Topic: PL: Brentford v Liverpool - Saturday, 25 September

[Bobinhood]

Based on todays "inside training" we look sharp as a tack and raring to go all over the park. Brentford will have to do well to stay with that. 

[King Kenny 7]

This is gonna be a cracker!



There will be every sort of "incident an accident, hints and allegations"

But looking at a 2-5 when the dust lies.




Dont call me Al !!!

[jckliew]

Based on todays "inside training" we look sharp as a tack and raring to go all over the park. Brentford will have to do well to stay with that. 

This is more like it.
This is Brentford for goodness sake.
We are Liverpool FC.

[PaulF]

This is gonna be a cracker!



There will be every sort of "incident an accident, hints and allegations"

But looking at a 2-5 when the dust lies.




Dont call me Al !!!

Great tune. But why would anyone call you Al?

--Edit-- currently about the third comment on youtube "literally this was the first song from the west i heard as a child, when the borders opened after the soviet occupation in Hungary and i thought America is a funny,  happy place with uplifting songs."

What a strange world we live in.

[Raid]

We can always switch to a 4231 which we have in the past and just play 2 midfielders.  Honestly there is almost no reason to be concerned at this point. Brentford have had a bit of the rub of the green but are no where near our level.  We just play the way we can play and it should be an easy 3 points.

Yeah, didn’t Klopp refer to Bobby as his joker in training or something? Might be looking at him in the 10

[Perham]

One of the few teams in the league I have no negative feelings about... probably because they haven't been up here long enough to hate their fans or style of play but from what I've seen so far since they've been up both have been sound. That being said lets batter  them anyway!

[RedG13]

Only concern is that it puts a lot of pressure on Fabinho and Henderson as they have a quick Sat-Tuesday turnaround for Porto and Brentford. Thankfully City is last up on Sunday.

Porto the only on short rest and Im sure the staff with the medical team have a plan for the short rest on tuesday

[Realgman]

Lot of comments saying we will bash these, hope we do, and think we will win, good to be positive, but dont underestimate this brentford side, they are full of energy, and are well coached.
Their fearlessness should play into our hands.. but who knows what franks plan may be..he might try jam the door closed..

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Definitely the promoted team that are going to cause a few upsets this year. Not jam packed with individual talent but they look very well coached and full of attitude. Their raucous stadium also looks like it will be as asset - especially for evening games like this. But with our first team having midweek off and with most of our best 11 injury free available I can't see anything but a win for us. The quartet of Alisson, Van Djik, Matip, and Fabinho, means we have very little to fear in games like this.

[Crosby Nick]

The times I’ve been to Brentford their fans have been ‘nice’ rather than raucous but the Arsenal game was impressive and they’ll be up for this one I’m sure. Be ready for a few Championship level songs and a Bullshit....aaaah at goal kicks.

I think they’re also happy not to force it, I don’t think they’ll go too gung ho as they’ll be wary of us (rightly). I can see it being the kind of game where Mo gets wrestled ten times without any foul being given. I think the movement of Jota or Mané will lead to good chances for us eventually though.

[wige]

Figured I'd share the Brentford press conference.

https://youtu.be/AIp637ayC1k

I know little about Thomas Frank (until yesterday maybe not even both his names) but he comes across really well here and I liked his energy and way of communicating. Seems sound to me.

He said if one was to swap Norberg and Fabinho then it might be hard to tell the difference! Now I'm sure that's a way of motivating his player, but at same time I couldn't pick Norberg out of a lineup, let alone comment on his abilities, so that was interesting to see a Premier League manager make that comparison. Maybe he'll have a different view come Sunday morning..

Really looking forward to this game, think it will be really interesting

[Crosby Nick]

Norberg is good, he’s very involved with Denmark so he is international quality. Probably more so than any other player they have. Wouldn’t swap him for Fabinho though!

According to my fantasy football app, Henry is a doubt for them with an ankle injury. That would be quite a loss for them although I reckon he’ll play.

[the_red_pill]

Should be an exciting game but we have enough to win the game

Alisson, Trent, VVD, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Jota, Mane.

Think these are the right times to give Taki especially some games as well. We need to rotate more this season.

[PaulF]

One of the few teams in the league I have no negative feelings about... probably because they haven't been up here long enough to hate their fans or style of play but from what I've seen so far since they've been up both have been sound. That being said lets batter  them anyway!

Fairly sure there will be renditions of sign on. And mentions of bin dippers. Oppo fans can't help themselves.

[William Regal]

The type of game you have to win the battle first to win the game

0-2, second half goals from mane and jota

[Elzar]

Looks like a midfield of Fabinho, Henderson and Jones.

No Thiago and Keita

[HardworkDedication]

Klopp has just confirmed Thiago is out until at least after the international break. Keita out of tomorrows game.

[Clint Eastwood]

Looks like a midfield of Fabinho, Henderson and Jones.

No Thiago and Keita

Jones has looked bright in his appearances so far. Good opportunity for him.

[Barefoot Doctor]

Think we might see a two-man midfield in at least one of the games over the coming week. Might be a good option considering the injuries and the fact that Bobby is back and Taki/Origi are both in good form.

[Nick110581]

Think we might see a two-man midfield in at least one of the games over the coming week. Might be a good option considering the injuries and the fact that Bobby is back and Taki/Origi are both in good form.

Kind of agree plus five subs midweek helps.

Need a strong midfield for City.

[B0151?]

Kind of agree plus five subs midweek helps.

Need a strong midfield for City.

No point being strong for City if we don't beat Brentford. Definitely can't underestimate them

[Fiasco]

Jones has looked bright in his appearances so far. Good opportunity for him.

Yeah, it wouldn't shock me to see Ox start either but I think it should be Jones. Three midfielders out, after a good performance midweek this should be his chance to try and cement a spot.

[duvva 💅]

No point being strong for City if we don't beat Brentford. Definitely can't underestimate them

I’d have thought there’s even more reason to be strong against City if we drop points versus Brentford, not that I think we will. But they’re different games and we are more likely to need our best 11 v Man City regardless of the result tomorrow.

[Nick110581]

No point being strong for City if we don't beat Brentford. Definitely can't underestimate them

We will have - Fab, Hendo and Jones

One game at a time

[El Lobo]

I think Ox probably starts vs Porto

[Fromola]

Klopp has just confirmed Thiago is out until at least after the international break. Keita out of tomorrows game.

Should have signed Bissouma when we had the chance.

[Dim Glas]

Should never have sold Chirivella

[Fitzy.]

Should never have sold Chirivella

I'm still fuming at the sale of Clyne to be honest...would have unleashed TAA as the bet midfielder in the world as opposed to his stagnation as a workhorse FB.

[Fitzy.]

Should have signed Bissouma when we had the chance.

I'm interested why Bissouma hasn't been bought by anyone with European football. I am guess that he's regarded as not being value for money.

Those two payers will be back in 10 days or so I think.

[El Lobo]

Pretty annoying that we let Lallana go on a free

[Barefoot Doctor]

Kind of agree plus five subs midweek helps.

Need a strong midfield for City.

We played a front four (Mane, Jota, Salah, Bobby) against City at the Etihad last season, with Henderson and Gini as a midfield two. May see similar next Sunday, with Fabinho and Henderson in the middle.

Personally I'd only play one of Fabinho and Henderson tomorrow, with the other getting the Porto game. Jordan had minutes at Norwich to keep him ticking over, so personally I'd play Fab tomorrow and then have Hendo starting at Porto. Maybe something like Fabinho, Milner and Jones tomorrow and then Henderson, Milner and Ox on Tuesday. Also a chance of Minamino getting midfield minutes, considering he ended up there in the second half at Norwich.

[B0151?]

I’d have thought there’s even more reason to be strong against City if we drop points versus Brentford, not that I think we will. But they’re different games and we are more likely to need our best 11 v Man City regardless of the result tomorrow.

I mean obviously the point was that weakening ourselves too much against Brentford in anticipation of a City we could easily lose to even with our strongest 11 would be rather daft. Of course squad rotation as ever is necessary but we really need to win this one so not so sure about switching things up too dramatically in terms of formation and everything. Probably more likely to experiment against City in an attempt to catch them out like we did last season.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Fabinho Henderson Jones

Henderson Milner Ox - Porto

Fabinho Henderson Jones - City


Potentially

[Fitzy.]

We played a front four (Mane, Jota, Salah, Bobby) against City at the Etihad last season, with Henderson and Gini as a midfield two. May see similar next Sunday, with Fabinho and Henderson in the middle.

Good shout - very likely I think.

[bornandbRED]

They’re amongst the best defences in the league according to xG so this might be a slightly difficult one. Some good attackers too, including Toney. Just win.

[Fitzy.]

They’re amongst the best defences in the league according to xG so this might be a slightly difficult one. Some good attackers too, including Toney. Just win.

Toney was exceptionally good against Wolves last Saturday.

[...]

They’re amongst the best defences in the league according to xG so this might be a slightly difficult one. Some good attackers too, including Toney. Just win.

They haven't exactly played anyone great

[newterp]

Pretty annoying that we let Lallana go on a free

it's ok. Gerrard is coming out of retirement for this week of games.

[Jookie]

Fabinho Henderson Jones

Henderson Milner Ox - Porto

Fabinho Henderson Jones - City


Potentially

My thinking was quite close to this though I was thinking Fabinho rather than Henderson versus Porto. More so because Fabinho got the midweek off and didn't play during the last international break.

The other aspect, which Barefoot Doctor mentioned, is a shift to 4-2-3-1. With Firmino now fit, it's something we could do with our 4 frontline attacking options. Could also be something we could employ versus Porto with Origi as the No.9 and Firmino as the No.10. Could then play just 2 midfielders and potentially AOC and/or Minamino in the front4. Would negate the use of 3 midfielders, and potentially help rest 2 out of the 4 normal front 3 contenders.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

With no Thiago and Keita I would think that Milner comes in on the left hand side of midfield ahead of Jones or Ox. Although I wonder if a surprise inclusion of Taki in midfield like the 2nd half against Norwich might be a consideration.