BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool sign James Milner on emergency one-game loan.
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Given that most, if not all of his players will have experienced it first hand, I doubt he needs reminding.
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Arne was aware that Plymouth would treat yesterdayās game as their cup final, and saw the outcome.
Iām sure heāll know that Everton will be similarly motivated.
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Describing this game as their āCup finalā seems like a understatement. They wonāt be taking prisoners and neither should we.
Might be fine to say that to the rest of the team but letās not be telling NĆŗƱez that please.
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Hopefully Trent is back fit, although it sounded like he might be a doubt for this game also. Probably why we completely spared Bradley yesterday and got into experiments and issues at RB.
I donāt know if Jones wasnāt used yesterday because of an issue or something, but Iād actually consider him ahead of Mac. I donāt think Mac should be an automatic starter in all games when in normal fitness/form. I like him and heās one of our more important players, but thereās another little level and consistency to reach, at least in my opinion. More personality on the ball, more discipline.
Question who starts up front, we have 3 main options. Doubt it will be Jota. Probably between Diaz and Nunez. They wonāt give us a lot of spaces, but they also have a certain lack of pace in defence.
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Whist itās always nice to have options, Jonesā tendency to hold onto the ball too long would be a liability in a game where Everton are going to be snapping at our ankles throughout.
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Macca is so underrated 
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I like Mac (maybe more than all of our other midfielders), but Iāve no issues talking about each playerās weaknesses and what they could improve.
Itās one of things I like about Jones (and Slot said the same last summer, he wants to have him a lot of touches) and what is often useful. Game cannot be played full speed all the time, every pass after one or two touches. I know that idea is popular and players who take time on the ball are not. I agree Jones has to be careful not do it for too long of course, but there are absolutely advantages to gain from players who can calm it down, make us play, beat pressure, get out of tight situations, beat players, etc. Might not happen here and Jones might need to raise his form a little bit again. Mac sometimes goes through certain games (regardless whether we do better or worse in terms of performance) where I feel like āgood player, but we didnāt get that much from him todayā. Bournemouth was one, for example. I felt it was another reason why Jones got the nod ahead of him against Tottenham, plus the need to turn the result (a more offensive XI on paper from the start). Mac will probably get the nod here, just please be careful in challenges.
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Slot said that he felt something in training before the match. He didnāt elaborate, but I get the impression that he should have started.
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That can be applied to any player, though.
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Cool. Iām yet to listen to Slotās post-match presser. Shame, then. Jones wouldāve been useful in that rugby madness at Plymouth yesterday.
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Not a contest Macca for me is a more intelligent footballer and also loves to get stuck in, Jones is probably faster and more skilful, but Macca is atm a level above.
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At the moment , Macca is more than one level above Jones.
Heās the glue who makes the midfield tick around him. Heās not as quick as Gini but he essentially plays a similar role making up for his relative lack of pace by his intelligence in decision making and quick passing.
Jones is someone who likes to have more touches on the ball. Sometimes more than what is actually needed. If he can add the ability to play a quick pass , heāll improve immensely with his other attributes.
Iād actually think Jones will make a fair Gravenberch backup. He just needs someone like Macca alongside him and some more self belief. He has good abilities in getting the ball , shielding the ball. Just needs to improve his intelligence and gameplay in quicker decision making.
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Iād have to say Iām disappointed with Elliot.
Itās not only this game but I donāt see where he really fits in. Heās too slow to be a #10 or even a backup winger. Too short to be in midfield. Probably do think he can do a decent job as a RB but then again the pace might catch him out.
If we get a team which rates him enough to put up 25-30m , I think we should be looking at moving him on and giving the likes of McConnell, Nyoni and other upcoming guys more game time.
I like Elliot though. Heās clearly got good work ethic. Just not sure we would need him. Not unless he adds more than a yard of pace and quite a lot of muscles.
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I agree that itās difficult to see how heās going to fit in, but putting a left footer at right back is probably inadvisable.
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I donāt think heāll make it as a RB either but thatās the only place where he finds some gametime. As a backup to a backup RB. Inverted wingbacks are a thing.
Just donāt see him physical enough for any of the midfield roles and donāt see him quick enough to be in the attacking roles. Not at Liverpool anyway.
If he was to play at the back, it would surely be at left back. You wouldnāt expect Robbo to play at right back.
I do think he can probably play (with a lot of coaching etc , as a Gomezās backup (in wingbacks)
But he really doesnāt fit in. Heās got some good qualities about him (linking up as a right sided #8 with Mo for instance) but others offer that and more.
He needs to gain more than a few inches of height and some yards of pace to be playing at Liverpool. He clearly didnāt. Thatās physics and genetics, nothing to do with his other attributes as a footballer.
One thing that should benefit and rarely does is that we will be used to playing the midweek game but go in with a fresher starting eleven.
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