Was thinking about a thread to post your favorite Starting11(s) and formation(s), which player to prefer over another. And maybe about what type of player our teams lacks but lets work with what we have here and in the academy first.
My favorite 4-3-3 would always look like the following:
We have VVD and Gomez out for long term. Henderson and TAA out for few games. Chamberlain only good for doing promotions. Thiago and Salah on verge of coming back.
Alisson and TAA are definitely out for Wolves game.
Keita, Milner and Shaqiri are out with minor problems. Hope at least one of this trio makes it at least to the bench against Wolves. Curtis has played three of the last four games and also came in as substitute against BHA.
I think Keita might be fit for Wolves. He was close for Ajax, you’d imagine he could make the 18 on Sunday evening if there were/are no issues. Think the decision for that one might be to go 4-2-3-1 with out 4 attackers or 4-3-3 with Keita. With Wolves’ formation change lately, it will be interesting to see. Maybe we go with the former.
Read on twitter that the below team has started only one game for us. That was the CL final. I think this incidentally is the team @GermanRed mentions in the OP.
Probably Gomez instead of Matip and the team might have played a number of games, but still madness because Thiago aside this seems our strongest possible line up in the past couple of years. So much for us never going through injuries and similar situations other clubs have been facing apparently.
Must admit that speaking now, I just about prefer a fit and in form Matip over a fit and in form Gomez. Because when I look back, even the fit and in form Gomez shows or showed certain defensive weaknesses (of course, they all have them), at least more than Matip in my opinion.
Is talent and time still on Gomez’s side? Yes, his main battle will be with the next proper CB we buy. I understand why most fans will pick Gomez. He’s young, fast, he’s Virgil’s “little bro” (yeah, Virgil might prefer Joe alongside him, but maybe that’s also overrated from the outside), maybe also because he’s English plays a part.
Objectively speaking, if we’re playing a final tomorrow and they’re all fit and in form, I’m picking Matip over Gomez just about.
For me choosing between Fabinho and Matip at CB along with VVD (if all fit ofcourse), is very difficult as of now. Fabinho hasn’t put a foot wrong as well, and him at CB is far a better option than him in midfield. Also, that can help us with the Thiago-Hendo-Gini which IMO might be the strongest midfield we have.
For me my first choice XI, assuming everyone is fit and on form would (currently) be:
Alisson
Trent Fabinho VvD Robertson
Thiago
Henderson Jones
Salah Firmino Mane
I think Fabinho has shown how good he is but you can’t leave Thiago out. I’m also torn between Gomez and Matip so I’ve resolved that by playing Fabinho at CB where he’s looked utterly brilliant. Problem solved in both respects.
Jota’s looked brilliant since he came in but we’re assuming the players are fit and on form in which case Bobby starts, no doubt.
Yes, I think Curtis starts now - in terms of what he offers, I think that’s a nice blend in the midfield I’ve mentioned. His only serious rivals would be Wijnaldum followed by Keita.
So my bench would then be:
Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita, Jota
Apologies to Matip, AOC, Shaqiri, Minamino, Neco, Rhys etc.
I think we can clearly say that Curtis (midfield) is now at least a matchday squad member.
Goal: Kelleher
CB: Rhys
FB: Neco
Wide attack: Harvey
So much more satisfying to see academy players come through than signing backups like Tsimikas or Minamino (no disrespect).
I wonder if Klopp has plans or already identified a youth player as a potential Bobby BackUp for the Future. Maybe Glatzel but difficult with his injuries.
There’s always a difference between a favourite team and a best team for me.
Younger squad members and flair players like Shaq in the first and Hendo etc in the second.
So the players I love watching:
Kelleher
Neco
Rhys
Fab
Robbo
Jones
Shaq
Bobby
Jota
Mané
AOC
Nah, too early for me to put Jones in the first XI. But so far, he’s been good to the level that there is pretty much no doubt he remains part of the first team squad for next season. And probably a few of them, too. For the rest, how much he plays, how he evolves, consistency, how important he becomes… that, we’ll see.
