Burnley Build Up

[danperkins]

We do have some options in midfield when you throw Curtis into the mix.

I really want Ox to do well, he is a quality player he just needs more than the odd start every 2 to 3 months to prove it. His problem is all the other midfielders would say the same and some of them can and have hit the ground running.

I think Ox offers something different, and, more importantly is the only one of our midfielders who will look to score from outside the box every game.

All good points, we do lack goals from the midfield & Ox does seem the only one who will actually take a shot from range. The problem with him apart from injuries is that he disappears in games & he's not great technically or tactically imo but we do miss a player that direct. I personally thought we would move him on this summer but maybe the English quota thing is why we kept him.

In saying that he needs a sustained period where he is not injured so I would imagine he will be managed throughout the course of the season. I fully expect him and Keita to get injured soon but it would be nice to see both players push on and get past the crock phase. Regardless of how I feel about how both players have performed in a LFC shirt, lack of game time and match sharpness is poxy for any pro footballer. If we do not bolster the midfield in the transfer market, we really will need the likes of Ox and Keita to stay fit for a majority of the season. Hendo and Thiago like an injury too so it is an area I worry about us being light in.

[BigChief]

For our weakest area, our midfield certainly has lots of strong combos going on. I can't decide which is the best one from the suggestions above (other than Fab starting in all of them).

[RedReet]

Against Burnley if like to see Fab, Nab and Jota. However, I would also like to see Thiago and/or Henderson get some mins in their legs for Chelsea so not sure what my preference is.

[SB]

I’m happy if we start the same X1 with the only possible exception being if Virg can handle this & be right to go at Chelsea. I’d keep the faith in the rest though & give minutes to the returning players off the bench.

[Irishnev]

I’m happy if we start the same X1 with the only possible exception being if Virg can handle this & be right to go at Chelsea. I’d keep the faith in the rest though & give minutes to the returning players off the bench.

VVD will play - it’s a game a week right now. Burnley are big grocks so we need him and Matip as they are the best in the air. Fab will start as he is also a big unit and our best DM. I hope Naby is retained as he was our best midfielder vs Norwich and I’d like to see Klopp reward him. I think Hendo also starts as he is the most physical of the remaining players.

Bobby for me with Jota to cause havoc vs a tiring defence with 30 mins to go

[Doc_Piptorious]

--------------------------ALISSON----------------------------

TRENT----------GOMEZ---------------KONATE--------TSIMIKAS

-----------KEITA-------FABINHO---------THIAGO-----------

SALAH-----------------JOTA------------------------MANE



Milner for Thiago if the latter is not quite ready. Gomez and Konate in for Matip and VVD, then come Chelsea we go with the CB pairing that looks the best.


Would give Henderson a run out from the bench along with bringing Elliot and Bobby on.

[Shaggy]

Alisson
TAA - Matip - Virg - Kosta
Fab
Thiago - Keita
Salah - Jota - Mane

I prefer Bobby in the Jota role, but dropping him would be a bit of a kick when he got us off to a good start by scoring our opener. And it would be interesting to see him with two creative players behind him, cos he makes intelligent runs but is often not spotted/found.

What a beautiful team that would be

[Harv]

We do have some options in midfield when you throw Curtis into the mix.

I really want Ox to do well, he is a quality player he just needs more than the odd start every 2 to 3 months to prove it. His problem is all the other midfielders would say the same and some of them can and have hit the ground running.

I think Ox offers something different, and, more importantly is the only one of our midfielders who will look to score from outside the box every game.

Ox is done at the top level mate. That knee injury has ruined him

[SB]

Ox is done at the top level mate. That knee injury has ruined him

That is my concern too so I’d like to see him given 60 mins to prove himself or look to replace him before the window shuts.

[Norbs]

Hey Alex, 60 mins to save your career or you're out, son.

It's kindness like that that Klopp built his reputation on

[Scratch]

Problem for Ox tho is that recently he's been used in understrength sides, playing a role not suited to him. Would he fair better in a side where he is given a free role, with Fab/Hendo doing the midfield donkey work?

[SB]

Hey Alex, 60 mins to save your career or you're out, son.

It's kindness like that that Klopp built his reputation on

I’m not sure we’d tell him beforehand though

[Harv]

Hey Alex, 60 mins to save your career or you're out, son.

It's kindness like that that Klopp built his reputation on

He's had plenty of opportunities to show he's still got it, but either gets injured again or looks utterly crap and completely lost out there. Its kindness like that that has us stuck with players like Origi and Shaq and cant get rid of them.

I don't get the love for Ox really. Other players get battered on here for being injured all the time or just being ****. But he seems to have this aura about him that he's still amazing and gets a free ride. He was never amazing He had a little purple patch 3 seasons ago in our Champions League run then got a bad injury and has been non existent ever since.

[SB]

Yeah I don’t see a future with us for him now. I feel sorry for him with the injuries and that but we need better than him & Origi but I’d be open to Shaq staying out of the three of them though he wants to play more so he’ll most likely be off.

[Tribute]

Yeah I don’t see a future with us for him now. I feel sorry for him with the injuries and that but we need better than him & Origi but I’d be open to Shaq staying out of the three of them though he wants to play more so he’ll most likely be off.

was always going to be a tough ask to ditch the three crocks in one summer window, but agree that Shaq probably offers more over the season than the other two.

Shame about Ox and his injuries but for me, he's nowhere near the levels he once was and Divock is coasting through life and with a big weekly wage. Freeing up some of the chunky salaries would make way for a younger striker to come in who then has a season or more to settle and develop in Klopp's system. Doku sounds like he's a target and could be Mane's long-term replacement... that's the kind of business we should be looking at, if any.