Topic: LFC vs Fulham League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg 20:00 Weds 10th Jan 2024

[PatriotScouser]

I'd also go as strong as possible with only Kelleher in place of Allison. Not just because we have a nice break coming up, but hopefully to try and make the 2nd leg redundant by getting a good lead heading into that.

So with the news of Trent I'd go with:- Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Quansah, Gomez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Gravenberch, Jota, Gakpo, Nunez. I'd give Diaz a break and put him on for one of the forward 3 for 30mins or so.

[thaddeus]

I'd also go as strong as possible with only Kelleher in place of Allison. Not just because we have a nice break coming up, but hopefully to try and make the 2nd leg redundant by getting a good lead heading into that.

So with the news of Trent I'd go with:- Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Quansah, Gomez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Gravenberch, Jota, Gakpo, Nunez. I'd give Diaz a break and put him on for one of the forward 3 for 30mins or so.

You can't go as strong as possible and not pick Jones!

Did I dream it or did we try one of the midfielders - possibly Jones - in the "Trent role" in a cup match earlier this season?

[duvva 💅]

Bad news about Trent, agree with those suggesting Bradley comes in (although I don’t think there are many options). Maybe Gomez will Invert from the left with Trent out

[gerrardisgod]

We were testing Bradley in the inverted role during pre-season, do feel his strengths going forward are very much more direct though.

[Schmarn]

I'd also go as strong as possible with only Kelleher in place of Allison. Not just because we have a nice break coming up, but hopefully to try and make the 2nd leg redundant by getting a good lead heading into that.

So with the news of Trent I'd go with:- Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Quansah, Gomez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Gravenberch, Jota, Gakpo, Nunez. I'd give Diaz a break and put him on for one of the forward 3 for 30mins or so.

Virg has recovered from illness so will play.

One bit of good news.

[storkfoot]

Vegan Scouse from Homebaked is the only way to go 

I have tried quite a few of the Homebaked pies but keep coming back to either the Scouse or Vegan scouse. Best pies on the planet, let alone North Liverpool 

[classycarra]

You can't go as strong as possible and not pick Jones!

Did I dream it or did we try one of the midfielders - possibly Jones - in the "Trent role" in a cup match earlier this season?

or the captain

You're remembering right, Jones played that role right back role - possibly against LASK (or was that Bajcetic's turn)?

[BobPaisley3]

Be great to put this to bed tomorrow so we can give the younger lads a go in the second leg and against Norwich/Bristol Rovers. If we can win this convincingly, the more vital lads can just play Bournemouth and Chelsea before the reinforcements arrive in February.

[Samie]

After tomorrow's game, we don't play for two weeks. Lets jsut get through this and welcome back some of our lads.

[Redsnappa]

This is good from a Fulham perspective:

João Palhinha’s steel gives Fulham hope they can survive at Liverpool

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/09/joao-palhinha-steel-gives-fulham-hope-they-can-survive-liverpool-carabao-cup-semi-final?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[JackWard33]

Bad news about Trent, agree with those suggesting Bradley comes in (although I don’t think there are many options). Maybe Gomez will Invert from the left with Trent out

Can Gomez play both full back position simultaneously? … hes pretty quick again these days

[HeartAndSoul]

Thought Beck might have got a chance but can’t see us starting both Bradley and Beck at full back. We’re very think in those full back positions now and you’d imagine Gomez will be playing most games from now till one of Robbo or Tsimikas are back but we need to be careful with him as well.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Thought Beck might have got a chance but can’t see us starting both Bradley and Beck at full back. We’re very think in those full back positions now and you’d imagine Gomez will be playing most games from now till one of Robbo or Tsimikas are back but we need to be careful with him as well.

Beck is certainly a loser after Trent's injury.

[SamLad]

think we'll see Bradley drop in for Trent, doesn't make sense to disrupt Joe at LB. 

great news that Virgil is OK.  he will deffo start.  if the game goes well, may see Beck off the bench and give one of Joe / Ibou / Virg /Q a rest.

Fulham came within 3 mins of the 90 of beating us a month or so back.  took 2 worldies that day.  simply cannot take this for granted, it's their biggest chance  by far to get anything this season.

[newterp]

Beck is certainly a loser after Trent's injury.

O(de)le(y)!

[disgraced cake]

think we'll see Bradley drop in for Trent, doesn't make sense to disrupt Joe at LB. 

great news that Virgil is OK.  he will deffo start.  if the game goes well, may see Beck off the bench and give one of Joe / Ibou / Virg /Q a rest.

Fulham came within 3 mins of the 90 of beating us a month or so back.  took 2 worldies that day.  simply cannot take this for granted, it's their biggest chance  by far to get anything this season.

There's no reason why they shouldn't fancy their chances after a good display that day, perhaps there's the game rising aspect too seen when they've also beaten Arsenal recently. It's their biggest game/s for some time like as they'd fancy their chances against whoever they meet (Chelsea) in the final too.

Given our record at Anfield and the difference between the two sides we should have too much as far as tomorrow is concerned. Bradley's biggest test in the sport yet but the defence is still very experienced, and personally I would play Alisson to give us that extra quality, Kelleher can have the next FA Cup tie. Also with Kelleher conceding three against them in December it just gives them more incentive to attack. Maybe we'll thrive on that though. They're missing a couple due to AFCON too.

The rest should mostly pick itself too, I expect Jota to start and probably Gravenberch too. It'd be nice if we win by more than a goal which makes things very tricky for them in the 2nd leg but even if we can snatch it by the odd goal again it still means a draw in London would be enough.

[kop306]

I agree alison might start when you consider the other players we are missing

diaz and jota will be the key players for us now that trent is injured

[Cafe De Paris]

If we were at full strength I would say we would progress without any problems. However I think it will be a bit of a slog. A goal advantage would do to take into the second leg.

[andy07]

Expect Fulham to be full strength, this is a massive game for them,  not been to a cup final in nearly half a century.  They will be well up for this.

And they were a handful in the league game at Anfield.

So no complacency from us.

[Crosby Nick]

Expect Fulham to be full strength, this is a massive game for them,  not been to a cup final in nearly half a century.  They will be well up for this.

And they were a handful in the league game at Anfield.

So no complacency from us.

Domestically? Some wise old manager masterminded them to a Europa League final in more recent times.

[Wghennessy]

Alisson
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Gomez


Is the back 5 tomorrow isnt it. Midfields a tricky one. Im thinking he will go with Jones and Elliott with Gravenberch unless he wants to give Mac Allister another hour? If he does i wouldnt mind seeing Elliott in the Salah role with Jota and Diaz.

[classycarra]

Alisson
Bradley
Quansah
VVD
Gomez


Is the back 5 tomorrow isnt it. Midfields a tricky one. Im thinking he will go with Jones and Elliott with Gravenberch unless he wants to give Mac Allister another hour? If he does i wouldnt mind seeing Elliott in the Salah role with Jota and Diaz.

personally still think Kelleher starts, unless we proactively withdraw Gomez to protect him given Trent's injury, and we improve prospects in goal to offset it.

[YNWA.A]

Any win with no further injuries would do

[ac]

                           Allison
Bradley     Quansah VVD    Gomez
           
                     Macalister
Graven                                      Jones

Elliot                                       Gapko
                       Jota

I'd rest Diaz and Konate and take Gomez off after 45 mins. Suspect Klopp will go a bit stronger than that and play Diaz in midfield and put Elliott in midfield instead of Gravenberch

[Angelius]

Didn't Ljinders say that Kelleher will start this one ahead of Alison since he is our league cup goalkeeper?

[Jm55]

The only way Alisson starts this game is if Kelleher is injured.

As much as anything else we need Kelleher to be right mentally for when we need to rely on him when Alisson is injured, you don’t get that by telling him the league cup is his trophy then dropping him for the semi final.

[BobPaisley3]

Kelleher definitely plays.

[SamLad]

personally still think Kelleher starts, unless we proactively withdraw Gomez to protect him given Trent's injury, and we improve prospects in goal to offset it.

that's exactly what Pep said today. as clear as anything. 

dunno why ppl keep saying Ali will start.

[andy07]

Domestically? Some wise old manager masterminded them to a Europa League final in more recent times.

Correct, was thinking of Wembley.  Nearly a glorious night that for The Owl and Danny Murphy.

[TipTopKop]

Just praying for no injuries, let's see what happens.

[jizzspunk]

Be great to put this to bed tomorrow so we can give the younger lads a go in the second leg and against Norwich/Bristol Rovers. If we can win this convincingly, the more vital lads can just play Bournemouth and Chelsea before the reinforcements arrive in February.

You make it sound like the 2nd leg could be a dead rubber if all goes well 🙄...
Players will want to play and the schedule is manageable, zero chance we play @ Craven Cottage and the FA cup 4th round giving the younger lads 'a go'

[xbugawugax]

back five of kelleher, bradley, vvd, gomez as that are the options we got left

ibou to be rested as he isnt trusted to start 2 games back to back

does away goals rule count? if it does then hope we can keep things tighter and a clean sheet would do nicely.

macca, curtis, grav should start in midfield

up front of diaz, nunez and gakpo?

clean sheet and no injuries please

[RogerTheRed]

Away goals don’t count double in this

[RedG13]

Great OP Roger.
I expect Klopp to go as strong as possible.
Excited for this

[Knight]

You can't go as strong as possible and not pick Jones!

Did I dream it or did we try one of the midfielders - possibly Jones - in the "Trent role" in a cup match earlier this season?

RAWK needs to wake up and recognise this.

[Zlen]

Coote as referee.
PGMOL are truly doing it on purpose at this stage.
Him without VAR has even more power to shape the game.

[Brain Potter]

Without wishing to sound negative I’d take any win, even by a single goal.
Away goals aren’t used as a tie breaker anymore, and I’d be very confident of not getting beat down at Craven Cottage.

[Red Beret]

Any win for us will do. Just don't want Fulham shutting up shop and trying a smash n grab.

[has gone odd]

Cannot be overly confident at this stage of the competition, given our team selection issues. Fulham will ofc be super pumped for the game and happy enough if we play the patient game and nab one on the counter somehow. Nunez is an amazing talent but he also needs to start banging a few of his shots in, the ability is there, is psychological am sure.

[lionel_messias]

RAWK needs to wake up and recognise this.

Yep Jones is a nailed on starter for Liverpool now. Superb player, as seen at Arsenal.