Topic: West Ham vs Liverpool (Pre Match Thread),Upton Park - Saturday 20/09/2014 5.30pm

[4EverRed]

Good lineup. If that is a diamond i would swap Henderson and Sterling's position.

The diamond is interchangeable as you know so don't be surprised at seeing Coutinho in the middle with Hendo out left also

[Hazell]

By coming on for twenty, thirty, forty minutes when we have a comfortable lead.

Not specifically directed at you but I don't think you can plan for that. Matches often don't turn out the way things are planned so you can't do that most of the time. Regarding Lallana, the more he plays, the better he'll get so the sooner we do that, the better I reckon because it'll benefit us going forward.

[Caffeine]

@Kop305 has posted a few photos of them training on twitter.

Try these also http://lfchq.tumblr.com/photos/2014/training/1909

Cool thanks.

[Funky_Gibbons]

@Kop305 has posted a few photos of them training on twitter.

Try these also http://lfchq.tumblr.com/photos/2014/training/1909

What's up with Lallana's face in them?

[Upinsmoke]

What's up with Lallana's face in them?

Had a shave?

[Funky_Gibbons]

Had a shave?

Argh that's it.

[armchair-fan]

People bemoaning the thought of Borini starting, to put things in perspective, two years ago we went to West Ham and had Shelvey as a false 9 with Joe Cole coming off the bench.

Christ - I watched that game in a 'Coffee Shop' in Amsterdam, which perhaps explains why I'd forgotten the details - wasn't it on a 'Super Sunday' double bill with a Manc derby?  Shelvey as a false 9?!  Awful, although didn't he play there in a Europa League game that season too? 

[GrkStav]

West Ham United played a diamond vs Hull City, with Noble at the base and Downing as one of the '2' with Valencia and Sakho up top.

Downing was excellent for most of the game as a CM, but he tired and his defensive contributions waned near the end of the game.

Valencia is a pain to defend against, and he'll be a proper challenge for our CBs on the ground and especially for our FBs aerially.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Shelvey as a false 9?! 

Shelvey is great, a real nutcase where he can go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the space of a minute, makes him likeable. But a false 9? *shudders*

Downing will have the traditional 'average player joins big club, doesn't work out, plays brilliant against said big club when facing them next at a smaller club' beast of a game against us.

We'll still win if that line-up with the bibs is true though. Looks good to me.

[Caffeine]

Yeah gotta say...I do like that bib team, although surprised Skrtel is fit enough to come straight back in.

[GoodKopBadKop]

Ive seen Sutrridge is not yet back for this would like to see a Balotelli-Sterling front pair with Coutinho in behind in a diamond myself, dont think 4-3-3 suits us atm.

[Dakota]

I think Lambert will start tomorrow and I really hope he does.

I'd pick him over Fabio against most opposition, but particularly against Fat Sam, so I hope you're right.

[Red Sea]

ricky with mario is an interesting shout! I can imagine ricky having plenty of joy against west ham's cloggers.

[Bird Bird Bird The Bird Is The Word]

What's the score on bib theory, does it still work?

Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling; Borini, Balotelli

That's what the bib theory team would be.

[stevienash]

What's the score on bib theory, does it still work?

Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling; Borini, Balotelli

That's what the bib theory team would be.

I would like to see that tomorrow

[Zoomers]

Going by the training photo's the line up looks as follows :

--------------------Mignolet--------------------

Manquillo------Skrtel-----Lovren------Moreno

----------------------Stevie----------------------

----Sterling--------Henderson--------Coutinho

--------------Borini-----------Balotelli-----------

Available for the Bench : Jones, Toure, Enrique, Sakho, Lucas, Lallana, Markovic, Lambert                     ( Injuries : Flanno, Can, Johnson, Allen & Sturridge )

This is going to be a tough game lets make no bones about it. Even when we were flying last season they still made it very tough for us. Also,taking into consideration our inconsistent start to the season this will make it all the more difficult. Id be surprised however if Skrtel starts over Sakho after being out for the best part of a month. Can only see us getting a draw to be honest but wouldn't surprise me if we sneaked a win with a Tottenham like away performance. Come on you reds ! Y.N.W.A

Do we really wana concede 4 goals?

[bird_lfc]

It HAS to be two up top tomorrow.

Happy to see Borini start alongside Balotelli.

[harryc]

What's the score on bib theory, does it still work?

Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling; Borini, Balotelli

That's what the bib theory team would be.

Im sure I saw Johnson in a green bib 

[Durlmints]

Im sure I saw Johnson in a green bib 

You did.

All those he mentioned are orange bibbers.

[harryc]

You did.

All those he mentioned are orange bibbers.

Thank fuck for that.

[BigRedJim]

A lot of people seem to be writing us off here. I think we are going to put our form right tommorow, 2 up top, back to our attacking best hopefully and bring the 3 points back home.

Fancy Balotell to cause havoc with a bit more support.

[Number 7]

I would rest Coutinho and give him the full 90 against Middlesborough to get his confidence back.

I wouldn't. You need your best players playing the most important matches. Granted he hasn't been in scintillating form, but he's still one of our most creative and talented players.

[turkish kopite]

we really need a win. We can not afford another fail. Aston Villa beat us, won the ludogorets game by a last min peno and if we keep struggling to score at this game it'll be a big pressure on BR and his boys.


C'mon you Redmen!

[ecu]

Are you certain will have a comfortable lead by the 50th, 60th and the 70th minute based on current form?

We did at Spurs, hopefully get back to last season's form soon.

[Lasardine]

Why are some people saying Lucas is starting and not Coutinho? I've not had a chance to look at the pictures yet.

EDIT: Just seen them. It is indeed Lucas in an orange bib with the other starters, not Coutinho.

Looks like the team is Mignolet, Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling, Balotelli, Borini

[ecu]

Well the chances of that happening are pretty slim, and it's very difficult to get up to proper match speed if you're only playing in a side that is 3-0 up and coasting anyway I imagine. Lallana needs starting time imo and I think we need to bear the brunt of the pain while he gets up to speed.

Hopefully Coutinho will get taken out of the firing line and a forward brought in.

It's hard watching a player who is not fully fit trying to contribute and not been able to. With our squad depth this season Lallana should be incorporated into the team gradually. Not going to do his confidence much good if gets off to a bad start.

[JackWard33]

The prospect of Lucas and Gerrard together again .... be still my rising bile

[Funky_Gibbons]

It's hard watching a player who is not fully fit trying to contribute and not been able to. With our squad depth this season Lallana should be incorporated into the team gradually. Not going to do his confidence much good if gets off to a bad start.

Wheras leaving him on the bench until we're two or three up will do his confidence the world of good.

[Lasardine]

I don't mind Lucas and Gerrard together in a diamond as it means they won't both be deep as fuck like in the double pivot, one has to play more slightly advanced. I also don't see what other choice Rodgers has if he wants to play the diamond (like everyone else is banging on about), Lallana isn't ready for the physical demands to play in midfield yet and he needs resting anyway as he's just come back from injury. Coutinho has been terrible unfortunately and could do with a game off. Let's not forget he went on international duty with Brazil and travelled far. No one seems to consider that yet used to always bring it up when Suarez went to Uruguay. Allen and Can are injured so obviously they can't play.

Only other option is Sterling at LCM with Markovic in the hole but that'd be very risky. Lucas and Borini both did well the other night, the former also impressed in the corresponding game back in April if anyone remembers? He changed the game and played the pass which won us the penalty Gerrard converted.

[ecu]

Wheras leaving him on the bench until we're two or three up will do his confidence the world of good.

Until he is fully fit - yes. Come on when we are two or three up, no pressure, much easier to integrate.

[Solomon Grundy]

Going by the training photo's the line up looks as follows :

--------------------Mignolet--------------------

Manquillo------Skrtel-----Lovren------Moreno

----------------------Stevie----------------------

----Sterling--------Henderson--------Coutinho

--------------Borini-----------Balotelli-----------

Available for the Bench : Jones, Toure, Enrique, Sakho, Lucas, Lallana, Markovic, Lambert                     ( Injuries : Flanno, Can, Johnson, Allen & Sturridge )

This is going to be a tough game lets make no bones about it. Even when we were flying last season they still made it very tough for us. Also,taking into consideration our inconsistent start to the season this will make it all the more difficult. Id be surprised however if Skrtel starts over Sakho after being out for the best part of a month. Can only see us getting a draw to be honest but wouldn't surprise me if we sneaked a win with a Tottenham like away performance. Come on you reds ! Y.N.W.A

Aaaaahhh... The bib theory. The same bib theory that was wrong last week and could well be wrong this week.

[Solomon Grundy]

What's the score on bib theory, does it still work?

Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling; Borini, Balotelli

That's what the bib theory team would be.

It was wrong last week.

[Kopenhagen]

Going by the training photo's the line up looks as follows :

--------------------Mignolet--------------------

Manquillo------Skrtel-----Lovren------Moreno

----------------------Stevie----------------------

----Sterling--------Henderson--------Coutinho

--------------Borini-----------Balotelli-----------

Available for the Bench : Jones, Toure, Enrique, Sakho, Lucas, Lallana, Markovic, Lambert                     ( Injuries : Flanno, Can, Johnson, Allen & Sturridge )

This is going to be a tough game lets make no bones about it. Even when we were flying last season they still made it very tough for us. Also,taking into consideration our inconsistent start to the season this will make it all the more difficult. Id be surprised however if Skrtel starts over Sakho after being out for the best part of a month. Can only see us getting a draw to be honest but wouldn't surprise me if we sneaked a win with a Tottenham like away performance. Come on you reds ! Y.N.W.A

That lineup & formation would get absolutely ripped apart.

[sinnermichael]

If Liverpool score in tomorrows game they will set a new club top-flight record of scoring in 17 consecutive away games.

[Number 7]

The prospect of Lucas and Gerrard together again .... be still my rising bile

If that is true, there aren't really that many options, unless you play Coutinho in the 3. The International break has put paid Allen and Can for a few weeks.

I think Rodgers might go for Lucas because West Ham are a big team and it's going to be a dogfight. Truth be told, I haven't really seen them play this year, although I've heard they're playing it more on the ground. Last season's team with Carroll as the focal point just lumped ball after ball in to our box and it was a real physical struggle. Lucas wins a lot of headers in midfield, and this might be the game to play him with the type of team West Ham are. He played quite well there last season, and set up the winning penalty. I think that's why he's going to bring Skrtel back in, to try and deal with the physical battle.

Also, it looks like Borini is going to start, which I actually don't mind because I think he compliments Balotelli quite well. However, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Lambert start either just because he is another big body and would fare better in the physical battles.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Until he is fully fit - yes. Come on when we are two or three up, no pressure, much easier to integrate.

So using our last 15- games as an example, how many minutes would Lallana have got to get match fit if we waited to bring him on when two or three up with 20 or 30 minutes left to play?

[ecu]

So using our last 15- games as an example, how many minutes would Lallana have got to get match fit if we waited to bring him on when two or three up with 20 or 30 minutes left to play?

About half of those. But the point is he needs 2-3 games with 20-30 mins increasing to 50-60 for a few games. Absolutely pointless carrying get a passenger which he has been the last two games.

[B0151?]

I remember Lucas having a good 2nd half vs West Ham last season. Think it was as one of the CMs ahead of Gerrard as well.

Either that or he had a shite one, but I definitely remember him standing out 

[B0151?]

I remember Lucas having a good 2nd half vs West Ham last season. Think it was as one of the CMs ahead of Gerrard as well.

Either that or he had a shite one, but I definitely remember him standing out 

With a little look at the match report, I remember now. Coutinho started and was ineffective (as he quite often was in away games last season), Lucas came on and we came into the game more.

Ideally this would be a perfect game for Can, but Lucas has to come in really considering the absences.

[Funky_Gibbons]

About half of those. But the point is he needs 2-3 games with 20-30 mins increasing to 50-60 for a few games. Absolutely pointless carrying get a passenger which he has been the last two games.

So one of our most expensive signings would play about a quarter of the game time available in fifteen matches? Great use of a player.

And he has been far from a passenger the last two games,  probably been as close to a goal from open play in both those games than anyone.