Liverpool vs PSG - Champions League (Group Game 1)

[baitman]

You do realise we have a squad full of other good players right?

Only in a couple of positions is rotation not compromising the quality of the first team.

We have a coule of midfielders we can jiggle about, shaquri up front, clyne at rb, but then there is a noticeable drop off to the rest of the bunch.
Lovren and matip as centre backs might be ok centre backs if we were forced to play them but i would shudder to have to rely on them.
Think we need to go strong until we need to swap, or substitute early when we can.

[Fosterbloke]

Only in a couple of positions is rotation not compromising the quality of the first team.

We have a coule of midfielders we can jiggle about, shaquri up front, clyne at rb, but then there is a noticeable drop off to the rest of the bunch.
Lovren and matip as centre backs might be ok centre backs if we were forced to play them but i would shudder to have to rely on them.
Think we need to go strong until we need to swap, or substitute early when we can.

Which club in world football has little to no drop off in quality on their bench or squad across the whole team?

[Mark79]

It's 28 years since we won the league. 28 long ****ing years. Yet some think we should rotate for the Southampton game. We surely have to go strongest in every single league game and leave nothing to chance. Imagine losing out on the title by a couple of points. All because we prioritised other competitions. **** that.

Imagine being burnt out by February because we thought we could play the same 11 players every single league game. We play 8 PL games in 32 days in December/NYD. There’s going to have be rotation at some point.

The key is to manage work loads so that players don’t get overplayed in the first place, not just to react once they’re already knackered.

[rudedog]

Only in a couple of positions is rotation not compromising the quality of the first team.

We have a coule of midfielders we can jiggle about, shaquri up front, clyne at rb, but then there is a noticeable drop off to the rest of the bunch.
Lovren and matip as centre backs might be ok centre backs if we were forced to play them but i would shudder to have to rely on them.
Think we need to go strong until we need to swap, or substitute early when we can.

As long as VVD is playing I wouldnt have any issue in Lovren partnering him again - they were pretty solid last season.

[BobTheCharmer]

Imagine being burnt out by February because we thought we could play the same 11 players every single league game. We play 8 PL games in 32 days in December/NYD. There’s going to have be rotation at some point.

The key is to manage work loads so that players don’t get overplayed in the first place, not just to react once they’re already knackered.

I'm not saying play the same 11 every league game. But I'd certainly rest a few tonight so that they had more chance to play on Saturday. I'd rather lose tonight and get 3 points at the weekend. Obviously if an ideal world we win both games.

As Baitman said, there aren't many positions we can rotate where the quality drop off isn't huge. Centre midfield being one. Keita has to play though.

[Rigadon]

Hope we start with the same eleven as Saturday. Both teams will look to attack and score goals. Should be a good game.

[The_weatherman]

Really looking forward to this, at home against PSG, remind me who Arsenal and Chelsea are playing again? Don't really care anymore who starts, trust Klopp, but have admit I feel for those who aren't getting any minutes.

[Pablo]

I'm well up for it. It should be a brilliant match. And it's a team we've barely played before. Matches like this are what it's all about. I'm fully expecting this to be our best performance of the season so far.

[Mark79]

I'm not saying play the same 11 every league game. But I'd certainly rest a few tonight so that they had more chance to play on Saturday. I'd rather lose tonight and get 3 points at the weekend. Obviously if an ideal world we win both games.

As Baitman said, there aren't many positions we can rotate where the quality drop off isn't huge. Centre midfield being one. Keita has to play though.

The aim has to be to give ourselves the best chance to win both though. Yes rotation usually means a drop off in quality, that's why we need to choose the right opportunities to do it. Got to fancy that we've more chance of successfully rotating 2 or 3 vs Southampton than PSG.

[Maxiedge]

Guesses for starting line up?

Defence chooses itself.

Midfield: I reckon Fabinho, Henderson and Gini

Attack: I have a feeling Firmino won't be ready in time, so I'm going with Salah, Mane and Sturridge

[RedReet]

I'd be very surprised to see Sturridge start ahead of Shaq.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I think we'll go full strength, possibly Henderson coming in for Wijnaldum to keep the midfield fresh or maybe Keita drops back out whilst he's still adapting.

Couldn't get hold of a ticket for this unfortunately but what a game, great players all over the pitch and it'll be open as you like.

[Maxiedge]

I'd be very surprised to see Sturridge start ahead of Shaq.

Mane or Salah through the middle?

I mentioned it in the post match thread, I think Klopp's piss would be boiling after Sturridge's attempt to block Lamela's shot but I'm not sure we've had enough time to work on Salah/Mane through the middle and would prefer to go for tried and (somewhat) trusted striker role for Sturridge.

[RedReet]

Mane or Salah through the middle?

I mentioned it in the post match thread, I think Klopp's piss would be boiling after Sturridge's attempt to block Lamela's shot but I'm not sure we've had enough time to work on Salah/Mane through the middle and would prefer to go for tried and (somewhat) trusted striker role for Sturridge.

Salah. Although with Firmino playing a bit deeper this season anyway, there is no reason Shaq can't play there himself and leave Salah and Mane where they are.

PSG are too good to start Sturridge up front IMO. Against lesser teams when we will have most of the possession, he could be an option, but against PSG we are going to need all our players pressing from the off and unfortunately for Dan, he doesn't have that in him any more. If Klopp was forced to play an actual striker, I think Origi or Solanke would get the nod ahead of him in a game like this. Thankfully, it shouldn't come to that though.

[Maxiedge]

Salah. Although with Firmino playing a bit deeper this season anyway, there is no reason Shaq can't play there himself and leave Salah and Mane where they are.

PSG are too good to start Sturridge up front IMO. Against lesser teams when we will have most of the possession, he could be an option, but against PSG we are going to need all our players pressing from the off and unfortunately for Dan, he doesn't have that in him any more. If Klopp was forced to play an actual striker, I think Origi or Solanke would get the nod ahead of him in a game like this. Thankfully, it shouldn't come to that though.

Well, hopefully Firmino is passed fit but it's definitely an issue that needs addressing as we don't have a like for like replacement. Will be hard for Solanke to develop if Firmino plays 90% of games.