Pre Match Pre Match - Newcastle (Anfield South) - Sun 16:30

[Brizzle]

Time to move on from PSG, we have a trophy to win.

Worried about the accumulation of minutes in the legs for many but i just don’t see Slot rotating. I’m expecting same as yesterday except Quansah for Trent if he’s hurt.

Robbo and Gravy will be knackered. Diaz and Szobo ran themselves into the ground. It’s a huge ask now.

I think Slot will be more likely to roll early subs than rotate though.

Gakpo looked like he wasn’t ready to play which would be a big loss again. He was really looking the player we need on the left up until that knock.

Jota shouldn’t be in the pitch. I’d give Darwin redemption for the pen, as he showed 5 times the desire and intent last night that Jota who looks mentally checked out.

 

[Fabio]

I think if we don't win it in the 90, we lose

 

[Hansern]

Its 5 days from PSG to the final. Yesterdays 120 mins wont be a problem. If anything the mental drainage of getting eliminated would be the worst given the final is the next game. Ideally you'd want a league game in between.

Everyone will be fit to play bar Trent I reckon.

I'd start the same team as yesterday but with Quansah for Trent. Darwin can get fucked.

 

[Brizzle]

Its 5 days from PSG to the final. Yesterdays 120 mins wont be a problem. If anything the mental drainage of getting eliminated would be the worst given the final is the next game. Ideally you'd want a league game in between.

Everyone will be fit to play bar Trent I reckon.

I'd start the same team as yesterday but with Quansah for Trent. Darwin can get fucked.

I’d start Darwin over Jota.

 

[Modo]

Jota had a poor performance yesterday, and while I’m not "super keen" on defend him, Salah wasn’t any better.

I don’t believe Jota has mentally checked out. I try to read players’ body language on the pitch, and what stood out yesterday for me, was Jota’s frustration at not receiving the ball in the box.

How often did we see Salah send crosses straight to the keeper yesterday?

And what about Macca’s pass? It should have gone to Jota but ended up at Salah’s feet instead.

To stay involved, Jota often drops deeper on the pitch. Unfortunately, this means he’s frequently out of position when he should be where he’s most effective.

We need to see this happen more often:

View: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=736852293570136

Those kind of passes is kinda what I'm missing from our midfielders.

 

[Hansern]

I’d start Darwin over Jota.

Not for me. I think we know with Jota that he needs a few games to get going. Yesterday will have been good for him in that sense. Not sure what to expect from Darwin from now on and until the end of the season. He probably knows he's off.

 

[MomoWASright]

Jota is broken. We need someone mobile on that pitch. That also counts out Gakpo.

Alisson
Quansah
Konate
Van dijk
Tsimikas
Gravenberch
Szoboszlai
Mac Allister
Salah
Nunez
Diaz

 

[Hansern]

We also need someone who isn’t brain dead though

 

[MomoWASright]

We also need someone who isn’t brain dead though

Brain dead vs body dead. Tough choice.

 

[mark1975]

Newcastle have a robust and technically good midfield, ours looks dead on its feet. Either make some changes or play four again.

If we play four I'd give Elliott a chance, Jones has been shite of late and Elliott is more direct.

 

[Fabio]

Jota and Nunez aren't good enough to start for us. Do we revert to Diaz at 9 (shudder), or 2 attacking mids?

I'd be fine with

Ali
Quansah Ibou VVD Robbo

Gravy Macca

Salah szob Jones/Harvs Diaz

 

[Frogfish]

Considering the minutes in their legs and out of form players this isn't an easy selection - for us fans. No doubt Slot will just keep playing the same players, though the 5 days rest should be enough for them to recover and get over the disappointment of going out to PSG. I've no doubt that once they arrive at Wembley and the big build up commences and the massive crowd will put adrenaline in those legs.

This should be a better match for Jota as we should dominate possession, and for that reason likely to see him start over Nunez. I thought Diaz had a good game vs. PSG but without any end result, he's due a goal/assist and as Gakpo isn't 100% (though an extra 5 days training should see him close) Diaz starts for me.

Konate should be fine, just cramp. Trent didn't look too bad and it's a final, he won't want to miss this - he could recover with those 5 days rest (Quansah in his place if not fit - he was sooo unlucky not to score, one inch the other way, sigh. very very fine margins).

Early subs : Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo, Jones if required, Endo if required.

Alisson

Trent
Konate
VvD
Robbo

Gravenberch
Szoboszlai
Mac Allister

Salah
Jota
Diaz

 

[mark1975]

I wouldn't play the same team as last night, there's not much way you're getting something from that same team again next Sunday. Not when it's performed so leggy over the past week or so.

Asked to provide an update following Tuesday's Champions League exit, Slot revealed: "I have to ask but for me Ibou was more that he was tired than it was an injury. With Trent, he had to come off. That’s never a good sign.

And from what I heard from people that saw the images or how he got injured, that didn’t look very good. So I would be surprised if he is available for Sunday."

 

[Dreambeliever]

Ya I think we are losing this to a fresher team.

Hope I’m wrong.

We look knackered and need a break.

 

[mark1975]

Ya I think we are losing this to a fresher team.

Hope I’m wrong.

We look knackered and need a break.

We could have a break and a bit of a freshen up if Slot would use his squad!

 

[Hansern]

Ya I think we are losing this to a fresher team.

Hope I’m wrong.

We look knackered and need a break.

Newcastle played on Monday and havent looked fresh in any of their last league games.
We've got 5 days from PSG until the final and not another competitive game until the 2nd of April after that.

Stop being a fanny.

 

[Modo]

Ya I think we are losing this to a fresher team.

Hope I’m wrong.

We look knackered and need a break.

Nah, Newcastle are shit and inexperienced in finals.
Hope Kelleher is in goal.

 

[Hansern]

When asked on Wednesday afternoon if he has any more information on the duo, Slot told Liverpoolfc.com: “Not on Trent because it is too early to say.

“With Ibou, we expected only it to be that he was tired or he had some cramps so we are hoping and expecting that he will be ready to play Sunday again.”

 

[FreshRed]

Jota is broken. We need someone mobile on that pitch. That also counts out Gakpo.

Alisson
Quansah
Konate
Van dijk
Tsimikas
Gravenberch
Szoboszlai
Mac Allister
Salah
Nunez
Diaz

Gakpo only had one day of training. He has another four days to get up to speed. Not counting him out yet.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Newcastle played on Monday and havent looked fresh in any of their last league games.
We've got 5 days from PSG until the final and not another competitive game until the 2nd of April after that.

Stop being a fanny.

Hardly being a fanny. We look knackered.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Nah, Newcastle are shit and inexperienced in finals.
Hope Kelleher is in goal.

I hope Alison is. He’s the best in the world. Why the fuck would we put a weaker player in any position?

 

[Modo]

I hope Alison is. He’s the best in the world. Why the fuck would we put a weaker player in any position?

Kelleher was in goal the last two times we won it.

 

[Hansern]

Hardly being a fanny. We look knackered.

No.

 

[King Binny]

View: https://x.com/HKhaliqueLoonat/status/1899863328190570814

 

[MomoWASright]

Someone needs to tell Hamzah that Newcastle are nowhere near the level of PSG.

 

[Tinto]

Kelleher was in goal the last two times we won it.

He’s better at saving penalties than Ali

 

[Modo]

He’s better at saving penalties than Ali

That too

 

[King Binny]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT6io4Y6QZI&list=PL_Zn_tlvDJ1R6vWEtjBoii0Ulcwxc8j0K

 

[mom]

We just outplayed a very very good team in the home tie.
That team would ruin Newcastle.
If we play like we did last night, we win the cup.
It’s true to say it’s mentally a challenge to get back up after a loss, but it’s not like we lost the champions league final. Wasn’t even the quarters.
Get back up and get back on with it. There’s an argument to say they’ll be fired up for the final after this loss. All depends on man management etc.

My only concern is just how good and clinical a finisher Isaak is. Can’t afford to give him anything.

I get that it’s frustrating that we didnt score last night. But we’ve scored plenty this season, so can’t see why not on Sunday. I’m more concerned about defending well.

 

[mark1975]

I don't think we played particularly well, we had a lot of hustle and bustle and were more competetive, but we created little in terms of opening them up. We have players who put in decent crosses but attackers who don't anticipate them well, and we had Trent who looked the only player with the genuine ability to make something happen. Everything else just smacked of exhaustion and a lack of ideas. There seems to be no plan with subs other than for them to take the batton from dead legs.

We have to turn up and be on top and creative, in the last few games we haven't looked like that at all, too many players are way too inconsistent or just knackered.