Topic: Southampton v Liverpool (St. Mary's) August 17th, 2019 3pm

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Looking at who played and for how long on Wednesday, I suspect the midfield will be Gini at 6 with Lallana/Ox and Milner. A back four of TAA, Matip, VVD and Robbo. Firmino, Origi and Shaqiri as a front three?

Will be a strong bench, thats for sure.

[kaesarsosei]

Looking at who played and for how long on Wednesday, I suspect the midfield will be Gini at 6 with Lallana/Ox and Milner. A back four of TAA, Matip, VVD and Robbo. Firmino, Origi and Shaqiri as a front three?

Will be a strong bench, thats for sure.

This is what I would do too. And as others have said, if Lallana and Shaqiri can't get a game on Sat after what our regulars went through in the Super Cup, what is the actual point in them being at the club?

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

This is what I would do too. And as others have said, if Lallana and Shaqiri can't get a game on Sat after what our regulars went through in the Super Cup, what is the actual point in them being at the club?

To cover injuries?

[SerbianScouser]

Adrian a doubt with an ankle injury.

Jose Enrique to the rescue.

[The Test]

Agree with the above. But I'd have Div, Bobby, Shaq as front three and the fittest midfield we can muster. Then sub on Mo and Mane for the last half hour to run against tired legs.

Likewise, play Lallana or Ox from the start and then swap them out for Henderson or Fab on 60 mins if necessary.

A fit Naby really transforms our options. Fingers x'd.

[Lycan]

I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about our chances of coming away with something this weekend. Adrian a doubt now.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Keita is out for sure,Adrian could still play,swelling has gone down

[Nick110581]

Fuck me. Adrián being out would be a joke.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Agree with the above. But I'd have Div, Bobby, Shaq as front three and the fittest midfield we can muster. Then sub on Mo and Mane for the last half hour to run against tired legs.

The amount of changes being proposed on here is daft and won't happen. It's our fourth game of the season.

[Nick110581]

The amount of changes being proposed on here is daft and won't happen. It's our fourth game of the season.

We might be playing our third choice keeper so play our best outfield side

[Sharado]

We might be playing our third choice keeper so play our best outfield side

Absolutely. If we're ending up with Lonegran in goal it'll be 10 outfield players Klopp trusts 100% and that may mean a slightly stodgier midfield, which I'm fine with.

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Looks like Lovren will be available as well now

[Lycan]

Fuck me. Adrián being out would be a joke.

Slide tackle from one of our own fans. Nearly took Gomez out as well. Idiot.

[Qston]

The amount of changes being proposed on here is daft and won't happen. It's our fourth game of the season.

Yup. And with a week to rest and train before the next game. First choice players will play if fit.

[Nick110581]

Looks like Lovren will be available as well now

Not being sold ?

[LallanaInPyjamas]

It’s not remotely must win... please someone stop the madness

Really, Jack? We won 60/60 points against the bottom half and still fell a point short of the title.

I think it's fair to assume Southampton will be bottom half again this season. In my eyes, every game against the bottom half sides is a must-win game if we are serious about winning the title.

[Damian V]

Can we still get big Sy back for a game?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Not being sold ?

Deal is offer after Roma started taking the piss with loan move.

[Nick110581]

Deal is offer after Roma started taking the piss with loan move.

Makes sense to keep him.

[The Test]

The amount of changes being proposed on here is daft and won't happen. It's our fourth game of the season.

It may be our 4th game of the season but it's a pretty unique set of circumstances.

Before you attempt to debate the point I implore you to look down at my signature and reconsider. 

[JackWard33]

Really, Jack? We won 60/60 points against the bottom half and still fell a point short of the title.

I think it's fair to assume Southampton will be bottom half again this season. In my eyes, every game against the bottom half sides is a must-win game if we are serious about winning the title.

There’s no world in which the second game in the league is a must win that’s lunacy - we could lose on Saturday and win the league

While we’re here - were not winning as many points as last season so comparisons to that are only going to disappoint at some point

[The Test]

There’s no world in which the second game in the league is a must win that’s lunacy - we could lose on Saturday and win the league

While we’re here - were not winning as many points as last season so comparisons to last season are only going to disappoint at some point

Bit defeatist.

[Dim Glas]

There’s no world in which the second game in the league is a must win that’s lunacy - we could lose on Saturday and win the league

While we’re here - were not winning as many points as last season so comparisons to last season are only going to disappoint at some point

Yup. It just isn't happening, last season was ridiculous. 1 loss all season in the league, just bonkers.

But people expect more this season, it's going to be unbearably tedious on match threads here all season because of it 

[lgvkarlos]

To cover injuries?

Or maybe prevent injuries, we need to rotate not cover injuries.

[The Test]

Yup. It just isn't happening, last season was ridiculous. 1 loss all season in the league, just bonkers.

But people expect more this season, it's going to be unbearably tedious on match threads here all season because of it 

We drew 7 games last season. We could lose more but draw less and still beat last years total. We're all over the place tactically right now. Lets at least wait until we're settled before jumping to conclusions.

[JackWard33]

Bit defeatist.

Not really - I’m the one saying we could lose on Saturday and win the league
It’s not a ‘get your record points total competition’

[Bread]

It'll be interesting to see how Southampton play if Lonergan does start. If they adopt a "shoot on sight" approach, we could use the possession that they potentially squander to our advantage.

[disgraced cake]

Fucking hell, trying to imagine how I'd react if someone told me a few weeks ago I'd be shitting myself about Adrian, formerly of West Ham, and his fitness for the game at Southampton  - Truly fucking mad that.

[Zlen]

Fuck Southampton.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

There’s no world in which the second game in the league is a must win that’s lunacy - we could lose on Saturday and win the league

While we’re here - were not winning as many points as last season so comparisons to that are only going to disappoint at some point

Of course we could, but losing tomorrow would make it much more difficult to win the league because the room for error significantly decreases.

I agree on the points thing, but we're going to need 90+ at the very least to stand a chance. So while 60/60 against the bottom-half may prove impossible to replicate, we need to go very close to that again unless our big-game record significantly improves.

[classycarra]

Slide tackle from one of our own fans. Nearly took Gomez out as well. Idiot.

Even worse, he actually took out Mane

[wige]

Not really - I’m the one saying we could lose on Saturday and win the league
It’s not a ‘get your record points total competition’

It's pretty close to it. Maybe City fall fall below 97 points, but I don't really see why they do. Personally see their squad as stronger than last year and with another years experience and reinforcement in their approach.

Think it takes 96 at least to win it.

[Chivasino]

Fuck Southampton.

This is the kind of pre-match insight and chat I'm in to.

[Caston]

I think Adrian will be fine. I think Klopp had to let everyone know what happened, basically make a big deal of it, as idiots running on the pitch is not on.

[Bobinhood]

That freaking guy slid in hard, he slipped at the perfect mass destruction moment. Brutal.

Fingers crossed but we are looking at a sore ankle, a sore wrist or a senior citizen. Ralphs probably yelling "shoot" already.

[JackWard33]

Of course we could, but losing tomorrow would make it much more difficult to win the league because the room for error significantly decreases.

I agree on the points thing, but we're going to need 90+ at the very least to stand a chance. So while 60/60 against the bottom-half may prove impossible to replicate, we need to go very close to that again unless our big-game record significantly improves.

It’s just not ‘must win’ in any context though is it? City lost 4 matches by January ... we dropped points in 8 games ... and that’s while getting a record points total

In general our fans need to chill out about the league - it’s odds against we win it but the players will give it everything like last year and we’ll see where we get to.
It’s just not good for people’s mental health OR for fair appraisals of the team to compare them to last year or a 100 points tally and so on

[Nitramdorf]

If Lonergan does play I wonder who will be sub. I bet Ray Clemence still has his boots.

Shame Naby is out, I cant wait for him to really kick on, along with Ox. I reckon there will be less surprises on the team sheet than a lot of people think.

[JackWard33]

It's pretty close to it. Maybe City fall fall below 97 points, but I don't really see why they do. Personally see their squad as stronger than last year and with another years experience and reinforcement in their approach.

Think it takes 96 at least to win it.

If that’s true it’s very likely we won’t win it
But there’s a reason we play all the games - City aren’t robots they can have a down year
Let’s see where we’re at 6 months from now

[vicar]

Is this going to be some sort of record... 2 PL games and 3 goalies used?

Lets hope Adrian is ok.

[S]

Southampton will be well up for this after the week we've had. First and second choice keepers injured, Keita injured and the rest of the team absolutely knackered after the Super Cup. People will say that the opposition would be fired up regardless, but I think circumstances like this give teams an added incentive.

This is exactly the sort of game where we might have to cash in on individual brilliance. Expecting a tough, scrappy match and hoping something special from one of our front three can settle it.