Topic: Liverpool v West Brom, Wednesday December 13, Anfield, 8pm

[Andy @ Allerton!]

If you offered me the three points now, I would take them.

Scrappy 1-0 shite win would do me.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

I think there is a difference here though.

1-0 at home v Everton is a precarious position, especially when you haven't looked completely threatening and had very few chances. Salah is our most likely goalscorer at this time.

We were 5-0 up v Spartak, Firmino had scored and set one up and I think there's a case for trying to get Sturridge on the pitch to get him a goal for his confidence, in the hope he has a big role to play over the festive season.

So they were protecting Salah because they feared an injury could develop. Assume he won't play tonight then.

I'd like to see Mane moved back out to the right to see if that helps bring him back into good form.

----------------------Mignolet--------------------------

-TAA---------Lovren----------Klavan------Robertson-

-------------------------Can----------------------------

------------Gini------------------Phil-------------------

--Mane-------------Sturridge-----------Firmino-------


That would be my team. I worry about how much football Gomez is playing, so I would opt to rest him ahead of Bournemouth. I would also give Klavan and Lovren more minutes together as Matip doesn't look like he will be back soon and with Robertson on that side in Moreno's absence. I would bring in AOC for Sturridge if he isn't fit and move Firmino back to the middle.

It's hard to not look ahead to the next fixture at this time of the year, but I think Klopp will have earmarked Bournemouth as a game he will want to win above most others at the start of the season, given what happened there last year.

[WisconsinRed]

They still haven’t won at Anfield this Millennium.

We get another chance to twat them in a few weeks time. If that’s enough for them to claim bragging rights so be it (granted I haven’t spoken to an Wvetonian since the result!).

I know how long it's been since they won at anfield and I literally cannot wait until the 6th of January. I think we will play our very strongest team for that as klopp will be out for revenge can't wait! 😁

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Sturridge has an issue with his hamstring, unlikely he will be in the squad

[sms1986]

Sturridge has an issue with his hamstring, unlikely he will be in the squad

Yeah, he had the problem before the derby.

[WisconsinRed]

Personally mate I couldn't give a shit about bragging rights, not since I was about 12 anyway. Klopp is doing the right thing by rotating the squad with the fixture list and treating Everton as the small club they are. The game was all but won with one of our other chances taken or with the ref not having a howler. Klopp did nothing wrong what so ever and made the best choices for the situation. Everyone would be applauding him if those things didn't go against us that day, like they didn't against Brighton or Stoke, as is football.

First of all, I haven't said klopp did anything wrong.

Second, I think rotation is important. I'd just have preferred to rotate against spartak and West Brom, but obviously I'm not privy to all the medical data that klopp is. So I'll agree with whatever klopp decides is right.

Third, to me bragging rights over your local rivals is very important, it's what footy is all about. Footy is tribal and outsides winning the league and cup finals, derbies are everything. Besides cup finals my greatest memories are from wins against Everton.

[glewis93]

First of all, I haven't said klopp did anything wrong.

Second, I think rotation is important. I'd just have preferred to rotate against spartak and West Brom, but obviously I'm not privy to all the medical data that klopp is. So I'll agree with whatever klopp decides is right.

Third, to me bragging rights over your local rivals is very important, it's what footy is all about. Footy is tribal and outsides winning the league and cup finals, derbies are everything. Besides cup finals my greatest memories are from wins against Everton.

I can't even imagine the shit Klopp would have got for resting key players in a vital Champions League game.

[WisconsinRed]

Complete and utter fucking tripe.

3 precious points were what mattered. Mane's decision making cost us 2. It's idiotic, at best, to put the blame for dropped points on Klopp here.

Well I disagree. There's more to a derby match than 3 points. Also I'm not blaming klopp.

[WisconsinRed]

I can't even imagine the shit Klopp would have got for resting key players in a vital Champions League game.

Well I can only speak personally and I wouldn't have give him any stick for it nor did I on Sunday. Klopp knows what's best.

[WisconsinRed]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

[rocco]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

It’ll be 4-0 and plenty of singing


And bragging rights

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

I can't even imagine the shit Klopp would have got for resting key players in a vital Champions League game.

Which in the bigger picture is infinitely more important than a home league game vs a lower-mid table side, whoever they may be. We can make up the 2 points lost at the weekend.

[sms1986]

Well I disagree. There's more to a derby match than 3 points. Also I'm not blaming klopp.

Didn't you say bragging rights were all that mattered?

[Phil M]

             Mignolet

Trent Gomez Klopp Milner

 Can  Wijnaldum Coutinho
 
  Salah  Firmino  Mane

[sms1986]

             Mignolet

Trent Gomez Klopp Milner

 Can  Wijnaldum Coutinho
 
  Salah  Firmino  Mane

Salah might be a doubt for tonight, we'll have to see, due to a minor hamstring problem.

[Qston]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

Completely disagree. West Brom are appalling at the moment. They have a squad built for Pulis football (if you can even call it that) and now have a manager that doesn`t do that but will probably try some weird hybrid because he is, on most available evidence, clueless. I have said a few times in this thread that I am not usually so unequivocal in my view but I think we will score quite a few and I don`t think they have the players to put many if any past us. I am confident of a comfortable win (famous last words)

[Digger2God]

Bold statement.

I will underline that

[Andy82lfc]

First of all, I haven't said klopp did anything wrong.

Second, I think rotation is important. I'd just have preferred to rotate against spartak and West Brom, but obviously I'm not privy to all the medical data that klopp is. So I'll agree with whatever klopp decides is right.

Third, to me bragging rights over your local rivals is very important, it's what footy is all about. Footy is tribal and outsides winning the league and cup finals, derbies are everything. Besides cup finals my greatest memories are from wins against Everton.

Didn't say you did. Just said I personally don't give a shit about bragging rights above all else. Bragging rights are fun, especially when your rival is nearly on the same par as you, which is why i see playing man united as far more important, but relegation scrapping Everton with one trophy of any kind in decades, nah. It is massively important to them, not for me though.

[TepidT2O]

In order to maintain freshness I think Klopp's team will be something like this

                      Mignolet
      AA Lovren    Klavan    Robertson

                     Can
         Gini                    Coutinho   

         Ox                      Mane
                Firmino

This would be Mane's third game in a row so I'd say he's most out of the above at risk of being rotated (with Hendo playing instead and coutinho on the wing) along with Milner for Robertson.

Very good chance this lays tonight

[Andy82lfc]

If you offered me the three points now, I would take them.

Wouldn't you always take them??

[Wool]

If you offered me the three points now, I would take them.

Nah, not for me. I think we can do better.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Wouldn't you always take them??

cowards

[red1977]

Wouldn't you always take them??

Yes, I was being facetious. 

except in cup games and friendlies.

[David Struhme]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

That's the spirit!

[Andy @ Allerton!]

It’ll be 4-0 and plenty of singing


And bragging rights

I was surprised how quiet the Derby was. Atmosphere was very strange. Not really going to be a rip-roarer tonight.

Windy, freezing cold, pissing down and midweek.

Be nice if we got a good atmosphere though. Not been that many at home this season. Gets worse every year.

[Samie]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

This is a parody account right?

[88_RED]

             Mignolet

Trent Gomez Klopp Milner

 Can  Wijnaldum Coutinho
 
  Salah  Firmino  Mane

I thought Klopp was a centre forward..
But I'm sure he can do a job a CB..

[rocco]

I was surprised how quiet the Derby was. Atmosphere was very strange. Not really going to be a rip-roarer tonight.

Windy, freezing cold, pissing down and midweek.

Be nice if we got a good atmosphere though. Not been that many at home this season. Gets worse every year.

All very true

[thelinnen]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

Christ you're so negative you make me look like sms1986.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

That's the spirit!

Yeah,hes been drinking something all right.Think its gin,the misery arse

[PhaseOfPlay]

In order to maintain freshness I think Klopp's team will be something like this

                      Mignolet
      AA Lovren    Klavan    Robertson

                     Can
         Gini                    Coutinho   

         Ox                      Mane
                Firmino

This would be Mane's third game in a row so I'd say he's most out of the above at risk of being rotated (with Hendo playing instead and coutinho on the wing) along with Milner for Robertson.

Not a bad shout at all, but I think it would play more like this:

-------------Mignolet
AA----Lovren----Klavan----Robertson
--Henderson--------Can
------Oxade
Mane-----------------------Coutinho
-------------Firmino

[Andy @ Allerton!]

All very true

We might surprise me. Just saying to the missus then that sometimes the most hyped games are the shittest and the crappest looking games are great with everyone having a real laugh.

There won't be too many glory hunters there tonight that's for sure.

Looking forward to it now. Seeing Jon Hall's little happy smiling face in a bit will no doubt bring a golden ray of sunshine to my life

[PhaseOfPlay]

So they were protecting Salah because they feared an injury could develop. Assume he won't play tonight then.

I'd like to see Mane moved back out to the right to see if that helps bring him back into good form.

----------------------Mignolet--------------------------

-TAA---------Lovren----------Klavan------Robertson-

-------------------------Can----------------------------

------------Gini------------------Phil-------------------

--Mane-------------Sturridge-----------Firmino-------


That would be my team. I worry about how much football Gomez is playing, so I would opt to rest him ahead of Bournemouth. I would also give Klavan and Lovren more minutes together as Matip doesn't look like he will be back soon and with Robertson on that side in Moreno's absence. I would bring in AOC for Sturridge if he isn't fit and move Firmino back to the middle.

It's hard to not look ahead to the next fixture at this time of the year, but I think Klopp will have earmarked Bournemouth as a game he will want to win above most others at the start of the season, given what happened there last year.

Sturridge up front and Firmino out wide would be very blunt, wouldn't you think? We'd have two players dropping off for the ball, and Mane dropping off to support the fullback, and nobody breaking the lines from midfield. If we play that, it could get very frustrating again up front.

[blert596]

Seeing Jon Hall's little happy smiling face in a bit will no doubt bring a golden ray of sunshine to my life

Fucking hell lad I thought you were on enough of a downer. Hally is to a golden ray of sunshine, what Winsconsin Red is to the art of positive thinking. 

[rocco]

We might surprise me. Just saying to the missus then that sometimes the most hyped games are the shittest and the crappest looking games are great with everyone having a real laugh.

There won't be too many glory hunters there tonight that's for sure.

Looking forward to it now. Seeing Jon Hall's little happy smiling face in a bit will no doubt bring a golden ray of sunshine to my life

Enjoy , gut feeling is we will win it be at least 3

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Fucking hell lad I thought you were on enough of a downer. Hally is to a golden ray of sunshine, what Winsconsin Red is to the art of positive thinking. 

Ha ha I'll tell him you said that

[Mighty Zeus]

Anyway onto tonight.

A scrappy 1-1 draw played in front of a silent crowd.

DEFINITELY THIS

Liverpool has suddenly become a shit football team because we drew our last match, and will in no way respond to the last result.

[johnj147]

So they were protecting Salah because they feared an injury could develop. Assume he won't play tonight then.

I'd like to see Mane moved back out to the right to see if that helps bring him back into good form.

----------------------Mignolet--------------------------

-TAA---------Lovren----------Klavan------Robertson-

-------------------------Can----------------------------

------------Gini------------------Phil-------------------

--Mane-------------Sturridge-----------Firmino-------


That would be my team. I worry about how much football Gomez is playing, so I would opt to rest him ahead of Bournemouth. I would also give Klavan and Lovren more minutes together as Matip doesn't look like he will be back soon and with Robertson on that side in Moreno's absence. I would bring in AOC for Sturridge if he isn't fit and move Firmino back to the middle.

It's hard to not look ahead to the next fixture at this time of the year, but I think Klopp will have earmarked Bournemouth as a game he will want to win above most others at the start of the season, given what happened there last year.

teams fine with me 

[epsomred]

I think an early goal to us will make all the difference. Bring WBA out of their defensive shell and open up the game. We could go on to get 4 or 5. If it gets to half time at 0.0 then I think the crowd will get jittery, the moany fuckers in the main stand will become more vocal and it could get ugly.     

[ryatnalkar]

teams fine with me 

Sturridge hasn't started training yet again has he? I think he will be out of this game if he hasn't trained. I am half expecting Can and Wij to go back into a back 3 and playing Hendo, Coutinho in CM. Lovren will play I think as they have physical presence in London and some other striker I am forgetting. This team is pretty physical(it was put together by Pulis). So we will need to be up for it.
Salah - Firmino- Mane to be front 3 is my guess.
I am going for a punt and say Klopp's comment about Salah feeling hamstring don't automatically mean Salah sits this game. He is playing mind games with Pardew