Am I going insane? Am I losing my mind? Am I the only one that believes this hullabaloo over Brendan Rodgers’ team selection against Real Madrid is absolutely nonsense? I would love to see the results of a Liverpool fan only survey on the above matter. In my opinion, in todays’ football there is no such thing as a first eleven. Players should be selected to start based on past performance and the managers’ strategy. No player, irrespective of who they are, should feel his place in the team is guaranteed. Our starting eleven midweek was still made up of international players, and it is an insult to them, to be referred to as a second eleven. Besides, if our so called first eleven got beaten 3-0 and our so called second eleven only got beaten 1-0, then our current problems go much deeper than we think.
Personally, I am happy Rodgers made the changes he did. We have a squad of players for a reason, and in my opinion the performances from Borini and Lucas gave Rodgers some things to think about ahead of our match with Chelsea. And speaking of Rodgers, I came across this @RodgersOutClub account on twitter who plan to fly a banner over Anfield asking for him to be sacked. I am at a loss for words. Are these clowns really taking a page out of Manchester United fans’ book? This is disgraceful. I don’t think any Liverpool fan is happy with what we have been seeing so far this season, but a display like that mentioned above is not the Liverpool way. We came within a fingertip of the title last season, but we have since last one of the best three players in the world and the top English goal scorer. And unfortunately those who were brought in have not hit the grown running. So am I happy? No. Do I think Rodgers has made some mistakes? Yes. But flying a banner over the stadium is not the right way to voice our concerns. We are Liverpool, dammit. We are better than that. And as unhappy as I am at the moment, Rodgers still enjoys 100% of my support.
I mention earlier that we came within a fingertip of the title, and I know we all remember the point at which we slipped and our fingers were trodden on last season. I WANT MY REVENGE!
Chelsea are coming into this match as firm favourites. They are unbeaten in the league with a deadly partnership of Fabregas and Diego Costa banging in the goals. Of course, they also have goal threats from Hazard, Oscar and Willian to name a few. On paper and on form, Chelsea is the better team and deservedly favourites. Liverpool are coming into this match with one win in our last five matches. And in four of those five matches we were unable to find the back of the net. At the moment, we seem unable to hit the floor even if we dove on it (ala Hazard/ Ivanovic).
I would like to see our starting XI to be Mignolet, Manquillo, Lovren, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Lucas, Sterling, Coutinho, Borini and Balotelli in a traditional 4-4-2 formation. With these players, we could also easily switch to a more defensive 4-2-3-1 formation if need be. I would like to see Rodgers being braver though in his substitutions. If Balotelli is not doing the job by half time, to throw in Lambert.
It is normally in the big games that Liverpool FC pull through. This Saturday, the fans needs to do everything we can to help carry the team. We all remember that clip of Mourinho charging down the touchline to celebrate their goal last season. An image that destroys my heart every time I see it…but also an image that only solidifies my determination and support. Our determination and support. So on Saturday, we need to let Mourinho, Costa, Fabregas, Terry, Cahill, Hazard, Willian and the like know that, yes, they are unbeaten this season…but that is because they had not played us yet. This is Anfield…and We Are Liverpool
And our competitors…
It really irks me when United fans claim that they do not buy trophies like Chelsea and City. United have been buying trophies since the nineties. This Saturday, Crystal Palace pays a visit to Old Trafford. It Tony Pulis was still in charge, I would have given Palace the chance to take some points away. But right now, I am not too sure. Southampton have continued to roll on, and the next team to be crushed by the Saints will be Leicester this weekend. Manchester City will be looking to overcome a recent run of poor performances when they travel to QPR, and I see them winning this one. Tottenham are hosting Stoke and Spurs should get the home win. I do however see both Everton and Arsenal dropping points this weekend away from home to Swansea and Sunderland respectively.
Follow Kurt on Twitter @kurtellis2
Kurt Ellis is a lifelong Liverpool fan living in South Africa. His first novel, By Any Means, was published by Human & Rousseau Publishers in May 2014. It is a gritty, coming of age crime thriller featuring a young Liverpool FC fan. The novel is available on Amazon. To purchase, you can follow the link below. http://amzn.to/Zj532F