Topic: Liverpool vs Hull - Sat 25th Oct 14

[Brentieke]

I truly don't think he will make the bench as a punishment.

For what, shirt swapping?

Sakho and Coutinho both did the same vs Chelsea last term. Coutinho started the next game, Sakho was injured.

If Balo isn't in the squad, it'll be because of the media, plain and simple.

[tyrolean_red]

Couldn't give less of a shit right now, to be honest. 5-4, 3-2, 14-13... 9 points out of the last 3 is all I want. Slog through it and wait for Daniel Sturridge to come home from the war.

Me too, but it would still make it easier.

[slipslidin82]

What was the message at HT last night?

Huge respect to Madrid, but a better performance needed and the players responded well.


What role do you see for Lambert, as he didn't play yesterday?

He's clear about expectations for him. He's a great guy and recognises his role. He'll look to impress when he gets opportunities. We needed speed and mobility last night.

Without Sturridge and Suarez, we're trying to find a different way to get results.


Time scale on Sturridge injury?

No.


Conference ends.

[indlfc]

Jesus mate, I'm completely on the other side of the fence. Lambert is the slowest player I've ever seen in Red. Slower than Christian Poulsen and Erik Meijer.

Don't want him anywhere near the first 11.

I don't think Lambert is immobile like Balotelli. Against WBA Lambert made a lot of runs and our mid fielders were able to find fim few times. Its just that he is too slow and will not able run onto a through ball. However Balotelli rarely makes those runs. At the moment i would prefer to see Lambert in the side.

What i meant is, if we can replicate the passing moves of second half from Madrid game, Lambert would be a good fit.

[4pool]

Notes from Press Conference so far...



Mario's long term future?

Inevitable questions if he doesn't play well. You have to accept that. He's trying hard - longer term we'll see.

You forgot to add that Brendan said at the end of that....Just like it ( long term prospects) is for every player at the club.

[gray19lfc]

Two changes from last night please.

Manquillo for Johnson
Lallana for Balotelli

Use Sterling as a false 9:

                Sterling
        Lallana     Coutinho
          Allen Henderson
                Gerrard
Moreno Skrtel Lovren Manquillo
                Mignolet

Give the likes of Lambert, Can and Toure starts against Swansea next week

[GregCharrua]

I hope those who were advocating Sterling as a lone striker, like Carragher, noticed we didn't get one decent shot on goal in the second half last night. A lot of huff and puff.

Radical idea, but play Lambert as striker and Balotelli as a false 9. Balotelli was the ability to play wide and drop back to get the ball. Ricky is to slow to do that so leave him up front to push their defense back to allow space.

At least it would utilize Balotelli's skills and his natural game.

[litliper]

I'd drop Skrtel for Toure.

[The Playmaker]

I'd actually be tempted to go for something like this:

Mignolet

Manquillo   Toure   Lovren   Moreno

Can

Allen                   Henderson

Sterling                                   Lallana

Balotelli

Subs: Jones, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Markovic, Lambert

[I am new]

I'd drop Skrtel for Toure.

To be honest even though Lovren and skrtel have not played well I'd rather see skrtel and sakho play together if sakho is fit.

[ANFIELDGATES]

To be honest even though Lovren and skrtel have not played well I'd rather see skrtel and sakho play together if sakho is fit.

i understand the calls for sakho to play but hes been as average as the rest tbf.he hasnt exactly set the place alight when hes played,gives me heart attack every time he tries to play out from the back.brendan just has to get skyrtel/lovren and the fbs to stop acting like fuckin schoolboys and man up and put their heads in where it will hurt to clear then ball.last nites goals were abject,even the prize cnut wouldnt have scored if skyrtel just leaned into him instead of thinking ronaldo was going to either take another touch or wait for it to drop b4 hitting it,it was a good finish but made easier by the lack of physical endeavor from martin.other goals just wouldnt be acceptable at underage level.

[mkingdon]

Sakho tweeted yesterday that he is out for at least another 10 days.   Toure is the only option at CB.

[JohnBarnesBigToe]

First and foremost need a clean sheet. Sterling needs a rest.
Johnson, Lovren and Balotelli need to be dropped. If Lambert
can't get a start at home against Hull we might as well flog him in Jan.

Coutinho and Markovic off the bench in the 2nd half once Hull have tired.



                     Mignolet

  Manquillo   Skrtel   Toure   Moreno

                 Lucas       Can

                     Gerrard
 
         Henderson          Lallana

                      Lambert

[ANFIELDGATES]

Sakho tweeted yesterday that he is out for at least another 10 days.   Toure is the only option at CB.

thats that argument put to bed then.anyone reckon we could go with 3-5-2 with toure/skyr/lov and moreno and manq on wings bombing on,but also revert to back 5 when not in possession?,middle 3 of allen/hendo/can with sterling and lambert up top.with wide players he wouldnt need to go wide himself to look for the ball.

[mkferdy]

Hull are a physical side with good height if we dropped Skrtel for Toure and Gerrard doesn't play with a goalkeeper who seems terrified of collecting the ball it's a recipe for disaster defending set pieces.

[slipslidin82]

We should be practising the Pep formation from the other night with Stevie in the Xabi CB-esque role. :-)

[wemmick]

I'd go with the following lineup. It has pace, power, and a lot of technical skill. I'd play a high line with Can and Henderson switching as the DM. We are generally weak through the middle this season, so I'd like to see a line-up with more power running through it. I think Can, Henderson and Coutinho can dominate Hull, each in their own way. If we avoid giving away stupid set piece goals, I think we will win. 

--Mignolet--

--Manquillo--Toure--Lovren--Moreno--

--Can--

--Henderson--Coutinho--

--Sterling--Lambert--Lallana--

[NorthamptonKopite]

I'd like to see this -

                      Mignolet

   Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno

                     Gerrard

       Henderson             Allen

Coutinho                          Lallana
                     
                    Sterling

Bring back a team of pacey players who can control the game from the middle of the park and can press and counter at lightning pace with movement and technique.

Let the opposition defenders worry about the speed of our attack and make them sit deeper giving us more control in the middle.

Then if we need an offensive change bring on Balotelli for Allen and drop Coutinho back, bring Sterling out wide and put Balotelli up top.

[wemmick]

I'd like to see this -

My only issue with this line-up is that it may be too slight in defense. Hull will likely soak up pressure and try to bully us in attack from either a set-piece or a cross. The speed of that side is awesome, for sure, but does it have enough strength in defense against a very physical side? Hull bullied the hell out of Arsenal.

[4pool]

I'd like to see this -

                      Mignolet

   Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno

                       Can

       Henderson             Allen

                      Coutinho

             Lambert      Balotelli

[kavah]

Shitting it at the prospect of facing Hull at home ?

What have we become.

Ha ha

[Elzar]

We'll win at the weekend

[didi]

just get Lambert in to defend set pieces

[Petadroli]

Looking forward to Hull now. I wonder if we will continue to play 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 or if BR changes the formation back to the diamond. Sterling looked good as a striker yesterday maybe Balotelli and him will be starting up front?

[Plughead]

I hope those who were advocating Sterling as a lone striker, like Carragher, noticed we didn't get one decent shot on goal in the second half last night. A lot of huff and puff.

Radical idea, but play Lambert as striker and Balotelli as a false 9. Balotelli was the ability to play wide and drop back to get the ball. Ricky is to slow to do that so leave him up front to push their defense back to allow space.

I'm liking this idea.

[Markus_12]

I really think we've been lacking the pressing we saw all last season.  We finally saw it against Madrid, but they have the quality to deal with it.

Last season we came out almost every game and pressed in the first 20 minutes just like we did against Madrid last night, and often we would be ahead by a goal or more by then.  We need to get back to that.

I'd like to see something like:
-------------Mignolet----------
Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno
--------------Can-------------
------Henderson-Allen-------
Sterling-----Borini------Coutinho

Borini presses like a madman.  He may lack the quality finishing, but he is the best striker in this squad when it comes to pressing.  I'd like to see this lineup given a chance, and then see Balotelli and Lallana brought on later if we are still in need of goals.

[mariov77]

can you please explain why you would start Johnson over Manquillo

Wow really ? What I want him to explain is  how can you have 12 players starting, ignore the Johnson inclusion !?  Maybe that is the only way we can defend and score more goals  

[Greyfox]

Just for the Lols

                      Mignolet

  Manquillo   Skrtel    Toure     Moreno

                       
            Can                Gerrard

                     
                    Henderson         
                               

          Lallana            Sterling/Couts

                      Lambert

[Elzar]

From what I have seen, Can is great going forward, leaving him deep would be a waste in my opinion.

[Cracking Left Foot]

It's my birthday on Saturday, so win at all costs please lads. Plus, Steve Bruce's head makes me feel ill, and I have an irrational dislike for Hull after going out with a girl from there who dumped me.

So, please win Brendan and co, or I'll spend my birthday in a very pissed-off mood.

[AndyMuller]

We'll win 3-1.

[Adeemo]

Get Balotelli back out there from the start, I think it would do a lot more for his prospects here than benching him. I'd like to see him get a decent amount of time with Borini alongside him, maybe a bit harsh on Lambert but it would be for the best imo.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Radical idea, but play Lambert as striker and Balotelli as a false 9. Balotelli was the ability to play wide and drop back to get the ball. Ricky is to slow to do that so leave him up front to push their defense back to allow space.

You can't have a striker and a false 9, that's the point of a false 9, it means no striker!

That's just lambert 9 and Balotelli 10.

And ye gods no!

[diegoLFC7]

Hull are a quality side, they have players that can cause some serious headaches. Im almost dreading this one, we need to be on our A game if were gonna get a result. The days of winning just by being Liverpool are long gone. Pressing like we did against real madrid in the first 20 minutes are key.

[Fiasco]

Hopefully Can will start. I think this game comes a little too soon for Sakho, we might see him on Tuesday. I honestly couldn't give a fuck about anything but the result though. We want to play better, we want to defend better but if we win 3-2 as opposed to drawing 0-0 then I'm not going to want the 0-0 because it means a clean sheet has been kept.

Just win.

[harryc]

Can't let Balloon Head put another one over us, won't hear the end of it for weeks.

[indlfc]

You can't have a striker and a false 9, that's the point of a false 9, it means no striker!

That's just lambert 9 and Balotelli 10.

And ye gods no!

I think what he meant is , play a lopsided  diamond and use Lambert to press the defense, and give freedom to Balotelli to do what he is good at and play some one like Sterling/Coutinho behind them. He can drift wide , receive the ball under pressure etc. Yesterday, there were instances when Balotelli advanced through right wing and there were no one in the box awaiting a cross.

I think this might work as we will have more presence in the box and more aerial power while defending corners.

[harryc]

I think what he meant is , play a lopsided  diamond and use Lambert to press the defense, and give freedom to Balotelli to do what he is good at and play some one like Sterling/Coutinho behind them. He can drift wide , receive the ball under pressure etc. Yesterday, there were instances when Balotelli advanced through right wing and there were no one in the box awaiting a cross.

I think this might work as we will have more presence in the box and more aerial power while defending corners.

Lambert press the defence! He's slower than my Gran...............and she's been dead 10 years!

[indlfc]

Lambert press the defence! He's slower than my Gran...............and she's been dead 10 years!

He doesn't have to be super quick to do that if we are pressing as a team. Against WBA he was doing it alone upfront, so they were able to pass it between him easily.

Hull have pace and power, but they doesn't have the skill to overcome high pressure. There might be some tricky players like Gaston or Ben Arfa, but their CM's lack that agility to turn if we press intelligently. 

That's why i prefered for a mid field of Lucas,Henderson and Can.Not only that it will match the physicality , but we will be able to use the passing range of a fresh Gerrard against Swansea who are more attacking than Hull.

[4pool]

Lambert press the defence! He's slower than my Gran...............and she's been dead 10 years!

We need someone in the box. Lambert prefers to play there. It isn't rocket science. We've got players out wide looking for a target man or runners. Balotelli drifts away from inside the box to often. It's not a bad thing as he takes a defender with him and there's space there....that few run into.
Our players are to static once we get close to the opposition goal.

Balotelli prefers to receive ball to feet and beat men or shoot from outside the box. Leave Lambert inside to head crosses, look for rebounds, or side foot home pull backs. Balotelli slightly higher ( outside the 18 yard box) should drag a defender away leaving more room for Ricky. If the hold their line to double team Ricky then Mario has space to run and shoot.