2 Aug 2014

Confirmed LFC XI vs. Milan: Another uninspiring 2nd-string team; £20m star injured?

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has named another uninspiring line-up for tonight's pre-season clash with Italian giants AC Milan.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Kelly, Toure, Coates, Robinson, Lucas, Henderson, Allen, Lambert, Ibe, Sterling

SUBS: Jones, Johnson, Enrique, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sakho, Can, Suso, Coady, Skrtel, Peterson

MILAN: Abbiati; Abate, Bonera, Rami, De Sciglio; Essien, Muntari, Saponara; Niang, Pazzini, El Shaarawy

* Henderson, Ibe and Sterling aside, Rodgers has selected a pretty pedestrian team, which is basically filled with squad players.

* Lucas and Allen together again? I just don't see the point. If Rodgers is planning on using those two as first team regulars this season, then LFC really do have problems.

* I've made this point once, and I'll make it again: if Gerrard isn't starting, why not play Emre Can in his role to see how he gets on? He is, after all, supposed to be part of Liverpool's future.

* Markovic not in the match-day squad? Bravo for another £20m splurged on a player who's seemingly not even fit enough to take part in Liverpool's pre-season preparations. Rodgers confirmed earlier this week that Markovic has a 'niggle', so he's clearly injured, which doesn't bode well for his chances of making an early impression.

Maybe it's just me, but with the new season is literally two weeks away, it's slightly concerning that Rodgers doesn't seem interested in playing his preferred starting XI on a regular basis. How are the players supposed to gel/build up the required rhythm if they don't play together?

Still, Ibe and Sterling should be good to watch, and perhaps Lambert will finally get off the mark. It's also interesting to note that Kolo Toure is captain for the game; perhaps that's an indication that he's staying at Anfield next season?

Author:


98 comments:

  1. Perhaps because Liverpool have already qualified for Monday night's final ie a game in 48 hours time?

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  2. Please quit your moaning

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  3. Anybody know where Texiera has disappeared to ? He is on the tour is he not?

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  4. i think because Liverpool are already through, and Milan aren't going to qualify by winning this game, BR decided to put out a pedestrian team so less of his starting XI are injured when the season starts, because we've lost Lallana already, and we can't lose anymore especially when we have Southampton, Man City and Tottenham in our first 3 games.

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  5. Tonights game is dead rubber so Can, Sakho, Sturridge (if fit) etc will play on Monday. Ibe and Sterling both starting should be reason enough to be happy tonight

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  6. Yes we only have one days rest before the final on Monday, he will field a stronger team for that match, as Olympiacos beat Man C on Pens.
    Then its Dortmund next week, so plenty of games still to use players.
    The team against Dortmund should be the team that will play against Southampton.

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  7. Settle down, we have a squad of players that need match practice, and as for working on a gelling, hopefully the daily training will help with that!

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  8. Apparently markovic is on the bench. I saw it on espn he was down as a sub, he might come one for the last 10 minutes.

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  9. Maybe it is you ! Maybe you just need to accept you don't know as much as Brendan, personally i'll watch any Liverpool 11. This week i watched our under 14's three times and enjoyed it : )

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  10. Resting players in pre-season in anticipation of another meaningless pre-season game. Last week, these games were apparently all about fitness; now, it's about winning a meaningless tournament?

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  11. Hey Jamie,
    It surprises me with your usually level headed approach to what is set before you that the obvious alludes?
    we have just been handed a free pass to the final!
    What would have annoyed you even more had the aforementioned not happened would be if in a now meaningless game would be for a potential first team player to have picked up an unnecessary injury.
    Mondays game is now the game to scrutinize the formation and lineup.
    The season is a marathon and not a sprint.
    Aquilani mark 2, i think not...

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  12. LFC have not named Markovic as a sub.

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  13. I understand that we have made it through to the final but then, why not try some youngsters for a change. Why not play Suso, Teixeira, Peterson, Can instead of the same old Lucas and Allen? Experiment with some new systems like Kelly at CB or as Jaimie said, Can in the holding role. Why is Coates playing when it's so obvious that he is going to play a part in the season.

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  14. Who cares about the 'final'? It's not a real competitive game, it's just another pre-season game, and like tonight, it's another opportunity for fitness and getting players used to playing together. Since when did a preseason tournament become so important?

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  15. Why the hoopla about Markovic on either he plays or not?? BR is the manager and he sees what's going on training not what we want to see. He got injured at training so why should he risk him?? And besides if we win tonite there is another game on Monday so why the rush??? BVB is coming to Anfield next Sunday also!!

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  16. Agreed. If the game is 'dead rubber' as someone below said, why not, as you suggest, give the younger players some more experience?

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  17. You just edited my comment for no reason ....

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  18. I am worried about Markovic. I read somewhere that he might be out for 6 months. I do not know how true this is but I would be disappointed if the injury is serious. I find pre-season games to be useless. The players clearly do not play at a 100 per cent and do not put their full energy in. Also, most of the times, players that are never going to play during the season get to play. I mean, I highly doubt Robinson and Coates are going to play. Also, I do not agree with this coming back to fitness thing. The break is only for a month before training resumes. Players have come back from 9 month injuries and are still able to play and get to fitness quick enough. Also, it earmarks a fitness issue if they have problems just after a month.

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  19. I care about the final, of course it's a real game.

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  20. I watched Rodgers on TV today say, Markovic has a slight knock, he has a sore tendon, so will not be risked, dont know where you got the "out for six months thing from" whats the source, ??

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  21. I think we would rather have the main players ready for the mon game esp if its utd "thats never a friendly :)

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  22. That "six months" is baloney. Twitter and those who quote from it are full of agents of misinformation.

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  23. Some guy on the Liverpool rumours sight. The guys over there usually talk nonsense but once in a while, they get stuff correct. Just wanted to make sure.

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  24. Sakho and Can aside, most of those on the bench are there because they've played a lot this pre-season already. Would have liked to see Can instead of Allen though, he was pretty poor against City.
    Sakho needs match fitness too so I'm suprised he's not starting.

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  25. its a game of football and no team wants to lose even if its just another pre season game, its about winning

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  26. Everytime i read your article its really crap. You are anti liverpool. Hey this is only preseason. This is about fitness of all of the players. No point if every game on stick to certain 11 players. You must give another players chance. Brendan know his team well then you for sure

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  27. None of us know who is fit enough to play, who has a knock, who needs game time and who Rodgers is testing to see if they may or may not be part of his plans. How about a bit of faith. Brendan took us to 2nd last season. I reckon he knows what he's doing. I'd rather he make the decisions than you Jamie. Why are you so negative all the time? All you do is moan!

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  28. Don't you think though that possibly BR might know better than JK what he needs to do in this match.

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  29. Kick-off time is late enough, why do all the games have to always start late ???

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  30. They are pretending that they are being played in America. it's a bit like the moon landings and it's best we all just play along.

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  31. I meant why is the actual kick-off always delayed by 10 minutes or so

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  32. hipster-esque complaint

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  33. First time poster so bear with me. I have to say yor negatively is astounding, to suggest the midfield axos of allen, Lucas and Henderson is a waste of tim suggests you don't watch us too much. Was it not that trio that put in, arguably the best performance of last season against tottenham. These days large squads and different combinations are really important and as a fan I'm pretty comfortable with this one.

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  34. Even a smiley face did not save that one

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  35. Allen! It looks like BR (and Logan) was right all along

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  36. After never ever missing a pen for Southampton, Lambert misses his first for Liverpool. Typical.

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  37. Ibe aka Iron Mike Tyson, this boy or should I say man deserves a role next season!

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  38. He is going to be something special :-)

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  39. Do you think our SOS next season should be Sturridge & Sterling? With Ibe/Markovich on the right & Lallana on the left?

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  40. I think the extra competition is doing Allen some good.

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  41. I think Brendan Rodgers knows what he is doing

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  42. Why are you so negative all the time? I can understand criticism.. But there is not a single post of yours which is positive in any way!

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  43. This half has highlighted a problem. Nobody seems to be able to put a free kick over the wall except for Gerrard and Suarez...one more challenge to solve. But other than that we look pretty solid...but then again it's ACM...a team who somehow thinks Muntari is a high caliber player. Lambert seems gun shy. I want to see Studge and Sterling in the second half. Allen does a perfect Allen...misses a near sitter, but then redeems himself with some heads up play...along with a nice save at the other end.

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  44. The replay shows he telegraphed the shot.

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  45. It's only the first half.

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  46. City lost their game we're guaranteed to play the final.

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  47. If there is a stick lying around that can be used to beat Rodgers/any of the players/Ian Ayres/FSG/scousers etc etc, then the delightful Mr K will gladly wield it.


    Like here, on the one hand he wants a strong first-team XI selected and moans that Markovic, Can etc are not playing.

    But within a few seconds, he's also complaining that more of the youngsters haven't been picked because it's a 'dead rubber'


    Well worth getting all worked up over a pre-season friendly I'm sure!!!

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  48. Jamie while I get your point about Lucas Allen and Henderson together they are not a half bad midfield they disposed Tottenham 5-0and should have secured points at least at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad

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  49. Maybe Lambert having a hit/miss start to his career will be a blessing in disguise. As we need another striker, and Borini won't score more that 10 goals in a season. So Ian Ayre shake a leg.... Think we'll settle for Reus (if we have too)

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  50. Henderson can take a few Spurs and Newcastle

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  51. Final is against United would be nice to dent their confidence after they beat Madrid

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  52. 'Who cares about the final?'. WOW, I think the vast majority of LFC fans care about the final, its against Man Utd. What LFC fans wouldnt care about any match against them? Any game against them will be competitive, am I wrong?

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  53. Uninspiring? They play Manchester United on Monday. That is 1 day of rest. Should they come out with a stronger lineup today or on Monday? Use some common sense. Bunch of the big boys just got subbed in now at the 60 minute mark anyway. I would have kept them off to rest until Monday.

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  54. True but pre-season is really all about getting minutes and fitness so resting players makes no sense

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  55. Closing down well, passing is getting crisper (except Gerrard) and Milan really don't look like scoring. Not bad for a bunch of stiffs and pretty useful to know what some fringe players can offer together as the inevitable rotation for many players this season may lead to some of the player combinations we are seeing.

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  56. Very nice pass and a very composed shot from both youngsters. Good second half by all.


    Hope Bawlotelli's lackadaisical effort shows the LFC front office and all LFC fans that Bawlotelli doesn't belong in red.

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  57. Did you see the almost wholesale substitutions around the 60th min?

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  58. It's about time, too. Allen needs some good games this season because he is going the same way as Downing and Carroll

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  59. I actually had Downing in mind. He has to step because as Sturridge rightly said EVERYBODY has to step-up!

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  60. The positive for me is that we reached a higher performance level than in the other games. I'm also glad Suso made an impact and I think he deserves a good chance this season.


    Considering Lallana/Markovic injury issues and Lambert looking woeful, Sterling-Coutinho-Suso behind Sturridge in our most attacking line up is a possibility and it seems pretty good to me.

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  61. It seems to me that Rodgers is starting to prefer a midfield 3 + an attacking 3 with nobody really occupying the n°10 role. I think the most probable line-up for the opening day of the season will see Gerrard-Henderson-Can/Allen in the middle.

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  62. Yes, our press was nice to see and you could tell it got to ACM.

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  63. I'd consider yours a fairer opinion if all managers in these competitions were castigated in the same way for fielding 'weaker' sides; no manager so far has fielded what would be considered their first 11, so to show 'concern' that only BR is doing this appears to be an incredibly biased opinion. Everyone's entitled to an opinion & no-one has to agree with it, but the minimum you'd expect from a site owner would be a fair opinion & not just another dig at BR.

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  64. That's my thinking for away games, but certainly at home we wouldn't need that extra midfield man. Emre Can seems to have some Hendo attributes in him and if Allen can maintain that intensity for the first goal I wouldn't mind them in the line up.


    But, for the most part last season, the Hendo-Gerrard partnership at home was good enough, if we can fit an extra attacker in there, why not do it?

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  65. Sure, I'd go for sacrificing a midfielder for an attacking player too. Rodgers hasn't done that so far in this pre-season though so I was wondering if he hasn't got something in the back of his mind.

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  66. I agree, that was the point I was making to richard

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  67. Let's hope Lambert gets all his jitters out in pre-season. Hopefully that penalty miss doesn't affect him mentally too much. You would hope his experience and maybe Steve Peters can help him settle down

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  68. I think it'll be Sterling on the right, Markovic on the left. I think Lallana will play slightly deeper as the link man from defence to attack

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  69. Pre-season goal machine Iago 'I'm the bee's knee's at corners' Aspas scored today. Hope he raises his price tag out there, or has a worldie and get a 50m + transfer to Real Madrid.

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  70. Jaime, I believe you may have deleted my last post but I can't for the life of me see why!!?!

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  71. Only watched the first half. The players seem to be getting some good match fitness as there was some real energy and intensity in the way we started.


    Just goes to show that your lineup in a friendly match is irrelevant. Fitness though is what matters, oh and the shop window...

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  72. Yet some people complain that we loaned instead of selling him :-o


    His goals this season in La Liga (which he is suited to) will give us bargaining power.

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  73. That is why people should not read too much in these friendly games.


    Rodgers will mix it up again like he did last season with 4-3-1-2, 4-1-2-1-2, 4-3-3 which are all similar formations and he might even go 3-5-2 having the pace of Moreno and Manquillo in the wing back positions. It will all depend on the opposition.


    Just wondering who we are targeting for a forward/striker since calling the Remy deal off.

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  74. Watched the full game. Ibe played really well as expected and so did Sterling. People say that Suarez had 2 men constantly on him during the game to create space for others, well, Sterling had 3 and sometimes 4 men on him. Kelly looked solid but Robinson was rubbish. Mignolet looked composed and so did Allen. Suso scored a really good goal and I think he should be given a fair chance next season. Just worried a little about Lambert because he lacked pace and often got stuck on the wings. Also, I noticed that when everybody was substituted, all the players shook hands with each other except for Lambert. Hope it's just that I'm making a mountain out of a molehill.

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  75. Notice how Reina is not even making the bench? Now is about the time where he should really think of taking that pay cut otherwise he may not even play for the reserves. Clearly the club want him gone. He made his bed.


    I am done arguing about Allen. He put in many performances with pressing and energy last season but some just do not want to recognise that and instead will just rather call him names or say he is useless. Same old same old. Getting so tired...


    Allen was Rodgers first signing was he not and understood the pressing game already.

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  76. It's simply because during pre-season everyone needs to play. That's why he's subbed 10 players at half time. Who cares who starts? It is worrying though that the two players who were brought in to take over the attacking burden from Suarez are injured.

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  77. After completing the full back deals, we should try to get rid of all the dead wood. Reina, Johnson, Assaidi and Borini( only to Sunderland) need to be sold. I do not think Robinson is going to cut it. Allen is a really vital member of the squad and he is a good player. I do not think he should be a starter but should get regular game time.HE could be pivotal in the CL when we are under the pump and need composure. Reina is deluded if he thins we are going to keep him on those high wages. After not performing for the last few years and making errors for Napoli, how does he think he can command those wages. But, the problem is no team wants him.

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  78. Don't forget the likes of Gerrard and Henderson played at the world cup (albeit shortly hehe) so it makes sense that guys like Allen and Lucas play more minutes to get fit whereas they play less minutes to prevent more injuries to really important players.

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  79. Rafa wants Reina but made it clear that his wages were to much. I am sure there are a few club interested in Reina but laugh off his wages.


    Borini could be a useful player from the bench if he does not go to Sunderland so it depends whether he wants to be a bit part player or fight for his place at Anfield or go to Sunderland where he will get regular football.

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  80. SkyBet have slashed the odds on Marco Reus joining Liverpool. Now, I have been quite on this whole issue but why would people randomly make so many bets. We were not linked with lambert at all until SkyBet suspended betting on him, so maybe there is some hope. I think if Reus comes, we will win the league but it is very, very improbable.

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  81. I feel sorry for all those people who waste their money on Skybet.

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  82. The fact these Reus rumours haven't gone away tells me that there probably is some credibility.

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  83. We turned down bid for Kolo Toure and I think it was a bold decision. BR is clear that he wants likes of SG, KT and RL to guide youngsters and step up when needed in crisis. I like the idea of having proven senior players among youngsters.

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  84. After watching the game, my observations:

    1. We still good at the things we were good at last year, and just as bad at the things we were bad at last year - ie no perceivable improvement

    2.eg Migs is still flapping and can't kick the ball to his own player - yet can make top class saves; defence looks good for long periods in the game, but then something innocuous happens and we panic, esp last 15 mins;

    3. We're very good at bringing the ball out of defence with good midfield interchange - but then lack creativity to break down the defence (especially without the likes of Suarez and Sterling on the pitch). That was a very poor Milan team and we should have created more chances and put more goals away.

    4. Given 1 above, and since we've sold Suarez, a conclusion could be that we have therefore gone slightly backwards

    5. We've not yet seen any of the new buys make a difference - which is both worrying and hopeful at the same time.

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  85. Without wanting to go to war on this, yesterday's game is the perfect reason for why Allen will remain a squad player and not a first team starter. With BR wanting a more dynamic midfield, both he and Lucas suffer from the same problem in that they don't contribute enough to the final third. They are both good (Lucas better than Allen) at shielding the back line - but this is not what BR systems is set up for. BR wants SG in the deep lying quarterback role which neither Lucas or Allen can do. Ironically, Hendo can but at this moment, Hendo's energy is needed elsewhere.

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  86. Was it them or Suarez?

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  87. LFC will receive 2 million for reaching the finals. It's not meaningless after all.

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  88. JK - it would help to understand what key word filters (other than the usual expletives) you search for - thus to avoid innocuous posts being held up awaiting your approval.

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  89. What Logan has failed to grasp ever since I've encountered him is that Allen cost 15M. So, we should have big expectations.


    It's not as if we don't see what Allen can bring to the team. We do, but there are others that do it better, more consistently, or both e.g Henderson.


    Unfortunately, the little snapshot of Allen attacking the defender with the ball, winning it and eventually scoring doesn't encapsulate his overall play. He is not like that enough. Let's not forget that the game before this all Allen did was give the ball away. No doubt, he will be a useful squad member this season, but he's exactly that, a perennial squaddie.

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  90. Great minds think alike :-)

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  91. what's wrong with lucas and allen playing together?

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  92. We put out some rather average squads for pre-season games last year too, I can't see that there is much to read into it. Some players will still need to be managed to get to peak fitness while it will always be the case that players like Lucas and Allen, both of whom will have been fit and at training from day one, will get more time early on. Right now they are the most prepared players Rodgers has, so if we're playing competitive games then it's natural for them to be starting. Once other players get up to speed on the tempo and the system they'll take over. That's what a pre-season is for.


    Pressing seemed to be the strategy against Milan so Allen is there to lead the charge and keep up the tempo, it's one of his best attributes. Lucas is then just the natural backup to Gerrard in the holding role. We're all aware of your views on Can but it seems like Rodgers is going to try and use him further up the pitch. In order for Can to get time this year he's going to need to be versatile and I really don't see how that could be considered a problem. He'll play a variety of positions in a midfield 3. I agree that for most competitive games Allen and Lucas together in midfield is too limited but, again, this is pre-season, and while we're still experimenting it's better to have that experience and maturity to bring some stability and structure to the play so that the younger guys don't have to do that. It's the old Shankly saying about 8 men carrying the piano while 3 guys play it. Allen and Lucas do the hard work and know their roles perfectly. Sometimes you need that.


    I think you underestimate what Liverpool are doing in training. At amateur levels it's possible to get away with sessions where things are done at 60% of game-level intensity, but at the top level the team will have periods during a week where they go at it at full pace, often for a full 90 minutes. There is talk of extra hard double sessions and we know that Gerrard always brings everything to training. When Suarez was suspended last year he was carefully managed so that he did 90 minute sprint sessions that emulated the work he'd have to do in a game, just so he wouldn't be short of match fitness. There are lots of ways to make training more like actual game conditions. It's all geared towards getting the best possible start to the season. I'm also guessing we won't see any of the new guys start against Southampton, so all the existing players won't have any trouble knowing their place in the side or getting back into the right mental frame.

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  93. Well the Suarez scored the goal everyone were saying at the time we had shite midfield and Spurs would pummel us and we ended letting them have 0 shots on targets and two shot the entire match

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  94. why do you think that the defenses can be so fragile suddenly? even when we are leading the game ( like the game at cp last season ). suddenly the back four and the dm seems to forget how to defend.......

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  95. Spent those cash on Manquillo loan...Good business..

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  96. markovic is injured, i read that on this site before the city game?! to be honest i think we played well, dominated the ball and comfortably won the game, and that's not even us firing on all cylinders!




    also, we have another game tonight so rodgers was clearly resting players due to a 2-3 day turn around, which is the right thing to do surely.

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