Basel v Liverpool; Wed 1st Oct

[BigChief]

To get over the luckiest Everton have ever been at Anfield, our next match is on soon. Good.

Sterling needs a rest to destroy West Brom on Sunday, and Coutinho is finding his feet again. So the lineup I'll go for:

Mig
Manq Skrtel Lovren Moreno
Gerrard
Henderson Lallana
Coutinho
Balotelli Borini

Diamond formation and tell Borini to chase the diagonal balls that Mario just won't. Really lacking a goalscorer in that lineup so will need to be good defensively.

[topscorer]

I think now is the time that Gerrard can be rested. He's scored a goal and had a good game so their would be no reason for dicks to interpret him being rested as being dropped.

I'd never start Borini and I'm not sure how many more chances I'd give Mario but I'd rather let him play this game and drop him for West Brom if he doesn't score.

If Lambert gets anywhere near the bench it's a disgrace. Surely we have a young striker we can give his seat to? If Rodgers wants to humor him in the League Cup and even the FA Cup as a little pet project then fine but keep him away from the serious business of the Premier League and Champions League.

God I hope Sturridge is ready and bench Mario. I'd keep Sterling in the team, he's in form and young. Rest him when some of the new players find form but not now when he's in form and so many others aren't.

[ronanm]

To get over the luckiest Everton have ever been at Anfield, our next match is on soon. Good.

Sterling needs a rest to destroy West Brom on Sunday, and Coutinho is finding his feet again. So the lineup I'll go for:

Mig
Manq Skrtel Lovren Moreno
Gerrard
Henderson Lallana
Coutinho
Balotelli Borini

Diamond formation and tell Borini to chase the diagonal balls that Mario just won't. Really lacking a goalscorer in that lineup so will need to be good defensively.

It's the champions league. Why would you rest sterling?

[Bender]

Basel are more than capable of tearing us a new one

[BigChief]

It's the champions league. Why would you rest sterling?

As young and as strong as he is, we run the risk of damaging him. Specially with Woy ready to complete the job with his mountain uphill runs the following week.

Bench and a 20 minute run out at the end should be fine.

[G]

No chance Gerrard is getting rested. He'll have a rest when the international break comes around. Not that I agree with that but it's how it is. We'll need his experience over there anyway. Very tough place to get a result.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Basel are more than capable of tearing us a new one

Yep, cannot take them lightly.


They have a track record of beating so called better teams, and would be sure that they would fancy their chances of taking all three points in front of their own support.

Strong team will be needed against them.

[Kenneth]

We're gonna get bummed.

[Venton]

If we play like we have been we're not going to be able to sit down for a week. Hopefully we'll put in a better performance.

[BigChief]

Are they still the force of last season(s)? Were a bit weak against Madrid and Ludogorets gave us a good heads up on how tough these games will be.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Are they still the force of last season(s)? Were a bit weak against Madrid and Ludogorets gave us a good heads up on how tough these games will be.

Yeah but playing Madrid away is a more daunting task at present than having to face us at their place.


I think we can go and get a result there, but will take a strong team and a good performance.

[The_weatherman]

Mignolet
Manqullio Skrtel Lovren Moreno
Henderson Gerrard Lallana
Markovic Balotelli Sterling

Don't agree with the back four but feel we should stick to a settled one for now. Henderson and Lallana look like a good pairing for the ageing Gerrard (who everyone is man-marking now). I think it will be unchanged or close to it so we can find some rythm to build on.

[BigChief]

Surely Coutinho needs to play.

[frank the tank]

probably agree on that line up - with the exception of swapping Markovic for Coutinho. The back 4 played very well against Everton so it will be interesting to see how that goes again. If Skrtel and Lovren can get some sort of half-decent understanding then that should be good leading into a series of league matches in October where we should be able to make good progress.

A win here and the champions league campaign is going great - even LFC should then struggle to fock it up and not finish 2nd in the group.... it would be great to be able to pull up the handbrake slightly towards the end of the group stage because after our trip to Madrid, we have chelsea at home the following sat morning.....

Great to be in the CL again.....

[DannyMan2006]

I thought we looked very good in a 4231 against Everton so I hope we stick with that.

For England a combination of Gerrard / Henderson was a disaster and I admit I was worried, but it helped us dominate against Everton, who are usually very strong in midfield.

Looking forwards, my only worry is we look to have found a formation that takes Gerrard away from being man marked and made us look far more solid. But when Sturridge comes back, would that mean dropping Mario? Or will we switch back to the diamond?

Personally I hope we move towards the 4231 as we have the players in the squad to carry that off properly once they hit form.

I can see Lallana being rested for this one, but I have to say, he was immense against Everton and I think we will miss him if he doesn't start.