The latest Merseyside derby this weekend highlighted a lot of issues. Are our referees really the best in the world, and if not, when are they going to be held accountable? Are we starting to see the ugly side of fans, creeping back into our stadiums, and are clubs doing enough to combat those disgusting individuals who throw missiles directly at players? And is the Liverpool side that finished the game (with the exception of Jordan Henderson) the ideal starting XI for Kenny Dalglish? Let’s take a look.
Little more than 20-minutes had passed on the clock when Martin Atkinson foolishly flashed a red card in Jack Rodwell’s direction after the Everton midfielder committed a tough, but clean challenge, but it took Liverpool until the 71st minute to break the deadlock. Both club Captain Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy had been on the pitch barely 4-minutes when the latter was involved in some neat build-up play which saw Andy Carroll break Everton’s resolve. There should be little doubt that the injection of pace and quality that Liverpool introduced at that time, in the sweltering, unseasonable weather, against a tiring 10-men helped change the game once more.
Bellamy replaced the anonymous Stewart Downing and looked instantly more threatening down the left-hand side of the pitch, combining well with left-back Jose Enrique. The former Villa man had a promising start to the season, but in recent weeks has become something of an invisible man. Bellamy on the other hand is the perennial pain in the neck to whatever opposition he faces. His constant harrying and buzzing around the pitch, coupled with his mouthy, moaning ‘charm’ never leaves supporters wondering if he is on the field of play. Charlie Adam had performed bright in spells but has not been as consistently influential on the pitch as he would have liked – or many would have expected. The return of iconic Captain Gerrard will now threaten Adam’s place in the starting line-up. There could be a case to partner both midfielders together and thus replacing the much maligned Lucas, which is what many fans want to see. It would certainly provide a more offensive option, however the balance of the team may suffer as the much improved Brazilian provides an effective shield in-front of the defensive line, and defensively, Liverpool have struggled at times this season.
Injuries have prevented Liverpool from having a consistent back-line this season but there can be little doubt when fit, Agger, Carragher and Jose Enrique should be first choice (alongside keeper Pepe Reina). The only question mark is at right-back with young Martin Kelly forever impressing, injury prone England international Glen Johnson seems to be a forgotten man at Anfield, and many believe his poor defensive positional sense should see young Kelly keep his place
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Starting XI for Man U:
Reina
Kelly – Carragher – Agger (if fit) – Enrique
Kuyt – Lucas – Gerrard – Downing
Suarez – Caroll
Subs: Doni, Sktrl, Johnson, Adam, Spearing, Henderson, Bellamy
Reina
jonhson*-kelly-agger*-enrique
gerrard-lucas-spearing-downing
kurt-suarez
subs:doni,skrt,coates,adam,henderson,bellamy,caroll
*If fit
bellamy must start… fact.
Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Enrique
Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Downing
Suarez/Carroll
Subs: Doni Skertel Adam Johnson Spearing Henderson Bellamy
Reina
Kelly-carra-agger-Enrique
Bellamy-gerrard-Lucas-downing
Suarez-Carroll
100% agree, very fast and flowing attacking options for the quick counter and also balanced enough to play a pass and move possesion game. Still leaves us with great quality on the bench to change things around and rotate players to keep them fresher for longer into the season
Fast? Flowing football? Only in your dream. That will never happen with Jamie ‘Hoofer’ Carragher and Lucas ‘Anything-but-sambal football’ Leiva in the team.
that’s my team
reina
kelly carra agger enrique
kuyt stevie g lucas downing
suarez bellamy
Why does everyone put agger in there first 11. You should all know by now that he’s always injured. Maybe we should put Johnson in as well who also seems to be injured and perhaps buy dyer from qpr.I’d rather have a good player that can be fit for at least 30 games a season than a class player that’s only fit for about 10 games, what’s the point in that. I don’t think agger will ever start playing 30 games plus a season. Some players are just very injury proned and he’s 1 of them unfortunately. I have noticed most of you put in brackets if fit but he’s not fit is he so it’s a bit of a waste of time most of you putting him in your starting 11 to be fair
…. because he is class ? because he is better then skrtel?
remember its peoples ‘best’ starting 11 based on everybody being fit?
i also don’t think you are giving him enough credit, he played on with a broken rib ffs.
Reina
Kelly Carra Agger Enrique
Maxi Rodriguez Stevie G. Lucas Bellamy
Suarez Bellamy
Bench: Doni, Johnson, Downing, Adam, Coates, Carroll, Spearing
You Love Bellamy such that he had to take the place of 2..You maybe on to something though..10 men work harder than 11..lol
Reina
Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Enrique
Lucas, Adam, Downing
Gerrard
Suarez, Carroll
Subs: Doni, Johnson, Skrtel, Coates, Maxi, Henderson, Kuyt,
No Bellamy? Not even on the bench?
Reina
Kelly,Skirtel,Agger,Enrique
kuit,Adams,Gerrard,Downing
Caroll,Suarez
Please and please make our line up the match between man utd vs us like this Reina….kelly…..carragher…….agger……..enrique……….adam……..gerrad………dowining…………..kuyt………..bellemy……….suarez if if if you make like that i sure i sure we will get 3points in that match 15 octo please like this if you want to get us three points
No way if you have Adam playing!
Yes you are right in that aspect,I think K.K is making the wrong starting Eleven,I think K.K shouldn’t take the step of R.B because that will make him lose control and hardly for him to pick up 3 point,K.K should always start like this, Reina,Agger,Carra,Skrtl,Enrique,C.Gerard,Kuyt,Lucas,Downing,Bellamy,Suarez If K.K wants to see his side taken the 3 maximum point i think he shouldn’t make any error then.
My best wishes for him and the Team Mate.
Onyinye
Reina
Johnson-Skrtl-Carra-Coates-Enrique
Gerard-Maxi-Lucas-Downing
Suarez
Subs
Doni-agger-Kuyt-Henderson-Adam-Flanagan-Kelly-Caroll-Bellamy
And the formation is 5-4-1
its not defensive given the players you field,look our fullbacks here like going forward and they have that ability to cut inside into the box as they have the skills,I would like to see someone playing them those long balls when they overlap,and you know the presence of Stevie would take pressure off Surez as lone striker there because the opposition knows they cant give Gerrard any space to shoot.Adam is a little slow compared to Lucas and maybe he will get better with time.While other players would understand that they are not bad its just that only 11 players are fielded at a go.And players have different qualities,and also they should understand that they are on the bench to come on as subs to change the game or win it like it can happen anywher in the world.
Reina- kelly carra Agger Enrique-Johnson Gerrard Lucas downing – kuyt or Bellamy suarez
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FORMATION: 3-1-3-2-1 Attacking
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……………Reina…………
.
…Carragher…Skrtel…Agger…
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……………Lucas…………
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Gerrard……..Adam……Downing
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………Suarez…..Bellamy…..
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……………Kuyt………….
Almost perfect. Only part I disagree with is playing Gerrard out right. Bellamy should play out right instead and Gerro as an attacking midfielder. And Adam can be a more defensive midfielder.
Clemene
neal hansen hughes kennedy
case souness mcdermott r kennedy
dalglish rush ….this time machines on the blink again!
must be on the blink given that Hughes and Rush never played in the same team!
DEVOUR the devourer come 15th oct.2o11.no hiding place for devils because the must bow to red angles of merseyside.YNWA.
line up v manure
pepe
kelly carra agger enrique
kuyt gerrard lucas bellamy
suarez carroll
subs: maxi, adam, hendo, downing, coates, johnson(skrtel if injured), doni
ultimately I would like to see johnson at right back and kelly in a centre back role.
pepe kelly cara agar jose kuyt adam steve downing suares caroll sub doni belamy handerson lucas maxi coates spearing
reina
flannagen kelly agger enrique
johnson henderson gerrard downing
carrol suarez
bench. doni, robinson, carra, adam, bellamy, kuyt, maxi
given a choice from a fully fit squad I would choose
pepe
kelly, carra, agger, enrique
gerrard, lucas
johnson, suarez, downing
Carroll
Johnson and downing to provide the width for carroll while suarez and gerrard to come from deeper, also gives us plenty of pace in the side only carra, lucas and carroll are pedestrian and with options from the bench like bellers, dirk, maxi, adam we are well stocked with players who can change a game
Formation (4:4:2)
Pepe Reina
Glen Johnson Martin Kelly Daniel Agger Jose Enrique
Lucas Leiva
Dirk Kuyt Steven Gerrard Steward Downing
Luis Suarez Craig Bellamy
Subtitution
GK – Doni
CB – Jammie Carragher
LWB/LWM – Fabio Aurelio
CM – Charlie Adam
RM – Jordan Henderson
AM/SS – Maxi Rodriguez
ST – Andy Carroll
Reina
Johnson – Carragher – Agger – Enrique
Kuyt – Gerrard – Lucas – Downing
Suarez – Bellamy
Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Enrique
Henderson Gerrard Adam Downing
Suarez Caroll
Subs:Doni,Johnson,Coates,Maxi,Lucas,Spearing,Bellamy
this is seriously the best line up that i can think of.King Kenny has never played with this line up but this is the strongest that i can think of.kuyt and Bellamy can come on as subs if the game isnt going our way