Newcastle (a)

[Craig_H]

We do, bar the 4-3. But it's more the circumstances than the opposition I'm worried about. 12.30 away from home after Wednesday CL is a disgrace and any team would fancy their chances of an upset. The fact that Newcastle are playing well, complicates the matter further.

Still expect us to win, but think this will be tougher than Spurs and Villa.

Normally I’d not be keen about having this as the 12:30pm kickoff but this is one occasion it might be helpful. Atmosphere-wise, 12:30pm is usually different to an evening game or a 5:30pm game. If this game was a late kickoff, with the form Newcastle have been in, I’d expect a vociferous atmosphere. As a 12:30pm kickoff, that’ll be far more toned down.

Put it this way, from an atmosphere perspective, Leeds away at 5:30pm, against a side that’s still not safe, might be a tad trickier than 12:30pm away at a safe Newcastle side. Perhaps. Here’s hoping.

[wiw]

Not so sure on this one. We need to win at Newcastle, we don’t actually need to win at Villarreal. Surely TAA plays the one where we start at 0-0, and the less threatening Gomez plays the one where we start 2-0 ahead?

Yeah I think that's what he will do - Tsimikas for Newcastle and Gomez in the week, rotate 2 or 3 midfielders and strikers for both

[Fosterbloke]

I doubt anybody will be getting picked that the sports science team haven't cleared, so if they are fit, they play IMO. Under normal circumstances I imagine Klopp would have liked to make wholesale changes with future games in mind, but as he often says, next game is our most important.

Who should we pick? The strongest team our sports scientists deem to be ready to play.

[Craig_H]

Yeah I think that's what he will do - Tsimikas for Newcastle and Gomez in the week, rotate 2 or 3 midfielders and strikers for both

I’d go full strength for Newcastle. Nothing but a win will do. Gomez & Tsimikas at Villarreal would be fine for me, but I’d go TAA & Robbo for Newcastle. No risks.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Could be a tough enough game if we are not on it from the start. Newcastle have won 9 out of their last 12 in the league and won the last six in a row at home.

[Fierce]

Thiago has picked up a calf injury that will keep him out for 4-6 weeks and likely ends his season

absolute dick

[Doc_Piptorious]

Not for me. Recovery is crucial, especially as you get older as an elite athlete.

I'd be resting Henderson and Thiago and put Jones or Ox in there instead.

Fabinho Jones Milner

Even Elliott could be in with a shout.

Newcastle are in really good form, are not conceding much at home and have a midfield that can press. No way would I be loading our midfeld with guys that are not as good at counter pressing let alone making up 2/3s of our midifeld with them.

Three points are a must for us, so we need to go with as strong a team as we can muster on the day. In the second leg in the CL we have some leeway there given we have an overall lead. We can lose in the CL or draw and still go through, either of those things against Newcastle would be a hammerblow.

I do not disagree with the need for recovery which is why I said in the earlier post that we go with as strong a team as we can based on how the players looked in training yesterday.

If a player did not look right or was carrying a knock then rest them, but any crucial player who looks ready to go again is there to be picked even if only for 60 to 65 mins of play before taking them off to manage minutes.

[RedReet]

Feels odd being nervous before a match again.

Bar City, just expect us to wipe the floor with all opposition.

[RedReet]

Didn't see that team.

[Mark79]

[ame]https://twitter.com/lfc/status/1520349755804733442[/ame]

[Mark79]

Henderson/Milner midfield

[Big-Red-Ed]

Klopp knows best but that midfield worries me

YNWA

[RedReet]

Milner to score against his old club.

Prob a pen.

[labourRed]

Klopp knows best but that midfield worries me

YNWA

[SB]

Not so sure on this one. We need to win at Newcastle, we don’t actually need to win at Villarreal. Surely TAA plays the one where we start at 0-0, and the less threatening Gomez plays the one where we start 2-0 ahead?

You heard it here first