Topic: Match Preview: Villarreal vs Liverpool, EL, Thursday 28th April, 8.05pm

[Suareznumber7]

I'll be dumbstruck if we see anything other than Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Touré, Moreno; Milner, Lucas; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Sturridge.

Think you're right about the starting 11.

I hope people don't think this'll be an easy tie for us.  Villarreal are better then some are making out in here. 

[...]

Had a lucid dream that I was playing centre back for us, they were winning 3-0 at half time and then I saved a shot off the line with my hand, got sent off, they missed their pen and it finished 3-3

[Ruddock]

Think you're right about the starting 11.

Yep. Maybe Allen for Sturridge if Klopp wants more harassing in the away game. Then Sturridge from start at Anfield.

[tubby]

I think that side has good balance, I'd rather play Lucas and Allen in midfield with Milner offering a bit more protection and delivery on the flanks - also gets two midfielders who are happy to turn on the ball and receive it in tight spaces.  Maybe Firmino for Sturridge is the only possible change I'd go with.

[tubby]

Klopp's biggest job this week is to get the squad to forget about Newcastle in the 2nd half and all the players that are missing.

We are in good form (on the whole) and have every chance of getting to the final over two legs.

For me, Sturridge has to play. If chances will be thin on the ground I want them to fall to him.


                  Migs

Clyne   Toure   Lovren   Moreno

           Lucas     Allen

Milner      Coutinho     Lallana

               Sturridge

I think that side has good balance, I'd rather play Lucas and Allen in midfield with Milner offering a bit more protection and delivery on the flanks - also gets two midfielders who are happy to turn on the ball and receive it in tight spaces.  Maybe Firmino for Sturridge is the only possible change I'd go with.

[TepidT2O]

Luis Suarez already this season scored 53 goals in 49 games for Barcelona and he is gonna win the gold boot this year.
Ronaldo is three goals behind him
If he was still here we would win everything...
Why did u let him go?

We signed balotelli who was a significant upgrade.

Wonderful and bonkers...

[Ycuzz]

I've made a terrible mistake.

Apparently, a long time ago, I agreed to join Mrs Yc to go see a singer-songwriter-cute-girl-sings-about-life-and-love-kinda-thing, this very Thursday. Not sure how this 'agreement' ever got agreed upon in the first place, I can only assume; a) I was drunk at the time, b) Mrs Yc was nude - or promised to be, c) aliens or d) all of the above.

Furthermore. Apparently it's a small venue and it's supposed to be a close, snuggly and whatever-else-yucky atmosphere.

Feck it. I'll just get thrown out for shouting at me phone...    and wake up divorced... 

[zamagiure]

Wake up divorced is a price worth paying for a Liverpool win.

[Ycuzz]

Maybe I should make a poll

[zamagiure]

And hit her over the head with it. Then your nights cancelled leaving you free to...

[farawayred]

The return leg would be special - "Yellow submarine" in the town of the Beatles

[myliverbird]

Getting that away goal won't be easy against these. This tie will be another nail biter. Two pretty evenly matched sides I reckon. Dan the man has is hitting form at the right time. Once again our only fit striker oddly.

Agree with this. Another nail biter in that it will be a wait to see who breaks the deadlock rather than a goal every minute we saw against Dortmund.

[rakey_lfc]

I don't think he'll start Sturridge. Something tells me we'll see Roberto in the false 9 role instead.

Mignolet
Clyne  toure  Lovren  Moreno

Milner  Allen lucas

Lallana  coutinho

Firminio

Not sure of the exact shape though?

[Zoomers]

There's no way Sturridge is kept out of this.

[Floydy]

decent side these, quick and good in possession, by no means is this a banker.
Really big game at El Madrigal on Thursday & we need to be at it in the middle of the park, Milner & Allen will be key.
should be a good game.

[GeorgiaRed]

Does anyone think that one of the youngsters could get a start due to the injuries?

[Crosby Nick]

Does anyone think that one of the youngsters could get a start due to the injuries?

Stewart can't play and he was probably the most likely too if we could pick anyone. Clyne and Moreno will start so only leaves someone like Ojo. He'll probably make the bench but we'll be definitely be going with our more known quantities for this one.

[Number 7]

I don't think he'll start Sturridge. Something tells me we'll see Roberto in the false 9 role instead.

I think Klopp will start Sturridge. I know some have disagreed, but it's really all about these 2 games now. We need to have our best players out there for these 2 legs. I think Origi would have started had he not got injured, but unfortunately that plan was ruined. Sturridge has been in pretty good form over the last 3 or 4 games. He scored against Southampton, Bournemouth, Everton and Newcastle in recent weeks and he is a very legitimate goal threat.

Villarreal don't get many crosses in to the box at all. They only got 5 crosses in all game yesterday, and because of that I have a suspicion that Lucas will play CB as Klopp seems to like him against a ball playing team. I think Allen and Milner will get the nod in midfield which would mean Firmino plays, and so does Sturridge.

[Number 7]

I've made a terrible mistake.

Apparently, a long time ago, I agreed to join Mrs Yc to go see a singer-songwriter-cute-girl-sings-about-life-and-love-kinda-thing, this very Thursday. Not sure how this 'agreement' ever got agreed upon in the first place, I can only assume; a) I was drunk at the time, b) Mrs Yc was nude - or promised to be, c) aliens or d) all of the above.

Furthermore. Apparently it's a small venue and it's supposed to be a close, snuggly and whatever-else-yucky atmosphere.

Feck it. I'll just get thrown out for shouting at me phone...    and wake up divorced... 

Pretend to be the event organizer from the venue, call your wife up and tell her the event has been cancelled. You'll get absolutely bollocked afterwards (when she finds out it wasn't really cancelled), but at least you can watch the match.

[Alonso_The_Assassin]

I don't think he'll start Sturridge. Something tells me we'll see Roberto in the false 9 role instead.

Mignolet
Clyne  toure  Lovren  Moreno

Milner  Allen lucas

Lallana  coutinho

Firminio

Not sure of the exact shape though?

Agree. Think Milner will play on the right with Allen and Lucas sitting.

Very nervous about this game. I think it's imperative we don't concede early against these. Weather the storm and if we hold them scoreless after the first half an hour then we'll have our chances.

Bob as a false nine for a pressing blitz. Can see Dan featuring late to hopefully grab a second.

[mc_red22]

There's no reason whatsoever as to why Sturridge won't start in the first leg. Firmino hasn't been good enough in the past few games so I don't get why he would get the nod over our best striker/player.

This is basically what our entire season comes down to, we should go all out with our best possible line-up.

[Trendisnotdestiny]

An early goal by the Reds changes the nature of this thing...  this is what I am hoping to see (a goal in the first 20 minutes --- having to pull Villareal out).....

I just hope we do not get exploited with set plays....  Caulker might be a solution later in the game (not as a forward but maybe DM)....

[Bobinhood]

Caulker might be a good solution for Ycuzz's Happy Wife Happy Life problem but other than that I'm not having it.....

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Does Caulker still exist?

[golgolgol]

Potential to be a low scoring tie.

[...]

Potential to be a low scoring tie.

I reckon we can nick it 1-0, they're not the most potent attacking side are they? Heard them branded as the Spanish Stoke (of old).

[Samie]

Ycuzz was never one to hit the back of the net multiple times anyway.

[jeremyh94]

Luis Suarez already this season scored 53 goals in 49 games for Barcelona and he is gonna win the gold boot this year.
Ronaldo is three goals behind him
If he was still here we would win everything...
Why did u let him go?

Because he bit their fingers so

["Ninja Skrtel"]

Does Caulker still exist?

Completely forgot we had this bloke. Silver(ish) lining amongst the Sakho news

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Completely forgot we had this bloke. Silver(ish) lining amongst the Sakho news

How so? He hasn't played in any recent matches, hasn't featured on the bench, does he even train is he even fit?

[golgolgol]

I reckon we can nick it 1-0, they're not the most potent attacking side are they? Heard them branded as the Spanish Stoke (of old).

They're not as good as Pulis Stoke on set pieces and don't commit as many fouls but they are a lot more compact, organized and work harder. They have the fewest shots on goal in La Liga so attack is a bit blunt. Upfront Soldado plays like he did at Spurs, works very hard and makes a nuisance of himself but can't score to save his life. Bakambu is the main goal threat and has been on form this year. There is no other goal threat. They're an unspectacular solid team. Sum of parts and all.

[MolbyLovesGravlax]

How so? He hasn't played in any recent matches, hasn't featured on the bench, does he even train is he even fit?

Nope we are paying his wages, but have banned him from training with us and are forcing him to eat pie and chips 4 meals a day.

[Another Red]

I don't want to us to be too negative and stifle our creativity. At the same time, they are a mean team (defensively) and we will have to be somewhat cautious. Without three central midfielders they'll play around us too easily so I see Milner, Lucas & Allen starting at El Madrigal. Firmino & Lallana to run all day. Coutinho will be the key for us.

[diegoLFC7]

If Caulker plays a role in this tie, and we get to the final, he deserves to be a liverpool player for life.

[the_red_pill]

Firmino has been really poor lately, giving the ball away so much.

Think he's actually better recently in that regard, given his done this all season long. He just pops up and puts them away though.

[the_red_pill]

Think you're right about the starting 11.

I hope people don't think this'll be an easy tie for us.  Villarreal are better then some are making out in here. 

Indeed. The danger for us is now that we've dispatched Dortmund, it's looking "routine" and a given, when now is the time to really up our game and increase our focus and mentality. Only the best teams make it this far and to be the best, you need to beat the best. Villareal would've given Dortmund a game so they're pretty dangerous, despite their looks.

[the_red_pill]

Depends on your view of the world. Are Leicester the best team in our league? A lot of people would say yes because they're top - a lot of others would point out if the season was run again they wouldn't be a favourite to finish top 3 or 4 (ie they're not the best team but they've had the best results this time)

Obviously Villarreal are where they are... but teams run good and bad over the season. They look organised defensively but their expected goal numbers in attack are pretty grim. They look like a mid table la liga team for whom things have gone their way this season. We should expect to get through against them

Leicester will mop the floor with most teams in the league mate- regardless of how they "look". They've already done it and they will continue to do so until the end of the season. Just when people thought they couldn't keep it up, they produce 4 against the Swans. United and Chelsea are next. They'll turn up thnking- "Pah- These aren't much".. and blam! 1-0!

We couldn't even beat them or draw away- in fact, the harder we tried the worse it got. They are deceptively good. An Italo-Anglican team , built in the image of a proper Italian.

We need to take Villareal seriously. We can't go on the obvious.

[McrRed]

Think he's actually better recently in that regard, given his done this all season long. He just pops up and puts them away though.

And he presses like a bastard...Firmino starts.
ps df, he's still coming back from injury, let's hope he's back to his Spring-best.

[the_red_pill]

And he presses like a bastard...Firmino starts.
ps df, he's still coming back from injury, let's hope he's back to his Spring-best.

Indeed mate and we need someone to press and harry up-front now Origi's done. He will be massive for the EL.
I won't mention who else had an even worse pass completion(a "proper" 3 percent worse) for us, since people will jump on me- carrying on about comparing the two, but he is priceless for us atm.

[jepovic]

As long as Sturridge keeps on scoring he'll stay in the team, regardless of body language and pressing.

Wouldn't mind Milner as one of the three attacking midfielders, in the Kuyt role. Allen and Lucas are much better at playing themselves out of pressure.