Match Day Liverpool v Swansea, Saturday 21st January 12:30

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[G-Dragon]

 

[SALTIRE]

Just don't G, the last time you did that we drew against effin' Sunderland.

 

[G-Dragon]

That was just an anomaly

 

[Bilo]

This is about as much of a must win as they come, especially with Chelsea coming up. The league is ridiculously tight.

 

[Dirk]

I fear the worst, "easy peasy...." and "must win".....let me take a short look at my 1FF PL prediction....

3-1 Liverpool.

OK, that's it. 2 "proven Reds prediction experts" and a noob (me) are predicting a Liverpool win. Who dares to say anything else than a win? (steven of course...and a Swans supporter maybe)

 

[Stevencc]

Not me Dirk, this should be a walkover for Liverpool. 3 or 4 to nil.

 

[Bilo]

Steven always predicts a Liverpool win.

 

[Stevencc]

Steven always predicts a Liverpool win.

That's patently not true, as evidenced by my prediction in your very last league game. Had justice prevailed I would have been spot on, too.

 

[Pagnell]

At home against a team that has bagged 7 points from a possible 30 on the road this season. We'll have this no bother.

3-1.

 

[G-Dragon]

JOEL MATIP ELIGIBLE TO PLAY! GOOD NEWS!. But will probably start on bench tmr.

 

[Moriarty]

great news that matip is back. coutinho has a bit of game time this week so should be a bit sharper. mane is a big miss but I think we should win this game. I'm going for 2-0 Liverpool.

 

[SALTIRE]

About bloody time on Matip! Hoping for a cohesive performance and a good win to get back on track. Have a bad feeling it'll be a draw though, dunno why.

 

[Moriarty]

you have that feeling because we have a habit of blowing up against scrub teams.

 

[SALTIRE]

you have that feeling because we have a habit of blowing up against scrub teams.

Yep, and the team though near enough back all together (excluding Mane obviously) have looked a bit fatigued recently. If the sharpness, cleverness and movement are there, then it will be comfortable. If not, I can see it being a frustrating game, particularly with it being an early K/O.

Welcome to the forum btw

 

[Moriarty]

thanks mate. the problem we have with mane missing is we push Lallana into the front 3 and we don't see the best of him there. klopp pulled off a master stroke buy playing Lallana in a MF 3. tbh when he first did it I thought it was a bad move but Henderson Lallana and gini in MF works a treat. when everyone if fit we have a good team but our squad needs improvement.

 

[SALTIRE]

thanks mate. the problem we have with mane missing is we push Lallana into the front 3 and we don't see the best of him there. klopp pulled off a master stroke buy playing Lallana in a MF 3. tbh when he first did it I thought it was a bad move but Henderson Lallana and gini in MF works a treat. when everyone if fit we have a good team but our squad needs improvement.

I actually think he'll put Lallana in the front three tomorrow and drop Origi and Sturridge. Completely agree about Lallana though, he has been the most improved player in the squad this season and dropping him into midfield gives him more freedom and space to find a pass or link-up with the front three, whilst pressing the opposition.

I also have doubts about whether we have enough real depth for the title this year and fear that not signing anyone this window, which looks increasingly likely, could be the reason Liverpool will fall short this season. However if we can keep everyone fit, with a bit of luck it could still happen. But if we can't put teams like Sunderland and Swansea away, it wouldn't be deserved anyway.

 

[Moriarty]

we badly need a top class goal keeper. no team in history have won titles with a bad keeper and we have 3 of them. the truth is we don't have money to spend like man u. man city or Chelsea so its hard for us to get good players in jan without over paying for them. I agree with klopp when he says we need players for years not just for now. imo klopp is the best manager in the world to take us forward without needing to spend £200mil like city. Chelsea and man u. good luck to them teams if they can blow that kind of money but we need to be smart. apart from the keeper he signed who is young and could come good all of klopps signings have worked out well. if we can get into the champions lge next season I will be happy with that. with a bit of luck we might win a cup.

 

[G-Dragon]

I thought Mignolet has done really well so far this season? Undeservedly dropped, but came back even better. Even Karius looked good in last couple of cup games.

I actually think he'll put Lallana in the front three tomorrow and drop Origi and Sturridge. Completely agree about Lallana though, he has been the most improved player in the squad this season and dropping him into midfield gives him more freedom and space to find a pass or link-up with the front three, whilst pressing the opposition.

I am hoping he plays Lallana deeper, drop one of Gini or Can. Front three of Coutinho Firmino and Origi or Sturridge.

 

[Pagnell]

I've just seen the Spurs fixture. City will be gunning after the Everton result so I expect a draw in that game or perhaps even a City win. We should be back into 2nd by close of play today.

 

[Bilo]

Should is such a horrible word.

 

[Bilo]

The above speculation was pretty much spot on. Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum; Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino.

Klopp obviously prefers Can over Sturridge/Origi right now and I don't disagree with that. While Lallana is more effective down the middle, he's still racked up the points from the wing when he's played there.

 

[Pagnell]

Should is such a horrible word.

Hence the italics.

 

[Abertawe]

Hence the italics.

Enough of the cheek.

 

[snortingfrogs]

Hopefully we will bag a few goals soon, we must win.

 

[Stevencc]

Liverpool have had most of the ball, as you'd expect them to, but Swansea have come the closest to scoring so far, hitting the post.

Liverpool's best chances have come from crosses, where's Benteke when you need him?

 

[Pagnell]

I'm sick if this 11 men behind the ball shit from opposition at Anfield. Literally in this case. Not a single player for Swansea near the half way line for most of that half, never mind beyond it.

Annoyingly, it seems to work if a point is the aim.

 

[Abertawe]

I'm sick if this 11 men behind the ball shit from opposition at Anfield. Literally in this case. Not a single player for Swansea near the half way line for most of that half, never mind beyond it.

Annoyingly, it seems to work if a point is the aim.

Most of your recent trophies were won in that manner you spiv.

 

[Pagnell]

I take it you're aware that the simple act of claiming something doesn't necessarily make it true?

 

[Bilo]

Yeah Cardiff battered us.

We miss Mané horribly. If we're going to rely on pace down the wings, having just one pacy winger is costly. Especially with the AFCON.