Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has named an interesting team for tonight's Capital One clash with Swansea City, and it looks like he's finally set to abandon his preference for playing one-up front.
FULL TEAM: Jones, Manquillo, Toure, Lovren, Johnson, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic, Lambert, Borini
SUBS: Mignolet, Moreno, Skrtel, Lallana, Can, Rossiter, Balotelli
* In an earlier post, I argued for Jones to start ahead of Mignolet, and it's good to see LFC's number 2 get a run out. Plus, if he plays well, he should keep his place for the next league game.
* Sterling and Gerrard are rested, which is also a good move, especially after both recently featured in 3 games in 6 days.
* I personally don't see the point in resting Moreno. It's not like he plays every game; why not just keep him in the team to build up fitness, and get used to playing British football?
* If Toure plays well, Skrtel could find himself battling to get back into the team for Saturday. That said, after Liverpool's clean sheet on Saturday, it's a little harsh to leave Skrtel out. Perhaps Rodgers is just resting him...?
* The inclusion of two strikers suggests that Rodgers may go with a 442 diamond, but unless Coutinho plays in midfield, Rodgers hasn't selected the players to make that work. As such, it unfortunately looks like we'll see a 4231, with Borini played out of position on the wing:
------------------- Jones
Manquillo ----- Toure --- Lovren ----- Johnson
---------------- Hendo -- Lucas
----- Borini ------- Coutinho -------- Markovic
------------------- Lambert
For me, if Rodgers goes this way, it's a total waste of time. 4231 has utterly failed so far this season, and if you're going to play Borini, then give the guy a chance and play him in his preferred position. Another possible formation:
------------------- Jones
Manquillo ----- Toure --- Lovren ----- Johnson
------------------- Lucas
--------------- Hendo -- Coutinho
------------------ Markovic
-------------Borini -------- Lambert
It's possible, but it's not really a balanced set-up. Coutinho in midfield is not the best use of his talents, and Markovic is untested at number 10 (for LFC).
Overall, there are three nice surprises: Jones in goal; Borini starting; Coutinho and Markovic in the same team, but I still feel a little nervous about the game.
My prediction: 2-2
Author: Jaimie K
FULL TEAM: Jones, Manquillo, Toure, Lovren, Johnson, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic, Lambert, Borini
SUBS: Mignolet, Moreno, Skrtel, Lallana, Can, Rossiter, Balotelli
* In an earlier post, I argued for Jones to start ahead of Mignolet, and it's good to see LFC's number 2 get a run out. Plus, if he plays well, he should keep his place for the next league game.
* Sterling and Gerrard are rested, which is also a good move, especially after both recently featured in 3 games in 6 days.
* I personally don't see the point in resting Moreno. It's not like he plays every game; why not just keep him in the team to build up fitness, and get used to playing British football?
* If Toure plays well, Skrtel could find himself battling to get back into the team for Saturday. That said, after Liverpool's clean sheet on Saturday, it's a little harsh to leave Skrtel out. Perhaps Rodgers is just resting him...?
* The inclusion of two strikers suggests that Rodgers may go with a 442 diamond, but unless Coutinho plays in midfield, Rodgers hasn't selected the players to make that work. As such, it unfortunately looks like we'll see a 4231, with Borini played out of position on the wing:
------------------- Jones
Manquillo ----- Toure --- Lovren ----- Johnson
---------------- Hendo -- Lucas
----- Borini ------- Coutinho -------- Markovic
------------------- Lambert
For me, if Rodgers goes this way, it's a total waste of time. 4231 has utterly failed so far this season, and if you're going to play Borini, then give the guy a chance and play him in his preferred position. Another possible formation:
------------------- Jones
Manquillo ----- Toure --- Lovren ----- Johnson
------------------- Lucas
--------------- Hendo -- Coutinho
------------------ Markovic
-------------Borini -------- Lambert
It's possible, but it's not really a balanced set-up. Coutinho in midfield is not the best use of his talents, and Markovic is untested at number 10 (for LFC).
Overall, there are three nice surprises: Jones in goal; Borini starting; Coutinho and Markovic in the same team, but I still feel a little nervous about the game.
My prediction: 2-2
Author: Jaimie K
Rodgers kind of fluffed this
ReplyDeletewe need to get a togetherness in the team too many chopping and changing last year he has no choice thats why we done well
why play lucas instead of can , can has not played a lot perfect time to give him minutes?
can should be playing IMO
ReplyDeleteand maybe balotelli instead of borini
get balotelli playing in a front two with lambert experiment
im sorry i dont know what rodgesr is doing playing borini and lucas when they are clearly not in his long term plans
Playing Jones in the league is asking for trouble. Mignolet had a clean sheet on saturday so surely it's the right moment to drop him.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the point in playing Johnson or Lucas, both are destined to be sold in January and have no future at LFC. Is Enrique injured? If not, then he will also be gone in January. Would have liked to have seen a Balottelli and Lambert partnership, maybe we will at some point in the game. Also I hope to see Rossiter coming on for at least 30 minutes. Overall it's a good opportunity for some of the fringe players to get noticed.
ReplyDeleteI can see us starting 4231 but at least he can change it without replacing any players. I would have preferred Ballotelli starting.
ReplyDeleteEnrique not even on bench
ReplyDeleteI still cant believe we paid £2m for Jones he's terrible. He is almost as bad a number 2 as Mike Hooper who is one of the worst ive seen. This game has multiple players played out of position all over it. The way we play 4-2-3-1 is 4-5-1. How can we keep asking our wide "forwards" to defend as much as they do? Borini will get his 'chance' at left mid to prove he cant play there. Well done BR. Keep getting the best out of your boys *sarcastic applause.
ReplyDeleteScape goated for the mistake he made at QPR, whereas Skrtel and Lovren proceed as per usual
ReplyDeleteExactly its not like our whole team is flying high.....and only enrique is bad
ReplyDeleteHe is VERY bad and can't be relied upon
ReplyDeleteLet's wait and see
ReplyDeletecome on bro atleast on bench.......If we are not goin to use him for cup games then why not sell him.....I just dont understand BR sometimes
ReplyDeleteRight exactly what I was thinking. I can only see one result based on the teams put out but as you said lets wait and see.
ReplyDeleteWho knows...
he is injured
ReplyDeleteBut thats how BR sees it. He wanted ALL of Kenny's signings out with the exception of Suarez. A little piece of BR still probably wants Henderson out :D BR doesn't like him in the same way he didn't all of a sudden like Martin Kelly or Borini.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of strange theory is that ?
ReplyDeletetoure and lovren could make an effective partnership
ReplyDeletetoure is old but look at what distin does
There is a little smiley man next to the Henderson bit Mr Gabzz with a z
ReplyDeleteI was at the QPR game, and let me assure you, Enrique was the worst player on the pitch, bar none.
ReplyDeleteclosely followed by Skrtel and Lovren. I acknowledge managers have favourites and scapey's. Rafa loved Kuyt hated Beni and Riera. Houllier loved Heskey and Hated Ltmanen. It is what it is.
ReplyDeleteCaptain Henderson ?
ReplyDeleteyep. look what Terry, Carra, Adams, Vidic and Ferdinand were capable of in their 30's. Toure is just warming up.
ReplyDeleteHe has been out for a year. It's to be expected isnt it?
ReplyDeletewow not bad this from pool
ReplyDeletewe are playing like arsenal
ReplyDeleteIS that a good thing thing or bad?
ReplyDeletehaha! idk
ReplyDeletei was just going to ask that
ReplyDeletemarkovic looks more confident so far
ReplyDeleteamerican commentators are so bad
ReplyDeletehttp://neosport1.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/liverpool-2.html
ReplyDeleteI'm watching it in french.. can't understadn a word but it nice
ReplyDeleteurgh,,, hate flash videos, never use them
ReplyDeletewhat you on?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wiziwig.tv/competition.php?part=sports&discipline=football for sports listings and download http://ace-stream.en.uptodown.com/
ReplyDeleteThe rythm of our game is far better than in previous matches. Hope it's a sign of things to come.
ReplyDeletelambert looks like he finally come to terms
ReplyDeletemarkovic movement much better but needs to improve finishing
toure and lovren sounds nice
hmm.. the details are waiting to be approved.. if they don't I will PM you
ReplyDeleteYip, Henderson and Lucas are controlling the play nicely, for the most part. Couple of nervy moments at the back, but that's more to do with Jones' kicking than anything else.
ReplyDeletegiv ehenderson the captincy he looks like the prime stevie g
ReplyDeletethanks, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMarkovic is not giving me much confidence.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a very nice goal from Borini. Good turn and control.
ReplyDeletethe guy said
ReplyDelete"bony is a flier"
gomis has never played at anfield before when he played at lyon
manquillo does not get much game time when he actually played a lot
why cant knowledgeable people be commentators like me
Borini ... yeah. owning it
ReplyDeleteborini
ReplyDeleteThat, too! Jeepers; this guy must score. Two really solid shots.
ReplyDeletethe last line was the worst contradiction of the lot loool :)
ReplyDeleteBit between the teeth, he has.
ReplyDeletelovren and toure is a good partnership
ReplyDeletebecause they both think the same
they both like pushing up
skrtel and lovren have different brains
but i still love skrtel
okay.. no PM function on Disqus...
ReplyDeleteThe site I use is called wiziwig (easy to find via google) and the software I use is called ACE Stream.
hmm... reading reports that are saying Balotelli was sent away from the squad during warm up by Mike Msrsh
ReplyDeletewhat could he possibly have done?
ReplyDeleteif we had suarez this year we would walk the league
ReplyDeleteHe was probably so warm a woman in the crowd became threatened by his heat.
ReplyDeleteA little satire for you there.... I'll be here all night.
lucas has been excellent.......he and hendo look good as a double pivot
ReplyDeletethanks mate ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, he came back to the squad in time to be on the bench and jog up and down the touchline during the first half.
ReplyDeleteOkay, according to Graham Beecroft's on Talksport Balotelli acted like a total twat during warm up.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. But how much would you like to bet that they will be broken up after this match and Lucas doesn't start for another three weeks?
ReplyDeleteyup we both know that already
ReplyDeleteI'm using VIP League.se stream 4 is perfect.
ReplyDeleteFor now I'm just hoping that they both come out for the second half :D
ReplyDeleteOkay according to Graham Beecroft’s on Talksport he acted like a complete prat
ReplyDeletehttp://talksport.com/football/disruptive-balotelli-sent-away-liverpool-coach-reveals-beecroft-141028121362?
haha me too......what do you think of Markovic.....he looks very ordinary
ReplyDeleteGo to talksport... they have a first hand report on what Balotelli did
ReplyDeleteI think he started well but after that shot skewed off his left boot he is second-guessing himself again. Confidence seems a bit fragile. For me he's had enough good moments to suggest he can have a useful second half. Over to your half-time talk, Brendan.
ReplyDeletewhat did he actually do this time
ReplyDeleteBalotelli i will support you
ReplyDeletebut not if you do stuff off the field
unlike suarez you aint work the drama
Missing Suarez.....there in no bite up top:p
ReplyDeleteanyone else surprised suarze never got nominated for ballondor
ReplyDeletesuarze is better then everyone else apart from ronaldo,messi and lahm
bbut he was betetr then messi last year
even ronaldo he scored same in a harder league despite not taking any penalties
You know in the warm up they basically play piggy in the middle.. well he refused to go in the middle, threw a strop and Mike Marsh told him to do one
ReplyDeleteGod, more Balotelli hysteria. LFC fans are worse that the media. So desperate to see him make a mistake.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
problem is Jamie he did...
ReplyDeletebalotelli is gonna come good when stuzza and origi come
ReplyDeleteIf we had Suarez this year, he wouldn't have played for the first time until last weekend
ReplyDeletevery impressed with toure and lovren partnership so far
ReplyDeleteonly if he his here by the time Origi comes:p
ReplyDeleteAlready mentioned this in another thread.. not in the slightest.
ReplyDeleteYou have to remember that the ballondor is the most prestigious award a footballer can receive and you do not give a player who was given a 4 month global ban because he bite somebody at footballs most important event in front of 100's of millions of people a chance to win this prize
What would you have said if Suarez behaved like Balotelli ?
ReplyDeleteis cavani here?
ReplyDeleteim confused
I didn't fully understand the talksport audio report. It didn't sound like much if all that happened was he was reluctant to go in the middle. Sure, that's not good from Balo, but all you've got to do is yell "stop being a prick" and move on with the game. The way the reporter ended his report seemed melodramatic considering what he'd just described.
ReplyDeletescreaming from the rooftops that he should be sack lol (just kidding)
ReplyDeleteI think Ronaldo will win again this year.....not that I like him
ReplyDeletelooooohl
ReplyDeletethe guy called henderson hamilton
Markovic where art thou?
ReplyDeletecoutinho getting frustrated with mediocrity
ReplyDeletewhat i dont particularly like about manquillo
ReplyDeleteis he always gives away corners
rather they put it in the box
It just rather seems that some people are desperate to see Balotelli fail at LFC and have been making dire predictions about his time here since before he signed. It could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. At least Suarez committed actual misdemeanors to warrant the media scrutiny he endured (and remember how much slack the Kop cut him?)
ReplyDeleteI don't know dude.. have you seen us defend recently? Actually....
ReplyDeleteAt least he can now ask, "are you not entertained?"
ReplyDeleteI agree but the lad doesn't help himself. I have high hopes for him and hope he proves many people wrong but I am not as confident as I once was
ReplyDeleteI think the footballs need to be heavier so that teams can't float it into our box at all.
ReplyDeletelmao
ReplyDeletebrendan rodgers is chewing gum
ReplyDeletedoes anyone know what gum he is chewing?
No cutting edge from the attacking players. Attacking summer transfers so far no good!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Ballotelli hysteria there is a reason people buy tabloids, its because they're not interested in news. Papers with T*ts in will not give you what you need. :D
ReplyDeletemarkovic has not been that bad the bein guys are going all out on him
ReplyDeleteespecially Markovic..
ReplyDeleteI don't need to read the tabloids to see T*tis.. I just watch Liverpool :)
ReplyDeleteI too have high hopes. You're right; if he's clowning around then he's not helping himself. To be fair, his time at LFC began with his fiance dumping him, which would depress me if I was him. Not that that should detract from his football, but he's only human. Maybe... I don't actually how relevant that is.
ReplyDeleteAs you can tell, I'm not a qualified therapist.
Yes! yes! yes!
ReplyDeletemarkovic thats what i want you to do all teh time drive at players
Markovic reminds me of Dirk Kuyt. The horrible thing is I think thats why he was bought. Hard work graft and the odd goal..... maybe. In terms of flair........
ReplyDeletehe is getting better
ReplyDeleteManquillo is a player. Reminds me of azpilicueta and wierdly enough Martin Kelly.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised we have never played Coutinho in the false no.9
ReplyDeleteWill this go to a replay or penalties?
ReplyDeleteCome on Coutinho : one of them has to go in.........!!!
ReplyDeletepens
ReplyDeleteffs...
ReplyDeletelooooool and in HD too :) . Thanks for the link lol
ReplyDeletehe lacks natural pace
ReplyDeletebut if he works hard enough he could be like zabaletta
I think he still scuffs too many shots to be great in that role. Probably still worth a go if there enough willing runners from midfield, though.
ReplyDeleteHe's definitely talented and intelligent enough
ReplyDeleteWhy does this competition exist again?
ReplyDeleteoh......................................................no
ReplyDeletedamm
ReplyDeleteLovren not interested in covering his center half
ReplyDeleteand we are back
ReplyDeleteLovren caught napping yet again
ReplyDeleteNormal service resumed
ReplyDeleteThat train is never late
ReplyDeleteDefense sleeping....!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah he absolutely is.
ReplyDeleteGood finish from the Swansea dude. Our defenders seemed to be admiring the technique, too.
Yawn
ReplyDeletecan blame him for a deflection
ReplyDeleteit caught him out
So far he's awful. Talks a good game! Look at Mo Salah for Chelski, but part player but in the little he's played you see clear quality. I've seen nothing from him, no skill or technique, no brains. Profile of a headless chicken!
ReplyDeletenot that concerned its only mickey mouse cup
ReplyDeleteDefence? What is this thing you call a defence?
ReplyDeleteI think so too. Even when he notices the ball going over his head he doesnt sprint
ReplyDeletenot gonna lie shelvey looks brilliant
ReplyDeleteIn other news derby are flying... 5 2 now after being 2 nil down
ReplyDeleteWish he had stayed. But the move was good for him.
ReplyDeleteIts okay.. we still have time to concede... I mean score another goal
ReplyDeleteWe played Shelvey in the no.10 when he is a central midfield player. BR and his views on where players should play is concerning
ReplyDeleteThe striker wasn't caught out though
ReplyDeleteWe need to give our Mickey Mouse squad something to play for. If we get knocked out most of them will be benched for the rest of the season!
ReplyDeletePuzzling at times.
ReplyDeletei so miss having a mobile front man
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteTime for Carragher to remind us :)
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteWho is responsible for wasting 70 million pounds - who are these so called scouts ?. can we be told, why should they not take responsibility. My advice buy lighter shirts or better players.
ReplyDeletealways liked jon jo but he was never goona be part of rogers click
ReplyDeletestill one up top. BR is Arsene Wenger.
ReplyDelete"Buy lighter shirts" - hee hee.
ReplyDeleteBalotelli looks to be coming on soon.
ReplyDelete