Rory Fitzgerald

My main concern about the game is 0-20mins. And fair enough, the last 21 games in all competitions has been W18 D2 L1 But we have become slow starters - whether we suck the energy out of teams or play our way into games and keep our energy levels for later in the half, I have no idea. Alisson's moments have also tended to come in big moments when we need them rather than being ahead by 3 or 4. - Maddison had a decent chance inside 10mins at Anfield that Alisson stopped - Burnley away was also passive, so whilst their "chances" were offside, it was still a case of them threading through the passes - Inter away we were a bit passive, I wasn't concerned despite them hitting the bar inside 20mins, but still a decent chance - Arsenal in the Caraboa Cup were the better team until Jota opened the scoring with Kelleher saving well from Lacazette - Alisson was forced into a smart save from Antonio before we scored - Pukki shot wide one-on-one with Alisson inside 20mins at Anfield - In 3 matches, Chelsea were the better team 0-20mins against us - Brighton had a decent opening 10 against us So, if there is one thing I will be hoping to see is a solid start and not us struggling to get the ball and City having us on the backfoot and probing.

They played Gundogan in midfield tonight and rested Grealish and Foden So they went Rodri/Gundogan deep, DeBruyne mainly central and Bernardo given more licence to roam. Silva Rodri Gundogan Mahrez KdB Sterling I expected a team with Silva/Rodri/KdB in midfield and front line of Grealish/Foden/Mahrez. I don't think it makes sense to put DeBruyne as the 9 against us. He needs to be deeper picking passes with pace of Foden/Mahrez. I would prefer playing a team with Gundogan in midfield and DeBruyne further forward.

I would think that only happens on genuine 50/50 calls within his squad like maybe Dias. Is it worthwhile putting him in or is it better to hold him back. But if the first team are fit, they play both games I think.

It's a complicated one. Jota is scoring goals at a time when Salah is not. Can you take Jota out and replace him with Firmino when you are not fully confident the wide players are in the best of form ? If Firmino starts, Salah is starting every game when fit on the right, then the competition is insane on the left with Jota (position that he got his goal on Saturday), Mane and Diaz. So the Firmino selection comes with alot of consideration.

Assuming Palace dont win the FA Cup, then Europe League does to 5th and 6th whilst Europa Conference League goes to 7th. For United, the ideal will be for them to avoid the Top 4 but be caught playing Thursday night football next season with their new manager. Less ideal for them to have their mid-weeks clear with a new manager albeit it will be some fall if they finish 8th ! First and foremost, Spurs and Arsenal should not cough up 4th to United but you cant rule it out. But so far, looks like they are unlikely to get Top 4. Funny to see them sandwiched between Wolves and West Ham though, but hopefully they manage to "secure" one of the other European places.

I wonder if he has picked his teams already for Watford - Benfica - City. RB: Gomez - Trent - Trent CB: Matip - Konate - Matip LB: Robbo - Tsmikas - Robbo CM: No idea, except Thiago sits out Benfica [Fabinho & Henderson for City also]. LM: Jota - Diaz - Mane CF: Firmino - Jota - [I think he'll go Jota given his goals] RW: Salah - Salah - Salah

Milner - every day of the week

That's been on my mind for a while, it lulls into the background and then 2-3 weeks ago Milner and Kostas missed a game because of Covid.

Hopefully Dyche has been schooling his squad full of non-internationals ahead of this run starting with City at home. Shame Wout Weghorst is with the Dutch squad. The last thing they need is their traditional 5-0 licking by City as their next 2 games are Everton (H) and Norwich (A).

Commentator on Coleman only 5mins into this Ireland match - Coleman is captaining his country and he could be on the verge of captaining Everton to the club's first relegation since 1951

We'll find out just how steady the hamstring is during April as you say. You could genuinely put Gomez in at RB for the games in bold and still expect the team to win. We need Trent for City away. After that, depending on how the results go, we may decide that Utd in the league is more important and give Gomez the FA Cup semi final - or - less ideally, give TAA the FA Cup game to try get to the final and see that the league is harder to win and give Gomez the United game (which, in reality, is not a big impediment to beating this United team at home). Watford (H) Benfica (A) City (A) 10th Benfica (H) City (Wembley) 16th Utd (H) 19th Lots of "ifs" in there.

If Real get to the final they are beating Chelsea and likely beating City, so they'll have some healthy performances behind them rolling into the final. Would still prefer them though as is being said above.

I am really glad we don't have to contemplate a 2 legged tie against City or Chelsea whilst the league season is still going on. If we can get to the final, then let the chips fall where they may on the other side of the draw. I have not been impressed by Atletico when they played us and Utd. If Chelsea and City do get through, then hopefully Chelsea have 3rd wrapped up and can rest players in the weekend league game - but they'll need a massive improvement in performance compared to their 2 games against City so far this season.

Mane played RW in his 1st season here. Arsenal will also play for Martinelli against Trent. Mane is a nice option there for a shift. I prefer Jota over Mane centrally as I think he's a more instinctive finisher - gives a bit more in the air too, not that Mane is too shabby either. Diaz stays on the left given his relationship he is trying to build with Robbo, wouldn't make sense to disrupt that. That's how I would probably see it.

This is very good Leo

5 of those players need to start every big game for the rest of the season - Matip may rotate with Konate - Matip's availability has been excellent this season, so the rotation may be helping him. - Thiago & Henderson will rotate, similar to Matip, we need to manage the amount of back-to-back games - Mane/Diaz may rotate on the left - Jota/Firmino/Mane may rotate in the centre - Salah has to play on the right

Soften your cough mate, I've just been on Twitter - seriously though, glad it wasn't too expensive today

A nice challenging away game leading into the City game. We need to win it. But imagine if Burnley also did us a favour by beating City and going ahead of Everton. Anyway, as for Arsenal, they are 1 pt ahead of Utd. The value of a point and staying undefeated won't be a bad outcome for them - going 2 points ahead and having 2 games in hand still. I can't see Arteta/Arsenal at home taking any backward steps, but a draw for them is fine. Liverpool City Arsenal (A) Palace (A) Watford (H) Burnley (A) City (A) Liverpool (H)

A very simplification might be 0-20mins and 70-90mins 0-20mins - Liverpool to start fast with a strong 11 to try and win the tie before they get any feeling there might be something. 70-90mins - Inter to do their best to keep a clean sheet and try more for the goals when we start making our subs.

I never noticed the Kepa position when Van Dijk was taking the penalty - but I nearly had heart failure when Kepa feel to his knees very close to the post. I could not understand how he was so close to it without throwing himself the full length of the goal. I was doubting the speed of the shot and thought he got across. Strangely, because I looked at the pens back today, our next pen is TAA and Kepa flings himself across to the same side. So, as you say, strange he didnt do better after playing his cards when he saw a CB step up.

When Kelly said there was team news and mentioned Thiago - I was hoping it was Thiago Silva. Thiago's absence is massive.

Oh bollix

Same team we faced in the 2-2 draw. I thought they started that game very well and our passing was atrocious. That day we had Konate and Kostas with Milner in midfield. Hopefully with Matip, Robbo and Thiago, we are a bit more composed.

Lukaku on the bench for Chelsea apparently

No Gomez, Jones, Elliott - Jota makes bench