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I didn’t miss your point. My point was just that it might purely be the perspective of fans. I highly doubt that the management team is questioning his ambition, or that of Origi for example. Jürgen only said recently how hard it is to get into the team, and that Minamino is his go-to for several positions. It is not too dissimilar from the role Shaqiri played for us for instance, and he joined us at the age of 27, and is more limited than Minamino.
From the perspective of the management team, as long as he keeps delivering (and he mostly has in his cameos) when on the pitch, it doesn’t matter that he’s not starting, as long as he brings quality on the pitch when he gets on. It’s also why (according to Jürgen) he’s satisfied with Origi.
I think our management isn’t very keen to have high turnover in the squad, so there’s no reason to doubt his long-term future here, even if he doesn’t start most games. It’s probably much better in their eyes to have settled players in the squad, rather than to keep selling and buying every season.
Looking at it another way, a front 3 of Jota, Minamino, and Firmino ought to be good enough to overwhelm most teams in the league, even if it’s not as one-sided as Mané and Salah can make it at times. That and also that none of them have particularly shone as a right forward, although there’s time for that to happen yet.
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I think this is definitely true, however I don’t think that is why Minamino or Origi are still here. They have played relatively few games so replacing them with potentially better suited players would be unlikely to unsettle the squad.
I think you think I am criticising Taki, I’m not. I’m saying he’s not really had a consistent run of games to show fully what he is capable of and how much of a part he could be in the squad for the future. This is a 2 week spell that he should be playing maximum minutes, something he’s not had yet and I hope he takes that chance and makes a big contribution.
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Disappointed Origi is injured. This is exactly when we need him most. In his recent appearances he was looking quite sharp and hungry. I don’t know when he is back, but it might be around the same time as Mo and Mane.
We have suffered from this a bit too much. We have a decent sized squad, but the main problem is durability in a few places. At just the time when we need to shuffle the pack, our options are restricted due to back ups not being available. We’ve seen this in the midfield more than in other areas, and while you never want to drill down on one injury too much, as it happens, we have a pattern of having too many players unavailable.
Anyway, I have my own issues here. My ESPN+ subscription is fine on the TV at home, but on my iPad it is saying it is expired. The game is mid afternoon here, so I was going to have it on my iPad at work.
I see a blended team, mixture of youth and experience. Arsenal are improving too, so it should be a good game.
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The comments Klopp made on Alisson needing to get in rhythm suggest it is a tossup between him and Kelleher to start in goal (while stating it is true that this is Kelleher’s competition). Even if Alisson starts tonight, Kelleher will surely play the second leg at Emirates.
In defence, I believe Klopp will ease Trent back after Covid, likely as a sub, so Neco starts. It is also time for Gomez to get some minutes. The other CB spot is a tossup between Konate and VVD and the LB a tossup between Robbo (who got a knock in the FA cup but is ready according to Jürgen) and Kostas, and I am sure that the one LB benched comes in for the starting one in the second half.
In midfield and attack, we just do not have many options. Considering we are likely go strong tonight, it might not be the time to start the likes of Gordon and Morton. Maybe they get some game time in the second leg if we build a decent cushion at Anfield.
--------Alisson--------
Neco-Gomez-Konate-Robbo
-Henderson-Fabinho-Ox–
-Jota-Firmino-Minamino-
It’s been too long since our last outing at Wembley. Time to change that.
I think beyond that, it is time to get harsh. He has now been here 2 years and regardless of how much the staff likes him and how willing to be patient with him they have been, there comes a point where you do have to perform on the pitch to be worthwhile. Having a squad player who cannot come in and perform in a cup semi when your main strikers are absent has really limited value and if he cannot then it’s time for us to find a new project.
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Alisson has been rough recently. Still making decent saves and fantastic on one on one’s but somehow having a brain fade against Spurs and beaten too easily against Leicester. Those comments suggest the coaching team knows he off the boil and are trying to work him through it.
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I like seeing Kelleher get games. Might persuade him to hang around for a while longer. Been a long time since we’ve have 2 good keepers at the club!
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Allison will start after Klopp mentioned him in the press. Neco, Konate, VVD and Kostas.
Fabinho, Ox and Hendo in midfield.
Up front Bobby and Taki to start…I think Gordon will start with Jota on the bench.
Arsenal supporters are fuming, despite their club not seeking a postponement and their club having sent two potential starters on loan last week. They claim sharp practice from Liverpool though I fail to see how last weeks postponement even helps us?
For all of that, and their scobie tory discrimination and murderers taunts, and their hope that Mane gets a serious injury…I hope we fucking hammer them tonight and piss all over them next week.
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It’s pretty baseless excuse, they wanted us to play without 40 of our squad I assume.
Because the only player available now who wasn’t is TAA and he probably doesn’t play anyhow.
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Accusations from supporters are irrelevant. It’s all part of football banter to my mind, even if some of it might have some merit and some of it might not. If the accusation is coming from an official channel at another club, that has weight.
I read this as Arsenal fans getting a preemptive excuse in there for when we beat them. If we prevail, it’s only because we are covid testing cheats.
Its not part of football banter to call Liverpool supporters murderers and to wish serious injury on a Liverpool player.
Its maybe banter to call our postponement a reason for them losing. Perhaps.
Still want them hammered tonight.
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Murderers, feed the scousers, wishing injury on opposition players… completely agreed. Not on.
Casting aspersion on the opposition for a postponed game, and bleating over covid tests and so on… banter. It’s probably a self preservation thing that works either way. Lose and it’s because we gained an advantage through the postponement (we didn’t, but they will say that). Win, and they will say they beat the scousers even though we are covid postponing cheats. None of it is true, but I would file it under banter.
That’s my take.
Good line up, happy to see it
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As strong as possible. Nice
Trent is back from covid quickly!
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Great lineup 
Perhaps Trent should have been rested.
How many substitutions? Five!!!
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Think the intention is to ‘finish’ then off tonight and then being able to play some of the others in the second leg.
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That line up spells intent!