Sunderland (H)

[Brizzle]

So.. back to Anfield!

I would personally like to see one or two changes for this, and it is largely due to wanting to get Lucas back to match fitness/ sharpness on the likelihood that Gerrard gets that 2 game ban and missed one of Chelsea/ City.

I also worry about Altidore (who will definitely start with Borini not able to and Fletcher being... shit).


----------------Mignolet---------------
Johnson---Skrtel---Sakho---Flanno
-----------------Lucas------------------
----------Hendo------Allen------------
Sterling----------------------Suarez---
----------------Sturridge----------------

The Korean chap in their midfield runs the show for Sunderland when they are playing well and I think the presence of Lucas to harry will be Qi (geddit) to keeping them quiet. Other than that, business as usual with Sterling back from the start to keep their full backs quiet and Sakho because I think Agger had a bit of a shocker against Cardiff and so I expect to see Sakho return.

 

[Brizzle]

I do also think it is more probable that Allen is dropped for Lucas, but either way I think Lucas will be starting.

 

[mark1975]

I kinda wished Gerrard would have got a one match ban against these so he's ok for the run-in.

 

[Mystic]

Isn't the Korean chap called Ki not Qi?

 

[Dreambeliever]

Why change a winning side??

I think everyone deserves to stay in the team bar Agger who was shite

 

[DHSC]

I took the day off for this (4 am thu morning here in Singapore) so I hope we score at least 7 goals.

 

[Silver Sean]

You're worried about Altidore. Seriously? Wow.

 

[mark1975]

Cue an Altidore goal

 

[Mystic]

To be fair, our defenders always shit themselves against big powerful centre forwards.

 

[Silver Sean]

I'm not saying he won't score. I'm just pretty sure the result of the game won't be dependent on how we defend against that lump.

 

[Mors]

I'd try to keep pretty much the same team for the rest of the season if we can, they're not likely to get knackered, and this team is playing well together. The only 2 to really rotate is coutinho-sterling.

 

[FoxForceFive]

That's ignoring the fact that Gerrard misses two games if he gets another yellow.

 

[keniget]

Ming, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flannagan, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge

I've gone for all out attack.

Agger keeps his place because he's good in possession (though I wouldn't particularly care if Sakho came in for him).

Gerrard keeps his place because he's proven to be a very important asset when we're attacking in my opinion. I've put Henderson in but really it boils down to whoever is in better physical condition for this game and I assumed that it's Henderson.

Both Coutinho and Sterling should be reasonably fresh as they've both been rotated recently, which helps given that it's a midweek game and players may be a little more tired than usual. They should also both be keen to prove that they deserve a place over the other going forward.

Sunderland will hopefully be a little bit cagey given that the game is at Anfield and we should start absolutely looking for the kill. If that happens, we can then rest a couple players.

 

[Brizzle]

I like the idea of both Sterling and Coutinho. Go for the jugular! I'd be happy to see that team.

 

[Mystic]

I'd rest Gerrard for this one, bring in Lucas, I'd also bring in Sakho. Give them armband to Luis.

 

[FoxForceFive]

But we need Gerrard to get his suspension out of the way now.

 

[RedZeppelin III]

yeah i'm wondering also if he'll start both sterling and coutinho now that we're at home again . Allen might be the one dropping out .

 

[Insignificance]

But we need Gerrard to get his suspension out of the way now.

Maybe he should be rested for Sunderland. Then if he gets booked against Spurs he delibaretely get another for a one game suspension. If he doesnt he rests against West Ham. We need him shipshaped aginst the big guns, and he has been pulling the strings in a new position for a long time. Lucas should be capable for alternating there.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Maybe he should be rested for Sunderland. Then if he gets booked against Spurs he delibaretely get another for a one game suspension. If he doesnt he rests against West Ham. We need him shipshaped aginst the big guns, and he has been pulling the strings in a new position for a long time. Lucas should be capable for alternating there.

It's a two game suspension, not a one game. He needs to play against Sunderland & get a booking.

 

[Buddha]

One nightmare period of one game aside, Sakho is actually very good in possession of the ball with very high average pass completion. .

We needn't keep Agger in the side just because 'he's good in possession'.

 

[Hansern]

Get Sakho in there

 

[Mystic]

Yeh, I don't understand why people don't think Sakho is good with the ball, he's arguably better than Agger with it, but I suppose he doesn't go on those once a ball pointless meanders like Agger, so no one notices it.

 

[Hansern]

Sakho has the best passing percentage in the whole squad, so that isnt the problem.
Agger doesnt deserve to be dropped though but Sakho needs some game time and the Sunderland game is perfect for him.

 

[SummerOnions]

Mig
Johnson Skrtel Sakho Flan
Lucas Henderson
Sterling Coutinho Suarez
Sturridge

Hopefully Dossena plays LB for them cos Alonso got sent off last game

 

[keniget]

Yeh, I don't understand why people don't think Sakho is good with the ball, he's arguably better than Agger with it, but I suppose he doesn't go on those once a ball pointless meanders like Agger, so no one notices it.

Has anyone said (in this thread) that Sakho is bad with the ball? And why are they "pointless meanders"? And is it a case of once a game?

The truth is that the whole "Agger is rated because every now and again he dribbles past a player or two" is one of those 6CM bandwagons that people like to jump on because it makes them feel a little bit superior to others.

I suppose that next time Skrtel brings the ball out of the defence, which he does tend to do "once a game", we'll have to label it a pointless meander too.

 

[Mystic]

Has anyone said (in this thread) that Sakho is bad with the ball? And why are they "pointless meanders"? And is it a case of once a game?

The truth is that the whole "Agger is rated because every now and again he dribbles past a player or two" is one of those 6CM bandwagons that people like to jump on because it makes them feel a little bit superior to others.

I suppose that next time Skrtel brings the ball out of the defence, which he does tend to do "once a game", we'll have to label it a pointless meander too.

People speak as if Agger is the only defender who's good on the ball, "pointless meanders" was hyperbole on my behalf to exaggerate my point that his dribbling artificially inflate peoples opinion on the matter. Both Skrtel and more so Sakho are very good on the ball, but people constantly talk as if Agger is the only player in our defence who knows how to kick it properly.

 

[Fallon]

Sakho has the best passing percentage in the whole squad, so that isnt the problem.
Agger doesnt deserve to be dropped though but Sakho needs some game time and the Sunderland game is perfect for him.

Culpable on both goal 2 (Along with Gerrard) and 3 (Along with Skrtel) on Saturday, let's not overlook Agger's recent shortcomings. Sakho needs fitness and also wants to re-establish his place, I would expect at least a comparative performance out of him, but with a much bigger ceiling for form.

 

[keniget]

People speak as if Agger is the only defender who's good on the ball, "pointless meanders" was hyperbole on my behalf to exaggerate my point that his dribbling artificially inflate peoples opinion on the matter. Both Skrtel and more so Sakho are very good on the ball, but people constantly talk as if Agger is the only player in our defence who knows how to kick it properly.

Do they?

So do you think there is no real discernible difference in terms of ability on the ball between our centre-backs?

 

[Modo]

Still love that run he did against Zenit:

 

[Mystic]

Do they?

So do you think there is no real discernible difference in terms of ability on the ball between our centre-backs?

Yes they do, and purely on a passing level, there's not much to choose between Agger and Sakho.