Liverpool are fresh off a pair of important victories against sides they should have beaten, this is the third straight match of that caliber. Liverpool will host 17th placed Cardiff who come off a 4-2 outburst against Fulham last weekend. The continental hangover will hopefully not be in effect as the Reds remained at home against Red Star Belgrade and will hope to continue their stellar league home form as well.
Team News:
Jurgen Klopp has ruled out both Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita for the weekend clash meaning both will miss for a second straight game. Both men have a hamstring injury and while the gaffer says they are "in a good way" neither will be fit enough for a start against the lone Welsh side in the Premier League. After a brilliant outing in the mid-week, Fabinho is surely in line to get another start as is Xherdan Shaqiri. Both men looked superb against Belgrade and Shaqiri's play as a number ten along with Fabinho's distribution upwards to the forwards would seem to be crucial in breaking down a more defensive Cardiff side.
Aside from the two midfielders and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster's long-term absences, there are no other injury problems for Liverpool. There are, however, some other interesting team notes. First is the matter of captains. While Henderson and Milner are captain and vice-captain, Jurgen Klopp revealed that Virgil van Dijk was voted as third captain and Gini Wijnaldum as fourth captain by the players. It speaks volumes of the trust van Dijk has immediately gained within the locker room, as well as the likability of Wijnaldum within the locker room as well. Also, you have the ever-present rumors of outgoing players. Alberto Moreno's contract is up following the end of the season and is set to move on. Likewise, Divock Origi reportedly could be set for a January exit, perhaps with Nathaniel Clyne. The focus on these players is that there are options ahead of them in the pecking order holding them back. We will follow these developments as they go along.
Cardiff will be missing important midfield man Joe Ralls as the result of a red card suspension. Aside from him, the Bluebirds have a handful of minor doubts that could be impactful. Josh Murphy, the star winger, has a knock, Harry Arter is dealing with an ankle injury, and Gary Madine is ill. Naz Laing and Lee Peliter are more long-term absences and will not feature in the match. With minor doubts, we may see one or two swaps, but I believe Neil Warnock will send out an unchanged line-up from his side's thumping of Fulham last weekend.
Projected Liverpool Line-Up: Alisson; Gomez, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Shaqiri, Mane; Firmino
Projected Cardiff Line-Up: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Arter, Gunnarsson, Murphy; Paterson, Reid
Previewing the Match:
In the build-up, Neil Warnock called beating Liverpool "virtually impossible." While Jurgen Klopp laughed this off, this has been the M.O. as of late for the Cardiff boss against sides that (on paper) he is mismatched against. It's been Warnock on tour in sort of a joyride for the 69-year-old manager taking what could potentially be his last team up through the Premier League, and they will be just hoping to avoid relegation. An away match against title-contending Liverpool is indeed going to be difficult for Cardiff to win, they will, however, have confidence following a 4-2 thrashing of surprise slumpers in Fulham. A point would be an outstanding result for Warnock's men.
In lining up against Liverpool, I expect them to continue with their 4-4-2 outlook, but they have the ability to tweak some things. In particular, I look at Victor Camarasa to be the key man for them. On loan from Real Betis, Camarasa is a central midfielder who has usually been deployed on the right wing, but have the capability to drift more centrally. Their right back, Bruno Ecuele Manga, is a center back by trade but has manned right back for Warnock. I'm immediately looking at the quicker Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson to make continuous forward runs all down the right side of the pitch. That side will surely be highlighted as one where the overlap can come into play as well as more line-hugging runs.
In the Liverpool midfield, I think the key question is if Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri with both get another start. I think James Milner could surely slot in, but I would look for him to come in for Wijnaldum if anyone. Shaqiri offers something more for this side in terms of breaking down the opposition and that could be key if Cardiff do choose to employ a more defensive line-up. They have gone out and challenged some top sides (primarily a solid showing against Arsenal) but have also been beaten 5-0 by Manchester City. The double pivot is what Fabinho is most familiar with (and was the subject to Klopp cracking a joke about it saying: “The present for his birthday was not that he was in the starting line-up, it was that we played his favorite system with a double six." It's what he played in with Monaco, and playing alongside Wijnaldum gives the defense that extra security it needs while giving Shaqiri, Firmino, and Salah (all three players that interchangable play as the spine of the attack) freedom to roam. I look for that to happen against tomorrow.
The Liverpool defense has been quality all season and has a lone problem of too much quality. With four solid center backs, one of whom plays right back well too, and a star young local right back as well, the competition is high. I think Joe Gomez really should be playing as much center back as possible, but also think it's near impossible to leave Dejan Lovren out of the line-up, especially with such a strong World Cup and great first start back against Chelsea with Liverpool. It's unfortunate to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out in the cold, but I think he's lacked that full consistency so far this season despite strong performances. His cross delivery has left something to be desired and his positioning against Eden Hazard was also troubled when Liverpool squared off with Chelsea. I think those performances left the door cracked and Gomez, Lovren, and van Dijk have all taken advantage. Bobby Reid, who is in fact a Liverpool fan, and Callum Paterson, who is in fact more midfielder than forward, will present differing strengths and I believe offer something different in their ability to drop into a 4-4-1-1 as well as the more traditional 4-4-2, but I fancy the Liverpool defense to silence the pair.
Final Thoughts:
Despite the scoring outburst against Fulham, I think the Liverpool back line is far tougher to crack than that of Fulham, who have allowed the most goals in the Premier League. After Fulham, Cardiff have allowed the next most, a favorable sign for the Reds who may be just getting back on track. It's all about three points, but a clean sheet would be next on my list in things Jurgen Klopp would like from his side.
Score Prediction: Liverpool 3: Cardiff 0:
There should not be any problem with this Cardiff side at home. While a Championship all-star team, I think they lack in players that are of high impact enough to take down this Liverpool side. If they stay aware against Victor Camarasa in midfield and Bobby Reid getting forward, I think this is a no-trouble victory.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for more LFC coverage, including live Tweets during the matches, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Michigan basketball coverage!
Team News:
Jurgen Klopp has ruled out both Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita for the weekend clash meaning both will miss for a second straight game. Both men have a hamstring injury and while the gaffer says they are "in a good way" neither will be fit enough for a start against the lone Welsh side in the Premier League. After a brilliant outing in the mid-week, Fabinho is surely in line to get another start as is Xherdan Shaqiri. Both men looked superb against Belgrade and Shaqiri's play as a number ten along with Fabinho's distribution upwards to the forwards would seem to be crucial in breaking down a more defensive Cardiff side.
Aside from the two midfielders and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster's long-term absences, there are no other injury problems for Liverpool. There are, however, some other interesting team notes. First is the matter of captains. While Henderson and Milner are captain and vice-captain, Jurgen Klopp revealed that Virgil van Dijk was voted as third captain and Gini Wijnaldum as fourth captain by the players. It speaks volumes of the trust van Dijk has immediately gained within the locker room, as well as the likability of Wijnaldum within the locker room as well. Also, you have the ever-present rumors of outgoing players. Alberto Moreno's contract is up following the end of the season and is set to move on. Likewise, Divock Origi reportedly could be set for a January exit, perhaps with Nathaniel Clyne. The focus on these players is that there are options ahead of them in the pecking order holding them back. We will follow these developments as they go along.
Cardiff will be missing important midfield man Joe Ralls as the result of a red card suspension. Aside from him, the Bluebirds have a handful of minor doubts that could be impactful. Josh Murphy, the star winger, has a knock, Harry Arter is dealing with an ankle injury, and Gary Madine is ill. Naz Laing and Lee Peliter are more long-term absences and will not feature in the match. With minor doubts, we may see one or two swaps, but I believe Neil Warnock will send out an unchanged line-up from his side's thumping of Fulham last weekend.
Projected Liverpool Line-Up: Alisson; Gomez, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Shaqiri, Mane; Firmino
Projected Cardiff Line-Up: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Arter, Gunnarsson, Murphy; Paterson, Reid
Previewing the Match:
In the build-up, Neil Warnock called beating Liverpool "virtually impossible." While Jurgen Klopp laughed this off, this has been the M.O. as of late for the Cardiff boss against sides that (on paper) he is mismatched against. It's been Warnock on tour in sort of a joyride for the 69-year-old manager taking what could potentially be his last team up through the Premier League, and they will be just hoping to avoid relegation. An away match against title-contending Liverpool is indeed going to be difficult for Cardiff to win, they will, however, have confidence following a 4-2 thrashing of surprise slumpers in Fulham. A point would be an outstanding result for Warnock's men.
In lining up against Liverpool, I expect them to continue with their 4-4-2 outlook, but they have the ability to tweak some things. In particular, I look at Victor Camarasa to be the key man for them. On loan from Real Betis, Camarasa is a central midfielder who has usually been deployed on the right wing, but have the capability to drift more centrally. Their right back, Bruno Ecuele Manga, is a center back by trade but has manned right back for Warnock. I'm immediately looking at the quicker Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson to make continuous forward runs all down the right side of the pitch. That side will surely be highlighted as one where the overlap can come into play as well as more line-hugging runs.
In the Liverpool midfield, I think the key question is if Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri with both get another start. I think James Milner could surely slot in, but I would look for him to come in for Wijnaldum if anyone. Shaqiri offers something more for this side in terms of breaking down the opposition and that could be key if Cardiff do choose to employ a more defensive line-up. They have gone out and challenged some top sides (primarily a solid showing against Arsenal) but have also been beaten 5-0 by Manchester City. The double pivot is what Fabinho is most familiar with (and was the subject to Klopp cracking a joke about it saying: “The present for his birthday was not that he was in the starting line-up, it was that we played his favorite system with a double six." It's what he played in with Monaco, and playing alongside Wijnaldum gives the defense that extra security it needs while giving Shaqiri, Firmino, and Salah (all three players that interchangable play as the spine of the attack) freedom to roam. I look for that to happen against tomorrow.
The Liverpool defense has been quality all season and has a lone problem of too much quality. With four solid center backs, one of whom plays right back well too, and a star young local right back as well, the competition is high. I think Joe Gomez really should be playing as much center back as possible, but also think it's near impossible to leave Dejan Lovren out of the line-up, especially with such a strong World Cup and great first start back against Chelsea with Liverpool. It's unfortunate to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out in the cold, but I think he's lacked that full consistency so far this season despite strong performances. His cross delivery has left something to be desired and his positioning against Eden Hazard was also troubled when Liverpool squared off with Chelsea. I think those performances left the door cracked and Gomez, Lovren, and van Dijk have all taken advantage. Bobby Reid, who is in fact a Liverpool fan, and Callum Paterson, who is in fact more midfielder than forward, will present differing strengths and I believe offer something different in their ability to drop into a 4-4-1-1 as well as the more traditional 4-4-2, but I fancy the Liverpool defense to silence the pair.
Final Thoughts:
Despite the scoring outburst against Fulham, I think the Liverpool back line is far tougher to crack than that of Fulham, who have allowed the most goals in the Premier League. After Fulham, Cardiff have allowed the next most, a favorable sign for the Reds who may be just getting back on track. It's all about three points, but a clean sheet would be next on my list in things Jurgen Klopp would like from his side.
Score Prediction: Liverpool 3: Cardiff 0:
There should not be any problem with this Cardiff side at home. While a Championship all-star team, I think they lack in players that are of high impact enough to take down this Liverpool side. If they stay aware against Victor Camarasa in midfield and Bobby Reid getting forward, I think this is a no-trouble victory.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for more LFC coverage, including live Tweets during the matches, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Michigan basketball coverage!
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