Well nobody agreed with me when I was talking about it a few months ago. I was only talking about him being captain from Roy's perspective. At the time he wasn't playing well because of his injury problems. It's nice to be proven right.

Coutinho's getting a new contract 18 months after his last renewal. This was said as if it was raising eyebrows or something. If Jamie Vardy can sign a new contract with Leicester just 6 months after his last renewal, with a nice pay rise, and be praised for being the most loyal creature ever, then I see no problem with this. If anything it protects his value if they do come calling, or try to tap him up.

Bad news.

Ryan Giggs has stated he will never manage Liverpool. It seems like he meant it, too.

Looks like we're stuck with Klopp.

Devastated.

For those unaware, Wijnaldum limped off last night for Holland with what looked like a hamstring injury. Will probably miss the game against United

Step up Emre.

The thing is now with the line up which most people probably think is our first choice

Karius

Clyne
Matip
Lovren
Milner

Hendo
Cout
Wij
Lallana
Mane

Firmino

for me there is no player who is so vital that if they were for any reason unavailable the team would be greatly weakened - as we have back ups everywhere. The only poss exception is RB and then I think if Clyne was ever out we would just reshuffle the defense.

OK this week Wij is out = no probs, we have options. If we go for the cautious one we go Lucas who will hold well in front of the back 4 but I think it almost certain we will go with the more ambitious attacking option in Can. If we do this in many ways i think we are stronger - so there is absolutely nothing to worry about in my eyes!!

No Lallana? = bring in Sturridge from the start, whatever happens we can deal with it!!

What did you expect? We will never be worthy of the managerial experience of the Supreme Commander of the Universe Lord Ryan Giggs, don't you know he's had a great career?

That's nothing.

Just you wait for the wailing from Old Trafford when Gerrard turns them down.

(He's doing his badges as we speak!)

On balance I'd rather have Lallana fit next monday than Sturridge tbh.

Despite Skrtel and Moreno being replaced in defence we've actually shipped more goals than this stage last year. No clean sheets either. Klopp relying on potent attack from all personnel from all angles.

With goals scored being the final arbiter come the end of the season would you rather beat United 2 : 0 or 4 : 2 ?

4 : 2 it is then!

We've got such good strength in depth that the odd injury isn't such a huge concern this season. Any one of Wijnaldum and Hendo comes out and you can bring in Can, or even Grujic, Stewart or Lucas, depending on what you want to go with.

As it happens, Hendo is a yellow card away from a one-game suspension, which he'll probably pick up against Man United. I hope he does, anyway. I don't want any Liverpool captain being cautious of a yellow card against Man United, he needs to be fully committed.

We have West Brom at Anfield after that. West Brom is the kind of team we'd have struggled against in recent years, hopefully this time things'll be different. But to make it worse it's a Tony Pulis team. But in any case, there are worse fixtures to be without Henderson for.

If Hendo is suspended and Wijnaldum injured for West Brom then we'll probably start with Can, Lucas and Lallana in the midfield. Grujic or Stewart are also possibilities, but I think they'll be subbed on, depending on how we're doing. Unlikely, but we may even see Milner return to the midfield for that game. I'd rather keep him at LB, and that's probably what's going to happen, but he's always an option. We might also play Coutinho in a deeper role. Since we're at Anfield we'll be less defensive. Can, Lallana and Coutinho in midfield with Mané (right), Sturridge (centre) and Firmino (left) as the front three could work.

Apparently, Wijnaldum told Danny Blind that his hamstring was tight at halftime, but he played him in the second half anyway.

His son would be proud. I smell a conspiracy.

Looks like the Anfield Road re-development may not be going ahead anytime soon. Ian Ayre reckons it wouldn't be a smart investment, and the numbers seem to back him up.

The money invested in the Main Stand and will apparently be recouped in 6 years due to the hospitality areas, but Anfield Road would take like 15 years to pay for itself due to the proposed seating being all general admission.

He says fan investment is an option though, so who knows if anything will come of that.

This has been debated at length on a FB site I go on - and I would have to say I am definitely in the camp which is unhappy with Ayre's position.

What are we saying then? - 54K will do for LFC? Cos if we are then we are putting ourselves at a very bad disadvantage against a club down the East Lancs road that gets 70K+ every game.

Also at so many LFC games genuine fans struggle to get tickets and this is even the case in our new 54K stadium, if we expand it will make the people happy. it could be that it will not be full every game but so what? - if it gives more LFC fans the chance to watch their team live then surely it has to be a good thing.

Could say more but it is late so will stop now but wanted to put a marker down for how i feel - on FB I was amazed at how many were OK with Ayre and him saying this.

I don't think it's a lack of ambition from FSG. If they could reasonably expand Anfield to 60K or more they would as they know they'd sell the tickets. The problem is the cost of redevelopment, while less than a brand new stadium, is dependent on the surrounding environment. In the same way that OT cannot realistically be developed beyond it's current capacity Anfield is restricted by it's surroundings and infrastrucure. The Main Stand development was the simplest and most cost effective way to expand capacity. Anfield Road end is possible but I think the cost per seat is something like double the Main Stand and there wouldn't be the demand for the higher value corp. hospitality seats so the stand would take a lot longer to earn it's money back. What I hope happens is that the wider Anfield redevelopment ultimately frees up more of the land around the stadium and allows for a expansion of the other stands which would be more cost effective and take us over 60K but then that would need the council to invest in the local infrastructure. If Everton do move as is being suggested that might help.

JK has won Manager of the Month for September. We won all our games in September, so fully deserved

It really is deserved, well done JK

Changed fixtures for December & January

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/firs...er-and-january

Congrats to JK

Both Wijnaldum and Lallana haven't been ruled out of the Man United game. If we have just one of those two available we'll be fine. Preferably Lallana. I think Wijnaldum would be easier to replace by pushing Hendo forward and putting Can in defensive midfield. But then we could do that if Wijnaldum plays and Lallana sits it out. If both are unavailable then I'd have a midfield three of Can, Hendo and Coutinho, or maybe even Grujic to give them a surprise. Klopp's mad enough to do something like that.

From FB:

Klopp says Lovren and Clyne are 'in the race' for United game. Confirms that Gomez back in full training #LFC

Apparently our defence is crap compared to Man United's, despite us conceding just two more goals than the team managed by a defensive manager.

It's okay, Man United fans, you can keep your -2 fewer GA, I'd rather have the 3pt advantage.

You need a smaller brush.

I disagree. It's a pretty big target.

Batdude needs a smaller mouth...

Sayings we're "there for the taking" and that Mane is the only player that can trouble United adds a "t" to bullish and mixes it up a bit.

The reality is that any result is possible in this game irrespective of the merits of either side. Being home helps but I'm not predicting anything!

Both taken from FB:

Former Man Utd striker Andy Cole: "I think, attacking-wise #LFC are sexy."

Andy Cole: "Are #LFC a title threat? Yes, I think they are, because Klopp has got them playing with so much energy now."


At least he rates us, rather than arrogantly thinking we're playing above ourselves.

Has he really said that? Lol.

The thing is that he posts so much and frankly now I have got to the stage that I try to read as little of what he posts as possible. Those that do read all his output see inconsistency after inconsistency - but that does not stop him does it. At times to our faces he can be 'nice as pie' - always on on Dec 31st wishing us a good new year or posting pro JFT96 things on 15th April but then often at other times posting the worst kind of anti LFC abuse typical of the worst kind of MUFC fans. I prefer the MUFC fans who follow their team who argue their case backing their views up but who are reasonable to debate with and do not mind when we argue our teams side position back to them - and we all know there are several of those type of MUFC fans on DS.

Anyone who has seen LFC play this season and seriously thinks Mane is our only threat deserves to see their team hammered by us and I hope that is what we do to them - but not just cos of Batdude I hasten to add, mainly cos there is nothing I like more than seeing LFC beat MUFC (and I am sure MUFC fans feel the same about us and I have no problem with them doing so and shouting it from the rooftops)

Agreed.

He does the rest of us no favours whatsoever. I see you lot as favourites for this one, but I'm obviously hoping that we can pull something out of the bag.

Rooney off the bench for a 90th minute winner?

If it is an own goal, I will take that.

That's probably more likely, the way that things have been going for him lately!