Hoping a New Thread may fix the posting issues.
I'd give Salah/Mac and Dom 60mins max. Would like Chiesa and Nunez to start.
Jones in no.6 with Mac and Dom.
Endo and Quansah at cb. Can't risk the other at all.
Grav should be left at home altogether.
Can't see Gravenberch being rested
Heading over to this one. I know it's just Lille, but European games just have a much better feel about them so I still like to go when I can
It'd be crazy to play the whole first team for Lille but knowing slott that's exactly what he'll do. Should really be the B team sent out
We're racking up a lot of money with the 6 wins already in CL, 2.1m a win a game at this stage, 12.6m already earned. 14.7 if we beat Lille, all about the money, reach next round we get a bonus of 11m, which is already in the bag, in reality we'd be at 25.7 with a win tomorrow, we all know we're in next round and that 11m is ours. Whether the ''coach'' has been given orders to try win these games , who knows.
Considering the length it's taken to sort Salah's contract, and the penny pinching that going on, I'd be sure the club expects us to go all out for a win tomorrow.
Where is this guy. Hope he's back
Are Chelsea now our "contenders of the day" ????
If Kelleher is good enough to play against Madrid he should start these last 2 CL games with Ali then for the knock outs but I don't see it happening.
My team prediction:
Ali
TAA Konate VVD Robertson
Szob Gravenberch McAlister
Salah Nunez Diaz
I think he'll start Salah. Salah has not had a goal contribution against Forest and Brentford so he'll be eager to make something happen tonight.
If he gets a goal or an assist and we're winning I could see Slot then swapping him for Chiesa around the 80 minute mark.
Gakpo has played a lot of minutes lately so I could see him being rested with Diaz moved left and Nunez starting.
I would prefer to see a midfield of Elliot-Endo-Jones but I think Slot would like to be a few goals up with the first team midfield and then make changes. Or he could pull Konate early if we have a few goals and put Endo in CB.
I feel TAA will start the game but will be changed around the 70th for Bradley.
Never saw Chelsea as contenders. Always knew they would fall away as their performances were too up and down. 1 win in 5 or 6 league games. Palmer is central to maintaining top results and he has too many off days. They have a lot of good players but rarely look a team that gel together.
If they ever do they will be there or thereabouts, but not this season.
no
Caicedo seems to be doing okay, not justifying his price tag but okay,I haven't watched them much though, anyone that watched them regularly think we would be better with him?
I dont expect wholesale changes tonight, probably see Quansah and Robertson in for Konate & Tsimikas. Jones & Elliot may get a start and surely Nunez starts up front. Would love to see Chiesa start but unlikely I would say
You cant win the league without a 25-30 goal forward
I know the risks involved etc but I really think the measured thing to do is not start VVD, Grav and Salah.
This could be the last two/three games we can rest them this season with little consequences assuming we beat Plymouth and get a tougher 5th round draw in the FA Cup.
The price tag thing is overblown tbh, the important thing is if he's good enough or not. I'd say he would have been, and likely settled quicker alongside Mac Allister like at Brighton.
But imagine Gravenberch cost us £115m like Caicedo. Would we be saying he justified his price tag? It's just a crazy amount of money for a DM, you'll always have arguments that money should he spent elsewhere.
The facts its in Anfield ,I think he'll go strong tonight, try get the win, and then send the B squad to PSV next week.
We'll probably see Nunez, Jones, Robbo and Bradley start, maybe Quansah and Endo, but I wouldn't bet on the latter 2.
I think you're right.
Also, alot think Konate a dead cert having done the presser.
I didn't think he looked injured at all on Sat, was outstanding actually, but would still rather not risk him.
Yeah sometimes I think the pricetag is a distraction. They signed an excellent 22 year old who was PL experienced, and from their perspective will hopefully anchor the team for years to come. Similar to Rice at Arsenal, massive fee but then its a long term answer.
Allison & VVD were expensive signings for us at the time but there's a huge value in getting an elite player who will lock a position down.
For years before that the club was spending money on the likes of Mignolet, Karius, Skrtel, Sahko etc - decent players but not ones who were going to win us a league.
Would it not make more sense to play the stronger team away from home?
The argument is that if you don't do it tonight then you run the risk of actually needing to go strong next week.
Getting the job done today completes the group stage and there's full opportunity to go weak.
Go weak tonight and you could get turned over and then have a game next week away to a team who haven't lost in their ground for over 2 years also fighting for position.
I think it's a hybrid tonight. Núñez, Bradley, Robertson, Kelleher, Jones - you can bring in some of these types of players without weakening that much overall if you still have Gravenberch, van Dijk, Salah, Díaz/Gakpo, Mac Allister
A win tonight and we could lose the next game and still be guaranteed in the top seeded pair (actually likely to have that regardless).
Playing a strong team away means having to bring a strong team, flying to and from another country, staying in hotels which is just exhausting for everyone (even if they stay on the bench). Ideally we'd leave anyone who could do with a rest back in Liverpool. Whereas for a home game tonight you can easily have your full squad between the starting lineup and bench, and there's no extra strain or stress beyond the match itself. Mo can sit on the bench and not come on, or play whatever pre-planned amount the docs decide, and that's all good.
Also I think going strong tonight and hoping we can rest for the away game means some of the players being rested won't even have to travel.
I think our squad is still pretty small and it's a big bench so most will still travel
Fair points.
Another angle is that Slot is Dutch and probably won't want to take a risk to lose in Eindhoven.
I’d really hope he’s thinking in terms of what’s best for his current team, and not planning based on some ego thing…
2.1 million per match won is an incentive,, better than winning the cups outright.
Go strong tonight with a few changes, hoping to see Chiesa start.
Chiesa, Elliott, Nunez, Endo are the guys I'd like to see.
I say he wants to get the job done tonight and not even have to worry about putting the big names on a plane next week. Put the feet up back in Liverpool for the night.
weather watch again for Saturday’s game with storm Eowyn crossing Ireland on Friday. What a mad couple of months it’s been with weather threats of different kinds to games (storms, fog, snow & ice).
