Soton (A)

[keniget]

agreed with the second part cent percent
But the first part, the problem is Allen will be a better body to control the midfield and also win the balls in cute manner but he doesnt know what to do with the ball when he gets the ball

He's not going to dance past a couple players and find himself in some space to start things off a la Coutinho, but he's technically adept and a decent passer of the ball so I'd be very disappointed if it all fell apart due to this switch. We have Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge to play the ball into and really, that's all the other guys need to do - support those guys.

 

[Modo]

No, we're being sensible. They have a better midfield than Swansea and we struggled like bastards to control the middle in that game until Allen came on.

But was that because of Coutinho or Gerrard, let's be honest.

 

[mark1975]

He's not going to dance past a couple players and find himself in some space to start things off a la Coutinho, but he's technically adept and a decent passer of the ball so I'd be very disappointed if it all fell apart due to this switch. We have Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge to play the ball into and really, that's all the other guys need to do - support those guys.

Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez - just to add, are equally adept and dropping in between the lines and picking players out. I'm not suggesting for one minute that it makes Coutinho redundant, but in some games the four of them can be overload.

 

[mark1975]

But was that because of Coutinho or Gerrard, let's be honest.

Fair point, but as we've said a million times, Gerrard isn't a great anchorman, it's worked in some games, but you can't leave him - or anyone, to get swamped, sometimes you need two deep players (flipping the triangle, eh Brendan?), rather than one. If it doesn't work, the blessing is that we have the players to change it, one way or the other, in Lucas and Coutinho.

 

[FoxForceFive]

agreed with the second part cent percent
But the first part, the problem is Allen will be a better body to control the midfield and also win the balls in cute manner but he doesnt know what to do with the ball when he gets the ball

Hahaha. What a load of bollocks that is.

Allen is very comfortable on the ball & his passing is extremely good. He can play some brilliant through balls ad well as retaining possession.

 

[TheRedCrusade]

He's not going to dance past a couple players and find himself in some space to start things off a la Coutinho, but he's technically adept and a decent passer of the ball so I'd be very disappointed if it all fell apart due to this switch. We have Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge to play the ball into and really, that's all the other guys need to do - support those guys.

let's look at it like this....we need runners, we have mainly two pacy players Sturridge and Sterling....Suarez also makes runs but not pacy as Sterling or Sturridge probably, if Suarez is the only most creative hub playing in the final third and he is having a bad game or he is bring marked and harassed, that will be the time we will need someone like Coutinho, we need to mix it up only SASAS wont help

 

[mark1975]

let's look at it like this....we need runners, we have mainly two pacy players Sturridge and Sterling....Suarez also makes runs but not pacy as Sterling or Sturridge probably, if Suarez is the only most creative hub playing in the final third and he is having a bad game or he is bring marked and harassed, that will be the time we will need someone like Coutinho, we need to mix it up only SASAS wont help

The point is that there's three creative players there (and Gerrard), it's like not playing one of SAS or Sterling and saying the same. If we can control the midfield, we've get plenty up top, with or without Coutinho, to do damage. Like I said, if it doesn't work, at least we have the players on the bench to change it either way.

 

[TheRedCrusade]

Hahaha. What a load of bollocks that is.

Allen is very comfortable on the ball & his passing is extremely good. He can play some brilliant through balls ad well as retaining possession.

if you thought that I am underrating Allen, I am actually not. He is a very versatile player and the performance he put against swansea was amazing. Are you serious about through balls though, you got be kidding me. Allen is Allen, and he has always looked bad when we dont play possession game and please dont try to force him in a system which he is not so comfortable with

 

[TheRedCrusade]

Mignolet
5 Agger
17 Sakho
4 Toure
37 Skrtel
21 Lucas
9 Aspas
14 Henderson
8 Gerrard
12 Moses
15 Sturridge

ok this was the team we played against them this season, Sterling, Suarez and Coutinho all missing there.... and as someone said we are showing too much respect to Southampton, that is true. I think Coutinho can also do a decen job defensively, specially the fouls he will draw and we all know whenever Coutinho is missing how we suffer. and regarding Gerrard's creativity, he is playing so deep if he is marked all the time, he wont be able to play those comfortable nice passes

 

[Modo]

Fair point, but as we've said a million times, Gerrard isn't a great anchorman, it's worked in some games, but you can't leave him - or anyone, to get swamped, sometimes you need two deep players (flipping the triangle, eh Brendan?), rather than one. If it doesn't work, the blessing is that we have the players to change it, one way or the other, in Lucas and Coutinho.

I also like the idea of having two deep lying midfielders, but Coutinho shouldn't have to suffer for it.
Why not ask Hendo to be more defensive?

 

[red_maradona]

By doing what? Leaving out one player? It's not really out of respect is it? It's about recognising where we've failed and trying to sort it out.

Coutinho for Allen changes our dynamics a lot, and recently we haven't failed, we've done well. If this was Chelsea away, sure, but this is not. Overall probably right decision although I hope this isn't rogers doubting his style and philosophy.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Coutinho for Allen changes our dynamics a lot, and recently we haven't failed, we've done well. If this was Chelsea away, sure, but this is not. Overall probably right decision although I hope this isn't rogers doubting his style and philosophy.

Ha. His style & philosophy went out of the window to a large degree when his experimentation with Sturridge & suarez in the same side produced a side capable of such incredible counter attacking.

He's simply learning from the footballing lesson they gave us. I have no doubt whatsoever that he's watched that a number of times & is setting us up in a way that tries to address the flaws we had in that game.

Whether that leaves us with problems playing the natural extremely quick attacking game we excel at is another matter, we shall have to see.

 

[FoxForceFive]

if you thought that I am underrating Allen, I am actually not. He is a very versatile player and the performance he put against swansea was amazing. Are you serious about through balls though, you got be kidding me. Allen is Allen, and he has always looked bad when we dont play possession game and please dont try to force him in a system which he is not so comfortable with

Honestly, Allen has played a number of very good through balls for us, but he's often asked to play deeper & a different role that doesn't allow him to do so.

 

[doctor_mac]

Perverse as this sounds, I quite like the idea of having an attacking player on the bench I'd actually like to introduce *if* we need a goal. I think keeping it a bit tighter away from home, and going for it only if we need to, makes sense. With Suarez, Studge and Sterling up front, we're not exactly putting out a team without attacking ambition.

 

[Markeh]

Perverse as this sounds, I quite like the idea of having an attacking player on the bench I'd actually like to introduce *if* we need a goal. I think keeping it a bit tighter away from home, and going for it only if we need to, makes sense. With Suarez, Studge and Sterling up front, we're not exactly putting out a team without attacking ambition.

That's a good point about lacking a capable attacking player on the bench who could come on fresh and potentially change things. Rodgers has been keen to point out in the past he's still learning and although that talk has died down I think his next big lesson is to be pragmatic and more conservative at times instead of piling all the attackers on to blow the opposition out of the water.

I love the way we play but just now and again having one more defensively minded player in the side might strike a better balance.

 

[mom]

They're 17 points behind us and we are firing nicely at the moment. If we can't be confident of beating a mid table team when we're playing this well then I give up. 1-3. Suarez to regain his scoring touch today.

 

[Frogfish]

But the first part, the problem is Allen will be a better body to control the midfield and also win the balls in cute manner but he doesnt know what to do with the ball when he gets the ball

You mean as opposed to not having the ball in the first place ? I suggest you watch Allen a lot more because you obviously haven't.

 

[Frogfish]

They're 17 points behind us and we are firing nicely at the moment. If we can't be confident of beating a mid table team when we're playing this well then I give up. 1-3. Suarez to regain his scoring touch today.

Jeezus. City drew there. Arsenal drew there. Spurs won by the odd goal in five and Chelsea thumped them. I will be extremely surprised if it is anywhere near as easy as you are intimating.

 

[mom]

I'm not intimating that it will be easy, very few top flight games are, but, I don't see why we shouldn't be confident goingiinto this one, or most games for that matter. We may lose today for all I know, but I won't be expecting that result. Seventeen points is seventeen points. Have some faith man!!

 

[Fallon]

But was that because of Coutinho or Gerrard, let's be honest.

Stevie for sure, but I don't see that affecting the chances of him starting.

 

[Modo]

Stevie for sure, but I don't see that affecting the chances of him starting.

Obviously.

 

[Fallon]

So as a result, it was always going to be Raheem or Coutinho to miss out.

 

[TheRedCrusade]

You mean as opposed to not having the ball in the first place ? I suggest you watch Allen a lot more because you obviously haven't.

you know yourself, how much ball we have kept against the likes of Arsenal and Everton and how much we scored
...sometimes I just dont understand that why would you start Allen ahead of Coutinho, when Coutinho has been a regular starter for us, specially when he has picked his defensive performance also. Allen is a fantastic player but, overrating too much of Southampton and not playing our natural game by dropping Coutinho doesnt make sense at all and I am sure BR agrees with me, from that post match interview after Swans game

 

[StevieM]

This game is it at Anfield - our away form is kinda average.

Are we showing too much respect for a team we've consistently struggled against, particularly away from home???


Let's just have a little bit of balance & solidity - Coutinho can come on and rip them apart when they're tiring in the 2nd half after we've controlled possession and had the fuckers chasing the ball for 60 minutes.

Gerrard, Allen & Henderson will form the same tactical setup we used against City & Chelsea where we did well - but we 'll have more potency upfront.

 

[cloggypop]

Mignolet
5 Agger
17 Sakho
4 Toure
37 Skrtel
21 Lucas
9 Aspas
14 Henderson
8 Gerrard
12 Moses
15 Sturridge

ok this was the team we played against them this season, Sterling, Suarez and Coutinho all missing there....

Hope we have fullbacks today

 

[dantes]

Leaving out coutinho?

Yes

 

[Hansern]

Having a bit more balance in midfield and Coutinho as an option off the bench isnt a bad thing.
We've lost our 3 last away games at St Marys. Midfield is key today.

 

[DHSC]

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez

 

[cloggypop]

Nice to have options really.

 

[DHSC]

Strange move dropping Sterling.