chelsea, but that chances of City losing at home to Fulham are, admittedly, slim.
Arsenal Chelsea is another matter. The Blues' home record is formidable, but the Gunners could do Liverpool a massive favour by getting a draw.
As for team news: Sakho and Lucas are back in the squad, but like last week, they'll probably be on the bench. After all, why change a winning team and disrupt the obvious momentum that's building up?
With two clean sheets in a row, Agger/Skrtel seems like the way to go, but you never know with Rodgers. He might perceive Cardiff to be a lesser threat, and decide to 'rest' Agger for the game. Doubtful, but not beyond the realm of possibility. I expect to see the following team:
-------------- Mignolet
Johnson -- Skrtel -- Agger -- Flanagan
-------------- Gerrard
------- Hendo -------- Allen
------------- Sterling
------ Suarez
------------- Sturridge
Pre-match analysis:
Jan Molby
"The defence is also looking a lot sharper. Like one that befits a team challenging for the title. There is a vast improvement at the back. The whole club has grown; everybody is enjoying their football and the product on the park is just getting better and better"
Jamie Redknapp
"Cardiff would be delighted with a draw, but I can't see that happening. Liverpool have too much pace and class in their side. I'm going for a 3-1 Liverpool win"
Mark Lawrenson
"Liverpool at the moment are by far and away the best team in the league. The football they've been playing is breathtaking - the pace at which they break and attack. If they go and attack Cardiff, I expect them to win convincingly"
Paul Merson
"Cardiff can beat Liverpool on their day. Cardiff played well at Everton last week and were unlucky to concede that last-minute goal. Sure, they're going to be petrified at the back but they shouldn't be short of confidence"
Cardiff can't win today...can they?
Author: Jaimie K
Everyone is on a high at the moment, but historically, this is exactly the type of game in which Liverpool slip-up, so absolute professionalism is required.
If results go Liverpool's way, the club could end the day five points ahead of Manchester City, and only one point behind Chelsea, but that chances of City losing at home to Fulham are, admittedly, slim.
Arsenal Chelsea is another matter. The Blues' home record is formidable, but the Gunners could do Liverpool a massive favour by getting a draw.
As for team news: Sakho and Lucas are back in the squad, but like last week, they'll probably be on the bench. After all, why change a winning team and disrupt the obvious momentum that's building up?
With two clean sheets in a row, Agger/Skrtel seems like the way to go, but you never know with Rodgers. He might perceive Cardiff to be a lesser threat, and decide to 'rest' Agger for the game. Doubtful, but not beyond the realm of possibility. I expect to see the following team:
-------------- Mignolet
Johnson -- Skrtel -- Agger -- Flanagan
-------------- Gerrard
------- Hendo -------- Allen
------------- Sterling
------ Suarez
------------- Sturridge
Pre-match analysis:
Jan Molby
"The defence is also looking a lot sharper. Like one that befits a team challenging for the title. There is a vast improvement at the back. The whole club has grown; everybody is enjoying their football and the product on the park is just getting better and better"
Jamie Redknapp
"Cardiff would be delighted with a draw, but I can't see that happening. Liverpool have too much pace and class in their side. I'm going for a 3-1 Liverpool win"
Mark Lawrenson
"Liverpool at the moment are by far and away the best team in the league. The football they've been playing is breathtaking - the pace at which they break and attack. If they go and attack Cardiff, I expect them to win convincingly"
Paul Merson
"Cardiff can beat Liverpool on their day. Cardiff played well at Everton last week and were unlucky to concede that last-minute goal. Sure, they're going to be petrified at the back but they shouldn't be short of confidence"
Cardiff can't win today...can they?
Author: Jaimie K
Um, it's not being played at Anfield
ReplyDeleteIsn't it Cardiff away? Slap my hand if I'm wrong I'm pretty sure we are not at home today.
ReplyDeleteShould be the same line up as against Man U, I know Sakho wants games but either way I think he's going to get a spot in the summer whether he plays or not, and I still think he will be the CB for the future.
They are definitely a capable squad, so I'm hoping like you said Liverpool stay professional in this game, we've had the mentality in the past to let games like this pass us by. 3 points no excuses.
We need to go there today with the right mentality, if we go just expecting to win we could come unstuck. Cardiff are scrapping for their premier league lives and this will be a tough game without a doubt.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in two posts already, we are playing away to Cardiff.
ReplyDeleteRodgers will probably stick with the same team a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation in all our remaining away matches. The only change Rodgers might make is Coutinho for Sterling.
The two clean sheets vs Southampton and the mancs is largely due to how our midfield is lining up. The diamond formation stops teams from playing through the middle so that immediately gives our CB's less to contend with.
Agger and Skrtel played vs Swansea and we conceded three goals and were ripped apart by the Swansea attack. With the diamond formation plus Allen and Hendo working their socks off has taken all the pressure off our defence.
If it's already been mentioned twice, why do you feel the need to be a pedant and mention it again?
ReplyDeleteAs Austin Powers would say, for shits and giggles.
ReplyDeleteCardiff have the second worst defence in the EPL. 52 Goals conceded. Suarez and Sturridge will be licking their lips!
ReplyDeleteThe question was rhetorical.
ReplyDeleteDraws with Man Utd and Everton at home before Christmas suggest Cardiff might not be a total pushover. I don't think they are the worst side in the league by any stretch, they have some good players and really should have done better this season. Obviously a troubled club. A squad like that can pull a performance out of the air sometimes, and if we are unlucky or anxious in front of goal it could turn into a tricky afternoon.
ReplyDeleteThat said, it's a nice time for this fixture to come, I think, and I'm sure the players will be focused, wanting to get over the line to complete this series of away games with another win. I'm much more concerned about Wednesday! That's a classic slip-up match: at home against strugglers with a newish, and talented, boss, motivated and skilled players...
But yeah, let's go crazy and say 5-2 today.
With Joe Allen playing ahead of lucas I'm fairly happy with that.....had a great performance last week. He's quicker, more mobile and of late we are giving away less free kicks on the edge of our 25yrd box. I know this is a wee bit negative, but as soon as lucas came on, he again gave away silly freekick on the edge of our box. Ok some may say he's coming back from injury but to be frank he does that quite often in dangerous areas. Sterling should start again and maybe later on sahko could come on freshen things up.
ReplyDeleteInteresting stat for everyone.
ReplyDeleteUnder Rodgers Gerrard has scored 19 goals and has 18 assists in 50 matches.
Previous 3 years Gerrard scored 18 goals and had 14 assists 64 games.
Rodgers will get the best out of Gerrard in his new role!
Agreed.....Brendan is fast developing a reputation of bring the best out of people and the footballing world is starting to acknowledge this.
ReplyDeleteLong may this continue.
Never say never, it's football, but I do expect a comfortable enough win today. I think Coutihno will start ahead of Allen and the formation to revert back as I think Sturridge/Sterling and Suarez will have a lot of joy going in behind. I'm going for 4-0 win.
ReplyDeleteAll of his goals this season have come from set pieces - all those penalties, one free kick and one headed goal from a corner. I think it would only be fair to mention that.
ReplyDeleteCardiff will win! If they dont, their sponsor will prepare MH 370 next trip for them.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it matter? Goals are goals. Is taking a penalty easy? Fact is that Gerrard will score goals, create and assist from the deeper role which not many teams are blessed with.
ReplyDeleteSeems like whatever Rodgers touches nowadays turns into gold :-)
It's not as if Gerrard was able to slot home all those penalties this season because of a tactical and positional switch. So in the context of your point about his new role, it does matter.
ReplyDeleteGerrard scored more goals last season from open play. None of his goals this season have been due to his new, specific and defined role because they have all been set pieces.
Whether a penalty is easy to take or not is also totally irrelevant.
If chelsea loses points today and we win today and on wednesday as well, we will be top! I guess thats enough motivation!
ReplyDeleteGerrard played alongside Lucas as a holding midfielder last season?
ReplyDeleteHe also scored 4 or 5 penalties last season I think.
You seem to have an issue with Gerrard playing the deeper role BUT results show that he is doing a fantastic job. Unfortunately you will have to get used to Gerrard in his new role and when a penalty is awarded to us then you need a consistent penalty taker. Gerrard will convert penalties 99% of the time whereas other players who cannot even score from open play will bottle it which makes my comment pretty relevant IMO.
Not funny at all!
ReplyDeleteToo soon.
ReplyDeleteChelsea 2 up after 7 mins
ReplyDeletegee
ReplyDelete3-0. Giving Arsenal a proper hiding!
ReplyDeleteThey stole our style, wanted to score four in 19mins like we did. Btw that red card is a disgrace, completely wrong person sent off.
ReplyDeletewrng player sent off also..would have loved a draw oh well
ReplyDeleteThat is football for you...
ReplyDeleteArsenal are such a flipped team. You just never know when they're going to absolutely capitulate and give out 3 points like santa clause. I don't think this team ever has any game plan.
ReplyDeleteArsenal play some outstanding football but when the going gets tough then they crumble. The biggest problem for them is they have no leader.
ReplyDeleteNo game plan, no leader. Stewart Robson was absolutely right. It's all off-the-cuff that usually pays off because they have the tools to do so. When they face up against a team that imposes themselves, like Stoke do, or like how we did and now how Chelsea are doing, they just die. When it's not working, they then start looking at each with blank faces, and then they start arguing, because they simply don't know what to do. They have no plan B.
ReplyDeleteAndre Marriner should be demoted. Is he blind?
ReplyDeleteHis reasoning is mistaken identity. So what is the linesman excuse then Marriner?
ReplyDeleteSo much for Allen being a bit part player :-)
ReplyDeleteConfirmed #LFC team v @CardiffCityFC: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge
Confirmed #LFC subs v @CardiffCityFC: Jones, Sakho, Cissokho, Lucas, Moses, Sterling, Aspas
interesting leaving sterling out
ReplyDeleteIt probably is tactical. If it does not work out then he can sub Couthino for Sterling just like he did vs Southampton.
ReplyDeletetrue but id rather us go all out and I believe sterling will be too much for Cardiff today..would be nice to have the game by half time
ReplyDeleteI really do not mind Coutinho in the team. He is our little magician. Cardiff are leaking way too many goals. This game will be all about Suarez and Sturridge.
ReplyDeleteyep better having couts feeding them I guess lets hope we dominate tday cause chelski r winng 6-0
ReplyDeleteChelsea's goal difference, which looked so good from an LFC point of view this morning, is now just a couple away from ours. Bloody Arsenal.
ReplyDeleteSalah scores for Chelsea. One of the very few chances he will get playing against a 10 man team with a high defensive line...
ReplyDeleteLet it go...:-)
ReplyDeleteThe truth hurts :-)
ReplyDeleteArsenal losing improves our chances of finishing above them so not the end of the world that Chelsea beat them. Let's see what happens when Chelsea visit Anfield.
ReplyDeleteSad thing for me despite everything is that Torres just cannot score
ReplyDelete50 million my arse.
ReplyDeleteYour incessant and blatantly transparent pro-Rodgers schtick is insufferable.
ReplyDeleteWhy was my post deleted?
ReplyDeleteWhy was my comment removed?
ReplyDeleteWe are having our best EPL season ever. Do not see the problem.
ReplyDelete