Southampton at Home match thread

[Megadrive Man]

This match should be a real indication of where our season is going.

 

Over the past few years we have dropped far too many points against teams we should be beating at Anfield. A win tomorrow would make it a great start to the season and put the disappointment of the second half of the Swansea game behind us.

 

Southampton have played much better than their results suggest so far this season, and have been really unlucky with officials decisions so far. The Southampton away game last season was arguably our poorest performance of 2013 so far, Gerrard and Allen got completely overran in midfield in that game so hopefully we will continue with the midfield three of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson as this makes us much more robust in this area. 

 

With Suarez and Coutinho ruled out we are a bit light up top, Sturridge and Moses will surely start, and personally I'd go with Sterling over Aspas for the third attacking place.

 

Hopefully Agger will be back for this too. I'd drop Sakho if he is, as I think he will need a bit of time to adjust and adapt to the Premiership. I'd be tempted to put Toure in at right back too to shore up the back four again.

 

---------------Mignolet-------------

--Toure Skrtel Agger Enrique--

---Henderson Gerrard Lucas---

----Sterling Sturridge Moses----

[kalasoma]

I think Rodgers may just stick with Wisdom at right back again with Agger coming back in if he's fit. I like Sterling starting this and Alberto coming on if we're ahead or if Moses starts to tire around the 60 min mark.

[Mustangt125]

Moses is a must start.

 

At the back four I'd start Agger Sakho if theyre fit and Kolo at RB.  Wisdom looks lost out there.

[elvis]

This match should be a real indication of where our season is going.

 

Over the past few years we have dropped far too many points against teams we should be beating at Anfield. A win tomorrow would make it a great start to the season and put the disappointment of the second half of the Swansea game behind us.

 

Southampton have played much better than their results suggest so far this season, and have been really unlucky with officials decisions so far. The Southampton away game last season was arguably our poorest performance of 2013 so far, Gerrard and Allen got completely overran in midfield in that game so hopefully we will continue with the midfield three of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson as this makes us much more robust in this area. 

 

With Suarez and Coutinho ruled out we are a bit light up top, Sturridge and Moses will surely start, and personally I'd go with Sterling over Aspas for the third attacking place.

 

Hopefully Agger will be back for this too. I'd drop Sakho if he is, as I think he will need a bit of time to adjust and adapt to the Premiership. I'd be tempted to put Toure in at right back too to shore up the back four again.

 

---------------Mignolet-------------

--Toure Skrtel Agger Enrique--

---Henderson Gerrard Lucas---

----Sterling Sturridge Moses----

Wouldn't like to see sakho dropped , he could sit in front of the defence alongside Lucas and push Gerrard further up seeing as Coutinho is out , assuming Agger is fit . 

Reminds me of Momo with his quick interceptions and passing - just a thought .

[The Great Jacko]

With an eye on the Utd game I think it'll be

 

Mignolet

Kelly  Skrtel Agger  Enrique

 

Lucas Henderson

 

Gerrard

 

Aspas Sturridge Moses

 

We'll need Kelly to give us more going forwards in this game with Toure taking the RB position for Utd and Sterling saved for counter attacking against Utd so Aspas plays here. Perhaps Alberto to start against Utd as well - Oh and Sahko to play against Utd unless Agger needs a couple more days.

[SpeedyG]

How is dropping Sakho going to help him adapt?  We've a run of winnable games, now is the ideal time to let him learn to adapt.  Let's not repeat the coates mistake.  Agger rarely heals quickly, and is always carrying some sort of knock anyways

[Mathewbet1]

We have an embarrassment of riches at center back! Which is a good thing. Although Sakho did very well in the second half against swansea i think skrtel and toure form our most solid partnership at CB if agger is injured. I expect Alberto or Sterling to get their chance , with aspas possibly missing out. But by not picking aspas it would be a big blow to the lad as if he cant get into the team when both cout and suarez are out then when willy.

 

 

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[Mathewbet1]

We have an embarrassment of riches at center back! Which is a good thing. Although Sakho did very well in the second half against swansea i think skrtel and toure form our most solid partnership at CB if agger is injured. I expect Alberto or Sterling to get their chance , with aspas possibly missing out. But by not picking aspas it would be a big blow to the lad as if he cant get into the team when both cout and suarez are out then when willy.

 

 

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[sir roger]

Wonder whether Brendan might throw a curve ball with a 3-5-2, as my impression is that the Saints' strength is all through the middle of the pitch.

 

Skrtel Toure Sakho

Henderson Lucas Gerrard Alberto Enrique

Sturridge Moses

[MLB]

Any word on Agger's fitness?

 

I think our best CB combination right now would probably be Skrtel and Toure, but I can see an argument for playing Sakho again (given that he cost £15 million and all.)

 

I would play Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson as the midfield three, with Sterling coming in for Coutinho. Should be enough to get the job done.

[russ1979]

I would play Toure and Sakho. Experience leading the inexperienced. Tough on Skrtle as he,s been playing well but he's not a leader like Toure

[TheHowieLama]

Get Sakho up next to Sturridge - may    hem.

[Pureblood]

Centre backs are like neighbours being there for one another and Rodgers must find the perfect blend.

[Pureblood]

Centre backs are like neighbours being there for one another and Rodgers must find the perfect blend.

[Pureblood]

Centre backs are like neighbours being there for one another and Rodgers must find the perfect blend.

[Lario]

If Alberto was ever gonna get a game, it has to be tomorrow. After scoring a hattrick during the week and Coutinho injured, it's the ideal chance to play him no. 10.

 

Hope we put a marker down tomorrow. It'd be great to get a 3 goal victory.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

I reckon Aspas will start in behind Sturridge. He hasn't really impressed so far, but he's got the edge on Alberto regarding physique when up against Wanyama.

 

Weird feeling going into this one. Last season we made too many winnable home games look hard work, and we've never really kicked the habit of stringing draws together.

[TheHowieLama]

Centre backs are like neighbours being there for one another and Rodgers must find the perfect blend.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Centre backs are like neighbours being there for one another and Rodgers must find the perfect blend.

They'll get closer each day. Home and away.

[TheHowieLama]

They'll get closer each day. Home and away.

Pals on the field, pals in the showers. It's not g..

[bonesman]

I'm walking on ayre, just to know Daniels there.

[therevivalist]

Dreading another draw. It's gonna be a measure of Rodger's ambition and ability to change, ie to go out and dare to win games. His overcautious approach almost bordering on the timid is killing us. Time we played for the entire 90 mins and score goals, especially now we have the defence to help us.

[fowler9]

quite like the idea of going 3-5-2 with Coutinho out and us having a lot of quality in centre back and think Hendo would be an ideal wing back too, only question then is who to play centre mid with Stevie and Lucas

[Dante]

I think Schneiderlin and Wanyama  opposite Lucas and Gerrard is an interesting match up. The Southampton duo are certainly more mobile and dynamic than ours and could be a key factor in the outcome.

 

It looks like Lambert and Osvaldo flanked by Rodriguez and Lallana will be their front four.

 

So Wisdom and Enrique who are not the ideal full backs to deal with the twisty turny nature of their wingers will have to step it up.

 

I'm more confident of our centre backs, be it Toure/Skrtel or Skrtel/Sakho of handling their front two.

 

As for our front four it's looking like either Moses (L) Aspas © Henderson ® and Sturridge (CF) or Sterling (L) Henderson © Moses ® and Sturridge (CF).

 

Either way I'd back those combinations to come out on top against Shaw (L). Clyne ® and Lovren © with Fonte©.

 

It's going to be tough but if Wisdom and Enrique can contain Lallana and Rodriguez I think we'll win 2-1. Still worried about Wanyama and Schneiderlin though.

[KopOut]

If we can put them away and keep a clean sheet, we'll be flying high bursting with confidence, but with coutinho injured and suarez not back, someone like aspas must step up.. big time