Topic: Everton v Liverpool Preview (November 23 2013, Goodison Park, 12.45)

[goalrushatgoodison]

With Enrique out and Kelly struggling, Flanagan is the only specialist cover for either full back spot until the New Year. In these circumstances it is good management from Brendan to put it out there that he is in the running to start tomorrow. If anything happens to Johnson or Cissokho he is going to be needed so he needs to know that he is in the manager's thoughts. This way if he is needed later on he will feel that he has Brendan's confidence rather then being picked because he ran out of options.

I don't read anything more then that into Brendan's  comments at the moment.

[houkura]

Why is everybody saying Suarez is knackered?

Great question. He played on Tuesday-that's 3 full days rest including a first class grade A trip in a plane that probably has a couple couches and a bed in it with a super cute flight attendant tending his every need. Plus he's what 27? When I was 27 I was never tired-ever.

[gazzathered]

Can't wait for this but very nervous,haven't a clue what team BR will put out .
Come on red men

[juan1001]

Great question. He played on Tuesday-that's 3 full days rest including a first class grade A trip in a plane that probably has a couple couches and a bed in it with a super cute flight attendant tending his every need. Plus he's what 27? When I was 27 I was never tired-ever.

Not to nit pick, but he played on Wednesday night. The game ended Thursday morning (UK time). And he's 26. Won't turn 27 until end of January. He won't be tired because he exerted himself more in the post game celebrations, than he did in the game. It was a training session 6875 miles away.

[mart356]

Sturridge starting, great news 

[Socratease]

This is a good one from the journos on the official site - http://assets.lfcimages.com/news/latest-news/149645-infographic-everton-v-liverpool 

[robgreen91]

Why is everybody saying Suarez is knackered?

why is everyone saying we have a "dilema" at CB??

we have 4 class centre backs for once, each one of them would breeze into evertons team!

i wish i had "dilema's" like that in my life

[PhaseOfPlay]

why is everyone saying we have a "dilema" at CB??

we have 4 class centre backs for once, each one of them would breeze into evertons team!

i wish i had "dilema's" like that in my life

Why would you want four centre-backs in your life?

[GrkStav]

Newcastle at home in Kenny's first 6 months.

We won 3-0. Maxi, Kuyt, Suarez scoring.

Excellent. Thanks for clarifying that.

[Rohit]

Didn't he score his second where he tossed Carra aside as a rag doll, sprinted off and scored with his foot?

Nope, Tamas scored against us in the carling cup.

[GrkStav]

I would lose my mind if this happened.  Neither of those should be played as a full back EVER.

So, Agger and Sakho should never ever be played as a full back? On the basis of what, exactly, is such a doomsday approach required?

[Gnurglan]

When I was 27 I was never tired-ever.

Were you on drugs for a year?

[EstonianRed]

Love it, buzzzing for tomorrow already. Cant wait to start drinking around 12 oclock

[robgreen91]

Love it, buzzzing for tomorrow already. Cant wait to start drinking around 12 oclock

12 O'Clock! Madness.....

Why so late??!! 

[houkura]

Were you on drugs for a year?

Part of the time.

[jackh]

The Redmen TV Match Preview is now available:

Saturday lunchtime sees Everton host Liverpool in the first Merseyside Derby of the season, and the first for Roberto Martinez.  The lunchtime kick-off brings together for the 221st time, two sides who’ve started the season strongly, with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool holding a 3 point advantage going into the pre-Christmas schedule.  Everton currently occupy 6th place and will aim to reconnect with the form of September and October which saw them take five wins from six matches – the last two outings have resulted in goalless draws (two of four this season) and served as reminders of the Toffees’ somewhat lacklustre opening.  The Reds, who sit in 2nd place, quickly restored confidence after the Arsenal defeat, beating Fulham 4-0, and have taken 10 points from the previous five outings.  Everton will be keen to retain their unbeaten home record under Martinez, whilst Rodgers’ side will look to improve their form ‘on the road’ having dropped 7 points so far.  With leaders Arsenal facing the challenge of 3rd placed Southampton this weekend, Liverpool supporters would take great pleasure from returning to the top of the league at the home of their neighbours. Everton, meanwhile, will hope that the Goodison Park support can spur them to take advantage of a weekend when a number of top-eight sides face one another.

...

Continued at http://www.theredmentv.com/blog/p/14909

In addition, The Redmen TV Match Build-Up is also now available:  http://www.theredmentv.com/blog/p/14907

[EstonianRed]

12 O'Clock! Madness.....

Why so late??!! 

I meant local time in England it will be 10

[NorthamptonKopite]

Can we hear this tomorrow?

http://youtu.be/b3MjRsPjweM

Can someone embed for me?

Breeeeeendaaaan Rodddgeeerrrrsss!

[Red_Mist]

Great preview.

For my contribution, re-arrange the following into a well known Rawk phrase....

Twat Bastards Fuckin Shite Lets Blue These

[EstonianRed]

Can we hear this tomorrow?

http://youtu.be/b3MjRsPjweM

Can someone embed for me?

Breeeeeendaaaan Rodddgeeerrrrsss!

good promo on my youtube channel ta mate

[bigbear]

Don't think we'll see Rodgers use a CB at full back again.

I think another issue is that Flanagan would be able to get up and down more easily and thus maintain width more effectively than Toure/Sakho. Full backs providing width is important in our very narrow system, imo. Will make Coutinho and Hendo more effective, neither who are natural wide players.

Also in reference to Flanagan shouldn't play because its a derby... No way. I view it as he's more likely to have a boss game. I think any player has a tendency to get caught up in the atmosphere of the derby. Flanagan will be more thinking about the massive boost it would be to his career if he had a stormer of a game. Chance to really endear himself to the fans. Wouldn't be the first local lad who becomes a different player in a big match.

Flanno may be training out of his skin I don't know. However, no matter how well he is playing he will not give us width at left back.

He is not really two-footed so will narrow it anyway and both times he played left back for the first team that's what happened. (By the way we won comfortably in both against Fulham away and was it Birmingham at home ?). However, I have watched him play for years and he is not a left back.

By all means, if he is playing great play him right back but Mirallas is a good player and Coleman likes a charge too, Coutinho in front of him ??

It's just an enormous call. If we don't fancy Agger/Sakho as left back just sitting there then play Johnson left back - he is our best left back anyway - and play Kolo right back.

There's been lots said about playing centre backs at full back and especially from the Southampton game, however, Kolo Toure was fine as right back and was probably one of our best attackers that day. It was at left back that we really struggled that day and in midfield.

Toure right back - Johnno left back.

[S]

Is this anyone else's least favourite game to watch? For me United is the bigger game, and yet I get more nervous during these matches.

[mechinate]

So we're one injury to Johnson/Enrique away from having Flanagan starting? How did it get to that?

[bigbear]

Is this anyone else's least favourite game to watch? For me United is the bigger game, and yet I get more nervous during these matches.

You don't live in Liverpool do you mate ?

[S]

You don't live in Liverpool do you mate ?

Well guessed! I just consider United our main rivals, there must be some fans who live in Liverpool who do as well? (Unless that's not what you were hinting at)

[Bird Bird Bird The Bird Is The Word]

On the full back situation, I think playing Johnson at left back would make sense but could cause an imbalance on the wings.

Everton's left flank of Baines and Pienaar can be neutralised with Henderson tracking back and not allowing Baines to roam freely, cut the link between them and they won't cause our defense any problems in open play. Mirallas on the right flank can tear a weak player to shreds, Johnson will not be bullied in one-on-ones but you could see a similar situation to last season if Mirallas goes up against Flanagan, as to what happened to Wisdom.

If Mirallas smells blood, gets the better of Flanagan in the first few exchanges then he'll be targeted. Johnson has the experience to keep Mirallas quiet but it could cause our team to be extremely lopsided in an attacking sense. Johnson and Coutinho on one side, Flanagan and Henderson on the other would mean we might struggle to play the ball out of defense, as Flanagan and Henderson aren't great under pressure in tight situations and as a combination that could be highlighted.

Not the most tactically astute conclusion but I think playing Cissokho or Flanagan is a big risk at left back, one is a young player with little first team experience and the other seems low on confidence after some poor performances. I think Rodgers will start Flanagan at left back, especially after his performance at Arsenal, where he was solid defensively without offering much in attack.

Or he might start Agger there.

[bigbear]

Well guessed! I just consider United our main rivals, there must be some fans who live in Liverpool who do as well? (Unless that's not what you were hinting at)

Certainly not this week and for probably many not really. It is a big call though.

[Bobinhood]

Its problematic for Rodgers/us since Aly is a physical specimen that should just plug right in here, as planned, but instead Joses been hurt a while and in the meantime while being used his back up has shown off some pretty poor spatial awareness at times, possibly a poor fitness level and/or level of commitment at times, clearly at least struggling to get up to the pace of the Prem, (could happen to anyone) all this mixed into the package.....which still includes an incredible athleticism born of size power and speed, and some ability on the ball.....anyway though, culminating in, he gets spoken to during the last game and then hauled off after 60 mins. For cause I would say.

So, fuck.

We need fullbacks real ones. Two of them. one of them being Johnson at RB not left.
 
Hes got to figure out the best way to catch Aly on fire if that's possible, maybe this is what rodgers doing here, little oxygen is in order for everyone's sake. Love Flanno and think his size and speed are well on the up from a couple of years past but very unsure about putting him at lb. Maybe he'll kick ass in a derby game as noted above.

[redprodigal]

Just heard they are putting plastic flags out on the seats for tomorrow. Surely not 

[Cave_Wang]

Sturridge starting, great news 

Who said that?

[S]

Is this Coutinho's first derby? If not, how did he play last year? For some reason I can't remember if he featured.

[Fiasco]

Just heard they are putting plastic flags out on the seats for tomorrow. Surely not 

Apparently so. I can't wait to see it, I think I'll actually piss myself laughing.

[HeartAndSoul]

I thought sakho done alright defensively at left back in the second half against arsenal. Ok he didn't offer much going forward but defensively he wasn't  getting skinned like cissokho was. We could always swap to a back 3 easily if it isn't working with hendo rwb and Johnson lwb but looks like it'll be the same team that faced Fulham but Flanagan for cissokho. Flanno offers near nothing offensively aswell

[telekon]

Is this anyone else's least favourite game to watch? For me United is the bigger game, and yet I get more nervous during these matches.

This is one of the league games I'm least nervous about. Definitely the most nervous against United, which is also the biggest game of course.

[B0151?]

I don't know. I get more nervous about this one to be honest. United is the bigger win, Everton is the bigger loss. Maybe that's just a reaction to United being better than us over the years and Everton being worse.

[Red Genius]

I don't know. I get more nervous about this one to be honest. United is the bigger win, Everton is the bigger loss. Maybe that's just a reaction to United being better than us over the years and Everton being worse.

Nah mate that's borne from the fact we would traditionally drop points against the shiter teams in the league we always expected to beat 

[NorthamptonKopite]

good promo on my youtube channel ta mate

No worries mate, anything to get that song heard.

[NorthamptonKopite]

7:45 kick off for me.

Do you lot reckon that's too early to get on the beers?

[litliper]

1-1.....and it wouldn't be the worst result to come away with.

[Hij]

7:45 kick off for me.

Do you lot reckon that's too early to get on the beers?

It's never too early if there's football.