West Brom V Liverpool - Saturday 18th August 3:00pm

Luckycharms_74

Liverpool are set to begin a new in the English Premier League once more. For the third season in a row, they have a new manager standing on the sideline hoping that it will be his vision that finally restores the historic club to its former glory.

Roy Hodgson's tactics and transfer policy never fit in with the club. Kenny Dalglish saw his second reign at Anfield bemoaned by controversy, over-spending on over-priced talent and hitting the woodwork more times than any side in recent history, that I can recall.

The club's new man is now Brendan Rodgers. Swansea City's former golden goose led the club all the way to a mid table finish in the English Premier League before he was snapped up as Dalglish's replacement.

His brand of attacking, pass and move football is reminiscent of the Liverpool of old and the change in attitude has already looked to have had affect considering the club's final two preseason performances.

However, there is more to the continued saga of Liverpool that crosses paths with the frustrations of West Bromwich Albion than you would think. For the second year in a row, the Hawthornes will be under the care of a former Liverpool man. Roy Hodgson was the man last season, former assistant manager Steve Clark now has taken up the post.

Moving forward, it is now clear that there is definitely change happening at Anfield. New signings in the form of Italian international Fabio Borini have already started making there mark. The former AS Roma youngster scored his first Liverpool goal in his Anfield debut during the Red's UEFA Europa League qualifying home leg against FC Gomel.

The signing of Joe Allen from Swansea City is sure to still be controversial to fans of the Welsh club after it seemed that Liverpool had agreed to keep their hands off of Rodger's former charges until at least next summer. Nothing like a good bit of cash to use a buyout clause in attempts to side step chivalry.

Liverpool also announced the signing of talented young winger Oussama Assaidi, in the past 24 hours.

West Brom's big signings come in the form of making a permanent move for Birmingham's Ben Foster and Swedish free agent Markus Rosenberg. Additional moves include Racing Club's Claudio Yacob and loan signings Yassine El Ghanassy from AA Gent and Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku.


Confirmed line ups for both teams



LFC Subs:
Jones, Adam, Henderson, Shelvey, Carroll, Carragher, Cole.

WBA Subs:
Subs: Myhill, El Ghanassy, Brunt, Jara Reyes, Lukaku, Dawson, Fortune.

That_Guy

Why did Liverpool change their crest? Looks shíte tbh.

slingerz

Liverpool Likely: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Borini, Suarez, Downing

Luckycharms_74

That_Guy wrote: »

Why did Liverpool change their crest? Looks shíte tbh.

What did Newcastle change their stadium name. It sounds sh1te tbh .

Guys let me know if the old crest is sh1t. I can put our current one up instead.

G.K.

That diagram has all the WBA players the wrong way round.

Nice writeup though.

mike65

---

Reina
The-Usual-Back-Four

---

Lucas
---Gerrard--Allen
Downing-Borini-Suarez (<floating like butterflies, stinging like bees>)

subs - Jones, Kelly, Carra (only cos I know he'll have to be in the squad!), Shelvey, Adam, Carroll

I think Allen will be thrown in, he'll have some fitness from the Olympics and Rodgers doesn't really need to coach him too much.

Luckycharms_74

G.K. wrote: »

That diagram has all the WBA players the wrong way round.

Nice writeup though.

huh ??

K-9

G.K. wrote: »

That diagram has all the WBA players the wrong way round.

Nice writeup though.

Are both teams playing in the same direction? Should be loads of goals anyhow.

danniemcq

can't help but notice that the Liverpool team doesn't include Alonso or Llorente?

will we be waiting for our first home game before giving them a run out?

mike65

K-9 wrote: »

Are both teams playing in the same direction? Should be loads of goals anyhow.

No they are not.

Luckycharms_74

K-9 wrote: »

G.K. wrote: »

That diagram has all the WBA players the wrong way round.

Nice writeup though.

Are both teams playing in the same direction? Should be loads of goals anyhow.

Yeah I couldn't put the players the other way around. I could change it for the OCD's.....lol

Vokes

I don't thing that West Brom setup is very likely. They've mostly been playing with just the one out-and-out striker in their pre-season matches. And probably Brunt left wing and Odemwengie right wing.

Turtyturd

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

Yeah I couldn't put the players the other way around. I could change it for the OCD's.....lol

The keepers wearing those jerseys is gonna mess things up as well, should be an interesting game.

3-0 Liverpool (Alonso, Llorente, and Sahin.)

Washington Irving

Leave the crests, that eighties one gave us luck against Leverkusen. Change it next week if Liverpool lose

Oranage2

I predict a typical mid table brawl - plenty long balls by both teams and lots of diving from Suarez.

One nil Liverpool .

Turtyturd

Oranage2 wrote: »

I predict a typical mid table brawl - plenty long balls by both teams and lots of diving from Suarez.

One nil Liverpool .

So it begins.:rolleyes:

prettyboy81

I think Lukaku will start up top for WBA 2mo with Odemwingie...fancy the pool to win 2-1 in a tight game decided by some Suarez/Borini magic!

Luckycharms_74

Turtyturd wrote: »

The keepers wearing those jerseys is gonna mess things up as well, should be an interesting game.

3-0 Liverpool (Alonso, Llorente, and Sahin.)

hahaah funny guy. They are changed now

Lawrence1895

Agger in the starting XI? Phew

Dickerty

For me - Lucas, Allen and Shelvey in midfield, Gerrard inside right instead of Downing. Give us extra bite in a tough away game.

2-1 Pool

Dickerty

prettyboy81 wrote: »

I think Lukaku will start up top for WBA 2mo with Odemwingie...fancy the pool to win 2-1 in a tight game decided by some Suarez/Borini magic!

I think people forget how good Suarez is, the majority of defences haven't figured out how to play him yet. With a more flexible attack and a more suitable partner, he could really take off...

G.K.

Oranage2, that's exactly the same kind of thing that got you carded last season. Cop on.

Kess73

Liverpool to begin the season with a good win over a team that has become a little bit of a bogey team in recent times.


Downing , Suarez, Borini, and Assaidi* (from the bench) to find the net as I start the season with a bit of blind optimism.








*if Assaidi is not registered in time, then Agger with a late longe range goal instead.

mike65

Assaidi is no 11 I have no idea if that means he is cleared to play though.

Washington Irving

2-1 Liverpool, Downing and Gerrard to score with a Carragher OG late on after Agger picks up a minor knock

Dickerty

Dickerty wrote: »

For me - Lucas, Allen and Shelvey in midfield, Gerrard inside right instead of Downing. Give us extra bite in a tough away game.

Based on the bibs at today's training, Enrique is injured, so it's -

---

Reina

---

Kelly---Skrtel---Agger---Johnson

---

Lucas

---

Allen

---

---

Gerrard

---

Downing

---

Borini

---

Suarez

5starpool

44-0 to Liverpool with Downing scoring 17 of those goals.

Yakult

I think we will beat them comfortably. 2-0 to the pool

Lawrence1895

Is Paul Scharner still on loan with West Brom? He might produce some own goals, after he was thrown out of the Austrian national squad the other day

Anyway, tight win for Pool...2:1, I would say

livinginkorea

Going for 2-0 here. Hoping for Borini or Suarez to be on the score sheet with big Andy scoring as an impact sub.

Just one more sleep!

eagle eye

Just looking at Liverpool's fixture list over the first few weeks and if they manage to lose this then Roger's will lose the fans by week 4 or 5.

GavRedKing

Lukaku hat trick :pac:

5starpool

eagle eye wrote: »

Just looking at Liverpool's fixture list over the first few weeks and if they manage to lose this then Roger's will lose the fans by week 4 or 5.

No he won't. Way too simplistic way of looking at things. Knowing Liverpool we could lose this and then beat City and Arsenal.

Phoenix Park

Assuming the training bibs are accurate it looks like Allen will start. Throwing him in Vs City or Arsenal over the next couple of weeks could make for a tough debut whichever one he plays in, maybe its for the best he plays against West Brom. Rodgers is clearly a massive fan, so it does look more likely he'll play from the start. No matter what i'd rather chance a debut here than play Henderson or Shelvey, at least Allen's passing will be more incisive than Henderson's if West Brom sit back if things are level with 30 mins or so to go.

I'm pretty confident about tomorrow. This is the sort of game we'd be a 5/4 chance last year but now we'd be slight odds on. With some tough games coming up a win would be superb.

What a day to look forward to tomorrow. Lovely sunny weather forecast, so the blinds will have to be down to take care of that nasty sun so i can see the match properly. Wifey away for the weekend so will hit town in time for the Newcastle v Spurs game at 5.30....then stumble in just in time for Goals on Sunday. Welcome back Premier League.

Reganovski

Anyone know whether Assaidi can play? Don't think he would start but might be a good sub....

klose

Apparently enrique has a knock so twill probably be glenjo and lb and kelly at rb. 2-0 liverpool boronin and suarez

Phoenix Park

whippedcream wrote: »

Apparently enrique has a knock so twill probably be glenjo and lb and kelly at rb. 2-0 liverpool boronin and suarez

Voronin looked like a porn star. Borini is a handsome chappie according to the ladies.

Therfore Boronin must do some serious damage.

daithijjj

Phil Dowd will be the Ref today.

livinginkorea

Phoenix Park wrote: »

Voronin looked like a porn star. Borini is a handsome chappie according to the ladies.

Therfore Boronin must do some serious damage.

Right, no scoring with 'sexy chests' here! (although I would happy take a 1-0 win if there was a goal off a chest)

Milkers

5-1 Liverpool new era starts today :-)

Kess73

Rodger's team to get a win and match last season's best run of wins (3) in competitive games.

Roger Sterling

LFC win to give the boom bust cycle a much needed shot in the arm :pac:

murpho999

No line-ups yet?

Super-Rush

murpho999 wrote: »

No line-ups yet?

Usually after 2pm.

From the training pics yesterday i reckon its goinig to be, Renia, Johnson, Agger, Skittles, Kelly, Lucas, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Borini, Suarez.

Vanolder

Can someone pm links to game please?

Luckycharms_74

Vanolder wrote: »

Can someone pm links to game please?

click Google

Grayditch

Do the goals, Liverpool.

delw

I'l go with a 2-1 win
Just over a couple of hours to go,come on you reds

Kess73

New season and I think we need a Pacino moment for the team and fanbase.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs

I always see a new manager's first league game as the spiritual start of his Liverpool career, and as such today is Day Zero for Rodger's reign.


2012/2013.


Bring it.

barone

can see a tight game with pool comming out on top by a goal

Francie Barrett

2-0 to Liverpool. We will control the game and get an early goal through some Suarez magic. Sterling will come on late and grab a late goal to put us out of sight.