Hoffenheim V Liverpool 15/08/2017 CL Qualifier 1st Leg

[danperkins]

TBH I am happy with Salah, Firmino and Mane against Hoffenheim. Those three have a great mix of the styles that gave the Hoffenheim backline trouble last season.


Getting it right in midfield will be where these two games will be won and lost imo. Attacking through the centre is such a big part of their game that if we can stifle that we take away a huge part of their game.

I haven't been sold on our midfield for awhile to be honest. They guys are just all too similar. Henderson is a banker starter but he's only finding his way back to match sharpness. Wini seems to play better against biggest sides but can go missing and had nightmare game against Watford. Can is hit and miss IMO. There is blatantly something missing from that midfield 3. Personally i think only 2 out of them 3 should play together, i don't get the point in starting all 3 but we have injuries now so hopefully they can up the tempo.. as it was pedestrian vs Watford.

As for the backline, i just give up. Probably not best idea by Jurgen to change your backline in the 90th min, so I let's hope he doesn't do that again.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I haven't been sold on our midfield for awhile to be honest. They guys are just all too similar. Henderson is a banker starter but he's only finding his way back to match sharpness. Wini seems to play better against biggest sides but can go missing and had nightmare game against Watford. Can is hit and miss IMO. There is blatantly something missing from that midfield 3. Personally i think only 2 out of them 3 should play together, i don't get the point in starting all 3 but we have injuries now so hopefully they can up the tempo.. as it was pedestrian vs Watford.

As for the backline, i just give up. Probably not best idea by Jurgen to change your backline in the 90th min, so I let's hope he doesn't do that again.

I would be happy to bring in two midfielders of quality and let our current crop either up their game or become back ups. Our available three are good players capable of really good performances as a trio from time to time when everything clicks for them, but they are just as capable of putting in listless single tempo performances.

[cream]

Yeah massive, so annoying it is. I would say Sturridge too but sure nothing knew there.

I'm sure Klopp said Sturridge would be ready for Tuesday???

[Pablo]

I'm sure Klopp said Sturridge would be ready for Tuesday???

He didn't specify which Tuesday though.

[Kenneth]

You'd never guess there was an important game today looking at the forum.

[BigChief]

I just about managed to get BT Sport this morning. I'm ready for Europe this season, even if it means watching us in Europa!

Seriously though, I hope we bring on Solanke (before Origi) at some point. His talents are the same as Origi but his game intelligence will ensure we take the lead or pull away. And it will give Mane/Salah a rest. Why's no one posted the fricking squad in this post? I'll guess at my preferred team:

Mig
TAA Matip Lovren(sigh) Robertson
Can Hendo Wijnaldum
Mane Firmino Salah

Take off Mane and Salah for Solanke and Origi early in the second half if we have at least one away goal.

[labourRed]

Best team in the Bundesliga at set pieces versus us. If that doesn't focus the mind of our defenders nothing will.

I'll take a score draw from this one, at this stage of disarray.

[labourRed]

I'd have thought the same as Watford. Robbo isn't going to go from not being in the squad to one of the more important early games of the season. Milner might be trusted more than Moreno for an away game.

[BigChief]

Best team in the Bundesliga at set pieces versus us. If that doesn't focus the mind of our defenders nothing will.

I'll take a score draw from this one, at this stage of disarray.

We need f*cking idiots like TAA and Firmino to concentrate on their jobs when defending. Both playing schoolyard close-your-eyes football leading to open goal chances.

We should have won that game 3-1 but for those two ridiculous lapses. I'm sure we'll be more focused in this game.

[Doc_Piptorious]

First competitive game in any comp for Hoffenhiem tonight. Big game as their first one after pre season so they might be a little more rusty than us.

[Pablo]

Yes I think I'd go with Milner at LB for this one. Could just imagine Moreno doing something crazy.

Aside from that the team pretty much picks itself, which is not a compliment, just an indication of how weak the squad looks currently

[BigChief]

I'd have thought the same as Watford. Robbo isn't going to go from not being in the squad to one of the more important early games of the season. Milner might be trusted more than Moreno for an away game.

True but out of the three LBs we currently have Milner has been the worst through pre-season. I would prefer Milner from last season but its up to what Klopp has seen on the training ground.

[gratziani]

If their first competitive game hope we get off to one of our quick starts and nick and early goal to get us on the front foot.

Mane and Salah looked dynamite at times versus Watford

[danperkins]

The press will have a field day if we **** up in this game. If we play anything like we did at Watford... we are coming away with nothing. That high tempo and pressing that was evident at the start of last season and a few high profile games in the second half of the season needs to be full tilt.

You usually can tell what Liverpool you are going to see by the first 10 mins. Teams can't handle us when we go full on press but you just genuinely do not know what Liverpool will turn up. I'm nervous about this game because of what is going on at the club at the minute. The Coutinho saga, not getting any of our main targets, fans questioning the owners & the game vs Watford highlighting the exact same issues as previous seasons. If we don't do the business tonight, the media pressure and discontent will ramp up.

If Watford was an isolated game you would say fair enough **** happens and it's the first game of the season but we have seen this time and time again... it stinks of here we go again. The club simply must qualify for the champs league proper, anything less than that is an absolute disaster. On paper we should be blitzing these.

[baitman]

TBH I am happy with Salah, Firmino and Mane against Hoffenheim. Those three have a great mix of the styles that gave the Hoffenheim backline trouble last season.


Getting it right in midfield will be where these two games will be won and lost imo. Attacking through the centre is such a big part of their game that if we can stifle that we take away a huge part of their game.

this is the root of our problems, we are too easy to play through, everyone seems to go missing on a counter attack.