Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique return to the Liverpool first XI for today's must-win Premier League encounter with QPR.
FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Enrique, Gerrard, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Balotelli
SUBS: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Coutinho, Allen, Markovic, Lambert
After his recent injury, Emre Can also comes straight back into the team, but for some reason, Javier Manquillo is dropped to the bench, and Alberto Moreno doesn't even make the first-team squad.
Perhaps Rodgers is saving them for the Real Madrid game, but given their comparative lack of experience, it would arguably make more sense to play them today, and start Johnson and Enrique in the Champions League.
Philippe Coutinho is also dropped, which comes as no real surprise given his underwhelming form this season.
They key question is how will Rodgers utilise Can and Gerrard? Hopefully, he'll play LFC's captain further forward, with Can operating in the defensive midfielder role. Possible formation:
------------------- Mignolet
Johnson --- Skrtel --- Lovren ------- Enrique
----------------- Can
--------- Gerrard --- Hendo
--------------- Lallana
--------- Sterling - Balotelli
Earlier this week, Balotelli complained about playing as a lone striker, so perhaps Rodgers will take that on board and play Sterling up-front alongside the Italian...?
Of course, it's also possible that Rodgers may stubbornly stick to his guns, and play Gerrard at DM, and Balotelli as a lone striker:
------------------- Mignolet
Johnson --- Skrtel --- Lovren ------- Enrique
----------------- Gerrard
--------- Hendo --------- Can
----- Sterling ----------- Lallana
--------------- Balotelli
I don't like the look of this formation, but it's probably what Rodgers will go with.
My prediction: 2-1 to Liverpool.
Author: Jaimie K
FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Enrique, Gerrard, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Balotelli
SUBS: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Coutinho, Allen, Markovic, Lambert
After his recent injury, Emre Can also comes straight back into the team, but for some reason, Javier Manquillo is dropped to the bench, and Alberto Moreno doesn't even make the first-team squad.
Perhaps Rodgers is saving them for the Real Madrid game, but given their comparative lack of experience, it would arguably make more sense to play them today, and start Johnson and Enrique in the Champions League.
Philippe Coutinho is also dropped, which comes as no real surprise given his underwhelming form this season.
They key question is how will Rodgers utilise Can and Gerrard? Hopefully, he'll play LFC's captain further forward, with Can operating in the defensive midfielder role. Possible formation:
------------------- Mignolet
Johnson --- Skrtel --- Lovren ------- Enrique
----------------- Can
--------- Gerrard --- Hendo
--------------- Lallana
--------- Sterling - Balotelli
Earlier this week, Balotelli complained about playing as a lone striker, so perhaps Rodgers will take that on board and play Sterling up-front alongside the Italian...?
Of course, it's also possible that Rodgers may stubbornly stick to his guns, and play Gerrard at DM, and Balotelli as a lone striker:
------------------- Mignolet
Johnson --- Skrtel --- Lovren ------- Enrique
----------------- Gerrard
--------- Hendo --------- Can
----- Sterling ----------- Lallana
--------------- Balotelli
I don't like the look of this formation, but it's probably what Rodgers will go with.
My prediction: 2-1 to Liverpool.
Author: Jaimie K
Moreno and manquillo are likely being rested for Real game because they will be doing a lot of running against Ronaldo and bale, Good to see Can get a game and i hope Gerrard plays in number 10 role see links up better with balo. Lets do this reds!!!
ReplyDeleteI so hope you are right mate about Manquillo and Moreno.. Bale and Ronaldo will rip Johnson and Enrique to shreds..
ReplyDeleteMoreno must be injured or rested, he's a class above Enrique and hasn't done much wrong yet. I think we'll see Balotelli as a lone striker with Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling & Lallana supporting him. Looks good to me :)
ReplyDeleteI would rather see a front three then one up top so hopefully the formation is 4-3-3. Gerrard will most likely be holding with Hendo and Can playing ahead of him.
ReplyDeleteManquillo being dropped is a good thing the weak link vs west ham and west brom
ReplyDeleteonly two problem, enriqure is kinda bad , why we play two holding mids vs qpr
surly play coutinho over can or gerrard
enrique yes but
ReplyDeletejohnson is better then manquillo
manquillo was at fault for west brom goal and he was subsituted vs west ham so early bcos he was so schocking the last time i remember a player playing that bad was spearing vs chelsea in fa cup final
manquillo is hopless attackingly always loses the ball with aimless crosses and the worst first touch since david ngog
////can, gerrard
ReplyDeleteLallana, Hendo, Sterling
////////////Ballotelli
I think, and hope, that is it..
What?? I have to disagree.. How was Manquillo at fault when Lovren conceded the penalty. You seriously have not seen a worse performance than Manquillos' against WBA. How about the endless great performances from Iago Aspas and Aly Cissokho. That is just recently. I think you have not seen Kolo Toure if you think Manquillo has a bad first touch. He has been dependable in attack and defence and is the perfect complement to the fast paced and attack style of Moreno.
ReplyDeleteQPR hope so too.
ReplyDeleteBalotelli up on his own = we know how that has ended up every time this season.
played gerrard again and will play him against madrid and against hull city too maybe..lets just finish gerrard off and liverpool's chances of winning anything..genius pure genius
ReplyDeleteyour just following the bandwagon
ReplyDeletemanquillo lost the ball up-field vs west brom with a careless first touch this led to west brom attacking a vulnerable liverpools defense
manquillo vs west ham was what i was talking about
only two times rodgers has taken a player off at 30 mins without the guy being forced off due to inury the other was suso vs wigan
They are poor defensevly, so Hendo Lallana and Sterling will be in front of the goal all the time. And if Can is any good, even Steven might get few chances to work his magic in finak third.
ReplyDeleteexactly why not coutinho
ReplyDeletewe have to attack qpr because we cant defend
its like rodgers lost his principles and forgot what made us sucsessful last season
He got rest. He will probably get out for Lazar if we are up two..
ReplyDeleteWe are poor defensively too, add to that a striker which cannot lead the line and we are in for yet another disaster.
ReplyDeletethis is how we will set up like vs spurs last year?
ReplyDelete.......................................................balotelli /suarez
lallana/coutinho...................................henderson...................sterling
..........................................can/allen..........gerrard/lucas
Against them, with Johnson(yes him), we are not..
ReplyDeleteWhat bandwagon have I been following? I have advocated Manquillo's performances from the very beginning. I have been hugely impressed with him and you might not see it but he works really, really hard to defend and attack. If you think Johnson is the solution then I give up..
ReplyDeleteIt is quite simple
ReplyDelete1. We have an inept defence.
2. To counter that we have to score goals.
3. To score goals Rodgers should have by now realised Balotelli cannot play up on his own.
4. QPR will be hoping to see Balotelli up on his own :-)
johnson is not the solution but we use the best we have at the present moment rodgesr seems to agree with me
ReplyDeletewhen flanno comes back he will start above him
i dont see how you can be impressed with manquillo but i guess thats your opinion
atleast johnson does not lose the ball every time he receives
ReplyDeleteputting in aimless crosses or reckless first touches
in all games till now i havent seen him taking gerrard off..i highly doubt it now.he has played him in each and every game barring one where lucas started..if thats the plan than we are in trouble..gerrard as holding midfielder requires protection which is not making us an attacking threat and defensively we havent improved.
ReplyDelete1 not working, at the moment, have the potential to.
ReplyDelete2We can.
3HE won`t be alone
4fcuk them
hehe
He will be good these months, me thinks. And Manquillo will improve.
ReplyDeletethis is our best team when everyone's fit:
ReplyDelete.......................mignolet
johnson........skrtel........lovren..........moreno
............................gerrard
..................henderson........allen
..............................sterling
.....................baloteli........sturridge
with lallana and flanagan unlucky to miss out
Lallana is our best midfielder. But your line up is something to go to Chelsea or Real fearless. And that what dept is..
ReplyDeleteMy prediction is 0/3
ReplyDeleteCan is protection. Things are changing regarding subs with our mid healthy.
ReplyDeletelets hope so.
ReplyDeleteif rogers is going to play Gerrard against Madrid he should of played allen today to see how a midfield 3 of can allen and hendo performs .....but thats way to logical for rogers ...not sure what reasons there are for dropping moreno and manquillo unless its to rest them as they have been as good as anyone
ReplyDelete4-3-3!!
ReplyDeleteblaming manquillo for them defeats is a kin to blaming Oppenheimer s mum for Hiroshima
ReplyDeleteGerrard playing up..
ReplyDeleteWe ought to be concerned about Zamora!
ReplyDeleteDid i not say QPR were hoping to see Balotelli up on his own?
ReplyDeleteThey got their wish.
They have dominated the opening.
ReplyDeleteThat's just pathetic defending. F*** this club and their endless defensive errors. Why so many?
ReplyDeleteOur defence an accident waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Brendan doing this? Our defence is so weak..
ReplyDeleteWhy are we playing one upfront again?
ReplyDeleteDude we've hardly even had enough ball to see if 3 forwards is going to work just see what happens
ReplyDeleteWish we had an Alex Song type to control the middle. One up front against QPR says it all!
ReplyDeleteWell nothing is going to happen for us the way we are setup at the moment.
ReplyDeleteRodgers has lost the plot.
zamora is so sick
ReplyDeletewhat a player
cant believe QPR is dominating
ReplyDeletewe are doing well so far we need to carry this on
ReplyDeletebecause rogers doesnt know his own players ...
ReplyDeleteall our hard work paying off we are defending much better
ReplyDeleteDoing well? Ha ha, what match are you watching?
ReplyDeletelovren doing well now shows he is adapting
ReplyDeletebalotelli much better as well
We just got robbed of a great goal scoring opportunity by a horrendous offside call
ReplyDeletei dont see what lfc have done wrong we are containing teh ebast
ReplyDeleteDelightful.
ReplyDeleteit all evnes out
ReplyDeleteat the end of the season
spurs were robbed when allen won that penalty
yeah you are right. i was hoping we would contain them just another 65 minutes to go and we are home free.
ReplyDeletehe does rodgers is planning to contain qpr a draw here is good a tough stadium loftus road
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or are we playing like we did under Hodgson?
ReplyDeleteyour right i suppose a draw at qpr is a good result
ReplyDeletecant watch. please no more..
ReplyDeleteexactly we lfc fans demand too much we aint real much we aint chelsea or city
ReplyDeletecant see winning this..it should be 1-0 up for QPR
ReplyDeleteyeah long balls to a target man ..wheres our fluent football we need 2 up front
ReplyDeleteGod I've had enough of them. This is QPR and they're able to just open us up like that. Useless. AND STOP THESE PASSES STRAIGHT TO BALOTELLI'S HEELS
ReplyDeleteIt'll be fun against real madrid...
ReplyDeleteWTF Rodgers, can you see that your experiment has gone horribly wrong? Speechless.
ReplyDeleteMassacre.
ReplyDeleteSterling you have to release the ball faster
ReplyDeleteQPR are a beast?
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteOH PISS OFF MIGNOLET. YOU'RE USELESS.
ReplyDeletefunny
ReplyDeleteOMG Skrtel.
ReplyDeleteSktrel?
ReplyDeleteoh my why are we so crap geee!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSkrtel doesn't even jump... he just let the attacker get a free header.
ReplyDeleteThey're both in the wrong
ReplyDeleteIs BR trying to get sacked ? because if it's what he's aiming for he could well succeed on this one :/
ReplyDeleteits okay though because hes not sako
ReplyDeleteSkrtel jumped into Mignolet plus he made a, how is a muck up of his clearance. Comon mate, how is a goalkeeper supposed to be comfortable with such rubbish defending?
ReplyDeletethis has to be the worst half of football that we have ever played
ReplyDeleteno there are too many...west ham , southampton etc
ReplyDeleteAnyone with pace or presence will shake up our defence!
ReplyDeletetalking about free pass i don't understand how sterling is plaing, he's been in poor form lately constantly loosing the ball.
ReplyDeleteIf coutinho had that kind of game...
No pressing, do not know what to do with the ball. Inept defence. Laughable attack etc.
ReplyDeleteWhen West Ham under Sam Allardyce play more attractive football then that is when you need to start worrying.
rogers must of abandoned the short passing possession strategy ....
ReplyDeleteRodgers is the biggest problem- refuses to change a method which works against us
ReplyDeleteAbandon 2 holding midfielders and one upfront.
ReplyDeleteguys thoughts of pushing SG back to dm taking Can off and bringing couts on? not much pace in qprs attack couts myt open them up?
ReplyDeleteWe have no one who is comfortable on the ball especially in midfield who can dictate play. There is no steel & Ballotelli is isolated.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't have a strategy
ReplyDeleteif we sign jackson martinez gonzalo higuain yohan cabaye
ReplyDeletethis january we should be okay
I can't remember nor give a shit anymore.
ReplyDeleteto think that we're lucky not to be behind at half-time against QPR show how poor we are right now...
ReplyDeleteHahaha this tam against Madrid- Oh no
ReplyDelete........................................martinez..........higuain
ReplyDelete......................................................sterling
.........................................allen......................henderson
....................................................cabaye
sell coutinho,balotelli
only if we play them in the right positions with the right game plan ,which on todays evidence seems highly improbable
ReplyDeleteat least we'll see a lot of goals
ReplyDeleteNot sure I even want to watch the 2nd half. Rodgers needs to come back to reality. He is in la la land at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but I think it's simple... we are not very good without Danny Sturridge
ReplyDeleteit is an honor to ahve real at anfield
ReplyDeleteagreed this is so poor our performance
ReplyDeleteBalotelli is again beyond woeful. That last action just before half time sums it all up for me. He is our striker not our winger or no. 10.
ReplyDeleteHe should proves his worth because this is just ridicilous.
What an awful game, again. Hopefully we can show some passion the second half.
Even I hate to say it but " Or without Luis Suarez" it seems.
ReplyDeletelets sign messi as well when we are at it...
ReplyDeletewe done okay the game plan is to win on the counter
ReplyDeletegerrard almost scored
just need to be a bit more clinical
balotelli kinda reminds me of a donkey i dont know why
we need to play 2 up front simple!!!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe but we will get destroyed
ReplyDeleteStill think Manquillo is the reason behind our woefulness..
ReplyDeleteI dont know how its still 0-0..... it should have been 2 for qpr
ReplyDeleteyeah but we wernt very good with suarez
ReplyDeletebefore sturridge came he revitalised us just like cantona at man utd
Is Steve Clarke still available to come back to run our defense?
ReplyDeleteThey cannot even complete 2 passes let alone play a range of passes.
ReplyDeleteDo not expect anything to change if Rodgers does not change the setup. Formation needs to change. I have been saying this time and time again!!!
ReplyDeleteCould have been 4 mate..
ReplyDeletelets get Jamie back to sort out our defence
ReplyDeleterodgers doesnt know first thing abt defence
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens with an isolated striker desperate for goal. They snatch at shots & ignore teammates. Play two upfront!
ReplyDeleteYeah, SG is our dm and playmaker but too many over critical fellow Reds were so convinced that Gerrard should play as a no. 10 because all our defeats were his fault, or something like that.
ReplyDeletethe defence done fine
ReplyDeleteteh aim is to stop qpr scoring which they ahve done
its teh strikers we need martinez and higuain
That was actually the worst first half I've seen us play in a long time. Absolutely disgusted
ReplyDeleteSeriously I cant believe what Im seeing.
ReplyDeleteRose tinted glasses. Our defence is sh!te.
ReplyDeleteno we're not doing ok... this is QPR, one of the worst team this season in the PL and they should be 2 up at half-time... jesus christ.
ReplyDeleteI just heard a great line on TV: "The best Liverpool defender today has been the crossbar"
ReplyDeleteUsually not indicative of a "fine" defense.
Worst 45 for a long time. Can't be any worse in the second half.
ReplyDeletewe looked sure on defence
ReplyDeleteits jsut we have not kept possesion so we been under fire all agme
only mignolet looks awful at teh back
Does Borini have a dog?
ReplyDeleteAgree. Especially when we are playing long balls we could use Lambert. I think our players can't cope with just one striker like Balotelli upfront.
ReplyDeletewanna bet
ReplyDeleteLet's continue to play one upfront and we will get what we deserve.
ReplyDeleteoh my god ahahah
ReplyDeleteplease 80m we can sign martinez and higuain its possible
ReplyDeletemessi would cost 360m and is too big for us
we really need to put 2 up front push SG back to dm and bring on couts
ReplyDeleteI seriously do not know what to say. We have been played off the park by QPR, the bloody bottom team in the league, could have conceded 4 or 5 and are being outmuscled and outgunned and you think we look sure on defence. All right then..
ReplyDeleteim not sure how a celebrity chef will help
ReplyDeleteWe need 8 new players
ReplyDeleteyeah but it was like that vs west ham last season away
ReplyDeleteit was SAS who won that game for us with their brilliance
that the only difference
don't bother the guy is either clueless or a troll...
ReplyDeleteare things really that bad because if they are we are in deep
ReplyDeleteDo not be ridiculous. We need to go with what works which is the way we played last season. Rodgers and his tinkering is the problem.
ReplyDeletewell SG can deliver the passes from deep and couts can open them up I dnt see Can doing anything
ReplyDeletelook rodgers has had
ReplyDeletekelly,johnson,flangan,skrtel,lovren,sakho,toure,agger,moreno,enrique ,cissoko
so many different players but it never worked
it goes beyond the players
The game could have been over for us at half time and Glenda lucky to still be on field ...... Ballo is crap end of !
ReplyDeleteis that u fergie?
ReplyDeletewell if he keep going like that he won't be come the january transfer windows...
ReplyDeletehow are qpr in relegation position while we arent.. i dont see how we r above them
ReplyDeleteNot for long at this rate mate
ReplyDeletelook at the match... it's just pure luck
ReplyDeletewe are playing like last season how many counters did we see explosive bursts teh difference SAS
ReplyDeleteyou cant fault their genius 52 goals and all teh others they assisted wheater winning free kicks,penalties and their sheer presence
Balotelli is worse than useless. This is really poor
ReplyDeleteHow about new manager then?
ReplyDeleteim beginning to agree regrettably although he needs a partner....its made me realize how much the on fire partnership of suarez and danny propped us up i dare say if they had played for qpr they would be a top team last year
ReplyDeleteLiverpool still to win, 2-0 or 2-1
ReplyDeleteI am not going to waste my time arguing.
ReplyDeleteIf we were playing like we did last season the QPR would not be all over us.
the guy's telling us how to get the best out of him but we're not listening... what do you expect ?
ReplyDeletei never said that : )
ReplyDeleteeveryon at anfiel were all over us
ReplyDeletebut we won 4-0 cause of SAS
if we do it's the biggest hold-up in the history of the PL
ReplyDeleteYea after Andy dumped me not much else to do
ReplyDeleteHis position on the pitch has nothing to do with those 3 times he was in a good position and put three awful shots no where near the goal.
ReplyDeletea whole host of average teams have played us off the park this year and then gone on to be thrashed by a decent team it cant be a coincidence
ReplyDeleteKev well said mate! BR is beyond stubborn
ReplyDeleteSoon mate soon
ReplyDeletehes trying to hard to score adam thats what happens when a striker feels under pressue
ReplyDeletehe plays like rubbish?
ReplyDeleteqprs corners are awful dont they know just put it in head height they should score
ReplyDeleteat least we can't blame him of not being in sync with the team...
ReplyDeletein general yes ..the confidence goes they snatch at shots they make poor decisions and its compounded because hes not a lone striker who can lead the line hes a number 10
ReplyDeletejust let crosses come in corners are more dangerous
ReplyDeleteif qpr had any quality they would be 3 nil up
ReplyDeleteWe play like we're hanging on to PL status
ReplyDeletewhy not paly lambert rather then balotelli who is not in form
ReplyDeleteI expect him to make one correct decision when he's on the pitch and he hasnt done that yet. His decisions to constantly go alone are alienating him from everyone else. He's been truly dreadful so far
ReplyDeleteSkrtel daydreaming again. Unable to grasp the meaning of a high defensive line and never will.
ReplyDeletebalotelli has no movement kinda painful watching him lambert would be better or markovic up front
ReplyDeletebut rodgers doesnt havewhat chelsea players have "big balls"
you can throw that accusation at 90% of the Liverpool squad
ReplyDeleteand lamberts a real live wire
ReplyDeleteGerrard holding. Two midfielders pushing forward and QPR are not dominating anymore.
ReplyDeleteWell done Brendan. you have seen the light..
maybe we are in form maybe this is the best we got
ReplyDeleteallen should come on for can
ReplyDeletemarkovic for balotelli
allen or couts on for Can?
ReplyDeletehe's playing as a lone striker so being alone is pretty much the role we're giving him, i don't say he had a good start at liverpool but you can't blame the players for being played out of position.
ReplyDeletehe hasn't exactly been given some great ball either.
allen is teh chosen one
ReplyDeleteOh my god balotelli
ReplyDelete...ARE YOU JOKING MARIO
ReplyDeleteomog im just going to laugh
ReplyDeleteNo excuse for Ballotelli
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!!
ReplyDeletedeary deary me
ReplyDeleteTHAT'S TWO SITTERS HE'S MISSED IN 2 GAMES.
ReplyDeleteSee what a difference it makes when Balotelli has some support? He missed but you have to play to his strengths.
ReplyDeleteagree, at least we're starting to look like a real team
ReplyDeletewhy not play markovic up front
ReplyDeleteBut people will keep on saying it's because he's alone up front.
ReplyDeleteif i was liverpool manager we would be in the top 3
ReplyDeleteof the vauxhall conferance
ReplyDeletewho are you managing right now ?
ReplyDeletemadness lallana been our best player
ReplyDeleteHave you seen how sh!te our entire team has been of late? Maybe if Balotelli had some support upfront then maybe he would have built up some confidence.
ReplyDeleteis there some unwritten rule that steven gerrard can never be dropped or replced
ReplyDelete