LFC: Who's In & Who's Out January 2015

It feels like merely yesterday that Liverpool FC presented their final signing of the summer to the press and media. Mario Balotelli walked in that day, and ever since then, Brendan's reds' have endured an extremely lacklustre campaign, with the majority of new recruits brought in failing to transform into the individuals we thought we paid all that money for. As the latter stages of November draw ever so closer, and the current international break resulting into the exclusion of any match previews and reviews to be concerned about, the time has come to look forward to January, and any possible incomings or outgoing within Melwood. After a summer of which accumulated into the spenditure of 100 + million pounds (although the bulk of the money was returned with the sale of Luis Suarez), I myself doubt Brendan will do much business, if any. However, I will draw up on the likelihood, nonetheless.

In:

Goalkeeper.

Following Simon Mignolet's penalty saving heroics in the dying moments of the previous campaign's opening day tie against Stoke, the main part of the reds faithful were labelling the Belgian as Liverpool's number one for many years to come. Whilst already showing signs of it in his first season at the club, the 26 year old's decision making and handling at times is something of a major concern for the boss, and a factor that has seemingly exacerbated as this season's fixtures have gone by. His shot-stopping has never been questioned, however Brendan will look to bring in a new face to contend the Belgian for the coveted number one spot.

Iker Casillas (33, Goalkeeper, Real Madrid)

Now, this could prove more likely than most people would perceive it to be. After Victor Valdes' move to Melwood somehow failing, arch rivals Manchester United could be the ones who relish and pounce on the free agent, which may result into the departure of David De Gea to Real Madrid. Thus we arrive to Iker Casillas. The 33 year old has endured quite a torrid couple of years, after falling out with current and past managers at the club. A move to Liverpool and a fresh start for Iker could be exactly what the doctor ordered, and the experience the Spaniard brings to the fray will undoubtedly boost the confidence within the squad, and hopefully produce a reaction from our current first choice man between the sticks.

Central Midfielder.

Let us face the facts, Steven Gerrard is not the player he once was. The 34 year old is not the player who headed in the first of three comeback goals in Istanbul nine years ago, or the man who netted a last-minute screamer past a hapless-looking Shaka Hislop in Cardiff. Last season's 'slip' did not aid him obviously, however the captain's age plays a larger part than any past errors. With our supposed replacement in Emre Can yet to find his feet at the club, Brendan may look at this position as one to further strengthen in the New Year.

Alex Song (27, Central Midfielder, Barcelona - On Loan at West Ham)

The Cameroon international, who is currently on loan at Prem high-flyers West Ham from La Liga giants Barcelona was linked with the reds in summer, however the boss elected to keep Lucas Leiva and settle with the Brazilian in the centre of his midfield. One of Brendan's many summer mistakes, in my opinion. The 27 year old holds a trait that neither Lucas or Emre Can possess, and that is a commanding leadership within the core of the midfield. As we are witnessing at the moment, Song is on leaps and bounds with West Ham. With this being said, can Brendan negotiate a deal with Barcelona, one that would cancel the midfielder's loan spell in London, and swap it with a move to Merseyside? Highly unlikely, yet not an impossibility.

Attacking Midfielder/Striker.

....And so the list begins. Brendan Rodgers felt pretty content with his five attacking options leading up to the commencement of the season; Balotelli, Sturridge, Lambert, Borini, and Markovic. Three of them have been extremely disappointing, one is constantly injured, and the other never seems to be given the chance he so rightly warrants. To the present day now, three months into the season, and the rumour mill is spinning franticly yet again, with strikers across the four corners of the globe being linked with the red of Liverpool.

Marco Reus (25, Attacking Midfielder/Winger, B.Dortmund)

I may as well start with the best of the bunch in Marco Reus. If ever there is a player in world football to bring in to boost the confidence within the squad, it is the silky German star. Following Borussia Dortmund's astonishing start to the Bundesliga, which leaves them rooted to the foot of the table, us reds' fans may feel slightly more optimistic regarding the capture of Reus. Two clubs in Dortmund and Liverpool, who were in the peak of their game last season, have both fallen substantially this time around, which may result into Klopp selling his star man. Perhaps the admiration Klopp possesses for the Anfield club will act as a sweetener of sorts for the luring of the play maker. The 40 million pound price tag being brandished about will undoubtedly shy Brendan away from a deal, particularly after our near-disastrous summer 2014 spenditure. 

Divock Origi (19, Striker, Liverpool - On Loan at Lille)

Now, this superstar you would have definitely heard of in the past. The reason being, of course, that the 19 year old Belgian is in fact contracted to Liverpool. The only slight problem? His contract on Merseyside does not commence until the summer of 2015, and after witnessing a couple of his recent showings in Ligue 1 and on the international stage for Belgium, Rodgers must be livid with oneself after not securing the young man's services permanently.

"I just wanted to clarify after today's press reports that I will continue to give my all for Lille (...) I am very much looking forward to joining Liverpool from next season."

That quote pulled off from Origi's official Twitter account all but dampened any premature hopes and speculation regarding an early start at Anfield. Stranger things have happened however, and with goals such as this, how could you not be looking at the future optimistically?

Saido Berahino (21, Striker, West Brom)

From one young promising striker on to another, this time in the form of the on-fire West Brom striker, Berahino. The 21 year old has been in scintillating form thus far this season, netting an impressive seven goals in eleven Premier League fixtures till present. The Englishman has the world at his feet at such a young age. The only problem being, that he is in fact English. The occurring issue regarding English players and their worth has dragged on for many a year, and this case does not prove any different. The fee being talked about is 25 million, which may cause Brendan to hesitate a little in regard to making an offer. Signing a 'young unproven talent' for a large sum has not been one of Rodgers' strong points since his arrival, and risking it again will not be on the bosses mind, regardless of how talented young Saido is.

Karim Benzema (26, Striker, Real Madrid)

The scorer of the winning goal that crushed Liverpool's 'B' team's hearts a couple of weeks ago, Benzema is on fire for 'Los Blancos' this season, netting eleven times thus far, which included both home and away fixtures against Brendan's men. With this being said, the French goal-poacher has recently revealed he is pondering a move away from the club, which has sparked wild rumours that Merseyside may be the perfect destination for the 26 year old. I myself can not agree more with that statement. The reds' 'marquee' signing Mario Balotelli has failed to live up to the hype he brought a long with him, and Benzema will unquestionably fill that current void up-front. One may argue that the Frenchman may find it difficult to cope with the hustle and bustle of the English game, however this I highly doubt. The 26 year old possesses the experience and quality up-front of which will give reds' fans worldwide something to finally be cheery about, following a gloomy start to the campaign.

Out:

In contrast to the summer, where the departure list seemed to go on an eternity, the 'out' section this time around is somewhat shorter. As a matter of fact, it is extremely succinct, as it includes the names of just three players. Brendan won't be losing sleep where offloading is concerned. There may be one or two on the way out, and thus I will give my say on the possibilities nonetheless.

Glen Johnson (Sell)

However brief this list may seem, the first of my options is a player that is widely tipped to be on the way out of Anfield come January. Whilst not being a favourite amongst reds fans at the moment, Glen Johnson's performances of late have indeed been extremely poor and lacklustre. The once ever-so reliable full back has made far too many errors both defensively and attack wise. It seems the sale of Luis Suarez has further impacted the 30 year old's performances, as he and the ex-Uruguayan icon linked up very well on that right hand side at times. So, what exactly has gone wrong for the Englishman? We will never know, however, what we do know is that, with Flanagan returning promptly from a long-term injury, and our loanee Spaniard Manquillo playing relatively well whilst covering for the Englishman,  Rodgers may seek to offload Johnson sooner rather than later, as Juventus look ready to pounce for the experienced defender.

Suso (Loan)

The young play maker looked almost certain to leave Liverpool on loan last summer, however, the 21 year old instead planned on fighting for his place, which similar to Fabio Borini's case, looks quite an error in judgement made. Young Suso has yet to spark into the player we have regarded so highly since his arrival in 2010, and a loan away to a somewhat 'lesser team', which will then accumulate into more game time, would be exactly what is required for the Spaniard. Whenever a chance with Brendan's first eleven has come his way, he has embraced it with open arms and conjured up a performance that has left us intrigued to see more of the silky midfielder. This is why selling the youngster will prove to be a colossal error made by the boss, and downright stupidity.

Brad Jones (Sell)

This possible offloading may hinder on whether a new goalkeeper is brought into the club or not. The 32 year old has been a faithful servant of Liverpool for many years, and whilst never making that step up to the first team a permanent one, Jones has seemed content on playing second fiddle to the likes of Pepe Reina and Mignolet. If Brendan does opt to further strengthen his goalkeeping options, I see no reason why we should keep the Australian. There is no questioning the 32 year old's deep love and admiration for the club and the city, however, as we see a person who has been through a lot where his personal life is concerned.

As we reach the conclusion of the month of November, and the start of the festive period of Christmas, we look forward to the reds' next match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. (More importantly, we look forward to the end of this dreadful international break). As I highly doubt Brendan will commit to further strengthening his squad in January, I yet remain optimistic, especially following the continuous injury mishaps concerning Daniel Sturridge. "Bad Times Ahead" is what is playing through most reds' fans minds at the moment, that and "Rodgers Out" and "We Hate The International Break".

Let us all hope, for Liverpool Football Club's sake, January arrives and we remain fighting in the top half of the table, or there and there about. 

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YNWA

LFC : Mario Balotelli - Give Time or Get Rid?

It is a fine summer's day on the 21st of August. With ten days remaining of the transfer window, Brendan's Liverpool are yet to replace the outgoing icon that is Luis Suarez, resulting into a number of reds fans developing the jitters. And then the news broke, fabricating mass hysteria amongst the 'Twitter-sphere' and news channels worldwide.

Now, let us keep it relatively brief and succinct; approximately 80-90 % of reds fans were left in an extremely optimistic mood following this deal (with the price tag of 15 million being the major reason). The remainder, which consisted mostly of football critics and Mario Balotelli haters would have questioned the move entirely and understood the microscopic price tag forked out was due to the simple fact that, to say it abruptly, 'nobody else wanted him'.

Two months and a half later, we sit her looking at our beloved football club placed in the bottom half of the table, with the majority of Liverpool fans already calling for the Italian to be sold once the January market re-opens in the New Year. Therefore, with all this being said, what in God's name has gone so wrong for Super Mario?

Lack of Quality Support Up-Front

Daniel Sturridge, one of the Premier League's deadliest of strikers last season, has endured an exceptionally disjointed league campaign thus far, one that has been echoed and escalated into the performances of our new signing Balotelli. Sturridge and Balotelli have played a mere one game together thus far. Guessed which match it was already? Yes, Tottenham 0-3 Liverpool, one of our most (and only), convincing of performances in these past eleven matches. One can argue that Brendan does possess a couple of back-up centre forwards within the squad in Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini. However, are they of Liverpool FC quality? Do they possess the skill and eye for goal identical to Daniel Sturridge? No, although Brendan has not made it any easier for them to, a point which I will further discuss in my next paragraph.

Is Brendan Being Naive?

Fabio Borini, a man who I once thought Rodgers regarded quite highly, has been treated relatively unfairly by the boss of late. As we have previously witnessed with performances against Madrid and Swansea, the 23 year old seems to be improving game by game. Is Brendan conscious of this factor, does he witness the same 'die hard' Fabio Borini that we do at Melwood, or is the bosses trust in Mario indestructible? It seems to me that Rodgers is trying ever so hard to defend his own transfer policy; whereas the majority of his summer signings have somewhat failed him so far, he reckons Super Mario will prove to be the shining light in the bottomless pit of darkness. When will Brendan give in to reason and hand Mario's Italian counterpart a stint in the starting eleven? Surely not when it is too late and the Northern Irishman finds himself on the brink of being terminated from the club?

Can Any Manager in World Football Change His Attitude?

"If anyone can manage Mario Balotelli, it is Brendan Rodgers"

This quote was conjured by myself following our capture of the forward, and one that has been reverberated by many a reds fan. I now glance at the given quote whilst beginning to slightly question my reasoning behind it. The 24 year old looks disinterested each and every time he touches a football pitch. Simple. Should Mario have pursued a different career, one that involves strolling around a grassy area whilst complaining every five to ten minutes? Possibly, then again Liverpool have paid 15 million pounds, and whilst Brendan Rodgers remains patient with the enigma, then so will I. The mere fact that past managers such as Mourinho, Prandelli, and Mancini have all 'given up' on Mario still worries me to the present day.

Will Sturridge's Return Boost Mario's Confidence to Push On?

There is no reason why it should not, and these facts alone remain my one and only hope regarding Balotelli and the red of Liverpool. Balotelli's debut at Spurs was arguably the forward's strongest of performances in a red shirt, and let us face it, having Sturridge rather than Lambert alongside you will undoubtedly boost one's confidence levels on the pitch. With this being said however, there remains a couple of niggling doubts in my head;

Are we going to get the same Sturridge back, or will the Englishman struggle to find the form he possessed prior to his injury? Will Daniel and Mario click with immediate effect and start to bang in the goals, or will the tension between the duo reach boiling point if they fail to kick start a solid partnership promptly?

Mario Balotelli is Not an 'Out-And-Out' Centre Forward!

On a serious note, whenever the line ups are announced prior to kick off, and Balotelli's name is shown solely and amongst no other forward players, I am left fuming and enraged at the decision taken by the manager. Not once has the option to start Balotelli as the lone striker come to any prevail. That is because, quite simply, he is not a centre-forward. The Italian is extremely deficient at timing his runs into the box and gets caught offside far too many times, a trait that should be part and parcel of a centre-forwards game.

On top of this, Balotelli seems to get isolated for large sections of matches he starts as the lone front man. The 24 year old does not possess the creativity of a Luis Suarez, someone who could make something happen out of nothing. This is where the introduction of Sturridge will unquestionably aid the Italian, much similar to the 'SAS' partnership, where one found it hard to cope without the other.

Now, Brendan is privileged enough to be able to welcome Sturridge back into his squad plans for the reds' upcoming match in less than a fortnight, thus providing the abolishment of the 'Balotelli as a lone striker' with immediate effect.

If Balo is Sold, Who Will Replace?

Thus begins the lengthy discussions regarding the troubles the January transfer window brings along with it. First problem being that it will be an extremely difficult task to find a club of which will fork out the similar amount of 15 million pounds Brendan paid for Balotelli. Secondly, it will be an even more challenging mission to replace the Italian for a world class striker, especially in a time like January, where professional players seem focused on seeing out the remainder of the current campaign. Then again, one can get fortunate in January (Luis Suarez being a prime example), whilst on the contrast, one can get no so lucky indeed. (A certain 35 million pound Geordie comes to mind). 

Here are my two options if Brendan does opt to go down this route:

Marco Reus (25, Att. Midfielder/Winger, B. Dortmund)

The only optimism I can conjure up for this deal to go through is the fact that Reus' parent club, Dortmund, are currently rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga. As hard as it is to believe, Klopp's side have endured a torrid league campaign thus far, and a cheeky bid for Reus come January could tempt the Dortmund boss into selling. Will Brendan fork out the 40 + million required to lure the German in? Although I reckon he is worth every penny, it is highly unlikely Rodgers would squander that high amount of money.

Saido Berahino (21, Striker, West Brom)

The English forward has sustained an exceptional season with the so-called league minnows West Brom, which has accumulated into the 21 year old netting seven times in nine appearances so far. The price tag being touted about is 25 million, and this is where I seem to become disheartened slightly. Berahino is a promising talent, however paying 20 million pounds on unproven talent has returned to bite us on numerous occasions in the past, and I do not reckon that this signing would prove any different. An extremely promising player though, nonetheless.

Now, as I have begged the question within the given title, I will therefore give my personal response. No, I do not believe selling Balotelli in January is the way forward for this football club. Not so soon, NOT YET. We are yet to witness the Italian endure a long stint alongside our Englishman, and selling a player four months after forking out 15 million pounds for him is nowhere near the 'Liverpool Way' of going about one's business.

However, (and I stress my point on this), IF our new signing resumes his current predicament and the goals fail to arrive, there will no doubt be a market stall with the name 'Mario Balotelli - For Sale' etched across it come summer time. My question is; Who will want to sign the troublesome Italian if his time on Merseyside fails? A disappointment at Manchester City, Inter, AC Milan, and then Liverpool. A mid-table team may take a gamble with him, nothing above that certainly.

Liverpool FC IS the last chance salon for Super Mario.... Let us hope we get to witness this side of the Italian's game whilst wearing the red of Liverpool for years' to come:

Follow me on Twitter and share your views: @kennymifsud

YNWA

 

LFC: Liverpool vs Chelsea - Match Review, Analysis & Talking Points

"Back To The Chalk Board for Rodgers"

Liverpool      1 - 2        Chelsea

         Can 9'                         Cahill 14' 

                                             Costa 67'

Possession: 59% - 41%

Shots: 12 - 15

On Target: 4 - 5

Corners: 5 - 7

Fouls: 9 - 12

Yellow Cards: 2-5 (Sterling, Balotelli - Ivanovic, Matic, Oscar, Costa, Courtois)

Red Cards: 0-0

Liverpool find themselves a staggering twelve points behind first place, and although remain rooted in eight place, could further find themselves slump to as low as eleventh place by the time Sunday's fixtures are played. Yes, Brendan's men are a mere three points ahead of 16th place Aston Villa, as a Diego Costa goal on the hour-mark marked a worrying start to the weekend for Rodgers and his men.

How The Goals Went In

Emre Can, 9 minutes: The reds kicked off with a vigorous pace, only previously shown in the majority of home games last season. Emre Can found himself in space just outside the penalty area and let loose a thunderbolt which ricocheted off Gary Cahill and past Courtois' left hand side. The initial shot was heading in, therefore Emre Can finally has a Liverpool goal to show for.

Gary Cahill, 14 minutes: As shown by Liverpool on any occasions this season, set-pieces have proved to be a worrying factor, and it took Cahill just five minutes to make up for Can's goal. Costa flicked on a Fabregas corner, and whilst Terry forced Mignolet into making a brilliant save from the header, he could not prevent Cahill's rebound shot as he bundled the ball past the goal-line, with hawk-eye confirming it had indeed passed the line. 

Diego Costa, 67 minutes: Prior to the goal, it was proving to be anybody's match, where it was going to take a piece of individual brilliance to make the breakthrough. On the contrary, it was a refereeing error. Azpilicueta broke into a run on the left-hand side, and although the ball looked like it had gone out of play, the ref allowed it and the Spaniard skipped past Coutinho and fired a cross into the penalty area. Mignolet could only parry it onto Moreno's knee, as it ricocheted onto none other than Diego Costa, who made no mistake and slotted home his tenth of the league season.

Heroes, Villains & Talking Points (Within Liverpool Squad & Based on my Personal View)

Man of The Match: Although fading slightly in the second half, Emre Can was just short of outstanding in the opening half an hour, and his inclusion proved to be the right decision made by Rodgers. (His goal definitely helped, of course). With this being said, what in God's name was Brendan thinking when replacing him a few minutes after Costa's goal?

Worst Player: The once ever so reliable Dejan Lovren looks nowhere close to emulating the form he showed whilst wearing the stripes of Southampton. The Croatian was all over the place once again, which has reulted in many fans pondering whether Brendan should have replaced the 25 year old with the 'in-form' Kolo Toure, and whether that would have changed the outcome of the result.

Talking Point: The referee. in this week's 'ref watch', I am going to be extremely kind and rate Anthony Taylor's performance a 2/10. The man seemed to possess no authority within the game. From booking Sterling for getting elbowed in the face, to missing a blatant hand ball by Gary Cahill in the latter stages of the match. Taylor's performance was a very poor one indeed, one that has been echoed by Rodgers in his post-match press conference.

Things We Learnt From The Match

1. Anything bar a convincing win at Palace could result into Brendan's days being numbered.

If the man in the hot seat was under-fire prior to today's match, the seat he is now sat on is burning into flames. Let us be frank, the Northern Irishman got it wrong, tactically and in his team selection. The major problem is that this has become a re-occurring factor. As I sat in my local pub, pre-match pint in hand and awaiting the team news, watching Kopites were left flabbergasted as the team news flurried in. Brendan opted for the 'lone striker' option that has failed him on numerous occasions this season, and an option that should be axed with immediate effect until the return of Daniel Sturridge.

Now, I am in no-way stating my desire in wanting Rodgers to be sacked, however, the owners may not share the same opinion as myself. IF Liverpool do not improve, and fail to win convincingly at Palace in a fortnight, Brendan will undoubtedly be sweating it out towards the end of the month.

2. Mario Balotelli & Dejan Lovren = A 35 million utter waste?

From today's outcome it seems Rodgers did not listen to my pre-match preview rant regarding starting Fabio Borini and Kolo Toure. In fact, I do not think he even bothered to re-watch Tuesday's match at all. Instead, the boss picked both Lovren and Mario, his two 'big name' signings, and once again they failed miserably. Dejan does not look half the player we paid 25 million pounds for, and Balotelli seems disinterested whenever he enters a football pitch. Kolo and Borini both possess leadership and determination, two traits that Brendan's 35 million duo lack in abundance. Is Rodgers too proud to bench the players he forked out so much money for, or is it about time we witness both Kolo and Fabio be given their chance?

3. The 'Pre-International Break' voodoo has been broken.

If one where to delve into Liverpool's past and analyse the reds' matches entering each international break, the result would be astonishing..... until today. Both our 3-0 demolition of Spurs and 2-1 win against the Baggies arrived prior to international breaks, however the ongoing ritual has finally come to an end at the third time of asking, which will leave reds' fans worldwide with a sour taste in mouths for the next fortnight.

4. Liverpool are too 'Predictable'.

This point epitomizes just how one summer can change an entire football team. If we glance back towards last season, we see a squad of players that excited even the most passionate of Man. United fans. If Luis Suarez did not pose a threat up front, then it was Daniel Sturridge causing havoc. Opposition teams did not know how to defend against the Liverpool of 2013-2014, a team that had attacking flair etched across the whole team.

Now, stop daydreaming and bring yourselves back to the present day, and to a Liverpool squad who have bored me to death at times this season. The reds lack the creativity going forward, with the opposition now conscious of the fact that if you block out the reds' midfield, there is nowhere else they can hurt you. The question on everyone's lips at the moment; What exactly has happened over the summer period to make Brendan's team so predictable? One simple answer: Luis Suarez + 100 million spent, with no world class striker as a replacement.

5. A 'Daniel Sturridge' away from a drastic improvement?

Maybe, and from Liverpool's first half showing, us reds fans can be pretty content looking forward. However, one man will not change a teams' fortune. What if the striker was to return and struggle to find his feet again? What if the Englishman fails to click with the 'enigma' that is Mario Balotelli? Two possibilities that I do not wish to venture into, however they are two possibilities that could determine the outcome of Liverpool's season.

Regardless of the fact, the return of 'Dan the man' will be met with high appraisal. Let us all hope that he and Balotelli can manufacture a similar partnership to the one he and Suarez so successfully endured.

As we begin a two-week rehabilitation phase away from domestic football and delve into the depressing international break (what ever shall we do with ourselves?) , we enter a period of reflectiveness and a period where Rodgers will need to counter up a plan that will turn Liverpool's season the right side up. Brendan will relish the timing of this break, as the man currently under huge pressure faces long, hard days sat in front of his chalkboard, pondering and creating a master-plan of sorts. Next up is Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, a fixture that beings further depressive memories. (Let me re-freshen your brains with the image below):

 

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YNWA

LFC: Liverpool vs Chelsea - Match Preview

"Sweet Revenge"

Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool have endured a torrid set of fixtures against Chelsea in the past couple of years. From Captain Fantastic's 'slip' that ultimately resulted into the reds cost of the title being the worst of highlights, to a Luis Suarez bite on Chelsea's Ivanovic proving to be one of the Uruguayan's numerous incidents at the Anfield club (And not many professionals can accumulate their very own 'biting' list). That Demba Ba goal which gave Chelsea the lead at Anfield last April looks set to be the final straw, as the red men seek revenge on the team that seemingly gifted the blue half of Manchester the title last season.

Important Information & Statistics

Date: 8th November 2014                                        Chelsea League Position: 1st, 26 Points

Time: 12:45 pm                                                       Liverpool League Position: 7th, 14 Points

Venue: Anfield                                                        Liverpool Recent Form: LDWWDL

Referee: Anthony Taylor                                         Chelsea Recent Form: DWWWDW

The Reds' Miserable Start - Will it Continue?

Having 'Own Goal-3' as Liverpool's top goal scorer epitomizes the reds' abysmal start to a campaign that began withholding so much optimism and aspirations, following last season's endeavours. Much to the contrary, every single commodity that could have possibly gone wrong has done exactly that, leaving Liverpool in 7th place. With high-flying league leaders Chelsea up next, what could possibly go wrong?

One thing is for certain, Brendan is in dire need of a positive result at the moment, and whilst outlining the importance to this league campaign by resting a number of key players at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, the boss will be hoping that the likes of Stevie G, Balotelli, Coutinho, and Sterling will all be fresh and raring to go. Most fans would take a draw, I say fair enough. I personally view this as a 'must-win' fixture, but will Rodgers' doubters be left red faced or in further doubt after the full time whistle on Saturday afternoon?

Team News - Brendan Faces Selection Headache Following 'B' Teams' Bernabeu Performance

99.9 % of reds fans worldwide must admit to feeling somewhat 'gob-smacked' after Rodgers' starting line up was revealed prior to kick off last Tuesday. Gerrard, Coutinho, and Balotelli where a few of many key faces rested for the big match, with Brendan himself explaining it as pure 'squad rotation'. Now, there are fixtures where squad rotation is necessary, then there are matches against the ten times winners Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, where putting out a strong starting eleven is of essence.

With this being said, the team Rodgers opted for left us with cause for optimism as Madrid settled for a mere 1-0 win. This also confirms the fact that one or two of our so-called 'first team certainties' are in need of some time-out on the sidelines. The teams' performance on Wednesday has given the boss a massive selection headache. Does he risk it once again, in hope that a couple of his fringe players make it count in front of goal this time round, or does Brendan stick with the same team of which has failed him on numerous occasions thus far this season?

Whereas injuries and suspensions are concerned, Rodgers can feel pretty content. Apart from eagerly awaited return of Daniel Sturridge, who Brendan has marked 'too early' for this fixture, and a slight niggle where Enrique is concerned, Liverpool will enter the match as fresh as a daisy following their European outing midweek.

Kolo & Borini - Is it About Time They Are Given a Chance?

The 'Where's Ronaldo?'  campaign seems to have gathered pace of late, with Kolo Toure's back pocket proving to be the Portuguese's last known location. Jokes aside, Kolo and Fabio were undoubtedly Liverpool's star performers on Tuesday night, which has resulted in many Liverpool fans expressing their desire in watching the duo start this weekend. Kolo's experience and leadership qualities have been echoed by the boss prior to the fixture, and I do believe he will be the centre-back to partner Skrtel against Chelsea. Whereas Fabio is concerned though, I reckon that Brendan does not seem to give the lad the chances and praise he rightly deserves.

You know what you are going to get with Borini; non-stop running, determination, and sheer will, a few common traits that cannot be said for Rodgers' favourite of options in Mario Balotelli. Who would I rather Brendan opts for on Saturday? Fabio Borini. In my opinion, all the Italian needs is a goal in a match of this magnitude, which he will then take into his stride and kick on from there.

"He Said What?"

"This isn't a computer game. We're dealing with the reality of lots of games in a short space of time. We need to make changes."

Apparently, Brendan Rodgers is not one who enjoys the challenges of fantasy football. This quote was said subsequently to a journalist's question on Steven Gerrard, his slip against Chelsea, and why he was rested mid week. The whole issue regarding Stevie, and continuous reports linking him with a move away from the club is a point I will ponder on an entirely different blog, however I echo the bosses views. It was said distinctly by Rodgers prior to the start of the season that Gerrard would not be able to play the 30-40 odd games he endured last season. This is where the likes of Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen need to step up and make their mark once the skipper is absent.

Apart from that, Brendan praised the defensive pairing of Kolo and Skrtel, and stated that a win on Saturday will 'kick start Liverpool's season'.

My Predictions and Possible Starting Line Up

Circulating away from the apparent content of a draw from the majority of reds fans across the country, I am seemingly in an optimistic mood, and therefore will be predicting a 2-1 home win.

As for the possible starting line up, it comes as followed:

                                                   Mignolet

Johnson                    Skrtel                          Toure                  Moreno

                                                    Henderson

                                  Gerrard                        Lallana

                                                   Sterling

                               Balotelli                        Borini

Subs: Jones. Lovren, Manquillo. Allen, Coutinho. Markovic, Lambert.

A Quick Glance At the Opposition

Mourinho's men enter this fixture somewhat dampened by their recent European outing, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Maribor of Slovenia. That does not look likely to affect the Londoners though, as Jose will be buoyed by the return of goal poacher Diego Costa following his absence mid-week. Mourinho himself will be conscious of the threat his former apprentice Rodgers' team holds, and will undoubtedly field a strong eleven to battle the red men. Here are a couple of useful statistics regarding our opposition:

Top Scorer: Diego Costa, 9 goals                                     Most YC's: Cesc Fabregas, 4

Goals Scored: 26                                                            Play-Maker: Cesc Fabregas, 9 assists

Goals Conceded: 10                                                          Most MOTM Displays:

Clean Sheets: 3                                                                  Costa, Hazard - 2 each

                                

A high-octane match-up against Chelsea cannot come at a worse stage in time for Brendan's men, however it is a challenge the reds are undoubtedly relishing. If Liverpool were to accumulate a win on Saturday lunch-time, they will sit in sixth place prior to the 3 o'clock kick offs, level on points with 4th, and nine points behind first place. Not bad I reckon, taking into consideration the appalling start suffered by Brendan's squad.

Remember this reds, we are still above Everton, Manchester United, and Tottenham. It could be so much worse, yet let us focus on ourselves individually. Three points will do nicely Brendan!

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YNWA