Pre match: Southampton away

[Modo]

Saturday 3PM - St Mary's

Southampton injury news:

Tadic (broken nose). Will probably play with a protective mask.
Forster (abdominal injury). Will most likely play.
Shane Long (Hamstring). Might be back.

Form: W D W D L L

Last line up:

-----------------Forster

Mashida---Fonte---van Dijk---Bertrand

---Clasie------Romeu------Davis

------------------Tadic

------Austin-------------Redmond

Comments: Puel has played with 4 different fullbacks in the last three games (Martina, Bertrand, Mashida and McQueen). The rest of the line up has been the same.

The team is in a bit of a slump at the moment with one draw and two losses on the trot.
It is noteworthy to mention that City and Chelsea were two of the teams they played.
They did however beat Inter Milan in the Europa League.

The latest Hull game must surely be the worst result. Despite taking an early lead through a Austin penalty, getting 15 shots off and 8 on target, with 68% possession, they didn't come away with any points. Marshall had a stormer in goal.
Their most important player in attack is obviously Tadic who pretty much acts as their playmaker.
In defence they've got two capable CB's in Fonte and Van Dijk.
We also have to look out for Austin and Redmond.

Our team:

I wouldn't change a thing. A rested Can, who scored during the weekend against Accrington in midfield along with Lallana who's back on form it seems and Henderson.
The usual back four, with Clyne who isn't starting for England, Milner (retired), Matip (hiatus) and Lovren, who for some reason asked to be left out of the Croatia squad.

Mané played 90 mins in Sengal's 2-1 loss against South Africa on Saturday and should be back in Liverpool by now.
Coutinho and Firmino are travelling to Peru on Wednesday and will hopefully be back with the squad a day before the game. Those two are obviously our biggest worries. In what shape will they be in, when they return?
Jet-lagged and tired I imagine.

Karius, who also isn't on international duty, in goal.

 

[TSD]

If Coutinho and Firmino aren't fit enough to start, I wouldn't mind seeing Sturridge and Orgi upfront with Mane behind them.

 

[YNWA]

Going by the experience from the last international break i expect Firminho to start. Phillipe on the bench with Sturidge to start in his place.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I wouldn't be massively surprised if he rests both the Brazilians from the first team & has them on the bench should we need them.

Mane & Sturridge showed promise played together, could be worth a shot playing those two with Lallana behind them.

At some point it's almost inevitable we'll be without one or both of them so proving the system can win regardless of who operates it may be a good choice.

 

[Woland]

Fuck that shit. Play them both, get a decent lead, hook them after an hour. They're off for a week after that

 

[FoxForceFive]

Fuck that shit. Play them both, get a decent lead, hook them after an hour. They're off for a week after that

I wouldn't be surprised if he did that either.

Aren't they playing at some ridiculous altitude midweek though? There's a chance they could be off their game in a big way with that kind of exertion & little respite in between.

 

[HC]

firmino isn't a starter for brazil is he ?

stick a few pills in their powerade or whatever ti duck it is and then hook em after 60 minutes when their shagged .

I guess wijnaldum,Sturridge and origi would all be fit and on the bench to come in ,so id like to think we will have enough for the saints either way

 

[737Max]

In the words of @Woland and @cloggypop let's snot these!

 

[Brizzle]

Origi will have happy memories of playing Saints should it come to that.

 

[Hansern]

As Woland said, we're off for a week after this game. Firmino doesnt start for Brazil so he should be alright. Coutinho will obviously be starting but if he's okay, he should start. Rather sub him after 60 mins and hopefully be in the lead.
It all depends on his fitness levels obviously, dont want to risk an injury.

The rest of the team is a given although its close between Gini and Can.
I'd be tempted to start Origi aswell.

Soton are a good solid football team and got more then enough good players to get something from this match.

We need to be at our best.

 

[Skullflower]

just remembered we're top of the league. forgot. fucking internationals.

 

[moron]

I wish we were not top of the league right now - makes me more nervous about playing Southampton - like on the same scale as if it was United we were facing or any of the other top clubs. Don't like this feeling at all. Shit !!! why did we have to be so good so early - only one way now which is down as we can't go any further up. FUCK FUCK !!!

 

[Modo]

I wish we were not top of the league right now - makes me more nervous about playing Southampton - like on the same scale as if it was United we were facing or any of the other top clubs. Don't like this feeling at all. Shit !!! why did we have to be so good so early - only one way now which is down as we can't go any further up. FUCK FUCK !!!

What?!
I'd rather see us in the lead and having other teams drop off than being behind and hoping the ones ahead of us drop points.

 

[jason]

I wish we were not top of the league right now - makes me more nervous about playing Southampton - like on the same scale as if it was United we were facing or any of the other top clubs. Don't like this feeling at all. Shit !!! why did we have to be so good so early - only one way now which is down as we can't go any further up. FUCK FUCK !!!

You sound like an attention seeking girl.

 

[Hansern]

Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino to return to Liverpool on Wednesday after club charter private jet

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2016/1...liverpool-wednesday-club-charter-private-jet/

 

[Modo]

Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino to return to Liverpool on Wednesday after club charter private jet

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2016/1...liverpool-wednesday-club-charter-private-jet/

Hope they have bitches on it too.

 

[Mors]

With the game being Saturday, and those pair playing Weds night, I think Coutinho not starting has a very good chance. Maybe if it was Sunday they'd both start.

I'd predict:

.................Karius
Clyne..Lovren..Matip..Milner
.....WIjnaldum.....Henderson
...............Lallana
Mane......Sturridge......Firmino

 

[the count]

With the game being Saturday, and those pair playing Weds night, I think Coutinho not starting has a very good chance. Maybe if it was Sunday they'd both start.

I'd predict:

.................Karius
Clyne..Lovren..Matip..Milner
.....WIjnaldum.....Henderson
...............Lallana
Mane......Sturridge......Firmino

They are playing the early hours of Wednesday morning GMT and are expected to be back in Liverpool late Wednesday evening GMT

 

[Mors]

Ahhh ok then, thought it was weds night into thurs. in that case then just swap out Sturridge for coutinho

 

[Shadey]

Ex Southampton Lallana scores a penalty for England v Pepe Reina

 

[Insignificance]

Hope they have bitches on it too.

Yeah both Luiz and Willian are onboard same plane.

 

[doctor_mac]

Another big game. Another significant hurdle. Fortunately, a lot of our key players seem to be in the form of their lives– Lallana, Coutinho and Mane in particular. It is a tough game, but you have to fancy us for a win.

 

[manwithnoname]

Another big game. Another significant hurdle. Fortunately, a lot of our key players seem to be in the form of their lives– Lallana, Coutinho and Mane in particular. It is a tough game, but you have to fancy us for a win.

Yeah, if they all come back free of injury, and maintain recent form, then there's no team we can't beat. Even a tricky away game at Southampton, who are a decent side.

 

[Modo]

Apparently Lallana injured his groin muscle again and it doesn't surprise me since it's a bitch of an injury to carry. I mean we all know about Gerrard's history with those types of injuries.

I've had some trouble with that during my playing days as well and just like Lallana it felt OK a few hours afterwards and you could probably play for a while with it, but as soon as you exert yourself in a game you'll feel it again. I really don't think he should play against Southampton.
He won't be 100%.

 

[Hansern]

Is it confirmed? Was reported as a calf problem as well.

 

[Modo]

Is it confirmed? Was reported as a calf problem as well.

Pearce and Oliver reporting it

 

[the count]

Anfield HQ ‏@AnfieldHQ 6m6 minutes ago
Lallana is set to miss a reunion with Southampton through injury, with Wijnaldum set to replace him. (Dominic King)

 

[moron]

Anfield HQ ‏@AnfieldHQ 6m6 minutes ago
Lallana is set to miss a reunion with Southampton through injury, with Wijnaldum set to replace him. (Dominic King)

Ok - that is not good news - and I really did not expect myself to say such a thing when the injury is to Adam Lallana. Having watched England struggle after he went off - it is now easy to notice what he offers our team. This from me a person who is not 100% luved up on him like many of you. However, I believe we have enough talent to win the game - and you would think so.

 

[Modo]

If Wijnaldum plays well Lallana will have a hard time getting his spot back. Wijnaldum's lost his spot to Can when he was out so Klopp seems to be having a sort of "survival of the fittest" take on the midfield players.

 

[moron]

If Wijnaldum plays well Lallana will have a hard time getting his spot back. Wijnaldum's lost his spot to Can when he was out so Klopp seems to be having a sort of "survival of the fittest" take on the midfield players.

I think Gini may play very well if given the license to attack more like Lallana. He has similar qualities in terms of close ball control in tight spaces but is much stronger holding off others than Lallana is. I hope he really grabs the chance to make that impact. I was actually surprised that Can maintained his place in the team after that shocking game against United - but I guess it was his first game after a while that night.