FA Cup: v Blackburn (A): Build Up

[baitman]

Enrique played for u21s today 1 assist

he must have loved doing the rub downs later. and the big bath, and all that soap

[Chazza]

Brendan Rodgers warns Liverpool 'cut out the defensive errors or Blackburn will knock us out of the FA Cup'

Liverpool manager warns players ahead of Blackburn cup tie as club freezes season ticket prices amid fans' protests, writes Chris Bascombe

Brendan Rodgers is seeking cup redemption after losing ground in the race for the Champions League, but the Liverpool manager admits that the club’s quest for silverware will end at Blackburn Rovers if they defend as they did last weekend.

Rodgers has called for significant defensive improvement in the FA Cup quarter-final replay at Ewood Park on Wednesday night, aware that Gary Bowyer’s side are capable of claiming another major scalp having already dispatched Stoke City and Swansea City.

The Liverpool manager said his side would lose if they performed as they did at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. “I think so. We didn’t defend [at Arsenal],” Rodgers said.

“First of all we didn’t defend the ball well enough, we gave the ball away in poor areas for two of the four goals. Over the last few months we have defended really well, we had six clean sheets against good opponents and defended very well away from home.

“The minute you come off it, and if you come off it against good players you can get punished and that is what happened.”

The absence of Martin Skrtel was significant against Arsenal, and Emre Can’s suspension is another setback. Steven Gerrard misses the second of three games due to his sending off against Manchester United, limiting options for Rodgers.

He must decide whether to persist with his 3-4-3 formation, or revert to a flat back four – a possibility which would enable Glen Johnson to return at right-back and potentially pair Daniel Sturridge with another attacker.

There is a danger of Liverpool’s season unravelling, although Manchester City’s defeat on Monday and a potential cup semi-final means that the next two fixtures could shift the mood again.

“I don’t want to go down the route of saying that [the cup will save Liverpool’s season],” Rodgers said. “Our objective was to win a trophy. I think if we didn’t get in the top four and we didn’t have a trophy this year, we ourselves would be disappointed.

“I think the FA Cup would give us a great boost as a team with lots of young players and players coming into the club. That’s the expectancy we want. We want to be able to be challenging every year. That was the key thing, to get the group challenging at the top end of the league and for trophies. The FA Cup would mark a good step forward.

“The last two results and performances have been disappointing but there is still so much left in the season for us. The seven league games we have left offer 21 points and you never know – the teams above us still have difficult games to play but the mathematics of it show it will be difficult – but it can be done.

“Our attitude and our mindset is to get to the FA Cup final and win it and we will be fighting to the very end in the league. There is everything still to play for and we can still make it a really successful season. The important thing is to remain calm and get over Saturday’s defeat.

“We have analysed the performance and that allows us to do that and to move forward.”

There is a theory that Liverpool’s inexperience has shown at key moments in the past two years, their most recent two games a further example of falling short against rivals when it seemed the momentum was in their favour. Rodgers said that having a young side had its pluses and disadvantages.

“It can work both ways. You can have young players who have no fear,” he said. “With a young player of course you are always trying to take the pressure off and to allow them to perform. As a team we haven’t performed well in the last two games and the results are the consequence of that. Now we have to think about getting back to how we played in that run of games. We know we need to win but it’s about how we play.

“It’s just about preparing them on the training field and looking to reinforce the confidence. We have the benefit of analysing our performances, looking at why we played well and why we won games, and it is about retaining that. You have to continue to work and be positive.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool have responded to calls for fairer ticket pricing by reducing the cost of junior season ticket price by 10 per cent to £180, and freezing the price of adult season tickets, the cheapest of which will remain at £710.

Premier League clubs are being lobbied to ensure low-earning supporters are not being priced out of attending games, the wealth imbalance growing as billions are coming into English football via TV revenue.

Liverpool’s chief executive, Ian Ayre, said: “The club had planned to slightly increase season ticket prices in line with inflation but after discussing the club’s wider ticketing strategy with the Supporters’ Committee ticketing working group we decided to freeze prices.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/11521011/Brendan-Rodgers-warns-Liverpool-cut-out-the-defensive-errors-or-Blackburn-will-knock-us-out-of-the-FA-Cup.html

[marcus50bucks]

I would go with the following:
--------------------Mignolet----------------------
Manquillo------Lovren------Sakho-------Moreno
----------Henderson-----Lucas-----------------
-----Sterling------Coutinho-------------Markovic
--------------------Sturridge---------

[Nicey]

I would go with the following:
--------------------Mignolet----------------------
Manquillo------Lovren------Sakho-------Moreno
----------Henderson-----Lucas-----------------
-----Sterling------Coutinho-------------Markovic
--------------------Sturridge---------

That side looks ace

[frank the tank]

I would go with the following:
--------------------Mignolet----------------------
Manquillo------Lovren------Sakho-------Moreno
----------Henderson-----Lucas-----------------
-----Sterling------Coutinho-------------Markovic
--------------------Sturridge---------

i dont think this is how we will line up but that is certainly how i would like to see us line up........maybe swapping Sterling with Markovic though. With Lucas in the team, then - in theory - we shouldnt require 3 centre backs. To be honest the 3 centre backs against someone like Blackburn would be a waste anyway....

[danperkins]

I would go with the following:
--------------------Mignolet----------------------
Manquillo------Lovren------Sakho-------Moreno
----------Henderson-----Lucas-----------------
-----Sterling------Coutinho-------------Markovic
--------------------Sturridge---------

[Pablo]

i dont think this is how we will line up but that is certainly how i would like to see us line up........maybe swapping Sterling with Markovic though. With Lucas in the team, then - in theory - we shouldnt require 3 centre backs. To be honest the 3 centre backs against someone like Blackburn would be a waste anyway....

I think the 3 CBs worked largely because we found a pairing that worked in Can, Skrtel and Sakho. With 2 of the 3 suspended then I don't see the point in persisting with it. I'd revert to a back 4

[The_weatherman]

I think the 3 CBs worked largely because we found a pairing that worked in Can, Skrtel and Sakho. With 2 of the 3 suspended then I don't see the point in persisting with it. I'd revert to a back 4

True, and we've had difficulties with it too, like against Bolton, Dons and Blackburn. This is a good game to change back to a back four IMO.

[frank the tank]

I think the 3 CBs worked largely because we found a pairing that worked in Can, Skrtel and Sakho. With 2 of the 3 suspended then I don't see the point in persisting with it. I'd revert to a back 4

i think that pairing worked but for me it also worked because Gerrard and Lucas were both out injured - if either of them are in midfield then they drop too deep and are basically 10 yards in front of the back 3 - receive a pass and then start our play. In reality, Emre Can and Sakho should both be able to bring the ball out 10 yards to play a pass - and if we have a 3 man defense like that then there should be no need to have another player 10 yards in front of them.

I think one of the other reasons that the back 3 worked well is because all of our full backs this season have been a cluster**** defensively - and having the 3 centre backs allowed both Can and Sakho to cover for that as well. Moreno especially needs to pull up his socks defensively for us to be able to go back to a flat back 4. As things are right now, i would fancy Flanagan to reclaim his place and possibly become a mainstay in the team - either at right back or left back because as things stand, we don't seem to have a good full back at the club. It is a bit of a kick in the nuts that after spending over £100m, we miss a young lad that was on loan at Derby County because he seemed to be the best fit for the RWB role.

With Lucas back in the reckoning, then I wouldnt be sad to see a back 4 re-introduced with Lucas sitting in front of the defense. Push Emre Can out to right back and pair Skrtel with Sakho and Moreno at left back. With Flanagan hopefully back in the reckoning soon, then he may be able to play at either LB or RB for a few games - and hopefully allow us to try Emre Can in midfield in place of either Lucas or Joe Allen.

Doing this will enable Brendan to:

1. Assess Moreno's capabiliy to play in a flat back 4.
2. Assess Skrtel / Sakho defensive partnership going forward.
3. Assess if Flanagan is capable of being our #1 right back
4. Assess if Emre Can is capable of being our first choice central midfielder

[calvoboy]

True, and we've had difficulties with it too, like against Bolton, Dons and Blackburn. This is a good game to change back to a back four IMO.

Agree with the back four. I'd play Johnson for experience ahead of Manquillo, and would have Allen in for Markovic and give the diamond a go with Sterling and Sturridge up front. Lots of options to change the game with a sub there too - Markovic on for Allen and go for the 4-2-3-1, Markovic on at wing-back and play three at the back, Balotelli or Lambert on up front to hold the ball up, etc.

Whatever, I think playing a three with Sakho, Lovren and Toure would be a mistake against these.

[BigChief]

Any formation containing Toure would be a mistake so that must be a no brainer with Rodgers surely. Specially if the rumours are true of the dressing room dressing down (which I hope they are).

Everyone's point stands, playing 3 at the back with Lovren and one of Toure/Johnson is asking to be knocked out of the FA Cup.

[The Birdman]

I think Rodgers will go with -
Mingolet
Manquillo Lovren Sakho Johnson
Allen Lucas
Sterling Henderson Coutinho
Sturridge.

[S-RED]

I can't see lucas starting this one, 2 games in fours days after returning from injury?

[wiw]

I would go with the following:
--------------------Mignolet----------------------
Manquillo------Lovren------Sakho-------Moreno
----------Henderson-----Lucas-----------------
-----Sterling------Coutinho-------------Markovic
--------------------Sturridge---------

Like the look of that team

I would go with something similar, with maybe Balotelli in for Markovic and go the diamond route. I think Sterling behind Balotelli and Sturridge would put us on the front foot in games from the start again (hopefully)

[Shaggy]

4-2-3-1 was absolutely **** for us earlier this season though.

I have absolutely no idea what we should do