Liverpool 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Pamplemousse]

So will it be a back three of ABK, Bednarek and THB or do we expect Captain Jack back in?

Edited 6 March, 2025 by Pamplemousse

[goodymatt]

30 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

So will it be a back three of ABK, Bednarek and THB or do we expect Captain Jack back in?

That’s what I’d go with. I’d also pair Downes and Lesley in front and just defend for our lives, hitting sulemana, fernandes and Dibling for the counters when we can.

[notnowcato]

FFS please play a back 4 against Liverpool, it could be the difference between a respectable loss and them tearing us a new one. 

[ecuk268]

3 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

So will it be a back three of ABK, Bednarek and THB or do we expect Captain Jack back in?

That would mean playing 3 centre-backs in their correct positions.

So it probably won't happen.

[notnowcato]

If we play a 3 against Liverpool, it will be a 5 otherwise the Mickey front 3 will be ripping us apart.  Playing a 5 will have our midfield overrun.  Why do I even care??

[Weston Super Saint]

3 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Looks like everyone is fit at least (excluding James Bree), 

Loch Ness Drogba?

[SaintBanks]

4 hours ago, notnowcato said:

FFS please play a back 4 against Liverpool, it could be the difference between a respectable loss and them tearing us a new one. 

Has to be this. Which means we won’t do this.

[SaintJackoInHurworth]

3 hours ago, ecuk268 said:

That would mean playing 3 centre-backs in their correct positions.

So it probably won't happen.

Are you sure that is right? THB has always played at RCB and Bednarek as central CB; Juric said a few weeks ago that ABK cannot play at LCB.

That having been said I think a few weeks ago THB was played at LCB, so I think he can play in that position.

Personally, though, I would prefer that we left Bednarek on the bench and played this defence:

KWP....THB....ABK....Wood....Welington

Alternatively, as suggested above we could play 4 at the back (KWP, ABK, THB and Welington) with Downes and Ugochukwu as a pair of CDMs to protect central midfield. It would still leave us vulnerable out wide though unless we play KWP as defensive full backs and Sugawara and Manning as wingers who drop back to become roving wing backs and allow us to create two lines of four in defence - something like this:

KWP............ABK............THB........Welington

Sugawara..Downes..Ugochukwu..Manning

................Dibling..............Sulemana............

Personally I am not a fan of Manning and think we must play Fernandes though so perhaps it would be better like this:

KWP............ABK............THB........Welington

Dibling....Downes...Ugochukwu...Sulemana

.........................Fernandes............................

.............................Archer...............................

[obelisk]

Lots of defending will be required but I'd like to see one or even two pacey types left up front when dealing with corners/free kicks. Not sure why this seems to have gone out of fashion in recent years.

[goodymatt]

15 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Loch Ness Drogba?

Ross and Larios are seen as u21 players for the rest of the season apparently. 

[Ken Tone]

 Ramsdale,  Sugawara, KWP, Manning, Taylor, Wood, THB, Bednarek, ABK,  Downes. Big Les, ......and pray 😉

[Lighthouse]

27 minutes ago, Ken Tone said:

 Ramsdale,  Sugawara, KWP, Manning, Taylor, Wood, THB, Bednarek, ABK,  Downes. Big Les, ......and pray 😉

If it’s defence you’re going for, I’d rather play with ten men than Sugawara.

[IFHP]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

If it’s defence you’re going for, I’d rather play with ten men than Sugawara.

When Sugawara plays we do play with 10 men. 

[Osvaldorama]

4 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Ross and Larios are seen as u21 players for the rest of the season apparently. 

Did juric say that yesterday?

£20 mil well spent

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

7 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Ross and Larios are seen as u21 players for the rest of the season apparently. 

 

2 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Did juric say that yesterday?

£20 mil well spent

I can certainly understand that if they feel there's a good chance they may yet comeback from these injuries. They're making no difference to our season now but if they go injury free until the end of this season (and recapture previous form) then they'll be real assets in the Championship next year*

*I'm trying to be really optimistic here in the unlikely event they don't break down again

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

0-0.

 

[Charlie Wayman]

7 hours ago, IFHP said:

When Sugawara plays we do play with 10 men. 

Ah! A new whipping boy at last.

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Ah! A new whipping boy at last.

If you're not willing to accept criticism of the worst player, in the worst team in Premier League history, I would suggest a football forum might not be for you.

[StrangelyBrown]

17 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Ah! A new whipping boy at last.

Surely we can't only have one? Most of the squad deserve stick for being utter shite.

[jemanson]

1 hour ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

0-0.

 

Prediction for the score at the end of the first minute? If so, I admire your optimism.

Edited 7 March, 2025 by jemanson
Spelling :)

[Galway saint]

Have been invited to predict the score tomorrow by the club's website.

Feel like they are taking the piss at this point.

 

 

[Challenger]

Going to fuck up another weekend, only to which degree is up for debate.

[Dark Munster]

3 hours ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

0-0.

 

Yes, that's the current score.

[Oisin]

Game day - who’s buzzing?

[Convict Colony]

55 minutes ago, Oisin said:

Game day - who’s buzzing?

Won't watch the game as we will get tanked and saints haven't given me any reason of hope let alone expectation of a win to not be outside in the sun.

Am gonna predict our favour score tho, Saints 0 - 4 Liverpool

[beatlesaint]

Everyone is expecting them to hand us back our arses on a plate but I reckon it'll only be 1-0, maybe 2-0 to Liverpool through a combination of their minds being elsewhere, one or two being rested and Ramsdale making some great saves.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

They just squeaked past PSG. And I can accurately say that PSG are no Southampton.

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

0-0

Because everyone, including most Saints fans think it will be 10- 0.

About bloody time Saints showed some backbone!

Talking of backbones I hope to Christ that Smallbone ain't playing!

[lambtiss]

5 hours ago, Oisin said:

Game day - who’s buzzing?

Liverpool?

[East Kent Saint]

Apparently Liverpool will set a record of scoring 2 plus goals in 18 home matches today , that's ignoring our backs to the wall defending style 😃

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

Getting out of this game any better than a 4-0 loss would be a SENSATIONAL performance. I would take a 4-0 defeat if it was offered right now.

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

13 hours ago, Challenger said:

Going to fuck up another weekend, only to which degree is up for debate.

Who's weekend is this fucking up? At ANY scoreline?..

What loon would be expecting anything other than an absolute thrashing...? Ffs

Edited 8 March, 2025 by ApprenticeBillionaire

[Suhari]

Don't think I can face watching today.

Got some gardening to do, and that'll be much more enjoyable I think.

Might stick Solent on.

[stknowle]

13 minutes ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

Who's weekend is this fucking up? At ANY scoreline?..

What loon would be expecting anything other than absolute thrashing...? Ffs

7-0 or below frankly CGAF at this point, but ‘achieve’ 8 it gets annoying enough to impair the enjoyment of my weekend. Another 9 I’ll be pissed right off and If we make it to the holy grail of a 10 goal defeat then I’ll be fucking fuming, we’ve fucking suffered too much already to be saddled with that one on top of everything else. Mercy please 🙏 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

5 minutes ago, stknowle said:

7-0 or below frankly CGAF at this point, but ‘achieve’ 8 it gets annoying enough to impair the enjoyment of my weekend. Another 9 I’ll be pissed right off and If we make it to the holy grail of a 10 goal defeat then I’ll be fucking fuming, we’ve fucking suffered too much already to be saddled with that one on top of everything else. Mercy please 🙏 

It's got to this level of despair hasn't it. 😵‍💫

[trousers]

4 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

Everyone is expecting them to hand us back our arses on a plate but I reckon it'll only be 1-0, maybe 2-0 to Liverpool through a combination of their minds being elsewhere, one or two being rested and Ramsdale making some great saves.

 

[trousers]

Are we having a Centre Back selection sweepstake this week? I'll have a fiver on Larios please. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

Are we having a Centre Back selection sweepstake this week? I'll have a fiver on Larios please. 

The way things have been going Tall Paul may feature or even the Lockness Drogba! Actually come to think of it….

….nah, perhaps not.

[trousers]

[Saint Matty 76]

4 at the back for the first time when we get slapped at Anfield, just so he can come out afterwards and say that it doesn't work and revert to 5 defenders every other week

Seen this one before

[Toadhall Saint]

51 minutes ago, Suhari said:

Don't think I can face watching today.

Got some gardening to do, and that'll be much more enjoyable I think.

Might stick Solent on.

Ditto 

[tdmickey3]

Smallbone….🤷‍♂️
 

Has Downes had a hissy fit again?

Edited 8 March, 2025 by tdmickey3

[egg]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

I didn't expect that from the tombola. 

460 with a false nine or two perhaps. 

Bizarre. 

[Galway saint]

4 minutes ago, egg said:

I didn't expect that from the tombola. 

460 with a false nine or two perhaps. 

Bizarre. 

strong midfield 

[trousers]

[James]

ABK our best defender at Chelsea and dropped. Could not make it up.

[davefizzy14]

1 minute ago, James said:

ABK our best defender at Chelsea and dropped. Could not make it up.

Absolute joke that! ABK is our best centre back. Why is Flynn not in the squad. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

Looks like a 4231 with 

dibling     Fernandes grobbaek

           Sully

cant complain about this. It’s the formation most of us wanted .. I’m guessing downes is stropping  again hence not being on the bench 

Edited 8 March, 2025 by pimpin4rizeal

[East Kent Saint]

3 minutes ago, James said:

ABK our best defender at Chelsea and dropped. Could not make it up.

He will be brought on after we take a 1-0 lead after 10 mins so we can hang on

[trousers]

Just now, pimpin4rizeal said:

Looks like a 4231 with 

dibling     Fernandes grobbaek

           Sully

cant complain about this. It’s the formation most of us wanted .. I’m guessing downes is stripping again hence not being on the bench 

Can we rule out Smallbone playing as a 3rd centre back though....?!