Bournemouth

[Frogfish]

Not sure Firmino will be considered ready to start yet so I'd continue with Ibe on the right. Mystic is right, we should be 433 for this one. Bournemouth can play lovely football so we'll need to play a high pressing game, players such as Milner, Henderson and Lallana are imperative to that and Lucas would give more freedom to both Hendo and Milner and release Ibe and Coutinho from some of their more defensive responsibilities.

-----------------Mignolet-----------------
Clyne-----Skrtel---Lovren---Gomez
-------------------Lucas-------------------
-----------Hendo------Milner----------
--Ibe---------Benteke-------Coutinho

 

[gkmacca]

Don't change a winning side.

Seeing as the consensus seems to be that the last side was a horses for courses choice, along with the tactics, then there's every reason to change it. Bournemouth are an expansive passing team. If that's not the kind of side against which to field a team that's your 'proper' XI I don't know what is.

 

[Mystic]

Watched parts of the first 45 minutes between Bournemouth and Villa expecting an attacking performance from Bournemouth. Got bored to death and gave up. I say we punish them for wasting my time.

Yep, I was massively disappointed watching them, after hearing all last season about how they were this exciting attacking side, they seemed to slip into new promoted team mentality of not losing as opposed to trying to win, a massive contrast to Watford, for example. Heh, maybe they were just overawed by the occasion, they'll probably turn it on against us.

 

[gkmacca]

Yep, I was massively disappointed watching them, after hearing all last season about how they were this exciting attacking side, they seemed to slip into new promoted team mentality of not losing as opposed to trying to win

Maybe they thought they were playing Stoke.

 

[Rosco]

I think I'd keep the two midfielders in front of the defence.
In terms of personnel the obvious thing is to replace Lallana with Firmino even though Lallana usually does well against relegation candidates.

The other thing is with the amount of additions we've made we need to give whatever our preferred lineup is a chance to gel.

So I'd make that one obvious change and give the rest of that team another go.

 

[Mystic]

Not sure Firmino will be considered ready to start yet so I'd continue with Ibe on the right.

Usually I agree, but with Arsenal the weekend after, I think it's imperative we have him match fit, give him 60 minutes from the start.

 

[keniget]

There was too much change too early last season so I'd be wary of repeating the same mistakes. We need to build up some fluency quickly.

The midfield doesn't look right however and I'm not sure with the squad we have and the standing of certain players within it how Rodgers is intending to sort it out.

 

[gkmacca]

I'd say Can needs to be bedded into the midfield asap. And as has been said, Firmino should play at least an hour, he's just too good to hold back. This team needs to gel as quickly as possible. If we wait several games before Rodgers has his preferred first XI then we could already be struggling. It's been noted many times - this season there's no time to waste.

 

[Dahuge]

At home we need to move the ball quickly with that in mind we can't play Lallana - good player but too slow moving the ball.

433 is a must...

 

[Hansern]

Same team bar Firmino for Lallana, if he's fit enough.
Ibe should definetly keep his place in the team.

 

[gkmacca]

Tempo is the key. We started so slowly last season. If we take that long again to get up to the pace we'll already be out of it. And the major thing that does hit newly promoted teams hard at the beginning is the high tempo of the best teams. We were painfully slow against Stoke and in pre-season. We need to find that pace again now. That's even more important than fine-tuning the selection.

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

Same keeper and back 4. Can, Henderson Milner. Coutinho, Benteke, Ibe. Try get half an hour for Firmino. Hopefully he'll be ready for the Emirates then.

 

[rurikbird]

-----------------Mignolet-----------------
Clyne-----Skrtel---Lovren---Gomez
-------------------Can--------------------
-----------Hendo------Milner----------
---------------Coutinho-----------------
-----------Firmino---Benteke---------

 

[Brizzle]

We will need Can as a DM for the Arsenal game to combat their host of AMs so I'd get him started for this game so that he can gel with Milner and Hendo. Would start Rurik's team as above although think the shape would be more Coutinho on the left and Firmino on the right

 

[Halmeister]

Yeah Woland, if you're able to sort us tickets there's myself and two mates looking to go. I can phase them out though if you can only get one or two, though. Nice one.

 

[dmishra]

Yep, I'd definitely go with three in midfield against Arsenal. Creative midfield is their strong point - wrest the advantage there, and you have a good chance of beating them. Arsenal are still soft and susceptible to physical pressing, so I'd definitely have Milner and Henderson more advanced, and constantly snapping at the heels of Cazorla, who's really the man that makes Arsenal tick. Go at them quick and hard in the first half like we did in the 5-1.

So yeah, to set the tone, same formation against Bournemouth as well.

 

[keniget]

We press badly though because we don't press in packs so often teams just play their way through us and we end up being run ragged.

More support and less token closing down.

 

[dmishra]

We pressed effectively in 13-14 (in short spurts at least) with the front 5 of Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling, Allen/Coutinho and Henderson.

Think we could replicate that with Firmino, Benteke, Coutinho, Henderson and Milner.

 

[#roadred]

Rurikbird will want to see some goals so we should go with this and press high.

Mignolet Bogdan

Skrtel



_________________________________Half Way Line_______
Can

Lallana Henderson Milner Coutinho
Ibe Firmino Benteke Origi

 

[Mystic]

Yep, I'd definitely go with three in midfield against Arsenal. Creative midfield is their strong point - wrest the advantage there, and you have a good chance of beating them. Arsenal are still soft and susceptible to physical pressing, so I'd definitely have Milner and Henderson more advanced, and constantly snapping at the heels of Cazorla, who's really the man that makes Arsenal tick. Go at them quick and hard in the first half like we did in the 5-1.

So yeah, to set the tone, same formation against Bournemouth as well.

As soon as Arsenal got past Milner and Henderson, which they will, Can would get taken apart by their attackers. I think the 4-2-3-1 is a safer option in that game.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

We haven't pressed well and hard for a while now, and this being early in the season, I'm not sure if our players will have the fitness or familiarity with each other to do much of that.

If we're going to dust off that playbook against Arsenal though, we have to get some practice in against Bournemouth at Anfield to make sure we know how to do it again, and to get some confidence into the squad. Otherwise, it'd be disastrous to go into the Emirates with a half-baked press - I'd rather we lined 5 up in midfield, closed the gaps and tried to hit them on the break than press them sloppily. In other words, draw or win boring there is fine for me. An away point there is a good one.

But before that - Bournemouth. Let's twat them and get the confidence going, because we sure as hell need that going into the stretch of away games coming up.

 

[reuque]

So when does Sakho get his chance? Have we all conceded that Lovren is first choice partner to Skrtel for this season or is this a waiting game till he screws up?

 

[Dirkus_Circus]

Yep, I'd definitely go with three in midfield against Arsenal. Creative midfield is their strong point - wrest the advantage there, and you have a good chance of beating them. Arsenal are still soft and susceptible to physical pressing, so I'd definitely have Milner and Henderson more advanced, and constantly snapping at the heels of Cazorla, who's really the man that makes Arsenal tick. Go at them quick and hard in the first half like we did in the 5-1.

So yeah, to set the tone, same formation against Bournemouth as well.

Unless he is inexplicably pushed out to the left and you forget he is even on the field like against West Ham.

 

[Woland]

Thank you again! So excited, it's beyond words.

Anyone who would like to meet before or after the game for a pint, PM me!

Are you about in Liverpool on the Monday afternoon? I gotta be in the ground early so would rather meet then and then after in The Harry. And I could give you leftpeg's tix.

 

[Woland]

Yeah Woland, if you're able to sort us tickets there's myself and two mates looking to go. I can phase them out though if you can only get one or two, though. Nice one.

Just asking around now

 

[leftpeg]

So when does Sakho get his chance? Have we all conceded that Lovren is first choice partner to Skrtel for this season or is this a waiting game till he screws up?

We're one game into the season so I don't think we need to make that commitment just yet.

 

[mr_moo]

As per Sunday with firmino in for Lallana

 

[Ryan]

You're a good sort Woland.

 

[rurikbird]

So when does Sakho get his chance? Have we all conceded that Lovren is first choice partner to Skrtel for this season or is this a waiting game till he screws up?

Sakho will probably get his chance after Lovren gets ripped apart and humiliated by Arsenal. Well, let's hope not, but that's quite possible.

In any case, against Bournemouth Lovren should start since he did do well in the previous game. You should not drop players after a good performance.

 

[Oncy]

Id play
Mignolet
Moreno
Skrtel
Sakho
Clyne

Milner
Henderson

Coutinho
Firmino
Lallana

Benteke.