fred milne

I'd imagine Lucas would play instead of one of his compatriots - probably Firmino. Ibe might get the nod ahead of Coutinho too, depending on where his fitness is up to.

Absolutely. We hear a lot about Real at home, Utd away and Villa at home, less about the two scoreless draws against a newly-promoted Stoke. They were both great teams. I'd give the Rodgers team the slight edge due to the better title challenge and Suarez being more robust than Torres but then again the Rafa team had Europe to contend with so its a tough one.

I can't think of too many successful teams that haven't had one.

Its not just about protecting the defence more, its also about recycling possession effectively. You need those qualities against all teams.

I can see a new thread starting.....

Henderson and Milner do not an effective centre-mid pairing make. Also, it appears we have completely written off a player who has scored 40 goals in 67 games for us.

Hardly.

Sturridge played in a 433 with Suarez and Sterling without it blunting his effectiveness too much. I don't mind if its a diamond or a 4-3-3 but I would like us to field Benteke, Sturridge, Firmino, and Coutinho in the same side to maximise our goal threat. Personally I think that we means we need Lucas and that Henderson and Milner are scrapping it out for the final place. The bench would be decent.

The links to Kovacic and Illarramendi have gone a bit quiet recently so probably yes I reckon.

A diamond would place a bigger defensive burden on Coutinho.

Henderson and Milner should be fighting it out for the role of the midfield runner: Mignolet Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno Henderson Lucas Coutinho Sturridge Benteke Firmino

Apart from the City game, I don't remember too many instances where Coutinho played wide midfield in a diamond. He did play wide midfield in a 433 on a number of occasions, though.

Because none of them is happy to sit in front of the defence. It's not rocket science.

I am hoping we end up in a situation that the form of our forwards means Henderson and Milner end up fighting it out for one space in midfield. I don't. It would be suicide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqqW19M4_s8 A pivotal miss in the story of last season

Do you not think that's going to be Firmino? If the new signings live up to their billing (a big if admittedly), then both Lallana and Markovic have a job on their hands getting regular playing time.

Haven't really seen enough of both to make a proper comparison.

Would Berahino be better suited/better value for money now that he has distanced himself from Ward?

I can only remember the lunatic 424 at home to Villa when Gerrard and Henderson struggled badly.

Lucas is a quick and accurate passer.

You need to be a quick and accurate passer playing in front of the defence - not sure that's Milner's forte.

We've lost Gerrard and it looks like we are open to offers for Lucas.

Reckon we will bring someone in to play in front of the defence.

The flip side of that coin is we are losing a player we didn't want to lose at the age of twenty rather than in his late twenties.

He is more than just pace.