Topic: Brookside vs Crossroads - FA Cup Semi Final, Sunday, April 19th

[telekon]

Haven't been this excited for a match in a long time! Spring is here, we're at Wembley, and it's a winnable game. My money is on a Skrtel winner. If he does win it I'll go to Bratislava in his honour. It's only an hour train ride, and I haven't been there despite living in Vienna for 2 years. He's due a goal isn't he.

[SerbianScouser]

Three at the back, Can,Skrtel,Lovren. With Henderson and Moreno as wing backs, Lucas and Allen in center, with Gerrard,Sterling and Coutinho up front interchanging?

I`d love to see Lucas-Henderson partnership again in 3421 as it worked so smoothly during our great run since December. We can almost field exact same team as when we beat them 2-0 with Lovren and maybe Gerrard replacing Sakho and Borini. If there wasn`t for Lucas` injury there was never a reason to dismantle that parnership and I don`t see a reason why we shouldn`t get back to them two in the middle and take it from there.

[Le_Mot_Juste]

It's possible to think he's one of the greatest player's in our history and simultaneously think he's not currently good enough to be in our best starting XI

(otherwise following your logic that what a player has accomplished should dictate selection - Kenny should be playing on Sunday )

Agreed on that. Just feels like there's actual vitriol at the mere thought of his inclusion by some supporters. Obviously, we all know he's well past his prime - But to actually be outraged at the thought of Gerrard in the starting 11 against Aston Villa is just silly, and bordering on insulting - Particularly when it's Joe Allen he'd potentially be replacing.
Steven Gerrard, even now, is 10 times the player Allen will ever be.

[WelshMike]

Steven Gerrard, even now, is 10 times the player Allen will ever be.

Ah right, so you're not allowed to critique some players but you can insult others? This is absolutely nonsense; Allen has outperformed Gerrard all season and for periods of last season too. He's far more important and effective, but that doesn't mean he has the same level of natural ability (or tendency to make massive mistakes in big games either).

[Ozzie Red]

not sure if its been asked but what kit are we playing in?

[PhaseOfPlay]

not sure if its been asked but what kit are we playing in?

This one:

[ThePeetmix]

Fingers crossed Danny is fit, otherwise we're a bit streched thin up top without Ibe.

I'd go with the back 4, bring Skrtel back in for Johnson and move Can over to right-back. Just don't feel comfortable playing a back 3 without Mamadou.

[MerseysideBrum]

not sure if its been asked but what kit are we playing in?

yellow one

[elbow]

Is Ibe available for this?

He was already in Emmerdale Farm this season, so no go.

[andspecks]

Agreed on that. Just feels like there's actual vitriol at the mere thought of his inclusion by some supporters. Obviously, we all know he's well past his prime - But to actually be outraged at the thought of Gerrard in the starting 11 against Aston Villa is just silly, and bordering on insulting - Particularly when it's Joe Allen he'd potentially be replacing.
Steven Gerrard, even now, is 10 times the player Allen will ever be.

Been the trend for absolute eons now every single time he becomes available for selection. Personally don't think our midfield have been very impressive in the last handful of games, absolutely no fight against United, destroyed by Arsenal, barely scraped past Blackburn. Were good against Newcastle, but that Newcastle team were hardly competitive. So wouldn't mind seeing Stevie start as long as he's not put in a 2. Would understand if Brendan chooses to bring him in off the bench though.

[jimbo196843]

This one:

Without reading back, has anyone done a Brookside starting 11

[leivapool]

He was already in Emmerdale Farm this season, so no go.

  cheered up my morning this!

[Peabee]

PoP that has to be one of the best opening posts. I was sat in a swanky restaurant in that london, choking on my food and laughing so much that I was asked several times if I was alright ! 😀

They were probably asking if you're alright because you were reading an online forum at a dinner table.   

 

[didi]

nervous bout this one, lack off options from the bench is nagging away at me. Can see it being a cagey affair and our lack of game changer from the bench worries me with Sturridge and Lallana out

[Higgins79]

Absolutely brilliant start to the thread, best yet.

Its going to be tight but I think we can deal with the one threat Villa pose and ultimately we will have too much pace for them on a big, energy sapping pitch. Coutinho should be afforded a little more space than usual and we can hopefully control the game through him with the pace of Sterling, Markovic and Moreno key to stretching them.

               Mignolet
Johnson  Can  Skrtel  Moreno
                 Lucas
          Hendo     Allen
Markovic  Coutinho  Sterling

Also, I have a sneaking suspicion that Mario might have an impact from the bench.

[MichaelA]

Cracking OP > thanks PoP.

[jwill2127]

pick gerrard over allen, no brainer. He is well rested and is still better than allen.

[redk84]

Wembleyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

dont agree that we should be playing here in semi but it is what it is!

Villa is a bogey team. They have a habit of turning up against us and tactics Tim will be well up for this you can bet..........i worry about Benteke. And hope to god Agbonlahor aint gonna play cos he always seems to cause us trouble from recent memory

BUT we have a lot more to worry them. Hope the occasion don't get to our starlets and the return of Skrtel and Stevie to the squad is brilliant. Whoever starts I hope we dominate from the off and take advantage of the moments in the match when we're on top. There will be chances missed no doubt, its something to expect from this team as we all know this season.....we're not as prolific as we should be but we can't get frustrated or let our heads drop no matter what happens.

Big moment for BR too....this is all quite new to him aswell.

2-1 redmen

[Grobbelrevell]

Villa is a bogey team. They have a habit of turning up against us...

At Anfield in recent seasons, yes.

We've won on the last 4 visits to Villa Park. In this century our record there is as follows:

P16 | W11 | D4 | L1

Bogey team? That depends where we're playing, in recent times anyway. And we're not at Anfield on Sunday.

For the record as well, we've played them once previously on neutral ground. We beat them 3-0 that day 

[LFC UNTIL THE MANAGER IS NO LONGER DESERVING OF MY SYMPATHY]

Have to get three points in this or fourth place is gone!

[Grobbelrevell]

Have to get three points in this or fourth place is gone!

Agreed.

[ShayGuevara]

Gerrards going to play.

Only two places Brendan will put him IMO though and that's either as an AM for 60/70mins or DM controlling behind two more energetic midfielders.

I'm guessing:

--------------------Mignolet-----------------
Johnson-----Skrtel------Lovren-----Moreno
-------------------Gerrard-------------------
----------Henderson------Allen--------------
Ibe-----------------------------------Coutinho
--------------------Sterling-------------------

Maybe Can in place of Johnson or Ibe and positions changed.

Or if we return to the 3-4-2-1:

-------------------------Mignolet------------------------
------------Can----------Skrtel---------Lovren----------
Ibe---------Henderson----------Allen------------Moreno
------------Gerrard---------------Coutinho--------------
------------------------Sterling---------------------------

Can't see Lucas starting ahead of Allen although he's debatably better suited to the role in that system.

[Smellytrabs]

Come on boys let's fucking well do this.

[Crosby Nick]

Haha I got a minibus down to Cardiff with Ron Dicko for the League Cup Final in 2001. That's showbiz!

[Keita Success]

Have to get three points in this or fourth place is gone!

Ibe's not eligible so I'd take a draw. Have we still got Diouf? 

[Smellytrabs]

No way can Dejan play, the lad needs help.

Kolo has been trying to sort him out, but he just doesn't help himself.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/6X1y84IZ6zo&amp;list=PLiXY6IlvXlhYxO3XUorFqapUYDW6RgKpF" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/6X1y84IZ6zo&amp;list=PLiXY6IlvXlhYxO3XUorFqapUYDW6RgKpF</a>

[markedasred]

So who'd take the penalty shoot out if I offered it now as a 120 min result?.

Gerrard shoots and scores, walks up to Benteke, who is next, tosses the ball in the air, and stamps on his ankle while he is ball watching.

[ThePeetmix]

Gerrards going to play.

Only two places Brendan will put him IMO though and that's either as an AM for 60/70mins or DM controlling behind two more energetic midfielders.

I'm guessing:

--------------------Mignolet-----------------
Johnson-----Skrtel------Lovren-----Moreno
-------------------Gerrard-------------------
----------Henderson------Allen--------------
Ibe-----------------------------------Coutinho
--------------------Sterling-------------------

Maybe Can in place of Johnson or Ibe and positions changed.

Or if we return to the 3-4-2-1:

-------------------------Mignolet------------------------
------------Can----------Skrtel---------Lovren----------
Ibe---------Henderson----------Allen------------Moreno
------------Gerrard---------------Coutinho--------------
------------------------Sterling---------------------------

Can't see Lucas starting ahead of Allen although he's debatably better suited to the role in that system.

Lucas HAS to start. Also, Ibe (jokes aside) is cup-tied so can't play.

[Smellytrabs]

                                        Mignolet

    Johnson                Can          Skrtel                Moreno


                             Lucas           Henderson

Markovic                                                             Sterling
                                   Coutinho

                                      Borini

[fowlermagic]

Villa are finding some form lately so definitely will be a tight old affair...4-3 to us I fancy. Have to bring back some of the old guns for this as SG will start as its final swansong at a cup run. Skrtel straight back in and Sterling to lead the line as a half fit Sturridge wont cover much ground will he? Guess we will go back to 3 at the back and I fancy Johnson & Moreno for the wing back positions. Where will SG start ...penciling in the names might lead you to this

.............Migs
..Can....Skrtel.....Lovren
Johnson.....Lucas.........Moreno
.........Henderson....SG
........Coutinho...Sterling

It will have to wait for the summer but god we do lack some consistent firepower but that system may shore up our lines but hamstrung our attack. Hope Sturridge is fit enough to bolster the bench but it will be a close game I fancy. Cmon the Reds

[sinnermichael]

Rodgers on Sturridge: "We will give him every possibility to be fit for the game."

Rodgers: "Gerrard is definitely ready. The most important thing is his availability. He's a special footballer."

[didi]

love to see Sturidge make the squad Sunday even a place on the bench be massive

[thekitkatshuffler]

[Higgins79]

Lucas has to start, they are likely to play on the counter and he'll be key to stopping them. The last thing we want is Gerrard having to chase counter attacks. Lucas can prevent the ball into Benteke, Gerrard at DM can't do that.

Also, if Gerrard starts at Wembley, Rodgers doesn't have the nuts to bring him off if its going wrong, or if he's getting tired. Best to start him on the bench and bring him on for 30 mins.

[mrchimps]

Deffo hope Sinbad... I mean Sturridge is fit.

[Fordy]

Lucas has to start, they are likely to play on the counter and he'll be key to stopping them. The last thing we want is Gerrard having to chase counter attacks. Lucas can prevent the ball into Benteke, Gerrard at DM can't do that.

Also, if Gerrard starts at Wembley, Rodgers doesn't have the nuts to bring him off if its going wrong, or if he's getting tired. Best to start him on the bench and bring him on for 30 mins.

Gerrard has to start this for me. Gerrard is a big game player.

Lucas also needs to start.

We need some experienced heads in a big match like this.

[Number 7]

love to see Sturidge make the squad Sunday even a place on the bench be massive

Highly unlikely since apparently he hasn't trained all week. He's also been dropping subtle hints on his Instagram. Hopefully a club of Liverpool's stature is never in this problem again, where none of the other strikers who are available are deemed not to good enough to start a semi-final. I accepted a long time ago that this season would be one of recovery after losing one of the best players in the world. You simply can't be close to the same level. Next season however, this can't happen.

Will be interesting to see if Agbonlahor makes it. He was struggling with a hamstring injury. Benteke seems to have come back in to form. They've got a couple of other decent players, but realistically if you look at their season as a whole, and match up our squad against theirs we really should win the game. Of course, anything can happen in a semi-final, but I expect the United and Arsenal games would have taught us a lot. This isn't a big team we're playing, but it's a big match. So, hopefully we change our mentality a bit for a big game.

[rickardinho1]

Lucas
Coutinho
Mignolet

Put 8 lads around them, don't care who, and we will win.

[mikeb58]

Gerrard is still a goal threat, be it more likely from a set piece these days, for this reason alone plus his experience I reckon he will start.

(Plus just a bit of nostalgia thrown into the equation!)

[Upinsmoke]

What about Gerrard as striker?

I want him as close to goal as possible and as far away from our goal as possible.