Topic: Southampton vs Liverpool. March 1st 2014. 17.30 KO

[helmboy_nige]

If we are playing a pressing side like Southampton I would not consider putting Toure back in. He panics on the ball and our opponents know it.

The only question mark for me is whether we bring Allen in for either Sterling or Coutinho.  Sterling faded in the game against Swansea so maybe Allen coming in would be a good thing, but that leaves Coutinho being pushed out wide, which negates him a little.

Southampton are not the side they were 4 months ago and we are much better in attack.  The start is key for us and a lot of our poorer results have come on the back of really poor starts (Hull away, Villa home).  If we can get out of the blocks quickly (as we've shown we can many times) and get an early goal I think we could really pull away with it.  But it can be hard to show the kind of crazy intensity in all games as we did in games like Everton at home.

I can see us trying to cede possession so we can press them and look for the counter attack. It worked brilliantly against Arsenal.

[jamie_c]

This is where Rodgers needs to earn his money, he’s been completely out thought by Pochettino in the last 2 games, now is time for revenge.

Their strength is pressing high up and completely bossing the midfield, we need to set up in a way to compete against this.

I would start the way we played Everton in the 2nd half, sit back deep take away their strength and hit them on the counter attack.  I think Allen needs to play and I’d give Countinho a rest.  Given we are likely to score on the counter attack Sterling’s pace is probably a bit more important.

Winning here would be a real measure of how far this team has come.

[Owl]

Well, he'll struggle even more to score goals from the bench.

Really? wouldn't have known.

[peachybum]

I would actually drop Suarez here, as he struggles to score goals lately

Yet he's still getting plenty of assists and creating chances which is a massive part of his game especially when asked to play as a wide forward rather than a striker.

I don't  think we'll get much out of this game but dropping Suarez would dramatically reduce any chance we have.

[Paul JH]

I would actually drop Suarez here, as he struggles to score goals lately

 

Quite simply the worst post regarding team selection from a fan I've probably ever seen on RAWK. I mean, what?!?!

Staggeringly stupid.

[woof]

Lambert caused us some problems. We tend to buckle against a physical presence in the forward line. Too bad Sakho isn't ready yet.

This is going to be a stern test for us. They beat us at home when we didn't play well. We need to return the favour.

[Bincey]

Really? wouldn't have known.

As Peachy has said, he offers so much more than just goals. Ask yourself this, if you were the oppo would you prefer to see Suarez in the starting XI or him on the bench.

[DeLeiva]

Quite simply the worst post regarding team selection from a fan I've probably ever seen on RAWK. I mean, what?!?!

Staggeringly stupid.

I am literally astounded.   

[redan]

I'd put Flanagan back to Left Back and by Johnson at Right Back for this one,

Before Xmas when Flanno was in great form he was at LB (when we won 4 in a row) and it meant Johnson was in his natural position, then because Johnson was injured Flanno was moved back to RB with Cissokho coming in,

Now against Swansea we had the same Full backs on the pitch as we had in that great pre-Xmas period in which we ended up being top of the table but for some reason they played on the opposite flank. They are both versatile and do a job in either position but it just struck me as odd that we would revet back to what had worked so well for us a most probably would still be doing had Johnson not been injured

Other than that Agger has to start in place of Toure and i'd start with Allen in place of Coutinho because I think we're going to need an extra body to stop being over run by Southampton's more than capable midfield. It'd be nice to play all 4 of our strikeforce and keep hitting them on the break but away to this lot might be a gamble

                  Mignolet

Johnson    Skrtel    Agger      Flannagan

              Gerrard   Allen
                 Henderson

Sterling         Sturridge      Suarez

[beardsley4ever]

Biggest game of the season.  Cup final.  As is the next one, and the one after.

[Upinsmoke]

Quite simply the worst post regarding team selection from a fan I've probably ever seen on RAWK. I mean, what?!?!

Staggeringly stupid.

Quite bizzare.

[Pricey]

Luke Shaw to tear Glen Johnson a new one.

[00jebus]

Nice win please, to keep the run going, and we havn't beat them here in over a decade.
Ok they've been in the championship for most of that decade, but its still not a nice stat to have.


Could use it to have a closer look at Schneiderlin, Clyne, Shaw and Lallana, maybe BR could have a chat after, see if they are interested in European football next season 



About us:
Might be a case to play Kelly at CB with Agger? or is Lambert too physical for that to work? (and is Kelly's back to proper fitness yet?)
It is good to know, that no matter what happens, we can't drop a place, hopefully it should take some of the pressure off.




Now, is there a traffic cam we can watch somewhere in Southampton in the pre-match thread?

[Warks Moustache]

Luke Shaw to tear Glen Johnson a new one.

Lovely support mate.

[steveeastend]

Luke Shaw to tear Glen Johnson a new one.

He will be still not on top of his game, needs time to get back to his best, maybe Cissokho the better option in this one.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Yeah lets drop Suarez. His creativity, link up play, movement and workrate are useless without the addition of his goals. Sturridge will find it so much easier to score with Suarez on the bench.

[TarkaLFC]

Drop Suarez?  When we have no game for a fortnight afterwards?  Come on old chap...

[Warks Moustache]

Southampton have won 1 game in 6 at home. They look very tired.

[Mamadou]

can you stop quoting that post please? of course we wont drop Suarez

[Crosby Nick]

Nice win please, to keep the run going, and we havn't beat them here in over a decade.
Ok they've been in the championship for more of that decade, but its still not a nice stat to have.

Since a Heskey 1-0 that ended our mammoth non-winning run in Jan 2003?

Since then we have lost 0-2, 0-2 and 1-3 in 3 League games. Hadn't realised it was such a bad ground for us. Mind you The Dell was too, took a few beatings there in the late 80's and early 90's didn't we?

[pjshaun]

I'd put Flanagan back to Left Back and by Johnson at Right Back for this one,

Before Xmas when Flanno was in great form he was at LB (when we won 4 in a row) and it meant Johnson was in his natural position, then because Johnson was injured Flanno was moved back to RB with Cissokho coming in,

Now against Swansea we had the same Full backs on the pitch as we had in that great pre-Xmas period in which we ended up being top of the table but for some reason they played on the opposite flank. They are both versatile and do a job in either position but it just struck me as odd that we would revet back to what had worked so well for us a most probably would still be doing had Johnson not been injured

I agree with this but for different reasons. I thought Johnson played a lot of back passes to either center defenders or Mignolet against Swansea and he generally does this a lot when playing left back. Against oppositions like Swansea and Southampton, who like to press very high, this can put a lot of pressure on our defenders and GK and doesn't really help with possession either as eventually there are misplaced passes or Mignolet has to kick it long. I think Flanagan passed the ball a lot better when he played at left back.

[rocco]

Southampton have won 1 game in 6 at home. They look very tired.

Southampton's first 6 homes they were unbeaten with 4 wins

Southampton's next 7 home games they have only won 1

[Wiss_LFC]

Think we will have to pack the midfield for this one and Allen must come in, bring Coutinho on in the 2nd half. I think Toure will start next to Skrtel, Brendan wasn't happy with Agger against Swansea which was obvious as he brought him off. I would like to see Johnson return to RB and Cissokho to LB

                      Mignolet
 
Johnson   Skrtel  Toure  Cissokho

                 Gerrard  Allen

                     Henderson

Sterling          Sturridge      Suarez

[Warks Moustache]

Southampton's first 6 homes they were unbeaten with 4 wins

Southampton's next 7 home games they have only won 1

In any case I feel we are favorites for the win. Our away form is fine. Yes the defense is a concern, but we should play to our strengths.

[rocco]

I would actually drop Suarez here, as he struggles to score goals lately

NO chance but if 4-0 up with 20 to go id rest him

[clinical]

I would actually drop Suarez here

The worst thing I've ever read on RAWK right there. Congrats


I hate the game against Southampton, we never do well. Remember when Harry was there and Crouch scored against us under Benitez. Was an awful performance and it hasn't been good since

[DeLeiva]

NO chance but if 4-0 up with 20 to go id rest him

And he's be seething at being brought off whilst 4 goals into his double hat-trick.

[rocco]

In any case I feel we are favorites for the win. Our away form is fine. Yes the defense is a concern, but we should play to our strengths.

5 away wins from 13 is a concern

[Owl]

The worst thing I've ever read on RAWK right there. Congrats


I hate the game against Southampton, we never do well. Remember when Harry was there and Crouch scored against us under Benitez. Was an awful performance and it hasn't been good since

Well then u haven't read much.

It's my personal opinion and if that creates so much fuss then people are a bit to sensitive.

Atm based on recent performances Suarez isn't playing his best especially with Sturridge as the main striker, Sterling is vital to our attack as is coutinho. And Defenders or DM's are literally body checking suarez each time he is near the ball and follow him like a shadow. 

While My suggestion of dropping suarez is apparently controversial and people feel the need to have a moan about it as it seems to be a trend when someone has a different opinion, I feel it would gain the team to Play with Sturridge alone up front and Sterling and Coutinho on both sides with Allen in support of the midfield.

[Garlicbread]

5 away wins from 13 is a concern

Yeah but 3 of them are defeats to teams above us and Hull was on a day that we were shit. And a couple of draws here and there which is expected.

[00jebus]

Since a Heskey 1-0 that ended our mammoth non-winning run in Jan 2003?

Since then we have lost 0-2, 0-2 and 1-3 in 3 League games. Hadn't realised it was such a bad ground for us. Mind you The Dell was too, took a few beatings there in the late 80's and early 90's didn't we?

Yea, they really are our bogey team.


 but I kinda like them when we aren't playing them!

[rocco]

Yeah but 3 our the defeats are to the teams above us and Hull was on a day that we were shit. And a couple of draws here and there which is expected.

could argue we were gifted v  fulham etc

slight concern imo our away form

[SMacDougall]

Well then u haven't read much.

It's my personal opinion and if that creates so much fuss then people are a bit to sensitive.

Atm based on recent performances Suarez isn't playing his best especially with Sturridge as the main striker, Sterling is vital to our attack as is coutinho. And Defenders or DM's are literally body checking suarez each time he is near the ball and follow him like a shadow. 

While My suggestion of dropping suarez is apparently controversial and people feel the need to have a moan about it as it seems to be a trend when someone has a different opinion, I feel it would gain the team to Play with Sturridge alone up front and Sterling and Coutinho on both sides with Allen in support of the midfield.

Just because Suarez isn't scoring? Suarez had a hand in 2 of our goals against Swansea. Without that, we could have lost.

[Garlicbread]

could argue we were gifted v  fulham etc

slight concern imo our away form

Yeah I'd love if our away form was better as well.

[Owl]

Just because Suarez isn't scoring? Suarez had a hand in 2 of our goals against Swansea. Without that, we could have lost.

And has had a dip in form and clearly isn't at his best physically, All tho suarez is a machine he could use a rest from time to time and he looked tired against swansea in the second half.

I'm stating this based on performances not Status.

And atm for me Sterling, coutinho do more than suarez does, and clearly we need allen back in the midfield, so someone needs to be dropped.

[rocco]

Well then u haven't read much.

It's my personal opinion and if that creates so much fuss then people are a bit to sensitive.

Atm based on recent performances Suarez isn't playing his best especially with Sturridge as the main striker, Sterling is vital to our attack as is coutinho. And Defenders or DM's are literally body checking suarez each time he is near the ball and follow him like a shadow. 

While My suggestion of dropping suarez is apparently controversial and people feel the need to have a moan about it as it seems to be a trend when someone has a different opinion, I feel it would gain the team to Play with Sturridge alone up front and Sterling and Coutinho on both sides with Allen in support of the midfield.

#


Nobody's  moaning  mate just a bad suggestion  , needs resting imo but only under the right circumstances


like 3/4 up with 30 to go

[DeLeiva]

Well then u haven't read much.

It's my personal opinion and if that creates so much fuss then people are a bit to sensitive.

Atm based on recent performances Suarez isn't playing his best especially with Sturridge as the main striker, Sterling is vital to our attack as is coutinho. And Defenders or DM's are literally body checking suarez each time he is near the ball and follow him like a shadow. 

While My suggestion of dropping suarez is apparently controversial and people feel the need to have a moan about it as it seems to be a trend when someone has a different opinion, I feel it would gain the team to Play with Sturridge alone up front and Sterling and Coutinho on both sides with Allen in support of the midfield.

Mate the bottom line is that you are suggesting dropping the best player in the league during our
most important phase of games.

It's nonsense.

[ashleyrose-66]

And has had a dip in form and clearly isn't at his best physically, All tho suarez is a machine he could use a rest from time to time and he looked tired against swansea in the second half.

I'm stating this based on performances not Status.

And atm for me Sterling, coutinho do more than suarez does, and clearly we need allen back in the midfield, so someone needs to be dropped.

Tired? He has only played 26 games (in all competitions) this season, and has a full week's rest between games! 

The problem is he was scoring so many goals that when he goes a few games without one, people insist that there is a problem.

There isn't, he is contributing to the team, working his socks off and creating goals for his strike-partner.

[jordyball10]

I would actually drop Suarez here, as he struggles to score goals lately and we need to be clinical and someone needs to make way for Extra body in the midfield. Plus he does't lose the ball away from home pretty often and it open for counter attacks for the opposition.

U can't drop Sterling here as his work rate alone will be very important plus the fact that they will leave space behind their defenders.

Coutinho is the creator and his vision and passing is very important both for Sturridge and Sterling.

Sturridge is undropable.

Suarez would be a good option from the bench if things go wrong.

Someone beat me up...... 

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

Well then u haven't read much.

It's my personal opinion and if that creates so much fuss then people are a bit to sensitive.

Atm based on recent performances Suarez isn't playing his best especially with Sturridge as the main striker, Sterling is vital to our attack as is coutinho. And Defenders or DM's are literally body checking suarez each time he is near the ball and follow him like a shadow. 

While My suggestion of dropping suarez is apparently controversial and people feel the need to have a moan about it as it seems to be a trend when someone has a different opinion, I feel it would gain the team to Play with Sturridge alone up front and Sterling and Coutinho on both sides with Allen in support of the midfield.

Mate, have you been watching lately?

Yes he hasn't scored, but how many has he setup? Would Sturridge and Sterling have the space without his runs taking away defenders? His game is not all about goals - and as long as Sturridge keeps putting them away, then leave Suarez to continue what he is doing.