The Liverpool FC Thread XIV

It's a fair point.

Allen's injury record is also a fair point against him, even if it's improved this season.

The rest of the debate is just speculation on what Klopp wants. I'd be inclined to keep Allen but I'd trust Klopp with whatever he does.

Stewart didn't come through our academy (and only really spent 6 months in our U21 team, due to injuries and loans), and he was never a centre back (just played there occasionally, and proved himself most effective at DM). He was a utility player, mainly a fullback but it was mooted that he'd be a DM from day one. He does like to offer himself but his passing isn't so crisp and is a tad bobbly to be honest, which makes me as anxious as Sakho has lately.

He's been touted as a centre-back in a few places, but maybe that's wrong. Yeah, the utility thing is obvious. It happens more and more - players playing in a different position, learning their trade before becoming fixed somewhere else. You could argue Emre Can's three month stint as a centre-back in a back three last year is an example of that, and Carragher/Gerrard both earned their stripes elsewhere before nailing a position down for themselves.

I always remember Martin Kelly was touted as a future centre-back when he burst onto the scene in 2009-10 and was deployed at right-back by Rafa.

I do wonder whether the bobbly passing is down to the pitch. A few weeks ago, the pitch was NOT in a good condition for that United match when I was there - especially on the wings, which is weird, given that those are usually the areas untouched by mud/a lack of turf.

Kelly excelled at RB and was MOTM against Lyon on his debut, I don't know if they're veiled shots at Rafa but they're not valid.

No they are not 'veiled shots' at Rafa ffs. It was a statement. There was no clandestine meaning.

I think 4-4-2 is the most obvious, given the strength we showed playing with two strikers at the weekend. For that reason, though, Klopp could just as easily want to spring a surprise and not deploy both Sturridge and Origi.

Thursday's team announcement promises to be fascinating.

For me it would be more of a surprise if he went with both Sturridge and Origi, especially after the result of the first leg and leaving both Coutinho and Lallana on the bench on Sunday.

Hmm, we don't play on 15th April because it's the Hillsborough anniversary. If this year wasn't a leap year Thursday would be the 15th, what would have happened in this case given that Europa matches are all played on a Thursday?

Not that it matters, just wondering.

Anyone seen Moreno's new tattoo? Bit weird..

Hmm, we don't play on 15th April because it's the Hillsborough anniversary. If this year wasn't a leap year Thursday would be the 15th, what would have happened in this case given that Europa matches are all played on a Thursday?

Not that it matters, just wondering.

It didn't directly influence the individual performances on the day, but the media lead up to the game and the significance of the opponent probably put more pressure than you'd have felt in other games.

Tuchel has a reputation of "making Klopp teams more mature" and had exactly that to prove. Klopp's reputation there is still that of a mastermind who knows his players in and out and the management, fans and (many) players still love him as a brother, leader, father figure etc respectively.

Is a half and half scarf acceptable tomorrow night?