Udinese Build Up

[SB]

been a few years since I've been this excited with watching us play football.

It's debatably slightly better than the scintillating football Roy had us playing in his prime.

[RichC]

I've been trying to forget that dark, dark six months of god awful football

[SB]

I've been trying to forget that dark, dark six months of god awful football

I felt it was my duty to remind you. It's nice to see how far we've come in 2 years. I'd have scored it a 1/10 compared to a 9/10 now.

[RedReet]

Can't wait for this.

[danperkins]

Personally i think Downing shouldn't even get a start, i'd like to add Shelvey & Suso into the starting line up. Suso needs match fitness, came off after 59 mins on Saturday. Same goes for Shelvey & Wisdom IMO, need to keep tjhat match sharpness up. If we are ahead we can take them off and rest them.

Sure the better the team starting the more likely we are to finish the game off. Udinese have started very badly this year too but their a decent side & if Suso & Wisdom start and play 60-70 mins sure we aren't playing until Sunday against Stoke so they has time to rest. I'd also play Reina... he needs the match practice!

---------------Reina----------------
Wisdom-Coates--Carragher-Robinson
-----Henderson----Shelvey
Suso/Assaidi-------Pacheco-----Assaidi/Suso
------------Borini/Yesil------------

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

They're struggling in the league too Udinese.. 5 points from 5 games before today and they're currently 0-0 in the 2nd half vs Genoa.

Good test for the kids but I think they're more than up to it.

[JohnDoe]

I used to dread Europa league games. Crap competition, on **** thursday evenings. Now I'm looking forward to them mainly because the youngsters are getting showcased.

[Shaggy]

I used to dread Europa league games. Crap competition, on **** thursday evenings. Now I'm looking forward to them mainly because the youngsters are getting showcased.

Big time

This is the team I'd pick (not what I expect BR to pick)

Jones

Wisdom
Coates
Carra
Robinson

Henderson
Shelvey
Pacheco

Assaidi
Yesil
Suso

[SB]

They had a 0-0 today so are hardly in great form.

[SB]

Big time

This is the team I'd pick (not what I expect BR to pick)

Jones

Wisdom
Coates
Carra
Robinson

Henderson
Shelvey
Pacheco

Assaidi
Yesil
Suso

pleased to see that side with a few of the big guns on the bench.

[SB]

Why the Europa League matters

Two weeks back Liverpool began their Europa League campaign with a 5-3 thrilling victory over Young Boys of Switzerland. It was a great start to the tournament.
I was especially impressed with the young guns who featured in the match such as Andre Wisdom, Sebastian Coates and of course Jonjo Shelvey who scored twice. I enjoyed the attack minded play of the team and I loved how Brendan Rogers seems to be taking a different approach to this competition.
The last time Liverpool featured in the Europa League was in 2010/2011. The team crashed out in the round of 16 to Sporting Braga of Portugal. Liverpool hardly impressed during the tournament; they won their group but had only two wins. In the round of 32 it took the team 86 minutes into the second leg to break the deadlock against Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic. This time around Liverpool should challenge for the title.
Past Liverpool bosses did not manage this tournament correctly. When Roy Hodgson was in charge Liverpool played FC Utrecht of Holland twice in Group K action. Both of these ties ended in 0-0 draws. After both matches pundits stated that these were some of the most bland and effortless Liverpool performances they had seen in some time. The first time the teams met, Hodgson got his philosophy all wrong. He thought that just by putting out a team of mostly senior players that his side would bring home a victory because they were superior. The likes of Fernando Torres, Glenn Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva and Raul Meireles came out extremely flat and deserved their draw. They lacked motivation and put out a pathetic and lethargic display.
Brendan Rogers treated the Young Boys fixture perfectly. He left the senior players back at Melwood and played only with the young reserves. These reserves came out firing. They were not fatigued from Premier League play and were extremely motivated to show their boss what they could do at the first team level. Wisdom, Coates, Pacheco, Suso, Assaidi, and Shelvey all did themselves a world of good. Suso and Wisdom played so well that they earned themselves a starting place in Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over Norwich on Saturday in the Premier League. On paper, the Hodgson first team against Utrecht appears to be much stronger than the Rogers first team against Young Boys. However, in this setting it makes so much more sense to take the Rogers approach and go with youth. Rogers is trying to change the culture at Anfield and I applaud him.
Looking back to the 2010/2011 Europa League Campaign when Kenny Dalglish took over it was more of the same. Liverpool drew Sporting Braga of Portugal in the round of 16 and lost 1-0 on aggregate. Similarly to the Utrecht matches there was no passion or energy in both fixtures. When there are 16 teams left in a European tournament any of the sides have a chance at winning it. This is the time when the senior players should be playing and giving it their all so their team can reach the final. A trophy was within reach and Danny Wilson, David Ngog, Joe Cole, Jay Spearing and Christian Poulsen all played parts in the fixtures. These players had no business featuring in a tie of such importance. Liverpool had an opportunity to win a major trophy and they did not take it. This season, I expect Brendan Rogers to treat the competition with a little bit more respect.
Clearly Liverpool would rather be in the Champions League than the Europa League. That being said, the Europa League is not worthless. Winning this trophy could be a massive step in the right direction for the team. A domestic cup was won last season; it would be great if Liverpool could continue their progression and win on the continental level. Brendan Rogers understands that and look for him to field Liverpool sides that will compete for this title.
Judging by history if Liverpool do go on to win the tournament their league form will improve the following season as well. Since Liverpool have struggled to break into the top four recently this could prove to be an added bonus. Out of the last eleven Europa League winners five have improved their position in the league the following season with three winning it both years. Winning this title will not instantly return Liverpool to the top of Europe, but it will definitely provide a sense of hope and confidence that has not been felt for many years.

http://www.lfconline.com/feat/ed12/why_the_europa_league_matters_760679/index.shtml?

[yamiedo]

I was initially worried about throwing the youngsters in the deep end but they have proved they can handle it so I think we should do it again.

[dww]

I tend to feel that the young players we have are more naturally suited to Rodgers tactics than some of the old pro's who are having to unlearn things. We still need a smattering of experience throughout the team most of the time.

I think we are generally in a positive period - with people giving our development time - it would be a shame to lose that momentum by putting out too much of an experimental team.

[SB]

What the?

As Liverpool get ready to face Udinese in the Europa League at Anfield on Thursday, we're once again asking you to help shape the atmosphere by submitting your playlists.

Throughout the last campaign, fans selected three songs to be played prior to kick-off and two tracks to be aired at half-time during every home game.

Liverpoolfc.com will be doing the same again this season, and so we want your playlist selections for the visit of the Italian outfit.

Playlist one

Fans to submit three songs to be played back-to-back immediately before the players come out onto the pitch, which is then followed by YNWA. The fan whose playlist is selected will be name-checked by George or Pete before the playlist starts in the ground and also identified in a news story on this website.

Playlist two

Fans to submit two songs to be played back-to-back immediately before the teams come out for the second half. (The time available here will be determined by any half-time activity - and may result in only one song being played on occasion.)

You can submit a playlist by emailing [email protected], posting it on twitter with the #anfieldplaylist, leaving it as a comment at the bottom of this story or on our official Liverpool FC Facebook page.

With Liverpool supporters well known for their love of music and football, we want you to feel as involved as you possibly can be in shaping your own matchday experience inside the ground.

The deadline for all playlists to be submitted for Udinese is 9am BST on Thursday, October 2. Once all the playlists are in, two shortlists - one for the three-track playlist and one for the two-track playlist - will be drawn up by an LFC club panel and put to a public vote on this website.

[Shaggy]

Been doing that for a while, last season there were some shockers. Really predictable and/or plain dismal choices.