The first match of Liverpool’s 2011/12 campaign is a pre-season game against Chinese outfit, Guangdong Sunray Cave. The only 4-year-old football club based in Guangdong will be the first test for the Reds on their Asian tour. Guangdong finished 4th in China League 1 last season, this is much improved on their 11th place finish in the previous 2009/10 season. Currently my main concern is not our opposition however but rather who will we see run out onto the pitch for the Reds in the fixture that is just under a month away.
Now I really don’t think that Kenny Dalglish would field the best Liverpool has to offer in this fixture but here is my guess at the brightest starting 11 Liverpool could put out on the 13th (This is just a brain storm of what our squad would look like after a few more transfers):
Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina
By this time Pepe will be fit and have recovered fully from the removal of two hernias.
Right back: Glen Johnson
I’m sure we’ll still have our exciting number 2 making overlapping runs down the flank for us come the game against Guangdong. I did really enjoy watching Martin Kelly make great progress last season though and I’m positive we’ll be seeing him putting pressure on Johnson again as he fights for a first team spot.
Centre back: Jamie Carragher
Our old and faithful Carra should be present and out to command the Reds defence for yet another season.
Centre back: Gary Cahill
A host of other clubs are also interested in signing the Bolton strongman but if Kenny wants him enough we will see him in the famous red. Another centre back who’s popped up in the papers recently is PSG’s Mamadou Sakho, the highly rated French defender might also be a good buy.
Left back: Jose Enrique
The Spanish fullback looks set to leave the Toon and many fans are pleased at Liverpool’s interest in the exciting player. A lot has also been made of the Gunner’s Gael Clichy as he is out of contract next season. Personally I prefer the Spaniard and feel that Frenchman Clichy has already shown in the Premier League that he is prone to a costly error. Though Clichy is also very exciting and is still only in his mid 20’s, I think he is just too risky. If you’re not sure as to what I mean ask an Arsenal fan, they’ll be happy to inform you.
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I really hope you are right about Gary Cahill. The reports I’ve read suggest City are after him. The last thing I want to see is this carthorse in a blue shirt.
wont get him
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Ansaldi
Elia
Gerrard
Lucas
Mata
Saurez
Carroll
but then
Lucas & Suarez will be away taking part in the; Copa America.
good team
Reina
Johnson
Carra
Dann/Agger/Skrtel
Enrique
Gerrard
Henderson/Lucas
Adam/Meireles
Suarez
Carroll
Mata/Downing
4-3-3 all the way! I’d prefer Mata too but would settle for Downing. I hope Meireles stays and Shelvey goes out on loan. Aqua doesn’t interest me, he’s not quick or strong enough for the PL but wish him luck if we can sell him. Dann is quality, bring him in.
I ‘ll go with Cissokho at left back, Shakho to partner Cara at CB, Lucas & SG at centre, Raul at right.
MARTIN KELLY IS THE BEST RIGHT BACK WE HAVE BY A MILE – NO PLACE IN THE TEAMS ABOVE ? WE CAN SELL JOHNSON NOW AND NOT MISS HIM. HE IS A GOOD PLAYER WHO WILL BRING IN ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY THE PLAYERS WE NEED. AND I DONT MEAN ANOTHER MIDFIELDER IT’S GETTING BEYOND A JOKE.
Suarez, henderson and Mata wont be going. Suarez will be playin with Uruaguy and the U21 players will be on break. Dunno why you didnt jusy say our 1st league match it would make alot more sense as most of the 1st team wont play in the 1st friendly anyway.
Liverpool will not be fielding their best players in the intense heat in Guangzhou next month. Kenny will most probably field a couple of experienced players and give the youngsters a run out in this friendly. The writer should stop speculating about the likes of Cahill, Enrique and Mata at this stage.
Gulacsi
Kelly Carragher Ayala Mavinga
Henderson Spearing Shelvey
Kuyt Carroll Pacheco
Gerrard, Agger and Reina will not be rushed back from injury and Lucas and Suarez will be taking part in the Copa America.
Eric, I really do agree with you about the players that will play. Obviously I did realise that some players will be absent because of international duty and stated that Kenny won’t field out best. But the point of the article was just to think about the team as a unit if some speculation materialised and more transfers were made. Peace.
Jason
Just because Henderson is £15 million plus player doesn’t mean he’s an automatic start, and also according to you at the expense of Lucas is laughable. He will be used sparingly and bedded in slowly.
You’re also having a laugh if you think Gerrard is a defensive midfielder. We will not have any success if Gerrard is played in CM. He is impatient, tactically inept and tries to push the play to much. Basically he has no discipline and often goes missing from his position. Lucas and Meireles or Adams(if we get him) would be better in the centre of our midfield. Players who are tactically disciplined are a must in there.
Mata or Downing? In my opinion there is only one answer, MATA, he is technically and tactically brilliant with a high degree of intelligence. This player should be our no1 target without question. He can play anywhere in the front 4 of a 4-2-3-1, and is a must signing even if he costs £25 million. According to G Balague he is available for around £20 million.
My team with a few hopeful signing thrown in would be
Reina
Johnson
Kelly or Dann
Agger
Enrique or Clichy
Lucas
Meireles or Adams
Mata
Gerrard- take the need to think out of his game and he’s brilliant.
Suarez
Kuyt or Carrol
I think this team along with the subs and young players we have could challenge for a top 4 place.
reina,johnson,cara,agger,enrique,raul,lucas,jay,maxi,suarez,carrol.
4-4-2
reina
johnson-carra-kelly-enriq
jordan-lucas-gerrard-mata
suarez(kuyt) carol
Henderson was anonymous tonight against ukraine.90 minutes of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.We have signed him unfortunately but if we signed MATA now we could still say about these two signings that we went from the rediculous to the sublime.
……………reina………………
………..cara…..skertel………..
johnson……..lucas………..enrique
downing…….gerrard………….mata
……..henderson….suarez………..
8 attacking option..
5 defending automaticly + 3 mid to complete 8 defender.
it`s mean .. 3 player in defending mid (lucas,johnson,enrique) and 3 player in attacking mid ( gerrard,downing,mata)must be a booster for the team.
Right for all you worrying about the team for july 13th, dont bother, its the team we have that has been givern squad numbers that we need to worry about before the start of the most improtant season for 100 years.
Next year that has to be no excuses, we have no euro games, we can play the kids in the fa cup and carling cup to gain them more experience and then leave most if not all of the bigger members of the team to rest and just play in the league.
If we miss out on the champions league next season then we are in huge huge trouble and thats why this summer is massive, massive, i dont really think some of you fans really know this???
for me we have to get back into the top 4 and thats the goal, until then we will keep missing out on revenue and the top players.
Depending on the money and what fsg can spend, you can keep you stupid prices for these english crap players and buy sakho rather then dead beat cahill.
Enrique would be ok, buy then again we have taken the cheap route which is liverpool all over, when we should be buying aly cissokho rather then clichy or enrique!
adam – no thanks, id rather we went over seas again and got either carzola or banega or evn javi martinez, there are 150 times the player that fat bloke from blackpool is.
we need a marquee deal to left us and all teh club up and id like mata hear, if not id go for that swiss star in teh under 21’s- cant spell his name;
REINA
JOHNSON CARRAGHER SAKHO CISSOKHO
CARZOLA LUCS GERRARD
SUAREZ KUYT MATA
SUBS FROM;
CARROLL, RAUL, AGGER, GULUCSI GK, HENDERSON, KELLY, FLANNO, ROBINSON, SKRTEL,SPEARING,BANEGA
Jason, I’m afraid the team would be unbalanced with the personnel you propose – and to leave out our best player of the last season and only defensive midfielder of international pedigree (Lucas) cannot possibly make sense.
My guess is that, fitness allowing, Lucas will be the first name on the teamsheet alongside Pepe Reina.