Match Day Thread Liverpool v Saints Saturday 27th November, 3pm

Said it before. Calf issues are a nightmare. Ended Le Tissier's career (well that, and the fact he was perpetually unfit).

 

• Defender Jack Stephens has returned to training but there is “no reason to hurry” him into first-team action. Stuart Armstrong will miss the game with a calf injury;
  
  
• Hasenhuttl warns Liverpool have “found their identity again” this season and that facing them at Anfield is “one of the best challenges in football”;
  
  
• James Ward-Prowse will make his 200th appearance in the Premier League and Hasenhuttl said he admires the midfielder because “when you show him something or criticise him for something, he is immediately able to switch it and improve his part”;
  
  
• Hasenhuttl says that despite making mistakes in Saints’ defeat by Norwich, Alex McCarthy remains his number one choice as goalkeeper, adding: “Alex didn’t bring the best performance last week, he knows it, I know it, everybody knows it”;
  
  
• Midfielder Nathan Tella “is still a little bit sloppy in his technique sometimes” but Hasenhuttl says this is “normal” and that the 22-year-old “will get time” in the first team this season.
  

 

Yeah well he's famous for his farm but I really don't think that he should let his agricultural husbandry duties take precedence over the team.

 

I'm not overly fussed about Stu not being available for Liverpool. But not being available for Liverpool does suggest it could be the same still against Leicester and Brighton too. And that very much does concern me.

 

Is he available for this weekend?

 

Despite that, one of a very few who truly fit the title, Legend!

 

I think he’s just too chicken to play.

 

Yeah, cock.

 

So he has a

That is a paltry excuse.

 

What a load of bull.

 

For sure Laces, I've popped the gastrocnemius muscles in both legs over the years, and they never recovered the same stretch and flexibility after the ruptures, even after surgery and physio

 

In the presser, Ralph said it wasn't fatigue he showed the last couple of games. Just that people are starting to realise what a player he is. So no suggestion yet that he will be rested. I think Ralph may go for Perraud instead of KWP though because he is more defensive on that side (which we will need). I know people are concerned by Ely's lack of goals and assists but it's not like Armstrong did any better when he played. Both undertake the defensive part of their duties well. So I'd probably go with

McCarthy (would like to Fraser but it's not happening yet)
Tino Bedders Salisu Perraud
Romeu JWP (or Diallo)
Ely (JWP if Diallo selected) Redders
Armstrong Adams

Subs: Fraser, KWP, Lyanco, Smallbone, Diallo, Djenepo, Tella, Broja, Walcott

 

Armstrong hasn’t played at 100% for us yet this season. He was only getting his first appearances of the season and getting back to match fitness before the last international break when he played for Scotland and came back injured…again. Really far from ideal to have your best creative player as injury prone as ours is. When Armstrong is fit he’s the first attacker on the team sheet. Still an area we need to address, a lot of quantity but very little quality. We have very little goal threat from our attacking midfielders.

 

It wouldn't happen, and he's not our profile of player (although, Walcott), but would it be mental to mention that Christian Eriksen is kicking around on a free transfer right now. He'd be allowed to play in the PL....

 

You're joking right?.

 

I was there to see Steve Moran get us a 1-0 win back in the day. Lively in Stanley Park afterwards!

 

Admittedly solid, but we need some creativity in midfield, which this doesn't give us. I can't see Che or Adam getting any service. It's like the playboy mansion having an open day but Ralph builds a bridge made out of matchsticks to get there... we need a midfield bridge in order to score!

 

Agreed. Can’t get away from the fact that our three wins in the Premier League have come with Stuart Armstrong being on the pitch at some point…

 

Yay! Getting tonked day

 

Anyone travelling up to Anfield, take plenty of time and be very careful as the weather is dreadful
At Jn11/12 M6 it is snowing and very windy
Take it steady guys