THE DERBY....pre match gubbins

[Mike]

Lucas and Gerrard starting = Loss

It's just IMO, but I think it's painfully obvious that we'd surrender midfield to them and still not have good enough protection for the defence.

I'm not a massive fan of it either but we're kind of forced into it with injuries etc.

If Allen was fit I'd play him ahead of Lucas. I can't see Rodgers playing Lallana for two reasons - he played the full match on Tuesday, and the main one being we make too many defensive mistakes of late, and Lallana doesn't offer much defensively.

If he isn't a fan of Lucas and Gerrard like many of us, he could probably play Coutinho who I totally forgot about

[G]

Not overly worried about this one because they are worse than us right now but one things for sure it won't be nil nil. Lukaku will cause us problems but we should cause them plenty too, they've been awful at the back.

[Mike]

Losing the ball in the midfield area is a big problem for us, Rossiter keeps possession and keeps the play moving very well, it's a no brainer for me. Lucas is no protection he is a liability. We have no need for a Defensive midfielder in our team. Ball playing holding midfielders are essential. The likes of Allen and Rossiter. We play possession football and they keep possession. We need to push Gerrard further up and sell Lucas.

No need for a defensive midfielder? Have you seen our defence? That is the exact reason why we need one.

Rossiter had a good debut against Boro, but a Derby is a different game altogether. I'm not slating the lad, but he isn't ready to make that step yet. He even said himself the other night he can't see himself being in contention and rightly so.

Lucas I would sell, I've said that for a year or so, but for a liability he was my MOTM the other night and warrants a start in a position that we're low on numbers currently.

[Liverpel]

'Wonderful' Suso in derby contention


Suso Fernandez's "wonderful feet" and refusal to be floored by a lack of game time has been saluted by Brendan Rodgers.

The Liverpool manager was impressed by the 20-year-old's Capital One Cup cameo against Middlesbrough, in which he hit a sweet strike and slotted two penalties in a remarkable 14-13 shoot-out win following a 2-2 draw in extra-time.

The Spaniard's attacking intent injected effervescence into the side upon his introduction in the 98th minute. Rodgers savoured Suso's display, which he felt was reward for the starlet's work ethic.

The forward is now in contention to face Everton in Saturday's Merseyside Derby showdown.

"Young Suso was a player that when I first came in, he played quite a bit," the Reds boss said. "He's already experienced the derby in that first season away at Goodison and we've seen his impact from the other night.

"I was really pleased for him, because it's been difficult for him. We sent him out on loan to try and get games and experience.

"He has come in, put his head down over the course of pre-season and worked hard.

"He hasn't had a lot of game time and that's probably been difficult for him, but he's never shown it.

"He has got the same appetite in training. You saw his quality when he came on in the game, when the space opened up and even when it was tight, he had wonderful feet and wonderful technique.

"It was nice to see him score off his right foot and he's definitely one that comes into the reckoning."

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/171373-wonderful-suso-in-derby-contention

[Liverpel]

Sterling - Madrid

The reds are desperate to break out of the up and down cycle of their season and avoid a third straight league defeat.

A report in the Daily Mirror by Arsenal supporter John Cross linked young Raheem with a move to Real Madrid shortly after Liverpool's League Cup penalty victory. The press wasted no time in asking Brendan about the talented 19 year old.

'I think it shows that he is playing very well. You could link him with every club in the world. I sit easy with the speculation. Him and his representatives know how comfortable he is here.

'At some point in the future he will be rewarded for his performance but he still has three years left on his contract. There is no rush. He had a breather against Aston Villa. He is a super-fit boy and he will be there at the weekend against Everton.'

Rodgers emphasised that the results in the League so far had been disappointing but also noted that of the corresponding fixtures last season Liverpool had only gathered 7 points - a mere point more than this time around. He was asked if the addition of the Champions League was to blame.

There is an adjustment but it's not a distraction. We embrace it. We have lost influential players to how we play so I will be looking forward to the next international break with our full squad.

Daniel Sturridge is back training but Rodgers was relatively downbeat on his chances for the derby. Although Daniel is not too far away the boss stated that 'he definitely isn't match fit' and even if he can get on the bench he will be limited to a brief cameo.

Suso, one of the midweek goalscorers, also received some praise from the boss. The Liverpool manager said the Spaniard is currently involved in contract discussions with the club.

link

I stopped reading at "John Cross".

[RedReet]

'Wonderful' Suso in derby contention


Suso Fernandez's "wonderful feet" and refusal to be floored by a lack of game time has been saluted by Brendan Rodgers.

The Liverpool manager was impressed by the 20-year-old's Capital One Cup cameo against Middlesbrough, in which he hit a sweet strike and slotted two penalties in a remarkable 14-13 shoot-out win following a 2-2 draw in extra-time.

The Spaniard's attacking intent injected effervescence into the side upon his introduction in the 98th minute. Rodgers savoured Suso's display, which he felt was reward for the starlet's work ethic.

The forward is now in contention to face Everton in Saturday's Merseyside Derby showdown.

"Young Suso was a player that when I first came in, he played quite a bit," the Reds boss said. "He's already experienced the derby in that first season away at Goodison and we've seen his impact from the other night.

"I was really pleased for him, because it's been difficult for him. We sent him out on loan to try and get games and experience.

"He has come in, put his head down over the course of pre-season and worked hard.

"He hasn't had a lot of game time and that's probably been difficult for him, but he's never shown it.

"He has got the same appetite in training. You saw his quality when he came on in the game, when the space opened up and even when it was tight, he had wonderful feet and wonderful technique.

"It was nice to see him score off his right foot and he's definitely one that comes into the reckoning."

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/late...rby-contention

Would be great if so.

If we go diamond...

Mario Raheem
Suso

Easily changed during game for 433

Mario
Raheem Suso

Although if Coutonho is fit, I can see him playing that same role.

[-V-]

They're probably the most dysfunctional team around apart from us. I'm pretty sure they've conceded the second most goals in all of Europe or something silly like that.

Everton are in a right mess. My concern in this one isn't so much our defence, it's the lack of goals in the team. If we were anywhere near our best we could put 4 or 5 past them and win easy.

I don't think they are in that much of a mess. They are scoring plenty of goals anyway, something which we are struggling with. Their problem is that they are leaking at the back.

If they get Coleman fit then him and Baines can do some damage to us in the wide areas. They look dangerous every time they go forward, with Lukaka, Miralles, McGeady and Naismith looking very good. Remember they scored 4 into Wolfsburg, 3 into Chelsea and twice in Arsenal. Infact aside from the league cup they have scored atleast 2 goals in every game so far!

We will really need to get on the front foot from the start against them

[Bender]

Mario in Training Today
[ame="http://youtu.be/C-yglDEcuUQ"]A 'magnifico' free-kick by Mario Balotelli - YouTube[/ame]

[dom9]

Starting Rossiter in a derby, having only ever played one first team game (in the C1 Cup 2 days ago) and at his age is madness.

It's a knee jerk reaction, a mirror of those slating the new signings as not good enough after playing just a handful of minutes.

[Norbs]

Avergae ref but sure very few good refs out there. Must be poxy trying to ref the derby though.

Homophobe

[G]

He sent of Soto after he got assaulted by Fellani too I remember so he's not always been great for us. The Rodwell one was great cos it wasn't even a yellow.

[G]

Mario in Training Today
A 'magnifico' free-kick by Mario Balotelli - YouTube

James Carroll has tweeted this

We used to rip the piss out of Chelsea for tweeting about the great goals Torres scored in training.

[OConnor_LFC]

Starting Rossiter in a derby, having only ever played one first team game (in the C1 Cup 2 days ago) and at his age is madness.

It's a knee jerk reaction, a mirror of those slating the new signings as not good enough after playing just a handful of minutes.

Nothing knee jerk about what I said, it mirrors nothing but what my opinion is. I have backed our new signings and our new manager. At the minute we need to have players who want the ball under pressure and don't give it away, especially players who play infront of a wobbly defence. Age is nothing, if your good enough you play.

[Paddy]

Thought Williams played better than Rossiter against Boro.

[dom9]

Nothing knee jerk about what I said, it mirrors nothing but what my opinion is. I have backed our new signings and our new manager. At the minute we need to have players who want the ball under pressure and don't give it away, especially players who play infront of a wobbly defence. Age is nothing, if your good enough you play.

I couldn't disagree more. To start a a child in a derby with less than one professional game in his career is suicidal.

BTW I wasn't suggesting that you hadn't backed new signings. Many have been slating them, and I think the comparison is completely valid.