I bet Dreamy thinks we can win....
I'll watch it as always but I might pay a little visit to William Hill and make some easy cash as well.
Real Madrid Vs Liverpool
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I bet Dreamy thinks we can win....
I'll watch it as always but I might pay a little visit to William Hill and make some easy cash as well.
Tony Barrett
Published 1 minute ago
Liverpool are set to go into their Champions League group game away to Real Madrid tonight without Steven Gerrard, with Brendan Rodgers preferring to rest his captain in preparation for the visit of Chelsea to Anfield on Saturday.
In a surprise move that will shock Liverpool fans, Rodgers admitted that he is ready to face the European champions without his talisman, insisting it would not be a gamble to do so.
The manager said that he wanted to test the depth and quality of his squad against a team who romped to a 3-0 victory at Anfield a fortnight ago and whom he described as “the best in world football”.
Gerrard is likely to be named among the substitutes, with his place taken by Lucas Leiva. Raheem Sterling and Dejan Lovren may also be rested after they played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Rodgers admitted that his selection policy will be dictated by his belief that the Barclays Premier League remains his priority as he looks to ensure that Liverpool are in a position to qualify for the Champions League again next season. However, he maintained that whatever team he picks will be capable of getting a positive result at the Bernabéu.
“I don’t see it as a gamble,” he said. “This week and these games against the likes of Real Madrid I see as a great opportunity for the squad. You put them out there and you put your trust in them to perform. All I will do as the manager is give them that opportunity to perform.
“We have got three high-level games in a week and I have to think about that in preparation for the weekend. I also understand that we have to have a team that can come here and win and that is what we want to do.
“In Steven’s case, if he is playing on Saturday [against Chelsea] I have to look at what is the priority for him and us. We brought in other players and that brings a responsibility. But there is no doubt that our priorities are the Premier League and the Champions League. In that order? Always.
“For me, at this moment, if we want to develop we need to ensure we are in the top four, but we also want to qualify from this group and we will never know if these players can perform if we don’t put them in the team.
“It [resting Gerrard] is something I need to look at. He and I have spoken about that. We are having three big games in a week, Newcastle, Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of players to look at the games we want them to play in. That is something I will look at and we will see how that shapes up tomorrow.”
Picking a weakened team for one of the biggest games in Liverpool’s season so far will inevitably increase the scrutiny that Rodgers is under after a poor start to the campaign, but he insists that such pressure will not prevent him from taking the decisions he feels are right for his team.
“For a manager you are always under scrutiny at the big club,” Rodgers said. “Every single game at this level is massive when you are Liverpool manager. You are expected to win every single game, even away to Real Madrid, because of the level that we have been at.
“For me I am relaxed about the pressure and I enjoy my life at Liverpool, being tasked with restoring the club to the great levels it has been at before and I think we have made great strides. I am very much in the present and I know we need to improve.
“There’s nobody thinking about that more than me, and I need to find the solutions for that.
“If it is a defining game for me then great. Whatever the result I will be focused and hungry to go into the next game. Hopefully we can get a big result and improve.
“You have to have the belief and courage for the big games like this. We have to disrupt their game as well. We can’t only show our football qualities, we have to be ready to fight and do our best.
“When you ask your players to give their best, and they give their best, then win, lose or draw I am always proud of the team. Over my time here I have been so proud of my players and we are on the next curve of our development and it started slower than I would have hoped.
“But these are games that provide a great opportunity. You go into a game like this here and you get a positive performance and result then it can kick you on and move you into the weekend’s game with a great deal of confidence.”
Wanting to test the depth and quality of the squad?? The league cup is for that, Brendan, not a match against the reigning champions of Europe! This is waving the white flag - and Swansea might have done that, but Liverpool Football Club doesn't do that, ever. If true, a very, very, bad move by the manager, and a major sign he's lost the plot. If you fear a walloping, don't make the walloping even more likely by resting your best players. That's small time stuff. Stand by your first choices, take responsibility, and don't kneel down meekly to Real Madrid as if you're bloody Norwich!
Published 1 minute ago
Liverpool are set to go into their Champions League group game away to Real Madrid tonight without Steven Gerrard, with Brendan Rodgers preferring to rest his captain in preparation for the visit of Chelsea to Anfield on Saturday.
In a surprise move that will shock Liverpool fans, Rodgers admitted that he is ready to face the European champions without his talisman, insisting it would not be a gamble to do so.
The manager said that he wanted to test the depth and quality of his squad against a team who romped to a 3-0 victory at Anfield a fortnight ago and whom he described as “the best in world football”.
Gerrard is likely to be named among the substitutes, with his place taken by Lucas Leiva. Raheem Sterling and Dejan Lovren may also be rested after they played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Rodgers admitted that his selection policy will be dictated by his belief that the Barclays Premier League remains his priority as he looks to ensure that Liverpool are in a position to qualify for the Champions League again next season. However, he maintained that whatever team he picks will be capable of getting a positive result at the Bernabéu.
“I don’t see it as a gamble,” he said. “This week and these games against the likes of Real Madrid I see as a great opportunity for the squad. You put them out there and you put your trust in them to perform. All I will do as the manager is give them that opportunity to perform.
“We have got three high-level games in a week and I have to think about that in preparation for the weekend. I also understand that we have to have a team that can come here and win and that is what we want to do.
“In Steven’s case, if he is playing on Saturday [against Chelsea] I have to look at what is the priority for him and us. We brought in other players and that brings a responsibility. But there is no doubt that our priorities are the Premier League and the Champions League. In that order? Always.
“For me, at this moment, if we want to develop we need to ensure we are in the top four, but we also want to qualify from this group and we will never know if these players can perform if we don’t put them in the team.
“It [resting Gerrard] is something I need to look at. He and I have spoken about that. We are having three big games in a week, Newcastle, Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of players to look at the games we want them to play in. That is something I will look at and we will see how that shapes up tomorrow.”
Picking a weakened team for one of the biggest games in Liverpool’s season so far will inevitably increase the scrutiny that Rodgers is under after a poor start to the campaign, but he insists that such pressure will not prevent him from taking the decisions he feels are right for his team.
“For a manager you are always under scrutiny at the big club,” Rodgers said. “Every single game at this level is massive when you are Liverpool manager. You are expected to win every single game, even away to Real Madrid, because of the level that we have been at.
“For me I am relaxed about the pressure and I enjoy my life at Liverpool, being tasked with restoring the club to the great levels it has been at before and I think we have made great strides. I am very much in the present and I know we need to improve.
“There’s nobody thinking about that more than me, and I need to find the solutions for that.
“If it is a defining game for me then great. Whatever the result I will be focused and hungry to go into the next game. Hopefully we can get a big result and improve.
“You have to have the belief and courage for the big games like this. We have to disrupt their game as well. We can’t only show our football qualities, we have to be ready to fight and do our best.
“When you ask your players to give their best, and they give their best, then win, lose or draw I am always proud of the team. Over my time here I have been so proud of my players and we are on the next curve of our development and it started slower than I would have hoped.
“But these are games that provide a great opportunity. You go into a game like this here and you get a positive performance and result then it can kick you on and move you into the weekend’s game with a great deal of confidence.”
Wanting to test the depth and quality of the squad?? The league cup is for that, Brendan, not a match against the reigning champions of Europe! This is waving the white flag - and Swansea might have done that, but Liverpool Football Club doesn't do that, ever. If true, a very, very, bad move by the manager, and a major sign he's lost the plot. If you fear a walloping, don't make the walloping even more likely by resting your best players. That's small time stuff. Stand by your first choices, take responsibility, and don't kneel down meekly to Real Madrid as if you're bloody Norwich!
Yep, as a 'fan' your own amour-propre comes before the team doing well. Psychologically a revealing post.
Obviously Lucas comes before the team
Johnson has been a liability since God knows when...Moreno is a class defender and he has the pace to attack and also good in defence.
Balotelli will come good and once Sturridge is fit we'll see both of them scoring for fun. Form is temporary blah blah blah
Reiterated cause it's so true.
That said, made up for Lambert if the rumoured starting line-up is true; hope he gets two tap-ins and a 35 yard screamer.
I've no idea what that may feel like but I guess you're speaking from experience ?
If Gerrard is being rested then I'm in full agreement. I don't want him running his guts out vs RM when the home game against Chelsea is far more important to the team and the club as a whole and he's already had more minutes than I'd like this season (we've hardly been in a position to pull him with say 20-30 mins remaining in any match so far).
Fully with BR on the PL being the priority. Does that mean we are showing the White Flag ? Does it fuck. We have invested in the squad for a reason and this is one of those reasons.
I'm really not sure at all of that front line though (if Modo's ITK line-up is correct). Our best chances are going to come on the break. Lambert will do well to hold the ball up, but where does the scoring threat come from then ? Henderson, Coutinho ? Markovic seems to be our token 'pacey' attacker. Poor bugger. I'm guessing Stevie will get a run-out in the last 20 mins if the game is still close.
Allen should also be starting this game. I'd rest Coutinho for Chelsea and move Lallana inside. We'd then have our three most mobile and best suited to pressing midfielders on the pitch.
Fully with BR on the PL being the priority. Does that mean we are showing the White Flag ? Does it fuck. We have invested in the squad for a reason and this is one of those reasons.
I'm really not sure at all of that front line though (if Modo's ITK line-up is correct). Our best chances are going to come on the break. Lambert will do well to hold the ball up, but where does the scoring threat come from then ? Henderson, Coutinho ? Markovic seems to be our token 'pacey' attacker. Poor bugger. I'm guessing Stevie will get a run-out in the last 20 mins if the game is still close.
Allen should also be starting this game. I'd rest Coutinho for Chelsea and move Lallana inside. We'd then have our three most mobile and best suited to pressing midfielders on the pitch.
Now that's a face we don't see much - kid on the right is Trent Arnold; 16 year-old RB. Probably there to join in the training / game for the U19s today. Don't get to see the U16s or much of the U18s, so don't think I've seen him play before. Has he appeared for the U18s?
Sends a real message to the rest of Europe. Great clubs don't do that. If out of form, they dig deep, rely on their top players and go for a draw. Rodgers of course can't do that but as I said, LFC don't throw away big games. If Rodgers blows this he can forget all the self-conscious Shankly posing and go back to a small time club.
Fucking hell...we are going to get twatted.
You never know, the team we put out the other week we all thought was our best hope of getting anything. Sometimes things just work out differently. I personally wouldn't play Markovic, but the rest? It's as much as a muchness really, isn't it?
Toure versus one fuck up per game Lovren
Lambert versus zero Premiership goals Mario.
I certainly agree with playing Markovic.
His pace on the break with Sterling might be our only chance of a goal.
Glad to see Toure in there too
His pace on the break with Sterling might be our only chance of a goal.
Glad to see Toure in there too
I agree.
Already mentioned it in my original post; didn't stop some of that silly cynicism that followed, so here it is:
Trent Arnold @trentaa98 · Oct 21
Looking forward to tomorrows Youth Champions League game against Real Madrid U19s
Trent Arnold @trentaa98 · Oct 21 Looking forward to tomorrows Youth Champions League game against Real Madrid U19s
It's all about the money Macca. Without the dosh and PL place you simply can't attract/afford to buy, the better players. Basically it's qualifying for it means $$$ and progressing through to the last 16/8 means $. Ergo qualifying is more important than progressing.
Fingers crossed then.
I'm probably one of Rodgers' strongest advocates on here but if he is indeed already into self-preservation then it is wholly unacceptable for a Liverpool manager.
I too have thought this, though possibly out of misguided optimism rather than anything else. If he felt that Gerrard would be inadequate as a pivot in this game, and preferred other options in the other midfield positions, then simply dropping him would pretty much be telling our captain he isn't good enough to play against the very best. So saying there are a lot of games coming up and Gerrard can't play them all could possibly be the more political way of handling it.
I'm basing this on no fact whatsoever, admittedly.
I'd like to think you have your tongue firmly in your cheek. CL qualification is purely about money: just ask yourself - win the League or the CL?, I bet it's a no contest.
Yes, I know. But I'm not sure who, among the top players, willl see Liverpool as an attractive prospect if they've gone out meekly at an early stage. They're not stupid, or desperate. They want to play in semi-finals and finals, not be among the growing number of also-rans who make up the numbers for a few games at the start. If Benitez had shown such fatalism in 2004/5 we would have bombed out before Christmas, but probably qualified for the next year. Like Moyes and Everton.
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