Mid-term exam!

Posted by

Today week the Reds will host arch-rivals and PL leaders Man Utd at Anfield. There are still seven days for water to go under the bridge but I have attempted to predict the starting eleven that will march out on the Anfield turf for what is destined to be another epic battle.

It’s entirely useless for me to come up with 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 concepts because we know that our play revolves mainly on a 4-4-2 set-up and I do not see that trend changing for this important fixture. With Suarez claiming that we are virtually out of the title race and Carra seemingly in disagreement, for us common Red-blooded mortals, what’s most important at this stage of proceedings is to simply win the game (simply not wanting to sound like simple).

So let’s go through the starting eleven! With Agger still a bit away from being fully fit, the only dilemma to the back four seems to be the right back position (which is strangely becoming our Achilles Heel). With Kelly being withdrawn from the U-21 (where he played CB) with a tight groin as a precaution, and Johnson fighting his way back to full fitness offering his candidature for a return this coming Saturday, this could well be a last-minute call from Kenny & Co. Kuyt, Lucas, Gerrard an Downing across the midfield line seem the most probably of scenarios, and for those of you who will probably say that Gerrard will start on the bench, my view is ‘why not have him start the game and see how far he can get?’ Suarez and Carroll will spearhead our attack. So apart from the right-back suspense and ‘will Gerrard start or will he be on the bench’, there seems to be no other major headaches to contend with.

Now, what are the predicaments here? In the eventuality that we get it right, we go to just three points from the current leaders and that might give the pessimists added that a very positive and frontline season is still possible and within our capabilities. Man Utd arrive at this fixture with some very unconvincing performances; drawing away at Stoke, drawing at home to Basel and a very unconvincing victory against Norwich, again at home. I saw all three matches, and believe me, they were quite lucky to get anything out of these matches. It’s not that the Reds are the epitome of consistency at the moment, but we can give the Mancs a run for their money. The Red Devils will be weary of Liverpool especially taking into account the performances we have managed to muster against them in recent times.

I think we can edge it, 2-1 to Liverpool! If this is the case, the Reds would have passed their first mid-term exam with flying colours.

41 Comments

  1. I think we’re more likely to start with Hendo on the right. Kenny clearly has faith in him (there must be something happening in training we don’t get to see). United play a very fast paced game, and though we excel @ our passing game, Henderson’s burst of pace could be a key asset.
    Having watched Gerrard’s cameo in the derby, I think he’ll be ready and in great shape for United.
    I think there might be more goals in this game,I say 3:2 or 4:2 to us!

    YNWA

    1. I have the impression that for this particular game, Kenny might go for Kuyt in place of Hendo.

    2. ”Kenny clearly has faith in him (there must be something happening in training we don’t get to see” …either that or Kenny is purely biased to keep playing the under performing Hendo thus keeping the Duracell Kuyt out!

  2. i hope he does start,but i dont think gerrard will be in the first 11. its a tough one as you cant drop the other 3, downing is doing well, kuyt is always a danger, Lucas has been epic so far an will get even better.
    so the toss up is gerrard or adam,an with a fit stevie its no contest.
    back 4 however needs contingancy plans,if johnson isnt fit enough carra should cover the right. he may not be quick, but he csn deal with nani better that skertal can.
    what are your thoughts?

    1. I think that Gerrard should start, if he runs out of steam, Adam can come in and replace him (possibly not having enought time to get sent off :-)). I also think either Johnson or Kelly will be okay. We will need speed at the back because from the half-way line forward, Man Utd are lightning quick and will get into your box in three/four passes max with a lot of players moving into the empty spaces to open up defences.

    2. If we dont have a right back, id say put Enrique on the right and then shift Agger onto the left. I think you need pace with Nani. The last thing we need is to be left open like we were at Spurs when Bale was left wide open.

      1. Frankly I’d prefer risking Flanno on the right to resorting to Skrtel. I’d still leave Enrique on the left, what I would do though is have the right side midfielder cover for whoever plays the full-back position. It’s one thing we waited 15 minutes to do at White Hart Lane and we paid dearly for it!

  3. Another great article Tonio.

    For me i think Agger and Kelly will be fit and start. I think we need Kelly ahead of Johnson for this game. He is a far better defensive right back.

    Id have to agree with you for the rest of the squad, we need Kuyt & Gerrard to play. They are both big game players and thrive on these games.

    1. I think Kelly stands a better chance than Agger. We miss Agger’s composure at the back though, but I think that Kelly’s call-back from U21 duty was more precautionary. Kelly is the the Gerrard/Carra mode with regards to passion, you can see it in his eyes!

      1. Kelly has a massive future ahead of him at Liverpool. I would feel far more at ease with Kelly marking Nani than Johnson.

        1. Some time ago, on EOTK, I came out boldly to tip Kelly for the Liverpool captaincy post Gerrard and Carra!

  4. Dirk has to up his game. Personally I would start Bellers and go for the throat. He’s so good at chasing back. After the spurs debacle this will be an indicator of where we are up to. I agree about Kelly too.

  5. I’m I the only one who is yearning to see Maxi a little more. I believe he at least deserves a couple of minutes and is also a big game player with valuable technical ability.

  6. Hi there Tonio, great read and I would love it if your prediction comes true. All is set for giving manure a good stuffing, no doubt whiskey nose will resort to his usual mind games come next week as we get closer to the match, I absolutely believe and think Suarez is saying all the right things, low key & playing mind games. The last thing we want is articles like a letter from Ferguson …. ( funny as it was it may be used to spur on Shrek & co to try much harder).
    I would also have Stevie start from the beginning, the manure players will simply shit themselves at the sight of seeing him kick off, if he gets tired we can replace him, hopefully by then the damage to them will have been done.
    Last night I was also delighted to hear that Young & Evra picked up injuries even though I am not too sure of the extent. Now they also will have a taste of what we have had to endure with our injuries over the last few seasons going into big matches.
    Surely Rooney can be wound up and be sent off easily! Yesterday I kept getting text messages around lunch time which read as follows, ” Rooney’s dad has said that he will not be making any comments about his arrest until after England’s 1-1 draw with Montenegro” – whilst I had a laugh to myself last night,it dawned on me that Rooney’s dad is not very good at maths either!
    Torres could & should have scored a hat-rick for Chelsea against them, hopefully Suarez can show him how it should be done.Take care

    1. Kenny will not be drawn into Fergie’s skilful mindgames. In the eventuality that he does, I don’t think the old Scot will come out tops. Kenny is too cool and too experienced to fall into these traps. I remember Rafa falling into one of those which eventually cost us a Premier League title which we were gliding towards with style.

      1. KK is Fergie’s nemesis, always has been always will be, and far too smart for him & WE WILL BEAT THEM AGAIN.

      2. How so? That wasnt not the reason for the 11 draws that should have been wins if we had signed tevez or D. Silva.

        Downing has been poor in the last 3 games and he is poor at defending so i would hav beller for him. And sktel ahead of flano as long as kuyt plays on the right.

        These apart, then nice piece. I read from you often!

        1. Tevez and David Silva signed with City for the money! It was not for the prestige of the club or their future plans. It was for the money pure and simple. Liverpool’s policy now is to buy young to spend on players with a possible resale value and that have an affordable wage package. Both Tevez and Silva do not come in the cheap wage bracket!
          Downing has not excelled but has not been poor. Skrtel on the right instead of Flanno against Utd? I hope the White Hart Lane nightmare is still vivid in your thoughts! Man Utd’s game is based on accelaration, hence the very limited use of Berbatov who usually slows down the game in the build-up process. On the right Skrtel is a) out of position and b) too slow for Nani, Young or whoever switches over that side.

  7. I’ll go with your starting XI Tonio but the score will be 3-1, similar result with the last time we beat them at Anfield. Hope Suarez & Carroll will score again. YNWA.

    1. Amen. If I have to be honest I would be very happy with the three points for the pure joy of victory over them and the other reasons I wrote in the article. 3-1 would be pure bliss!

  8. If we have such a problem in defence, wat about givin’ Coates a chance. I wil’ advocate 4or a Bellamy- stat & also feel MAXI should be given a chance. Thanx!

    1. Carlos, I think that Coates was signed for the longer term and if he settles in nicely he will eventually replace Carra on a full time basis. As far as I am concerned Agger comes first for class, Carra for passion, and Coates for youth and style. Skrtel, although a good servant, comes second in all four qualities.

      1. Poor skrtel he has the right heart and frame of mind, but he is not good at reading games… he needs to be given orders to perform his best, hes not very smart i feel…

        1. Well Skrtel has been a good servant but as you said he is very limited technically. He can alter perfect games to really bad performances. I think he really loves the club to be honest and is proud to wear the Liverpool Red.

          1. Tonio, my how so was querying your claims that rafa supposed rant was the reason we lost the league.
            Sorry i dont agree.
            We lost the league cos we didnt have a player that could force a draw into a win by guile and magic like D. Silva or Tevez that rafa wanted but the club could not afford.
            Sktel wasnt the problem at spurs, henderson was useless on right with defending. See how Kuyt helped carra against manure last season.
            Sktel has more zest than flanno, and there is no way Larsson would have been free for that volley against sunderland with sktel n kuyt combo on the right; but we saw henderson n flanno ball watch and in no mans land in that ga

  9. 4.2.3.1
    johnson-carra-s’katel-enrique
    luca-gerrad
    maxi/bellamy-kuyt-downin
    suarez.

    I would not go for carrol as man u have likes of vidic and smalling. Man u central midfield is weak so if can capitalise on that i think we would have a chance

  10. Last season when we beat them 3-1, it was the Kuyt/Suarez show that did all the damage to MU. I hope Kenny will keep that in mind when making the important decisions on team line up.

  11. good article, as always tonio,

    i think that eventually, especially in home games, king kenny will play a 433 system

    reina-johns, car, skrt, enrique – ger,lucas,adam – suarez,carroll,downing

    res: doni, kelly, coates/agger,hendo, kuyt, spearo, bellamy.

    i guess the 442 system suits us when we buy a proved right winger.

    let’s keep faith in king kenny’s tactics and we support our beloved team forever!

    ynwa

  12. I think Kuyt should be more than the man of the big occasions. Or is his scoring in consecutive games last season showing us he’s only there for big games? No, I don’t think so.
    He should definetely start ahead of Hendo and if there already have been scored a few goals then Hendo should come on.
    And I go for RedBill’s starting XI

    4.2.3.1
    johnson-carra-s’katel-enrique
    luca-gerrad
    maxi/bellamy-kuyt-downin
    suarez.

    Suarez linking up with Dirk and Bellamy/Maxi really well should give the Mancs a hard time to defend. You can see their defence is not good playing against quick and versatile players. That’s what Maxi/Bellamy, Kuyt and Suarez are capable of. Gerrard and Downing providing juicy passes won’t be bad either. Idk whether Carroll should start but maybe he should be on the bench some minutes.

    1. We must take into account that certain players have been brought in as a direct replacement in the medium/long term. Coates for Carra and Hendo for Kuyt appear to be the most visible and obvious. We must not forget that Kelly might follow in Carra’s footsteps by moving from the right back position to centre back was was the case with Carra (when Hyypia and Henshoz were Liverpools cb pairing). In this case Flanno will develop and slot in to make the right back position his own.
      These are good times with many positive future alternatives.

  13. Good point, many positive future alternatives are deffo good times. I just think Dirk has still much to show so he shouldn’t be a sub most of the time :)

  14. Last week grrard replaced lucas.
    I think Kenny will play Gerrard, Adam, henderson, and downing. 4-0 for liverpool. YNWA!

    1. I think Lucas will always start. 4-0 for the Reds would be a dream, but I’d be happy with 1-0!!!

  15. Tonio, my how so was querying your claims that rafa supposed rant was the reason we lost the league.
    Sorry i dont agree.
    We lost the league cos we didnt have a player that could force a draw into a win by guile and magic like D. Silva or Tevez that rafa wanted but the club could not afford.
    Sktel wasnt the problem at spurs, henderson was useless on right with defending. See how Kuyt helped carra against manure last season.
    Sktel has more zest than flanno, and there is no way Larsson would have been free for that volley against sunderland with sktel n kuyt combo on the right; but we saw henderson n flanno ball watch and in no mans land in that game.

Comments are closed