Topic: Liverpool v Porto (CL ) - Wed 24 Nov 8pm - Pre Match Thread

[Crosby Nick]

The fact we'll have a stronger team and bench here for a dead game than for a quarter final next month doesn't make much sense.

Glad Morton's got a start. Hopefully get Nat on at half time. Shame there's not a few more youngsters on the bench.

Some like Gordon weren’t eligible. I guess some were needed in their youth game earlier.

I presume Mo and/or Sadio will come off on 45 or 60 so they’ll replace with the likes of Origi.

[Angelius]

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but the front three seems to be about Minamino getting comfort and rhythm playing with our first-choice forwards. With Firmino out injured, I suspect Minamino will be coming off the bench to replace one of the front three and occasionally starting (like tonight) so we need to give him the rhythm through minutes.

I like the line-up. I suspect we might see a fair few changes between 45-60 minutes regardless of scoreline.

[gemofabird]

Where is Joe G at?

[JackWard33]

Starting Thaigo in this is nuts

Good luck everyone - im off to sacrifice a small mammal to the god of soft tissue health

[FlashGordon]

Nat should have got these last two games. We wouldn't even be in the competition without his contribution last season.

You could win the lottery and find something to complain about.

Really looking forward to seeing Konate, Morton and Minamino from the start.

[FlashGordon]

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but the front three seems to be about Minamino getting comfort and rhythm playing with our first-choice forwards. With Firmino out injured, I suspect Minamino will be coming off the bench to replace one of the front three and occasionally starting (like tonight) so we need to give him the rhythm through minutes.

I like the line-up. I suspect we might see a fair few changes between 45-60 minutes regardless of scoreline.

Yes that's the angle I can see from the selection as well. He must have played fuck all games with Mo and Sadio from the start?

[FlashGordon]

Starting Thaigo in this is nuts

Good luck everyone - im off to sacrifice a small mammal to the god of soft tissue health

He's played no football this season, needs to get minutes in the legs if anything.

[Samie]

Nat should have got these last two games. We wouldn't even be in the competition without his contribution last season.

Give me the date you don't complain and I'm throwing the biggest party this godforsaken land has ever seen.

[Caligula?]

I'm not sure what people expect. It's the Champions League. When has Klopp not gone strong? He values this competition very much and we've always taken it seriously under his reign. It was never going to be Rodgers resting Gerrard and others in an important game away to Madrid.

No injuries and a result would be great. Let's try and finish the group unbeaten.

[Kenny's Jacket]

Starting Thaigo in this is nuts

Good luck everyone - im off to sacrifice a small mammal to the god of soft tissue health

they probably decided he needs the minutes

staring Matip is nutser

[SerbianScouser]

Fingers crossed for Morton to take his chance.

[riismeister]

Phillips, Milner, Hendo, Origi, Jota
in for
Matip, Thiago, Ox, Mane, Salah
@ 60-70 minutes plz

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Give me the date you don't complain and I'm throwing the biggest party this godforsaken land has ever seen.

Good to see the ban really provided a lesson.

[CraigDS]

Matip is the only one I prob wasn't expecting, def a weird one.

[rawcusk8]

Not sure what else Jurgen could do, 4 of the lads on that bench are just on their way back from injury and we still have 5 more first teamers out with injury. Hopefully Sadio, Mo and Thiago don’t play more than 60 mins here.

[mrantarctica]

Somewhat surprised that we aren't seeing Origi in for this game, but the rest of the lineup is a fair one I think. I think we'll see a few substitutions around the 60-70 min mark as a few players are returning from injury and could do with some minutes coming back.

[rushyman]

Phillips had to play this over Matip for me

Origi for mo or Sadio aswell

Bit odd

[Samie]

[Nick110581]

People will moan whatever team we played

[jillcwhomever]

I’m not sure why people are surprised. He always takes these games seriously and people coming back from injuries have restricted his choices.

[Angelius]

Is it weird that I constantly forget the Pepe plays for this lot? Forwards need to be careful with his usual shithousery.

[jonnypb]

Nice strong team, please no injuries otherwise rawk will turn into Twitter 

[PEG2K]

This strong line up is totally expected to be honest. It's actually the norm in the CL. Yesterday Bayern went full strength (under snow condition) away at Shaktar. Today Ajax did the same thing in Istanbul. Both are guaranteed first place in their groups. You can go back to past seasons and find Real and Barca starting BBC and MSN for these dead rubber games as well.

Starting 11 kids in the CL only happens in FIFA, where you want to fill the stamina bar of your starters. In reality it doesn't work like that.

[On Axis]

Hopefully Pepe doesn't injure any of ours players. Happy to see Morton get a start.

[keyop]

Surprised at Mo and Sadio, but both are durable and at least Porto aren't Atletico.

Great opportunities for others to get game time, so hopefully we see this one out unscathed and everyone lives to fight another day.

[Jm55]

Imagine being a Porto fan thinking that you might finally have an easyish night against us with a weakened side then seeing that it still has Alisson, Matip, Thiago, Salah and Mane in it. Must be like fucking Groundhog Day.

[Raid]

In the interests of balance I’m pleased with that team and looking forward to seeing Morton start at the pinnacle of the game.

I’ve taken the Red Men at a generous pre-match 4/5.

[naYoRHa2b]

Still pretty strong that. Just don't get injured Thiago please.

[keyop]

No injuries and a result would be great. Let's try and finish the group unbeaten alive.

[Red Beret]

Don't think we needed to play both Mane and Salah from the start, but obviously, we don't have many options upfront right now.

Probably better to have them start and take them off rather than bring them on later. They're both in such good form, maybe Klopp feels it's important to keep them ticking over. Can see them coming off between 60-70 minutes.

[William Regal]

Nice looking team, really looking forward to watching Morton with the class that is around him.

Hopefully our players aren't as scared of getting injured as the posters on here.

[Mighty_Red]

Happy with that, would've liked to give Mane a break as he still has that rib problem but as long as we manage their minutes it should be fine.

COMON U REDMEN!!!

[Red Beret]

Imagine being a Porto fan thinking that you might finally have an easyish night against us with a weakened side then seeing that it still has Alisson, Matip, Thiago, Salah and Mane in it. Must be like fucking Groundhog Day.

They're certainly no gang of angels, and they've got a lot riding on this game.  But they're no Atletico either, and they seem to have developed a bit of a complex when it comes to playing us. Glad to see Jurgen not taking anything for granted.

[S]

Really don’t see the point in starting Salah and Mane. Thiago can do with more minutes at this point, but for those two it only takes one Pickford-esque moment and we lose an irreplaceable player. Why risk it?

[King Kenny 7]

A stronger team than I thought, get a few goals and use the subs.

[jillcwhomever]

Really don’t see the point in starting Salah and Mane. Thiago can do with more minutes at this point, but for those two it only takes one Pickford-esque moment and we lose an irreplaceable player. Why risk it?

Jota got a knock on the weekend and Origi coming back from an injury at international week.

[the_red_pill]

Starting Thaigo in this is nuts

Good luck everyone - im off to sacrifice a small mammal to the god of soft tissue health

It's the age old minutes vs. risk-of-injury conundrum isn't it?
I can see why he starts, but I can also see why people have reservations.

Let's hope he gains more fitness instead of the alternative.

Good to see Mina getting minutes and hopefully Origi as well. They need to get properly matchfit and build rythm for when Sadio and Mo's off to AFCON. I would prefer to see them feature more, especially over the Christmas period. Any chance we get- everytime it looks like we've put a game to bed.

They need to be fit and roaring come January!

[Chavasse1917]

Really don’t see the point in starting Salah and Mane. Thiago can do with more minutes at this point, but for those two it only takes one Pickford-esque moment and we lose an irreplaceable player. Why risk it?

In Mo's case perhaps as its Europe, high exposure, its just to remind a few of his Ballon d'Or credentials.

[JRed]

Very surprised Salah is starting. Hope it doesn’t backfire. I would rather have played Nat Phillips upfront!

[DelTrotter]

Starting Thaigo in this is nuts

Good luck everyone - im off to sacrifice a small mammal to the god of soft tissue health

Yeah seems strange with 3 league games in 7 days coming up, 2 of which are toughish aways. Perhaps he'll rest on the weekend then start at Everton and Wolves. Expecting a low tempo game from us as they can't just magic up big motivation for what's basically a friendly for us but would be nice if we put in a fun performance. Hopefully we get no injuries, that's all that really matters.