Team Vs Liverpool (Anfield away)

[RButch]

If Liverpool go for a 3-4-3 then Lamela is a must. His energy and defensive contribution will be vital to us getting anything from the game. However without Lucas (and assuming Can plays CB) they have a big hole in their midfield defensively so the late runs into the box from Chadli and his direct attacking approach could be the difference between the two teams.

Personally I would keep the same team but wouldn't be against Stambouli coming in for Mason. Mason is fantastic at applying pressure but can be over-enthusiastic sometimes and with players with quick feet it could leave us vulnerable on the counter. But as the BBC are reporting that Sterling is out for tonights game then Mason looks the best fit.

In other words, if Liverpool play 3-4-3, then keep the same team, 4-3-3 or similar bring in Chadli for Lamela.

 

[thinktank]

Lloris

Walker Dier Verts Davies

Mason Bentaleb

Lamela Eriksen Rose

Kane
​

I'd start with this. We have to stop Ibe getting in behind too often. The guy is fast and powerful and rose would have a torrid time on his own. Have to try and starve sterling and sturridge's supply into/across the box.

A draw would be a good result here but if we play a highly tactical game in the first 30mins we can frustrate them and go on to make clever changes and get a win.

They will field a very attacking team and try to blast us in the first 20mins imo. Arsenal played scared, this lot will go for it at home.

We quiet them down, press them silly and disrupt their rhythm and rage the spaces they leave in behind.

Eriksen would have a predominately free role (he usually does, more-or-less, anyway) and kane would naturally drop into that hole anyway when we lose the ball as he loves to muck in.

Mason and Bentaleb will have to work like dogs to protect the CBs and Walker will have to have at least 50% of his brain working.

This is a different game to the scum at home, so we have to approach it a little differently imo.

Press them hard, quieten them, and the crowd, down and hit them with our pace and purpose every time we get the ball.

Will be an open game; our fitness may well be the difference tonight (again).

 

[nicdic]

It may just have been that I was caught up in an excitable yet nervous tension at the Lane against Arsenal, but I thought he was fantastic until the opportunity to shoot/pass presented itself.

Instead of committing to the next phase, ie a throughball, he felt the need to cut back and take it round the man again. I remember getting very frustrated with him at one point because it felt like he was doing everything right up to the edge of the area until the very last instance.

I haven't re-watched the game though other than highlights, so it may just be something that I overplayed in my head at the time and it has become exaggerated.

He didn't make the right decision every time but I can think of at least two stand out moments. First half we had a break, he was played the ball by Lamela just inside our half and Dembele traveled with it before playing in Kane for the shot that Ospina tipped wide. Second half just after the equaliser he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and side stepped a defender and took a shot on his right that produced a decent save. He also got the assist for Kane's goal last week.

 

[225]

Annoying thing is, we'll be within 3 points of City in 2nd if we scrape a win tonight, albeit with a game extra, whereas if we lose, and Utd/Soton/Arse/City win tomorrow, we'll be in 6th and only 1 point ahead of Pool and 2 behind Arse.

Following the Liverpool game we have these, with the reverse result shown in parenthesis:

22/02 - W Ham (W 1-0)
07/03 - QPR (W 4-0)
15/03 - Man Utd (D 0-0)
21/03 - Leicester (W 2-1)
04/04 - Burnley (W 2-1)
11/04 - A Villa (W 2-1)
18/04 - Newcastle (L 2-1)
25/04 - So'ton (W 1-0)
02/05 - Man City (L 4-1)
09/05 - Stoke (L2-1)
16/05 - Hull (W 2-1)
24/05 - Everton (W 2-1)

If we match the results, we'd end up with 9W 1D 3L = 28 points

43pts + Liverpool result + 28pts = 71pts + ?

Bit worrying that we would gain less points than the season under AVB if we don't come away with any points tonight.

By contrast, Arse are a point behind and using the same logic, they'd end up on 67 points:

10/02 - Leicester (D 1-1)
21/02 - C Palace (W 2-1)
01/03 - Everton (D 2-2)
04/03 - QPR (W 2-1)
14/03 - West Ham (W 2-1)
21/03 - Newcastle (W 4-1)
04/04 - Liverpool (D 2-2)
11/04 - Burnley (W 3-0)
18/04 - Sunderland (W 2-0)
25/04 - Chelsea (L 2-0)
02/05 - Hull (D 2-2)
09/05 - Swansea (L 2-1)
16/05 - Man Utd (L 2-1)
24/05 - West Brom (W 1-0)

7W, 4D, 3L = 25 pts + 42 points currently = 67pts


I really hope that tottering day crap is cancelled this year

 

[zoneD]

...based on overall quality and recent form:
- Dembele and Dier should start...
- Lamela and Davies should not start...
COYS