Liverpool vs Arsenal - 24 August

[magneto]

Massive test for us. Don't think Arsenal will be anything like they were against West Ham.

 

Just a personal stab at a possible team from my side (could possibly interchange Hendo and Milner):

 

[Hassony]

like Stoke, we will avenge our heavy defeat to them last season and beat them 2-0

 

Benteke has something to prove against these lot as well after the FA cup final

[dorgie]

Henderson's fitness is also a consideration, of course.

[Leo No.8]

We f*cking owe these at the Emirates, had some horrible defeats there over the years.

 

I'm expecting nothing from this game, which isn't a bad place to be - anything we get is a bonus. If he leaves the back four unprotected again it could be awful - but surely he won't?

 

I'd swap Coutinho and Henderson (if fit) in the OPs team for greater solidity in the middle.

Edited August 18, 2015 by Leo No.8

[smithdown]

Hoof to Benteke to turn them round, get two men with a finish in them close to him, it's a 3-1 to us.

[épieur]

Hope to see this against them:

 

 

Actually, I'd hope to see Sakho ahead of Lovren, but like whatever - Rodgers is making a point to someone off-stage I guess.

[Chewie]

Think it'll be that back four

Then Can will sit at the base of the diamond

Henderson will be ahead of this either alongside Coutinho or Milner, prob Milner

Then prob Coutinho will be at the tip of the diamond

One of Lallana or Firmino, probably Lallana given Firmino hasn't started yet

Benteke will be up front

 

We'll want to do our best to control the midfield, especially their runners, and keep it tight...

 

Massive test for us. Don't think Arsenal will be anything like they were against West Ham.

 

Just a personal stab at a possible team from my side (could possibly interchange Hendo and Milner):

 

[Red Yoda]

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

 

Clyne-------Skrtel------Lovren-------Gomez

 

-----Henderson----Can-------Milner

 

--------------------Coutinho

 

---------Firmino-------------Benteke

Edited August 18, 2015 by Red Yoda

[D.Boon]

Think id rather see Ings than Firmino for this. Firminho looks way off the pace of it. Can easily get on Smithdowns bus of hitting the big fella early and by passing their midfield munchkins.

Edited August 18, 2015 by D.Boon

[Red Yoda]

Think id rather see Ings than Firmino for this. Firminho looks way off the pace of it. Can easily get on Smithdowns bus of hitting the big fella early and by passing their midfield munchkins.

I would like to see Ings in too at this point for exactly the reason you said there, but I would also like to see Sakho in ahead of Lovren too ....:-)

 

The line up I put in my previous post was the one I think BR might go for. Us playing more compact at the back and in midfield hopefully leaving no room for them to dink little passes through us and when we win the ball for us to be direct, pacy, creative and clinical mainly through the centre with Coutinho, Firmino and Benteke.

[Conrad]

Can in a mifield two is an absolute no.

 

Sitting at the base of a diamond - no. Arsenal will play it round him all day long.

 

Firmino is not sharp enough to start.

 

Mignolet

Clyne-Skertl-Lovren-Gomez

Lucas

Henderson-Milner

Coutinho

Ings-Benteke

[Cam]

Shore up the midfield by dropping Lallana for this - we're away and need to keep it tight, try to sneak a one nil but settle for a point if necessary. Also Arsenal are filled with Lallana-type players but with greater pace & end-product.

 

Squeeze Ings in there too, perhaps for Ibe. Tell him to "be more Bellamy" and just kick away at the ankles of their defenders; unsettle the show ponies.

[Molby]

Shore up the midfield by dropping Lallana for this - we're away and need to keep it tight, try to sneak a one nil but settle for a point if necessary. Also Arsenal are filled with Lallana-type players but with greater pace & end-product.

 

Squeeze Ings in there too, perhaps for Ibe. Tell him to "be more Bellamy" and just kick away at the ankles of their defenders; unsettle the show ponies.

good album name

 

well I'm determined to enjoy myself so will be hitting some of the fine local pubs in Highbury very early doors (hanging baskets, outdoor seating, things like old bicycles hanging on the wall etc)

 

might get an Etheopean later

[Cunny]

With Firmino only getting 20 minutes last night, I don't see him starting against Arsenal.

[DJS]

I'd have Lucas in for this. Assuming Henderson is out, Can should start too.

 

Mignolet

Clyne Skrtel Sakho Gomez

Milner Lucas Can

Firmino Benteke Coutinho

[Hassony]

With Firmino only getting 20 minutes last night, I don't see him starting against Arsenal.

his cameo reminded me of Aquilani yesterday

 

can't see him being ready for Arsenal

[smithdown]

Think id rather see Ings than Firmino for this. Firminho looks way off the pace of it. Can easily get on Smithdowns bus of hitting the big fella early and by passing their midfield munchkins.

Yeah ings must be seeing his gaps already, looking at Benteke's little touches off and thinking they are all his to be had if he gets a game. It's the tactic to do their heads in, have them booing and shouting at Wenger every time we get a shot in, but if we go there like this with our one-shot-per-game ratio it'll be all over after an hour.

[honourablegeorge]

Think id rather see Ings than Firmino for this.

 

I'm keen to see Ings in general, to be honest. I think he could be good for us.

[smithdown]

 

I'm keen to see Ings in general, to be honest. I think he could be good for us.

I haven't a clue how good he is. Just thinking hat after having no strikers last year we now have three but have only seen one. Ok, two games, two squeezed one nils but both games could perhaps have been eased by less conservative subs. They're strikers and that's what we have gone over a year without. Just be nice like.

[honourablegeorge]

I haven't a clue how good he is. Just thinking hat after having no strikers last year we now have three but have only seen one. Ok, two games, two squeezed one nils but both games could perhaps have been eased by less conservative subs. They're strikers and that's what we have gone over a year without. Just be nice like.

 

Four strikers, even... Sturridge will be back eventually.

 

Ings is quick, knows the league.. but there;s a reluctance to play with two strikers so far.. Bournemouth home would have been a chance fo rhim, you'd have thought, I guess the game didn't unfold that way.

 

Rodgers talking about not wanting to change the tem much for the first four games probably speaks to not wanting to have too many unfamiliar players in the side at once - we have four players making home debuts last night which is a lot. Maybe a fctor too.

[smithdown]

 

Four strikers, even... Sturridge will be back eventually.

 

Ings is quick, knows the league.. but there;s a reluctance to play with two strikers so far.. Bournemouth home would have been a chance fo rhim, you'd have thought, I guess the game didn't unfold that way.

 

Rodgers talking about not wanting to change the tem much for the first four games probably speaks to not wanting to have too many unfamiliar players in the side at once - we have four players making home debuts last night which is a lot. Maybe a fctor too.

Four yeah but it is probably best to discount Sturridge as a fixture til he has slotted half a dozen and stayed fit.

 

The Moreno sub was a very restrained way to end a game like that though. A buzzy forward could surely have disrupted the momentum.

[Jarg Armani]

The Moreno sub worked a treat

[smithdown]

The Moreno sub worked a treat

He did win a free kick, I wouldn't say it had the ground sat back with their feet up thinking job done.

 

Oh yeah, btw Milner with all of his experience and as captain at the time should have put the blocks on that nonsense we did with it too. Silliness that.

Edited August 18, 2015 by smithdown

[The_Adder]

Can lets good, lets start Can.

West Ham did these playing a diamond and stopped that their tippy tappy stuff through the middle.

[honourablegeorge]

He did win a free kick, I wouldn't say it had the ground sat back with their feet up thinking job done.

 

Oh yeah, btw Milner with all of his experience and as captain at the time should have put the blocks on that nonsense we did with it too. Silliness that.

 

I thought the free kick had gone wrong, so he just decided to drag it away and blast it. Was really awful if rehearsed