Liverpool V WBA build up - Saturday 5:30

[SB]

Give Ings a go.

Studge dropped until he acts like a striker

I think they'll both be on the bench TBH.

[Daniel 7]

Missing it, just realised FFS.

My mother turns 60 and we're having a do. :/

[Yozza]

'Reds will have a different plan for West Brom'

Jürgen Klopp does not expect West Bromwich Albion to tailor their approach when they visit Anfield this weekend looking to halt Liverpool's recent run of good form.

But the Reds boss admits his team may need to cater for the specific challenges posed by the Baggies - as they have done for each opponent this term.

Klopp's men are in the midst of an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions, but are preparing to face a side who have lost just twice this season.

The manager has done his homework, though, and insists his players will have a plan ready to cope with the threat of Tony Pulis' men.

"We already did it in the different games - we have different plans," he told reporters.

"We didn't [just] start it last week so we are a bit longer on this trip. Even if West Brom [watched] the game against Leicester or Hull, they would never play like Leicester or Hull.

"West Brom plays like West Brom, Tony Pulis has a specific way and he is very experienced in this and it makes him successful in the last few years with different teams.

"We have not a lot of bad results until now this season but a lot of problems to solve, a lot of situations to find solutions for.

"That's what we will have against West Brom again but I don't think that games we played until now will have a big influence on the preparation from West Brom."

Liverpool were twice held to a draw by West Brom last season, and required an injury-time equaliser from Divock Origi to claim a point in the Anfield edition of the fixture.

Klopp is keen for his players to show that they are constantly improving by bettering those results this time, but he knows the right mentality will be required.

"We improved a little bit but the problem in our job is that we have to improve all the time," he added.

"The important thing and the big difference is that we know more about us. We know more about the things we want to do together and how they should work.

"But unfortunately it's not like cycling, you can lose it and you have to do it again and again and again.

"In this game, there will be difficult challenges and passes which don't go through and then it's about the atmosphere in yourself and in the team and in the stadium.

"If we moan about it, if we are frustrated about it, if we are disappointed by it - use it. That's what I mean with creating an atmosphere because of us, we want to win, that's the only reason why we meet on Saturday.

"For this we need probably 95 minutes so, go for it. There won't be big spaces, everybody knows about West Brom, how they defend, there are no easy ways to go through.

"On the other hand, even if they don't play then each set-piece is a threat, for every team in the league, not just for us. We need to be ready for this. When we can stay confident in the game, all of us, then there will always be a chance.

"When you stay in the race, when you stay confident, then there's a lot of space to use. If you only wait for an easy moment, no chance."

Klopp expects Pulis' experienced team to try to make life 'uncomfortable' for their hosts by disrupting any rhythm built by the attack.

But the boss insists this is the sort of game his players should relish - a battle to impose their own quality on the opposition.

"West Brom is a very, very experienced team with a very experienced manager so they don't come here and want to make it easy for us or easy to enjoy for our crowd," he explained.

"They want a result and I respect this so we need to find a way to play them, that's all. For this, we need what you said and what is kind of the truth, that we need to be angry but at the same moment be patient enough, all of us, the crowd and the players.

"All that they are doing in defending is to make us feel uncomfortable [and] not to [allow us] to do what we want to do, what we are good at.

"That's not easy to enjoy but if we are ready to enjoy each challenge, if we are ready to celebrate each challenge we have won, if we are ready for a real tough football game, then it's to enjoy because it's another kind of football.

"As always, early goals would help - three early goals really help! But that's not really likely. They are really experienced and very good in defending and very good on set-pieces.

"They want to have set-pieces, of course. There's not only one way to be successful but we cannot choose their way and they cannot choose our way, so we have to find a way in this game to be the better team."

[Yozza]

Boss: Lallana is a real Liverpool player - and he loves this club

Jürgen Klopp insists he is not surprised by Adam Lallana's ever-growing influence on his side, describing the playmaker as a 'real Liverpool player' as he closes in on his 100th appearance for the club.

The 28-year-old’s next runout for the Reds will see him clock up his century in all competitions following a switch from Southampton in 2014.

Game No.99 came as a second-half substitute during Monday’s goalless draw with Manchester United at Anfield in which Lallana’s introduction visibly lifted the tempo of Liverpool’s play.

“For me, it feels like we’ve spoken already a lot of times about Adam – I have no problem, I like him, so we can speak about him,” Klopp told journalists at his pre-West Bromwich Albion press conference on Thursday.

“It was a very intensive game against Manchester United and coming in with fresh legs is not the worst thing.

“He is a very good football player, very important for us and in my opinion his development is not that big; I didn’t watch the games before I came [here], but since I have been here he has been on a constant high level. With all the improvement in the team, he can take the benefit of this too. He brings a lot in the team with all of his quality and that’s alright, all good.

“In a special game against Manchester United, with this quality coming in and fresh legs, that has to make the difference – you have to see that here comes a high-quality player, full of energy and that’s what he did.

“Unfortunately in the end it was not enough for us, maybe not long enough or whatever, but it’s all good with Adam and until now this week he could train properly and everything is good.”

Lallana has excelled in the opening weeks of 2016-17, contributing three goals in nine appearances and being voted as the Standard Chartered Player of the Month for September.

Klopp feels the England international is adept at drawing on past experiences to aid his continuing development.

“When he was very young he was already captain of Southampton – that says a lot about him,” continued the boss.

“He is a smart boy and now at an age where experience helps more and more when you are smart enough. That’s what he uses – it grows confidence, that’s how it is. He is a real Liverpool player, he loves this club.

“He made a difficult change, as I recognised when we played Southampton. Obviously they still miss him – a lot of players have left Southampton in the last few years, but obviously with Adam, they are still not happy he is not there anymore and that says a lot about his quality and the influence he had at Southampton.

“Now he is here and I am really happy about this fact.”

[Yozza]

Jürgen Klopp on injuries: 'Nothing to moan about!'

Jürgen Klopp was pleased to report there is 'nothing to moan about' on the injury front as he considers a line-up to face West Bromwich Albion.

The second Anfield game of the week will see Liverpool host the Baggies on Saturday, after drawing 0-0 with rivals Manchester United on Monday night.

Georginio Wijnaldum missed that encounter but has returned to training at Melwood – and the manager had no fresh concerns to report at his pre-match press conference either.

“Actually, in this moment there’s nothing really to moan about,” said Klopp.

“We had a few kicks and things like this – in the game [on Monday] and still felt after the game, of course. But nobody is ruled out at the moment and Gini is on the way back, so that’s good.

“If nothing happens today or tomorrow, we have quite a big squad to make the choice.”

[Yozza]

'Loris can improve but he has made a good start'

Loris Karius has room for improvement, admits Jürgen Klopp, but the manager is satisfied with the goalkeeper's opening four Liverpool games.

The summer signing recorded his first Premier League clean sheet for the Reds on Monday night as they were held to a goalless draw by Manchester United.

And while Klopp insists his compatriot can build further on his performances so far, the boss is comfortable with how Karius has fared between the posts.

He said of the ‘keeper: “[It is] a very good start, that’s how it is.

“We watched him for a long time and especially in the last two years in the Bundesliga, he was outstanding. But he is still a young boy, for a goalkeeper especially.

“He collected experience but this is, of course, something else here in the Premier League – a different kind of play in general in the Premier League and [a different] style of play in our specific case.

“So, of course, he has to improve and can improve, but with the start I feel quite comfortable and everything is good.”

Klopp continued: “It was not perfect. There was one situation [against United] with Dejan [Lovren] together, with passing, but things like this happen.

“More serious things like this happen to other goalkeepers who are more experienced. If you want a goalkeeper who plays football, you take the risk that sometimes the ball is bouncing in a different way.

“That’s all, everything is OK.”

[redmike65]

The sense of excitement is palpable!

[Buzzo]

Is Wijnaldum fit for this one?

[RedReet]

I used up all my excitement for the United build up. What little life I had left in me was drained watching that snore fest.

That being said, everyone is available today, so if they are all match fit, I look forward to seeing what we can do with a full strength team again.

A big win would put us back on course nicely.

[PTP]

The sense of excitement is palpable!

I'm really not looking forward to this game haha. Had a poker night last night, feel rough as **** and really need to tidy up my house but can't be arsed moving, getting picked up at 4 to go for a pint before game, can't be arsed drinking tho, and then I've got my gf coming round after the match which means I really need to to tidy round!

Would much rather just sit here all day and not move, watch game on tele

Hope we play well and it gets me over my hangover

[RedReet]

Is Wijnaldum fit for this one?

He's trained and is available, just depends if he's 100%.

I would expect him to start, but where does Can go from here if so?

[destinydude]

A win today would make the Utd result good in retrospect.

[TheElephantMan]

I hope they don't do a United. If Lallana starts he'll make a big difference to the way we play. I'm a bit more nervous about this game than I would normally be because clearly there is a genuine opportunity for us this season to grab a top four spot and maybe even finish top. It's definitely doable, there is no outstanding team this season just like last.

[G]

Liverpool FC
Confirmed #LFC team to face @WBA: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino

[G]

Liverpool FC
Confirmed #LFC substitutes against @WBA: Mignolet, Moreno, Klavan, Lucas, Wijnaldum, Sturridge, Origi