Liverpool predicted XI vs Hull: No let downs, please
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool (14) celebrates with team mates Dejan Lovren as he scores their second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Liverpool host Hull City in the club’s second game at Anfield, angling to not have another let down like they did against Burnley.
Before we all go assuming that Liverpool’s form, three wins in their last three, outscoring opponents 9-2 including a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, will lead to an easy win against Hull City, let’s all remember who we’re here to support: Liverpool.
Oh, that’s right, they were looking good through preseason then beat Arsenal 4-3 at The Emirates earlier this season directly followed by… a 2-0 loss to Burnley.
Potentially with expectations tampered just a little bit we shouldn’t look past Hull City, who’re punching well above their weight. With their offseason turmoil, it’d have been ludicrous to assume they’d be in every game they’ve participated in, let alone anywhere off the bottom of the table.
They beat Leicester City on opening day then went on the road and beat Swansea City. They hung with Manchester United, drew Burnley (better than Liverpool) and hung around against Arsenal before the London club pulled away at the end.
Liverpool won’t have an easy game at Anfield, but here’s how they should lineup to hopefully bring back all three points.
GK Loris Karius
After our sweet prince made his debut against Derby in which he kept a clean sheet (don’t sweat the minor details like not really being tested at all), he’s ready for Premier League action.
To hand him his debut away to Chelsea would’ve been doing him no favors, but at home to Hull City? A bit more manageable, that.
It’ll be tough on Simon Mignolet if Karius starts, but this is a transition that’s happening sooner rather than later.
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – APRIL 28: Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool warms up with team mates prior to the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg match between Villarreal CF and Liverpool at Estadio El Madrigal on April 28, 2016 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
RB Nathaniel Clyne
Midweek, Clyne wasn’t given a rest as some may have expected but in his time at Liverpool fatigue hasn’t been in his vernacular.
Clyne has been back to his normal 7-out-of-10 self after a slightly subpar start to the season, for his lofty standards. In back to back weeks he neutered whoever Leicester put on his flank then Eden Hazard against Chelsea.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Joel Matip of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
CB Joel Matip
Stories are coming out left, right and center with adulation for Matip. One, comically, says that he’s a ‘master of the dark arts.’ Yeah, that’s also referred to as playing central defense.
One of the top reasons backing the article was that he ‘nudged Diego Costa in the back going up for a header’ as if he tried to break his leg. It was weird. That story was praising Matip, of course, which isn’t usually connected with ‘dark arts.’
Other, more tenable articles, have included that with Matip on the field, defensive set pieces feel much more safe. He’s been likened to Sami Hyypia in that regard, as well as going forward on attacking dead balls.
Matip has lived up to the billing this year.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Dejan Lovren of Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2016 match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
CB Dejan Lovren
Can we talk, just for a second, about how expert his finish against Chelsea was? It was his first for Liverpool in a Premier League game, though he notably scored the winner against Borussia Dortmund in that legendary game.
But his finish– it was like a striker. Opened his body, knocked it just inside the far post, full volley on a cross with pace and spin on it. Absolutely brilliant, as if he’d been a striker for years.
Anyway, Lovren’s partnership with Matip continues to look fantastic. Against Chelsea they generally dealt with Costa, bar the goal that stemmed from the midfield not chasing Nemanja Matic, leaving the backline overexposed.
Against Hull, they’ll worry more about the counter and set pieces rather than one striker. And, for once, I have confidence in Liverpool’s defense.
Wow. That felt weird.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: James Milner of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at White Hart Lane on August 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
LB James Milner
Upon further examination at a later date, left back is Milner’s.
Alberto Moreno enjoyed a mistake free return to the team against Derby but that’s not a Premier League side. Milner has proved that he’s the starting fullback, whether or not that was something he thought would ever happen is besides the point.
Milner has impressed with his ability to understand positioning, when to attack and when to hold quite well for someone who never played the position. Granted, he’s largely graded against the Moreno baseline so all he has to do is grasp some iota of that position, but he’s done more than that.
Ah, the classic no. 7 Liverpool shirt. Worn by some of the best attacking talent the Reds have produced… and now a right-midfielder-turned-center-midfielder-turned-left-back. Nice.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool celebrates with Jordan Henderson of Liverpool after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
CM Jordan Henderson
Henderson has gotten better and better in playing the deepest midfield role as the season has gone on, culminating with his maestro performance against Chelsea and that goal.
Oh man, that goal. What a wonder strike it was.
But outside of that, I feel confident when Henderson occupies that role in Emre Can’s absence, something I wasn’t convinced of before the season begun. I figured Can to be the least replaceable player in the team, but Henderson has done a fine job.
Can showed his rust against Derby so he looks about another week away from starting. Maybe he comes off the bench against against Hull.
Of course, this isn’t a case of one-or-the-other, they’ll play together once Can is fit. That may mean Gini Wijnaldum is sacrificed. Oh speaking of which…
CM Georginio Wijnaldum
To start the season, Wijnaldum played safe. He was never the reason why Liverpool played bad but wasn’t exactly a shining star in the team. That’s fine, he was staid where the team called for it.
In a deeper role than accustomed, Wijnaldum has slowly grown into the team. Against Chelsea, he was awesome. He was no longer anonymous, he seemed to be ubiquitous, just like the two players who line up next to him.
The only thing advertised that Wijnaldum has yet to give Liverpool is goals. At Newcastle and for Netherlands, Wijnaldum is a constant goal scoring threat from the midfield. It hasn’t been necessary yet, and he’s been coy with the few chances he’s had, but that’ll come.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Adam Lallana of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield on September 10, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
CM Adam Lallana
Lallana is surely undroppable at this point. The front part of the team, decisions surely get extremely difficult.
How do you incorporate effectively Lallana, Sadio Mane, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino? Can those five play all at once? If they do, what’s that do to Lallana, who surely will have to play even deeper, ditto for Coutinho?
These are good problems to have if managed correctly.
For now, Lallana retains his place in the same role he’s had all season, leading the press from a bit deeper in midfielder, next to Wijnaldum and ahead of Henderson.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Sadio Mane of Liverpool gets away from Oscar of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Sadio Mane
The winger has been a revelation on Merseyside, absolutely fantastic to begin the season. His dynamism adds something different to the front part of the team while his quality allows him to play with the others seamlessly.
Mane stands to start whenever he’s fit, and he’s fit, so more Mane, please.
ST Daniel Sturridge
Klopp has shown the affinity for playing with Firmino at striker in matches past, but Sturridge should play against Hull to free up whoever else plays in the attack to play.
If Firmino goes up top and Sturridge is dropped, then Firmino is relegated to splitting center backs and needs to occupy them. It’s restricts his freedom.
Sturridge is a natural striker. Granted this plan didn’t work against Burnley, but they were up against it after conceding within two minutes, making it near impossible.
Against Hull, Liverpool will need their talisman.
Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (R) celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on September 10, 2016. / AFP / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
LW Roberto Firmino
How in the world do you pick only three out of Mane, Sturridge, Firmino and Coutinho? It’s simply not fair.
After Sturridge and Mane rested during the week, it’s more than likely they’ll play, and deservedly so. Firmino and Coutinho played during the week and both played well, though Coutinho came away with Man of the Match plaudits.
But against Leicester City when Coutinho was unable to play, the offense was unplayable. They were fantastic, and Firmino was its orchestrater.
Coutinho stands as this weeks hard luck loser in the lineup, though there’s nothing bad against that with the players Liverpool have to choose from at this juncture, who all can make a claim that they’re in form.
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