Liverpool (H) *pre*-match thread

[FrankieADZ]

free hit for me, if we go down, just go down fighting and maybe injury a few of their players too

,just to see Klopp's reaction

[foxinsocks]

1 hour ago, gerrytaggart said:

Hope the officials are impartial for this one.

Who is the ref?  Pawson was dreadful last night... he needs time off.

Salah always trails his leg to garner a free kick.... red card for cheating 

Edited 28 December 2021 by foxinsocks

[reynard]

10 minutes ago, adejo92 said:

I think a lot of it is tongue in cheek but i also think there's the general feeling that he would put in some strong tackles which might get the crowd and other players going.

 

That said, it's a very dangerous game. I think he's an extremely clumsy player and the way Liverpool are as a team, rolling around & complaining to the referee, i could see him booked very early on. Soon as he's booked, every thing he does is a risk and i am not sure he has the sense to not do a second silly challenge and be sent off.

 

I can see the advantages of him, but would rather him not start.

Exactly. Just imagine Klopp's reaction when he commits his first foul he'd be on the touchline waving his arms in the air etc etc.

Shame out captain is in goal. Good example of a match today where you need your skipper to be in the ref's ear all the time, asking how many more cynical pull backs etc Liverpool will be allowed to get away with. You can guarantee their skipper will be doing exactly that against us.

[orangecity23]

Not so sure Oliver being ref tonight is a good thing - last time we had him, it was away at Villa, he gave 28 free kicks against us and ignored a clear penalty on KDH. Basically doesn't matter who the ref is anymore, most of them seem keen to feck us over at the drop of a hat, and against a big 6 team? We're getting absolutely nothing, might as well give Henderson the whistle and ref shirt because he'll be making all the decisions tonight.

[The Quick Brown Fox]

I'm hoping to see some of our boys flying in to tackles and breaking a Liverpool leg or two. Not one to endorse this usually but there is the odd time it is called for. Let's smash the **** out of them and if that means a couple of red cards then oh well. 

 

 

[Corky]

Seriously, the last thing we need is a suspension. We're lacking players and about to lose several more.

 

It's probably a night for calm heads. 

[reynard]

4 minutes ago, browniefox said:

I'm hoping to see some of our boys flying in to tackles and breaking a Liverpool leg or two. Not one to endorse this usually but there is the odd time it is called for. Let's smash the **** out of them and if that means a couple of red cards then oh well. 

 

 

Sorry but I can't condone this approach. Yes by all means let them know we there but injuring a player on purpose should always be beneath contempt. Also we can't afford the suspensions with our current injury list.

[The Quick Brown Fox]

Just now, reynard said:

Sorry but I can't condone this approach. Yes by all means let them know we there but injuring a player on purpose should always be beneath contempt. Also we can't afford the suspensions with our current injury list.

As I said usually I'd agree, but these lot?? **** em. 

[String fellow]

Just been looking at some of the comments on the Red and White Kop forum about the game today. They seem to focus more on opposition players than FTers do. That said, some of their comments about us are pretty obnoxious and supremely arrogant.

[davieG]

https://theredmentv.com/a-look-at-the-opposition-how-big-a-danger-to-liverpool-are-leicester/

 

28/12/2021
A look at the opposition: How big a danger to Liverpool are Leicester?
Written by: Daniel Ghorbal Editor Share the love

 

Tuesday sees the return to football for Liverpool with a trip to Leicester City, six days on from what was a fascinating cup tie against the Foxes. A penalty shootout victory for Liverpool was the reward for a spirited second half display, with the Reds taking advantage of a depleted Leicester defence and really highlighting the issues Brendan Rodgers has.

Those issues were even further rubber stamped in his side’s 6-3 defeat to league leaders Manchester City. Leicester were 4-0 down within 25 minutes and really showed just how weak they are defensively, conceding from set pieces, switching off and showing a lack of concentration.

 

Despite an inspired second-half performance in which they scored three good goals, more defensive slackness took any chances of a comeback away from them. After Liverpool’s game against Leeds was postponed, the last thing Leicester need is a game against a fresh opposition, kicking off just 50 hours after the game against Manchester City concluded. Freshness aside, Liverpool are also boosted by the return of Fabinho, Curtis Jones, Thiago and Virgil Van Dijk who all had COVID-related setbacks in recent weeks.

 

Leicester’s absentees are notable ones. He has already confirmed that Danny Ward and Harvey Barnes will be missing from the squad, as well as the recent injuries to Caglar Soyuncu, Ricardo Pereira and Patson Daka, all of whom suffered injuries in the recent defeat at Anfield.

With Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans and James Justin already missing, Liverpool could have a field day going forward against what will be a very weakened defence. Vestergaard and Bertrand have both shown in recent weeks that they are not quite up to the level necessary in this division, whilst Luke Thomas is still a young defender learning his trade in the highest division.

 

Coming up against yet another world class side, Rodgers will be torn in his approach to the game, knowing that they have the ability to hurt Liverpool going forwards whilst also not wanting to overcommit. The first half against City was the epitome of why chasing a game can be dangerous against sides of their calibre, but we saw in the second half just how effective they can be on the counter attack.

James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman all had terrific second halves, they toyed with City’s defenders and were relentless. Against Liverpool, can Rodgers trust his defensive unit to hold their shape? For counter attacking to work effectively, a structured, organised back line is necessary and with the players at his disposal, such a tactic may be beyond them.

From his recent press conferences, it is clear that Rodgers is absolutely desperate for players to return, but in the meantime, he simply needs to rally his troops and keep going until the window is open. He can take some positivity from Leicester’s recent attacking output, and although they are coming up against the 3rd best defence in the league, recent games against Newcastle and Man City have shown just how dangerous their attacking players are.

Although it was against a weakened Liverpool, the counter attack worked extremely well in the first half and a similar idea will undoubtedly be explored here. Jamie Vardy was an unused substitute in the Boxing Day defeat, so it is likely he will come into the side to face the Reds. Likewise, I expect Ndidi to regain his place in the side too despite a difficult second half at Anfield. The expectation here is that Liverpool will have too much for Leicester, but if Rodgers can inspire his players to battle on through the fatigue barrier, then the Foxes can certainly cause a few problems of their own.

[ronnup]

Winning this would make my season. I ****ing hate them. Win this and don't get relegated. 

[ParkerPen]

18 minutes ago, String fellow said:

Just been looking at some of the comments on the Red and White Kop forum about the game today. They seem to focus more on opposition players than FTers do. That said, some of their comments about us are pretty obnoxious and supremely arrogant.

why do they think Leicester is tory supporters ?! have i missed something ?

[KFS]

WE ALL DREAM OF A TEAM OF KDH

[st albans fox]

17 minutes ago, reynard said:

Genuine questions has there been any sort of apology from either the player or manager? Has Klopp condemned the challenge?

Nothing will be made public

i expect there has been contact between klopp and Brendan to apologise. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

11 minutes ago, ronnup said:

Winning this would make my season. I ****ing hate them. Win this and don't get relegated. 

Spot on. 

 

It a tough call in this league but surely from Players to Supporters to Manager these must be the most unlikable ......... dare I say it even more than Spurs, Arsenal or even Man U 

[Guest ttfn]

6 minutes ago, ParkerPen said:

why do they think Leicester is tory supporters ?! have i missed something ?

It’s especially weird as not only is Leicester very Labour but the Conservatives won a huge majority at the last election - there must be loads of clubs that are genuinely in very Conservative areas. 

[Spudulike]

2 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Spot on. 

 

It a tough call in this league but surely from Players to Supporters to Manager these must be the most unlikable ......... dare I say it even more than Spurs, Arsenal or even Man U 

I think it's only supporters, to be honest. The players are all mates whoever they play for. They don't hold grudges like we do. 

[Corky]

4 minutes ago, ttfn said:

It’s especially weird as not only is Leicester very Labour but the Conservatives won a huge majority at the last election - there must be loads of clubs that are genuinely in very Conservative areas. 

Liverpool also have millions of fans all around the country- they won't all be from staunch Labour-voting areas too.

 

 

[foxfanazer]

13 minutes ago, KFS said:

WE ALL DREAM OF A TEAM OF KDH

I just dream of a team 

[AyewJoking]

40 minutes ago, Corky said:

Seriously, the last thing we need is a suspension. We're lacking players and about to lose several more.

 

It's probably a night for calm heads. 

Fcuk off Brendan, this is a fans forum!

[Vlad the Fox]

48 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Vardy has literally 'won' us hundreds of pens like this. Take the blue tinted specs off.

I agree, though what annoys me is when Vardy was doing it during our prem winning season it was considered diving, even led to his sending off v west ham. As soon as kane, salah, mane et el start doing it it’s intelligent play. 
 

Plus oliver is a ****, we'll get nothing from him tonight, another ref pally with the big 6 and undeserving of his reputation.

[davieG]

11 minutes ago, ttfn said:

It’s especially weird as not only is Leicester very Labour but the Conservatives won a huge majority at the last election - there must be loads of clubs that are genuinely in very Conservative areas. 

There's 54 City Councillors - 52 Labour, 1 SD and 1 Tory

 

There's 55 County Councillors 42 Tory, 9 LD, 4 Labour

 

Red City v Blue County

[don_danbury]

Just now, Vlad the Fox said:

I agree, though what annoys me is when Vardy was doing it during our prem winning season it was considered diving, even led to his sending off v west ham. As soon as kane, salah, mane et el start doing it it’s intelligent play. 
 

Plus oliver is a ****, we'll get nothing from him tonight, another ref pally with the big 6 and undeserving of his reputation.

off the top of my head he's given us plenty of dodgy pens. the handball v villa almost 2 years ago, 2 of the 3 that were really soft against man city last season, and obviously that knockaert pen  i've always found him a terrible ref who gives so many dodgy pens away. i think he's top of the list for awarded penalties. 

[moore_94]

Yohan on his way to cause carnage

 

 

[leicesterseddon]

14 hours ago, shailen said:

In some ways I'm glad we're playing Liverpool and Man C in our current crisis period, as they likely will be games we wouldn't have got anything from at full strength! 

 

Yeah I'm trying to look at it that way too. If you think about it, our "expected points" from these two games would be 0 points, maybe 1.

 

So two losses aren't the end of the world.

 

That said, I just have no confidence in the ability of this squad to recover/retain fitness. The number of injuries has gone far beyond luck and there is something not quite right that we badly need to sort out.