The Geordies v LFC build up...

[Yozza]

V

16:30 Sun 1st Oct 2017

Location: St James' Park

Hail Rafa.... but I reckon we'll fill our boots against this lot

[Yozza]

'Rafa's phone call was the best - but I want him to lose on Sunday'

The man at the other end of the line during the greatest phone call of Robbie Fowler's life was Rafael Benitez.

In January 2006, the then-Liverpool manager set in motion an unexpected move that brought the revered striker back to the club for a cherished second spell.

Little over four years after Fowler had departed Anfield to join Leeds United the Englishman was at Manchester City and perhaps could not have dreamed that a return to the Reds was possible.

And then Benitez dialled his number.

“I’ll always be grateful to Rafa for giving me the chance to come back home,” Fowler told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I wasn’t even playing for City. At the time, Liverpool were maybe struggling a little bit for goals. Rafa picked up the phone and asked me if I wanted to come back to Liverpool – it was probably the best phone call I’ve ever had in my life.

“I have fond memories of Rafa, a great manager.”

Those sentiments will be banished from Fowler’s mind on Sunday, however.

Liverpool resume their Premier League campaign with a trip to Newcastle United – Benitez’s current club – that afternoon, when previous affections must be put to one side.

“I want him to get beat this weekend,” admitted Fowler. “I’m a Liverpool fan. I don’t want it to be a 4-3 game – I want Liverpool to win really comfortably.”

The Reds ambassador was part of the team which played out successive 4-3 thrillers with the Magpies at Anfield in 1996 and 1997, scoring a brace in each match.

Two decades on, Jürgen Klopp’s men are likely to encounter a sturdier, more stubborn Newcastle this weekend given Benitez’s side have conceded only five goals so far on their return to the Premier League.

Fowler suggested such a scenario in his pre-match assessment.

“Even when he was Liverpool manager and you think of the players he had at his disposal, technically, tactically and going forward I think we were as good as anyone,” he added.

“But his [approach] was to not let the other team create chances, stop them from scoring and get blocks, and counter-attack and get a 1-0 win. He was like that at Liverpool and he’ll be exactly the same.

“He’ll want to do well, he’ll want to keep a clean sheet and he’ll try to get us on the counter.”

[Pablo]

Someone is overdue an absolute hiding from us. Sorry Rafa but I hope it's you.

[Chris]

These are ****ing awful, time to stop dropping points against bum teams, just get it done.

[RedReet]

Someone is overdue an absolute hiding from us. Sorry Rafa but I hope it's you.

They have a few things going for them on paper. They'll be tight at the back, are decent at set pieces and have Dwight f*cking Gayle. That being said, if we get an early goal, that will be their gameplan out the window and the floodgates could open. With Bobby, Mane, Salah and Coutinho up front, we really have no excuse.

[Fosterbloke]

Lascelles will be a beast guaranteed.

[labourRed]

I expect a tactical number to be attempted. I don't know if Newcastle have the players to carry it out though.

[The_weatherman]

I expect a tactical number to be attempted. I don't know if Newcastle have the players to carry it out though.

I think so too, I reckon Rafa will have mapped us out and I'm a bit worried.

[baitman]

dwight ****ing gayle to score the winner in the 93rd minute

[SB]

So who do we rest for this one?

Wijnaldum goes missing in away games apparently so do we give him the flick?

TAA or Gomez at RB & Moreno or Robertson at LB.

Sturidge or Firmino or Solanke in the middle?

Henderson or Can holding?

Coutinho, Milner, Henderson, Gini , the Ox or Grujic in CM

Plenty of options

[Daniel 7]

Hmm, its a tough one fullback wise. Rafa will probably set up defensively, so do we want to add to the attacking threat with Moreno and TAA, or make sure we're not prone to counter attack with a bit more surety with Gomez and Robertson? I'd prefer the latter tbh. The keeper picks himself - he might not be the best, but he's better than Karius, he's our league keeper and Ward isn't getting a game in this competition.

Mignolet

Gomez - Matip - Lovren - Robertson

Midfield - go as strong as possible there. Continue with Coutinho in the middle, with a better performing Henderson deep and Emre Can

Henderson - Can - Coutinho / Ox

Upfront I'd like to see changes., Firmino has had a couple of absolute stinking games, so I'd take him out with a view to him being an impact sub later on. Ox has to start at some point, and he could change with Coutinho during the game to mix things up. I'd like to see Mane central - I don't think it matters where he plays in the front three, he's always a danger

Salah - Mane - Ox / Coutinho

[RedReet]

Preparation for United will be hampered by internationals, so we need to get our preferred front 4 used to playing with each other. I'll be extremely surprised if Firmino is dropped.

You would hope most players would only get 1 game for Brazil seeing as they have already qualified and our African players only have 1 game, so no need to rest anyone IMO.

[labourRed]

Yeah, I think it'll be a similar side to Spartak with Mignolet back, obviously. I wouldn't be surprised if Gomez played either.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Win this and we will finish the weekend above Chelsea and Arsenal and level on points with Spurs.


Would not be too shabby for a team not firing on all cylinders yet.

[Buzzo]

Win this and we will finish the weekend above Chelsea and Arsenal and level on points with Spurs.


Would not be too shabby for a team not firing on all cylinders yet.

Agree with this also.

Rumours of our demise have been greatly exaggerate.