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West Brom v Liverpool

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Boss Steve Clarke today hit out at international managers after Albion duo Jonas Olsson and James Morrison picked up injuries playing for their countries.

Olsson and Morrison both returned to the Baggies with knocks today but Shane Long has been declared fit to face Liverpool despite missing Ireland’s draw in Serbia.

And Clarke admitted he was “upset” that both Olsson and Gareth McAuley, who emerged unscathed, were made to play 90 minutes for Sweden and Northern Ireland respectively.

“Jonas and Gareth both played 90 minutes and that has upset me a little bit,” said Clarke. “They are experienced central defenders who didn’t need 90 minutes the week before the season starts.

“You can make any number of changes in international friendlies.

“Jonas picked up a knock playing for Sweden but until he gets back here and we find out exactly what it is I can’t really say much more.

“The doctor thinks all the problems are minor and will hopefully clear up in the next 24 hours.”

Morrison limped out of Scotland’s 3-1 win against Australia in Edinburgh with an ankle problem while Long was an unused substitute in Ireland’s game despite being named in the original starting line-up.

Clarke said: “James came back this morning and is being assessed. He rolled his ankle slightly.”
 
Steve Clarke today admitted he couldn’t wait for a slice of revenge against Liverpool on Saturday.

Clarke left Anfield in the summer after Kenny Dalglish was sacked and gets an immediate opportunity to get one over his old club when the Merseysiders visit the Hawthorns as the Premier League kicks off.

The game will also see him go head-to-head with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who succeeded him as Chelsea youth coach in 2004 when he stepped up to be Jose Mourinho’s assistant manager.

The duo got to know each other well over the course of the next four seasons at Stamford Bridge – and now both will be entering into their first Premier League match in charge of their new clubs.

“I’ve been excited since I got this job,” said Clarke.

“I’ve been looking at August 18 and thinking: ‘Come on let’s get started!’

“We are getting closer and closer so yes the excitement is building.

“Pre-season has been great. Obviously when I came in here, I knew the players through the eye of an opponent.

“The six weeks we have had together just gave me a chance to get to know them all a little bit better – to know their strengths and their weaknesses, the characters in the squad, where the strength of the squad is and what we can do over the coming season.

“And hopefully they have got to know me a little bit better. Like I say, roll on the 18th – and let’s get started!”

He added: “Brendan was invited to come to Chelsea by me. He took over the youth team from me.

“We worked together for four seasons and I know him well.”

Clarke will today go in front of the media for his first pre-match press conference as Albion chief, with his time at Anfield as first-team coach to Dalglish sure to be high on the agenda.

But he is eager to keep the focus fixed firmly on the Baggies.

“Obviously the media side is something that I have touched on a little bit in the past but I know it’s going to be a hell of a lot more than I am used to – but I’m ready,” he said.

“It is going to be full on.”
 
"Top four was a realistic target for that Liverpool squad" (1:05)

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This game is massive eh? I can't remember the last time we made a real statement on the first game of the season.

Given we've got a run of real tough games after tomorrow it's imperative we get off to a flyer and build confidence in both Rodgers vision and our ability to turn it into 3 points tomorrow.

I'm strangely confident we'll both get the right result and put a marker down tomorrow.
 
Indeed. My only worry with this guy though, doesn't he play the same position as Borini?

I think we're going to play a very fluid set-up. Wingers can, in general, operate on either side; the only think different is cutting in when they're on the opposite side. I see all three as moving around those positions. When Luis floats wide, Borini will come into the centre, and both will be in the centre when Assaidi is out wide.

On the game itself, I'm glad it's almost here. I'm like a horny dog who hasn't seen his owner's leg for three months; I'll be all over it when it's finally here. To make it even worse, our last three games have been progressively good. We're improving how we play and we're tucking the ball into the net.

If we can keep it up, and keep improving, I think we're in for a decent season. We'll be a match for anybody if we continue putting the chances we create into the back of the red nets. West Brom fans seem, judging from their chatter on the forums, like they're confident and that our defence is soft. We've scored seven and conceded one in our last three, but there's no telling 'em.

I think Allen will play from the start, as will Lucas and Gerrard. Suarez, Borini and maybe Downing. We've got plenty enough in the tank to hurt them, but we need to watch out for Lakuku. He's a beast. A victory is a must, we need to burst out of the traps this time; straight up and at them. I don't care too much about the style in the early days, but we need to cunt them in the bastard and take three points.
 
I think we're going to play a very fluid set-up. Wingers can, in general, operate on either side; the only think different is cutting in when they're on the opposite side. I see all three as moving around those positions. When Luis floats wide, Borini will come into the centre, and both will be in the centre when Assaidi is out wide.

On the game itself, I'm glad it's almost here. I'm like a horny dog who hasn't seen his owner's leg for three months; I'll be all over it when it's finally here. To make it even worse, our last three games have been progressively good. We're improving how we play and we're tucking the ball into the net.

If we can keep it up, and keep improving, I think we're in for a decent season. We'll be a match for anybody if we continue putting the chances we create into the back of the red nets. West Brom fans seem, judging from their chatter on the forums, like they're confident and that our defence is soft. We've scored seven and conceded one in our last three, but there's no telling 'em.

I think Allen will play from the start, as will Lucas and Gerrard. Suarez, Borini and maybe Downing. We've got plenty enough in the tank to hurt them, but we need to watch out for Lakuku. He's a beast. A victory is a must, we need to burst out of the traps this time; straight up and at them. I don't care too much about the style in the early days, but we need to cunt them in the bastard and take three points.

Agreed across board. Was just worried as looking at the clips our new guy loves coming on his strong foot from the left, something we all known Rodgers likes. I worry because Borini has been doing that so far, although theirs nothing stopping Borini playing on the right, as he's good with both feet.

As for tomorrow, I feel exactly the same as you in excitment, prediction and fears. So glad the season is finally here, lets see us play like we did against Gomel and slaughter West Brom, please.
 
Oh. I thought it was midday as i heard it mentioned about van persie being eligible to play Monday cos he was signed before midday today.
Could be totally wrong
i could be wrong too, read somewhere he was never going to play tomorrow anyway, so the deadline thing doesn't really matter i suppose
 
Starting line up tomorrow:

Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Borini, Suarez.
Subs: Jones/Gulacsi, Coates, Carragher, Spearing/Shelvey, Adam, Cole, Carroll

Based on training pictures.
 
I'm am incredibly, amazingly excited about tomorrow.

I seriously cannot fucking wait. I've checked my setanta Ireland channel about a hundred and fifty times now to check it's still working! Got two mates coming round & I'm gonna splash out & get some stupidly cheap French stubbies!
 
I'm bricking it. Excited and nervous. We really need to win, but it will be so fucking ace just to get going again.
 
Starting line up tomorrow:

Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Borini, Suarez.
Subs: Jones/Gulacsi, Coates, Carragher, Spearing/Shelvey, Adam, Cole, Carroll

Based on training pictures.

Its not bad, I'd have sterling instead of Cole on the bench & Enrique instead of Kelly with Kelly taking Coates place on the bench.

Kelly isn't convincing me anymore. I think he's far more suited to cb.
 
I don't think Kelly will start unless we're playing a 3-4-3
I think the guess is that Enrique isn't fully fit.
Of course he could have just skipped that part of training today.

I am like a kid on Christmas evening night as well.
One more sleep🙁
 
I'm am incredibly, amazingly excited about tomorrow.

I seriously cannot fucking wait. I've checked my setanta Ireland channel about a hundred and fifty times now to check it's still working! Got two mates coming round & I'm gonna splash out & get some stupidly cheap French stubbies!

Thought they didnt show Live Premier League football for everyone except those based in Ireland(the south)?

Remember getting Setenta in two years ago and was fucking fuming they cut the Live Premier League games.
 
Its not bad, I'd have sterling instead of Cole on the bench & Enrique instead of Kelly with Kelly taking Coates place on the bench.

Kelly isn't convincing me anymore. I think he's far more suited to cb.

Same.

As for Kelly, i can't take to him, looked like a top player in the making a few years ago but now he's dodgy - slow on the turn and out of position all to often.
 
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