Stoke pre-Match Thread

[Buzzo]

Really disappointing last night. Good that we are playing some nice stuff, but its all kind of for nothing when we keep shipping so many goals.

Be good to see the Nowrich starting XI and welcome Sterling and Suso back into the team.

Every game looks kind of tough right now though and Stoke will smell blood with our chronic defending. We need to start building from a more solid base than we have seen so far, and really look towards keeping a clean sheet. We will win more than we lose if we can start doing that.

[Shaggy]

Match thread?

[Buzzo]

Match thread?

[little dave hedgehog]

Really disappointing last night. Good that we are playing some nice stuff, but its all kind of for nothing when we keep shipping so many goals.

Be good to see the Nowrich starting XI and welcome Sterling and Suso back into the team.

Every game looks kind of tough right now though and Stoke will smell blood with our chronic defending. We need to start building from a more solid base than we have seen so far, and really look towards keeping a clean sheet. We will win more than we lose if we can start doing that.

i think you mean chronic non-defense

[Pablo]

Match thread?

Who needs snoop when Buzzo can tell us the team three days in advance!

[Muddled]

Reina

Wisdom
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson

Gerrard
Allen
Sahin

Sterling
Suarez
Suso

Feels odd putting Johnson at left back with Robinson (on the back of his performance against Udinese) playing so well, but it (potentially) looks like Johnson concentrates more when on his weaker side and we need to cut out any potential mistakes from our back line.

The rest of the team pretty much picks itself at the moment.

[Rich]

I don't think it'll happen and I know Coates scored an OG but I'd still have him playing alongside Agger on Sunday to combat the high ball.

Reina
Wisdom - Coates - Agger - Johnson
Allen
Sahin - Gerrard
Downing - Suarez - Sterling

[yamiedo]

I don't think it'll happen and I know Coates scored an OG but I'd still have him playing alongside Agger on Sunday to combat the high ball.

Reina
Wisdom - Coates - Agger - Johnson
Allen
Sahin - Gerrard
Downing - Suarez - Sterling

Me too As you say though it won't happen. Wouldn't have Downing in there and I don't think that one will happen too.

[Muddled]

Thoughts behind Downing, Rich?

Reward his performance from last night? Hope he can build on it?

[Rich]

I can't stand Downing but he was pretty effective last night and worked hard, so I'd reward him with a start to see if he can continue.

I'd use him to keep our shape with the view of bringing Suso on later in the game.

[Muddled]

I can't stand Downing but he was pretty effective last night and worked hard, so I'd reward him with a start to see if he can continue.

I'd use him to keep our shape with the view of bringing Suso on later in the game.

Fair comment. I think if Rodgers wants to set a precedent of rewarding application and performance with a starting spot, he could do that on Sunday. I just feel Suso's twinkling toes and lightness on his feet would be more of a test for Stoke's bruisers.

[Rich]

Downing's confidence is brittle at the best of times. He was one of our better performers and set up Shelvey. If we want to try and get the best out of him until January or next summer I'd look to give him a run when his form merits it.

I totally understand why many would pick Suso ahead of him.

[Shaggy]

Suso ahead of him every time. Every single time. I think with BR giving Suso a break last night that he'll start on Sunday.

[JohnDoe]

Reina
Wisdom Skrtel Agger Johnson
Allen
Gerrard Sahin
Suso Suarez Sterling

[Captain Stu]

Reina
Wisdom Skrtel Agger Johnson
Allen
Gerrard Sahin
Suso Suarez Sterling

Wisdom at right back would be a huge boost at set pieces - both offensive and defensive positions - and Suso has to be starting seeing as he didn't feature at all last night.

Big big game for Sterling, see how he deals with the rugby cunts at Stoke.