Topic: Liverpool vs Southampton (FA Cup Fifth Round) - 20:00, Wednesday 28th February

[sminp]

Van Dijk playing feels like a massive risk. Hopefully the plan is to get him off at HT and bring Gomez in.

[Redley]

The draw is at 7 so I guess if we/Southampton end up getting Abu Dhabi away we can just change the team drastically. Arsed with that

[classycarra]

Van Dijk playing feels like a massive risk. Hopefully the plan is to get him off at HT and bring Gomez in.

Agreed, if that leaks true he'll probably come off at half time (I reckon for Konate). And Gomez on for Bradley around 60ish mins

I feel a bit bad for Elliot, so rarely starts after in midfield after his performances earn it - then when the start comes it's either out of position or after he's cramped up from running a marathon nonstop over 120 minutes. Guess that could explain why he was held out from the Brentford game for as long as he was (feels like an age ago), so he has slightly fewer miles on the clock than Endo for example.

[jj2005]

That starting 11 as an average age of 22. 😳

Let's not go down that road again!

[Magix]

If VVD starts the intention is then pretty clear - to win the match and go through the next round. To lead and inspire the young 'uns to another against-the-odds victory. But will expect VVD to be taken off at half time, and not a moment too late.

[Higgins79]

Could go to extra time. Might be planned for Gomez to come on at halftime

Yeah I think Bradley does 60 and Gomez comes on. Possibly the same with Kostas and Robbo.

[Red Beret]

It's really important to manage the minutes of younger players. I know Harvey is practically a veteran at this point compared to some of our other lads but we've all seen young players break from overuse.

On the flip side, Trent was a regular at the same age, but he was playing in a far more settled side. It's difficult to rotate when we're down to the bear bones, but we need players who can make an impact and potentially change the game. It makes sense to bench a few after that marathon final.

[Higgins79]

Van Dijk playing feels like a massive risk. Hopefully the plan is to get him off at HT and bring Gomez in.

Clearly some risk, but I think VVD will back himself to be able to 'manage' his effort in a game like this. The reassurance he'll give to the kids will be massive. And to be fair Bradley, Quansah, VVD and Kostas is a pretty decent back four to give the others a good platform.

[smurfinaus]

whats the bench likely to look like?

[Buster Gonad]

This is the team according to the guy that leaks it:

Kelleher
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Tsimikas
McConnell
Clark
Koumas
Elliott
Gakpo
Danns

Does he predict the bench as well?

[jillcwhomever]

This is the team according to the guy that leaks it:

Kelleher
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Tsimikas
McConnell
Clark
Koumas
Elliott
Gakpo
Danns

I would love to see Koumas given a chance. I think the likes of VVD and Bradley will both come off before the end to be honest.

[thaddeus]

This is the team according to the guy that leaks it:

Kelleher
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Tsimikas
McConnell
Clark
Koumas
Elliott
Gakpo
Danns

I hope it's a deliberate plant by the management team and they out the mole.

That said, if it's correct then it's a strong line-up.  The back five is a very good foundation to build off.  Presumably at least a couple of them will have pre-planned substitutions - maybe Gomez, Robbo and Konate taking 45 minutes each.  Perhaps Kostas might even get one half over at right back.

I always liked Jason Koumas as a footballer - half a yard of pace off being a top tier player - so quite excited about seeing what his lad looks like in grown up football.

[robertobaggio37]

Cannot wait! It’ll be a cracker.

Bit OT but I found out there won’t be any bus service available for us to get to the JLA on early Friday morning (3.30am). Any fellow red who could give me and my brother lift from Anfield area to JLA? We’ll pay of course 

[classycarra]

I would love to see Koumas given a chance. I think the likes of VVD and Bradley will both come off before the end to be honest.

Agreed Jill. And Elliot and Gakpo

Would leave one substitute available [barring more and more first half injury subs..] to replace one of the others if they're really flagging - which has to be a pretty high possibility for the teenagers playing adult football. And we don't tend to like to use the 5th sub until later/essential

Tsimikas is going to have to play the 90, that much is for sure, if we want to protect the senior squad

[Pistolero]

Does he predict the bench as well?

The correct Cup Final line-up was doing the rounds before midnight on Saturday - but he/they got the bench completely wrong (Mo, Nunez, Szoboszlai)......I got tonight's predicted line-up at around 6pm last night, - but no mention of the bench this time....so without wishing to sound like Columbo, they may have been trying to out the mole with Sunday's leak...

[Nick110581]

The biggest news would be having the three injured lads available on the bench.

They will need minutes to be fit for City. Throwing them straight in at Forest wouldn’t be ideal.

Feels mad we have six games before international break.

[classycarra]

The biggest news would be having the three injured lads available on the bench.

They will need minutes to be fit for City. Throwing them straight in at Forest wouldn’t be ideal.

Not negating the rest of your point, but Nunez definitely doesn't need minutes. He's not had a long spell on the sidelines away from competitive games.

[Nick110581]

Not negating the rest of your point, but Nunez definitely doesn't need minutes. He's not had a long spell on the sidelines away from competitive games.

He hasn’t and nor has Mo really but it would be a risk to throw them straight in at Forest if they are actually fit (I still think they are injured).

[Crosby Nick]

So if we get through the Everton league games gets moved. Does that mean the 6th Round of the cup would be on that 17th March weekend?

So before the international break, which is what we seem to be hoping to crawl towards before we get some cavalry back we have:

Southampton
Forest
Sparta Prague
City
Sparta Prague
Everton/FA Cup 6th round

Then 2 weeks before our next game (Brighton at home)

Is that right?

[Paisley79]

Is that right?

Yes

[Nick110581]

So if we get through the Everton league games gets moved. Does that mean the 6th Round of the cup would be on that 17th March weekend?

So before the international break, which is what we seem to be hoping to crawl towards before we get some cavalry back we have:

Southampton
Forest
Sparta Prague
City
Sparta Prague
Everton/FA Cup 6th round

Then 2 weeks before our next game (Brighton at home)

Is that right?

That’s right.

But the fit players will all be off on international duty too so no let up.

I saw Brighton have confirmed Mitoma out for season plus they have another load of injuries.

[Crosby Nick]

That’s right.

But the fit players will all be off on international duty too so no let up.

I saw Brighton have confirmed Mitoma out for season plus they have another load of injuries.

Surely plenty of injured/recovering players won’t go and you’d hope so common sense could be applied with the likes of Robbo who’s just coming back from injury.

Was Mitoma crocked from that Holgate tackle the other week?

[classycarra]

He hasn’t and nor has Mo really but it would be a risk to throw them straight in at Forest if they are actually fit (I still think they are injured).

Mo's only played the Brentford minutes since 18 January, so think would require a bit more time to get to his usual levels than Nunez

[lionel_messias]

whats the bench likely to look like?

Daniel Craig.
Razor Ruddock.
Melanie C
and The Chuckle Brother who is still alive.

[MD1990]

we need some players to pull out of international duty
south americans cant.
But the european players we need to Salah too

[BarryCrocker]

Daniel Craig.
Razor Ruddock.
Melanie C
and The Chuckle Brother who is still alive.

Surely you'd have Chris de Burgh in there.

[Ruddock]

Daniel Craig.
Razor Ruddock.
Melanie C
and The Chuckle Brother who is still alive.

Sorry, I'm not match fit at the moment.

[lionel_messias]

Surely you'd have Chris de Burgh in there.

Plays for Liverpool Ladies, sings the theme tune as well.

[Coolie High]

This is the team according to the guy that leaks it:

Kelleher
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Tsimikas
McConnell
Clark
Koumas
Elliott
Gakpo
Danns

If VVD picks up an injury you’ll have some posters saying there is nothing we could do….


With Gomez having played less minutes than him against Chelsea there’s no reason to start VVD.

[Crosby Nick]

Plays for Liverpool Ladies, sings the theme tune as well.

A spaceman came travelling?

[John C]

Thanks for the OP jack.
Despite it predicted to be cold, miserable and wet I'm looking forward to this. I'm taking my youngest daughter, she hasn't been since we beat Derby on pens in the League Cup in 2022 so she'll probably jinx tonight for a late dramatic ending again.

It's about being in the ground though.
Soaking up the delight everyone is getting from Jurgen's Reds.
Absorbing every final moment of Klopps reign.
Celebrating in hope.

[DelTrotter]

Hopefully draw Cov (away please) or Leicester and then get safely through this, would be a perfect day.

[Xabi Lad]

The quarter final draw is at 7pm tonight so will know potential opponents ahead of kick off.

[RJH]

Daniel Craig.
Razor Ruddock.
Melanie C
and The Chuckle Brother who is still alive.

I think Paul Chuckle's cup tied.

[disgraced cake]

This is the team according to the guy that leaks it:

Kelleher
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Tsimikas
McConnell
Clark
Koumas
Elliott
Gakpo
Danns

I can get behind that team. It's the defence I would play bar Van Dijk, would probably prefer Gomez getting a run out at centre half for the first time in ages (I can't really remember if he's played there other than Newcastle/Villa earlier in the season). Midfield is inexperienced at this level but would have confidence in them performing well especially after Sunday, and for me we need Gakpo in there for a bit of seniority, plus didn't exactly put the greatest shift of all time in on Sunday.

Got to remember not all those starters will do 90 minutes either, we should have a stronger bench this evening if Salah/Nunez make it. Hopefully Southampton rotate to give us an even better chance of making it through. If that's the team we go with from the start I fancy us to get it done.

[thaddeus]

If VVD picks up an injury you’ll have some posters saying there is nothing we could do….


With Gomez having played less minutes than him against Chelsea there’s no reason to start VVD.

Assuming the senior players that start only do the first half then there's a reasonable chance that the senior players that come on will end up with more minutes due to extra-time.  Presumably though we'll shove Kelleher up-front for the last five minutes if it's level to force a result either way.

[duvva 💅]

You’d think if that’s the team it’ll be 45 each for Virgil and Joe probably. Still fairly hopeful we can get this won in normal time by a goal or two

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Something like this.


                               Kelleher


Bradley          Gomez          Quansah          Tsimikas


            Clark          Mac Allister         McConnell


             Gordon          Danns         Gakpo



Subs: Adrian, Robertson, Scanlon, van Djik, Nyoni, Elliott, Kone-Doherty, Koumas, Diaz

[classycarra]

Really hope Kaide Gordon is available - hard to tell if it was choice/injury that led to him not being in the wembley squad

It won't happen, but really like Flapjacks' lineup above (except get Mac Allister to the bench, with Nyoni/Koumas/Kone-Doherty playing as an .

Alternatively, Gakpo could play the 8 and almost any of the youth could take up the advanced role - just if we're wary of not having adult bodies in the midfield 3

[jillcwhomever]

Really hope Kaide Gordon is available - hard to tell if it was choice/injury that led to him not being in the wembley squad

It won't happen, but really like Flapjacks' lineup above (except get Mac Allister to the bench, with Nyoni/Koumas/Kone-Doherty playing as an .

Alternatively, Gakpo could play the 8 and almost any of the youth could take up the advanced role - just if we're wary of not having adult bodies in the midfield 3

Yes, Kaide is another possibility although he seems to have fallen back a bit recently. But I would expect him to be at least on the bench with the likes of Nyoni.