Sunderland (A)

[Brizzle]

So what do we think? We are lucky to get a couple of extra days rest after the exertions of the Leicester game. I want to see same line up except Benteke in for Origi due to injury. I would love us to have a more mobile CF but we just don't have options. If Ibe were fit (i'm assuming his lack of position on the bench was injury related) i'd bring him to do the below:

---------------Mignolet---------------
Clyne---Lovren---Sakho---Moreno
----------Hendo---Can---------------
Ibe-----------Lallana--------Coutinho
--------------Firmino-------------------

I think we could have a field day aggressively pressing against Big Sam and thats the only reason I would want to keep Benteke on the bench.

 

[DHSC]

The game after (vs West Ham) is just 2 days later though. Would be interesting to see if Klopp rotates.

Back 5 remains the same due to lack of options.

Henderson just came back so should be good to start.

Can might be rotated out and Lucas in; but I would rather keep Can.

Might see Teixieira at some point, but I can see the same team with Benteke replacing Origi.

If Milner is fit, wouldnt be surprised to see him in the squad instead of Benteke. Firmino then would play upfront.

 

[rurikbird]

I don't think Milner will be fit, sounds like he is out for at least a week more. I'd like to see Teixeira given a start in one of those 2 games, I'm surprised he hasn't been given another chance yet after his strong performance in the League Cup. His understanding with Firmino was particularly good.

Benteke has been a streaky player in his career, he goes through barren periods, but when he scores he often tends to score in the next game too. So since Origi is probably not ready for Sunderland and Klopp seems to have him mind set on not letting Sturridge play until he passes a certain threshold of fitness, maybe it would make sense to give Benteke a run in the side and see if he can get on a hot scoring streak.

 

[Y1]

We have given the top teams a good fight, hopefully we begin to give the lower teams no respect and win what we should be winning...

 

[dmishra]

Keeping in mind the West Ham game (and how physical they are), I think I'd rest Can (I'd want to replicate the Can-Henderson midfield against West Ham). Lucas or Allen will come in. I'd also start Benteke - Sunderland aren't an overly physical team, so Benteke can hopefully really bully their defenders.

I'd go with Origi or Sturridge (if he's ready) against West Ham, as we need pace and quality against them.

 

[manwithnoname]

What's the situation with Ibe? Or Milner? Injured still? Our best available team is probably the following. I see nobody is picking Bogdan any more, either

Benteke has to play in the continued absence of Ings and Sturridge, as he is our only genuine goal threat. Lucas and Firmino obviously shouldn't start, because they're not very good, and I wish we had another option instead of Lallana, but we don't if Milner is out.

Hope Sakho improves his form, he's been a jittery mess since he returned to the side and will cost us more goals soon.

Mignolet

Clyne---Lovren----Sakho---Moreno

----------Can--------Henderson-----

Ibe------------Coutinho---------Lallana

----------------Benteke--------------

 

[Hansern]

Ming
Clyne Lovren Sakho Moreno
Can Henderson
Ibe Firmino Coutinho
Benteke

Obviousbly keep the players in there that had a positive match against Leicester (Benteke and Firmino)
Sub Can or Henderson after 60-70 mins. If we're winning obvs.

 

[Oncy]

What's the situation with Ibe? Or Milner? Injured still? Our best available team is probably the following. I see nobody is picking Bogdan any more, either

Benteke has to play in the continued absence of Ings and Sturridge, as he is our only genuine goal threat. Lucas and Firmino obviously shouldn't start, because they're not very good, and I wish we had another option instead of Lallana, but we don't if Milner is out.

Hope Sakho improves his form, he's been a jittery mess since he returned to the side and will cost us more goals soon.

Mignolet

Clyne---Lovren----Sakho---Moreno

----------Can--------Henderson-----

Ibe------------Coutinho---------Lallana

----------------Benteke--------------

Yeah id probably go with this.
Id be tempted to start with Coutinho upfront just given Licence to do what the fuck he wants.
Dunno. Its an unbalanced mess.

 

[Dreambeliever]

They got thumped at City so no doubt will beat us 2-0.

 

[hmmmmm1]

Borini: I want to score against Liverpool more than anyone......

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor.../borini-want-score-against-liverpool-10657831

 

[Buddha]

I'd go...
-------------------------Mignolet-------------------------------

Clyne---------Lovren-------Sakho-----------Moreno / Smith

---------------Hendo--------Can----------------------------------

Ibe-----------------Teixeira ---------------------Coutinho

-----------------------Benteke-------------------------------


I'd give Lallana / Firmino a break before West Ham (seeing as they cover a shitload of distance per game) and sub Lucas in for Can in the second half.

Otherwise, I'd want to see us keeping the same back 7 from the Leicester game for continuity.

Benteke to score another winner in a 0-1.

 

[willby]

Game on 30th and an early kick off on 2nd agains WHU.. gonna require some real strategy from Klopp.

 

[dmishra]

What is the news on Ibe? Is he injured?

 

[dmishra]

Ok, just seen this on the offal:

Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Divock Origi is set to miss Liverpool’s trip to Sunderland on Wednesday night, but Jordon Ibe could come back into contention.

The Belgium striker limped off during the first half of the Reds’ 1-0 win over Leicester City on Boxing Day with a hamstring injury and looks set to sit out the journey to the north east.
Ibe, meanwhile, was absent from Saturday’s clash with the Foxes due to illness, but has since resumed training at Melwood.
Elsewhere, Klopp anticipates James Milner will return in the first week of the New Year following a calf complaint.
The manager told his pre-match press conference: “I cannot say too much about Divock because at this moment I don’t have the results of the scan, so we have to wait a few more minutes because the press conference is a little bit too early for this information.
“If there is no miracle or something like this then he is not available for the next game, so we have to find a solution for this.
“Jordon Ibe has been back in training since yesterday. He was sick and had a few problems for nearly a week. We will have to see. Yesterday was completely normal training, but we’ll have to wait on how he reacts to this.
“I think from the game [against Leicester] we have no other problems. Millie [James Milner] will start pitch sessions, not with the team but outside tomorrow. Then he needs a week and should be available.”

 

[willby]

Millie😀

 

[moron]

After the fiasco at Watford - I am not giving us a chance - Sunderland I think have lost their last couple of games and therefor will be up for it when they play us. Based on the latest experiences - we must assume we will bend over and take an anal beating - in real Pulp Fiction style. Don't expect anything and be prepared for the unexpected.

 

[gene hughes]

Don't expect anything and be prepared for the unexpected.

*head explodes*

 

[Insignificance]

After the fiasco at Watford - I am not giving us a chance - Sunderland I think have lost their last couple of games and therefor will be up for it when they play us. Based on the latest experiences - we must assume we will bend over and take an anal beating - in real Pulp Fiction style. Don't expect anything and be prepared for the unexpected.

Nah.... Zed is dead man.

 

[Frogfish]

[xtable=border:0|cellpadding:0|cellspacing:0]
{tbody}
{tr}
{td}J Ibe{/td}
{td}Illness{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}30th Dec 15{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

D Origi{/td}
{td}Muscular Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}no return date{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

M Skrtel{/td}
{td}Hamstring Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}6th Feb 16{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

J Milner{/td}
{td}Calf/Shin Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}5th Jan 16{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

J Rossiter{/td}
{td}Hamstring Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}no return date{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

D Sturridge{/td}
{td}Hamstring Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}5th Jan 16{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

D Ings{/td}
{td}ACL Knee Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}Jun 16{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

J Gomez{/td}
{td}ACL Knee Injury{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td}Jun 16{/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}

J Flanagan{/td}
{td}Knee Injury{/td}
{td}After missing all of last season with a serious knee injury, the young scouser is fighting his way back following another operation in April.{/td}
{td}2nd Jan 16{/td}
{/tr}
{/tbody}
[/xtable]

 

[Mystic]

That post looks terrifying on a mobile device.

 

[C/O]

Yea Froggy, your lack of fucks given for the tapatalkers is alarming.
Sort your life out.

 

[Athens]

That post looks terrifying on a mobile device.

Flanagan's face looks terrifying no matter what device you use to see it.

 

[Molbystwin]

I wish we werent riddled full of holes injury wise...

And how is it fair that west ham have 2 extra days rest?????

Bizarre.

We really need to get 6 points out of these next 2 games i just doubt weve got the legs left considering our injuries.

 

[Molbystwin]

I also find it very unusual that not one single commentator nor journo nor pundit has mentioned the fact that basically weve had an entire first team of players out injured for most of the season....

That list there above is fucking ridiculous.

 

[Athens]

And how is it fair that west ham have 2 extra days rest?????

I think it all works out even enough, they were playing tonight after playing on Boxing day.

 

[Molbystwin]

?? So they dont get 2 extra days rest before we meet then??

I dont follow the logic tbh...

Why cant we at least play tomorrow night instead of Wednesday?? A distant away game with 48 hrs less recuperation time hardly seems fair and doesnt make sense in any way at least not to me... every team played boxing day so... yes we had more "rest" for the Sunderland game but with no comparative advantage when matched with Sunderland who also clearly had the extra gap... West ham are advantaged against us whichever way you look at it.

 

[Athens]

?? So they dont get 2 extra days rest before we meet then??

I dont follow the logic tbh...

Why cant we at least play tomorrow night instead of Wednesday?? A distant away game with 48 hrs less recuperation time hardly seems fair and doesnt make sense in any way at least not to me... every team played boxing day so... yes we had more "rest" for the Sunderland game but with no comparative advantage when matched with Sunderland who also clearly had the extra gap... West ham are advantaged against us whichever way you look at it.

But they've played today and on Saturday, we didn't play today.

It's not a perfect system, by any means. I think to organise it all is pretty complicated.

 

[Molbystwin]

Yes i understand they played today and we didnt... but there opponents today also had the same schedule so there is parity... just as we will have against Sunderland on Wednesday...

But however you cut it the scheduling gives West ham a rest advantage over us for the game which we will play against them...

And no its not complicated its just unfair.

 

[Gary25]

Would anyone be surprised in the slightest if we drop points here? I wouldn't anyway.

Probs start the same team that played against Leicester, with Benteke for Origi obv. Bring Ibe on 2nd half.

 

[localny]

Would anyone be surprised in the slightest if we drop points here? I wouldn't anyway.

Probs start the same team that played against Leicester, with Benteke for Origi obv. Bring Ibe on 2nd half.

no sir, it's 1 step forward and 1 back right now. BUT, if we have any plans to make the CL, we have to win. It's one of those weeks when your opponents have faltered..