Topic: Fulham vs Liverpool FC, League Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg, 20:00 Wed 24th Jan 2024

[Agent99]

Robbo in the squad for the tomorrow, Trent and Dom due back for the weekend.

Jones fit to play tomorrow.

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/lfc-injury-update-alexander-arnold-jones-robertson-szoboszlai-and-tsimikas

[kavah]

^ yes   

[MrGrumpy]

I don’t think Robbo is ready yet. Do we give Gomez a night off and start with Bradley and Beck?

[duvva 💅]

I don’t think Robbo is ready yet. Do we give Gomez a night off and start with Bradley and Beck?

Not for me. We start with our strongest possible outfield line up (which means Joe at LB right now), it’s a semi final 2nd leg away from home with a one goal advantage. Try to get the job done then think about resting players if possible.

[Jm55]

Not for me. We start with our strongest possible outfield line up (which means Joe at LB right now), it’s a semi final 2nd leg away from home with a one goal advantage. Try to get the job done then think about resting players if possible.

Robbo in the squad for tomorrow so the strongest line up would be him at LB and Gomez at RB, if not I would agree.

[stockdam]

Thanks Zlen.

It's difficult to decide whether we should go full strength and risk injuries or go with a "decent" team and reduce the risk. We're in a semi-final and I think we have to take the risk; there's no point saying "oh well we tried but at least we didn't pick up any injuries". Fulham will be trying hard as they are just 1 goal behind and at home. If we aren't on top of our game then Fulham are well capable of going through.

The club exists for trophies and we have to go for it.

[Bennett]

I'd try and take advantage of the fact that Fulham will likely suffer from the same lack of rhythm we did in the first half of the Bournemouth game.

Stick with the same front three that ended the Bournemouth - Gakpo wide, Nunez central - and try and kill this tie early.

[Kloppage Time]

Gravenberch needs the minutes and has been decent coming off the bench recently, rest Curtis, he came off as a precaution so must have felt something, don't risk him

[SamLad]

They can afford to take their time bringing Robbo back, that's the good part of it.

and we can give Joe some much-needed breaks.

[Wabaloolah]

I don’t think Robbo is ready yet. Do we give Gomez a night off and start with Bradley and Beck?

Beck is suspended

[Barneylfc∗]

Beck is suspended

What for?

[SamLad]

Beck is suspended

still?

[Jm55]

What for?

Assume he is referring to the one match ban picked up in Scotland that meant he was out for the Arsenal game, that's been served now so he's available so far as I'm aware.

[Barneylfc∗]

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpools-injury-list-suspensions-and-availability

Nothing here about any suspensions.

He was available for the first leg, then obviously played the other night v Bournemouth.

[Red Beret]

Thanks Zlen.

It's difficult to decide whether we should go full strength and risk injuries or go with a "decent" team and reduce the risk. We're in a semi-final and I think we have to take the risk; there's no point saying "oh well we tried but at least we didn't pick up any injuries". Fulham will be trying hard as they are just 1 goal behind and at home. If we aren't on top of our game then Fulham are well capable of going through.

The club exists for trophies and we have to go for it.

Yup. We haven't come this far to go understrength. Given our injury list we can't really go much weaker without putting the whole tie at risk, and Fulham aren't going to let us waltz into the final without a fight.

[duvva 💅]

Robbo in the squad for tomorrow so the strongest line up would be him at LB and Gomez at RB, if not I would agree.

I’m looking at it from the point of view that Gomez is 100% match fit and could arguably keep the place even when Robertson’s back up to speed he’s played that well

[SamLad]

apart from the need to get a result - in a semifinal - there's no way in hell Klopp will drop a few kids in to start and let them carry the weight of such an important game.  not in a million years.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Kelleher comes in for Alisson. And then it's just a question of if we bring in Quansah and Gakpo. Robertson on the bench. No other changes. Sure we'll see plenty of youngsters for Norwich on Sunday but not tomorrow.

[William Regal]

Big calls over Jones and Konate. Ideally they start and are rested v Norwich

[Barneylfc∗]

Kelleher
Bradley Quansah van Dijk Gomez
Jones Mac Allister Gravenberch
Diaz Gakpo Nunez

[PEG2K]

I think Robbo can start to give Gomez a rest. Gomez is another player we don't want to overplay given his history. Robbo's injury is shoulder so it's not something you can get a setback from running and kicking a ball.

[stonecold_jpm]

Kelleher comes in for Alisson. And then it's just a question of if we bring in Quansah and Gakpo. Robertson on the bench. No other changes. Sure we'll see plenty of youngsters for Norwich on Sunday but not tomorrow.

I’d play Quansah and Virgil, Quansah and Konate on Sunday and then with Robbo back for Chelsea I’d move Gomez back alongside Virgil to combat Chelsea’s pace on the break.

[SamLad]

I think Robbo can start to give Gomez a rest. Gomez is another player we don't want to overplay given his history. Robbo's injury is shoulder so it's not something you can get a setback from running and kicking a ball.

true.  I'm sure the oppo players will refrain from tackling him, or shoving him and so on.  that will help.  plus there's no chance he could get tripped as well, or land awkwardly on his shoulder when contesting a header.
all good.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

I don’t think Robbo is ready yet.

Based on what?

[So… Howard Philips]

true.  I'm sure the oppo players will refrain from tackling him, or shoving him and so on.  that will help.  plus there's no chance he could get tripped as well, or land awkwardly on his shoulder when contesting a header.
all good.

Yeah. Shoulders are notoriously difficult injuries to predict future rusk.

I know medical science has advanced but wasn’t Lawrenson career limited by a shoulder injury and more recently Rashford missed a fair junk of time with a similar injury.

He’s hoping Robbo is made of sterner stuff.

[duvva 💅]

Yeah. Shoulders are notoriously difficult injuries to predict future rusk.

I know medical science has advanced but wasn’t Lawrenson career limited by a shoulder injury and more recently Rashford missed a fair junk of time with a similar injury.

He’s hoping Robbo is made of sterner stuff.

I know back then Bryan Robson dislocated his several times after the initial injury.

Thought Lawrenson was his Achilles

More recently Carragher did it I think, but never had another issue as far as I remember

[fiveways]

true.  I'm sure the oppo players will refrain from tackling him, or shoving him and so on.  that will help.  plus there's no chance he could get tripped as well, or land awkwardly on his shoulder when contesting a header.
all good.

100 per cent agree

[RogerTheRed]

Come on Redmen!!
Thanks for the op Zlen, got me singing Maxi in my head 👍 Good news from the Press conference. However, I still think Robbo, Dom and Curtis may start on the bench. I would start with Beck left, Joe right, Virgil and Quansah and expect to sub two early in second half.
Midfield of Mac, Grav and Elliott and Cody, Diaz plus one of Jota or Nunez up front with the other ready to sub on.
As has been said, the one goal cushion means we just need to get in front in this by the sixty minute mark for the trip to Wembley to be in the bag. I think we win 2-1 on the night.

[Danny Boy]

Allison should start tomorrow. It's a semi-final away from home with only one goal currently in it.

Kelleher to play on Sunday.

[smicer07]

Allison should start tomorrow. It's a semi-final away from home with only one goal currently in it.

Kelleher to play on Sunday.

Kelleher will have been promised League Cup matches.

[LiverLuke]

I dislocated my shoulder and had no issues with since playing sport. I'm pretty sure my local 5aside and tennis club provides the same intense activity too

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Allison should start tomorrow. It's a semi-final away from home with only one goal currently in it.

Kelleher to play on Sunday.

We've started Kelleher in the final previously. There is absolutely way he won't be playing tomorrow.

And honestly that's the way it should be. If you want a top class back-up goalkeeper, you need to be giving them something and sticking to it.

[cipher]

One game from a final away from home against a premier league side vs an early round game at home against a championship team.  It's clear that tomorrow’s game will be our full first team squad, bar maybe Allison and one or two others, while there will be many first teamers rested for Sunday's game.  Going pretty much full tomorrow and then again, a week later against Chelsea also lines up well for our players.  It's the Arsenal game away four days later that is going to be the most challenging.

[b_joseph]

Allison should start tomorrow. It's a semi-final away from home with only one goal currently in it.

Kelleher to play on Sunday.

kelleher played the 2022 final...played the 2nd leg at Arsenal?. Why would he not play tomorrow?

[So… Howard Philips]

I know back then Bryan Robson dislocated his several times after the initial injury.

Thought Lawrenson was his Achilles

More recently Carragher did it I think, but never had another issue as far as I remember

Lawro went off after three minutes with his shoulder at Heysel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4400139.stm

But Robson’s career was really affected by his shoulder injuries.

Anyway let’s be positive as Robbo is as hard as nails.

[duvva 💅]

Lawro went off after three minutes with his shoulder at Heysel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4400139.stm

But Robson’s career was really affected by his shoulder injuries.

Anyway let’s be positive as Robbo is as hard as nails.

Never knew that. I was 8 at the time, but the only thing I think I recall is Gillespies tackle on Boniek was outside the box? (Although I guess no one really cared by that point)

Was Gillespie the sub for Lawro?

Think it was an Achilles that caused his retirement though

Sorry to derail the thread

[BoRed]

If we lose by a single goal, would it be extra time or straight to penalties?

[Hestoic]

If we lose by a single goal, would it be extra time or straight to penalties?

Pelanties.

[the_red_pill]

Think it's time we test Jonesey's resolve.

[andy07]

Pelanties.

Think it is extra time then pens.