Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

SeamusAFA

What do we think will be the team for tomorrow?

Allison

TAA, Konate, VVD, Robertson might Gomez or Tsimikas come in?

Keita Fab Hendo Thiago started last 2 will probably get a rest? Jones instead of Henderson?

Salah Firmino Diaz He seems to be swapping Diaz and Jota starting, will he rest one of Mane or Salah for Firmino?

Agent Coulson

Start strong team try get a goal or two in the first half and then make 5 subs.

BorneTobyWilde

Should we be altering our approach in massive away games when playing strong teams like City, Real, Bayern, or simply play into their hands, with a high line, and give the best in the world Benzema, Lewandowski , DeBrunye, chance after chance to hurt us.

It seems silly, but we all know, away to these teams, that is exactly what we would do. We get away with it against the lesser teams, as they don't take their chances, but in big games, big players hurt you, they only need 3 chances to get a hat trick.

I'm sure we'd all have been happy with a rugged performance against City, drop in, everyone behind the ball, and then try picking them off with Salah, Mane and Jota on the break, win the game, forget the expectation of the watching world, that it was going to be two great teams going head to head, no holding back, not a defensive thought to be had, all out toe to toe football.

I'd have preferred the 3 pts, than the entertainment.

Fromvert

I'd guess tomorrow, Konate, Keita, Firmino and Diaz will all start. Which isn't a huge drop off from the 4 they'd likely replace. Not sure we'll see more than that. Go and get a goal in the first half, and start taking players off then.

I am interested to see if we change our plan or players from Sunday to Saturday. Wembley is a big pitch so if City come with the same plan of quickly getting the call in behind our full backs and their runs are as well timed as Saturday it could be another long day. I doubt we'll change from the high line so that means the midfield needs to get to the City player with the ball as soon as they get it and stop the pass or at least make it a rushed one so it's not as accurate.

AdrianG08

We surely have to adjust our tactics, otherwise it's suicide. Don't think City will try the same thing so blatantly again though, Pep is too smart and will no doubt try and exploit weaknesses elsewhere.

martyos121

Team I’d like to see tomorrow:

Kelleher (because he won’t play on Saturday)

Gomez Konate VVD Tsimikas

Elliott Henderson Keita

Mane Firmino Diaz

It’s more based on who I’d be expecting/hoping to play against City at the weekend, but it’s still strong enough to get the job done IMO. I have Elliott in there but as crazy as it sounds, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him start at Wembley too. It was painfully clear on Sunday that we need a lot more energy and enthusiasm in midfield, and while the Ox before his knee injury would’ve been exactly what we needed against City two days ago, that player is long gone sadly and Elliott might be the next best option if he can rise to the occasion. Keita too obviously, but he doesn’t have the greatest track record in the big games while Elliott is a bit of a wildcard still. And his decision making is top class, which could make a difference.

I know it’s unfair to put any pressure or expectation on a young lad just back from a horrible ankle injury. I just don’t think it’s outside the realms of possibility. He should definitely get the start against Benfica though, I can’t see any reason not to play him tomorrow given the situation and the fact that we have 5 subs and a world class bench to bail us out if it does go a bit wrong.

Agent Coulson

I wouldn't mind seeing Klopp go with a 4231 on Saturday.

martyos121

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916913#Comment_118916913

F**k it,

5 at the back

All 5 forwards on the pitch

No midfield battle to lose again

Alisson as a false 1

Kill ‘em that way, as the man says.

atilladehun

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916899#Comment_118916899

I don't think that team is strong enough to get the job done. One goal from Benfica and it turns into a chaotic game and we have to bring on all the big lads in a pressure situation and time running out.

Start strong, get a goal and let the game peter out. Imagine going out and that was the starting team. This game is way bigger than the FA cup.

martyos121

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916968#Comment_118916968

The only change I’d be making to it is maybe keeping Alisson in goal, but I see no reason why that team can’t get the job done. You still have our two best leaders, a world class front three and a solid, no-frills defence featuring the best centre back in the world.

I don’t feel too strongly either way about this to be perfectly honest, that’s the team I’d start but I can understand why others would take a different approach. Let’s see what Klopp does, I expect it’ll be a little stronger than what I expect, but not as strong as others do.

The one thing I would be adamant about is that I wouldn’t like to see Thiago starting, nor would I like to see him come on unless we’re being overrun in midfield. He’s absolutely world class, but he has to be managed carefully as he breaks down with the regularity of an early 2000s French automobile. We don’t stand a chance against City without him, and that game is very important as well, not just to advance to another cup final, but it can potentially damage City’s morale for the title run-in if we beat them well.

Tusky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916899#Comment_118916899

I don't think we should take tomorrow for granted - we need to play a strong team, while also giving those close to the first 11 a run-out.

I'd go:

------------Allison

Trent---Konate---VVD---Tsimikas

Keita--Fabinho--Thiago

Mane--Firmino--Diaz

Cartman78

Deffo....Benfica are limited but dangerous if we're any way complacent.

There's a nightmare scenario of getting dumped out tomorrow with a weakened side and then getting beat by City and Utd 😱😱😱😱

BillyHasMates

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916420#Comment_118916420

Definitely against a team like City I think it is worth trying a counter attacking approach. No other team out there controls possession like City so it is difficult to compete with them in a straight up midfield battle. They are also by far the most dangerous team we have faced in terms of exploiting the weaknesses in how we normally set up. They have become comfortable in beating our press and once that happens they have the technical players in Gundogan, Foden, De Bruyne and Silva to create chances out of our high defensive line with precision passing.

On the other hand they have shown weakness against teams that have the ability to launch fast counter attacks. Spurs have shown how to get at them and we have players that are even more dangerous on the counter than Spurs and have better individual defenders. Spurs played 5 across the back and still created plenty of chances in their games against City. City are probably the only team I would completely change the setup for.

Joe Don Dante

Origi off to AC Milan £10.5 Million

TitianGerm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118917534#Comment_118917534

Is his contract not up in the summer?

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118917534#Comment_118917534

He’s going on a free - the 10.5m is his own contract there I think.

Good move for him, with a few of their forwards ageing out.

cj maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118917534#Comment_118917534

Just had a gander at the 2019 semi and final. Good luck to him. Some iconic goals on his CV.

yourdeadwright

Are yellow cards wiped after this game or carried into the Semi final

.G.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918145#Comment_118918145

They're wiped at the end of the quarters.

Our two lads need to avoid one tomorrow so they don't miss the first leg if we get through.

passatman86

Chelsea match is a cracker, fans make such a difference in the stadiums. How did we manage during covid with the fake crowd noise

yourdeadwright

I hope Chelsea win this, They have a better chance of beating City over to legs than Madrid

cj maxx

Are we on TV3 tomorrow night?

Super match. Another atrocious VAR decision on Alonsos goal.

giveitholly

Villareal go 2-1 up on aggregate

messinkiapina

Won't happen but in an ideal world we'd get Real in the final. We'd smash them to bits. City will obliterate them if they get.

Fromvert

We do our job tomorrow and we play the 7th best team in La Liga. We've had some decent results in who we've played in the cups.

I was wondering how good the Bundesliga was after the second best team got rolled by Rangers.

giveitholly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918639#Comment_118918639

And they go through

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918591#Comment_118918591

How so? We could see it touch his hand...

As I mentioned in the match thread I hate that rule, but it is the rule...

Joe Don Dante

number 7 incoming

martyos121

Do you know what though? We deserve the good fortune in the knockout stage draw after the group we were drawn into. We won all 6 matches in by far the toughest group in the competition and now we’re being rewarded with a favourable route to the final if we can get past Benfica and then do the job in the semis.

I have to say, I’m disappointed to see Bayern go out. Yes, they’d have been a big threat to us in the semis but it would’ve been a cracking tie in fairness.

Not taking a thing for granted against Emery though, he rolled us over in a Europa League final before and his Villarreal side look defensively rock solid. It’ll be two very tough ebenings coming up if we advance to the semis.

Captain_Crash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918686#Comment_118918686

Yep that’s it! It touched his hand and that’s the rules! It’s **** that they differ from handball in a defensive situation but it’s the way it is! Clearly hit his hand so no goal

Firminos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918705#Comment_118918705

Thats bizzare talk imo. Over the moon they are knocked out.

martyos121

Villarreal have reached the semis despite having four former Tottenham players, a former Arsenal player and manager…..and Alberto Moreno.

They should get a trophy for that alone, talk about doing it against all odds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMRVbhbIkjk

BOOK THE FLIGHTS BOYS AND GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UP THE VILLARREAL!!

Robert2014

I was hoping Chelsea would sneak it because they would compete better with City and then I remember they are owned by Putin's friend. I hope the new owners run them into the ground!

Firminos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918920#Comment_118918920

Boom , pretty much my thought process on it. Feck them , hope they have a 50 year drought coming up.

antimatterx

Liverpool are now favourites with the bookies to win the CL. Marginally ahead of City

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918980#Comment_118918980

City have that slightly harder route into the semi final first, and then a harder semi final, so that makes sense. If they make it to the final, they'll be favourites for sure though.

Chelsea probably would've given City more of a game, but Madrid V City is probably more interesting as a fixture, so I'm alright with it. We see enough English V English matches.

Riesen_Meal

https://streamable.com/ltmn

Ah yes, Villarreal, I remember them....

Roll it there Roisin... 📽️

atilladehun

Delighted with Villarreal although Emry had some ridiculous 2 leg record. Something like 1 loss in 20 or something like that. They'll be sh1thouses

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118919110#Comment_118919110

Yup, and wicked on the counter. Hopefully we can do the business though (assuming we also do the business tomorrow night!)

rob316

United beat them twice this season. I think we would all jump at having to play the 7th placed side in la Liga to get to a champions League final. Not writing off Villarreal but you couldn't ask for a better tie on paper atleast

atilladehun

Absolutely. And klopp will never underestimate them even if we all lose our minds.

Would love that group of lads to get another big medal

Riesen_Meal

Looking at what happened tonight elsewhere... we would want to be solid as a rock going in tomorrow night, and I have no doubt we will, what with European night's at Anfield having that special aura around them... 🙂

Widdensushi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118919188#Comment_118919188

My thoughts earlier, it's not a given

robwen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118918581#Comment_118918581

Virgin 2

machiavellianme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118916883#Comment_118916883

I'm getting sick of all this Pep is too smart nonsense. If he was so smart, why did he need to spend a billion pounds building a team or 50 million on a new full back every window? Why has he no wins in the Champions league final during his City tenure despite near infinite finances?

He's a good manager who only takes on already incredible teams, tinkers with them and somehow has this air of the Einstein of football about him. I for one don't think he's all that smart as I don't think he has it in him to take a scrappy 7th place finisher to big ears in a couple of seasons like Klopp did. I'd love to see him try with someone like Westham, Arsenal or Spurs and see how smart he is.

Edit: Thanks Jones for pointing out my forgetfulness. 🤭

jones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118919451#Comment_118919451

City were in the champions League final last season. It is crazy they haven't won it yet considering how dominant they have been in the league in the last 5 years. I think pep does over think these big knockout games sure how many times has he shot his team in the foot with weird selections.

Firminos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118919451#Comment_118919451

A bald fraud!

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118919451#Comment_118919451

In his defence, at least he admits it...

"Give Marcelo Bielsa my Barcelona team and you'll see how many trophies he'd win. Give me his Leeds team and I would probably still be in the Championship with them”