Liv v Napoli (H) 8pm

[BigChief]

Yeah we have a game tomorrow. Meh.

[Doc_Piptorious]

We are through regardless. Play as many as we can that we do not intend to use in the next league game.

Think we need to beat Napoli 4 nil to top the group so would take a bit of rest for those starting the next game rather than running legs further into the ground chasing a four goal win against a strong team.

[danperkins]

Napoli unbeaten in 27 games or so, I think they will rotate but it's still a very hard fixture and they could cause us serious problems. We ain't beating them by 4 goals that is for sure.

[Pablo]

I think we will go relatively strong, purely because we need a result for morale. There is a decent gap until the Spurs game too.

Ali
Trent Konate VVD Tsimikas
Henderson Thiago
Firmino
Salah Nunez Carvalho

Something like that would be my guess.

[fidget]

Gutted i've got my FIL's ticket lol

[Doc_Piptorious]

I think we will go relatively strong, purely because we need a result for morale. There is a decent gap until the Spurs game too.

Ali
Trent Konate VVD Tsimikas
Henderson Thiago
Firmino
Salah Nunez Carvalho

Something like that would be my guess.

Yes but the Spurs game is the first of three games in six days. Spurs on the 6th, Derby on the 9th and Southampton on the 12th.

As we are through regardless in the CL, I would be taking any chance we get to rest players.

The Spurs and Southampton games are getting points on the table games for me, whereas the other two games offer some scope for resting players.

[danperkins]

I was never a fan of the idea of us playing Trent in midfield but honestly at this stage I think it might be a good option for a few reasons maybe for 45 mins or so.

1) Because Trent is struggling at fullback, he is not a good defender in general but he really is having an nightmare there all season & is getting targeted in every game. He is making so many defensive errors & his confidence is being eroded. I would have Gomez (I know) or Milner (I know) there instead. Gomez is quicker than Trent and Milner is better defensively. Whilst both not ideal, both are better options from a defensive point of view than Trent imo & with Konate back there now he gives us the extra pace and physical presence .

2) RCM is a position that is a real problem area for us. Hendo has been woeful there and isn't offering what he used to & Elliot just isn't up to the standard we need and cannot perform the defensively duties needed for that position. We could play to Trent's strengths and utilize Trent his best assets. So he would be more experienced than Elliot at helping out the right full & much effective than Hendo in an attacking sense. For me, it would remove than intense pressure and focus on his defensive game.

3) It's essentially a dead rubber game so maybe try some new things.

It won't happen and we'll prob end up playing Ox or Carvalho there but I would more than curious to see it now as playing him right fullback is just not working in the current setup and he is being actively targeted in every game.

Having something like:

--------Milner --Konate--VVD--Timmy---
-------------------Fab---------------------
----Trent-----------------Thiago------
----------------Bobby--------------------
------Salah-----------------Nunez------

[BigChief]

Napoli unbeaten in 27 games or so, I think they will rotate but it's still a very hard fixture and they could cause us serious problems. We ain't beating them by 4 goals that is for sure.

Ironically this might be the game where we can win 7-1 (them scoring in the first 5 minutes obviously). Nunez or Salah getting another hattrick.But knowing we're in this crap run just won't make me whoop as much as I should.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I was never a fan of the idea of us playing Trent in midfield but honestly at this stage I think it might be a good option for a few reasons maybe for 45 mins or so.

1) Because Trent is struggling at fullback, he is not a good defender in general but he really is having an nightmare there all season & is getting targeted in every game. He is making so many defensive errors & his confidence is being eroded. I would have Gomez (I know) or Milner (I know) there instead. Gomez is quicker than Trent and Milner is better defensively. Whilst both not ideal, both are better options from a defensive point of view than Trent imo & with Konate back there now he gives us the extra pace and physical presence .

2) RCM is a position that is a real problem area for us. Hendo has been woeful there and isn't offering what he used to & Elliot just isn't up to the standard we need and cannot perform the defensively duties needed for that position. We could play to Trent's strengths and utilize Trent his best assets. So he would be more experienced than Elliot at helping out the right full & much effective than Hendo in an attacking sense. For me, it would remove than intense pressure and focus on his defensive game.

3) It's essentially a dead rubber game so maybe try some new things.

It won't happen but I would more than curious to see it now as playing him right fullback is just not working in the current setup and he is being actively targeted in every game.

Having something like:

--------Milner --Konate--VVD--Timmy-------
-------------------Fab--------------------------
----Trent--------------------Thiago-------------
Salah-------------Bobby---------Nunez--------

To play RCM for us you need to be really good at tracking runners, so move Trent from RB where he has been losing runners on the flank or simply not tracking back, and instead put him into a position where he would have to track runners both on the same flank along with through the middle? What could go wrong?

The way TAA has played this season I would hate to see him in the centre against a good midfield that is supported by a good left flank. His strolling about and not tracking back would be even more exposed in the centre imo than it is already being on our right flank.

If we were to try something totally new I would sooner see us try going with three CBs, two wing backs for width, two CM sitting in a block in front of the CBs and the three attacks could be two wide forwards with one central strker or two central attackers (Salah and Nunez) with one of Firmino/Elliot/Carvalho being the AM behind them.

Playing TAA as a RWB removes a bit of the pressure on him to track back as the extra CB suld allow for that bit of extra cover along with the two CMs being able to drop deeper when under pressure.

[danperkins]

To play RCM for us you need to be really good at tracking runners, so move Trent from RB where he has been losing runners on the flank or simply not tracking back, and instead put him into a position where he would have to track runners both on the same flank along with through the middle? What could go wrong?

The way TAA has played this season I would hate to see him in the centre against a good midfield that is supported by a good left flank. His strolling about and not tracking back would be even more exposed in the centre imo than it is already being on our right flank.

If we were to try something totally new I would sooner see us try going with three CBs, two wing backs for width, two CM sitting in a block in front of the CBs and the three attacks could be two wide forwards with one central strker or two central attackers (Salah and Nunez) with one of Firmino/Elliot/Carvalho being the AM behind them.

Playing TAA as a RWB removes a bit of the pressure on him to track back as the extra CB suld allow for that bit of extra cover along with the two CMs being able to drop deeper when under pressure.

All true, i'm just shooting the **** but we've been watching Hendo and Hendo **** it up all season aswell. That right side of mid is a perma problem until new personnel comes in which is not happening any time soon. At least he would have Fab beisde him, Milner (better defensively) or Gomez (quicker and more physcial) behind him & Konate beside them.

It's a free hit, lets mix it up, we need something different. As I said, it won't happen but something needs to. I would be interested to see 3 CB's too but he won't do that either as he will want to rest Gomez just incase Konate breaks down. I would be more focused on getting Trent and Mo getting their production back on track and taking it from there.

[Mr Pink]

If we beat them 3-0 we will top the group… that’s doable. If they score we would need to win 5-1, 6-2, etc..

So basically our only somewhat realistic chance of topping the group is keeping a clean sheet and scoring at least 3.

I’d be tempted to go for it, a big positive result would have a better impact to the team, than 2 extra days rest for some of the players. If we did somehow manage to scrape top spot in the group, could make a big difference after Christmas, avoiding the likes of Bayern, Real Madrid, psg for another round… it’s not like spurs have the week off either- they play on Tuesday too, and have it all to play for in their game.

[Doc_Piptorious]

If we beat them 3-0 we will top the group… that’s doable. If they score we would need to win 5-1, 6-2, etc..

So basically our only somewhat realistic chance of topping the group is keeping a clean sheet and scoring at least 3.

I’d be tempted to go for it, a big positive result would have a better impact to the team, than 2 extra days rest for some of the players. If we did somehow manage to scrape top spot in the group, could make a big difference after Christmas, avoiding the likes of Bayern, Real Madrid, psg for another round… it’s not like spurs have the week off either- they play on Tuesday too, and have it all to play for in their game.

Even more reason then to try and be more rested than them, and try to gain an advantage over them.

[labourRed]

If we beat them 3-0 we will top the group… that’s doable. If they score we would need to win 5-1, 6-2, etc..

So basically our only somewhat realistic chance of topping the group is keeping a clean sheet and scoring at least 3.

I’d be tempted to go for it, a big positive result would have a better impact to the team, than 2 extra days rest for some of the players. If we did somehow manage to scrape top spot in the group, could make a big difference after Christmas, avoiding the likes of Bayern, Real Madrid, psg for another round… it’s not like spurs have the week off either- they play on Tuesday too, and have it all to play for in their game.

**** that. Unless Napoli are needing to rest players, i don't think we get a result out of them no matter what the line up is.

I think Konate and Ramsey are being lined up for this one.

[el matador]

I am going to this game but I wouldn’t be bothered if klopp went with a second string because of the spurs game this weekend. We don’t need to win this and I can’t see us beating Napoli by four clear goals even with a full strength team. Spurs have to win their champions league game so will go strong whereas we could rest some big players for the final two games before the WC.

[Norbs]

Gutted i've got my FIL's ticket lol