13 Dec 2014

LFC Line-Up vs. Man Utd: €20m boost for BR; drastic team change to outfox LVG?

After Liverpool's midweek exit from the Champions League, Brendan Rodgers is under intense pressure to turn things around, and if Stan Collymore is to be believed, Reds' co-owner John Henry is itching to pull the chain on Rodgers' LFC career. As such, victory against Manchester United this weekend is an absolute necessity, but unlike last season, I doubt many Liverpool fans genuinely believe that a win is achievable.

Can Liverpool repeat last season's magnificent 3-0 victory at Old Trafford? It seems unlikely, but in a one-off game, anything is possible, and three points tomorrow will be a timely shot in the arm for the club's season.

It's going to be difficult, though. United have won five games Premier League games in a row, and victory tomorrow will put LVG's team ten point ahead of Liverpool, which may turn out to be an insurmountable gap.

As such, if the Reds have genuine designs on finishing in the top four, then nothing but a win tomorrow is acceptable. The question is, will Rodgers follow the Basel route and put out an overly defensive team, or will he go for the throat? There are several key decisions to be made:

* Toure vs. Lovren: Toure is fit again, so in my view, he should come back into the team and replace Lovren. I doubt that will happen, though. Rodgers will probably exercise caution with Toure, and I can see the logic in that. He may feel that there's no point rushing him back and risking the same injury again.

* Coutinho vs. Allen: Coutinho should've started against Basel, and hopefully Rodgers will right that wrong against Man Utd. There's no need to play four central midfielders against Manchester United.

* Balotelli vs. Lambert: €20m signing Mario Balotelli is fit again, and he should definitely replace Lambert, who had a poor game against Basel.

* Counteracting the 352: If Van Gaal goes with his favoured formation, how will Rodgers respond tactically? Will the 352, or persist with his the much-maligned 4231? Liverpool utilised 352 on several occasions last season, and I can Rodgers going that way tomorrow. Example line-up:

---------------- Mignolet

------ Skrtel --- Toure ---- Lovren/Sakho

Johnson ------------------------ Moreno

----- Hendo --- Gerrard --- Coutinho

--------- Sterling - Balotelli

Liverpool rarely employ the 352 formation, so it's clearly a risk wheeling it out in such an important game. However, I wouldn't mind seeing this line-up, and on paper, it's arguably strong enough to get a result at Old Trafford.

Like many fans (myself included), Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson is finding it hard to be optimistic about the game. Predicting a 2-0 victory for Man Utd, he slammed the 'rudderless' Reds as 'all over the place', and bemoaned the failure of the club's big players to stand up and be counted. He barked:

"Nobody is consistently playing well for them [LFC]. They are going backwards just as fast as they went forwards last season. United did not play well in their win over Southampton, but they have some confidence, and Robin van Persie is back playing well and scoring".

My prediction: 1-3 (Sorry, but I just can't see Liverpool winning this game)

Author:


18 comments:

  1. ROGERS SAYS HE IS THE MAN TO LEAD LFC I THINK HE,S LOST HIS MIND BECAUSE HIS STYLE OF PLAY IS NOT SUITED TO THE PLAYERS ANYMORE,HIS EXCUSES ABOUT LESS COACHING TIME IS OLD AND STALE ANYWAY WHY DOES HE SAY THAT AFTER ALL DIDNT HE BRING US BACK INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND THEN GOT US DUMPED OUT SO WHY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TIME OF COACHING,THEN EVERY MATCH IS THE TURNING POINT FOR ROGERS BUT WE LOOSE AGAIN AND AGAIN SO I REALLY DO NOT SEE HOW HE IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB.


    FOR US TO EITHER DRAW OR BEAT UNITED WE NEED TO KEEP POSSESSION AND CLOSE THEIR MIDFIELD DOWN DONT GIVE THEM SPACE AND TIME ON THE BALL,PLAY TWO STRIKERS UPFRONT NOT STERLING RATHER LEAVE STERLING ON THE BENCH COZ HE WILL BE BOSSED OUT OF THE GAME BUT I GUESS IT WONT HAPPEN SO SORRY MY FELLOW COLLEGUES WE WILL LOOSE 2 NILL.

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  2. that capslock really drove the point home.

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  3. Van Gaal has tactically out played the following Coaches:


    Mourinho
    Guardiola
    Pelligrini
    Ferguson


    With that in mind if it's down to tactics Van Gaal will win that battle.
    The team that should play should NOT include Lovren Lambert &Johnson.
    I think the precarious nature of Rogers position will make him more cautious and more rigid.
    I listened to his press conference for this game I suggest you watch it, he's subdued and his ego seems to have taken a kicking despite his comments about leading us from the wilderness into which he took us.


    If Lambert in particular plays given his recent performances it's going to be a goalless defeat.
    I'd like to see
    Mignolet

    Manquillo Skrtel Sakho Moreno


    Henderson Gerrard


    Lallana Coutinho Sterling


    Balotelli


    Bench : Allen, Jones, Johnson, Borini, Can, Toure,Enrique


    That said I can't see a win for us I think the reality of where we are will sink in Tomorrow for the FANS, for FSG and for Rogers

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  4. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:17 pm, December 13, 2014

    If we win tomorrow we are 7th
    two points of fifth 4 point of 3rd


    so if we can keep in the race till january and get sturridge back we may eb able to do it


    .....................................Sterling.....................Balotelli
    ...................................................Coutinho
    ....................................Lallana/Can....................Henderson
    ....................................................Gerrard
    .................................Moreno........Lovren.......Skrtel.....Johnson
    ......................................................Mignolet

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  5. ........Coutinho
    lallana - hendoo
    .........Can

    That's what our midfield should look like

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  6. Nevergonnacrackthecodes7:26 pm, December 13, 2014

    You are right but we have to accommodate Gerrard

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  7. Ballotelli why anyone wants him in the team baffles me the sooner he goes the better.

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  8. Gerrard should be comming of the bench.
    If he is to start I'd like to see him starting up top as a striker.

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  9. Like your positivity. We need to get behind the team. COME ON LFC

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  10. How about both lambert and balo?

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  11. Well it's December, I don't think we can be too optimistic about the snow thawing for a while yet, unfortunately.

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  12. Play hendo right back with can coming in to mids

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  13. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:07 pm, December 13, 2014

    Someone just had a brilliant idea here of playing 352


    .................................................Mignolet
    ...................................Lovren..............Skrtel........Can
    Henderson............................Gerrard.....Coutinho............Moreno
    ............................Sterling.....................................Markovic
    .......................................................Balotelli


    this seems to atatcive not to create chances

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  14. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:08 pm, December 13, 2014

    Another idea is this
    ......................................................Balotelli
    Markovic..............................Lallana.........coutinho...................Sterling
    ............................................................Can...........
    Moreno........................................Lovren...........Skrtel..........Manquillo
    ...............................................................Mignolet




    get as many new signings in there

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  15. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:14 pm, December 13, 2014

    thats because coutinho needs pace in behind to put through balls in
    notice teh player he links with best is sterling

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  16. easily beat that with the brendan new signings:


    Mingolet


    Manquillo Lovren Sakho Moreno


    Henderson Can Allen


    Markovic Coutinho Lallana


    Lambert

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  17. Liverpool 3-2 no way i can pick United to beat us even if we are playing rubbish.

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  18. How does Ballotelli offer a bit more the man is so selfish he never looks for a team mate, at least with Lambert he will always try and link up with his team mates.

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