After two unconvincing (or gritty, by some other account) and an inspiring performances; we got hammered, literally, by the erm...The Hammers. Up next is Manchester United. But before that there’s the two week break for international games. While this break might be a welcome relief for Rodgers to sooth his nerves, it may not be very kind to the players.

About a dozen will be on international (or national, in whatever way you want to see it) duty and bulk of them has been forming the starting XI. Even if we disregard injuries, travel and on-field fatigue is likely to be an issue when those players are considered for the Manchester United game.

The MU game isn’t critical, strictly in terms of loss of potential points. It will only be the fifth game of the season and there will be plenty more games to make up for any lost ground. Specially, since MU hasn’t been in any scintillating form either.

However, this will be a critical game in terms of making a statement. If we do well, things will be looking-up once more. If we put on a good show and teams will be a bit more cautious in facing us. But if we let the spectre of last season (and last game) hang around, the snowball might start rolling. And we all know what a rolling snowball does.

One change in the team-sheet is inevitable, someone coming in for our little maestro. I think it’s a toss-up between Ibe and Ings. My personal call would be to include Ings in a 442-diamond with Firmino at the tip. Two other changes that can be speculated are Moreno for Gomez and Sakho for Lovren.

However, at this point, my only prayer is to get back the players fit and fresh.

We have to turn up for this, NO EXCUSES.

Hopefully we have a decent bunch back from injuries.

Last season we created a ton of chances in this game only for De Gea to have a superb performance and we lost 3-0. Cruel if it happens again, especially since De Gea was so close to leaving them.

Impossible to know what to expect from us. Two unconvincing 1-0 wins and I thought we'd get destroyed by Arsenal. Played great. West Ham at home seemed a million times easier than that - played like shit and lost 3-0.

What gives me hope is that, like us, United have struggled to score goals. They have three this season, we have two. If we can avoid blatant mistakes in defence, we should have a decent chance restricting them to one goal at most and thus have a good chance to get one or even three points from here.

Coutinho is a huge miss, though. Hopefully Firmino gets to play through the middle, though, and perhaps look more threatening.

Teixeira should start for Coutinho. He's the most natural replacement. I don't think Ibe deserve a shot against United after being prety *bleep* poor in every appearance this season. Tex deserves a shot.

Firmino and Benteke are no brainers. Sturridge is probably not fit enough to start so hopefully off the bench at least.

I like the idea of starting Teixeira, but unlikely to happen.

I am adamant that Ibe should not be played on Gomez's wing, I'd like to see how Firmino does against 2 players every time because Gomez doesnt give two shits about attacking.

2 mediocre offenses going at it, should be a goal fest.

Well at least with Lovren playing, he'll be his usual self and allow us a chance or two through on goal. So we have an advantage on that front. Yay!

RED wrote:2 mediocre offenses going at it, should be a goal fest.

Well at least with Lovren playing, he'll be his usual self and allow us a chance or two through on goal. So we have an advantage on that front. Yay!

Sad thing is, It's nailed on Lovren will start.

At no other so called "top" club, such mediocrity is accepted and approved. But that well shows, what we all know, that LFC are no longer a top club.

A club that stinks of mediocrity from top the bottom.

We'll lose this match 3-1, or 2-0.

Not sure starting Teixeira is a good idea. May be coming off the bench. This is what I would like to see:


This is what we will probably see:


Players in bold will be on NT duties.

Never have I been this flat going into a MUFC-LFC game.

Not even when the owl was in charge.

The international break is over and there's no reports of injuries .


Bench: Bogdan, Lovren, Gomez, Milner, Teixeira, Ibe, Origi

Players in bold spared from NT duties.

Red Alert wrote:Never have I been this flat going into a MUFC-LFC game.

Not even when the owl was in charge.

same feeling !

People talking about tex have completely forgotten about Lallana

Tbh, I am shit scared to lose so badly because both Henderson and Couitnho will be missing these game, most important players for us atm.

FFS

You guys seem more obsessed with youth than Wenger :/

Helmer wrote:

Red Alert wrote:Never have I been this flat going into a MUFC-LFC game.

Not even when the owl was in charge.

same feeling !

People talking about tex have completely forgotten about Lallana

Isn't Lal still injured? If he can start, sure, but if not, just give Teixeira a chance.

yeah, I actually know that he is not available, just wanted to comment it that way !

RED wrote:2 mediocre offenses going at it, should be a goal fest.

Well at least with Lovren playing, he'll be his usual self and allow us a chance or two through on goal. So we have an advantage on that front. Yay!

our only hope is, De Gea not starting !

Henderson and Lallana are almost certain to miss. DDG likely to be recalled/reinstalled. I want to see the quartet of Sakho, Moreno, Lucas and Ings; who haven't been in NT duties and are fresher.

What is this Henderson foot injury? Why haven't I seen any news about when he's expected to be back? It happened already like 3-4 weeks ago, but no news. Weird.

Tomorrow’s match is a very big one for both sides. Interestingly enough, I actually think that we may be in a better position than United. Think of it this way:
A win for either side is a big morale boost and a victory that could be something to build upon.
A draw for us, away at Old Trafford, against our biggest rival, compounding on their stuttering start, is actually a positive result
A draw for them, at home, against their bitter rival (whom they view as inferior nowadays), following a disappointing result on the heels of some disappointing performances, would be a negative result and could further hurt morale in what has been reported to be an already “flat” dressing room.
A loss for either team obviously further compounds the criticism that both sides have received to this point of the season.

When you look at it this way, we actually have more options for a positive result: either a draw or a win would be viewed as positive, whereas United really must win in order to claim anything positive from the match.

That said, we’re not exactly going into the match in the best of shape. Henderson, Lallana, Allen, Sturridge, and Coutinho look set to be unavailable. With Henderson and Coutinho being so crucial to the squad up to this point, their absences will necessitate at least a minor shakeup to the squad and formation. Rodgers is ultimately left with the age-old football question of “Stick or Twist”.

If he wants to stick with what had been (somewhat) working, Rodgers could send out a lineup like this:

This approach would merely replace Coutinho with Ings. Not exactly a like-for-like replacement, but Ings would offer another dimension in attack, and another player with a goal-threat in the frontline. That said, this approach would merely perpetuate the issues we saw against West Ham, and this time there’s no little magician from the start.

Now, if Rodgers wanted to try something a bit different, he could go with something along these lines:


The 3-5-2 has several redeeming qualities, especially against United’s preferred side. Returning to the 3 CB setup would (hopefully) allow us to regain the solidity at the back that we showed in the first few matches. Removing Lovren, while it would effectively end his credibility at the club as a Premier League starter, seems the only move after his shambolic display against West Ham. I could see a variation where he starts over Gomez at RCB, but it would be harsh on the youngster. Moreover, the setup allows us to pack the midfield, while retaining natural width from the wingbacks. Milner and Can will be free to perform the B2B role that they are most suited to. Moreno and Clyne will be freed to get forward by the added CB. In attack, we allow Firmino a free role to attack and press as he sees fit, playing off of Benteke, who has to remain the focal point in attack.  

Do I expect to se the 3-5-2? Honestly, no. I fully expect Rodgers to take the first option and stick with a similar setup to how we started the season. Perhaps the first setup could work against United. After all, they’re far from at their best. However, I don’t think it shows any growth or learning form the mistakes and lackluster performances of the start to the season. I would much rather see him try something new than stick with a setup that doesn’t seem to be clicking, especially without the players that made it tick in Coutinho and Henderson.

Nice post DTR

I believe 3412 or 442-diamond are the best formations with the squad we have at the moment. However; it's the player choice, more than the tactical one, that will make most impact.

3412


442-diamond

All I want is Firmino to play behind Benteke and Lovren not to play, but I'm not feeling too hopeful about the latter.

Holy shit that was the most boring half of football I have seen in a long long time from us.

Oh wait it was exactly the same 15 days ago against West Ham.

Shit on a stick. Uninspiring. I can't see how we will ever score in this game. I can see us conceding with that idiotic defense and their brain farts. They love to pass to the opposition in terrible positions don't they.

Good lord we've been shit. This is what happens when you put out a team that has zero pace and zero creativity. You look at our midfield and attack, all of them are players that need either pace, passing or dribbling ability from other players to make them effective going forward. None of the players we are fielding can elevate the others to good moments of football. This is dire.

lmao

I'm going back to sleep. What a shit team we have.

At least Benteke's goal is going to look boss in gifs