Ludogorets v Liverpool Champions League Build Up

[G]

Just read on Twitter, Kenny went on a run where he got 8 points from 12 league games and he still didn't get sacked until the summer so he has some time yet.

Lose the next two and Brendan is in the same run.

[frank the tank]

FSG are not football people - and they don't seem to think that they are either. They obviously have some football people giving them advice though - perhaps Kenny is one of them. In my opinion, the advice they will get will be "judge the season at the end of the season" so unless we are in danger of getting relegated, then Brendan will remain in his position. Obviously that will go out the window if we do something stupid like lose 8 games in a row - but barring that i think he will get until the summer.

I would love to see Benitez back but i can't see it happening. If it was ever on the cards, then surely they would have at least talked to him before they hired Brendan. The only way i could see that happening is if RB was out of a job and they sacked BR halfway through a season and needed someone to fill in - like when Kenny took over from Hodgson....

[RichC]

I know things are bad at the back but playing an injured Sakho is really stretching it.

If fit numb nuts.

tbh I'd take him over the other two at the moment half fit.

[Dalglish]

"Well maybe the Ludogrets game came a wee bit early for the group who didn't quite have the in game management we need them to have to control the quality that could have given us that wee edge when we needed focus. But tactically I thought we managed to control possession and were a wee but unlucky mentality wise, especially when Simon Mignolet scored those two own goals for which I take full responsibility " said Rodgers after Wednesday's 3-0 defeat

[The_weatherman]

"Well maybe the Ludogrets game came a wee bit early for the group who didn't quite have the in game management we need them to have to control the quality that could have given us that wee edge when we needed focus. But tactically I thought we managed to control possession and were a wee but unlucky mentality wise, especially when Simon Mignolet scored those two own goals for which I take full responsibility " said Rodgers after Wednesday's 3-0 defeat

I'll give it a miss then.

[The Birdman]

I'd pick -
Jones
Manquillo Toure Sakho Moreno
Lucas Can
Henderson Sterling Lallana
Lambert.

Rodgers wont, best we can hope for is that 1 (preferably more) of Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Gerrard get left out.

[kubrickscube]

Mig
Manq Skrtel Toure Moreno
Lucas
Can Henderson
Lallana Sterling
Lambert

Subs: Jones, Lovren, Allen, Coutinho, Gerrard, Borini, Markovic

Think Can and Henderson are high tempo enough and strong, Lucas and Toure to keep the back line calm
Lallana and Sterling to provide the runs around Lambert

[Chris]

If Sakho isn't fit I'd like to see Lovren and Toure play together, Lovren has been shocking so far but at least it's "only" shocking for 3 months, Skrtel has been shocking from the moment Rodgers got in the door.

We've kept 2 clean sheets this season, Manquillo and Moreno were the full backs in both of those, Skrtel missed one of the games too so lets see how we do without him and Johnson again.

Would bring Lucas in too for Gerrard, a draw here isnt the end of the world assuming Basel dont beat Real at home so lets be solid at least.

Up top I think we need to get Lallana closer to the goal, he's one of the few goal threats we've got at the mo and while that was an incredible assist yesterday he's wasted so far deep or out wide.

[RichC]

I'd agree with that.

It seems that with the players we have available BR has really struggled to find a system that suits us best and whilst Sturridge wouldn't be the instant fix we'd all hope for I think it would have seen us move to looking at two up top again which seems to best suit us.

Making sure we don't lose this one is very important, if we can get in and nick a victory it might just give us that little bit of confidence that seems to be massively lacking at the moment.

[Maxiedge]

If Sakho isn't fit I'd like to see Lovren and Toure play together, Lovren has been shocking so far but at least it's "only" shocking for 3 months, Skrtel has been shocking from the moment Rodgers got in the door.

We've kept 2 clean sheets this season, Manquillo and Moreno were the full backs in both of those, Skrtel missed one of the games too so lets see how we do without him and Johnson again.

Would bring Lucas in too for Gerrard, a draw here isnt the end of the world assuming Basel dont beat Real at home so lets be solid at least.

Up top I think we need to get Lallana closer to the goal, he's one of the few goal threats we've got at the mo and while that was an incredible assist yesterday he's wasted so far deep or out wide.

I agree with that assessment.

[danperkins]

If fit numb nuts.

tbh I'd take him over the other two at the moment half fit.

So we put in a guy that has been out for months with a bad injury straight back in the first 11 in a vital champs league game.... with absolutely zero minutes behind him in months? Hmmm, well that's a wee bit stupid & a sure way to inure him again. Toure should start & hopefully starts with Skrtel.

Numb nuts he says

[Pablo]

So we put in a guy that has been out for months with a bad injury straight back in the first 11 in a vital champs league game.... with absolutely zero minutes behind him in months? Hmmm, well that's a wee bit stupid. Toure should start & hopefully starts with Skrtel.

Numb nuts he says

At first you were just being a numb nuts, now you're being a total ball bag.

[danperkins]

At first you were just being a numb nuts, now you're being a total ball bag.

Tried to come back with a snappy ball joke... couldn't think of one

[Gibbo]

--------------Mignolet
Manquillo Toure Sahko* Moreno
----------------Can
-------Henderson Lallana
--------------Coutinho
---------Sterling Balotelli**

*If fit enough, if not Skrtel
**If fit enough, if not Lambert

This would be my team of choice, it is a game that we should be winning, but so was Palace really, so I have no idea at all how this is gonna go. Gerrard on for the last 20 would be a nice option to have if it was needed.

[Rich]

I was watching an episode of Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom the other day and King Thistle kept on "taking responsibility" for Mr. Elf's boats getting eaten by a variety of marine life (Big, Bad Barry being one mean fish), but with no accountability.

It kinda reminded me of Rodgers.