Liverpool FC Forum

well this is the acid test, not just this game but this month in general.
if we perform well over the next 3 weeks anything is possible, according to some within the game even the title (the likes of mikel arteta and david silva have both said in the press that with our strike force we cant be written out of the title race).
there have been many times over the last 20 odd years where we have gotten ourselves into good positions like this but when push came to shove we fell apart.
will it be different this time?

Flamini is out so that's a start. Courtinho is likely to start and that should be good news. Enrique doubtful so Cissoko will have to step up if he plays.

Won't be easy but I think we are in with a massive shout. Keeping the ball will be paramount. Hope that didn't sound too daft 

i dont think he will start with coutinho mate, because arsenal are in good form i think he`ll stick with the 3 at the back/hendo in midfield and see how the game pans out from there. i reckon early on the plan will be to counterpunch and try and hit them on the break.
if we go 1 down then he`ll probably bring coutinho on.

Mignolet

Kelly
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson

Lucas
Gerrard
Henderson

Moses
Suarez
Sturridge

That's the line up I would like but think it will be

Mignolet

Johnson
Skrtel
Sakho
Toure
Cissohko

Lucas
Gerrard
Henderson

Suarez
Sturridge

Don't expect Coutinho to start

Very good article

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2013/10/op ... s-arsenal/

Will be a very interesting game. Both teams go into this with a lot of confidence after having a good run of results. Arsenal obviously have the advantage and are the favorites because they're playing at home and have a more quality squad, but all the pressure will be on them. Also, they've already played Chelsea during midweek and they have to play Dortmund in the CL next week as well so they should be a bit more tired than us. With the situation being as it is though, I'm sure Wenger has the league as a priority. 

All that the lads should know is that there should be no pressure on them. We're playing away at the league leaders whom we have just beaten once so nobody is expecting a win there. All the pressure should be on Arsenal. They have ambitions to win the league and a victory at home against their rivals is a must.

If we win this I then will believe we can win the league genuinely for the first time in decades. That would give Stevie G the lot domestically and abroad I am getting excited for the first time in years I actually forgot how it feels like I feel like a. 17 all over again. My god we were spolit in the 60,s 70,s and especially the 80,s Arsenalv are suspect at the back and if the SAS are on form we could potentially destroy them. YNWA.  I am reading whiskeynoses book but carnt finish it everytime I get to the end Howard Webb adds 6 pages to it.

Not a fan of three at the back - I know I keep banging that drum but it unsettles me. I think Rodgers will stick with it however because tbf it has worked pretty well for him.

I don't know about Agger's lack of match fitness but I think I'd like to see him play against Arsenal, this is a game (team/Arsenal) that suits him and I think a ball playing CB with a bit of composure at the back is what we need for this game. I'd bring him in at the expense of Sahko, we looks decent enough but has an air of Djimi Traore about him, gangly and a bit rash. I think we need a CB who will stay on their feet more and who isn't so rash.

Also, the other concern for me is Aly Cissoko, the bloke hasn't impressed me at all and him and Sahko down our left look very error prone, more so Cissoko than Sahko, I would have liked Enrique back for this. Cissoko and Johnson in the system don't look the best going forward on their own, it's almost a waist of attacking width IMO.

Midfield has to be a three of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson, with Coutinho making an appearance later on.

I think this will be our team:


------------------------------ Mig

                     Toure        Skertel        Sahko
      Johnson                                                  Cissoko
                                    Lucas
                         Henderson  Gerrard

                           Sturridge  Suarez


I'd personally like:

                                    Mig

            Johnson     Toure    Skertel    Cissoko

                                 Lucas
                   Henderson       Gerrard
                               Coutinho

                  Sturridge          Suarez

Apparently Wilshere is out for Arsenal aswell.

Flanagan starts 

Mignolet, Cissokho, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Flanagan, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Suarez, Sturridge.

Subs: Jones, Coutinho, Moses, Kelly, Allen, Agger, Sterling.

Cissokho and Flanno as wing backs, why do I get the feeling they're going to get exposed today...?

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud

I'm hoping no Wilshere shackles Ramsey, he's having a purple patch so could do with his role being more restricted. Ozil, Cazorla and Giroud worry me

stmichael » Nov 2nd, '13, 11:00 wrote:Apparently Wilshere is out for Arsenal aswell.

Wilshere has an ankle injury

COME ON YIU REDS

Flanagan?

Why not Kelly or Wisdom? Heck, why not McLaughlin? Rodgers is playing with fire here.

Replacing Cissokho with Johnson and playing Kelly at RB like Benny said would have been great. This, however, is ridiculous. When was the last time Flanagan had any game time?

Come on Redmen, lets do what Mwanck City done to Norwich.

OMG no conviction from Henderson... They left a big gap open for him!