21 Oct 2020 10:50:15
Well, one thing that will likely emerge if Fabinho plays at centre back for a spell will be the high defensive line dropping back a good 10 yards or so I'd have thought?
It was risky enough with Gomez and Van Dijk, the two quickest central defenders in the PL, and as we saw, Villa tore Fabinho and the high line to shreds recently.
Who to play at the defensive / deeper midfielder though?
I like the look of Thiago more forward, so either Hendo or Wijnaldum I suppose?
Please Lord, no more injuries for a while.

1.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 11:16:50
Juicer, I fully agree with that. Klopp already dropped the high line a few yard in the Everton game already so he could just stick with that until Big ALI is back and even so with Fab and Matip not blessed with Gomez-like pace, that may continue.

2.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 11:37:24
Dont be surprised to see Klopp throw Williams or Phillips in tonight. Were in the middle of a hectic schedule for the players and everybody, including fabinho is going to need a rest every now and then.

3.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 11:38:00
Apologies as this is a repost but the comment thread from earlier seems to have disappeared.

Its been a bit of a pity party on here the last few days or weeks even. Terible loss to Villa and a massive loss in VVD but they are done and gone. As our owners continue to look at changing the wheel of football a european league for me would absolutely ruin the game but the rich will get richer and its no longer the fans game.
On a more positive note what's everyone's team for tonight do we go full strength or give opportunities for the rest of the squad for me I'd personally go with.

Kelleher - I think this lad needs an opportunity in a high profile game. It will take Adrian out of the firing line for a bit and give this kid an opportunity.

TAA - even though i think he might need a rest i don't believe tonight is the night and hopefully he can play himself back into form

Gomez and Fab - With Matip injured i believe these will be our starting centre backs tonight

Tsimikas - this lad was brought in as cover or competition for Robbo. We aren't going to know which until he gets chances in the first team. Robbo been fantastic this season and a rest will do him good

Wiji, Milner and Jones - I think all deserve a start and all 3 should be good enough to match Ajax midfield. If this is deemed as a weak midfield then should these players be in the squad. Hendo needs protecting and i don't think Naby deserves a start (but i think he might actually stat ahead of Jones)

Mino - If anyone deserves an opportunity i believe its him. Yes he's a new signing but Jota has been here 10 months less and already has almost the same amount of opportunities as him in the premier league.

Mane - Masive player for us and has just come out of a 2 week isolation period so he will be raring to go.

Jota - I think this lad is a very good signing for us. To break into our top 3 is going to be a huge task for him but i believe he will get ample opportunities starting with tonight.

4.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 13:29:44
We are away at ajax right? In the cl? And you want to give the u23s a run out!? No, strongest possible team pls.

5.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 13:59:09
Fabinho is deceptively quick, certainly wouldn't point it out as a weakness of his.

6.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 14:16:31
Robbie where have I said anything about giving the U23’s a run out. From that starting 11 only the keeper is not realistically first team squad the rest of them are either normal starters or are on the bench of a match day squad. Reason I’ve gone with that keeper is because Allison is injured and Adrian has cost us a goal in each of his last 3 starts.

7.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 15:04:20
Adrians contract is up ata the end of this season, he did play really well in goal early last season, but has lost a lot of confidence recently, and needs to be replaced next summer,
I did make a call on him and we need an upgrade, Allison, great keeper that he is, misses at least 10 games a season out injured, so our then number 2 might get, with some Cup games, 15 games a season .

8.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 15:49:46
Can you imagine Adrian starting (like he should) and we win 1-0, after a great day in goal? Great confidence boost that would be, wouldn't it?

9.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 16:19:32
if we are going to Imagine, let's make it 2 0 .

10.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 21:52:02
Hi JK - agree with what a lot of what you’ve said there. We need to dust ourselves off and crack on!

Super excited for the game tonight. Team wise I wouldn’t go for the young lad in goal. Ajax are a very good team and shouldn’t be under estimated. The lads need a bounce back rather than risk letting in another 3 or 4!

Thiago and Matip will probably miss out. It’s great to have Hendo back though and I think he’ll get a reaction out of the lads like he did at Everton 💪🏼.