At **16.00pm** Sunday: Liverpool vs Arsenal (H) Build Up 21st Dec. That's **16.00pm**

[Darkon]

Not feeling confident at all with the lack of defensive cohesivness and a general fall back to individual pressing/defending rather than as a team. Arsenal on a good day can run circle around that

On the other hand Arsenals defence is not great netiher, so we do stand a chance - I'm just far from confident in it...

[frank the tank]

i just feel that the season is going to just dribble on and be ****e if we don't get a settled defensive unit......we've been chopping and changing our back four all season....partly due to injuries, partly due to Lovren being ****e and partly due to Brendan thinking he is Pep Guardiola...... what really took the piss is when you then saw Jose Enrique in the starting line up.....you get the feeling that there is a lottery style draw on the morning of every match to see who is our defense.

When you also factor in the fact that it took about 12 crap games in a row for Lucas to be played as the defensive midfielder, then it has been a complete shambles. Then Brendan goes and hot-boxes the whole thing by putting Brad Jones in goal..........whilst also deciding that we will now play 3 centre backs - despite not having one good centre back!!! You could make a feckin hilarious office-style TV show on the whole thing....

For me, he needs to pick the defense, goal-keeper and defensive midfielder and say - "right, next 10 games, you guys are ****in in there" With injuries to Johnson and Lovren and with Enrique being ****e, then he should just pick Mignolet in goal, back four of Manquillo, Skrtel, Sakho and Moreno.....and have Lucas sitting in front of them. And stick with it. Look at the best teams aroud from a defensive point of view.....they have a settled back four, goalie and defenisve midfielder. Look at Chelsea.....they have the perfect players in Ivanovic, Cahill and Terry to play 3 at the back against ****e like Palace and Burnley at home......but Mourinho doesnt **** with his defense because he knows the more minutes they get together on the clock, it will make a difference against genuine quality teams when it really matters. Also, if BR was to pick and stick with his defense, it would be the only way to see if we want to sign Manquillo permanently.....and when Flanagan is back, then we can decide if he plays LB or RB........depending on how Moreno and Manquillo have performed. Do you know what is annoying though, i think after all of the masturbating over us signing Moreno, Flanagan would still be a better choice at left back. And I also think that Wisdom would be a better shout than Manquillo at right back. More cash wasted that could have been put towards genuine quality where it would matter...

Getting back to the arsenal game, i think we will possibly need 4 goals to have a chance of winning this match. Do I think we can score 4 goals?? Possibly......but it will probably be more like 2 goals and we will lose 3 or 4 goals to 2. Brendan will then come out with his "a lot of positives but a wee bit open at the back" bull**** excuses.....

[Bender]

Brad Jones to continue in goal...Rodgers has confirmed

[Pablo]

Brad Jones to continue in goal...Rodger has confirmed

Mignolet to start against Arsenal...Rodger has confirmed

[Pablo]

Who is Rodger by the way Bender? Is that your real name?

Rodger Benderer

[BigChief]

I'm just going to enjoy this game whatever the result. The Bournemouth performance was a real pickmeup and its time to enjoy what we have rather than what we won't. So here's to watching more Markovic, Sterling and Lallana.

[Bender]

Who is Rodger by the way Bender? Is that your real name?

Rodger Benderer

i forgot the s

[Liverpel]

Lovren might be available for this game.

[Liverpel]

Lovren might be available for this game.

Rodgers on Lovren:

"We're just waiting to hear on that - hopefully he'll be fine," Rodgers responded when asked by reporters gathered at Melwood. "We'll assess that before the weekend."

[Shaggy]

Brendan Rodgers' press conference ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Arsenal lasted just four-and-a-half minutes.

The Reds boss, who has been angered by some recent media coverage, was short and to the point on a range of issues raised by broadcasters.

Here is the transcript of what was said......

What's your reaction to Mario Balotelli's one-match ban?

BR: We accept the ban so that's fairly clear.

With Balotelli missing, does Raheem Sterling now represent your best attacking option?

BR: The kid has been fantastic wherever he's played this season. He was outstanding the other night. We'll see what's in the best interests of the team.

How close did you get to signing Alexis Sanchez and how much of a setback was it missing out on him?

BR: All I know is that he's a world class player. He was identified as someone who could come in and be perfect for us.

He's a brilliant player with outstanding quality and even bigger work rate.

We know he will be a threat.

How about in terms of the goalkeeping situation.....

BR: There's no change.

Will you have money to spend in January?

BR: It's not something I'm thinking about at the moment.

What would beating Arsenal do for your season?

BR: Internally, it will continue our spirit and our focus.

They are a top side with outstanding players.

For us it will good for confidence. But it will be a difficult game.

What's the latest with Dejan Lovren's groin injury?

BR: We're just waiting to hear on that. Hopefully he will be fine but we will assess that before the weekend.

Is it a sign of Sterling's growing maturity he was able to put what happened at Old Trafford behind him and perform so well at Bournemouth?

BR: I said before he's an outstanding talent who has been great for us.

It's been incredible the stick the kid has received with people trying to criticise him and put the focus on to him.

He's been outstanding for us and it was another great performance from him the other night in a difficult game.

Arsenal's form has fluctuated this season. But their pace on the break makes them well equipped to play away.....

They did okay at home last week as well winning 4-1 against Newcastle and they played really well.

They have outstanding players but we will look to focus on ourselves.

What will that goal do for Lazar Markovic?

BR: I thought it was a great finish. I thought he was excellent in a role where we asked different tactical elements from him.

His energy and quality was good and he was a real threat for us.

In terms of Mario, he said he's learned his lesson but have you seen him mature during his time here?

BR: That's for you to write. He's here as a football player and he's trying to become a better player.

Borini came on in the week, do you see him having a future here?

BR: All the players get the opportunity here and when they're asked (to play) we ask them to do their best.

[Sarb]

Mardy cunt

[Phoenix07]

Sam Drury is a sports journalist for Sky Sports.

Sam Drury @SamDrury11 · 9 minutes ago

Sounds like Rodgers' press briefing (off camera) was a lively one. Should be worth keeping an eye out for the papers later.

David Thomas @Satriale80 8 minutes ago

@SamDrury11 Give us a hint there mate.

Sam Drury @SamDrury11 · 8 minutes ago

@Satriale80 I gather that he is far from happy with the media.

David Thomas @Satriale80 7 minutes ago

@SamDrury11 Really? he's had a go at them? Over what?

Sam Drury @SamDrury11

@Satriale80 not sure on specifics, think its to with stuff that has been said & written about him &/or the club.

[Sarb]

To be honest the media have been pretty good to him. Most other managers would be getting a lot more stick

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

To be honest the media have been pretty good to him. Most other managers would be getting a lot more stick

I was thinking the same, he's had it pretty easy.

[Chris]

Probably means some of the info in there which some absolute fools on here and everywhere else lap up every single word of.