Villarreal v Liverpool pre match chat

[the count]

Referee revealed for Villarreal v Liverpool in the Europa League

• 09:31, 27 APR 2016
• UPDATED 09:31, 27 APR 2016
• BY JAMES PEARCE

Slovenian referee who riled Jose Mourinho earlier in season will take charge of Liverpool's Europa League semi-final first leg with Villarreal

Referee Damir Skomina of Slovenia
The Slovenian referee who riled Jose Mourinho earlier this season will take charge ofLiverpool's Europa League semi-final first leg with Villarreal.
Damir Skomina was branded “weak and naive” by Mourinho after he failed to give Chelsea a penalty in a goalless draw away to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League last October.
Skomina, 39, boasts plenty of experience having officiated at over 100 UEFA matches and has had his FIFA badge since 2003.
The only previous occasion he has refereed a Liverpool game was last season's defeat to Besiktas in Istanbul which saw the Reds crash out of the Europa League at the last 32 stage on penalties.

Damir Skomina on the pitch during Sevilla v Athletic Bilbao

Liverpool, who fly to Spain on Wednesday lunchtime, don't have to worry about anyone walking a disciplinary tightrope.
All bookings accrued prior to the semi-final stage have now been wiped out.
That will be a relief to Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne, who were all one yellow card away from a ban.
UEFA changed their rules in 2014 to make it harder for players to be suspended for European finals.

 

[the count]

James Pearce ‏@JamesPearceEcho 6m6 minutes ago
Benteke on the plane to Villarreal. So are McAteer and McManaman but they are less likely to feature. #LFC

 

[doctor_mac]

James Pearce ‏@JamesPearceEcho 6m6 minutes ago
Benteke on the plane to Villarreal. So are McAteer and McManaman but they are less likely to feature. #LFC

Only marginally.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

They are still more likely to score a one-on-one though.

 

[Modo]

There's no chance Klopp is planning to play Benteke ahead of Sturridge, is there?

Team kind of picks itself:

--------------------------Flapparella

Clynie------Lovren-----------------Kolo--------Moreno

------------------------Lucky Luke

-----------Millie-------------------------------Banana

Firmy------------------Studgie----------------Coutinho

 

[tombrown]

There's no chance Klopp is planning to play Benteke ahead of Sturridge, is there?

Team kind of picks itself:

--------------------------Flapparella

Clynie------Lovren-----------------Kolo--------Moreno

------------------------Lucky Luke

-----------McAteer-------------------------------Banana

McManaman------------------Studgie----------------Coutinho

 

[Silver Sean]

Will be a lot tougher than a lot think, I reckon. A very tidy side. 0-0 would be excellent, an away goal even better, but our squad is depleting at an alarming rate. Winning this with no Henderson, Can, Origi and Sakho would be a very good result.

 

[Frogfish]

Will be a lot tougher than a lot think, I reckon. A very tidy side. 0-0 would be excellent, an away goal even better, but our squad is depleting at an alarming rate. Winning this with no Henderson, Can, Origi and Sakho would be a very good result.

Though supposedly not on the form of 4-6 weeks ago, last 3 results in La Liga LLD (0-0 last weekend). Fingers crossed.

 

[tony]

Ha Flapparella! very apt

 

[Dreambeliever]

They have been excellent at home in Europe anything but a defeat would be an excellent result.

Surely it will be Skrtel ahead of Kolo

 

[Ryan]

There's no chance Klopp is planning to play Benteke ahead of Sturridge, is there?

Team kind of picks itself:

--------------------------Flapparella

Clynie------Lovren-----------------Kolo--------Moreno

------------------------Lucky Luke

-----------Millie-------------------------------Banana

Firmy------------------Studgie----------------Coutinho

I think he might go with the midfield diamond again and keep Allen in there, maybe at the expense of Lallana.

Also ask the full backs to limit their forward runs to stay compact and not concede. From the little I've seen of Villareal, they play a compact tight, short-passing game, hence why Klopp might go with the diamond and flood the midfield.

 

[manwithnoname]

I hope Ryan's right, but with Allen instead of Lucas.

 

[moron]

James Pearce ‏@JamesPearceEcho 6m6 minutes ago
Benteke on the plane to Villarreal. So are McAteer and McManaman but they are less likely to feature. #LFC

We may need him.

 

[manwithnoname]

Wonder if Firmino will be dropped? He deserves it. Might be Coutinho, Lallana and Sturridge, with Milner, Allen and Lucas.

 

[Modo]

That's a very unfortunate picture of the ref.

 

[Hansern]

Ming
Clyne Lovren Kolo Moreno
Milner Lucas Allen
Lallana Coutinho
Sturridge

Not much pace there but decent amount of movement and pressing. Hopefully this game will be very tight and a 0-0 or 1-1.

 

[Mystic]

I know nothing about Villarreal but I'm certainly nervous about playing them. I hope that we Rafa this match, a score draw or a dull 0-1 would be perfect.

 

[dee]

I assume Skittles is fit again? Doubt Kolo can waddle for a full 90

 

[Modo]

I assume Skittles is fit again? Doubt Kolo can waddle for a full 90

Fit again, but fit enough?
We all saw what happened against Southampton.

 

[Skullflower]

Klopp seems to be in a bad mood here.

 

[dee]

5:15 kickoff!!!!

 

[Mystic]

5:15 kickoff!!!!

what?

 

[Hansern]

Fit again, but fit enough?
We all saw what happened against Southampton.

Think Skrtel is out in the cold regardless. Kolo will start.

 

[dee]

what?

Skullflower's post had 5:15pm on it which made me worried that KO was 5:15 pm but I've just checked and it is 8:05 BST.

 

[Modo]

Moreno still doesn't speak English?

 

[Modo]

5:15 kickoff!!!!

Yeah in New York or something

 

[Mystic]

Moreno still doesn't speak English?

He probably does, just not at press conference competence.

 

[Modo]

He probably does, just not at press conference competence.

The questions weren't that difficult. Looked like he didn't understand them at all.

 

[doctor_mac]

Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez will be at Villarreal vs #LFC tonight to watch Coutinho , acc to SPORT

 

[Modo]

Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez will be at Villarreal vs #LFC tonight to watch Coutinho , acc to SPORT

I really don't get that.
I mean physically being there to watch him for one game. What if he's shit in that game?