Vs. Newcastle United (A): Match Thread

[Muddled]

Starting XI:

Mignolet; Johnson, Moreno, Lovren, Skrtel; Gerrard, Allen, Henderson; Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli.

Subs:

Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Lallana, Can, Lambert, Borini.

[Pablo]

Bull**** that Borini's not starting this one, Mario on his own again. Will we never learn?

[Shaggy]

No Manquillo either. Jesus.

[Daffy Duck]

Subs: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Lallana, Can, Lambert, Borini.

[Pablo]

Subs: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Lallana, Can, Lambert, Borini.

Markovic not even good enough for the bench

As **** as we've been you have to say our bench is starting to look ok (compared to last season) these days.

[Muddled]

I dunno. If we were at home, then I'd like to think Rodgers would have gone with the two up top. As we're away, perhaps Rodgers is wanting us to be compact.

Maybe.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Off the back of a controlled performance against a strong Swansea side we drop our formation and best player on the night.

Don't understand it to be honest.

[RichC]

You'd have hoped we'd have gone 2 up top

[danperkins]

Manquillo deserved a start IMO. One up top again? Gerrard,Allen & Hendo in a compact midfield.

[captainfog]

**** team selection. Should still win though.

[Pablo]

I dunno. If we were at home, then I'd like to think Rodgers would have gone with the two up top. As we're away, perhaps Rodgers is wanting us to be compact.

Maybe.

Compact but ****. We don't do compact at all well anyway.

I just think playing Mario on his own has been proven time and time again not to work. If you're going to play him play him with another striker. Or just don't play him at all

[danperkins]

Rodgers certainly is a stubborn one

[Pablo]

Rodgers certainly is a stubborn one

It's bizarre, he was anything but stubborn last season. He always seemed to learn from his mistake and be willing to switch things up. He's doing the complete opposite this season it seems.

[Muddled]

Compact but ****. We don't do compact at all well anyway.

I just think playing Mario on his own has been proven time and time again not to work. If you're going to play him play him with another striker. Or just don't play him at all

We showed signs against Hull of putting some sort of emphasis on defence but I'm just clutching at straws as to why we continue with Balotelli up front on his own. However, I don't disagree with you and I'm fairly confident we'll return to two up top when Sturridge returns so why we insist on playing just Balotelli makes me think Borini is being punished.

[Shaggy]

Everyone said Houllier was stubborn, everyone said Rafa was stubborn, Arsenal fans rage at Wenger's stubbornness, and now Rodgers is coming across as stubborn. I guess football managers are all stubborn/have faith in their decisions (delete as appropriate)