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

[disgraced cake]

They absolutely battered gala didn’t they ? Who beat United , no ?

They were said to be quite fortunate to go through with Anthony Taylor the referee in their 2nd leg. Could just be irate Turkish football fans though which aren't exactly rare 

Top of the league in Czech Republic though, four points clear and I believe only beaten once domestically this season. Go relatively strong on Thursday and I think we should be able to take at least a draw back to Anfield which obviously isn't a bad result at all.

[Crosby Nick]

They absolutely battered gala didn’t they ? Who beat United , no ?

So we need to be ready for a game

Kelleher (because Adrian is only a crisis option)
Bradley (because Gomez will need to mark doku)
Gomez (because centre back is less tiring , and he plays 45 minutes only before konate replaces him to compensate for endo going off)
Qansah
Tsimikas (Robertson starts against city )

Endo (needs minutes , Dom replaces him at half time )
Clark
Elliott

Gakpo
Danns (koumas at half time as not sure is ready for much more at this level)
Diaz (Salah comes on at half time and him and koumas play either side of Gakpo)

This gives everyone who needs minutes (endo, dom, salah)
Risks minimal to kelleher , konate , Gomez, diaz
Ensures that danns and Clark are surrounded by senior players at all times

And leaves our best 11 ready to start again city
No need for vvd , Mac and Nunez to travel

I am assuming grav won’t be ready

I realise I didn’t really mention them at all in the write up.

They’re clearly dominant domestically and used to winning. In the group stages they qualified in second place in their group ahead of Real Betis, but below Rangers, which maybe puts things a little in perspective.

They beat Gala in the last round 6-4 on aggregate. They lost 3-2 in Istanbul and won the 2nd leg 4-1. Only tells half the story though, it was 1-1 after 70 mins, Gala had a player sent off and collapsed, conceding 3 in the last 15 minutes.

[Fordy]

Adrian
Gomez
IOU
Quansah
Kostas
McConell
Dom (Needs mins. Replace at 60min point)
Clark
Danns
Nunez (replace after about 60 mins)
Salah (if fit, replace after about 50 mins or half time)


Gakpo and Elliott need a break. I would start with Adrian, as we can’t risk Kell getting an injury or knocking his confidence.

The way I see it is Sunday’s match is more vital and even if we lose this by  1/2 goals we can turn it around at Anfield but Sunday really is a much not lose game for us

[classycarra]

Maybe should be Adrian in goal - if Kelleher got injured we are well and truly fucked against city

no thanks, why weaken ourselves significantly. if for no apparent reason we did want to bench kelleher, may as well play a young keeper and see what they're made of rather than a vastly inferior keeper on his retirement tour

                                     Kelleher



Gomez               van Djik               Quansah               Tsimikas
                        (Konate)


                  Elliott               Endo               Clark
                                   (Mac Allister)


                Gakpo               Danns               Koumas
            (Szoboszlai)         (Nunez)

Change McConnell in for Elliot, and that's the team I'd like to see. Or alternatively, Gordon in for Elliot, and let Gakpo play an advanced 8 (then we have McConnell saved to relieve Endo, rather than risking our best midfielder)

Makes sure that CB and Kelleher aside, and potentially Gomez (but I think he'll be held to the vital role of supporting from the bench against city), almost all our starters are rested or at least not started

[thaddeus]

Thanks Nick 

A disappointingly low turn-out from the typos but I've always understood that donuts are more of a Cop favourite than Bergers.  I admire you making a predcted (sic) line-up that you have no faith in

I was still at school - just - when we signed Berger and we all rode the wave of his early season form.  We were excellent at the start of that season, right up until Beckham smashed one in from range and Schmeichel pulled off a string of really good saves.  Probably Fowler's last good season for us and also the last we got from Stan (but leading into the summer of hope after Owen's late season cameos!).  Memories...

I'm expecting a team that is very similar to the Southampton line-up.  A few less minutes for the academy kids though as I expect we'll give Szobo another second half run-out.  Also, the kids seem to be playing an awful lot at the moment as most of them played against Villa's kids yesterday.  Maybe the absence of Clark and Danns from that under 21 game is a not-so-subtle clue to who will be playing on Thursday.

[Gifted Right Foot]

Tough lineup to pick with City coming up.  Klopp always says one game at a time but he will have to have City on his mind for this one.  VVD, Konate, Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai, Diaz and Nunez to share their workloads.  Maybe a half each in some capacity or hopefully even less.  I would say don't play most of them at all but Klopp never takes it that easy in these games does he.  Hopefully see Salah in squad training in the next day or so. 

[duvva 💅]

I think he made his comeback in the 2-0 win against United when Gerrard scored a screamer. I watched that game in the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

To compete the Berger Oz triangle on my first night in Oz I skipped the Mardi Gras in Sydney and found a bar to watch us v Man Utd. Berger scored a cracker. Equalised by Beckham I think. Ended 1-1

[stockdam]

Thanks Nick. I’m not sure if we can change the squad for the Europa League but I didn’t think Danns was included. I know Adrián has come in for Matip which might imply that Alisson is possibly out for longer than we would hope.

[SamLad]

Can forgive Jurgen and his coaches if they rotate heavily, we’ve just played 4 games in 12 days, have a bunch of injuries and then the small matter of City at the weekend.

My team would be along the lines of this;

Kelleher
Bradley
Vvd/Ibu
Quansah
Kostas
McConell
Dom
Clark
Gakpo
Danns
Elliot

Keep more than half an eye on Sunday and give the returning injured lads a few minutes off the bench. I would rather Gomez plays left back vs City so give him a bit of rest too.

Joe and Cody have each played a shitload of football in the past few weeks.  and in Cody's case it's starting to show.

I'd give them both the night off, if possible.

[SamLad]

Thanks Nick. I’m not sure if we can change the squad for the Europa League but I didn’t think Danns was included. I know Adrián has come in for Matip which might imply that Alisson is possibly out for longer than we would hope.

jeez, I'd forgotten all about that - was hoping Danns might play a big part on Thursday.

anyone know what the rules / squad are?

[SamLad]

jeez, I'd forgotten all about that - was hoping Danns might play a big part on Thursday.

anyone know what the rules / squad are?

found this on the Danns thread ... courtesy of RedG13:

Any player with at least 2 years at Liverpool can be added the B list if they can under 21, 24 hours before kickoff

[Fordy]

jeez, I'd forgotten all about that - was hoping Danns might play a big part on Thursday.

anyone know what the rules / squad are?

He is under 21 and can be added to the B list. Doesn’t need to be named in the main squad

[kaesarsosei]

Probably contrary to most opinions, I'd be going quite strong on this:

                       Kelleher

Gomez     Quanseh         VVD      Robbo

       Szoblai     MacAll      Clarke

          Elliott    Nunez    Gakpo

The goal for me would be to get more minutes/rhythm into Robbo, Szoblai and Nunez but look to withdraw all 3 on or before 60 with the eye on Sunday, but ideally to be able to bring on Salah at that point. Konate kept in cotton wool. Endo/Diaz to come on around 60 as well for a warm up.

If we can get Gravenberch and Salah back in the fold without anymore injuries then I think we are finally looking in good shape squad-wise. I'm assuming TAA, Jones and Alisson are definitely post-intl break.

[classycarra]

found this on the Danns thread ... courtesy of RedG13:

Any player with at least 2 years at Liverpool can be added the B list if they can under 21, 24 hours before kickoff

yeah think people are conflating the issue we had with Doak in the first europa squad of this season - he had to be individually registered cos we'd signed him recently from Celtic. Assume the same would be the case for Nyoni (which would make it unlikely he can feature off the bench again)

[Jookie]

There’s not going to be much team training from Wednesday to Saturday so most players who are fit will play some part in the game. We’ll use the 5 subs so we can make sure a lot of the players who we’d like to start v City do 60 mins max. Most will do 30-45 mins I’d guess

[terry_macss_perm]

yeah think people are conflating the issue we had with Doak in the first europa squad of this season - he had to be individually registered cos we'd signed him recently from Celtic. Assume the same would be the case for Nyoni (which would make it unlikely he can feature off the bench again)

Yes, Ben Doak had to take up one of the limited number of A list places because he hadn’t been at the club for two consecutive years.

Think we can add any number of youngsters to the B list at short notice so long as they meet that two year requirement.

[Nick110581]

Grav being fit for this would be a huge plus.

[classycarra]

Grav being fit for this would be a huge plus.

is this an aspirational statement, or has there been an injury update i've missed (cheers in advance!)

[Nick110581]

is this an aspirational statement, or has there been an injury update i've missed (cheers in advance!)

Aspirational at the moment.

[redk84]

A good level opponent to play in tough conditions away....I think we'll go mixed strength.

Maybe
Dom/Mac
VVD/Konate
Endo/Clark
Salah/Nunez
Diaz/Gakpo

split their time, 60-30 or 45-45.....and everybody gets the gametime they need while doing the business on the pitch. No loss at the very least must be the aim.

I hope in any case we approach the game with being hard to beat from the start and take it from there

[MD1990]

i would start Gomez LB vs City btw.
Robertson struggles with Foden

[thaddeus]

i would start Gomez LB vs City btw.
Robertson struggles with Foden

I think everyone struggles with Foden.  I thought Gomez looked a bit leaden footed in one-v-ones recently.  That said, I'd be happy with either in the next two games as both are excellent defenders.  Maybe Kostas will get the nod on Thursday as he needs the minutes and he's the weakest of our full-back options defensively.

I hope to see the kids getting loads of minutes in midfield and up-front on Thursday.  With an experienced defense we can afford to rotate more further up the pitch.

[Coolie High]

I think everyone struggles with Foden.  I thought Gomez looked a bit leaden footed in one-v-ones recently.  That said, I'd be happy with either in the next two games as both are excellent defenders.  Maybe Kostas will get the nod on Thursday as he needs the minutes and he's the weakest of our full-back options defensively.

I hope to see the kids getting loads of minutes in midfield and up-front on Thursday.  With an experienced defense we can afford to rotate more further up the pitch.

Is he?

[newterp]

Another match that we need to dig deep and make sure we come back with something to play for - can't be going down 2 goals or something.

I realize that we have to have the optimal team for City - so it's going to be a lot of 45s and 60s I'd expect.

[Nick110581]

Hopefully we can be sensible and play a mix of lads who need minutes and some other senior players.

Saying that, I wouldn’t start Konate or Mac. 

[BoRed]

Aspirational at the moment.

There were photos of both him and Jones arriving for training today:

https://www.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/comments/1b77a6s/curtis_jones_and_ryan_gravenberch_arriving_for/

I'd be surprised if he's fit for Thursday, though.

[BobPaisley3]

Find this baffling to be honest. Kelleher is a number 2 goalkeeper who'd be our number 1 at any other point in my lifetime (save for a brief period with Reina maybe). He has a chance to play games, so take advantage of that fact. He's every bit as likely to get injured in training as he is in a game. Let's not be too precious.

That’s simply not true. The intensity of training is a huge step down from matches. How many of our injuries this season have come on the training ground? Not many. I’d play Adrian but I don’t think Jurgen will.

[TepidT2O]

5.45

Which twat put that time on?  Some of us have jobs you uefa twats

[Jshooters]

5.45

Which twat put that time on?  Some of us have jobs you uefa twats

Surely you can use PPA

[TepidT2O]

Surely you can use PPA

Management meeting… never finish before 6.15pm.

Humph

[Oh Jimmy Jimmy]

Great preview, thanks Nick. I also have fond memories of the Czechs when they visited our City in 96 . They came in a lot of banged out old coaches, still had the mullets and demin  jackets, but most of all had a wide eyed innocence and lovely humility about them  - we got on well.

That said, I went to the Sparta game over there but was disappointed with the whole experience- we were charged £54 to stand in an obscured  corner , whilst the home fans paid £4. We were then kept in for an hour by 300 moody riot police who wanted to kick off - there was only 1500 of us who just wanted a pint in a warm bar. Prague is a great city though.

Thursday is all about Sunday - give a run out to those who need it, rest those that don’t.

[classycarra]

That’s simply not true. The intensity of training is a huge step down from matches. How many of our injuries this season have come on the training ground? Not many. I’d play Adrian but I don’t think Jurgen will.

we'll never know for sure without watching a full session, but for a keeper it'd be much more likely they'd be doing much more keeping (diving, getting up quickly, moving around the goal diving again) in training drills and practice matches than they would in almost any game bar some mad backs to the wall stuff

in terms of the injuries from games versus training grounds - for the keepers is 1 in-game (Allison's first hamstring injury), and 2 in training (Allison's second hamstring, and Kelleher's injury in October that kept him out of two games (inc starting the Union SG) and then the international break for Ireland

Don't start Adrian - primarily because he's not good, but also because the idea games cause more injuries for keepers isn't established

[kezzy]

Think it will be a case of managing the minutes for some of the first choice players, but think wel’ll go a bit stronger than some are suggesting. 

                    Kelleher

Gomez    Van Dijk    Quansah    Tsimikas

     Elliot        Endo       Clark

     Dans       Gakpo      Diaz

Think Mac comes on for Endo at some point and maybe Konate for Van Dijk, then Nunez, Szoboszlai and Salah if fit all get half an hour each.  Anyway whatever team we put out I expect us to get a good result and then go and twat the cheats on Sunday.  Come on the redmen. 

[spider-neil]

Changes on 60 minutes regardless of game state, please. We need key players properly rested for the weekend.

[Kloppage Time]

Reveal nothing V Sparta, a recoverable result will suffice, one senior player in the back line , midfield and attack and trust that they alongside our supremely talented youngsters will be able to do enough

[damomad]

The Europa really is 2nd priority right now. A pretty amazing 2nd that is. If we can keep it to at worst a one goal defeat, I'd be confident we'll do the job at home. Kind of shitty how it worked out, City with the easiest home game imaginable in a Champions League knockout stage and us with a really rough away the day after.

A draw on Sunday would be a great result given everything but being scared by past title races, I know we need to really go for it or the inevitable will happen.

[Vote For Pedro]

Management meeting… never finish before 6.15pm.

Humph

That's what 'doctor's appointments' are for - just say you have a problem with your scrotum, nobody will ask any more questions. Might look at you funny in future, but at least you get to watch the match.

[RogerTheRed]

The Europa really is 2nd priority right now. A pretty amazing 2nd that is. If we can keep it to at worst a one goal defeat, I'd be confident we'll do the job at home. Kind of shitty how it worked out, City with the easiest home game imaginable in a Champions League knockout stage and us with a really rough away the day after.

A draw on Sunday would be a great result given everything but being scared by past title races, I know we need to really go for it or the inevitable will happen.

Not a second priority for me! Accommodation and ferry booked 😂

[Henry Gale]

Another match that we need to dig deep and make sure we come back with something to play for - can't be going down 2 goals or something.

I realize that we have to have the optimal team for City - so it's going to be a lot of 45s and 60s I'd expect.

I'm not concerned about that, they are dreadful.

[SamLad]

I'm not concerned about that, they are dreadful.

Toulouse and Union aren't hot shit either, but we lost to both of them.  shit happens.