My mind has been on the Bolton game all week, still is. Feels weird that it's only two days until one of our biggest games of the season, the second Merseyside derby, and only now I'm starting to turn my thoughts to that match. Is anyone else starting to feel mentally a little bit exhausted by this hectic schedule of a big game after big game after big game with hardly any time for a breather in between them? And we're only 1/3 through this run, lol.


Anyway, our dear neighbours, Everton. Firmly 12 points behind us in the table. So, this isn't a big game in the sense of them challenging us in the standings, but we need points to catch up with the top-4 and it's always big against Everton. In some ways, if we don't consider positions in the table, the derby against Everton is more important to me than the derby against Man United. It's the Toffees who are our very local rivals.

They rescued a draw for themselves in the first Merseyside derby when Phil Jagielka of all people decided to score a screamer. Surely no chance of that happening again. As a little curiosity, Everton beat our next FA cup opposition Crystal Palace 1 - 0 in their last game, which was at Palace's ground where we're going in the cup.

I'm not too worried about their team. We have an equal or better player in almost every position, I feel. I am a little worried about fatigue in our own team, though. Hopefully none shows on Saturday.

The biggest two questions about our line-up are whether Sturridge and Gerrard are going to start. Surely Gerrard isn't going to start after just completing 90 minutes against Bolton? I don't think he should start, but then again, it's probably his last Merseyside derby - - and Rodgers might think he needs to start that. I hope he doesn't. And is it too early for Sturridge to start a match?

What I half think, half hope we play:


I wouldn't mind if Ibe, Balotelli or even Johnson started (putting Can in Lucas' place in midfield), but that XI is probably the most likely.

Getting three points this round would be oh so sweet and all the more sweeter if they come from Goodison Park

Mignolet
Can - Skrtel - Sakho
Markovic - Henderson - Lucas - Raheem
Gerrard - Coutinho
Sturridge

I kind of 'fear' that's what we will start with.

Everything goes out of the window in this. They'll be at the top of their game and we need to be at the top of ours.

Gerrard doesnt need to start this.

On one side, Gerrard will give everything, as it is a mersyside derby game but on the other side he has tired legs. So best thing will be he comes off the bench.

Well Ibe needs to start this one in place of either Lallana or Markovic. It seems like they need a little breather.

We need to win this to keep the momentum UP before we face Spcrubrs in midweek.

@Art, I think the reason Coutinho was not probably rested against Bolton was because he didnt Feature in every game at the start of the season. So for me it seems like, BR is managing players according to numbers of game played till now in this season. I think it is a good strategy.

Gerrard's last derby in Liverpool colours.

Up until last night, I had Gerrard as the first name on my team sheet for this game. Always shows up vs. Everton, he always scores against them, last game, makes sense. But he was poor last night. But then, so was Lallana. for me, If Sturridge starts, Gerrard doesn't. but if Sterling starts up front, Gerrard starts in one of the positions behind him.

If Markovic' injury from last night is serious, I wouldn't be surprised if Ibe started at RWB.

McCarthy is out and they'll have Barry man-marking Cou

@Art, I think the reason Coutinho was not probably rested against Bolton was because he didnt Feature in every game at the start of the season.

But he has played almost every minutes in last 15 games.

Yeah, Coutinho isn't exactly fresh.

I think it's very important that Gerrard does not start, at 34 he just doesn't do any of the things a good attacking-midfielder should do at this level. Bring him on as a substitute, so he can give 100% for 20 minutes instead of giving 70% for 90 minutes.

^ And who starts if he doesn't ? Gerrard starts over Lallana ANY DAY for me for this game. Everton are soooooo mentally scared of him.

if Sturridge is fit to start though, then Gerrard probably won't start for me.

Natalie Portman wrote:^ And who starts if he doesn't ?

Ibe...last time it was Flanna, this time Ibe

I have a feeling Markovic is going to be rested and rightfully so. His performances have shown his fatigue recently. My gut says Gerrard starts this one.

Can-Skrtle-Sakho
Hendo (?) - Gerrard - Lucas - Moreno
Sterling - Coutinho
Sturridge

poolsupporter wrote:I have a feeling Markovic is going to be rested and rightfully so. His performances have shown his fatigue recently. My gut says Gerrard starts this one.

Can-Skrtle-Sakho
Hendo (?) - Gerrard - Lucas - Moreno
Sterling - Coutinho
Sturridge

That would awful .

If Gerrard has to start, it should be:


With Sturridge replacing Gerrard after half-time.

Natalie Portman wrote:^ And who starts if he doesn't ? Gerrard starts over Lallana ANY DAY for me for this game. Everton are soooooo mentally scared of him.

if Sturridge is fit to start though, then Gerrard probably won't start for me.

Even though Lallana has been subdued in his last couple of games, at least he can face a defender when on the ball in the opponent's half. At least he has a chance of beating his man or actually doing some effective pressing. All pretty much minimum requirements for an attacking midfielder at this level and all of which Gerrard cannot really do, especially when starting the match and having to take it easy so he doesn't run out of gas by half-time.

Could also play Coutinho and Sterling with Lambert or Borini up front. Personally wouldn't mind seeing Balotelli as AM with Sterling as the striker, but I know that won't happen.

But the fact is that our current 3-4-3 formation does not have a starting spot for Gerrard, imho, if we want to play our best XI. He's a passenger in the two CM spots. Playing AM, he can defensively at least get away with being a passenger, but still doesn't do enough in that position. He should be used as a substitute when he can burn all his fuel in 20-30 minutes against tiring players.

^ And that's obviously the cold logic in me talking. If Gerrard starts on Saturday, I will emotionally be very excited about seeing the club legend start his last Merseyside derby and wishing he'll score a hat-trick. But thinking rationally, I think we have a better chance of winning if Gerrard doesn't start.

All of us are having this with Gerrard, aren't we??? Cold logic vs. burning passion!!! I ask myself what do I want to see; Gerrard playing with a haggard look or Gerrard watching with a gleam in the eyes!!! The answer is the later.

While Gerrard would want to play and contribute to make his last season worthwhile for Liverpool, he would love nothing more if Liverpool achieves something even without him. We are having an upturn in our fortune and we should make the most of it. IMO we should start


With the likes of Lallana, Ibe, Gerrard or Balotelli coming as substitutes.

Gerrard will play and start his last Merseyside derby whether we like it or not. There are no ifs and buts in it. The lad was born to play this fixture he dreamt of playing it his entire life. And you me are nobody to decide against it. So that's that.

Gerrard to win it in his usual grace for us.

Fahim89 wrote:Gerrard will play and start his last Merseyside derby whether we like it or not. There are no ifs and buts in it. The lad was born to play this fixture he dreamt of playing it his entire life. And you me are nobody to decide against it. So that's that.

Gerrard to win it in his usual grace for us.

Steven Gerrard has five goals and two assists in his last six Premier League appearances against the Toffees.

I'm not at all against starting Stevie. He may not be the best choice to start the derby but it's his last frickin derby, ain't no way he shouldn't start. Start him ffs. I hope players be diving left and right so we get a couple of pens.

so pumped for this get in ffs u beauts

Nishy wrote:so pumped for this get in ffs u beauts

do you mean a MUST WIN GAME

We will know how many points Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton got this round before this one kicks-off, that's going to set the pre-match mood in its own way. Would be great if the Londoners drew each other and Southampton lost

Gerrard and Lucas in the middle according to the guy that's leaked the team for the past 2 months.

But then says Lallana and Markovic won't start.

If Hendo is shifted on the right hand side after we brought back Ibe........

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:

Nishy wrote:so pumped for this get in ffs u beauts

do you mean a MUST WIN GAME

Every game is a "MUST WIN GAME" if we want CL. We're playing catch up.

Hope Stevie can lift for this game, if not ....

Hendo at wing back oh boy. Why break up arguably a top 3 CM partnership in the league to accomondate Stevie.

Just play him instead of Lallana as one of the AMs and not in CM please.

If that leaked line up is true I'm hoping it's