Sunderland v Liverpool

Some 48 hours until this match, Suarez is back, Sunderland are on the bottom and without a manager, surely that's a recipe for success.

If we go with 3 at the back again I think we'll win 3-0.

Less confident if we switch back to how we've been playing so far, even so I think we'd edge it 2-1.

I'd bring in Agger if fit. Sturridge looks like he could do with a rest but who could we replace him with? Haven't been impressed with Aspas so far, could try Suarez and Moses and bring in Alberto to play behind? Or maybe push Gerrard forward, have Henderson to play CM and Kelly RWB if he's ready.

As much as I've been leery of a 3CB system in the Premier League, we did perform well (in open play) against United in midweek using the system. In addition, it does get our best players on the pitch at the moment.  

Assuming Agger is fit, here is my preferred lineup.

Personally, I'm not sold on Moses as the #10 behind Sturridge and Suarez. Moses makes sense in the lineup if we want to play a 3-4-3 with a forward line up Moses-Sturridge-Suarez (with Suarez given license to roam and create). However, I just haven't seen the creativity from Moses to suggest he's a good option behind the strikers. Alberto, while young, does look to have that in him. I wanted him in the line-up agaisnt United (as it was still a League Cup match) as he is the natural replacement for Coutinho. If he's going to get a chance in the Premier League in the near future, surely a game against Sunderland is of an acceptable level. I'm not holding my breath, though.

City, United, Chelsea and Spurs dropping points?

We are going to lose tomorrow.

I like Dontreadyready's line up. I'm not sold either on Moses as a 10. We can rest Sturridge and play Moses up top with Luis with Alberto at the 10 or not start him at all.

Must win btw. Win this and we're 2nd.

The table would look pretty delicious if we won tomorrow... This really is a chance to put an air of positiveness in the team after our two losses to Soton and United.

My preferred line-up:

Mignolet
Wisdom - Toure - Skrtel - Enrique
Sterling - Henderson - Gerrard - Moses
Suarez
Sturridge

I would hate on BR if he doesnt start Alberto, you dont spend that money if you are not not going to play him.
I am sure he impresses BR enought during the training. He should start against a team like Sunderland to get the feel of playing a more minutes in EPL and then at least BR can judge him whether to play in the next few games till we get cou back from injury.

My line up would be

OR

Nishank wrote:City, United, Chelsea and Spurs dropping points?

We are going to lose tomorrow.

kinda feeling i m getting, our past records

I knew we were going to drop points against Soton, but this is a "must" win. (All of them are, really.) If we don't get 3 points from this game, we don't deserve top 4.

Sunderland is a mess. They're arguably the worst team in the league right now. Get the result.

There is no if, buts or anything. If we don't get 3 points against this sunderland side questions have to be asked. All the top teams dropped points bar arsenal so this would be a great week capped off by a win.

I have faith we'll put this game to bed before halftime, big score coming up.

Only question is 352 or 4231

I'd prob follow HMR on his lineups for the game for either formation. We need to come out and attack, attack and attack. Sunderland are weak but if they somehow manage to turn their luck around against us i will definitely shoot myself tonight.

This might be a great game for some confidence boosting, hopefully if Alberto is given his chance he will take it. Would be great to see Stevie and Lucas boss this game.

P.S highly unrelated - does anybody know if sahko can play as a DM.

Winning this game will allow us to completely forget the mishap of the past 2 weeks. We'll be 2nd in the table. It'll do wonders for our confidence. We'll be 6 points ahead of United, 3 ahead of City, 2 ahead of Chelsea, on par with Spurs. And really the best game to have at a point like this since Sunderland are shambles.

And Mr-r, I don't think he's ever played there for PSG. He's only been deployed at LB and CB, so it's hard to tell. And I would never want him playing either, much rather Allen or even Agger.

I'm expecting a tougher game than this looks on paper right now, it was Sunderland's players who wanted Di Canio out and now that he is out they are probably eager to show that they were right, that they can play better without him.

Also, I would applaud Rodgers if he actually did the huge thing and benched Gerrard for this game as an experiment. I'm afraid if we start with Gerrard and Lucas in the middle again, we will struggle against Sunderland's energy and risk losing the match.

Am I the only one that doesn't want to see Skrtel in the lineup if it's a 2CB system? He's played well in matches, but it's been in matches where we've ceded possesion (Swansea/Southampton) or in Matches where we've needed to set-up in front of goal (United). I think he's both dragging our back-line deeper, and contributing to our difficulties in bringing the ball out from the back. These deficiencies are being masked by some heroic, last-ditch defending. Granted, he's saved us a few points with his off-the-ball defending, but we've looked less dominant in matches where he's one of two CB options, and I don't think that's a coincidence. Our possession style starts from the back, and if he's constantly passing it back for Mignolet to boot it long, then we'll never look threatening.

If it's a 2CB system, I want Sakho-Toure (or Agger-Toure depending on fitness). For Skrtel, it's 3CBs or gtfo.

I'd prefer kelly at RB to wisdom,he's more mobile.Maybe sturridge should take a rest,he look jaded, then,come in the second half to maketrouble for the defenders; we havent seen aspas in his preferred role so maybe benching sturridge might be good for him.

Confirmed #LFC team v Sunderland: Mignolet, Toure, Sakho, Skrtel, Enrique, Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard, Moses, Suarez, Sturridge

Confirmed #LFC subs: Jones, Agger, Aspas, Ilori, Sterling, Ibe, Wisdom

Very happy for Ilori

Confirmed @SAFCofficial team: Westwood, Gardner, Colback, O'Shea, Cuellar, Larsson, Ki, Clattermole, Johnson, Giaccherini, Altidore

Confirmed @SAFCofficial subs: Wickham, Celustka, Ba, Mannone, Ji, Roberge, Mavrias

So looks like we're going the 3 CB system. I like it, would've prefered Agger to start but we'll see. I hope Ilori gets his debut.

So it's no 3-CB system, but we're 2 - 0 up at half-time

Haven't played particularly well, though, midfield is still a problem, we can't seem to pass the ball up to attack and Sunderland have had chances as well (Larsson's free-kick and Mignolet saved really well with his leg). This one's not quite won yet, but those three points are very close still.

FML

Boy that's one ugly kit. And now it's 2-1 :-(

GTFI 2nd place

So Lucas will miss the next match. We can experiment with Hendo/Allen/Alberto next to Gerrard in the middle. I guess you lot will get your wish.

Happy with the result but not the performance.