The Kopite View

My Team To Face Arsenal Tonight

There is no doubt tonight’s game is a massive game for Liverpool tonight as they try to keep their challenge for a top four spot going.

This week is a particularly tough week for the Reds with Manchester United visiting Anfield next weekend after tonight’s clash with a very good Arsenal team.

Liverpool’s injury problems have been well documented but Klopp still has the players available to select a team capable of getting a result against Arsenal.

The addition of Caulker, signed yesterday should help ease Klopp’s defensive worries and with Henderson, Sakho, Toure and Ibe all returning from injury I would like to see the German select this eleven tonight –

Mignolet

Clyne                               Toure                    Sakho                                Moreno

Can                Allen

Henderson

Ibe                                          Firmino                                                         Lallana

Klopp will welcome the return of Toure and Sakho from injury and I think they will both start as it is a big ask to throw new signing Steven Caulker into such a tough game so soon.

I expect Clyne and Moreno to play their usual roles down the flanks, helping both offensively and defensively with their energy and pace.

I’m going to go for maybe a surprise choice in midfield by selecting Joe Allen beside Emre Can to anchor Liverpool’s midfield. I’m picking Allen instead of Lucas because he had such a good game at Stoke last week with Arsenal’s pace he is more mobile that Lucas.

I’m hoping Henderson is fit enough to start and if he is, then he can be the man pushing from midfield with his energy to support the attack.

I’d go for Ibe, Firmino and Lallana up front because their movement can cause Arsenal’s defence problems more than a static Benteke can.

Benteke Is Running Out Of Chances

Since Jurgen Klopp arrived at Anfield he has endured a nightmare in terms of injuries to his squad, but the number of injuries has presented big money signing Christian Benteke with the perfect opportunity to prove himself to Klopp and the Liverpool supporters.

But so far he has failed to do so, despite scoring the winning goal in two consecutive Premier League wins during the festive period.

Although Benteke has been scoring goals, his performances have been criticised, with many critics disappointed with his workrate and his movement.

The Belgian international was disappointing in the defeat at West Ham last weekend and dropped for the Capital One Cup Semi-Final first-leg at Stoke on Tuesday despite being the only fit striker in Klopp’s squad.

Klopp made Benteke his captain in a make-shift team to face Exeter City in the hope that the added responsibility to lead a young Liverpool team would inspire the big Belgian.

But Benteke disappointed once again and came in for a lot of criticism after another poor display that saw Liverpool scrape a 2-2 draw to stay in the FA Cup.

Benteke just doesn’t look suited to Klopp’s pressing style of play and he must be running out of chances to impress the German.

Hammered At New Year

The Reds went to London in high spirits

A New Year and two wins in a week to end 2015

But West Ham were looking for their first double over the Reds since 1963

And a win to start the New Year would be tough

Klopp was left with a threadbare squad for the visit

With a growing injury list

Lucas came in for the injured Henderson and Ibe for Lallana

This was the Reds’ final visit to the Boleyn Ground

And they wanted a win

But things went bad early doors

Antonio headed past Mignolet 10 minutes in

As the Reds complained in vain

That the scorer fouled Moreno to start the move

The hosts were rampant

And almost doubled their lead

Lanzini shook the woodwork

As Mignolet spectated

Then Valencia raced through

But Moreno saved the day

West Ham continued to threaten

And Cresswell’s shot was thwarted by Clyne

Just before half-time

The Reds almost equalised

Can shot

But the crossbar saved the Hammers

Liverpool started the second-half well

Benteke should have scored

But skewed his shot when he should have scored

But Liverpool’s hopes were killed soon after

Old boy Andy Carroll headed a second

And the game was over

Despite the Reds’ efforts

Coutinho danced his way into the box

Then Lucas’ header was cleared off the line

Defeat was sore

And not the best start to 2016