Topic: Union Saint-Gilloise V Liverpool - Europa League - 17:45 14 December 2023

[RogerTheRed]

Come on Redmen!!
Thanks for the op RedG. Had not realised about use of Anderlecht ground until yesterday. Israeli officials will be interesting!
Agree with most about weaker team but think regular  squad players such as Gomez, Kelleher,  Elliott, Jones, Gakpo and Quansah will start.
Went to the test event yesterday and Juergen was talking about taking it seriously (I know he has to!)
Great that the result does not really matter but still want to see a win! Think bench will be strong.

[JackWard33]

The most irrelevant Liverpool fixture in 40 years?

100% irrelevant competitively … tiny financial reward (will we even make our money back on the travel) … league one level opposition

Give it to the work experience lads to do the press conference?

[gerrardisgod]

The most irrelevant Liverpool fixture in 40 years?

100% irrelevant competitively … tiny financial reward (will we even make our money back on the travel) … league one level opposition

Give it to the work experience lads to do the press conference?

Think we were in a similar boat 2010. But with added Hodge.

Drew 0-0 last game against a Dutch team?

[SvenJohansen]

Are we only allowed pick players from the 23-man squad? As in can we play any of the young lads like Chambers and McConnell who weren't named in squad back in September?

[Crosby Nick]

The most irrelevant Liverpool fixture in 40 years?

100% irrelevant competitively … tiny financial reward (will we even make our money back on the travel) … league one level opposition

Give it to the work experience lads to do the press conference?

We also had a dead rubber last game in the Europa League under the Hodge. Already through. A chance to play a few youngsters and entertain the pre-Christmas crowd.

Liverpool 0-0 Utrecht.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9282967.stm

[Angelius]

More than who plays, I feel we can be more confident about who definitely doesn't? For me Allison, Van Djik, Trent, Szobo, Tsimi, Salah, and Diaz should be nowhere near this. I would've also included Gomez, Konate, Gakpo, Nunez, and Endo in that list but imagine one to three of those will feature.

I also think Jones, Elliot, and Grav might feature, albeit for limited minutes, to continue to keep them in rhythm. Wonder if Jota will be back to get a 10-15 min run out (and yes, I remember that he got injured in the last dead rubber like this).

Of course, I hope that we go with a complete squad of youngsters but just don't see that feasibly happening with how Jurgen operates.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Pretty sure we'll go stronger than most people are wishing for. Klopp isn't going to send out a side to get battered.

[StevoHimself]

We also had a dead rubber last game in the Europa League under the Hodge. Already through. A chance to play a few youngsters and entertain the pre-Christmas crowd.

Liverpool 0-0 Utrecht.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9282967.stm

The quote they've chosen to highlight in that article is absolutely savage.

"Joe Cole looks like he is running through water everytime he tries to sprint."

[So… Howard Philips]

The quote they've chosen to highlight in that article is absolutely savage.

"Joe Cole looks like he is running through water everytime he tries to sprint."

Reading the match report brought back shudders of horror about that time.

It’ll be interesting to see what team Klopp puts out and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not as weak as expected.

[Bread]

Play nothing but kids on Thursday, with the odd senior fringe player that could benefit from the minutes. At a bare minimum, I don't want Alisson, Trent, Virgil, Szboszlai, MacAllister, Jones, Salah, Nunez or Diaz taking part in any capacity. Ideally wouldn't see Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas, Gravenberch or Elliott either, but I won't grumble too much if Klopp deems those players getting minutes to be beneficial in the long run. Would personally be starting a team like this:

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Chambers
Endo
McConnell Clark
Gordon Gakpo Doak

[End Product]

We also had a dead rubber last game in the Europa League under the Hodge. Already through. A chance to play a few youngsters and entertain the pre-Christmas crowd.

Liverpool 0-0 Utrecht.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9282967.stm

I remember falling asleep in the away game.aw the dark times

[StevoHimself]

Reading the match report brought back shudders of horror about that time.

It’ll be interesting to see what team Klopp puts out and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not as weak as expected.

Yeah, I think the fact we're currently looking at the Liverpool side with the best squad depth in years (midfielders and forwards anyway) means, short of playing the kids, it's hard to put a side out that is particularly weak really. The side that was really poor in Toulouse for instance wasn't all that bad on paper.

But, yeah, if you wanna give a start to people like Doak...maybe even Bradley, Chambers...this is the game.

[Fordy]

Play nothing but kids on Thursday, with the odd senior fringe player that could benefit from the minutes. At a bare minimum, I don't want Alisson, Trent, Virgil, Szboszlai, MacAllister, Jones, Salah, Nunez or Diaz taking part in any capacity. Ideally wouldn't see Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas, Gravenberch or Elliott either, but I won't grumble too much if Klopp deems those players getting minutes to be beneficial in the long run. Would personally be starting a team like this:

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Chambers
Endo
McConnell Clark
Gordon Gakpo Doak

Clark is injured but yeah I would have involved him in the squad for sure.

[Kennys from heaven]

Would love to see as many youngsters out there as possible. Give them a taste of the big time with zero pressure. Fill yer boots lads.

Doak to score and Gomez to finally get a goal. That'd do

[MonsLibpool]

It would be mad to play the big boys in this one considering the number of injuries that teams normally pick up in December. This is a golden opportunity to rest players with pivotal fixtures coming up (If we win our next 3 league games, we'll build a sizeable gap on City).

[Garnier]

With all due respect to the UEFA Cup/Europa League but guys like Alisson, Trent, VVD, Salah, Szoboszlai and Darwin have no business playing against Union St-Gilloise midweek with the club already having 1st spot locked up.

[andy07]

Give those who won’t be starting on Sunday lots of game time.  No injuries, no cards. 

[Bobinhood]

well i prefer cartoon characters

               Flintstone

   Sylvester  T. Bird Old Lady 

Taz                      Roadrunner   

               Pooh

B. Bunny      Y. Bear      B. Boop

                 M. Mouse   

   
D. Duck W.W Pecker Coyote Rubble J. Rabbit P. Panther  Garfield               

[disgraced cake]

We also had a dead rubber last game in the Europa League under the Hodge. Already through. A chance to play a few youngsters and entertain the pre-Christmas crowd.

Liverpool 0-0 Utrecht.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9282967.stm

I'm amazed 38000 turned up for that. We had less in Champions League matches under Rafa.

[Samie]

Kloppo should select a RAWK XI or the game.

[Ghost Town]

Kloppo should select a RAWK XI or the game.

He'll have trouble finding a right winger here

[JerseyKloppite]

We'll play a disappointingly strong team for the most pointless match of the season.

I wouldn't want Trent, Konate, VVD, Tsimikas, Szobo, Grav, Mo, Nunez or Diaz anywhere near this personally.

[classycarra]

We'll play a disappointingly strong team for the most pointless match of the season.

I wouldn't want Trent, Konate, VVD, Tsimikas, Szobo, Grav, Mo, Nunez or Diaz anywhere near this personally.

me neither. Or Alli or Gomez. And wouldn't want Elliot, Jones or Gakpo playing too long (hour-ish)

[stockdam]

Thanks RedG13. It’s hard to get excited about the game but it will give some of the fringe players a chance to get good experience. Obviously anyone who may play on Sunday should not be anyway near this game.

[xbugawugax]

hoping for 3 points here.

would be good to keep the win streak going. think the squad will be mostly 60-40 towards the youth hopefully. keep the seniors fresh for the massive weekend scrap. hopefully not too messy and we come out with no injuries in this and all games.

kelleher should start. quansah. endo and doak. maybe endo to captain since he is captain for his country. i know 4 vs 11 might just be a big ask but we are libpool and var and the refs are always in our favour according to trolls.

oh and hope klopp rips walton an asshole the size of a hellfire nuke on his comments during the press conference.

[Byrnee]

Yeah we can't be playing United and have had 2 days less rest. We have games against United, West Ham (LCQF) and Arsenal this week coming so no nonsense here, complete reserve side needed. Given Jürgens well-established and reasonable discourse around fixtures and rest times I'd be astonished at anything else. If he does play anyone close to the first team he runs the risk of injury or suspension. We never get the chance to do this usually, there's normally at least the  CL group to top, or qualify from, against better teams. This might as well be a behind closed doors friendly. Get some youth and reserve players minutes and experience. This was our prize for topping the group early and honestly now I see the upcoming fixtures I appreciate even more the achievement as completely necessary to keep the squad going for the vastly more important games coming up.

[MD1990]

CL 3rd places look weak. Only really Benfica & who finishes 3rd in Newcastle's group to be concerned about at all

Brighton 4th favourites says it all. We have a huge chance to win the competition

[spider-neil]

As much as we want it Klopp wont pick the reserves like he did when the first team played in the Club World Cup.

[spider-neil]

CL 3rd places look weak. Only really Benfica & who finishes 3rd in Newcastle's group to be concerned about at all

Brighton 4th favourites says it all. We have a huge chance to win the competition

Alonso's Bayer are a big threat.

[lamonti]

Be tempted to give Nuñez 60 minutes in this.

Is Nat Phillips registered?

[mercurial]

Alonso's Bayer are a big threat.

Hopefully that’s the final as Xavi deserves that, though a visit to Anfield before that would be great as well.

[Zlen]

Klopp is going to put out a strong team isn't he?

[jillcwhomever]

well i prefer cartoon characters

               Flintstone

   Sylvester  T. Bird Old Lady 

Taz                      Roadrunner   

               Pooh

B. Bunny      Y. Bear      B. Boop

                 M. Mouse   

   
D. Duck W.W Pecker Coyote Rubble J. Rabbit P. Panther  Garfield             

How dare you not having Paddington in this team, with his South American skills, he's a must.

[gazzalfc]

Our current prize money for the Europa league so far

Qualified to group stage: €3,630,000
Match won in group stage: €630,000 (x4)
Match drawn in group stage: €210,000
1st in group stage: €1,100,000

So 7.25m Euros won so far with the chance to add another 630k on Thursday.

It's a nice pot of money.
 
Thats not even factoring in our European coefficient score. We need to keep that ticking along for when we do get back into the European cup proper

I still think play the kids and send Pep Lijnders as the manager. Leave everyone else here to prepare for Sunday.

[spider-neil]

We have a pivotal week coming (Manu, LC quarter-final, Arsenal). We have nothing to lose in this game except pride. That said, there are players could could use a confidence boost.

[Fromola]

Klopp is going to put out a strong team isn't he?

He'll rest who he wants to rest. The first XI and bench will both be a mix of first team players and youngsters.

The team he'll have in mind for Sunday won't feature much. The likes of Elliott and Jones might start as they haven't started the last few matches.

As we will travel today then i'd imagine we'll take a full squad as we'll need to train as a squad.

[lamonti]

Klopp is going to put out a strong team isn't he?

Stronger than some people think, definitely.

Be good to see Bradley, Chambers, Doak and maybe one other get a start. Shame Bobby Clark is injured, looked handy in pre-season I thought.

[stockdam]

Our original squad was:

Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros.

Defenders: Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, Jarell Quansah, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent, Conor Bradley

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Thiago

Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Ben Doak.



Did we replace Bajcetic and Thiago or are they still included?

If you remove those players who are injured or those who may play on Sunday then the team almost picks itself but even then there will be players playing who some of us may think shouldn't be risked. Our squad is that strong that even our "B" team looks very strong.

[lamonti]

Joe Gomez on pens.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

The most irrelevant Liverpool fixture in 40 years?

100% irrelevant competitively … tiny financial reward (will we even make our money back on the travel) … league one level opposition

Give it to the work experience lads to do the press conference?

A European game is never irrelevant.

The vast majority of the football pyramid would give their back teeth to even have a chance to compete.

This is why some people think Liverpool fans are arrogant.

I'm always delighted to see my team in Europe.