After a much-needed nine-day rest period, Liverpool are back in action against Swansea City on Monday night, and a if results go the right way, the Reds will end the evening back in the top four.
It's simple: if Manchester United lose against Spurs tomorrow, and Liverpool beat Swansea, the club will leapfrogs the Mancs into the fourth place.
The incentive to win is massive, and after nine days without playing, there's no real excuse to not come away with a positive result against a team that is - on paper - inferior to Liverpool.
In his pre-game press conference, Rodgers also revealed great news on the injury front, which is a big boost for the club:
On Skrtel: "Martin...is fine, so he should be available. Se'll monitor that again to make sure that everything is safe, but he should be fine."
On Flanagan: "Great news - Jon Flanagan is back and training with the group"
On Gerrard: "We had Steven back training, which is great".
On Allen: "Joe Allen is back and fit and well, so the [injured players] are starting to return."
Rodgers has a history of rushing players back from injury too soon, but he seems to have learned his lesson this season (with Sturridge, for example). However, I have a feeling that he'll bring Skrtel and Allen straight back into the starting line-up, and start with Gerrard on the bench:
----------------- Mignolet
----- Can ------- Skrtel --------- Lovren
Markovic ---- Allen -- Hendo ----- Moreno
--------- Coutinho --- Sterling
---------------- Sturridge
* Lallana had another ineffective game against Blackburn, and unless Sterling plays as a right wing-back (which is, admittedly, possible), he'll probably be on the bench.
* Lovren still looks a little shaky, but at the end of the day, Liverpool have conceded only 2 goals in 5 games since he came back into the team (with 3 clean sheets), so there's no real justification to drop him for £18m Sakho.
* If Gerrard starts, it'll probably mean Sterling playing right wing-back (in place of Markovic), with the captain alongside Coutinho. In my view, that is Liverpool's strongest possible attacking line-up.
Predicting a 2-1 win for Liverpool, Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:
"I am not quite sure they [Swansea] have enough of a goal threat to hurt Liverpool, and I think Brendan Rodgers' side will pick them off...with so many different options going forward, and so much pace".
My prediction: 1-1
Author: Jaimie K
It's simple: if Manchester United lose against Spurs tomorrow, and Liverpool beat Swansea, the club will leapfrogs the Mancs into the fourth place.
The incentive to win is massive, and after nine days without playing, there's no real excuse to not come away with a positive result against a team that is - on paper - inferior to Liverpool.
In his pre-game press conference, Rodgers also revealed great news on the injury front, which is a big boost for the club:
On Skrtel: "Martin...is fine, so he should be available. Se'll monitor that again to make sure that everything is safe, but he should be fine."
On Flanagan: "Great news - Jon Flanagan is back and training with the group"
On Gerrard: "We had Steven back training, which is great".
On Allen: "Joe Allen is back and fit and well, so the [injured players] are starting to return."
Rodgers has a history of rushing players back from injury too soon, but he seems to have learned his lesson this season (with Sturridge, for example). However, I have a feeling that he'll bring Skrtel and Allen straight back into the starting line-up, and start with Gerrard on the bench:
----------------- Mignolet
----- Can ------- Skrtel --------- Lovren
Markovic ---- Allen -- Hendo ----- Moreno
--------- Coutinho --- Sterling
---------------- Sturridge
* Lallana had another ineffective game against Blackburn, and unless Sterling plays as a right wing-back (which is, admittedly, possible), he'll probably be on the bench.
* Lovren still looks a little shaky, but at the end of the day, Liverpool have conceded only 2 goals in 5 games since he came back into the team (with 3 clean sheets), so there's no real justification to drop him for £18m Sakho.
* If Gerrard starts, it'll probably mean Sterling playing right wing-back (in place of Markovic), with the captain alongside Coutinho. In my view, that is Liverpool's strongest possible attacking line-up.
Predicting a 2-1 win for Liverpool, Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson told the BBC:
"I am not quite sure they [Swansea] have enough of a goal threat to hurt Liverpool, and I think Brendan Rodgers' side will pick them off...with so many different options going forward, and so much pace".
My prediction: 1-1
Author: Jaimie K
thats a weak prediction jk... 1-1? You need to have a lottle more faith in your team i think...
ReplyDeleteI feel dirty for saying this, but I'd rather see a Utd win today, or maybe a draw. On current form I'm confident we'll beat them at Anfield and they have by far the toughest run in, so wil drop plenty of points elsewhere. To my mind that puts Spurs as our biggest rival for CL places. Top four can wait a while longer; slowly slowly catchy monkey.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, this is good - it means Liverpool will win tomorrow :-)
ReplyDeleteAgree but I would settle for a very lucky and unconvincing draw as a result of an unbelievably poor refereeing decision that sees three (or more) Spurs players sent off and Fellaini's wig damaged beyond repair.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Sakho not fully fit - shame - get him back for Utd game hopefully
ReplyDeleteFlanno is back? Best news this season!!
ReplyDeletethis is the line-up which keeps the club unbeaten and best club in the country in 2015 i am sure 100% we will get three points if we go this line-up
ReplyDeleteMignolet
Sakho..Skrtel..Can
Markovic..Henderson..Allen/Gerrard..Moreno
Coutinho
Sterling...Stturidge
I feel a result coming.
ReplyDeleteThink this could be Markovic's chance to shine..
ReplyDeleteAny news on Lucas? It seems when he gets injured it takes forever to get him back to full fitness
ReplyDeleteExpeted return 22nd March, according to physio room. Only the second time I've visited their site, but I'm told they are good..
ReplyDeleteimo it would be a good game to give Lallana a start. He's very good at pressing and caused Swansea a lot of problems the last time we played them.
ReplyDeleteswansea aren't in their best form right now so everything about a win would be unacceptable
In time for 'that' game perhaps- they won't have RVP di Maria or Evans
ReplyDeleteDi Maria has some cards or?
ReplyDeleteOops my mistake thought FA cup red card carried forward
ReplyDeleteWhy is there only 30 post per topic here lately?
ReplyDeleteI am having a quid on Liverpool to win 3-1 thanks for the usual draw prediction JK now i feel confident.
ReplyDeleteFor me it was work related - people could be irritated by Sterling 'agenda' and gone elsewhwere or cos we are playing well now
ReplyDeleteNo need to drop Lovren for Sakho you are kidding Lovren has just been lucky his awful defending has not come back to bite him.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to be replaced asap and i hope someone comes in with a decent bid for him in the summer he is just awful and doesnt look like getting any better!!
Don't drop Lovren because the team has been conceding less...doesn't make sense. You play your best players, and Sakho has looked a lot better in that shirt than Lovren has. When has Lovren ever looked convincing, Jaimie? You don't want to drop Lovren so you don't hurt his confidence, but it goes both ways, because Sakho's confidence is deteriorating with every game he is on the bench.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't bother me to see Lovren dropped, he hasn't really looked that good and Sakho has an established relationship with the other defenders. If it was a longer lay-off it might make sense but it's only been a few weeks. Sakho can easily slot back into the team so I say give him his spot back, he's overall the better performing defender this season.
ReplyDeleteI guess Swansea have goals in them but Liverpool have been surprisingly strong at the back recently. Perhaps think of starting Sterling up front with Sturridge so as to put on the early pressure, play a high tempo right from the start and see what happens. No matter if Liverpool score Swansea will look to play a controlled and attacking game for 90 minutes and that leaves them open. Hard to predict a result but Liverpool should have the players to get the job done. Might just depend on if Sturridge is getting his sharpness back.
We were terrible vs Blackburn and I believe they pretty much had us figured out. This match is not going to be a walk in the park and Swansea will be targeting Lovren if he does play as just about every manager out there would have seen how shaky he has been everytime Lovren has featured.
ReplyDeleteI would go with a midfield three for this match as that is where the battle will be one or lost which does mean reverting to a back four and I would go with Sterling and Sturridge up top.
-----------Mignolet-------------
Toure Skrtel Sakho Moreno
-----Can---Allen---Hendo---
-----------Coutinho-----------
-------Sterling Sturridge-----
This is a must win match as UTD and Arsenal are up next so we cannot afford to drop points now. There are no easy matches and yes UTD are a crock of sh*** at the moment but they are still ahead of us.
Toure as a rb? Seriously?
ReplyDelete3-0 to Liverpool. Should be an easy win
ReplyDeleteYes, but Can has been a big key to our defensive revival...I don't know...
ReplyDeleteJaimie, care too elaborate your prediction?
ReplyDeleteShhh, doesn't matter. It's good luck.
ReplyDeleteI know but still.. Would be interesting to read that elaboration..
ReplyDeleteGo to the local chemist and wait until it is empty of other customers. Make sure it is a man behind the counter and if not go back later. Then with a wink ask him if he has some "critical realism" for the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI have been posting quite a bit lately that might have something to do with it
ReplyDeleteFFS. I thought the Liverpool game was within the next 8 hours, 3 hours after United...I was wrong. It's 24 hours after that.
ReplyDeleteie depressants
ReplyDeleteWesley Snipes, is that you?
ReplyDeleteDon't worry I still get an attack of the nerves every Saturday at 3pm.......
ReplyDeleteYes, quite intimidating photo indeed...
ReplyDeleteThat's ma boy!
ReplyDeleteMaybe 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteToure has played RB before and even has more pace than the the likes of Skrtel. He is still quick.
ReplyDelete1-1 prediction... That's always a good sign.
ReplyDeleteI would rather have Toure at RB than Rodgers lovechild Glen Johnson.
ReplyDeleteManquillo is also an option but Rodgers seems to have no intention of playing him again anytime soon.
your dog must sort the issue out if you end up fine
ReplyDeleteCity seem to have completely lost the plot. Pellegrini's days are without a doubt numbered. Would not surprise me if City appoint Ancelotti to take over from next season.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean his dog? That is Stu on the photo...
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, City are actually being linked with Rafa. That will be something. They could get sucked into this top four race as well. They are only a point above Arsenal. All this while, we have been assuming City will finish second but what if liverpool, utd and arsenal finish in the top four and city go out.
ReplyDeleteJK has a thing for Lovren. I noticed last season that he would slate Sakho and remind us that he said we should have bought Lovren from Lyon instead. Well he got his wish last summer and Lovren has been the failure purchase of the season. He's more than a 'little shaky'.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way I would play Lovren ahead of Sakho when both are fit. Lovren has been considered good because he has been better than before which is not saying much at all. What was glaringly obvious in the Blackburn game was hat we need either Sakho or Can at the back to pass the ball. We had toure,Lovren and gj at the back and it was obvious how slow our play was. We need the link from the back.
ReplyDeleteDoubt they will go for Rafa. The only reason why City most probably are linked with Rafa is because he cannot stop talking about how much he wants to manage in England again.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have Johson, Manquillo, Flanagan, Can at RB than Toure. he's not quick or mobile enough to play there. it didn't really work last season and it won't work this season
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure IF BR decides to play 4 at the back then either Johnson or Manquillo will start
Dusaneeee!!!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, anyone still calculating how far we are off the relegation zone?
ReplyDeleteAh yes, classical conditioning in the manner of Pavlov's dogs.
ReplyDeleteYes Southampton
ReplyDeleteOrigi broke his goal drought with a Hat Trick today... YAY :D
ReplyDeleteI think if Sakho doesn't play it would be the fanbase more disappointed than Sakho himself. He and Skrtel should be the first two names in the defence.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a decent amount of repetition in articles, all.going good which keeps the cranks away and decent is dealt with swiftly. All could be contributing to fewer postings.
ReplyDeleteNah mate. They are no fools. There are very few easy games and Swansea are not one. A win yes but your setting yourself up to be annoyed by expecting it to be easy.
ReplyDeleteBest possible result. Thank you Soton. Schneider looked very good.
ReplyDeleteHe is very good.
ReplyDeleteHe has a European record though. Surely they feel the CL is something they want to do better in.
ReplyDeletehonestly, I couldn't care less what the chelsea results look like as we're not gonna catch up with them...
ReplyDeleterafa to city would tick all the boxes IMO. He would be close to Liverpool, the city he fancys so much and would manage an english 'top team' again.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Lallana assessment against Blackburn but there will be more space against Swansea and this is the type of team he can be very effective against. Would love to see Markovic flourish but I don't think he deserves his place vs Lallana in this game. Saying that I hope Markovic gives it a go, takes some more risks etc. if he plays.
ReplyDeleteBest result would have been Chelski win.
ReplyDeleteAncelotti will most likely leave Madrid at the end of the season. If they were given the option of Ancelotti or Rafa then I cannot see them passing on Ancelotti who won the CL last season and could win it again this season.
ReplyDeleteKlopp is another manager that will most likely move on at the end of the season so do not rule him out either.
Johnson would most likely start. Manquillo is way down the pecking order.
ReplyDeleteToure over Johnson for me every day of the week. At least he can defend and actually is 100% in it throughout the game whereas Johnson most of the time is caught ball watching.
Tottenham, you suck.
ReplyDeleteI concur.
ReplyDeleteThey're really stinking up OT.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to need to beat UTD...
ReplyDeleteThat's why I said best possible. I know we can't catch Chelski, but a draw keeps us clear of Soton and sticks in a pin in Chelski which is always to be celebrated.
ReplyDeleteThey suck despite having good attacking talent and having a good manager. I can remember some saying we should get Vertongen. There isn't one Spurs defender I would want at LFC...especially either one of those dreadful fullbacks.
ReplyDeleteWas that in the Iliad or the Odyssey?
ReplyDeleteFunny that every time someone says Manu I get an overwhelming urge to use the loo.....
ReplyDeleteI still think Lovren can be a good defender when his head is in the game but Sakho has been head and shoulders above him. Lovren hasn't done enough to show that he deserves to keep his place instead of Sakho. Maybe he can challenge Toure and Can for the spot on the right.
ReplyDelete