7 League Games in December!

[Fosterbloke]

Brighton (A)
Everton (H)
West Brom (H)
Bournemouth (A)
Arsenal (A)
Swansea (H)
Leicester (H)

21 points up for grabs here. I reckon we'll do well if we can get 19 points. That will allow us a draw with Arsenal or Leicester.

If Salah continues his scoring rate, he'll be on 20 league goals for the season!

[Norbs]

No chance this thread will come back to haunt you Steve

[The_weatherman]

No Matip in those games and surely Lovren will catch a virus or a cold soon so this could get difficult.

[Exiled_red]

I don't really like these thread of we have x games we should get y points.

The December/Christmas period is always tough, so many games in a relatively short period of time means that players need to be rested, and while some areas of the squad have good strength and depth, resting on form players always has the potential to back fire and you rely on the depth of the squad at these times.

The obvious problem for us is in defence, IMO we came into the season short of defenders and Matip has picked up an injury recently, I'm not sure how long he is likely to be out, but with Lovren and Klavan not the best and also prone to picking up the odd knock it could potentially be a tricky time for us. I can see us having to reshuffle the backline at points in the next month or so (Gomez to CB for example). I think that our good run of recent form has coincided with the manager making fewer chances to the defence. Obviously we would prefer to keep a settled side but I think if I were the manager I would be looking to get players such as Robertson and TAA some minutes from the bench in the next couple of games to try and get/keep them up to speed , because I suspect that they will be called upon in the coming weeks

[SB]

We’re bound to see more rotation over this period. Hopefully a bit of Solanke & Woodburn & probably TAA & Robertson could get some time.

[Liverpool]

these threads

15/16 points please

[RedReet]

I don't really like these thread of we have x games we should get y points.

The December/Christmas period is always tough, so many games in a relatively short period of time means that players need to be rested, and while some areas of the squad have good strength and depth, resting on form players always has the potential to back fire and you rely on the depth of the squad at these times.

The obvious problem for us is in defence, IMO we came into the season short of defenders and Matip has picked up an injury recently, I'm not sure how long he is likely to be out, but with Lovren and Klavan not the best and also prone to picking up the odd knock it could potentially be a tricky time for us. I can see us having to reshuffle the backline at points in the next month or so (Gomez to CB for example). I think that our good run of recent form has coincided with the manager making fewer chances to the defence. Obviously we would prefer to keep a settled side but I think if I were the manager I would be looking to get players such as Robertson and TAA some minutes from the bench in the next couple of games to try and get/keep them up to speed , because I suspect that they will be called upon in the coming weeks

One advantage we have though, is other teams like Brighton aren't used to playing twice a week, so we should have a slight advantage. I fancy us to go on a great run after we get Spartak out of the way.

[Charly]

I think we are due a loss to Everton
... I reckon they are going to make life difficult for us through sheer force of will.

I can imagine our defence are going to be as nervous as ****

[Chris]

That gets said every season, they are woeful and we are a style nightmare for them even if we ignore that they are massive bottlers.

[Fosterbloke]

I'm optimistic and I think we'll do it!

@norbs, I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts!

[Tatterdemalion]

I'm looking forward to finding out who our 5th choice CB is

[Doc_Piptorious]

That gets said every season, they are woeful and we are a style nightmare for them even if we ignore that they are massive bottlers.

Woeful and slow is what they are, Don't think there is a slower back line in the league.

Looking forward to seeing Salah and Mane against their back four.

[Fosterbloke]

First game down

3 points
For: 5 goals
Against: 1 goal

Next league game - A rejuvenated Everton at Anfield..

[Fosterbloke]

Liverpool vs Everton
Sunday - 2:15pm

Does Everton's mini revival worry you? Will we put them to the sword like we have Brighton, Spartak and others?

Everton have just played in Cyprus and won't have as much time to train and they'll be more tired with less rotation options as well.

My only concern is that Henderson will slow things down a bit for us but we'll see!

[Assassin]

Liverpool vs Everton
Sunday - 2:15pm

Does Everton's mini revival worry you? Will we put them to the sword like we have Brighton, Spartak and others?

Everton have just played in Cyprus and won't have as much time to train and they'll be more tired with less rotation options as well.

My only concern is that Henderson will slow things down a bit for us but we'll see!

More yoof in that game and squad that travelled to Cyprus. So thats your tiredness theory out of the window

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Robles 7; Baningime 7, Feeney 7, Besic 7, Charsley 7 (Denny 90’); Klaassen 7, Schneiderlin 7; Vlasic 7.5, Mirallas 7.5 (Gordon 88’), Lookman 8.5; Hornby 7.5 (Broadhead 82’)