Pre Match Pre Match - Newcastle (Anfield South) - Sun 16:30

[mom]

If they can’t recover in five days, and they lose on Sunday, does that mean we should start worrying about the league?

 

[beejay]

So many finals end up with penalties that we should have a plan around them. Last night should be a lesson. That's another reason for starting Darwin and bringing on Jota.

Without going full on Kepa-style last minute subs, it would fill me with a lot more confidence if we had Kelleher, McAllister, Jota, Szoboslai, Trent and Salah on the pitch at the end of ET should it go that far.

 

[Frogfish]

Ya I think we are losing this to a fresher team.

Hope I’m wrong.

We look knackered and need a break.

 

[tombrown]

Someone needs to tell Hamzah that Newcastle are nowhere near the level of PSG.

Someone also needs to point out to him the crucial two words in his own tweet:

In the past eight PL & CL matches, they have won more duels than their opponents just once (v Newcastle)

 

[dogboy]

If they can’t recover in five days, and they lose on Sunday, does that mean we should start worrying about the league?

Wise up would ye!

 

[LarryHagman]

Gakpo looks a world away from fitness, Jota's not at the races, Chiesa is pointless and Nunez is log.

So, that's Diaz, Salah +1. Fuck knows.

 

[localny]

I hope the manager has a fecking plan for penalties this time, and the players are peno-primed like they were under Jurgen, not petrified as they seemed the other night.

 

[LarryHagman]

Didn't Szobo sign and say he'd never missed a pen? Why would you take him off in the 110th minute? Macca too. Where was Gakpo's pen? Conjecture I know but, needs planning. And I don't think we did well enough.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

If Gravenberch can find time and space we will win. Simple as that.

 

[Farkmaster]

If Gravenberch can find time and space we will win. Simple as that.

I hope it doesn't hinge on that because he's been one of our most consistently below par players.

 

[i_rushie]

Someone needs to tell Hamzah that Newcastle are nowhere near the level of PSG.

What about Southampton? Or Wolves? Are Newcastle better than them? We haven't become a bad team just because PSG beat us, but we haven't been convincing since the Bitters. Here's a reason why.

 

[rubans]

I thought Trent is out of this one?

 

[MomoWASright]

What about Southampton? Or Wolves? Are Newcastle better than them? We haven't become a bad team just because PSG beat us, but we haven't been convincing since the Bitters. Here's a reason why.

It depends on which Newcastle turn up because Wolves could do Newcastle. Southampton not. Southampton didn’t even out battle us we were just slow as fuck in the first half and rampant second. Since the derby we’ve smashed Newcastle and out thought City without conceding a goal in those games.

 

[Hansern]

Seems like Kelleher will be in goal on Sunday, and it makes me feel oddly confident.

 

[mark1975]

Seems like Kelleher will be in goal on Sunday, and it makes me feel oddly confident.

Hmmm... I don't know how I feel about that. Didn't he cock up against them in the league? Ali is in great form, the only thing it makes me confident for is saving penalties, but we're coming off the back of losing a penalty shoot out, so..

 

[Dreambeliever]

Seems like Kelleher will be in goal on Sunday, and it makes me feel oddly confident.

Unless Ali is injured that’s fucking stupid.

No place for sentiment when trophies are on the line and Ali is in his best form of the season and we need his shot stopping vs Isak.

 

[moron]

I think if we don't win it in the 90, we lose

totally with you on this, I don't think the players want this cup, they wanted that CL, and in my head I can still see Dom crying on the bench and Salah crying after the game. This cup final is too much for us now.

 

[mark1975]

Unless Ali is injured that’s fucking stupid.

No place for sentiment when trophies are on the line and Ali is in his best form of the season and we need his shot stopping vs Isak.

Agreed. I know who I'd fancy when Isak inevitably goes through on goal.

 

[mark1975]

----------------AB/CK------------------
Quansah---Konate-VVD---Robertson
-----------Gravy-----Macca-----------
---------------Szobo-------------------
-----Salah------Elliott------Diaz------

Eliott or Szobo as the false nine, or failing that, play Nunez, though I suspect his head has gone.

 

[jexykrodic]

----------------AB/CK------------------
Quansah---Konate-VVD---Robertson
-----------Gravy-----Macca-----------
---------------Szobo-------------------
-----Salah------Elliott------Diaz------

Eliott or Szobo as the false nine, or failing that, play Nunez, though I suspect his head has gone.

I'm not sure Nunez's head was ever present.

 

[mark1975]

I'm not sure Nunez's head was ever present.

True that!

 

[Modo]

Really?
Elliott as a false nine?

 

[mark1975]

Really?
Elliott as a false nine?

What's the alternative? A non scoring Nunez or Jota? I did say Szobo or Elliott. He can't do any worse than what anyone else has served up lately and if we're going to play four in midfield, Jones is horribly out of form and Elliott would cause more problems and support Salah more, who is clearly struggling (and won't have Trent behind him).

 

[Modo]

What's the alternative? A non scoring Nunez or Jota? I did say Szobo or Elliott. He can't do any worse than what anyone else has served up lately and if we're going to play four in midfield, Jones is horribly out of form and Elliott would cause more problems and support Salah more, who is clearly struggling (and won't have Trent behind him).

The alternative is Jota.
Just because he hasn't scored for a while doesn't mean that I'd rather have Elliott up front playing in an unfamiliar role.
A cup final is not the time for experimenting, unless it's forced.

 

[mark1975]

The alternative is Jota.
Just because he hasn't scored for a while doesn't mean that I'd rather have Elliott up front playing in an unfamiliar role.
A cup final is not the time for experimenting, unless it's forced.

So we stick with what's been shite for the last two weeks? It's hardly an experiment, it's the system we've played in quite a few big games lately. Newcastle are strongest in midfield (and with Isak), I don't fancy Gravenberch, Macca and Szobo up against them after a leggy 120 minutes, especially when Grav is clearly already struggling.

Like I said, it's just for numbers in midfield, Szobo can play the false 9 role. Jota wasn't just starved of service the other night, he was horrible in possession too. He wasn't the only one, but the others have outperformed him lately so they get a bit of slack.