Liverpool vs Zenit St Petersburg

[Rory Fitzgerald]

 

Okay, there is not a lot I can add to this thread after last week’s post. However, there is one thing that might be of interest given how the tie is shaped.

 

Zenit played 3 Center Back's for the first and only time this season at home to Anzhi in December. I can’t find a reason for it though. Perhaps it was something to a mixture of the following;

 

- Kerzhakov was unavailable so Hulk was played as a striker with no suitable RW,

 

- Anzhi were ahead of them in the league and it was tactical against a strong opponent,

 

- Hiddink is Anzhi's manager so perhaps Spaletti was trying to outsmart him.

 

In any event, if they come out with 3 CB's and 2 WB's, it should not come as a total shock to the team given it was the formation deployed in the most recent competitive game before us and they have a 2 goal lead to defend.

 

What they have said since;

 

Question: Zenit took the ball to Liverpool, just as Luciano Spalletti promised. How hard is it for you to play in that situation?

 

Answer of Keeper: Actually, Spalletti didn`t give us that game plan. But we played at home, and Liverpool let us dictate the game, and to take the upper hand, so we had to take advantage of it.

 

Manager: We saw tonight that Zenit is in good condition, and I hope that we`ll be in the same condition when it comes to play vs. Liverpool……. Danny, as you saw, was injured in the first half. Then in the second half it was hard for him to step on his leg, and he was limping. Now we`ll need to examine him, and find out what happened to him.

 

Keeper: I think the match will be a lot more interesting and even in England. A lot will depend on what our condition is coming into the game.

 

And finally for honourablegeorge - its this Thursday !

[Red Yoda]

--------------------Reina

 

Wisdom---Skrtel---Agger---Johnson

 

-----Henderson----------Lucas

 

Downing-------Gerrard--------Enrique

 

-------------------Suarez

 

 

More pace needed at the back due to us probably pressing more and squeezing the play up , so Skrtel in ahead of Carragher .

 

Sturridge & Coutinho cup tied ,

 

So Wisdom in for Coutinho , Johnson moves to left back , allowing Enrique to give a goal threat from the left side .

 

Henderson in for Sturridge , push Gerrard in behind Suarez again due to his ability to get goals .

[richwilks]

--------------------Reina

 

Wisdom---Skrtel---Agger---Johnson

 

-----Henderson----------Lucas

 

Downing-------Gerrard--------Enrique

 

-------------------Suarez

 

 

I'm all for this. Maybe Carra starting though as he's in form.

[CarraLegend]

We'll create enough chances, whether we can take probably the 4 or 5 we likely need is another matter. Cant wait for this.

[johngibo YPC]

Enrique left wing would be an interesting one

[richwilks]

Can't see us not conceding and can't see us scoring 4.

[Conrad]

I'd keep Johnson and Enrique as full backs, and maybe start with sterling, although I'm not convinced by him. Otherwise, be good to try and find a role for Suso in this one

[David Hodgson]

--------------------Reina

 

Wisdom---Skrtel---Agger---Johnson

 

-----Henderson----------Lucas

 

Downing-------Gerrard--------Enrique

 

-------------------Suarez

 

 

More pace needed at the back due to us probably pressing more and squeezing the play up , so Skrtel in ahead of Carragher .

 

Sturridge & Coutinho cup tied ,

 

So Wisdom in for Coutinho , Johnson moves to left back , allowing Enrique to give a goal threat from the left side .

 

Henderson in for Sturridge , push Gerrard in behind Suarez again due to his ability to get goals .

Really like that but he simply won't play Gerrard there. Given this I'd go :

 

---Wisdom------Skrtel------Agger----Johnson

 

---------------------Lucas---------Gerrrard

 

--Downing-------------------Suarez-----------------Enrique

 

-------------------------------------Sterling

Edited February 18, 2013 by David Hodgson

[richwilks]

Really like that but he simply won't play Gerrard there. Given this I'd go :

 

---Wisdom------Skrtel------Agger----Johnson

 

---------------------Lucas---------Gerrrard

 

--Downing-------------------Suarez-----------------Enrique

 

-------------------------------------Sterling

 

I think we need someone playing that Sturridge role but I'm not convinced by Sterling. Shame Ngoo isn't here, we don't seem to even have a striker in the reserves setting the world alight.

[honourablegeorge]

 

And finally for honourablegeorge - its this Thursday !

 

 

Ta. Although unexpectedly discovering highlights of a 5-0 win last night was pretty ace. I should miss a few more.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Scratch that

Edited February 18, 2013 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Enrique left wing would be an interesting one

 

It is and its something I would have looked at in the away leg but in this game stunt our width on the right with Wisdom.

 

Our width these days is from the full backs and having Enrique and Johnson in their natural position fulfill that with the more forward players tending to tuck inside these days i.e. Henderson from the left (or Coutinho in the league) and Downing from the right.

[Conrad]

It is and its something I would have looked at in the away leg but in this game stunt our width on the right with Wisdom.

 

Our width these days is from the full backs and having Enrique and Johnson in their natural position fulfill that with the more forward players tending to tuck inside these days i.e. Henderson from the left (or Coutinho in the league) and Downing from the right.

 

absolutely

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Really like that but he simply won't play Gerrard there. Given this I'd go :

 

---Wisdom------Skrtel------Agger----Johnson

 

---------------------Lucas---------Gerrrard

 

--Downing-------------------Suarez-----------------Enrique

 

-------------------------------------Sterling

 

Is your reasoning for playing Sterling there that it frees up Suarez to roam and still have a presence in the box ?

 

Yesil injured

Borini injured

Morgan & Pacheco no longer at the club.

 

The only other player that could 'try to fill' that role would be Shelvey.

 

Suarez is gonna have to start central in this game.

 

I just haven't settled on a team for this game because there are one or positions that I am not comfortable with. The solution would be Gerrard off Suarez but as you mentioned, its not happening.

[David Hodgson]

Is your reasoning for playing Sterling there that it frees up Suarez to roam and still have a presence in the box ?

 

Yesil injured

Borini injured

Morgan & Pacheco no longer at the club.

 

The only other player that could 'try to fill' that role would be Shelvey.

 

Suarez is gonna have to start central in this game.

 

I just haven't settled on a team for this game because there are one or positions that I am not comfortable with. The solution would be Gerrard off Suarez but as you mentioned, its not happening.

 

Yep.

[Lark]

I say go for it.

 

Carragher agger

Johnson Lucas Gerard Enrique

Assaidi Suarez downing

J. Sinclair

 

Stirling hendo shelvy suso subs

[Earl Hafler]

Really like that but he simply won't play Gerrard there. Given this I'd go :

 

---Wisdom------Skrtel------Agger----Johnson

 

---------------------Lucas---------Gerrrard

 

--Downing-------------------Suarez-----------------Enrique

 

-------------------------------------Sterling

 

What would you like to see ? I think many of these formations we post are a compromise

 

I'd have the two attacking fullbacks, Henderson, Allen and Lucas behind Gerrard, Suarez and Sterling / Downing.

 

 

I'd be positive and press them like f*** from the kick off.

[carrafan]

Pepe

Johnson carra agger Enrique

Lucas Gerrard Henderson

Downing Suarez sterling

 

Can't seem to form a balanced side apart from this.

 

Would've been nice to have a goalscoring prospect next to Suarez. I'd have started borini if he had been fit.

 

I'd play Suarez in the middle cos he's our only real obvious

goalscoring option in that team.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

If Zenit were a fit bird, she'd be getting her back doors smashed in - © Mike - on Thursday

 

 

LET'S BE HAVING IT

[Falconhoof]

I say go for it.

 

Carragher agger

Johnson Lucas Gerard Enrique

Assaidi Suarez downing

J. Sinclair

 

Stirling hendo shelvy suso subs

 

What an unexpected suggestion for such an important game.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Yep.

 

I think we'd be missing presence and evidence he can take chances.

 

Shelvey wont be bullied and has a few goals behind him but I still don't like that idea.

 

Reina

 

Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique

 

Allen Lucas

 

Downing Gerrard Henderson

 

Suarez

 

 

I'd prefer to see Sterling on the bench as a real option with pace to run at them with 20 to go. Assaidi even has to fall into that bracket.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Sion]

What an unexpected suggestion for such an important game.

 

You say unexpected

I think you mean ludicrous.

[Falconhoof]

You say unexpected

I think you mean ludicrous.

I love the odd unexpected twist. A young player making his debut in a derby or something. we just have other more experienced players for this.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

You say unexpected

I think you mean ludicrous.

 

Its brilliant, he's slipped in Assaidi and no-one has even noticed. This is how we're gonna beat them.

[Lark]

Its brilliant, he's slipped in Assaidi and no-one has even noticed. This is how we're gonna beat them.

 

The element of surprise.

 

Attacking intention, flair, kamikaze, win or bust. So crazy it might just work.