Liverpool v Aston Villa (Kick off 5.30pm)

[Rory Fitzgerald]

If Sturridge is out for this one, I'd tend to keep the same shape and play 2 upfront with Lambert coming in.

 

I'd also bring in Coutinho instead of Allen given the amount of possession we are likely to have.

 

Mignolet

 

Manquillo Lovren Sakho Moreno

 

Gerrard

 

Henderson.......Coutinho

 

Sterling

 

Lambert Balotelli

 

Villa have played the same team in their opening 3 games in a 4-3-3 formation which looks something like this

 

Guzan

 

Hutton Senderos Vlaar Cissokho

 

Richardson Westwood Delph

 

N'Zogbia Agbonlahor Weimann

 

 

• In terms of getting at Villa, I think it makes sense to target Hutton and Senderos rather than going after Vlaar & Cissokho. Senderos was pitiful for Fulham last year and one of the worst defenders in the league, we need to be getting at him as much as possible.
   
  
• Whilst Villa are fairly industrious right across the team, their left side probably has that bit more with Delph & Weimann who really put in a shift. Getting the ball to our left/their right, we can get Coutinho on the ball with Moreno getting ahead of him and giving N'Zogbia a decision to track him. If he is not up for it all the time, it gives Hutton a question to answer and perhaps open some space beside Senderos. If we have Lambert up there as well, it gives Vlaar a problem too in terms of covering Senderos if he gets done.
   
  
• We'll have plenty of the ball in this, I dont think 2 wingers in Markovic and Sterling is the best way of breaking these down. Get Sterling central, Coutinho deeper with a full view of the pitch and 2 strikers up against their center backs and cause them problems, especially trying to get Balotelli on Senderos and have Lambert occupy Vlaar.
   
  
• In terms of defending, we just need to be conscious of them working the channels. Last year they had Benteke to hit and they certainly hit him but this year it will be feeding the ball Agbonlahor and seeing if he can us his pace and hit the space behind us. Weimann and NZogbia will look to get up and support him on the breaks. If we get men behind the ball, we need to tuck in and cut down on the space between the defenders for the runners to break through. Leaving the space wide is the lesser risk as Villa arent hitting too many crosses and wont want to be targetting any of their front 3 on a regular basis against the likes of Lovren and Sakho.
  

 

They've gone 2 up in the last two visits and come away with 4 points. Lambert's done his homework, if the team above is not his team then perhaps he thinks he has a particular set up suited to exploiting us again, so the set up and team is something to immediately look for to see if he backs his team that has them in 3rd now or if he is tailoring his team/plan to this specific game.

[David Hodgson]

Rory, we aren't starting with Lambert. It's not happening. Start again lad.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Rory, we aren't starting with Lambert. It's not happening. Start again lad.

 

 

Fair enough , Fabio ?

[Case]

I think Rory is right. I think Rickie will start if Danny is ruled out.

[lfc003]

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

Manquilo Skrtel* Lovren Moreno

---------------- Gerrard --------------

--- Henderson ----- Coutinho ---

--- Raheem - Mario - Lallana ---

 

Subs: Jones, Sakho, Jose, Lazer, Allen, Lambert, Can

 

*If Skrtels fit

Edited September 8, 2014 by lfc003

[Murphman]

I think Rory is right. I think Rickie will start if Danny is ruled out.

 

 

Nah, one up top (Mario), Coutinho comes in for Sturridge.

[Cunny]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sterling didn't start. he looked tired playing for England.

Mind you so did Henderson.

[Stevie H]

ron vlaar faces a late fitness test apparently.

[schmuckdonald]

You want to occupy their central defenders with two forwards and let Sterling probe and find space. Their midfield is all legs and nothing else. Go the diamond and we can expose them.

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

Record when starting with the diamond

 

W7 D1 L0

[David Hodgson]

I think we'll go :

 

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

 

Manquillo--------Lovren-----Sahko------Moreno

 

---------------------------Gerrard

 

-------------------Henderson-----Allen

 

 

-------------Sterling----------------------Markovic

 

 

-------------------------Balotelli

 

 

Coutinho plays in South America on Wednesday night so I don't think he'll get near the starting 11.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

 

Coutinho plays in South America on Wednesday night so I don't think he'll get near the starting 11.

 

I think they play in the States tonight. Had considered that and I think a flight from New Jersey after a Tuesday game for a Saturday evening kick off is do-able given what Suarez did. Whether he is selected or not is another matter, but I dont think travel will be the deciding factor.

 

Thats the alternative front 3 if he is shifting from the diamond with someone like Lallana from the bench to come in.

Edited September 9, 2014 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Dan]

Not beaten these at Anfield under Rodgers.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Not beaten these at Anfield under Rodgers.

 

Benteke was a big factor in those wins, scored 3 of their 5 goals. Do you remember at the start of the game last season, they clipped a ball into him, he flicked it on and Agbonlahor was dead central and poked it wide of Mignolet, I think it was only 2mins in. They knocked on the door again with Westwood having a free volley from the middle of box and fired straight at Mignolet.

 

Jesus, Villa have scored 5 in 2 games at Anfield and were rubbish in both those seasons. That has to change.

[Benzo-13]

Great to be back to the proper stuff this weekend.

[RP]

Chance to go better than last season again at the weekend.

[Sion]

That first half last season was the worst half of football I've seen under Rodgers. We were all over the place.

[Conrad]

I wouldn't be dropping Allen for this one. We don't want to be short in midfield. One up-top. Bring in any one of Markovic/Lallana/Coutinho to replace Sturridge.

[Cobs]

was Stevie's first game 'holding' wasn't it?

 

some people writing him off 30 mins into the match etc

 

 

 

[Conrad]

was Stevie's first game 'holding' wasn't it?

 

some people writing him off 30 mins into the match etc

 

not his first holding, but I think a game where tactically he was left exposed and overrun in the first half

[johngibo YPC]

was Stevie's first game 'holding' wasn't it?

 

some people writing him off 30 mins into the match etc

 

First game holding was Stoke the week before

God knows what our midfield was meant to be doing against Villa

[Rory Fitzgerald]

was Stevie's first game 'holding' wasn't it?

 

some people writing him off 30 mins into the match etc

 

It was the game after Stoke away when Sturridge had just come back so we started with him and Suarez but also wanted to have Coutinho & Sterling. It left us with Henderson and Gerrard in midfield.

 

The full backs were also in buoyant mood that day which Villa looked to exploit. Cissokho went pressing the ball in their half ahead of Coutinho for the 2nd goal when they crossed from our left back position.

 

I think we got carried away that day.

[johngibo YPC]

 

Coutinho plays in South America on Wednesday night so I don't think he'll get near the starting 11.

 

For reasons like this I be tempted to start Lallana

Played that behind closed doors game last week and then has had a nice break

[sutty]

First game holding was Stoke the week before

God knows what our midfield was meant to be doing against Villa

 

Attacking.

 

And letting their midfield/forwards run at our back 4.

 

TAW that week made me laugh. DH's "I saw the team and I punched the air" struck me as a sense check Brenno should introduce into his team selection. Text it to DH. If he's punching the air, change it

[Cobs]

Plenty of contenders but it looks like this was the winner...

 

oooooh or maybe this....

Edited September 9, 2014 by Cobs