Everton (A) Build Up Thread

[Muddled]

I think the team picks itself:

Reina

Wisdom
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson

Allen
Gerrard
Sahin

Sterling
Suarez
Assaidi

The only question mark is around Johnson and the extent of his knock?

[yamiedo]

Toughest match of our season so far I think. Everton have been playing some absolutely fantastic football. That has come with years of playing together in the same team I suppose.

[Reece]

Sounds like Screech is going to be fit for this one after all

[Gingawaria]

"Lawro's" thoughts:

Everton v Liverpool

This must be the first time in a very long time where Everton really do fancy themselves against Liverpool.

Everton fans can look at their team at the moment and say 'I wouldn't take many Liverpool players in our side', which is always an interesting thing to do when you look at these games. Liverpool fans would take more Everton players at the moment.

There are some positives for Reds fans though, mainly thanks to Raheem Sterling. The kid has been fantastic.

I thought that by now he might have plateaued a bit but he impresses me more every week. Andre Wisdom, the right-back who will probably end up as a centre-back, is another young player you don't want to hold back now because he has taken to the Premier League so well.

One problem for Liverpool with chucking in all these promising youngsters is that they have done well so far, but doing so consistently over the course of the season is completely different.

Also, come Sunday, I can imagine there will be quite a few Liverpool players in their first Merseyside derby match.

You don't know how they will deal with it. Sometimes with these games, a player can go in not knowing anything about what they will face and they can breeze through it. Other times, and I saw it happen when I was a player, they think 'oh my god it's the derby' and they freeze.

You have to be ready because Merseyside derbies can be absolute madness. They don't often resemble a game of football because of the hype beforehand and the pace the game is played at.

This one will be no different. Everton have more quality but Liverpool are still difficult to beat, which is why I am thinking this will end up in a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Shut up you bitter old fool...you speak for all Liverpool fans do you when you say we'd take more Everton players over our own?!

Everton have more quality?!?

[RedReet]

Baines and Jelavic. Maybe a case for Fellani, but not when Lucas is back.

[yamiedo]

Fellaini and Lucas in the same lineup would be a dream to be honest.

[dww]

Toughest match of our season so far I think. Everton have been playing some absolutely fantastic football. That has come with years of playing together in the same team I suppose.

I've heard a lot of people say this but what little I've seen they have looked much as they have been for years. Perhaps + a bit of goal threat. The league is just full of **** teams and team sin transition which makes their steady ship temporarily look of a higher class.

I think we'll dominate the game and will win if we finish our chances. Sadly, that is a big if.

[the rev leeroy brown]

neverton have been in good form this season and thoroughly deserve their top 4 standing as it sits. But did anyone else think they looked pretty avergae at best last week without fellaini? The attack looked toothless and jelavic and miralles (both fine players) didnt have the quality to create the openings fellaini gives them. Hopefully the big belgian is out of this game and given pienaar is also absent im quielty confident of going there and gaining a good 2-0 or 3-1 win.

[dom9]

Toughest match of our season so far I think. Everton have been playing some absolutely fantastic football. That has come with years of playing together in the same team I suppose.

Tougher than Arsenal, City or United?

I don't think so.

[SB]

I think the team picks itself:

Jones

Wisdom
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson

Allen
Gerrard
Sahin

Sterling
Suarez
Assaidi

The only question mark is around Johnson and the extent of his knock?

So do I so I fixed it for ya.

[RedReet]

Tougher than Arsenal, City or United?

I don't think so.

Still can't believe how **** we were against a pretty poor Arsenal side. Winning that would have had us 3 points ahead of them at this stage.

[DannyMan2006]

If the game turns into a battle of strength we'll likely lose out.

My main concern though is our struggles when teams close us down at pace. We still have difficulty keeping a rhythm when teams press high up.

Everton will come flying out the blocks & we'll have to guard against that. Nothing to fancy early doors. Once the game is 20 mins in we can then settle & get on the ball.

[Nick77]

I would go for:
Reina (if fit)
Johnson (if fit - Wisdom if not)
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique (If fit - Johnson or Robinson if not)
Sahin
Gerrard
Shelvey
Sterling
Suso
Suarez

[SB]

I would go for:
Reina (if fit)
Johnson (if fit - Wisdom if not)
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique (If fit - Johnson or Robinson if not)
Sahin
Gerrard
Shelvey
Sterling
Suso
Suarez

Shelvey in place of Allen? Why?

[dww]

Johnson + Wisdom as fullbacks has to be preferable to a pairing with Enrique at this point, surely?