After two Premier League defeats in a row, it's absolutely imperative that Liverpool get back to winning-ways against Newcastle on Monday, and with Gerrard and Skrtel suspended, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed that two more of the club's expensive stars are set to miss the game.
In his pre-Newcastle press conference on Saturday, Rodgers provided the following injury updates:
Adam Lallana: "I don't think he'll be ready for Monday. We'll just see how that goes into next week."
Mario Balotelli: "He was injured [for] Arsenal so wasn't available. He's been ill since midweek and continues to be."
If Lallana and Balotelli are unfit, it will mean Liverpool will (potentially) be without five senior players for the Newcastle game: Gerrard, Skrtel, Sakho, Balotelli, and Lallana
To be honest, neither player will be missed. Balotelli has no long-term future at Liverpool, I'd argue the same thing about Lallana, who is (IMO) one of the biggest transfer disappointments of the season.
Plus, Lallana is increasingly injury prone, which is frustrating:
* Three injuries this season already.
* 76 days on the sidelines so far.
* 9 games missed as a result of injury.
A £26m signing should not be missed this easily, but in my view, Lallana has made zero difference to Liverpool's season, but hopefully that will change next year.
As for Balotelli - I still think he has a part to play this season, and if he scores the goal that seals Liverpool's Champions League place - or wins the FA Cup - I'm sure that his abject failure to consistently contribute will be swiftly forgotten.
Author: Jaimie K
In his pre-Newcastle press conference on Saturday, Rodgers provided the following injury updates:
Adam Lallana: "I don't think he'll be ready for Monday. We'll just see how that goes into next week."
Mario Balotelli: "He was injured [for] Arsenal so wasn't available. He's been ill since midweek and continues to be."
If Lallana and Balotelli are unfit, it will mean Liverpool will (potentially) be without five senior players for the Newcastle game: Gerrard, Skrtel, Sakho, Balotelli, and Lallana
To be honest, neither player will be missed. Balotelli has no long-term future at Liverpool, I'd argue the same thing about Lallana, who is (IMO) one of the biggest transfer disappointments of the season.
Plus, Lallana is increasingly injury prone, which is frustrating:
* Three injuries this season already.
* 76 days on the sidelines so far.
* 9 games missed as a result of injury.
A £26m signing should not be missed this easily, but in my view, Lallana has made zero difference to Liverpool's season, but hopefully that will change next year.
As for Balotelli - I still think he has a part to play this season, and if he scores the goal that seals Liverpool's Champions League place - or wins the FA Cup - I'm sure that his abject failure to consistently contribute will be swiftly forgotten.
Author: Jaimie K
There was a period where things were finally turning up for Balo ( when he scored against Spurs and Besiktas) but like so many this season, he got 'Rodgered' and was dropped for no apparent reason and now he cannot even get into the squad.
ReplyDeleteWhen we signed him I thought he might be good and he certainly has some good skills but they seldom translate into anything positive in a match.
ReplyDeleteHe has the skill to beat a player but always takes on three and he has a good shot but with a 45 degree trajectory it is not so effective from 40 yards out ! Still,it always amuses me to see that surprised and slightly petulant look of a young child who has dropped his ice cream onto the sand as the ball sails harmlessly over the goalkeeper, the bar and the stand.
Lallana was never injury-prone... The guys has been very unlucky.
ReplyDeleteBalo should leave. What a waste of money and space that is.
Yup it's all Rodgers fault that Balotelli's petulant and lazy so can't hold down a place in any squad he's ever played in
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I also feel Lallana has been unlucky. As you say, he's never been injury prone before and every time he's started to get going, he's been injured. Missed pre-season through injury as well. I've not given up hope on Lallana yet. Worst case scenario he becomes an excellent (if very expensive) squad player
ReplyDeleteSo I guess we're hoping for a draw in the Manchester derby?
ReplyDeleteI really hope the PIPE SMOKING spoiled little boy will be sild DAY 1 of transfer season - cant stomach listening and reading about him = LET HIM GO BUT NOT TO A LONDON CLUB
ReplyDeleteJockin the Kop - Why did we sign Balo then ?
ReplyDeleteCOME ON CITY COME ON CITY
ReplyDeleteWhen we signed him I thought he might be good and he certainly has some skills but they seldom translate into anything good in a match.
ReplyDeleteHe has the skill to beat a player but always takes on three and he has a good shot but with a 45 degree trajectory it is not so effective from 40 yards out !
Still, it always amuses me to see that surprised and slightly irritated look of a young child who has dropped his ice cream onto the sand as the ball sails harmlessly over the goalkeeper, the bar and the stand.
If a post goes for moderation it would be useful to have the option to still delete it and try again with different wording. It is frustrating to have a post held in moderation for any length of time
ReplyDeletei like lallana but the reality is we overpaid by about 10m for him and when everyones fit its hard to see where he plays automatically ....he fits no where in a 442 and for me can only play in the front 3 of a 433 ...you have to assume mr glass plays when fit along with sterling and tino has been out best player this year so he starts so that 26m on a sub ..
ReplyDeleteWrong website . I said WRONG WEBSITE !
ReplyDeletebecause rogers assumed he had the ability to get the best ability out of him ....fail
ReplyDeleteMissed out on our top two striking targets, he was available for what seemed like a reasonable price so the club gambled on him. Gamble backfired so we should just once again cut our losses
ReplyDeleteI know, I've been thinking about this one too. Best case scenario - city give them a tanking, causing a loss of confidence and capitulation in their remaining games. Just can't see City continuing to drop silly points, not with the run in they've got
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's especially irritating when a post goes to moderation but you can't for the life of you figure out why, yet you can freely use words such as shit (and all it's variants), bollocks, blatherskite, crepehanger and slubberdegullion apparently without sanction.
ReplyDeleteThanks . I had been deliberately rewording my posts to avoid those last three words for fear of going to moderation. ;-) Now i know I can use them with impunity.
ReplyDeleteYep lot's of people me included thought it was worth a gamble but it has not worked out and if a player and manager do not get along rightly it's the player that has to change or ship out.
ReplyDeleteAvoid words like n*egative especially. Because Jaimie's a weirdo
ReplyDeleteLallana has been a huge dissapointment with his lack of creativity especially goals. He also has a tendency to go missing in games. I fully expected him to share the burden of scoring. We've been ripped off with the fee as per usual, frustratingly we won't go the extra mile for true quality.
ReplyDeleteEven QPR?
ReplyDeleteThe strongest starting team B Rodgers should put out considering injuries to beat Newcastle should be:
ReplyDeleteMignolet
Can Toure Lovren
IBE Lucas Henderson Moreno
Coutinho Sterling
Sturridge
As
Rather City win and we come 5th or MU win and we have a chance to go 4 th ?
ReplyDeleteNo 3CB please. If something happens to one of them, we have no backup option with all the others out. Moreno seemed much more comfortable at LB rather than LM/LWB last week too. Play Can as a RB, Lucas Henderson and Cou at CMs/AM, and Ibe, Sterling, and Sturridge fluid around them.
ReplyDeleteUntil it's confirmed, I'm not gonna crucify him. It looks like him in the pic, but how many times have we seem "doppelganger" articles. It very well could be a mischievous college student taking advantage of his looks...
ReplyDeleteMuch better chances if city win, see fixtures.
ReplyDeleteOverused. All gamea in the season for soton, plus a first wc. Than a new club trying to fit in and impress.
ReplyDeleteWe will have Skrtel back after the Newcastle game so that is great news and Sakho should not be out for more than two weeks and now Lovren will have chance to stay in side and build confidence.
ReplyDeleteI think we could play 4 3 3 again but if we play 4 3 3 I would play Flanagan or Manquillo as RB and play Can in CM alongside Lucas with Henderson just in front of them
Play Coutinho and Ibe out wide of Sterling
And start Sturridge off the bench as he has looked shockingly bad and off it in last three games.
Agree with everything!
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer the stadium become a sinkhole and all remnants within suddenly disappear
ReplyDeleteAgree, but Couts looked lost for quite some time in FA cup when played as a part of a front three..
ReplyDeleteQuite right Stu, the site definitely attracts it's fair share of blatherskites and there's definitely one pilgarlic that springs to mind.
ReplyDeleteI can't see Balo making the type of significant contribution that JK describes. His absences have been a bit 'cloak and dagger' and I'm not sure if BR has any faith left in him. I'd like him to have a positive impact on the tail end of the season but I think that's just wishful thinking on my part.
ReplyDeleteIs that a code word?
ReplyDeleteI wanted City to win because United have a much tougher looking fixture list but worringly they keep winning
ReplyDeleteYea but you're never gonna crack it...
ReplyDeleteCoutinho has been our best attacking player for last two months. B Rodgers could play 4 3 1 2 with Coutinho in hole and Ibe and Sterling playing as forwards. I am sure their pace, speed and trickery will cause Newcastle's back four numerous problems
ReplyDelete