If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, so goes the mantra. Liverpool probably played their best match of the season against Manchester City on Monday night, so what would be the point of changing a winning team? There are two factors that have to be taken into consideration when Kenny Dalglish picks his team for the match against Arsenal: 1. The Reds are not at Anfield and 2. They are playing Arsenal.
Why should we take any notice of the teams we are playing against you may ask, after all, if we play like we did against Man City. we can beat any team in the league. If Liverpool play to their strengths, focus on their game and keep a consistent level, there would indeed be no need to worry about any of our opponents, but if anything can be learned from this season, it is that the Reds tend to vary their levels of performance from game to game quite drastically. For every match against Man City, Man Utd at home and Chelsea away, you get a perplexing result such as against West Brom or West Ham.
Referring to my first factor that we are not playing at Anfield on Sunday, there is clearly a gaping hole between our home and away performances this term. Certainly the Reds have improved under Kenny Dalglish with good victories away at Chelsea and Sunderland in the bag, but you have to look at the home and away stats for this season to show the vastly different levels that Liverpool have performed at Anfield compared to away from Merseyside.
Going into a tough match against Arsenal, you must also consider their own home record too, and although they have had some shocking results at the Emirates this season, such as against Newcastle, they have also beaten Barcelona at home in the Champions League. Nobody should be under any false impression that going to Arsenal on Sunday without Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger, is going to be an easy task. If we compete as well in midfield as we did against Man City we should be O, but to keep up such an intense performance, two games running is very hard, and we have rarely looked the same outfit away from home than at home where our pressing game is second to none.
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I would go for:
Reina
Carragher Skrtel Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Kuyt Lucas Spearing Meireles
Carroll Suarez
I think the threat of Nasri and co may be too much for Flannagan and if he is ripped apart, his confidence would take a massive hit
Steven Gerrard started as a right back also, I say in at the deep end, the real flourish, Flanno was outstanding against City’s big stars, ket him learn more, a steep learning curb which he will master.
Persevere with Skertel as he is better equipped in dealing with the tricky players like Nasri, Fabregas & Co. Kyriacos is not Liverpool caliber, gives away far too many fouls/pens and is often caught out of position.
Come you reds
YNWA
I’d go with pretty much the same lineup that I said for the Man City game, the only difference being Kuyt holding onto his place following a MOTM performance;
Reina
Flanagan, Carragher, Wilson, Aurelio
Lucas, Coady, Meireles
Suarez, Carroll, Kuyt
Subs: Gulacsi, Skrtel, Wisdom, Spearing, Cole, Suso, Jovanovich
I still want to see Wilson given game time to acclimatise to life in the Prem in his preferred position while Agger & Kelly are out, and want to see Coady brought through in midfield – even if a game away to Arsenal may be the toughest debut he could have. It’s a steep learning curve and would let the kids know the level that they have to prepare for next season
I fully understand everyones concerns re getting hopes up… we have turned a corner…to then be let down with a below par perfomance! This has been Liverpool for the best part of 18 months. BUT I have a feeling that with Caroll and Suarez both back to releatively full match fitness/sharpness and Spearing playing so well the team now has massive confidence and unique world class abilities in the forward line that have barely tested the defences of the EPL. On Sunday if we can keep possession in the final 3rd we will create chances and they will be finished. If the team plays as a unit and frustrates Arsenal I fully believe we can and will win. 4-2-3-1 is the formation to play…
———–Reina———–
Flanno-Carra-Skrtel-Aurelio
——Lucas—Spearing—–
Kuyt——Suarez——Meireles
———-Carroll————
Nasri, Arshavin, Wallcot are yes lethal cutting in/linking up from wide areas but Aurelio is very experienced and Kuyt is very good at protecting his fullback, flanno albeit young is quick and intelligent he knows when to just hold up a player. Lucas and Spearing are both full of energy and put out fires before they start.
I will predict 2-0 to Liverpool, (Suarez&Kuyt) Carroll to provide both assits.
I’d rather lose than let Man Utd win the title. Full stop.
Don’t fix what aint broke, Liverpool have to play as positivly away as the do at home, for years we did just that and were highly successful, its all about confidence – If Kenny is’nt confident in his last selection then it will rub of on the team, Flannagan was quite composed and realy very efficient – I would only replace him if our first or second choice right back was available.
my team would be in 4-2-3-1 formation
reina
flannagan, carra, skrtel, aurelio
spearing, lucas
kuyt, meireles, suarez
carroll
we wont have too much of possesion but shud play on the counter..they have problems at the back, carroll shud be able to exploit that…
having said that, losing wudn’t be the worst thing..dont want the scum to win the 19th..