28 Sep 2020 12:47:35
Afternoon Ed001,

How you feeling about the game this evening?

Just had a call with a colleague who is an avid Arsenal fan and season ticket holder and he says that this is the most confident he has ever felt before a trip to Anfield in years because of:

1. No crowd at Anfield
2. No Henderson
3. No Alisson (and maybe no Thaigo? )
and most importantly 4. he thinks that the Arsenal team will be feeling confident after beating us on the last two occasions.

He predicts Auba to attack the left hand side (trent and who ever is playing RCB), cut inside often and regularly test Adrian from distance. I'm hoping we can dominate enough in the middle of the pitch to cut off their front men getting the ball too much.

Where do you see the key battle being this game?

Red Sandman.

28 Sep 2020 13:09:59
As long as adrian makes no clangers and Keita doesn't play we'll be fine i reckon. But I doubt either to be fair. Worried.

28 Sep 2020 13:11:31
In my eyes, even our back up midfielders are better than arsenal's first team so it's a blow but we should be fine.

Also on Adrian I believe he deserves a little more respect, yes he cocked up in the Atletico Madrid game but in the league his performances were very solid an we didn't lose a game with him in net.

This is a very different game from the previous 2 against Arsenal.

28 Sep 2020 13:20:06
I agree this is a very different game than the last 2 meetings for sure. hopefully will be a better outcome too. Fingers crossed on adrian though.

28 Sep 2020 13:49:01
Spot on, Magico. THIS is the game where both teams need to show up. The other two games are like "Yeah, but. ". Tonight is the real deal. I can understand why the OP's colleague is very confident. They have no choice cos they are yet to beat LFC at Anfield in almost a decade and are have only beaten LFC under Klopp once in 9 PL tries.

As for our team, we seem to play better when we are missing key players (see Barcelona game) cos our team do not believe in excuses hence, go out there and do the job.

I am also sure that Klopp and our boys have heard all the crap being spoken in the Arsenal-friendly media and fans, giving it the big'uns cos they won a meaningless game via two defensive errors and won a preseason friendly on penalties. The team talk is all done, at this point IMO. Time to show up and show out.

28 Sep 2020 13:59:17
Unbearable Reds - Adrian deserves our support as a Liverpool, but certainly not respect. Respect is earned from good performances on behalf of our club, which Adrian does not provide.
We won games in spite of Adrian, never because of him. It is perfectly reasonable to be very wary of what he may do in games.

28 Sep 2020 13:59:26
Alisson and Thiago might play yet. The only player definitely out is Henderson. Hopefully the Arsenal players have the same over confidence. Adrian played a third of the 38 games at the start of last season and we won every single match in that period. Fabinho, Gini and Jones/ Keita is still leagues ahead of Xhaka, Elneny and Ceballos.

They beat is in a dead rubber and a friendly. They probably need to wind their necks in a bit if they think they are favourites at Anfield. They could well win but there is never a good time to play this Liverpool team. Barcelona thought they had us on the ropes when we had to play Shaqiri and Origi and we still battered them 4-0.

28 Sep 2020 14:06:21
We'll win tonight, I have no doubt about it and in no way worried about it. Bring them on.

28 Sep 2020 14:13:37
Very interesting points raised lads.

I guess the thing that I find interesting about my colleague's thoughts is that they think Liverpool have some obvious weaknesses, and so will be looking to take the game to us and attack those weaknesses. From a liverpool persepctive at least it sounds like they are going to have a go, rather than sit back and hope for a draw or sneak a goal on the counter.

If this is true, its going to be one hell of an open game! Both teams wanting to win and both teams looking to attack!

Red Sandman.

28 Sep 2020 14:21:44
Clearly you've forgot the super cup then Lowe 😝.

28 Sep 2020 14:29:59
I fully expect them to do what they've done in their 2 previous games against us Sandman an sit deep and counter, similar to Chelsea last weekend.

1st goal is very important, hopefully we get it an they'll be forced out to play an I believe we can pick them off.

I'd much prefer to face the Arsenal teams of old who went toe to toe with us but I can't see it happening, teams are too intimated of a pasting when they face us nowadays.

28 Sep 2020 14:55:35
I have never understood why centre backs can't switch between LCB and RCB. Surely if one is really struggling against a striker who has targeted their side they could switch to see how the other does?

The example being if Auba attacks Gomez and Trent's side and Gomez was struggling, is it really that big of a change for VVD to take the RCB instead?

Not sure if that is small minded of me, but how big a difference could it be as a CB?

{Ed002's Note - Most can.}

28 Sep 2020 15:32:14
I'll be shocked if we don't win. And I'd like a nice 4 0 to out arsenal firmly in their place.

They may have won a couple of away games but we won the league. Massive favourites.

28 Sep 2020 15:52:46
And Adrian "certainly" doesn't deserve our respect? What a nasty little comment, dressed up as constructive criticism. Why does a squad member who helped win the league and had a huge part in winning another European trophy not deserve respect?

I'd sooner have Adrian than loris or migs.

28 Sep 2020 16:38:55
Robbiesline - respect is earned, that’s all there is to it. You can force someone to act like they respect you or someone else, that’s easy. Doesn’t mean it’s real, though.
Adrian may have done well in the penalty shootout in the Super Cup, but his keeping denied us the chance of winning it in extra time anyway. In addition, his goalkeeping got us knocked out of two competitions within a matter of days that we were favourites to win. There’s nothing respectable about it - he’s a terrible goalkeeper and gets a free pass because he still can’t believe he’s playing for the PL champions. Frankly, neither can I.

28 Sep 2020 16:57:01
I hope they are feeling confident and they attack against us and we will slaughter them on the counter.

28 Sep 2020 17:13:18
LoweLFC, I have no respect for ‘supporters’ like you. I’m disappointed I support the same team as you, although you are not really a supporter as you do nothing to support the team.

28 Sep 2020 17:16:11
Fair play to Adrian. he's a better keeper than migs or karius but only just. And the wins we had with him in net beginning of season. yeah we won. but he drops some clangers still. The rest of team pulled him out the rubbish a couple of times. We have a great squad and don't generally dislike anyone of them. But adrian is a weak link, and as for keita. expected a lot more from him.
But come on lads.3 points.

28 Sep 2020 17:46:49
Magico, what were you expecting from Adrian, a GK in semi retirement until we signed him from his couch? To be like Allison? You said it yourself that he is better than Migs and Karius so again, why are you shocked he made mistakes esp. with no preseason? I seriously do not know what people want from a second choice GK who barely plays.

You also say his team mates pulled him out of trouble at times> And he did not keep his team mates in the game for the saves he made? Isn't that what a team and teamwork is about? Or would I don't get this unwanted criticism of Adrian. Like it or not, Adrian has won every game he has played in the PL for us since he arrived and will take him over the utter calamitous Kepa and Claudio Bravo who could not catch a ball to save their own careers.

28 Sep 2020 17:46:53
LoweFC let me be clear with you, if sylvester stallone respects Adrian, so should you.

28 Sep 2020 18:11:23
Excellent lrg.

He's our back up keeper. Yes he's made mistakes. Show me a keeper who hasn't made mistakes that led to losses. They don't exist.

I respect him because he's a Liverpool player. Because he has put in some big performances. Because he's won trophies with us.

And also, you want Adrian to play well? Then slating him is definitely not the best way. Get behind him and SUPPORT him and you'll see the best of him.

And let's not forget. Adrian is a really nice bloke. Very amiable. He doesn't deserve stick from his own fans.

28 Sep 2020 18:14:49
Also, he's a Pl winner who 100% deserves their medal. How can you not respect that?