Spurs (h) build up

[Shaggy]

It will probably be the first time he has done it? Simply we need to play like we did against Arsenal at Anfield. High tempo and pressing

He's picked 5 in midfield a few times and been a bit more defensive. I just can't imagine even Timbo is stupid enough to attack us.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

re the lineup: I think Sterling starts at the expense of Phil. He's well rested and raring to go, and his defensive shift is arguably better than Phi's at the moment. We might be looking to blitz them with pace like we did Everton and Arsenal.

[Sarb]

re the lineup: I think Sterling starts at the expense of Phil. He's well rested and raring to go, and his defensive shift is arguably better than Phi's at the moment. We might be looking to blitz them with pace like we did Everton and Arsenal.

[marcus50bucks]

Meant to mention this admittedly very minor point in the Sunderland post-match.......but late in the game - 90 mins onwards - I was screaming for Rodgers to make a change. A time-wasting change. Get Lucas on FFS! Shore it up but more to the point waste some ****ing time. We had 3 subs in hand.....I know we won anyway but I wanted a sub on 90, another sub on 91 and and another on 92. Other managers do it all time, especially Mourinho - winning going into added time....then just kill the game with a series of subs. It's so frustrating being on the end of it and I don't know why Brendan didn't. The refs never add on the full amount of time lost, we could've killed it stone dead but we didn't.

If we're 1 ahead going into added time tomorrow I'd want exactly the same.

Couldn't agree more. A few of us said the same on ST. I'd like to see Rodgers use more of his subs late in the game just to kill time.

[Rigadon]

He's picked 5 in midfield a few times and been a bit more defensive. I just can't imagine even Timbo is stupid enough to attack us.

I think he is stupid and arrogant enough to attack us. There'll be goals

[Shaggy]

re the lineup: I think Sterling starts at the expense of Phil. He's well rested and raring to go, and his defensive shift is arguably better than Phi's at the moment. We might be looking to blitz them with pace like we did Everton and Arsenal.

Both games in which Coutinho started and was magnificent

[G]

Couldn't agree more. A few of us said the same on ST. I'd like to see Rodgers use more of his subs late in the game just to kill time.

It's possibly a lesson he won't learn until it costs us. Lucas should have been on way before the last few minutes in the Sunderland game though.

[Sarb]

Yeah but just feels too risky to drop Allen for Sterling, especially with Gerrard on a tightrope too

[marcus50bucks]

It's possibly a lesson he won't learn until it costs us. Lucas should have been on way before the last few minutes in the Sunderland game though.

[marcus50bucks]

Yeah but just feels too risky to drop Allen for Sterling, especially with Gerrard on a tightrope too

I would like to see us drop the diamond formation especially as we're at home and go 4-3-3.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Both games in which Coutinho started and was magnificent

I'm glad then I'm not Brendan Rodgers!

(And glad we have Brendog Godgers!)

[Hemingway]

Meant to mention this admittedly very minor point in the Sunderland post-match.......but late in the game - 90 mins onwards - I was screaming for Rodgers to make a change. A time-wasting change. Get Lucas on FFS! Shore it up but more to the point waste some ****ing time. We had 3 subs in hand.....I know we won anyway but I wanted a sub on 90, another sub on 91 and and another on 92. Other managers do it all time, especially Mourinho - winning going into added time....then just kill the game with a series of subs. It's so frustrating being on the end of it and I don't know why Brendan didn't. The refs never add on the full amount of time lost, we could've killed it stone dead but we didn't.

If we're 1 ahead going into added time tomorrow I'd want exactly the same.

This makes sense, of course. But BR is aware of it, right? He has to be. So he has to have a reason for not doing it, unless we want to just say he's being careless (unlikely) or doesn't trust his bench (possible, I guess, but he trusts Lucas and Sakho at the very least). And this is just my theory, but I think his reasoning for not making that kind of change is the same reason he seems to refuse to sit on a lead - doing so is reactionary. And being reactionary is anathema to BR, and to the spirit he's tried to instill in the team. We set out to dominate teams and blow them away and take no quarter and slaughter everyone 5-0 or die trying. He doesn't want to play the circumstances. **** the circumstances - make the circumstances bend to your will. It costs us sometimes, but the belief and attitude and fearlessness and relentlessness in the team has been a massive factor all year and, along with the brilliance of Suarez, might be the biggest reason we're title challengers in the first place. It's acted as a multiplier, basically, and while it might go wrong at the margins, consider what those margins are - I'd much rather lose the title because we were too foolhardy than nip fourth being strategic and reactionary. And I suspect BR would, too.

That's all counter-factual, mind, and I'm not saying that this is actually the case - we can't know - only saying that it might be a reason for BR's thinking here and it's something to consider what effect that no-holds-barred attitude really does have on the team. Long-term I do suspect he'll start being more strategic like that, once he's confident the mentality of the squad is established and once we have expectations to win things. But BR doesn't see this as a window and has said as much. No need to throw his principles out right now if we're going to be challenging every year.

[G]

You really need to post more often Hemingway.

[Liverpool]

going to be buzzing pre match and the first 5 mins, then everyone will **** themselves and get nervous which will then transfer onto the pitch, until we either go behind or 2 up

[Cormack74]

You really need to post more often Hemingway.

Yeah hardly anyone uses expressions like counter factual. What else have you got?