I'll get the "bigger things going on in the world" thing out the way first but it really is such a shame that this has to be played behind closed doors. Despite still being at a relatively early stage of the season it's the biggest game we've played eachother in since 2009. There's been matches that have been massively significant for us (2014,2019, 2020) against them but they've basically been insignificant for them other than playing for pride. For any neutrals these games have been shit for a decade. A top of the table clash on a winters evening in front of a packed Anfield would've been something to behold.
It's one of those times that you feel it harms us not having the weight of the crowd behind us and, equally importantly, against them. But perhaps it will help us keep calm heads in the face of this struggle for form that we're suffering.
It really is a massive, massive game. Mathematically it obviously isn't a must win but it does feel like one. There's sliding doors moments in a season and there's a fucking huge difference between the boost of regaining top spot while inflicting a painful defeat on them, and falling out of touching distance of two different teams and wondering where we go next.
Torn on the selection dilemma. After the Villa game I was firmly in the "get Shaqiri in the team" camp but I'm not sure how you leave either of Henderson or Wijnaldum out of a game like this. I'd quite like to see Gini as the 6 where, in my opinion, he showed his best form in a Liverpool shirt and perhaps let Thiago play a bit higher up.
