10 Feb 2015

Anfield Disaster? Liverpool suffer huge £26m blow...but there's a silver lining

After weeks of building momentum and playing a (mostly) settled team, Liverpool's ongoing revival is facing serious disruption as the injuries continue to pile up.

Lucas Leiva is already out of tonight's Premier League showdown with Spurs, and according to the Liverpool Echo this afternoon:

"Raheem Sterling is almost certainly OUT of Liverpool FC’s home clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

"Philippe Coutinho has also been nursing a knock but Liverpool are increasingly hopeful he will feature tonight".


At first glance, this appears to be a major blow for Liverpool, but in my view, it won't make that much difference as Rodgers has the players to cover £26m-rated Sterling's absence:

* Sturridge may have to start the game, and although that's not ideal, he is a better goalscorer than Sterling, who at this stage is still only a makeshift striker.

* Markovic, Lallana or Ibe are all capable of deputising for Sterling in the attacking midfielder roles.

* Sterling's injury means we'll almost certainly see more of Ibe, which is an exciting prospect.

Liverpool's season shouldn't hinge on a 20-year old anyway, so if the team can't survive without one of its youngest, most inexperienced players, then there's a serious problem somewhere.

My preferred line-up to cover Sterling's absence:

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

----- Skrtel --- Lovren ----- Sakho

Ibe ------ Hendo -- Can --- Moreno

-------- Gerrard --- Coutinho

---------------Sturridge

In my view, Lucas is a bigger loss than Sterling as it means that Rodgers will probably have to disrupt the defensive unit, which is the most effective component of Liverpool's recent transformation.

This team is more than good enough to get a home result against Spurs.

Author:


119 comments:

  1. There's a big difference between being able to cope without Sterling to being better off without him Jamie..

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  2. lovren will not play..... can in back 3 , ben elf aka allen in centre mid

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  3. Sterling already a £26M player? What a big joke!

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  4. That would be my team as well Jamie.


    I think Ibe deserves a start after Saturday's game. We need someone willing to take on people. I do wish he could play behind Sturridge though.

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  5. Sturridge is still not match fit too so it may backfire. But it may also bring back that spark.

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  6. SELL STERLING = NO LOYALTY = NO GOOD = Hope the Kop start giving him a hard time

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  7. i just hope with the recent run of injuries we get at least a point and keep up with other top 4 aspirants,an insanely ugly 1-0 win would do just fine,because Spurs are really a very good team at the moment but they just might capitulate at Anfield.Cheers

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  8. Come on Ray...until there is some sort of confirmation we need to hold it together.

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  9. Jaimie reminds me of Katie Hopkins, constantly belittling Rodgers and players alike in order to evoke a reaction..

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  10. Jaimie i wonder why my comment was deleted

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  11. Rodgers has said today that he won't be disrupting the defence and that imo is the right decision. I would just attach Joe Allen to Eriksen. If we can isolate him and Kane them Spurs have got nothing

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  12. I think its clear to see that Gerrard does not fit into this team and therefore makes it weaker. He shouldn't of started against Everton and should of come of for Markovic in the second half.

    I would like to see Sturridge up top with
    Markovic and Coutinho playing behind. Henderson and Allen in midfield Ibe and Moreno on the flanks and the back 3 staying the same.



    Plus Mario has to be on the bench, the guy has so much to offer. Rodgers claims to be great at making players better but for me he has thrown Mario under the bus. Maybe to show that he never wanted him in the first place which for me is a foolish thing to do because we might need him in the future games to come.

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  13. Sterling should be sold in the summer 100,000 week for kid, absolutely crazy if that's true what he's been offered. Who does he think he is holding us to ransom. I hope every liverpool supporter let's him no, he's getting on like a spoiled little child. Grow up sterling and sign the contract you greedy little shit or piss off.

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  14. We did fine when he was on extended holiday no? So why not now? Rodgers has already said that Can is staying put so more than likely we'll line up:


    Mignolet; Can Skrtel Sakho; Ibe Allen Henderson Moreno; Gerrard Cou; Sturridge


    Might see Lallana for Couthino or Gerrard.

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  15. if he scores four in the first 45 minutes he can go sit on his backside again

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  16. how do you know he has no loyalty? no good? he's better than good. everybody has thier opinions and ideas of whats going on behind the scenes with his deal but most of it is guess work, does anyone really know what he has offered? does anyone really know why its stalled? in my opinion its his agent stalling for one reason or another, but I dont know what the fuss is he has another two years on his current deal.

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  17. when did Brendan Rogers claim to be great at making players better? and do you not think under perforning moody Mario has thrown himself under the bus. Brendan Rogers HAS said on a number of occasions about players that have been criticized for thier perfomances on the pitch " he is working well in training" etc and then gives him a game or is at least on the bench, and now to back that up he has said that Mario is not performing well in training, and so he isnt getting a look in.....which is right in my opinion, but i agree with you that Brendan never wanted him in the first place.

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  18. good call jock

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  19. lallana for gerrard and id agree with that team jamie.. wont be the case doe rodgers jr will b in the middle im afraid, to be fair i can understand not wanting to disrupt the backline the way they are playing but i wil never understand joe poxy allen in our squad let alone our team

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  20. Sturridge and Balotelli up top together.


    Would like to see if they can expand upon the glimpses we saw in August.


    Perhaps it would even get Mario going.

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  21. I hope that is the line up that takes the field tonight. Let Lovern come back into a side and get a chance. But keep Can in the dm so he can still be an important cog in the defense but allow him to make more runs and defence unlocking passes. I think this could be Can positions. He has mobility, strength and good tactical sense. He can be a real dominating force for us in that position and contribute more passing wise than lucas, plus he has a rifle for range shots that lucas also lacks.

    Let me clarify, I love lucas he does a fantastic gritty job. I just think can may have pogba or Yaya affect. Which I believe will take us to that next level.

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  22. Michael Macdonnell4:12 pm, February 10, 2015

    Looking forward to a great game tonight. My cousins Liverpool versus my Spurs. Hoping for the draw but still feel you will win.

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  23. That's Rodgers badge of honor to say that he improves young players. He said it this week while talking about the Sterling contract offer. Since Liverpool changed their formation in the Man United match. I don't think Mario has started one game, that's nearly 3 months but in my option when he has come of the bench he has put in a good shift worthy of starting at least a cup game.

    At the start of the season Mario came into a team coming off a hangover from last season into a system that fitted a player who doesn't play for the club anymore and as we later found out a captain who was ready to leave the club.
    During that period Mario took a lot of flack which hid a lot of Rodgers flaws which came to the surface once Mario was out of the team.

    I want to see him play in a confident team before I make my overall judgment on a player who has got the talent to make an impact at the club.

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  24. My team if Sterling is out


    Mignolet
    Manquillo Skrtel Sakho Moreno
    Coutinho Can Henderson
    Markovic Sturridge Ibe

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  25. I was thinking Lallana not Markovic- he is better with the ball in his feet, and Markovic with his speed could be a better sub. But BR said he won't touch the defence so...

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  26. Is Lalllana not injured?

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  27. i HEARD IT WAS minor knock and that he will be involved...

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  28. He is becoming a sick note for us.

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  29. Joe allen come on mate he brings absolutley nothing to the. Jk has my vote with team he's picked. I would even try lovren in lucas's DM role before allen. Do think that would be worth a try?

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  30. Think he overdid it last season with entire season in the starting line up and the first summer with the national squad.. Than we rushed him back. ..

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  31. I don't want Lovren passing the ball to our player taking the throw in, let alone starting our attacks...

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  32. Lallana should have never been signed in the first place. we did not need him. As we can see, Ibe is ready made to step up. Quality proven goal scorer was far more important and then we ended up with Balotelli.

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  33. oh sorry so ...it's just that I've never heard him say.... " I'm great at making young players better", even this week during intrviews about Sterling. But I have heard him say ....."w " or "Liverpool" or " here at the accadamy we work hard at improving young players", ... the problem with Mario is there are players with less ability than him working harder for the TEAM..Brendan Rogers has said he is not working hard enough, he also said "Mario knows what he has to do, it's up to him to do it". You can see in our performances that its a hard working team and if a player is not working hard on the pitch he is subbed no matter what his ability or skill set.

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  34. At least he'll go forward with ball not sideways and backwards and he's a big lad thats not going to get pushed of the ball easy. Joe allen is just rubbish imo and brings nothing to our team.

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  35. Quality proven goal scorer was far more important and then we ended up with Balotelli- true.

    Nothing to do with Lallana. Our biggest problem last season was bench- we lost the title when Hendo got the red card. And with more cups and higher aspirations in them a quality player that can play with both feet, assist, score and press better than Hendo was something we needed. The price may be inflated, but they knew how badly we want him, hence the price. Still if he performs on a level he can for next 5-7 years, it is not that much...

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  36. People need to realize that those sideways and backwards are part of instructions. And I don't see Allen pushed arround that much, only fouled- 3 yellow cards on him in last 2 matches. Just because he is short don't say he gets bullied- see if it is truth first... He isn't a player to start in Liverpool, but not as bad as people say...

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  37. I would defo. drop gerrard, sorry but hes being a simple passenger around the pitch, and hes been like this almost for the past four years, its agood decision hes leaving, someone must step up there, rodgers often scared to take him off that is hurting the team as hell. Sterlings a big miss and Im worried for this game, spurs look a new team now very strong and that man kane can cause lots of problems tonight, hopefully we'll nick it, but I think its going to be a draw.

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  38. Lallana was not needed when we had loads of youngsters to give a chance. Ibe, Suso and Teixeira.


    The £25m we blew on Lallana has not improved us in any shape or form. Our business in the tranfer market this season has been nothing but disastrous.


    Lallana, Lovren, Balotelli, Lambert and Manquillo have hardly been on the pitch. We are talking of at least £70m that could have been better spent and then maybe our season would not be as sh!te as it has been.


    Heads are going to roll at the end of the season, that is for sure.

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  39. So you wanted to get out of the group stages in CL, secure top4 and go to Wembly with Texeira, Suso and Ibe? Not worth discussing this any further...

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  40. Yes and Rodgers should just be excused.

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  41. Don't underestimate this game, it is a huge 6 pointer and Tot' are playing well up front, consistency at the back is crucial. I never thought I would say this but I think he has to go with .......... aaaaarrrrghh Allen for Lucas. I'm damned..................

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  42. Never have I said that but you have problem with anyone who is not calling for his head..
    And by the way, how many games have Lallana played for us? How many of those were when he was fully fit? Yet he is already a flop to you.. The best(by far) shoot from our midfielders, sorry- players, and we missed what last season? Mate you would say your own brother is a disaster to get BR fired, you need to get past that...

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  43. Haha, me too. And check this out- I want to see GJ on the right.. That is just calling to be thunderstruck, but still think he is the player for this game...

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  44. Now that is just pure deranged madness I'm afraid, But I'll bet BR is thinking the same.

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  45. You talk about getting passed the group stages of CL, finishing top 4 and going to Wembly but the likes of Ibe has only been part of the squad now, Suso never even saw a game and Texeira is on loan?


    Now just take your thoughts back to the first half of the season and how utterly sh!te we were without the above mentioned players anywhere near the squad. Money has been pissed down the drain and some turn a blind eye to it. Lovren and Balotelli are not even making the bloody bench?


    Come on, is that acceptable?

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  46. I am really worried about what Harry Kane might do to us tonight. That kid is a revelation man and he seems unstoppable at the moment.

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  47. My point is that WITHOUT SUAREZ AND DANIEL our players struggled to play a decent game, and that three mentioned would just be swalloved and ruined had they stayed here. Couts was below mediocre, what would injured Suso do? EPL player Borini strugled, imagine Ojo, proven mid Lallana struggled, imagine Texeira. Young players in and show us what you can do works at Southampton as their only pressure was not to get relegated- they lost to us in the opener, you think Tadic cared? No, he got a good game, praise from his manager and fans and was told, just keep it up. We won and and majority of our players giot a stick for uunderperforming. You see the difference?

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  48. Think Br will go with:
    ...............SM................
    .....Can...Skrtel...Sakho..
    GJ.....JH........JA........AM
    .....SG....................PC...
    .................DS.........

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  49. I am offended. Actually I am not, i agree, but still I would start him tonight...

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  50. Of course Rodgers is excused. Let's see what you have to say when FSG ask him to get on his bike at the end of the season. What will you have to say then?


    Take FSG to task perhaps?

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  51. Don't know about Gerrard, he is leaving because BR told him he won't be starting all the games, if this isn't the game to be rested, than someone is lying..

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  52. Massive game will rest him against Palace

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  53. If he doesn't deliver CL football, I agree, if he does no way. And I would keep him even if he doesn't maybe...

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  54. Not my choice, just a guess at BR's thinking

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  55. Though about that too, but.. I think it is better he is used as a sub or not at all and then play vs Palace as we need the cup badly.

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  56. As I told you, difference between top 4 and not is in dozens of millions, between 2nd and 4th is 3 million, so yes they will be happy. His plan when he came was to get us to CL by this season, and then go for silverware. They ACCEPTED IT, remember?

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  57. That is true a player should work hard to earn his place in the team but from what Ive seen on the pitch Mario works harder than the myth placed on him before he came to the club. Now that Sturridge is back lets see them play together, the last time we did Liverpool played very well...I just think leaving him out in the cold is a waste of an assist...but time will tell how this situation will pan out I remain optimistic he can come good.

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  58. He will be gone. Our room for error to finish top 4 is next to nothing. If we had to be beaten tonight then it is over.


    The first half of the season will be our downfall and Rodgers will be excused for it ;-)

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  59. BR's dead worried too, thats why I think he will play the defensive line up below.

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  60. With Johnson in it. Comical...

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  61. His plan when he came was to get us to CL by this season, and then go for silverware. They ACCEPTED IT, remember?

    Can I get an answer to that, and after that what you think will he get fired if we finish top4?

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  62. Agreed but Brendan loves him

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  63. Glen kept himself really good against say CR? Not his fault that after he puts the ball in the corner kick against one of the world's best in one on one we conceede. That is down to BR,..

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  64. Where have FSG said they accepted anything Rodgers has done this season?


    Top 4 is not going to save him his job, I have said this very thing before. Why would FSG want to blow almost £120m of LFC's money to be knocked out of the group stages of the CL and then see their team struggle to get a top 4 place?


    Can you see the smile On John W Henry's face?

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  65. They said their LONG TERM plan was getting to CL by this season by giving the job to BR who made that plan for us. Can't wait till September to see your reaction on our new manager. New, right...

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  66. But is he good enough for the mighty Reds? No goals, assists, positive play, tackling rate - anything. I'll gladly eat my hat if anyone can give evidence of how this guy is a good footballer player for LFC?

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  67. So let's get this straight. You are of the opinion that FSG spent almost £120m and said to Rodgers a top 4 spot is the aim this season?


    I tell you what, keep the above comment in your diary and let's come back to it at the start of next season?

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  68. I agrer with a lot of what u said and thats a solid line up for me though gerrard out and markovic in at rwb and move ibe into gerrards role. maybe we will get a chance to see ibe or markovic in a true attacking role unleash the shackles brendan!...just please don't straight swap allen for lucas anyone but allen!

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  69. They said chalenge for the title and make sure you get the top 4. That same instructions were given to managers of Chelsea, City and Arsenal, next season manu. Nobody will get fired if they get the CL. as title is not an easy task. Arsene might go because it is taking him too long.

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  70. Only if you promise to do the same...

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  71. Bench player. Yes, good enough for this season.

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  72. Supply the quotes from the horses mouth where FSG have said what you just posted.

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  73. They gave the job to the man who said that is his plan, not enough?

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  74. BR is pretty crap in the transfer market, but he is young and inexperienced, all managers make mistakes, some get lucky. He is doing a great job, FSG will take a more stoical approach, they are used to blowing figures like 120m on one player in baseball. There is no real alternative and with BR;s budget he can't make 40-50m signings like LVG, who is in danger of getting it all wrong.

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  75. Ok so I am the manager of LFC at the start of the season and I tell FSG I need £120m to buy new players.


    FSG ask me, no problem, we will make that £120m available BUT what do we get in return for our MASSIVE investment?


    What would your answer be to FSG?

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  76. Secure the top 4 and try to go for the title.

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  77. Secure the top 4?

    If I was the owner of LFC and my manager told me that he will make sure we finish top 4 by spending the 2nd most money in the EPL at the start of the season then my answer back at him would be you are only getting half of the £120m.



    Do you actually understand how much money that is and then he gets to keep his job if he somehow creates a miracle to finish top 4?


    Now the next question. How much more money do FSG need to give him to win the league?

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  78. Did you somehow miss the fact we SOLD a certain player for a certain sum? That counts for nothing in our title hopes and how much we spent?!?
    50 mill. and again to challenge for it, as there will always be a couple of teams spending the money trying to do the same, right?

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  79. I will leave it here. The fact that they made no money available in January is a sign of things to come. Rodgers has spent well over £200m already and a top 4 finish this season is acceptable and should be given more money to spend?


    No thank you.

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  80. UTD are ahead of us? They have been plagued with huge amounts of injuries this season too.


    This is also LVG's first season in the EPL and has HUGE boots to fill! Too many excuses are being made for Rodgers.

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  81. Tackling rate is not that bad. Only Lucas has more interceptions for a non defender.

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  82. I would saying is more about the training ground. Mario is notoriously poor in training and Rodgers notoriously wants people trying very hard there.

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  83. How many accounts do you need? Is this point of yours all that important to you?

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  84. Up vote up vote up vote.

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  85. Maybe, but we have to take a long term view, as I think FSG will. You have to admit LFC are getting there. You can't point to the start of the season, new players and loosing LS & DS they are not replaceable. Rome wasn't built in a day.

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  86. Certainly looks as though it was, what with all the unfinished buildings and whatnot.

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  87. '£75m back from the sale of Suarez'.

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  88. All City, Chelse, United all spent more than us is that time frame. Arsenal spent about ten million less but have upped their wage bill.so.it is highest in the league. Even Spurs have only spent twenty million less in the same time frame. All but Spurs were building on champions league quality teams. All building on teams that had been finishing above us regularly before last season. We caught up but then lost the leagues top scorer and lost the leagues second top scorer for half the season. Wake up buddy of course top four is enough. It's a effing achievement against the power spending clubs.

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  89. Lallana, Markovic, and Ibe can deputise for Sterling but none of them can be trusted to have the same impact that Sterling has provided of late.

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  90. Never as edgy befor team announcement as tonight...

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  91. can you put the full team out tonight ?

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  92. yes, but this is different name...

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  93. Sturridge starts. Woo-hoo

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  94. As soon as Liverpool Echo does... I just saw players entering...

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  95. Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Markovic, Coutinho, Ibe, Sturridge

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  96. That Rodgers has spent that money City, Chelsea and United have spent more. Arsenal have spent about thirty million less but we're already a champions league quality team and have added Ozil and Sanchez and have one of the highest wage bills in the league if not the highest. As do all those teams who were already well ahead of us. We lost our two top scorers forever and half a season. Yes bud wake up top four would be a success against the kinds of money we Re up against.

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  97. Br's going for it, good on him.

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  98. balotelli not even on the bench ?

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  99. Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Markovic, Coutinho, Ibe, Sturridge

    Ward, Johnson, Lovren, Lambert, Lallana, Allen, Balotell

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  100. I like the look of the attack - with Sturridge, Coutinho, Markovic, and Ibe.

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  101. There's gonna be goals in this one, Hendo & Gerrard will have their work cut out.

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  102. Now I saw it, first thing I thought was is that I hope we won't need defensive subs...

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  103. Relax guys it's 3-1 written all over it- to us

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  104. what did I say ;-)

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  105. ha ha ...please use this as boost in your Liverpool career Mario......worked real hard for that goal....all joking aside he did what he was paid to do, looked simple enough but other players have missed sitters like that before, hope he pushes on from here now, it would be great to see Mario and Studge in competition for goals.

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