What To Expect Versus Stoke Tomorrow?
As the title says most fans are probably wondering what they will see tomorrow.
The formation, the lineup.
Regardless of the aforementioned conundrums what we need to see is a performance, a good one to make up for the miserable ending to last season. That final game where we took a hammering from Stoke should not have happened to a club of our stature.
Thankfully, it looks like FSG acted decisively in the summer. Fans seem to be split on the subject of Brendan Rodgers remaining in charge but once FSG made that decision fans should have simply got behind the club. I know many Liverpudlians especially are still hoping that they flick on Sky Sports News and see a “Breaking News” banner with news of Rodgers sacking. Sorry guys but it’s not happening so it’s time to back the boss and the players and show the world what Liverpool FC fans are as a collective.
As for tomorrow Firmino is still a relative unknown but I understand he’s quite a strong character mentally and physically. He could be thrown in to the lion’s den. His pre-season might have not been complete but he and Coutinho played in the Copa America so they’ve had the same rest time as the others.
Benteke, however, barely played for Villa in pre-season and barely played for us either. His physical dominance is what we’ve been lacking in recent seasons against teams such as Stoke. The only way now that these players will get match fitness is by playing games. Benteke’s touch may let him down but one piece of brilliance or competitiveness in the air may conjure up a goal. Firmino may misplace a pass or two but I would expect him to make more important attacking passes to make up for that.
Rodger’s seemed to favour a 4-3-3 in pre season so that would suggest he will use it more. It could be a 4-3-3 that when defending transforms into a 4-5-1 with the two wide forwards pulling back to counter the wide midfielders on the opposition.
Lallana and Ibe would be in consideration for the wide places and one of the two may start and one of Firmino and Coutinho start tomorrow.
The midfield I would expect is more straight forward but this depends on if we play two central midfielders and a defensive midfielder or two central midfielders and a more advanced midfielder.
Milner and Henderson are nailed on starters and I’m not surprised. If we have a defensive midfielder it’s between Lucas and Emre Can with Joe Allen on the sidelines. Emre Can prefers to be a driving midfielder and is still learning his craft and positional sense. Lucas would slot straight in to the position and last season was always a stand out performer in games he featured in.
If we have an advanced midfielder that offers the possibility of slotting Coutinho in there and then that allows an advanced wide position for Ibe or Lallana.
The strength in depth means that there’s no mention of Markovic but he should be on the bench. Origi and Ings should join him also.
Even after all of our signings this summer most fans would have thought they knew the back four lineup. No doubt everyone went for Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno.
No one saw it coming that Rodgers would state he didn’t know his starting centre back pairing after all of the pre-season games. Once Joe Gomez had signed there was not a fan anywhere thinking he would be pushing for a starting berth or that he would push Alberto Moreno. He looks like he’s very composed for a youngster and his decision making in general is better than Moreno’s.
I still think Sakho will start with Skrtel but Gomez looks like he is built more for the Stoke game than Moreno. Moreno is small,has been known to switch off occasionally and be out of position.
Needless to say Mignolet’s position is safe. He may even get the trophy for best hair between the goalkeepers with Brad Jones having left.
A good start to the season is all we ask for. How it’s done is down to the players and the manager. Just do us proud this time. #YNWA
