This follows on to my second factor about our opponents on Sunday. Every team you come up against in the Premier League presents you with a very different problem to the last, and while Manchester City are a very physical/defensive minded team, the Gunners are in fact the complete opposite. You would assume thought that a high intensity game with good pressing would be equally as effective, and you would be right, but such effort can be tiring when playing against a team who keep the ball as well as Arsenal do.
The solution: ensure parity in the possession stats. How you make this happen against Arsenal is easier than it sounds, but the most common way is to put five men in midfield to play like for like against the Gunners. This would however mean changing from the 4-4-2 system that worked so well against Manchester City. One of the reasons it worked so well against City in the first half though was because Roberto Mancini opted to pick both Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez up front, a like for like formation which will not be present at the Emirates.
I doubt I am the only one uncomfortable with Raul Meireles being picked on the left, and the best solution for the Arsenal match would be to switch Luis Suarez to the wide areas and put Raul as an attacking midfielder to make a 4-3-3 formation. It wouldn’t mean a change in personnel, just a slight adjustment in tactics to address the problems that Arsenal will pose on Sunday.
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INTRODUCING THE SAMSUNG GALAXY ACE!
This week it is former LFC WAG Joanna Taylor!
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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..