Perhaps one barometer of just how much Liverpool have fallen in the past year or so is the fact that not one of their players on duty last night against Rubin Kazan would get in Saints starting XI at present.

Last night I sat in a bar in Hamburg watching Liverpool take on Rubin Kazan and it suddenly struck me how much Liverpool's team has unravelled in the past year under Brendan Rodgers and it made me realise that for perhaps the first time ever, Liverpool do not have one player who would get in the current Saints side.

There wasn't one position where we do not have a better option on our books than Liverpool have in my opinion.

Ironically perhaps the only position that they come close to us is right back and ex Saint Nathaniel Coyne, but even there the truth is that probably on his form for Liverpool this season he would not oust Cedric Soars, on last seasons form yes, but he seems to be a pale imitation of his former self at present.

So we should go to Anfield with confidence on Sunday, this isn't a Liverpool side just out of form, it is a poor side that has little quality and little balance and from this point of view we go to Anfield with a great chance of winning.

Of course they have a few players out injured at present and Daniel Sturrridge would get in our squad as would Christian Benteke, but would either oust Sadio Mane or Graziano Pelle on current form ? the answer is no.

I think that Jurgen Klopp will turn things around, but he will struggle to do so this season and that gives us a great chance to compete for a top five place whilst he rebuilds the squad, but Klopp as good as he is will struggle to get Liverpool firing on all cylinders with the players he has to hand, the fact is that unlike Saints Liverpool have bought poorly and it has left them with few players who can turn it on consistently at the highest level and absolutely none who you would swap for our players in the relevant positions.

Photo: Action Images

Winchsaint added 10:12 - Oct 23 You've missed Coutinho, would definitely take him. Otherwise agree with everything you've said.
3

BUCK added 10:43 - Oct 23 Just because Liverpool are playing crap,I hope no one expects saints just to turn up and win. It'll be a very hard game indeed. I will be more than happy with a draw and anything better then brilliant
4

perazi added 10:44 - Oct 23 Coutinho, Can, Clyne and Benteke. Clyney has looked good in the Pool games I have seen; I'd have no hesitation in slotting Can into our mid-field - Coutinho and Benteke are class acts. You're right though, Klopp has to fix the mess Rodgers left him.
3

SonicBoom added 10:56 - Oct 23 Lallana would get in as would the keeper. But who cares. We never used to have players that would get in their side but we still beat them on occasion. I'd save the self congratulations until Sunday night.....
0

IWOZTHERE added 11:21 - Oct 23 Bit selective, in that you're comparing Liverpool players lacking in confidence with Saints players who are 'up for it'. Pelle's been outstanding but you wouldn't have said that about him second half of last season and I reckon the majority would have jumped at the chance of swapping him for Benteke at that time. Similarly Lallana and Tadic? I just hope we've got over last week and grab the initiative early up there (and maintain it!)

-1

LesVivian added 11:27 - Oct 23 Make no mistake, we have missed Lallana's creativity in tight spaces; Tadic is too inconsistent. Clyne is a far better full-back than Soares, who seems to go walkabout at times, although this tendency is reducing! (And of course, we have no-one yet who can replace Schneiderlin - I bet he's glad he didn't go to Spurs when he threw his toys out just over a year ago!)
0

bstokesaint added 12:24 - Oct 23 Nick, got to say I agree with pretty much all of the posters above. I didn't see who the starting line up for Liverpool was last night, but I'd still welcome back Lallana's creativity (not him personally mind) and Coutinho and Benteke would get into just about any PL side. I do agree Cedric is on the up, but I'd still take Clyne at this current moment, even if he is below par.

-1

bstokesaint added 12:28 - Oct 23 And I too would more than happy with a point, before dreaming of anything else. Points at Anfield, Stamford Bridge, The Emirates, Old Trafford, The Etihad, White Hart Lane and even Goodison are good points. Even when those teams are not playing well they don't tend to drop many points at home.
1

thedelldays added 13:51 - Oct 23 clyne, lallana, coutinho, can, benteke and a fully fit sturridge would play in our team
-1

schatfield added 14:33 - Oct 23 Clyne, Lallana, Coutinho and most of all their goalie, Mignolet!
-1

corkcitysaint added 18:11 - Oct 23 Of course they do! Daglish, Rush, Souness... oh, you mean their current squad.... :)
-1

SaintBrock added 14:01 - Oct 24 Come off it Nick, at least six of their first picks if fit would be straight in.
-1

stmichael added 07:54 - Oct 25 A very arrogant article which I hope does not come back to haunt us today. And of course if fully fit 5/6 of their players would get in our team. And as poor as they have been our last 45 mins against Leicester was worse than anything they have produced in the league this season. I would take a point all day long and doubt very much we will win.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Swindon Town Polls