Topic: PRE MATCH THREAD: Sparta Prague vs Liverpool Thursday 7th March, 17.45 ko

[4pool]

Referee
José María Sánchez ESP

Assistant referees
Raúl Cabañero ESP
Iñigo Prieto ESP

Fourth official
Jesús Gil Manzano ESP

Video Assistant Referee
Juan Martínez Munuera ESP

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Ricardo de Burgos ESP

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Referee
José María Sánchez ESP

Assistant referees
Raúl Cabañero ESP
Iñigo Prieto ESP

Fourth official
Jesús Gil Manzano ESP

Video Assistant Referee
Juan Martínez Munuera ESP

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Ricardo de Burgos ESP

The Spanish - a great bunch of lads.

Not a fucking Manc in sight. Boo-yah!

[Redley]

If it was a toss up between winning this and a 'Champions' League place then I'd take this every time.

You win fuck all for being fourth or third or whatever.

Well...you do get a trophy AND a CL place for winning this so easy choice

[jillcwhomever]

If it was a toss up between winning this and a 'Champions' League place then I'd take this every time.

You win fuck all for being fourth or third or whatever.

Exactly.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Well...you do get a trophy AND a CL place for winning this so easy choice

Well you know what I mean.

A placing no matter what the 'rewards' always comes a distant second to a pot in the trophy cabinet.

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

This on telly anywhere?

[Barneylfc∗]

This on telly anywhere?

Probably loads of places

[Barneylfc∗]

If it was a toss up between winning this and a 'Champions' League place then I'd take this every time.

You win fuck all for being fourth or third or whatever.

Correct

[Samie]

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

If it was a toss up between winning this and a 'Champions' League place then I'd take this every time.

You win fuck all for being fourth or third or whatever.

Given that you qualify for the Champions League by winning this and get put into Pot 1, this really isn't even any kind of argument anymore. It's just objectively better to win the Europa League than to finish 2-4.

[Indomitable_Carp]

I'd want to win this anyway. But the final being in Dublin makes it very tasty indeed!

Hate it when people talk down the UEFA Cup/Europa League. Absurdly I've met Arsenal fans who take the piss out of "Thursday Night Football" - despite the fact they've never won either this competition nor the Champions League. And let's not forget that, besides having the English record for UEFA Cups, LFC at one point held the joint-Europe-wide record for UEFA Cups before Sevilla went and absolutely dominated the competition.

[Draex]

fuck sake this is on in an hour.

[Redley]

Well you know what I mean.

A placing no matter what the 'rewards' always comes a distant second to a pot in the trophy cabinet.

I do

Yeah absolutely agree though. For me it'd be a bit of a toss up between the PL and CL in terms of importance, and then this over everything else. And since we're not in the CL it becomes the 2nd biggest trophy its possible for us to win.

[Knight]

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister, Clark; Elliott, Diaz, Gakpo.

Confirmed team? Stronger than I’d of gone. What’s the bench?

[Jm55]

Confirmed team is

Kelleher

Gomez

Endo

Konate

Diaz

Nunez

Mac Allister

Gakpo

Elliott

Robertson

Quansah

Subs:

Adrian,Mrozek,Szboszlai,Salah,Tsimikas,Clark,Gordon,Mcconnel,Koumas,Bradley

[disgraced cake]

That's not the team. Van Dijk on bench, Nunez/Robbo/Konate start

[Nick110581]

Confirmed team? Stronger than I’d of gone. What’s the bench?

Team is: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo.

[exiledintheUSA]

Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo.

Pretty strong, no injuries please.

[killer-heels]

Crikey, that team is pretty strong.

[Nick110581]

Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo.

Pretty strong, no injuries please.

6 possible starters for Sunday.

[Jm55]

Crikey, that team is pretty strong.

Euro away in the last 16 of the a tournament, it was always likely to be quite strong.

I didn't think he'd start Robertson but other than that I can't say any of it is a major shock.

[naka]

If that’s the team
Can see konate at halftime for vvd
Nunez and mo for Diaz and Mac
Dom for endo

[Chris~]

Bit weird Tsimikas doesn't start

[RyanBabel19]

A little suprised to see Musialowski make the bench to be honest but good to see. Hope he can impress should he get minutes

Strong team, a win and no injuries would be great

[Nick110581]

If that’s the team
Can see konate at halftime for vvd
Nunez and mo for Diaz and Mac
Dom for endo

Nunez is starting

[swoopy]

Strong team. Give Salah 20 minutes. Get the game won. No injuries.

[jillcwhomever]

He also wants to keep the winning run going, so we can go into the next game with momentum. Get this done early and we can then make some changes.

[duvva 💅]

Any chance someone with better IT skills than me can post the team sheets for both teams please

[redk84]

Let's do this. Keep it tight, even a draw is a decent result so no need for anything crazy. But more than enough quality for us to win
Hope however many minutes everyone gets is enough for what they need to be ready for the weekend....

[duvva 💅]

Stop taking photos of grass growing and post the bloody team sheets FFS

[jepovic]

I told you Klopp would go strong. Like it or not, that's what he does

[JackWard33]

Assume Konate and VVD 45 each … maybe same for Nunez / Salah ?
Surprised Robertson is starting given the weekend and that McConnell isn’t for one of mac or endo

Few of these have played a lot of football (Diaz, Elliot, mac, gomez) - it’s annoying City will have such a freshness advantage at the weekend and it’s surprising we didn’t gamble a bit more with this

[ValiantInstance]

I'm glad there's no Virgil to be honest. The man deserves a break. I recall at the start of the season there were discussions about managing his minutes, he's been playing pretty much every game since the start of the year.

[...]

Bit weird Tsimikas doesn't start

Maybe he's trying to get Robbo more match fitness? Can't think of another reason unless out of the blue he's decided Tsimi is first choice and starting v City.

[HeartAndSoul]

Assume Konate and VVD 45 each … maybe same for Nunez / Salah ?
Surprised Robertson is starting given the weekend and that McConnell isn’t for one of mac or endo

Few of these have played a lot of football (Diaz, Elliot, mac, gomez) - it’s annoying City will have such a freshness advantage at the weekend and it’s surprising we didn’t gamble a bit more with this

Clark will come on for one of them?

[Too early for flapjacks?]

A bit surprised we didn't use the squad more. We've got at least 6 (potentially outfield players starting today who will also start against City on Sunday. Can't really moan if City outrun us in the 2nd half.

[...]

A bit surprised we didn't use the squad more. We've got at least 6 (potentially outfield players starting today who will also start against City on Sunday. Can't really moan if City outrun us in the 2nd half.

I agree, but also you need some consistency and match fitness.

[Yorkykopite]

A little suprised to see Musialowski make the bench to be honest but good to see. Hope he can impress should he get minutes

I'd like to see him too. If only to know that he doesn't quite cut the mustard.

[Qston]

Strong line up that. Clearly wants to get this tie done and dusted and that's no bad thing. Gets some time into Mo's legs as well.

[JackWard33]

I agree, but also you need some consistency and match fitness.

… couldn’t have more of those could they … they’ve played eleventy four matches in a 6 weeks