Liverpool v Sunderland build up....

[danperkins]

I think we need to keep the same back five, or at least the same central defensive partnership if only for some continuity for Mignolet.

[Bender]

This robot's attention to detail was second to none, no denying that, but often the build up thread would come after the match has been played

No xmas presents to be handed out here then[2014 xmas to be exact]

[Maxiedge]

No xmas presents to be handed out here then[2014 xmas to be exact]

I'm still waiting for last years

[Bender]

I'm still waiting for last years

[BrooklynRed]

Lots of lurking these past few months, but I have to ask three questions, because I cannot find legitimate answers.

1. On Tuesday, Rodgers yanked Manquillo off at half. Watching him defend, I felt he was doing better than Johnson, perhaps not covering back as well when he gets forward, but I didn't see a lot of threat coming from his side. Can anyone explain to me why BR favors Johnson there, to the point of staring Enrique this past week? Yes he got the winner, which was great. Otherwise? I don't see it. at all. I saw some on twitter calling out Manquillo's performance- maybe I am not seeing what others see, but he recovers so well and he is not getting beat at all..? what am I missing? For me, Moreno/Manquillo looks the way forward, this weekend as well.

2. Sakho. I know he stormed off after not even being named on the bench. Then was "injured". What is going on here? Again, he seems our most athletic CB. People talk about his passing, but if you look at his numbers, he's the best we have? He boned one defensive header that ended up a goal (but he at least cleared the ball!)... Again, I don't understand why so many are opposed. Is he really injured? Photos today, and he's all smiles in training. Solo's been solid these past couple of games, but seriously, I do NOT understand the treatment of Sakho.

3. For me, Emre Can needs to play much more often or sub in around the 60th min or at LEAST in a Coutinho/Lallana style rotation with Gerrard. Again, every time he plays, he plays well, and yet he never gets time. What is going on with the subs pattern/ timing... I do not get it at all.

Were it me:

Mig (and buy a keeper in Jan)
Manq-Toure-Sakho-Moreno
Lucas Honda
Gerrard Coutinho
Sterling
Lambert

Bring on Can for Gerrard as needed, and it IS needed, almost every match.

[baitman]

Lots of lurking these past few months, but I have to ask three questions, because I cannot find legitimate answers.

1. On Tuesday, Rodgers yanked Manquillo off at half.

2. Sakho.

3. For me, Emre Can needs to play much more
Bring on Can for Gerrard as needed, and it IS needed, almost every match.

hi matey.

1, i would agree, manquillo over johnson every time. in fact, if either of manq or moreno were needed to be 'rested' to fit in someone else it would be moreno. no idea why rodgers isnt playing him.

2, not so sold on sakho. strong lad, not too obviously lacking, but sometimes wonder if he is not aware of whats going on around him.

3, can needs to play much more. he would be ideal to start along side henderson if hendo is fit and on form. i would much prefer to bring on can in the later stages of a game than joe allen. allen does retain the ball ok, but doesnt ever do much with it, often going sideways or backwards.
can would at least step forward, often carrying the ball and putting pressure back on the other team, so allowing our defence to breath a bit.

[Norbs]

Mig (and buy a keeper in Jan)
Manq-Toure-Sakho-Moreno
Lucas Honda
Gerrard Coutinho
Sterling
Lambert

Bring on Can for Gerrard as needed, and it IS needed, almost every match.

HONDA!

On yer bike, BR

[Bender]

Seyi Ojo (left), Mamadou Sakho and Jerome Sinclair

[RedRum]

Rossiter reminds me of Robert De Niro here.

[Norbs]

And Markovic is noshing off the invisible man

[BrooklynRed]

HONDA!

On yer bike, BR

Was Hendo, got autocorrected!

[Patricks_Berger]

After turning down moves to Sunderland and QPR that would have given Liverpool good money doesn't everyone here hate him too?

Just imagine if we'd got £14m off Sunderland for him. With that and the Balotelli money we'd have been in the market for the likes of Falcao, Cavani or Andy Carroll.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Just imagine if we'd got £14m off Sunderland for him. With that and the Balotelli money we'd have been in the market for the likes of Falcao, Cavani or Andy Carroll.

That's simply never been the case with Liverpool. We clearly have limits on wages that doesn't allow us to compete for players like Falcao/Cavani, we seem to be willing to bend when it comes to fees but wages seem fixed.

[Bender]

That's simply never been the case with Liverpool. We clearly have limits on wages that doesn't allow us to compete for players like Falcao/Cavani, we seem to be willing to bend when it comes to fees but wages seem fixed.

After spending £214million during Rodgers tenure i'm amazed we haven't been able to sign at least 1 world class player and pay top wages even though we paid Suarez £200k

[BigChief]

Lots of lurking these past few months, but I have to ask three questions, because I cannot find legitimate answers.

1. On Tuesday, Rodgers yanked Manquillo off at half.

2. Sakho. I know he stormed off after not even being named on the bench. Then was "injured". What is going on here?

3. For me, Emre Can needs to play much more often or sub in around the 60th min or at LEAST in a Coutinho/Lallana style rotation with Gerrard.

1. Watching the game we offered nothing offensively down both wings. If we were playing Real Madrid I reckon we'd have kept Manq on, but against Leicester we had to go for their throats and Manq wasn't able to. Johnson on the left was similar, i.e. not his best position for being dangerous offensively. So move Johnson to the right and get Moreno on, two birds, one stone. No problems with that against the day's opposition.

2. The pictures above answer that one. I reckon he'll be back and playing soon. Sakho has zero competition for places now (and I'm not really a fan of his).

3. Can should be seeing a lot more action, but that means taking Gerrard off. Over the last two games Gerrard has shown no reason (offensively) to do that. But I agree, it would be nice to blood him in while phasing Gerrard's influence out (can't rely on him forever, need to start planning now).