Pre Match - Ajax (A) - Wednesday 20:00

[Brizzle]

This is coming around quickly. Feels like the midfield is the only unknown but let's assume we rest Thiago to be prudent. Do we need to avoid a midfield trio of Fabs, Hendo & Gini? We do in my opinion unless one of them takes a proper attacking role. I don't think Naby is able to return yet.

--------------Adrian--------------
Trent---Matip---Gomez--Robbo
-------------Fabinho---------------
-----Hendo---------Gini----------
Salah-------Bobby------Mane


I would personally like to see Taki get into the midfield and for us to go on the offensive but I also see the case for keeping it 'normal' in the middle and trying to start safely.

 

[Bradley]

Can't argue with that team really. Jota for Bobby would probably be the only change most would argue for.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Bobby needs a break ... badly.
Gomez also needs to breathe a bit ...

Won't happen, but I'd go with:

--------------Adrian--------------
Trent---Matip---Fabinho--Robbo
-----Hendo---------Gini----------
Mane-------Shaq------Jota
-------------Salah---------------

 

[The Nomad]

Bobby needs a break ... badly.
Gomez also needs to breathe a bit ...

Won't happen, but I'd go with:

--------------Adrian--------------
Trent---Matip---Fabinho--Robbo
-----Hendo---------Gini----------
Mane-------Shaq------Jota
-------------Salah---------------

Swap Shaq for Taki and I think that could be the team.

 

[Gary25]

Mad you lot thinking Shaqiri will start. He'll do well to make the bench.

 

[Hansern]

Matip wont start. Had a scan yesterday after complaining about a leg injury. Nothing was found in the scan, but he wont be risked on wednesday.
It will be Fabinho and Gomez.

 

[Fabio]

For me:

Adrian, Trent, fab, Gomez, Robbo, hendo, gini, taki, mane jota Salah

Injuries init. Could even see origi starting and giving Salah a rest

 

[Brizzle]

It would be suicidal to start Matip, leave him at home to recover for the weekend. I think that opens the door for Millie or Minamino to come in. I suspect it'll be Millie.

--------------Adrian--------------
Trent---Fabs---Gomez--Robbo
-------Hendo------Millie--------
--------------Gini---------------
Salah-------Bobby------Mane

My preference would be for Jota to get a start, but Bobby also excels in the CL so maybe he'll use this to continue finding form.

 

[Hansern]

Naby is probably back for this aswell

 

[Gary25]

Naby is probably back for this aswell

Lol

 

[dmishra]

Keita is back in training after testing negative.

Also, Alisson has started light training and could be back soon.

 

[RedStar]

-----------------Adrian
Trent Gomez Fabinho Robertson
Henderson Keita Wjinaldum
Salah ---------Mané ------Jota

 

[Shadey]

I’ve changed the keeper wiz..

Big John ** plays for the Dog & Gun**
Trent---Matip---Fabinho--Robbo
-----Hendo---------Gini----------
Mane-------Shaq------Jota
-------------Salah---------------

 

[RedStar]

Keita is back in training after testing negative.

Also, Alisson has started light training and could be back soon.

Doubt we see Allison before the City game, that will be his target.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Could get battered here. Ajax will attack us.

Hopefully Mane continues his form

 

[Frogfish]

Could get battered here. Ajax will attack us.

Hopefully Mane continues his form

Jesus Christ. We will win by the odd goal or two, I'll say 1-2.

 

[MomoWASright]

17-0 win for us. They’re Dutch which means they’re shit. They managed to out spurs spurs the other year.

 

[Hansern]

Doubt we see Allison before the City game, that will be his target.

He'll most likely make the West Ham game.

 

[Fabio]

17-0 win for us. They’re Dutch which means they’re shit. They managed to out spurs spurs the other year.

To out-spurs spurs, when playing spurs is just next level spursy behaviour

 

[MomoWASright]

I still cannot believe they had a goal kick with 15 seconds to go and still screwed it up.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I still cannot believe they had a goal kick with 15 seconds to go and still screwed it up.

Yeah, I remember being gutted cos really wanted ajax in the final.

May have been for the best in the end, cos they had the ability to make the game mad & that may have been an issue on the day, whereas spurs didn't have that ability nor the belief to try to control the match properly.

 

[MomoWASright]

Spurs managed to spurs the final. Get there and throw it away in a matter of seconds.

 

[the count]

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

So it’s back to the old Liverpool, where we do things the harder way. We tend to play better when we’re underdogs, don’t we ?

No worries then.

 

[gkmacca]

I'm glad Gini and Klopp really slammed Everton in the presser. There are times when you really have to be candid and this was such a time.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I'm glad Gini and Klopp really slammed Everton in the presser. There are times when you really have to be candid and this was such a time.

We shouldn't let this go ... and again, it's a terrible reflection on ancelotti ... he has said nothing still right?

 

[gkmacca]

We shouldn't let this go ... and again, it's a terrible reflection on ancelotti ... he has said nothing still right?

I think he mumbled something like 'get well soon'. He really bottled it.

But this feels like a breaking point to me. Maybe other fans feel the same, but I've grown sick and tired of derbies, partly because the sheer rage of some bluenoses has become seriously alarming (I mean, some of them, they look and sound like they'd kill someone), and partly because, year in year out, we end up with serious injuries. I started hating the fixture when McMahon and Reid got locked into that ridiculous 'old school' battle that eventually saw them go in two-footed on each other and left them not only crocked but also never the same players ever again. Since then it's gotten worse and worse. I didn't think Ancelotti would encourage it, but one way or another he seems to have let it go. Refs now have to stop that idiotic way of thinking, 'I'll let yellow card offences go for the first half, cos it's a derby', and bloody well ref properly from the first minute onward.

 

[RedStar]

It feels lils for a long time the derby was the most violent fixture in Emglish football, and lets be honest we gave as good as we got. We had some hard players down through the years. We dont have any now, were a pretty soft team.

The last 5 years (maybe more) feels like weve moved on, its been one way traffic from Everton and we have just been open for assault pleading for protection while refs just expect the derby to ref itself. Its not on.

 

[gkmacca]

It feels lils for a long time the derby was the most violent fixture in Emglish football, and lets be honest we gave as good as we got. We had some hard players down through the years. We dont have any now, were a pretty soft team.

The last 5 years (maybe more) feels like weve moved on, its been one way traffic from Everton and we have just been open for assault pleading for protection while refs just expect the derby to ref itself. Its not on.

We're not a soft team at all, we're a very aggressive pressing team. We just don't do GBH like Everton do. Gerrard was the last of the mad dog breed as far as our side is concerned. His ridiculous am-dram 'scratching back of neck in bemusement' routine for the cameras when Rafa substituted him for Lucas - I loved Rafa for doing it.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I think he mumbled something like 'get well soon'. He really bottled it.

But this feels like a breaking point to me. Maybe other fans feel the same, but I've grown sick and tired of derbies, partly because the sheer rage of some bluenoses has become seriously alarming (I mean, some of them, they look and sound like they'd kill someone), and partly because, year in year out, we end up with serious injuries. I started hating the fixture when McMahon and Reid got locked into that ridiculous 'old school' battle that eventually saw them go in two-footed on each other and left them not only crocked but also never the same players ever again. Since then it's gotten worse and worse. I didn't think Ancelotti would encourage it, but one way or another he seems to have let it go. Refs now have to stop that idiotic way of thinking, 'I'll let yellow card offences go for the first half, cos it's a derby', and bloody well ref properly from the first minute onward.

I can't argue with any of that ... I don't mind aggressive, tough footy - but there has to be a line, for safety and respect.
I hope it is a breaking point for the league - they've lost one of their top assets, and almost lost one of the most brilliant midfielders in the process too, in serious foul play.