Liverpool v Southampton EFL S/F 2nd leg

[kev776]

Never want to see Lallana in an attacking position again. I'm convinced that's the root of our current ills.

My team would be:

Karius
Clyne- Matip- Lovren- Milner
Lallana- Henderson- Wijnaldum
Origi- Firmino- Coutinho

without Mane, our best team.

[RichC]

Never want to see Lallana in an attacking position again. I'm convinced that's the root of our current ills.

My team would be:

Karius
Clyne- Matip- Lovren- Milner
Lallana- Henderson- Wijnaldum
Origi- Firmino- Coutinho

I agree with thr Lallana view, he offers so much more from midfield

[Gibbo]

There are rumours Moreno will play this one and possibly as a wide forward.

[BillobShaisley]

Spot on re: Lallana being in the midfield 3, but I'd have sturridge over origi any day of the week and twice on Sat/Sunday. We're talking about a proven goal scorer vs a kid who may or may not have potential.

People have short memories and seem to have forgotten what studge can do when on his game. He's our best striker by a country mile. Let Couts and Bobby float around him doing their thing, blow hot air up studge's arse to get him firing again. The guys a softie and needs an arm around the shoulder, the best managers manage to do this without losing authority and get the best out of their resources. We don't have the luxury of being able to waste such a talent.

[BigChief]

Blimey, all this time I was thinking we had Chelsea this weekend. I agree with Rich's team, put the strongest out tonight and lets get to the final. That means no room for Moreno until the FA Cup on Saturday.

Edit: Billob, in Sturridge's case its best to trust your short term memory to separate emotion from reality. Sturridge can play on Saturday and, if you what you say is correct, will single handedly beat Wolves.

[BillobShaisley]

Yeah but if you judge Coutinho on his Swansea display you'd wonder what the fuss is about. Studge is worth some investment to get back firing on all cylinders. What Origi has done to earn such faith and favouritism, while we have a rolls Royce on the bench has escaped me?

[labourRed]

Yeah but if you judge Coutinho on his Swansea display you'd wonder what the fuss is about. Studge is worth some investment to get back firing on all cylinders. What Origi has done to earn such faith and favouritism, while we have a rolls Royce on the bench has escaped me?

That's some staggering faith in Sturridge. He's been woeful largely this season. A Rolls Royce.

I thought Coutinho was class in the first half personally and he's certainly done well this season... streets ahead as player of the season.

I do agree Origi has went off the boil considerably however when he's played generally he's offered more than Sturridge. Although on form it's a coin toss between them.

[BillobShaisley]

Which considering Studge hasn't had a look in for 18months shows the difference in inherent class.

Think people have short memories and lack some empathy/understanding. If you want to judge anything on the very recent short term then you'll have an incomplete viewpoint. Some players only need a half to get back into it others, like Owen, would need 4-5games. Some players should have earned the right to be granted some tolerance and if you look at what Studge has done for us over the years, none of our other forwards have come close. He deserves a chance to have a run as the front man to show what he can do.

He's been hung out to dry, some teams can afford to do that with their better players, we can't, either on the pitch or financially. We've done it with a few players and they've shown that they are more than capable of used and asked to do what they are good at. Bent'ekers and Mad Mario as recent cases in point for the goldfish amongst us.

[BigChief]

Which considering Studge hasn't had a look in for 18months shows the difference in inherent class.

Think people have short memories and lack some empathy/understanding. If you want to judge anything on the very recent short term then you'll have an incomplete viewpoint. Some players only need a half to get back into it others, like Owen, would need 4-5games. Some players should have earned the right to be granted some tolerance and if you look at what Studge has done for us over the years, none of our other forwards have come close. He deserves a chance to have a run as the front man to show what he can do.

He's been hung out to dry, some teams can afford to do that with their better players, we can't, either on the pitch or financially. We've done it with a few players and they've shown that they are more than capable of used and asked to do what they are good at. Bent'ekers and Mad Mario as recent cases in point for the goldfish amongst us.

You see, I'm reading a lot of emotion in that post. A lot. Nothing wrong with that or with having faith obviously. I love the guy and have not forgotten his contributions, specially pre, during and some post Suarez golden era.

But ultimately I love the team more than any part associated with it. If the team suffers, or is suffering then I go cold. Doesn't mean I become a heartless *******. I was the same with Gerrard in his last season and a half. We could have kept giving Gerrard a chance in the middle to stave off our short memory syndrome but look where that was getting us and would have continued getting us.

Origi makes the team 'work'. Sturridge comes into the middle, congests it and interferes with the way Klopp wants to play. Its not Sturridge's fault, just as it wasn't Gerrard's back then. Age and injuries catch up with everyone.

[SB]

Never want to see Lallana in an attacking position again. I'm convinced that's the root of our current ills.

My team would be:

Karius
Clyne- Matip- Lovren- Milner
Lallana- Henderson- Wijnaldum
Origi- Firmino- Coutinho

my team too.

[BillobShaisley]

You see, I'm reading a lot of emotion in that post. A lot. Nothing wrong with that or with having faith obviously. I love the guy and have not forgotten his contributions, specially pre, during and some post Suarez golden era.

But ultimately I love the team more than any part associated with it. If the team suffers, or is suffering then I go cold. Doesn't mean I become a heartless *******. I was the same with Gerrard in his last season and a half. We could have kept giving Gerrard a chance in the middle to stave off our short memory syndrome but look where that was getting us and would have continued getting us.

Origi makes the team 'work'. Sturridge comes into the middle, congests it and interferes with the way Klopp wants to play. Its not Sturridge's fault, just as it wasn't Gerrard's back then. Age and injuries catch up with everyone.

Gerrard had always been a physical phenomenon and a bit of a headless chicken, when his body stopped being able to follow the head he was always going to suffer. Persevering with that would have been flogging a dead horse.

If Studge is the CF then he wouldn't be 'congesting the middle' that would be where he's supposed to be mostly. That can happen when you play your best goal scorer out wide.

He's not been very good this season for sure, but he's always been a bit high maintenance, ideally you'd have someone with a tougher constitution but we haven't so we have to make the best of it. He's been publicly shamed on top of coming back from injury and being made of glass, anyone expecting him to be on top form is being unrealistic for any player. He deserves a run as CF and the input from Klopp/Coaches to help him perform there in our system. Not a bunch of sub appearances as a FR in an atmosphere of distrust.

Other than a few moments, I'd query the idea that Origi makes the team work. I'd say results show the contrary, clearly our best performing front 3 this year has been

Couts - BobbyF - Mane,

With Mane away id have

Couts - Studge - BobbyF

Let them build some on pitch rapport, because if they can then that is a first class line up. Origi wouldn't be a starter for any top 3/4 club in the top 3/4 leagues in Europe.

[kev776]

Rumour is Van Dijjjji han't traveled, they will be without both of their best CBs, we should get right at them now.

[Fierce]

I don't agree with your slightly strange defence of Sturridge in general, but I do think this, on paper, is our best team:

Couts - BobbyF - Mane,

With Mane away id have

Couts - Studge - BobbyF

Thing is, if Sturridge needs those games to get going, and Mane is back before he's gotten going, what't the point of getting him going?

He doesn't get in our first 11. He would in the majority of teams in the PL/world, but not ours

[Rich]

Spot on re: Lallana being in the midfield 3, but I'd have sturridge over origi any day of the week and twice on Sat/Sunday. We're talking about a proven goal scorer vs a kid who may or may not have potential.

People have short memories and seem to have forgotten what studge can do when on his game. He's our best striker by a country mile. Let Couts and Bobby float around him doing their thing, blow hot air up studge's arse to get him firing again. The guys a softie and needs an arm around the shoulder, the best managers manage to do this without losing authority and get the best out of their resources. We don't have the luxury of being able to waste such a talent.

While I agree that Sturridge is by far the better finisher, I'm far from convinced that he can play well in a front three, especially out wide - not anymore when he's been robbed of any pace he once had. IF you wanted to play him we would have to move Firmino into a wide position and he looks pretty rubbish out there IMO.

So - for me, Origi has the some of the pace and work ethic that would allow the team to cope better without Mane. i.e. ask Origi to run really fast up and down the wing and move inside as required.

I think Divock can do that better than Daniel can.

That keeps both Firmino and Lallana in their best positions, and I think we win more games that way.

[Maxiedge]

Sturridge is **** out wide in the front 3. When we're putting the pressure on but can't get the breakthrough, play him through the middle against teams 'parking the bus' and give him the ball in the box with back to goal...he can turn defenders brilliantly. Job done.