Your line up away to Stoke..

[Buddha]

What is it? Presuming we've finished our spending with the Benteke deal how would YOU line up on day one of the season in a tricky away match vs Hughes' men?

I'd go...

-------------------------------Mignolet--------------------------------

Clyne------------Skrtel------------------Sakho--------------Moreno/Gomez

--------------------------------Can---------------------------------------

--------------------Milner--------------Hendo--------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------Coutinho-----------
-----------------------Firmino-------------------------------------------

--------------------------------Benteke------------------------------------


...with Coutinho / Firmino playing with freedom and flexibility to swap around - a kind of offset diamond. If it's not working we have options to switch to an orthodox 4-3-3 with Ibe coming in on the right (and even Ings as a wide forward) and Lallana for either side.

Alternatively, I wouldn't be averse to seeing this at some point...

-----------------------------Mignolet---------------------------------

-----------Ilori------------Skrtel--------------Sakho--------------

Clyne--------------------Can-------------------------Moreno----

------------------Hendo------------Milner-------------------------

-------------------------Coutinho/Firmino-----------------------

-----------------------------Benteke------------------------------

 

[Mystic]

442 diamond

Ming

Clyne
Skrtel
Sakho
Moreno

Lucas
Milner
Henderson
Coutinho

Firmino
Benteke

 

[mark1975]

-------------------Ming-------------------
----------Skrtel--------Sakho----------
Clyne-----------Can----------Gomez
---------Hendo--------Milner-----------
--Firmino---Benteke-------Coutinho

 

[gkmacca]

I'd have to see Firmino play a couple of pre-season games to feel it was right to start him in the first league game.

 

[mark1975]

I'd have to see Firmino play a couple of pre-season games to feel it was right to start him in the first league game.

I'd put Ibe in initially, I think he'll probably play, but like you say, we need to see Firmino play.

 

[superchimp]

442 diamond

Ming

Clyne
Skrtel
Sakho
Moreno

Lucas
Milner
Henderson
Coutinho

Firmino
Benteke

Lucas, Milner and Henderson all in the same midfield is going to be very little creativity.

 

[Mystic]

Lucas, Milner and Henderson all in the same midfield is going to be very little creativity.

Milner and Henderson both have fantastic output.

 

[eecheerow]

Mignolet

Clyne
Skrtel
Sakho
Moreno

Milner
Lucas
Henderson

Lallana
Benteke
Ibe


Bogdan, Gomez, Lovren, Allen, Coutinho, Firmino and Ings on the bench.

I can't see Firmino or Can starting having just come back to full training so soon before the match, and I'd be a bit surprised to see Coutinho start for the same reason. Lallana's been in good form thus far, as has Ibe, so I'd start the two of them either side of Benteke (who has been training with Villa).

As an aside, I hope we'll see the diamond used as our preferred formation throughout much of the season (and Rodgers could even do one with the aforementioned players by putting Lallana at the tip and having Ibe start alongside Benteke) but I think we'll opt for 4-3-3 to start against Stoke.

 

[Fabio]

Of firmino isn't ready, Markovic should start

 

[Oncy]

Mignolet
Moreno
Sakho
Skrtel
Clyne

Lucas
Henderson
Milner

Coutinho
Benteke
Lallana

 

[Gary25]

Mignolet
Moreno
Sakho
Skrtel
Clyne

Lucas
Henderson
Milner

Coutinho
Benteke
Lallana

I'd go with that also.

 

[Woland]

Are we following on? Like in cricket?

 

[Fallon]

Mark's team with the Brazilians coming off the bench, Ibe and Lallana to start instead.

 

[Mors]

I dunno yet. I don't know about Can at DM yet, will have to see where the boss plays him during the friendlies, I'm not sure he's got the discipline for DM yet, I hope I'm wrong. If not, it has to go to fucking lucas.

 

[Frogfish]

-------------------Ming-------------------
----------Skrtel--------Sakho----------
Clyne-----------Can Lucas----------Gomez
---------Hendo--------Milner-----------
--Firmino---Benteke-------Coutinho

This but with Lucas instead of Can.

 

[redhorizon2]

I'd like to give Balotelli one more chance

 

[Wiberg]

I'd like to give Balotelli one more chance

Thats a ban? Are there no limits here?

 

[dantes]

I'd play three centre backs, and Ibe as left wing back.

Mignolet

Gomez
Skrtel
Sakho

Clyne
Henderson
Milner
Ibe

Lallana
Coutinho

Benteke

 

[Ryan]

Mignolet
Moreno
Sakho
Skrtel
Clyne

Lucas
Henderson
Milner

Coutinho
Benteke
Lallana

Swop Gomez for Moreno and that's it.

 

[Skullflower]

100% agree

 

[redhorizon2]

Thats a ban? Are there no limits here?

Why ban Super Mario? He lacks confidence and your remarks if he stumbles upon are not helping.

 

[Molbystwin]

Bogdan
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Hendo Milner Lucas
Coutinho Benteke Lallana

 

[Buddha]

Bogdan?

 

[Pesam]

Bogdan?

It's not the worst call, Bogdan is 6'5" and a more physical presence than Ming which against Stoke's high ball game could prove useful. That said, Stoke don't rely on the high ball as much under Mark Hughes - and it would be a big risk throwing Bogdan in so soon. I'd start with Ming but if he starts the season poorly wouldn't have any hesitation in seeing what Bogdan has to offer.

 

[Silver Sean]

If I was BR I'd sit in quiet room and remember how the team he sent out last time recorded LFC's worst league defeat for over have a century. Then I'd calmly write my resignation letter and back date it to five minutes after that final whistle.

 

[mark1975]

*yawn*

 

[Rosco]

Benteke

Ibe Firmino Coutinho

Henderson Milner

Moreno Sakho Skrtel Clyne

Mignolet

 

[Hansern]

Dont know about starting both Coutinho and Firmino after 1 pre season game and 9 days of training.
Coutinho will probably start though, but if he isnt fit enough it will be Ibe.

Ming
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Gomez
Henderson Lucas Milner
Coutinho(Ibe) Lallana
Benteke

 

[Rosco]

I just go on the theory that the less shit players in the team the better we'll be

 

[Skullflower]

Lallana will start