Ludogorets Razgrad vs Liverpool

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Not that I think we'll see anything like this but just throwing it out there - not a long term solution but just something to dog a result out

 

 

 

Mignolet

Skrtel Toure Lovren

Henderson Gerrard Allen

Lallana Sterling Coutinho

Lambert

 

 

• If the full backs are exposing the centre halves then cut them out.
• Be solid through the centre and if spaces are being left, then leave them out wide.
• Get Lallana and Coutinho tracking back on their side of the pitch.
• It gets 3 CB's in to 'try' be a bit more solid. It gets our 3 most creative players on the pitch and it gets the energy around Gerrard.
• Draw backs are that it sacrifices our full backs (who haven't been adding much though) and a center forward (which is only Borini at the moment).

Edited November 25, 2014 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Hassony]

I'd drop one of Sterling/ coutino for Can, and I'd like to see Lucas there as well

[Conrad]

Lucas in for Gerrard.

[Beardsley]

Lucas for Gerrard.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Yeah, was thinking about Gerrard alright.

[aka Dus]

About as much appetite for this as a s*** sandwich. I hope the players feel better about it.

[Will]

Double Agents

 

YNWA takes a look back at reds who have also played their football in Bulgaria as we face the champions of that country, Ludogorets Razgrad, in a crunch Champions League fixture on Wednesday.

 

A Bulgarian keeper

Bulgarian keeper Nikolay Mihaylov signed from Levski Sofia in July 2007 but work permit problems meant that he spent his reds career on loan with Twente in the Netherlands before joining them permanently for €1.8m in February 2010. He had spent a torrid time in Sofia with a fans’ campaign against him after a string of errors.

 

He helped Twente to claim the Johan Cruijff Schaal in 2010 and 2011, the Dutch equivalent of the FA Community Shield and was named Bulgarian Footballer of the Year and Dutch Goalkeeper of the Year in 2011. He left Holland to sign for Hellas Verona in Italy last year, but has already moved on to Turkish side Mersin İdmanyurdu.

 

Toni on his travels

Right-winger Toni Silva moved to Melwood in 2009 after spending time in the SL Benfica and Chelsea youth set-ups, but left for Barnsley on a free transfer in July 2012 after a loan spells with Northampton Town. He spent time with Dagenham & Redbridge last year and was released by the Tykes that summer. He signed for CSKA Sofia in December 2013 on an initial six-month deal, but he is now contracted with the club until June 2017. He struck three times in fifteen outings in his first campaign there.

[richwilks]

Mignolet

Manquillo - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno

Lucas

Henderson - Allen

Coutinho

Sterling - Borini

[Will]

Down Memory Lane

 

YNWA takes a look back at all four of our previous visits to Bulgaria, as we prepare to visit Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday. We have so far won three and lost the other encounter, all of which have taken place at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia.

 

Ged’s half century

We beat Levski Sofia 4-2 in March 2004 to reach the Fourth Round of the UEFA Cup 6-2 on aggregate, in what was our fiftieth European match since Gérard Houllier took sole charge. Sami Hyypiä played his 250th reds game, scoring our final goal. Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Dietmar Hamann struck the others.

 

Mark off

We lost 2-0 to CSKA Sofia in the European Cup Third Round in March 1982, having only won the first leg 1-0 at Anfield, although Ian Rush’s header after just two minutes appeared to cross the line, and we had two strong penalty appeals turned down. With twelve minutes remaining, Bruce Grobbelaar was caught in two minds about coming out for a ball, and Stoycho Mladenov nodded into an empty net. The game then went into extra time, and a deflected Mladenov shot evaded a host of reds defenders on the line to put CSKA ahead on aggregate. There was still time for both Ronnie Whelan and Mark Lawrenson to hit the woodwork, and Lawrenson was also sent off for retaliation, our first dismissal in European competition.

 

Other trips

Young Spanish right-back Antonio Barragán made his only senior reds appearance as we won 3-1 at CSKA Sofia in the first leg of our Champions League Third Qualifying Round tie in August 2005. Steven Gerrard set up all three of our goals, with Fernando Morientes bagging a brace to add to a Djibril Cissé strike.

 

We won 1-0 at CSKA Sofia in the second leg of our European Cup Third Round tie in March 1981, with David Johnson on target after Sammy Lee had hit the post to send us through 6-1 on aggregate. Ray Clemence saved a penalty from Plamen Markov with ten minutes to go after a Jimmy Case foul. The night was one of mixed fortunes for our scorer, as Johnson pulled a hamstring, and had to be replaced by Steve Heighway before half time.

[The_Adder]

I'd start: Kolo, Manquillo, Moreno, Can and Lucas.

 

All deserve to start.

[RedHarvest]

I'd start: Kolo, Manquillo, Moreno, Can and Lucas.

 

All deserve to start.

I agree. And I don't for a second advocate dropping Coutinho he's been our best player for the last six games.

 

Not confident Brendan will have the stones to drop Gerrard and Johnson though.

 

Trying to look at the positives, maybe the players will be stung into action and actually put I'm a passionate commited performance and get a win from this very winnable fixture

[_00_deathscar]

I'd start: Kolo, Manquillo, Moreno, Can and Lucas.

 

All deserve to start.

I'd just start those 5 and drop the entire team. Play 5 vs 11.

[David Hodgson]

I'd drop one of Sterling/ coutino for Can, and I'd like to see Lucas there as well

Why would you drop Coutinho (other than for a rest) ? He was easily our best player v Palace. He's one of the few who still looks capable of a performance.

I'd start: Kolo, Manquillo, Moreno, Can and Lucas.

 

All deserve to start.

Mignolet

 

Manquillo

Moreno

 

Toure

Skrtel

 

Lucas

Henderson

 

Lallana

Gerrard

Coutinho

 

Balotelli

[Hassony]

yeah, Sterling is looking out of sort now anyway, I meant I'd only play one of them on Wednesday

Why would you drop Coutinho (other than for a rest) ? He was easily our best player v Palace. He's one of the few who still looks capable of a performance.

[David Hodgson]

yeah, Sterling is looking out of sort now anyway, I meant I'd only play one of them on Wednesday

Yeah, that's fair. I'd also be tempted to keep giving Markovic a go. Try and play him into form.

[David Hodgson]

Odds are that a draw is a perfectly good result here. Why has BR said this is a 'must win' ?

[RedHarvest]

Odds are that a draw is a perfectly good result here. Why has BR said this is a 'must win' ?

Maybe we're not capable of playing for a draw, he probably means it's a 'must-score-more-than-them' game

[Gomez]

Odds are that a draw is a perfectly good result here. Why has BR said this is a 'must win' ?

 

Because we need a win after the last 4-5 results.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Odds are that a draw is a perfectly good result here. Why has BR said this is a 'must win' ?

 

Yeah, just looked at the scenarios. The 'only' good a win does us is that it keeps us alive if Basel beat Madrid.

 

Even if Basel lose and we win - a draw is still no good in the last game vs Basel.

Edited November 25, 2014 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Swan Red]

Rather than picking holes in comments I'd like the players and manager to consider every game a must win.

[Hus]

Rather than picking holes in comments I'd like the players and manager to consider every game a must win.

 

Exactly, even moreso when considering our current predicament

 

Not to mention that we're Liverpool, we should be beating these

Edited November 25, 2014 by Hus

[Hassony]

Odds are that a draw is a perfectly good result here. Why has BR said this is a 'must win' ?

if we draw, and Basel wil, we're out

[The_Adder]

Not confident Brendan will have the stones to drop Gerrard and Johnson though.

 

 

If thats the case then he doesnt have the stones to be the manager of LFC.

[Falconhoof]

If thats the case then he doesnt have the stones to be the manager of LFC.

 

And he hates our way of life.

[Boca]

Balotelli still not fit and didn't travel with the squad according to Barrett.