8 Apr 2015

Confirmed lineup vs. Blackburn: £36m duo dumped; formation change? More humiliation for Balotelli

For some inexplicable reason, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has ignored Mario Balotelli once again for tonight's FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Sakho, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Moreno, Sterling, Coutinho, Sturridge

SUBS: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan, Markovic

BLACKBURN: Eastwood, Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon (c), Olsson, Conway, Williamson, Evans, Marshall, Cairney, Rhodes.

* In his press conference this week, Rodgers stated: ”We've got a number of players unavailable for the game. We'll see how Mario is this morning." Balotelli trained during the week, so why is he not in the squad. It's a total farce IMO. Yes, he hasn't set the world on fire, but Liverpool spent £16m on him in the summer, and he can't begin to repay that if Rodgers repeatedly ignores him.

* Having Lambert and Borini on the bench instead of Balotelli is ridiculous (IMO). The Italian is streets ahead of both when it comes to natural ability. The only thing those two have on him is work-rate, and when the club needs goals (as Rodgers admitted during the week), Balotelli is more likely to get on the scoresheet.

* As expected, Toure and Markovic are dropped after the Arsenal debacle, and deservedly so.

* Lucas and Allen in the same team again? To be fair, Rodgers has limited options, but it looks like hee'll sacrifice Henderson in midfield just to accommodate Allen. What's the point? Is Allen a better central midfielder than Hendo? Absolutely not, so why make that chance, especially when it didn't work against Manchester United?

* Given the personnel, there's a possibility that Rodgers may go with four at the back:

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

Johnson --- Lovren - Sakho ---- Moreno

------------ Allen - Lucas

----- Hendo -- Coutinho ---- Sterling

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

This may work better against lower-league opposition, but Henderson is wasted on the right, and the Allen-Lucas axis doesn't inspire much confidence. The other option:

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

---- Johnson --- Lovren ----- Sakho

Hendo --- Lucas -------- Allen --- Moreno

-------- Coutinho ---- Sterling

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

My prediction: 2-2

Author:


461 comments:

  1. Still praying it is a diamond..

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  2. Comfortable 2-2?

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  3. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:14 pm, April 08, 2015

    Sorry but we will lose this 3-1


    as you said farce of a team

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  4. Did he say 'farce of a team'?

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  5. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:17 pm, April 08, 2015

    Sorry but this is the worst lfc line up i have ever seen
    and i have seen a lot of bad ones


    why not start Lambert ? , go 442 vs a cahmpionship team


    instead we go 343 a found out formation
    and they will isolate Sturridge


    Rodgers is proving he is not tactically flexible like Mourinho,Benitez,Van Gaal,Ancelotti , Simeone


    i want to support him
    but if we lose , sack him

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:19 pm, April 08, 2015

    he said it is a total farce regarding Balotelli
    and i agree he is easily one of our most talented players

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  7. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:20 pm, April 08, 2015

    If Henderson is wing back
    i hope we lose , so he can get sacked
    There is a limit to naivety and he is crossing it


    Where is Logan when we need him?


    SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES

    ReplyDelete
  8. You seriously do not understand, the difference between what you wrote, and what JK wrote?

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  9. Someone is definitely crossing limits...

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  10. Maybe you need to clarify that for him..

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  11. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:21 pm, April 08, 2015

    And it starts with Brendan

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  12. Nah. He'll crack the code.

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  13. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:23 pm, April 08, 2015

    Look i am not going to spend my whole week
    excited over a match


    then Rodgers ruins it all playing Hendo at wing back


    not having it


    is it because he wants to accommodate Joe Allen at midfield ?


    is so they boith can go join Cardiff city

    ReplyDelete
  14. hhahahah.. eventually.. imagine him in a bar in Liverpool on a matchday..

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:24 pm, April 08, 2015

    i don't drink or smoke or inject

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  16. great. instead you go with your girlfriend for couple of hours and forget about Liverpool?

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  17. Perhaps you should

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  18. can't see it

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  19. how doyou input water mate?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:26 pm, April 08, 2015

    Liverpool is my life


    i am Liverpool


    so how can i go away from it.
    There is nothing more satisfying then a lfc win

    ReplyDelete
  21. being a liverpool supporter you can't live without beer IMO

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yet, you hope we lose?

    ReplyDelete
  23. 'i am liverpool'

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  24. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:27 pm, April 08, 2015

    drink as in drink alcahol
    i dont do that

    ReplyDelete
  25. there's one thing more satisfying then a lfc win for NGCTC: Rodgers getting sacked

    ReplyDelete
  26. do you realize you/ve just said you won't have it? and you can't change his decision either..

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  27. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:28 pm, April 08, 2015

    exactly


    finally
    on page with you

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  28. never getting old :-D

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  29. i think it is sniffing glue..

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  30. we will never be

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  31. it's look moe likely a 4-4-2 allen-Lucas-Hendo with coutinho behind sterling-Sturridge.
    the reason of mario not in the squad is simply because Rodgers doesn't like him.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:28 pm, April 08, 2015

    He is injured


    but i think he is cup tied anyway , so

    ReplyDelete
  33. my lord, do you even know what sarcasm is?

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  34. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:29 pm, April 08, 2015

    Rodgers is not brave enough for 442

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  35. brave enough? well it's one of the oldest line ups.


    playing 442 is far from being brave

    ReplyDelete
  36. Theycallmemrburt7:30 pm, April 08, 2015

    glen Johnson right sided centerback? The fans argued for years that Glenville should be used as a right midfielder, now to add insult to injury we (it looks like) will play him in a three. It makes my tiny mind boggle. If we do stick with Henderson on the right (which is crazy) he will definately have his work cut out protecting a slowing aging and defensively unaware johnson. For me we should go Lucas and Henderson in the middle of the park with Markovic right wing back. It's imperative that our central midfield has a combination of pace, power energy, a goal threat and composure. That combination can only be met within our current squad with Henderson and another in the middle. Allen should be dropped.

    Lovren Should feel at home in the center so I have no worries there unless that is they really press our defenders and shake them out of their comfort zones which lets face it is extremely easy to do.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:30 pm, April 08, 2015

    This season?

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  38. Theycallmemrburt7:31 pm, April 08, 2015

    If were to play 442 I think Manquillo would get the nod at right back

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  39. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:32 pm, April 08, 2015

    I said


    after the loss at cIty in Eihad in 2nd game of season


    Rodgers should be sacked


    yet i was labelled knee jerk


    no looks like i am not the only one who thinks like that

    ReplyDelete
  40. this season doesn't change the fact that we played 4-4-2 a lot last season, and it was under Rodgers

    ReplyDelete
  41. ...and there you have it.

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  42. I think we had just fininshed runners-up the season before under him...

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  43. Let's forget about Rodgers for the time being .... there are a few LFC players who need to prove that they can cut it tonight !

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  44. And then we caught form and went on a great winning run... I'd say keeping him was a good decision.

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  45. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:33 pm, April 08, 2015

    We played 442 diamond


    there is a differnce

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  46. Rodgers pre-interview:


    "we will see if it's 4 at the back or 3"


    "mario trained well but he felt ill"

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  47. Rodgers and is love for attacking full-back forbid that.

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  48. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:34 pm, April 08, 2015

    As if
    he is ill every week


    but conveniently fine after the game

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  49. some players will be under huge pressure today

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  50. Theycallmemrburt7:34 pm, April 08, 2015

    yep but rodgers has already admittted Johnson cant run anymore

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  51. well that's what i wanted to say we would play.
    Diamond or not it's a 4-4-2 anyway

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  52. Hope we don't concede the first goal. We always seem to lack a plan B.

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  53. I hate to say it... but they aren't going to prove if they can cut it as they are expected to win. They will however prove they can't cut it if they lose.

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  54. i don't really think he listen to what he actually say...

    in press conference i actually feel he talk just to hear the sound of his voice.

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  55. Is there even a slightly remote chance that Logan and NGCTC are one in the same?

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  56. Theycallmemrburt7:38 pm, April 08, 2015

    loool true that..

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  57. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:39 pm, April 08, 2015

    You are insulting me
    and testing my patience

    ReplyDelete
  58. Theycallmemrburt7:39 pm, April 08, 2015

    you sound like my wife :)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Did he go to Jared?


    (That's an American joke for anyone wondering)

    ReplyDelete
  60. Multiple(all equally annoying) personalities?

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  61. Cripes if he doesn't know either we are in rouble.

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  62. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:42 pm, April 08, 2015

    what he does not even know his own tactics?


    this is unbelievable


    if he does not know whether it is 3 or 4
    how will the players ?

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  63. Yep the blackburn ones

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  64. Mind games or maybe no mind------

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  65. Well he's got my mind in a spin

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  66. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:44 pm, April 08, 2015

    if we won and rodgers carried on
    then lost to villa


    or if we lose Rodgers gets sacked




    what would you choose

    ReplyDelete
  67. That was quick we haven't kicked off on my stream

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  68. he shoud just man up and admit he don't like him and he'll never play him again, he did the same thing with Agger and Reina than with Balotelli (fake excuse)

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  69. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:45 pm, April 08, 2015

    No Rudy Gestede


    no concussions

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  70. well we're just that good !

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  71. Theycallmemrburt7:46 pm, April 08, 2015

    Mario it seems ill soon need to go on a massive enforced holistic detox cutting out meats, grains, starches, sugars, dairy and.................. the city of Liverpool

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  72. they have nothing to loose

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  73. Win the cup and PL and get sacked

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  74. back 4 ! blessed

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  75. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:49 pm, April 08, 2015

    Blackburn scored!

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  76. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:49 pm, April 08, 2015

    Just joking

    ReplyDelete
  77. Nicolas Chamberlain7:50 pm, April 08, 2015

    Balotelli was clubbing last weekend, so its normal that Rodgers is not counting on this enigma anymore. Come on you Reds!

    ReplyDelete
  78. jaimie when will you finally ban this guy?


    he's taking the quality of this page down to a new level

    ReplyDelete
  79. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:50 pm, April 08, 2015

    Really slow game so far

    ReplyDelete
  80. how old are you? 11?

    ReplyDelete
  81. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:51 pm, April 08, 2015

    So you guys can keep making jokes but when i do
    i should be banned

    ReplyDelete
  82. you're the most anoying person on the site

    ReplyDelete
  83. Theycallmemrburt7:52 pm, April 08, 2015

    well this confirms FOR ME, IN MY OWN TINY MIND that Sterling wants to be played as a striker before he signs anything

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  84. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:53 pm, April 08, 2015

    That is your opinion
    i dont think i am

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  85. without any doubt

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  86. he certainly doesn't want to play wingback

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  87. urgh sakho, you have a right foot too

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  88. Sweet mother of dog

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  89. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:01 pm, April 08, 2015

    Blackburn playing well

    ReplyDelete
  90. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:01 pm, April 08, 2015

    uggghhh Micheal Owens commentary

    ReplyDelete
  91. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:03 pm, April 08, 2015

    Raheem Sterling and Sakho playing well so far

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  92. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:10 pm, April 08, 2015

    18

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  93. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:11 pm, April 08, 2015

    Sturridge a shadow of his former self




    Lacazette ring ring

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  94. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:13 pm, April 08, 2015

    Sakho?


    why ?

    ReplyDelete
  95. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:14 pm, April 08, 2015

    Toure and Lovren


    uh oh !




    Lloyd Jones where r u?

    ReplyDelete
  96. Got to up the pace and keep it high n away from defenders

    ReplyDelete
  97. Nicolas Chamberlain8:16 pm, April 08, 2015

    Yeah yeah, lets sell our whole team.
    You have no faith or loyalty at all.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:16 pm, April 08, 2015

    Lovren

    ReplyDelete
  99. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:17 pm, April 08, 2015

    No i never said sell him


    where did you get that idea ?


    but we need a new number one striker

    ReplyDelete
  100. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:17 pm, April 08, 2015

    Williamson think this is WWE

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  101. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:18 pm, April 08, 2015

    Johnson almost scored

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  102. No.shite that sakho got injured

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  103. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:20 pm, April 08, 2015

    If i had no loyalty i would be supporting man city

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  104. Nicolas Chamberlain8:20 pm, April 08, 2015

    Not a new number one, we need an extra quality striker so we can play with two man upfront. I was exaggerating because you are always burning our players and than come up with a list full of mediocre players. Not that I'm saying that Lacazette is mediocre...

    ReplyDelete
  105. Sturridge still looks way off..

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  106. Nicolas Chamberlain8:21 pm, April 08, 2015

    or Chelsea... If you have loyalty please show that from time to time. Give our players some credit.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Theycallmemrburt8:22 pm, April 08, 2015

    where where where is philippe?

    ReplyDelete
  108. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:22 pm, April 08, 2015

    I give enough to Sakho and Coutinho


    and Skrtel and Lucas
    even Balo


    jsut annoyed with Sterling and hendo thinking they are too good for us

    ReplyDelete
  109. Unlucky keep the pressure up lads

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  110. Nicolas Chamberlain8:24 pm, April 08, 2015

    I'm more fed up with Sterling. Only two weeks before that interview he was saying that he was enjoying his football... There is something wrong with our wage policy. Especially if we want to take that next step.

    ReplyDelete
  111. Balotelli has a sicknote from his doctor for this game.... Looks like he's looking for as many excuses as he can not play for LFC again...

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  112. Theycallmemrburt8:25 pm, April 08, 2015

    Toure amd Lovren have switched..... haha so now they can play poor passes out from the back on their good sides

    ReplyDelete
  113. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:25 pm, April 08, 2015

    hey i called you the cornerstone of the site
    you should respect me


    also respect Jaimie ,

    ReplyDelete
  114. Sturridge hasn't though, and that's all I care about

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  115. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:27 pm, April 08, 2015

    Maybe Rodgers should play another striker with him


    Ricky Lambert
    Mario Balotelli

    ReplyDelete
  116. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:28 pm, April 08, 2015

    bring on Lambert for Allen

    ReplyDelete
  117. 4-3-3 ooops!

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  118. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:30 pm, April 08, 2015

    i am happy he proved me wrong today


    still angry over Balo though
    he cant be ill every week?

    ReplyDelete
  119. Be angry with him, not Brendan. or better still, his illness.

    ReplyDelete
  120. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:31 pm, April 08, 2015

    its an excuse
    by Rodgers


    he does not want to admit he dropped him to protect Balotellis transfer value

    ReplyDelete
  121. Of course, why didn't I see it...

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  122. Not gonna be easy to break these boys down..

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  123. Maybe, and I'm not pushimg, but maybe you should give something a try...

    ReplyDelete
  124. So what I guess can be said is we are still in it?

    ReplyDelete
  125. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:34 pm, April 08, 2015

    ...............................Sturridge...........Lambert
    Coutinho................Henderson..........Lucas..............Sterling
    Moreno...............Lovren...................Youre.......Johnson
    .......................................Mignolet


    Allen off for Lambogini Lambert

    ReplyDelete
  126. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:35 pm, April 08, 2015

    We need Lambert
    tooo many croosses
    no targets

    ReplyDelete
  127. Up to our necks in it

    ReplyDelete
  128. Balotelli not on the bench as far as I know?

    ReplyDelete
  129. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:37 pm, April 08, 2015

    Messi,Suarez,Neymar


    the dream forward lien up


    The best there is the best there ever will be Messi
    Neymar the next greatest player
    Suarez the perfect supplement

    ReplyDelete
  130. He is in Code's parallel realm.

    ReplyDelete
  131. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:38 pm, April 08, 2015

    No i am speaking in general not blackburn

    ReplyDelete
  132. It's not Sterling Coutinho and Sturridge so I don't care.

    ReplyDelete
  133. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:39 pm, April 08, 2015

    Suarez is a legend

    ReplyDelete
  134. I have just waved my hand over my head!

    ReplyDelete
  135. dude,no one cares ok

    ReplyDelete
  136. Maybe he should go there himself and close the portal behind him!

    ReplyDelete
  137. He claims he's injured his knee.

    ReplyDelete
  138. You don't take your meds either..

    ReplyDelete
  139. But he was cup tied the last round too

    ReplyDelete
  140. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:41 pm, April 08, 2015

    Oh my gosh


    when i left i said
    you omre ,Derbauurman and Anderson were really rude people


    Omre changed
    but you and the boer man
    need to work on it

    ReplyDelete
  141. Do not understand were the criticism of Sterling is coming from.


    His movement and awareness is something we will struggle to replace.


    In fact, take Coutinho, Hendo and Sterling out of this squad and we are totally f*****.

    ReplyDelete
  142. Really, if we sign a petition, can we ban him?

    ReplyDelete
  143. well that's the thing, when you're cup tied it's until the end

    ReplyDelete
  144. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:43 pm, April 08, 2015

    We are struggling regardless of Sterling

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  145. I am talking in general. Not just this match.

    ReplyDelete
  146. Sterling passing is as awful as always and he just lose the ball when he has it

    ReplyDelete
  147. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:44 pm, April 08, 2015

    I never broke any of the rules in the comment policy




    ps i thought you changed

    ReplyDelete
  148. Who arewe going to have to make us feel better about ourselves if he wasn't around....

    ReplyDelete
  149. Bring Lambo on SH and let's just go for it ..... or it's bloody penalties !

    ReplyDelete
  150. 4-3-3 OR 4-4-2 Brendan?
    Gee, I uh, dunno..

    ReplyDelete
  151. because someone's opinion differs from you??

    ReplyDelete
  152. Sturridge is worse...

    ReplyDelete
  153. Coutinho is anonymous..again. Needs to get back to his previous level

    ReplyDelete
  154. In fairness they are doubling up on him every time he gets the ball..

    ReplyDelete
  155. I agree. Been terrible.

    ReplyDelete
  156. That is because he doesn't know what is his position.

    ReplyDelete
  157. true, but doesn't change that Sterling passing is bad though

    ReplyDelete
  158. he's not last season's player

    ReplyDelete
  159. ok i take it back i've been reading some of the comments nevergonnacrack... yh i think he's a troll

    ReplyDelete
  160. They are not worth the expense......now diamonds on the other hand

    ReplyDelete
  161. I vote you stay code.would be boring without you!!

    ReplyDelete
  162. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:47 pm, April 08, 2015

    he needs an injury free season
    and a strike partner

    ReplyDelete
  163. sorry i take it back been reading some of the comments can't defend this guy

    ReplyDelete
  164. Who else thinks BT presenters SUCK

    ReplyDelete
  165. its a given

    ReplyDelete
  166. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:48 pm, April 08, 2015

    owen as well

    ReplyDelete
  167. as always, and always will be a poor imitation to Skysports..

    ReplyDelete
  168. Sterling 55 key passes and 62 chances created. Coutinho is far behind. Henderson is slightly better than Coutinho.


    These three are our best players and tow of them might hit the road.

    ReplyDelete
  169. Nicolas Chamberlain8:50 pm, April 08, 2015

    We need to man up asap.
    What the hell...

    ReplyDelete
  170. We're in trouble

    ReplyDelete
  171. has blackburn come out in the second half

    ReplyDelete
  172. my god mignolet saving us again

    ReplyDelete
  173. Ming is proving there is life after a twitter campaign...

    ReplyDelete
  174. Nearly a great save by Joe Allen

    ReplyDelete
  175. What the eff is owen smoking...

    ReplyDelete
  176. key passes doesn't mean a lot, actually what exactly is a key passes ?

    ReplyDelete
  177. Need to see a much faster pace on and off the ball this half, lucas and allen in midfield just isn't working and sturridge needs to hold up the ball better.

    completely agree with all your points, IMO rodgers has run the rule over balotelli due to the work rate issue, like you said hes been in training all week no reason not to be on the bench atleast.

    ReplyDelete
  178. The final pass or pass-cum-shot leading to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring.

    ReplyDelete