I think we'll see quite a few of the younger guys in our squad today and again next weekend at West Brom while the more regonised first teamers play against Chelsea then get a rest before the EL final. It's a good thing to see how some of these guys get on in the PL. Players like Ward, Smith Ojo and even Ibe need to prove themselves and hopefully our midfield won't be so lightweight this week with, perhaps, Lucas and Allen in there for the start of the game.

If you've got Freeview it's being shown live on the BT Showcase channel.

I agree. I'm quite confident that Sturridge will manage to keep himself fit.

Provided he can survive whatever jurassic training sessions Hodgson has him doing in the summer.

Given his record over tie last two seasons I'd rather not predict anything either way. What we do know is when he slays his goals return is top drawer.

The bottom line is therefore, should he be unavailable, that we have a potent replacement. That's just sensible contingency planning. Sadly, Balotelli and Benteke didn't offer that for various reasons. So if we replace Benteke with a forward that's proven at a decent level and better fits Klopp's style of play we're good to go.

You simply can't rely on an assumption that a key player wont get injured, even if he has a good fitness record. That's suicidal. So with someone with Daniel's history, you either plan for him not being available (my preference given his quality) or replace him with someone who is less likely to break down (but they'd have to match his quality and that's not easy).

Once we have a fit Ings and Origi things won't be as critical as they were when we had Balotelli, Borini and Lambert at least, especially with Firmino being used as a false 9 on occasions - but we still can't afford to lose Sturridge's quality for any significant length of time if we're aspiring to compete for the top honours.

Drop it like it's Klopp

https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/...09&oe=572F55EB

Don't have freeview. Why show the CL final on YouTube yet not do the same with the Europa final?

Feels like such a nothing-game. Kind of wishing I was watching Man City vs Arsenal, sounds like a good game.

1-0 Joe Allen

Damn it - I predicted Joe would score today - what odds would I have got?

I agree. Very boring to watch. Obviously there's very little urgency here, with both teams having little to play for and our priorities lying elsewhere.

Hopefully Chelsea will be a bit more rambunctious because, you know, they're Chelsea.

What a save that was.

How is our B team doing? watching Barca here Suarez is at again 11 in 4 games.

Oh no come on City, don't want Man U getting 4th.

Firmino makes it 2, we needed that.

2-0 Ft

Decent performance. Unbelievable save from Mignolet to deny Ighalo and keep the clean sheet. The whole game had that end-of-season feel about it.

We gave it a go but had the quality..

Ighalo is half the player he was when you came to the Vic!

I'm gonna apologise in advance here, but I'm going to be a bit of a negative nancy here. I'm gonna cop a lot of flack for his, but I'm just gonna say it. I don't particularly rate Flanagan. I know that he's a local lad, and I know he puts in a shift every time he plays, but I just don't understand the adoration that he receives from so many people. Maybe that's just me. I'm not sure I really rate Stewart either. Redmen TV praised him highly on Twitter just now, but I don't really see.

More positively though, I thought Benteke played well. Shame he couldn't grab a goal, but he made use of his physical strength, with some lovely hold up play and a really nice assist for Allen. Didn't do a lot wrong imo. Ibe looked a lot better than I've seen him recently, but his decision making at times is awful. Should have squared it across goal when he hit the post, he had 3 players lining up to tap it in.

Ojo and Brannagan I'm a huge fan of. They just look like they've got it. The desire, the skill, the mental strength to not get overawed at Anfield. They look so good and I'm excited to see him play more often for us.

Other than that, solid work from Mignolet, Skrtel, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Coutinho and Firmino contributed to a somewhat simple win. Professional performances from the senior players to ensure that we didn't suffer a post-Europa hangover today, and it was a pleasing performance overall. On to the next one!

Flanagan hasn't rediscovered his pre-injury form for sure. And he's always played on the edge which is an issue sometimes. Talking of young talents I wonder what will happen to Sergi Canos - doing very well at Brentford.

Today was Liverpool's 60th game this season.

Clyne recently had his 50th game for us, in his debut season.

That's nuts.

It is, and we still have 3 matches to go to end of season - just bonkers!

Thinking most PL clubs end up playing a minimum of 40, if you include the cup entries, but we are 1/3 more than that due to the Europa. No wonder they call that one the Hard Slog, win it, and you damwell deserve it!

Just a heads up for those that are interested:

9pm tonight BBC2

"Hillsborough" - Account of the Hillsborough disaster, capturing the horror and exposing police failures.

I understand this was made before the just completed inquest, but was not allowed to be shown till now, and that is has now been updated.

Klopp comments today and sums up what I think of Joe Allen. Such a good player!!

And when you consider how much football you can be made to play in this league then it can be understandable when some clubs give certain competitions lower priorities or play kids.


According to OptaJoe, Sheyi Ojo has provided three assists in his four Premier League starts for Liverpool. Impressive.

That's also one more assist in 2016 than Mesut Ozil.

Man watching that Hillsboro documentary was heart breaking.

How those families contuined fighting is beyond me.

Things like that only cement my opinion of I don't trust the police or the state. They will do anything to protect there own.

It was an excellent programme, well made and heart rending. I thought I knew all there was to know on Hillsborough, but tonight I learnt a whole lot more, and what I learnt has sickened me to the core