Match Preview: Liverpool v. Blackpool, 01.12.11

By: Ed | January 11th, 2011

Liverpool head to Bloomfield Road looking for away win number two.

Fortuitous that the whole undersoil heating debacle pushed this one back, yes?

Doesn’t make tomorrow’s task any easier, of course, but at least there’s a bit of optimism and feel-good factor for Liverpool heading into yet another away match. I’d like to think that subtracting Roy Hodgson from the equation and adding Kenny Dalglish immediately make Liverpool a better away side, and it may very well be the case, although I’m prone to side with Dalglish in acknowledging that there’s a good bit of romance swirling about and we’d all be better suited to get to the football (if you haven’t read it already, that link needs a full read; Dalglish’s press conferences are fantastic).

In this case, getting to the football means focusing on one of the more surprising teams of the season. Ian Holloway’s Blackpool started the campaign as relegation favorites, and, even after a few surprising early season victories, were pegged to fade at some point. Their victory at Anfield very well could have been a one-off after two subsequent losses, but they recovered nicely in earning their first ever Premier League home victory against West Brom. They’ve managed to go 4-3-3 in league from November on, and at current they’re level on points with Liverpool with a game in hand (the Reds lead on goal differential). And for what it’s worth, their loss at the weekend in the FA Cup against Southampton seemed to be less a product of continuing a slide that had seen them lose two straight and more a result of ringing in wholesale changes (nine in total) to the regular eleven.

The best part is that there’s no secret to how they’ve done it; at this point it’s almost mandatory to use the word “fearless” when discussing Holloway’s side. It wouldn’t be cliche if it wasn’t true, though, and Holloway’s stuck to his guns when it comes to trading blows with “bigger” sides. They’ve only really been punished twice (6-0 to Arsenal and 4-0 to Chelsea) and have hung with nearly everyone they’ve played, so why the hell do anything differently?

Tomorrow, however, Holloway’s choices are a bit more limited—David Carney is representing Australia in the Asian Cup, and he’ll miss Marlon Harewood, Matt Gilks, and Chris Basham through injury. As I mentioned the last time I previewed this match, “he’ll be able to call on Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson to replace Gilks. He’ll also have Ian Evatt, Stephen Crainey, Craig Cathcart and Neil Eardley in defense, with David Vaughan, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, DJ Campbell, Luke Varney, and Neil Eardley to choose from in the midfield and attack.”

As for Liverpool:

1. Who will start for Liverpool?
2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?
3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

1. Who will start for Liverpool?

Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Aurelio
Meireles Lucas
Kuyt Cole Maxi
Torres

—Jamie Carragher is officially the only long-term injury in the first team, as Jay Spearing made his return to action in the reserves’ 2-1 victory over Sunderland earlier today. Steven Gerrard will miss out as part of the three-match ban he received for the tackle on Michael Carrick on Sunday. There’s a few listed as “doubtful” on the BBC link above—”Joe Cole (ankle), Glen Johnson (personal reasons),” and my personal favorite, “Paul Konchesky (dead leg).” That’s a generous way to evaluate his performances this season.

—I’ve had about five different versions of this section, so who knows what the hell will happen. I suppose if Cole and Johnson are doubtful it’d be wise to leave them out, but I’m guessing they both make a full return. I’d say I agree with Noel’s post yesterday about Martin Kelly and bringing him along, and that my predicted lineup is indicative of that, but I’m feeling fragile and don’t want to get called dirty names today.

—Two matches in four days might be too much to ask of Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio in defense, but with Konchesky’s dead leg/ability and the solid performance put in by Martin Skrtel and Agger at Old Trafford, I’m hopeful that’s what we see.

—Even with the struggles they had on Sunday, which may have been more attributable to less than full fitness for Raul Meireles, I think the Lucas/Meireles pairing is the best option.

—The absence of Gerrard makes picking the front four a little more difficult of a task, but maybe the only question mark is how Dalglish chooses to assemble them. I’m guessing Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, and Maxi all retain their places, Cole has another go in a supporting role. As usual, I expect to be completely wrong, but at least now I can be comfortable in the knowledge that it’ll be a good thing.

2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?

I think tomorrow starts the most important period of Kenny Dalglish’s return—Sunday was always going to be, in his words, a romantic affair. But what happens from tomorrow forward will be what defines Liverpool’s campaign. There’ll be plenty of romantic moments between now and the end of the season, but in between it’ll be down to the club’s ability to get the results they need. And after the first five months of the season, they pretty much need every result.

3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

I really think that if Liverpool play like they did on Sunday they’ve got a great chance to take all three points tomorrow. Won’t be easy, but 2-1 to Liverpool.

Tomorrow’s match is another that doesn’t have a definite carrier in the UK, but in the US you can catch it on Fox Soccer Channel. As usual, us working stiffs will have to catch it “while doing paperwork.” The usual links to pages with streams will go up in the morning along with any news of the day.

Until then, enjoy Ian Holloway’s thoughts on the return of Kenny Dalglish and tomorrow’s match. No shortage of good will on either side heading into the match, I’d guess.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: Match Previews, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Team News

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Is this another one of your mystery rides Noel? I usually get the gist around two thirds through but you've got me here mate. And that's a hell of a nom de plume. Maybe we're looking at picking up an Ed Hardy from our lower leagues? I seem to remember some hopeful playing reserves for Upper Kumbukta West a few years back. Or maybe it's just some dipshit peddling fake crap on your nice red blog.
GalahadThreepwood

So here we go...

1. Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Aurelio
Meireles Lucas
Kuyt Cole Babel
Torres

2. The romance is over and the real test begins. I hope that Liverpool continue to play the way they did in the first half on Sunday. If they do, I think they have a good chance to win the match.

3. 2-1 Reds seems likely to me.

Tomorrow will be our first glimpse of Kenny's Liverpool (Sunday doesn't really count). I'm interested to see what he does with the squad. The last time he managed LFC, he produced some of the most beautiful football in the last 20 years. Can lightning strike twice? I hope so.
steven.

i never throw down with the line up prediction but here goes nothing short of Pinot Grigio inspired confidence...

-----------Reina----------
Kelly--Skrtel-Greek--Konch
-------Jonjo--Lucas-------
--Babel---Cole---Milan--
----------Torres----------

Milan? you guys remember him? i know it's a dirty word but i'm bringing it back.
Noel

Milan I'm cool with. Joe, not so much. Though in any case I think bringing him into the starting lineup like that might end up with a few too many changes. Love to see Jova get the last 25-30 though, and if he plays well he seems the sort who would be good for Sunday.
steven.

it might be a lot of changes but after a few drinks with dinner i'm delusional and think "it's just Blackpool" ..

still have my fingers crossed for a Joe Cole rebirth. once again, Pinot Grigio and delusions....yada yada yada.
Red2death

All of a sudden I'm not too concerned that this is an away match anymore. I know Blackpool plays some very decent football, but I'd be disappointed if we didn't win this one. Simply put, there's no reason for our squad not to beat Blackpool, regardless of occasion or venue. No disrespect to Holloway.

Eager to see what tactics Kenny employs. He's one heck of a character, but I hope he can still cut it as a manager. 1-0 Liverpool. Come on guys... give Reina a clean sheet...

Interesting how there's been not too much talk about Babel's FA charge for his latest online escapade. Personally I think it's ridiculous that he gets the book thrown at him for that, yet when Fergie and Queiroz accused Keith Hackett of a lot worse after Utd's meeting with Portsmouth couple years ago, they get... "The FA has decided to drop the case against..."

No double standards? Really?
Noel

Seem to recall a few decent showings from Johnson on the left last season, and I don't trust, A) Aurelio to play three in a week; or, B) Konchesky to play dead leg or not. So at the risk of having people call me names whilst claiming I'm backtrcking on yesterday's post, I'm half-hoping to see Kelly and Johnson both get a game tomorrow, with Aurelio coming back in for the derby and Johnson back on the right for that match.

Anywho, both with the derby in mind but with not wanting to make wholesale changes, and assuming those twenty odd minutes between the penalty and red card where Liverpool showed their shape on Sunday hold any long term meaning...

-----------Reina----------
-------Skrtel-Agger------
Kelly-------------Johnson
-----------Lucas----------
----Meireles-Shelvey----
--Babel------------Maxi--
----------Torres----------

Like to see Kuyt get a game off, but if Meireles isn't good to go then slide Maxi more central (he does it for Argentina), put Babel on the left, and Kuyt back on the right.

Important? Pass and move, possession, pressure... all the key words that seemed like foolish pipe dreams last month, especially on the road, need to start working their way back into the fold.

And 3-1 to the good, allowing Torres to come off after 60 with one eye on Sunday.
Jake_LFC

Liverpoolfc.tv forums are abuzz with reports that Kenny's going with this:

Kelly - Skrtl - Wilson - Agger

Johnson - Raul - Lucas - Maxi

Kuyt - Torres

Whoa...
Noel

If true that's... defensive.
Silent_bob_uk2k

How so?
Noel

Four center backs, two holding midfielders, and a wingback pushed up to become a winger. That leaves a side with three natural attackers in something like the positions they've been playing in their whole lives, except one of them is Kuyt who likes to drop back to link play and support the defense but has a ridiculously heavy touch, and he'll now be playing centrally so that when he drops back--with his heavy touch--it will be into the most crowded areas on the pitch. And Maxi, being a tucked in modern "winger" and right footed, likely won't get any support on the overlap from either Wilson or Agger.

So yeah, three natural attackers, one in a position that we've seen doesn't play to his strengths and one who will play exceptionally narrow without fullback support.

Now how 'bout you explain to me how on earth you think it's an attacking teamsheet in any way, shape, or form?
Jake_LFC

I don't agree that Agger won't push up and support Maxi. And we've seen Kelly do it on the right side (albeit not to the extent Glen does, but he's not Konchesky, either). If this is true, I'd say it's a rather brilliant way to try and inject some life into the attack with Gerrard's absence. I think Glen is one of the few players in the side who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and pushing him forward would promote attacking play, rather than hinder it.

Now Maxi on the left, well, that's a different story, but I don't think Agger's (or Wilson's) support will be significantly less substantial than Aurelio's would have been, do you?
Noel

Well, the few times Agger and Wilson have played on the left this season, they've both looked horribly uncomfortable moving forward, but perhaps needs must, and all that. About pushing Johnson forward, while I don't disagree about him being good with the ball at his feet, I expect I will never be convinced that moving an offensively talented defender up the pitch actually makes a side more attacking, with the easy fall back being to ask if anybody thought Barcelona would be more effective in attack by moving Alves to the wing and using Puyol at right back on a regular basis--it's a sore point for me, but if you have attacking fullbacks and covering midfielders, moving said attacking fullbacks up the pitch only serves to effectively remove one attacker from the mix and, as a result, is necessarily more defensive.

...but I expect this comment will be outstripped by the match anyhow, and I do hope I'm wrong or there's some tweak to the set up that makes it more effective than the 442 suggested by many.
Jay Wright

As I've said repeatedly, I think it's time to start phasing in the younger kids now and phasing out the ageing players that figure to play no part in any future challenges for trophies. As such, I'd be giving Kelly/Wilson/Ayala as much game time as possible at centre back and Shelvey & Pacheco more starts through the middle this season, while there is little pressure on us to get results. "Babysitting" the likes of Shelvey or Pacheco with a 3 man central midfield would still be the preferred way to ease them into the team, instead of having them trying to handle midfield battles while being outnumbered.

I've also had enough of Maxi and Kuyt being given game after game after game after game to play their way into form on the wings, despite the fact that their best form is no longer good enough for a top team anyway. Babel is pretty predictable from the left and his pace is not best utilised when he is forced to slow down and cut in towards the defenders, but on the right does actually deliver pretty good crosses and still could pose a goal threat (as Bale does for Spurs while playing from the left) so he would become first choice for the right wing forward spot until a superior player arrives.

Team for Blackpool, assuming that Meireles is actually near to 100% fit...

Reina
Johnson-Kelly-Agger-Aurelio
Meireles-Lucas-Shelvey
Babel-Torres-Jovanovich
(Subs: Gulacsi, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Cole, Kuyt, N'gog)