Arsenal vs Liverpool - what formation/squad to go with?

[Gym Beglin]

It annoyed me a little when listening to The Anfield Wrap where they suggested that Henderson deserves to be in the side on merit and that means Coutinho should earn his way back.

 

It's amazing what one good performance vs West Brom can do for Henderson, and what a 6 week lay-off can do in terms of forgetting just how good Coutinho is and how hard he works to win the ball back.

 

Now, I'm not sure about whether or not Coutinho is fit enough to start the game vs Arsenal, but equally I'm not sure about leaving him out. Henderson's propensity to run is great, but it's a self-fulfilling prophecy against a team like Arsenal. It's almost like we'd be happy to NOT have the ball because it means Henderson can show his 'worth' to us by running around after Wilshire, OZil and Ramsey. Surely the best solution is to keep the ball ourselves, and that means Coutinho or Allen should surely be ahead of him to play?

 

I'm half tempted to rest Sturridge and play Coutinho behind Suarez.

 

This allows us to retain the same '3' in midfield, and also allows us to keep the ball better, and also allows us to have a subs bench with Moses and Sturridge on there, two players with pace that can change a game.

 

 

-----------------------The Mig---------------------------

 

------Toure-----------Skrtel------------Sakho----------

 

Johnson---------------Lucas-----------------Cissokho

 

------------Gerrard----------Henderson--------------

 

-------------------Coutinho------------------------

 

--------------------Suarez--------------------------

 

Subs: Agger, Enrique, Allen, Moses, Sturridge, Alberto, Jones

[Barnesey]

I'd leave out Toure and play Henderson, Coutinho and Sturridge.

 

I think we may get a bit of a run around on satdee and think our best counter is to score now and again. Can't leave out Sturridge on this basis.

[Jairzinho]

Mignolet

Johnson Toure Sakho Enrique

Gerrard Lucas Henderson

Coutinho

Sturridge Suarez

 

Sexy.

[LFC64]

Not sure if Rodgers will throw Coutinho straight back in. I can see him coming off the bench for  a centre half though if we can't get out enough  

[Markmywords]

I think they had a point. Henderson's playing well and Coutinho's not match fit (but could help out against knackered legs).

 

You can't 'rest' anyone at the moment let alone sturridge. What's he being rested for? We've only got 3 games in Nov.

[Dr. J]

Against Arsenal we're going to face the most skillful and dynamic midfield in the league. Now I've no doubt Rodgers will play the same team as last week, with maybe Jose Enrique in for Cisshoko but I'd make a few changes.

 

It won't happen, but I'd start a midfield of Allen, Henderson and Lucas, with Gerrard on the bench. We need runners against them and Hendo can't do it for both Lucas and Gerrard. Stevie's got maybe 60-70 minutes in him - against Arsenal it will be  less as they are most midfield oriented team in the league. I'd rather see him come off the bench when he could really make a difference. We don't have any impact subs as it is, maybe he could be one against Arsenal.

[Guest LFD]

We'll need all of Henderson, Gerrard and Lucas in CM against Arsenal.  

 

I think Enrique is more solid than Cissokho, so if he's fit I'd have him.

 

Coutinho coming back from injury could be a great option off the bench for the last 30 minutes.

 

I'd go:

 

 

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

 

----------------Toure--------------Skrtel---------------Sakho------------------

 

Johnson---------------------------Lucas-------------------------------Enrique

 

-----------------------Gerrard-----------------Henderson-----------------------

 

----------------------Suarez--------------------Sturridge-------------------------

 

 

Lucas to mark Ozil out of the game.  Gerrard / Henderson to do the pressing.  Suarez / Sturridge to cause their back four numerous problems.

 

We've got a great chance, especially with Flamini out.

[Jack the Sipper]

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

Johnson----Skrtel---Sakho----Enrique

--------------Lucas-----------------

------Gerrard--------Henderson------

-------------Coutinho---------------

------Suarez---------Sturridge------

 

Four at the back allows us to play Coutinho without dropping Henderson, who added a lot of solidity to our midfield last week. There's arguments for dropping Skrtel or Sakho, but I think Toure needs a rest where he can get one. We lose out on the width (although both Johnson and Enrique are capable of bombing forward), but Arsenal aren't strong there anyway. The game will be decided in the centre of the park (where they are strong) and if we don't match up there we'll get battered.

[magicrat]

Probably get shouted down but I would be tempted to go with 1 up front probably Sturridge and keep Suarez back . Coutinho to play

[Markmywords]

Probably get shouted down but I would be tempted to go with 1 up front probably Sturridge and keep Suarez back . Coutinho to play

You think he should drop Suarez?

 

Are you a manc?

[JohnnyH]

Henderson has had a lot more then 1 decent performace.  I think you're being quite unfair on the lad there.

 

I think I'd start Henderson.  Coutinho can be on the bench and can come on if there are issues.

[magicrat]

You think he should drop Suarez?

 

Are you a manc?

I would play 4-5-1 . Suarez would be one hell of a sub mind you

[moof]

I'd start brad jones in goal and bring Mignolet on as an impact sub with 20 minutes to go.

[Fi!]

I believe Liverpool will still start with the same line-up 3-5-2 as last week, maybe Enrique for Cissokho. Maybe taking of a defender for Coutinho when chasing the game.

[Guest LFD]

It's amazing what one good performance vs West Brom can do for Henderson, and what a 6 week lay-off can do in terms of forgetting just how good Coutinho is and how hard he works to win the ball back.

 

Henderson has been very good for a long time now.

 

Coutinho is exceptional, but he's coming back from injury, so that's why most people would have him on the bench and we need energy vs Arsenal, which Henderson provides.

[Fi!]

Against Arsenal we're going to face the most skillful and dynamic midfield in the league. Now I've no doubt Rodgers will play the same team as last week, with maybe Jose Enrique in for Cisshoko but I'd make a few changes.

 

It won't happen, but I'd start a midfield of Allen, Henderson and Lucas, with Gerrard on the bench. We need runners against them and Hendo can't do it for both Lucas and Gerrard. Stevie's got maybe 60-70 minutes in him - against Arsenal it will be  less as they are most midfield oriented team in the league. I'd rather see him come off the bench when he could really make a difference. We don't have any impact subs as it is, maybe he could be one against Arsenal.

 

This would be a bold move for BR to drop Gerrard for Allen, the vision and set piece from Gerrard would be too much of a trade off for more pressing. Instead of Gerrard coming off the bench, i think Coutinho would be a better sub with his trickery and more due to lack of fitness.

 

Midfield wise, i believe the key lays in Lucas's ability to control Ozil. This will not be easy but from his last match performance, it is possible.

[Major Tom]

-----------------------The Mig---------------------------

 

------Toure-----------Skrtel------------Sakho----------

 

Johnson---------------Lucas-----------------Cissokho

 

------------Gerrard----------Henderson--------------

 

-------------------Coutinho------------------------

 

--------------------Suarez--------------------------

 

Subs: Agger, Enrique, Allen, Moses, Sturridge, Alberto, Jones

 

You're a batty fucker, funneee. You're advocating dropping a striker, scoring for fun and forming a lethal partnership with one of the world's best players, for who? Henderson? Lucas? Coutinho just back from injury?

 

Football manager all fucked up, that is.

[moof]

Henderson has been very good for a long time now

That's such bollocks. The west Brom game was his first decent performance of the season and even then he wasn't in our top 5 performers

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

No change from WBA for me. Coutinho on after an hour to cause a bit of havoc. 

[Pureblood]

That's such bollocks. The west Brom game was his first decent performance of the season and even then he wasn't in our top 5 performers

Don't you he'd be dropped if he was shit in every game? Rodgers must think he's doing something right to keep picking him.

[Evil_Ways]

I think we need Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson in midfield not to be overrun there. Ideally id fit Coutinho in too, but with 3-5-2 i struggle to do so. Normally id play Coutinho any day of the week, but for tactical reasons i could see him starting on the bench. And also, he's one hell of a player to throw on if we need a goal. Sturridge and Suarez has to start.

[moof]

Don't you he'd be dropped if he was shit in every game? Rodgers must think he's doing something right to keep picking him.

He already would've been dropped if his energy wasn't so vital to us. I've heard Barcelona are lining up a move for him to inject some much needed energy into their midfield. The problem is they don't have any players who run right up to the opposition and then let them walk straight around them. That sort of energy can't be replicated so instead of having ball players in midfield they're signing Hendo.

 

Who needs players who can trap and pass a ball when you have someone with that kind of energy?

[xerxes]

Against Arsenal, Dortmund played a 4231 which is a 451 when the opposition have the ball. That will not have been unnoticed by Rodgers. Intriguingly, Villa’s success under Lambert, a devotee of the Bundesliga, employed a similar formation in their opening day victory.

 

That seems the way forwards

[Brigant Moloch]

I don't think Rodgers will change the midfield so I'd like just Agger in for Skrtel and we should pray that Lucas and Garrard will be up to it and concentrated full 90 minutes because facing arsenal's midfield will be be much tougher than WBA's in their latest gutless performance. Keep Cou on the bench and tell him to give 'em hell around 70min^^

[Pureblood]

He already would've been dropped if his energy wasn't so vital to us. I've heard Barcelona are lining up a move for him to inject some much needed energy into their midfield. The problem is they don't have any players who run right up to the opposition and then let them walk straight around them. That sort of energy can't be replicated so instead of having ball players in midfield they're signing Hendo.

 

Who needs players who can trap and pass a ball when you have someone with that kind of energy?

 

Well they can fuck right off.  More than a club my hairy hoop.