So this winter World Cup malarke is out of the way, time to get back to the real football, starting with League Cup against Man Citeh. I say go for those who either didn’t go to the WC, or got knocked out early, so Konate, Alisson and Fabinho can have a rest - the rest should be available.
My starting XI
Kelleher, Milner, Gomez, Matip, Robertson, Elliott, Bajcetic, Thiago, chamberlain, Salah, Bobby
Kelleher Ramsay Gomez Phillips Tsimikas Bajcetic Milner Doak Firmino Salah Nunez
Smash them, they’re shit.
Or don’t.
Whatever.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Oh goody! some real football.
I don’t think I’ll be watching this one. I need to be up in Bremen that night and I’m stuffed if I’m forking out 30€ for DAZN just for that one match. Unless it’s on a reliable illegal stream that isn’t just an endless series of pornography adverts, of course.
Anyway, it should be a good refresher for the lads that have spent the last month and a half sipping cocktails in Dubai.
Alisson, Trent, VVD, Konate, Fabinho, and Henderson didn’t feature in the Dubai camp and are unlikely to play against Cheaty.
Probably something like Kelleher - Trent, Matip, Gomez, Robbo - Keita, Milner, Thiago - Bobby, Salah, Nunez.
Think both teams will go reasonably strong and see it as a chance to get some minutes for their senior players before the PL restarts.
I see Coote has been named as the referee. The highest profile LFC game he’ll have reffed since exposing himself as a clear cheat in the derby 2 years ago. I expect he’ll get a low profile prem game some time around March as the final stage of his reintegration.
And our ‘good friend’ Paul Tierney will be the VAR. Why I even bother to watch these matches is beyond me …
Thursday, 22nd December 2022
Manchester City v Liverpool (20:00)
DAVID COOTE
Nick Hopton and Timothy Wood
Fourth Official : Paul Tierney
0-8
Jones didn’t play in either friendly did he? Can’t see him being involved.
My guess would be that the same team that started against Milan will start against City.
Kelleher
Ramsay Matip Gomez Robbo
Bajcetic
Milner Thiago
Salah Firmino Carvalho
Nunez, Keita et al from the bench.
Edit: is milner injured still? Someone else then. Doak.
I’m sure that Jürgen and his team will know the formation, tactics and personnel to see us through this game.
COYR YNWA 
No, he must be injured or not fit again because I saw so many young boys play.
Is this another community shield before the season starts again, same result would be great.
And so are Fabinho, weather in Liverpool must be a bit disappointing after 5 weeks in the sun …
Coote and Tierney 
Like they aren’t even being coy about it are they.
Trent is back too