The Liverpool FC Thread XIV

There's about 10 players in our squad I'd rather at LB

Quite nervous about tonight.
Logically we should be fine - we're playing much better football and have a 2 goal advantage.

However this is Manchester United at Old Trafford. It doesn't matter how bad their team is, they can always do something special at this venue.

Not having Flanagan in the EL squad could really bite us in the arse tonight. This would be the ideal game, with the way we're looking to approach it, to bring him in for the injured Moreno. He has thrived against United in the past.

Most of us are struggling to think of the next best alternative and you have 10 names? Let's hear them.

Better than Sakho at left back? Sure

Smith
(Flanagan)
Can
Milner
Enrique
Randall
Henderson
Lallana
Maguire
Ibe
Lucas
Ilori
Lovren
McLaughlin
Cleary

With half of the names its easier to move Clyne across to LB and play them at RB. Sakho's an 'idea' but nothing more. He's probably the least cut out of all our CBs to play at fullback.

Flanagan set to sign a 3 year contract.

Good to see. Must have convinced Klopp/the team that he can get back to his best.

"However, it is talent rather than sentiment that is at the core of his new deal, Klopp making his judgement based on the player’s performances since his comeback game in the Third Round of the FA Cup earlier this season.

The Liverpool coach opted to omit Flanagan from his Europa League squad in January, unsure if he would be at the required physical level for upcoming games. He later admitted he regretted that decision and had made a mistake."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/17/liverpool-will-hand-jon-flanagan-new-three-year-contract/

Re EL squad omission.

I don't blame Klopp for omitting Flanagan from the EL squad back in Jan, he was out for so long it would have been very difficult to predict how Flanagan would have coped after his long absence. I'm absolutely delighted so see him sign a 3 year contract- he certainly deserves it with his performances of late.

Yea agreed. The changes in January were:

Steven Caulker, Joao Carlos Teixeira and Danny Ward have all been added to Liverpool’s Europa League squad for this season - but Adam Bogdan and long term injury victims Danny Ings and Joe Gomez have been removed.

Caulker has been an odd one.. we've barely seen him other than for him to play up front for us..

Well Caulker came in as an emergency option because at the time we had a a big injury crisis going on. Anyways it was only a 6 month loan deal so I'm not fussed if he doesn't play for us again.


Regarding tonight I hope we go for the jugular and aim to get a goal ASAP. If we score inside 20 minutes you just know United will become jittery and as they'll have to go all out attack it means it'll be easier for us to pick them off on the counter. Not to mention OT will become toxic and angry which will only add to the nerves of the United players.

It'll be beautiful if we knock them out tonight.

Smith - yep that seems to be the obvious one
(Flanagan) - not in EL squad so redundant
Can - wasn't great at FB when we played with 4 under Rodgers. Also why would we weaken our midfield? If we moved him, our only option would be to play Allen
Milner - could work
Enrique - just no. He looked out of his depth against Exeter
Randall - could work if we we move Clyne to LB
Henderson - see above for Can re midfield
Lallana - I don't think we've seen Lallana at fullback?
Maguire - having only played 14 minutes for LFC I doubt Klopp would risk it. I presume he's not good enough
Ibe - might be a liability at fullback but perhaps
Lucas - he's injured
Ilori - not in the EL squad
Lovren - don't see how Lovren would be better at fullback than Sakho (who has played at LB and LCB for us)
McLaughlin - isn't he on loan at Aberdeen?
Cleary - he's never played for the first team so don't see it happening

So I'd say that's only 3 or 4 plausible alternatives to Sakho.

you'll go through tbh

That is great news about Flanagan. He's a local lad, and having those in the squad is crucial. I actually think this could be one of the most crucial bits of business Klopp does this year. I was concerned he'd be on his way out, and we'd lose that feel for the club.

Players like Flanagan just lifts the crowd. Seeing his name on the teamsheet fills me with confidence. Elsewhere, Kane and Mason and Alli are shining for Tottenham, Lingard and Rashford are retaining a local link for Man United, and you've got the stalwarts of Noble and JT at West Ham/Chelsea respectively.

Can's played at fullback for Germany and done it well. Judging him in a BR defence is folly. Playing Allen would hardly weaken the midfield, he's played better than Henderson under Klopp. McLaughlin, Cleary and Maguire are all youth players but at least they're fullbacks and know the position and have the attributes for it. Which Sakho definitely doesn't. Lallana, and Ibe, eg, have more suitable attributes for the position.

And no, I saw McLaughlin playing for our U21s the other day. When have we seen Sakho at left back at btw?

You asked for 10 players and the only ones you can rule out are Lucas, Flanagan and Ilori, out of my list of 15. Notice that you didn't ask for my 10 preferred LB candidates, just 10 players better there than Sakho.

Lmao you bitch

I assume you'll delete the identical comment from the United thread if we go through?