I always try and be respectful towards fans of that particular club whose thread it is, I never ever want to upset any fans, as that would just be rude and unbecoming.

From what I have seen so far I might - and I disilike MUFC more than most as is well known.

I think the big signings made all look like they could work - I hate Zlatan's arrogance but he will always score, Pogba is nowhere near worth 89m and was pretty rubbish in many games in the Euros and i think it is a major embarrassment to spend that much on a player you gave away but he is a good player and will be able to be a big influence in many PL games, Miki is a class act who has a great football brain and if he adapts to the PL he will be a major players and Baily looks a solid CB so far but time will tell whether that lasts (I remember him V us in the EL last season). Jose seems to have quickly won all MUFC fans over and no wonder given how well you have played so far - and comparing him to the performance of your 2 managers since SAF, but you played Bournemouth, Southampton at OT and Hull so you have not really been tested yet. The derby will be a bit of an acid test. I do feel a bit cheesed off by your club as it does seem as if you have gone for big names using the MUFC name to attract people and thereby ditching young British players but if you can why not if it leads to you winning the title. There is no doubt Jose is building a club capable of a strong challenge for the PL and the way you tore into Hull on their ground for almost the whole second half last week was impressive and the way MUFC used to be. In the interests of balance too for those who say I am unjustifiedably anti MUFC may I say I think Rashford is very impressive - on and off the field - and I think he should start for you. I hope he continues to be just a sub!!

MCFC signing Stones could cost them as i do not rate him and think for sure he will cost them points - the question is how many, will he be as error prone as he has always been - but yes they will do well too of course especially with Pep. CFC getting Kante is very important and they too will do well but signing Luiz (my comments re Stones apply here too - only more so!!) and Alonso does not strike much fear into their rivals and I suspect Conte would have preferred others, but the basic team there is good and will for sure be an improvement. AFC will just be AFC - looking at their team I do not really fancy them for top 4 as they need a striker but as has been said predicting them not to is not that sensible given how they always seem to get there.

Which brings me to us? - I think we stand a chance of doing really well (I will not name a position - lets just say better than the 8th of last season) as we have a top manager, good players and no Europe but we must cut out displays like the Burnley one and become more consistent. The LB situation and the lack of a DM is the main worry as we all know but until we start slipping down the league lets be optimistic. We showed V TH and AFC that we have nothing much to fear from 2 of our big rivals for top places.

25 Squad players (*=Home grown)

Barbosa de Oliveira, Roberto Firmino

Can, Emre

*Clyne, Nathaniel Edwin

Coutinho Correia, Philippe

*Henderson, Jordan Brian

Ilori, Tiago

*Ings, Daniel William John

Karius, Loris

Klavan, Ragnar

*Lallana, Adam David

Lovren, Dejan

Mane, Sadio

Manninger, Alexander

Matip, Job Joel Andre

Mignolet, Simon

*Milner, James Philip

Moreno Perez, Alberto

Pezzini Leiva, Lucas

Sakho, Mamadou

*Stewart, Kevin Linford

*Sturridge, Daniel

Wijnaldum, Georginio

Divock Origi, Marko Grujic and Joe Gomez are listed in the U21's sensibly, but the surprise is seeing Sakho mentioned, even though he is 6th reserve!

The fact that Firmino doesn't go by the name of Bobby Barbosa is a total waste.

I had to read that name twice, mint or what!

I see Martin Samuels in DM today has been chatting to Klopp - well, not quite right, Klopp has been chatting to him! You'll see what I mean if you read it, and worth the read actually. Anyone who says they dislike this man is seriously sad!

LINK

I'm not watching the game, but heard Skrtel got sent off from a second yellow, apparently from a nasty stamp on someone.

Some things never change.

First international goal for Lallana

He's waited nearly as long for that as we have at LFC to win a title.Hope it's a good omen for the season

Deleted, sorry wrong thread.

I just read that Sadio Mane reported to Melwood this morning fully fit & injury free. Great news.

Interesting to hear Klopp speaking about Sakho this morning. Says that Sakho doesn't have to regain his trust. Seems like Sakho will be getting game time at some point this season.

Not surprised. I read recently that Ragnar has taken a knock. If something happened to Lovren or Matip, Sakho would be next in line. If Klopp was stubborn it'd be Lucas or Milner.

This is why I was surprised about ready to let him go. We would of been short in numbers

Well no doubt there's something behind closed doors that we don't know about. Klopp might have taken issue with an attitude or lack of discipline from Sakho.

Having failed in letting him go, Klopp isn't going to let a player of his quality go to waste if he can help it. I do wonder what we would have done had we let him go out on loan. If Gomez gets fit we might have been okay, but we'd always be an injury crisis away from being in real trouble. We already experienced that last January when we brought in Caulker as an emergency loan. We wouldn't have been able to recall Sakho, either, with the rule change on the loan system.

Thing is, Klopp is one of the few managers who could make such a U-turn and not look a bit silly. Imagine Rodgers being in this position, he'd be getting criticised or laughed at.


Some good news:

Redevelopment of the Anfield Road End, which would see the capacity go over 60,000 has already been agreed. #LFC (Paul Joyce)

Just back from a two week motorbike tour of German.
Everywhere we stopped there was this conversation .....
"Where are you from?"
"Near Liverpool."
"Ah, Herr Klopp, he's good. You will do well."
Nice to hear.

Sturridge to play today or not?

Bench again i think.

Benteke off and running for Palace.

Lucas starts at the back for Lovren.Sturridge also starts with Coutinho on the bench.

Liverpool team: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lucas, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Mane, Sturridge.

Substitutes: Karius, Klavan, Moreno, Stewart, Grujic, Coutinho, Origi.


Lucas up against Vardy by the looks of it

Sturridge is starting.

Glad to see. Best finisher at the club

Lucas starting CB worries me.

Hope we get some of the luck Arsenal have had today this season.

Spurs spanked Stoke away 0-4. Makes the point we took at the lane look good in perspective, even more so when we should've won given the display.

Let's have another display like that but with our best finisher starting today red men!!

Need 3 points today come on.