The Liverpool Offside - Celtic v. Liverpool, 08.10.13Zeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2013-08-10T19:10:02+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/43702872013-08-10T19:10:02+01:002013-08-10T19:10:02+01:00Celtic 1, Liverpool 0: Preseason Ends Tamely
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<figcaption>Mike Hewitt</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool's preseason ends with their tamest performance to date, as they fall 1-0 to Celtic at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.</p> <blockquote>
<p><b>Celtic 1:</b> <i>Balde 12'</i> <br><b>Liverpool 0</b></p>
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<li><span>We saw about three or four different versions of Liverpool in the first half--on the front foot early, pinned back as Celtic took the lead, creative and energetic in responding, and then flat for the rest of the half. In short, pretty much what we've become accustomed to over the past few seasons. The bright spots were very bright without finishing off the chances that were created, while the wobbles were punished with the efficiency that Liverpool can't seem to capture with any sort of consistency.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Andre Wisdom</span> is still a very bright central defensive prospect, but today was a far cry from what he's capable of. He got turned badly for Balde's goal and made a number of other errors, underlining the fact that he's not the man for now. What's encouraging is that he managed to make adjustments in-game, and while he won't likely be pleased overall, this will be one that hopefully helps him grow.</span></li>
<li><span>Lots of people saw this as the WELCOME TO BRITAIN moment for <span>Iago Aspas</span>, and I guess that can be a thing given how easily he seemed to be jostled off the ball. But he was also a victim of a lack of direct support, with <span>Philippe Coutinho</span>--who wasn't near his best today either--on the left and <span>Stewart Downing</span> bright in spots on the right but generally underwhelming.</span></li>
<li><span>The midfield other than Lucas didn't have a great day, with <span>Joe Allen</span> failing to replicate his earlier impressive displays and <span>Steven Gerrard</span> having easily his worst showing of the preseason. Execution is one thing, but more concerning was the type of disinterest and lack of force from the captain. He needs to provide more or be replaced, Liverpool legend or not. Against this type of side Liverpool need energy and commitment, which Lucas and Allen provided, but Gerrard was not nearly good enough.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Kolo Toure</span> was solid again at the back and showed good ambition on set pieces in attack, just narrowly offside on the goal that wasn't, and <span>Glen Johnson</span> was improved, but <span>Jose Enrique</span> was again wildly inconsistent. Promising at times and maddening at others, he isn't setting many minds at ease with his preseason. I thought <span>Simon Mignolet</span> was impressive, though, and there's not much he could have done on the goal.</span></li>
<li><span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool's</a> subs ranged from okay to overwhelmingly positive, with Henderson spending most of his time on the left as Coutinho moved centrally, Jordon Ibe proving an upgrade in intent after replacing Downing, and <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> looking impressive after replacing Aspas. Sturridge and Coutinho's linkup flourished, although Coutinho's off-day meant the pairing wasn't as fruitful as it could have been.</span></li>
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<p>Sad that the preseason ends on such a down note after it had been so positive in so many regards--early summer signing flourished, the club's supporters in Asia and Australia turned out en masse, and the squad's fitness and performances looked much improved from last season. Maybe today means more than those because it's against better opposition, because it's closer to the Premier League opener, or just because it's more fun to complain than it is to feel optimistic.</p>
<p>Whatever it means, it's over, and now there's less than a week for the squad to get ready for Stoke. Here we go.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/8/10/4608944/liverpool-0-celtic-1-friendly-dublin-sturridge-return-recap-Ed-2013-08-10T10:00:04+01:002013-08-10T10:00:04+01:00Matchday: Celtic v. Liverpool
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<figcaption>Julian Finney</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool take on Celtic at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in their final match of the preseason. </p> <p><b>K</b><b>ickoff:</b> 5:00PM BST/12:00PM EST</p>
<p><b>Ways to Watch:</b> Live on BT Sport in the UK, BeIn Sport and NESN in the US, and <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Flfctv&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2013%2F8%2F10%2F4606834%2Fliverpool-v-celtic-matchday-tv-schedule-team-news-lineups" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">LFCTV online</a></p>
<p><b>Preview: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2013/8/9/4605818/liverpool-celtic-preseason-friendly-dublin-decider-squad-suarez-out-tv-listing">Celtic v. Liverpool</a><a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/11/10/3627064/match-preview-chelsea-v-liverpool-11-11-12-premier-league-team-news"></a></p>
<p><b>Comment:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373">Join the conversation on the Liverpool Offside</a></p>
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<p><b>Celtic:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Zaluska<br>Matthews Lustig Mouyokolo Izaguirre <br>McGeouch Kayal Irvine Stokes<br>Balde Watt</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Forster, Findlay, Fisher, Herron, Henderson, Atajic, George</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Liverpool:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mignolet<br>Johnson Toure Wisdom Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas Allen<br>Downing Aspas Coutinho</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Jones, Coates, Flanagan, Kelly, Henderson, Alberto, Assaidi, Sterling, Borini, Ibe, Sturridge</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/8/10/4606834/liverpool-v-celtic-matchday-tv-schedule-team-news-lineups-Ed-2013-08-09T19:00:05+01:002013-08-09T19:00:05+01:00Preview: Celtic v. Liverpool
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<figcaption>Mark Runnacles</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool's final match of the preseason takes place tomorrow in Dublin, where they'll face a Celtic side that's already up and running in the Champions League.</p> <p>It's turned out to be a busy final week of preseason on and off the pitch for <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a>, with two friendlies in four days and a host of squad news to be sorted through. <a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2013/8/9/4599964/everythings-the-worst-suarez-preseason-diego-costa-mourinho-england">Chuck is now on board</a> and recapping the goings-on both at Liverpool and around the league to keep us all in the know, though it'd have been hard to avoid the major stories from this week--<span>Luis Suarez</span> is gone and then not gone and not going anywhere, Brendan Rodgers looks to be coming of age, and Team Agger wins the day. Suddenly things seem okay.</p>
<p>If they manage to stay that way through the month of August, Liverpool will have added another player or two, further exiled any dead weight or those on bloated wages, and started the Premier League season more successfully than they did last year. The fixture list is a bit more kind this time around with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Stoke City</a>, <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa</a>, and, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/news/article/round-2-draw-1314-977479.aspx">as we learned yesterday</a>, Notts County in the League Cup to round out the month. Not too busy, but crucial for setting the tone for a challenging September.</p>
<p>Celtic will provide a nice jostle to a higher level of competition, as they're already involved in Scottish Premier League and Champions League football. They've already won two qualifying ties in Europe over Cliftonville and Elfsborg, and their final hurdle before the group stages will be Kazakh side Shakther Kargandy, whom they'll take on in the playoffs starting on August 28. They started the league season with a 2-1 home win over Ross County last Saturday, and will travel to Aberdeen next weekend as they wrap up the first half of a packed month of August.</p>
<p>It's hard to say how exactly Neil Lennon will line his side up; the second leg draw at Elfsborg just wrapped up on Wednesday evening in Sweden, and with a starting eleven that was seemingly close to full strength I'd guess tomorrow we see a mixture of reserves and a handful of regular starters, especially with another week between their trip to Aberdeen.</p>
<p><b>For Liverpool:</b></p>
<p>There don't appear to be any new fitness concerns in the squad, and with Rodgers giving two separate elevens (with the exception of <span>Andre Wisdom</span>, who played a full ninety) a 45-minute cameo in Norway, all should be rested and ready. <span>Glen Johnson</span> will make the trip, but Agger and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110728/martin-skrtel" class="sbn-auto-link">Martin Skrtel</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fliverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Flatest-news%2F142172-sturridge-in-22-man-dublin-squad&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2013%2F8%2F9%2F4605818%2Fliverpool-celtic-preseason-friendly-dublin-decider-squad-suarez-out-tv-listing" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">are again left out</a>. We know that <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> traveled with the squad, as did <span>Raheem Sterling</span>, whose <a target="_blank" href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-fc-star-raheem-sterling-5685648">off-pitch issues</a> rightfully put his place in the squad in doubt. Luis Suarez did not make the trip.</p>
<p>Rodgers can approach this in much the same way he did the Valerenga friendly; a split squad would preserve fitness levels and still get everyone a run-out, but something close to a full match for next Saturday's preferred eleven would also make plenty of sense. If we're talking the squad for Stoke--and assuming full fitness for Agger and Johnson--I think it's this:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mignolet<br>Johnson Toure Agger Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas Allen<br>Sterling Aspas Coutinho</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Jones, Wisdom, Skrtel, Henderson, Ibe, Alberto, Sturridge</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Whether or not we get that tomorrow is unclear, though you'd think that nearly everyone will play a part somewhere along the way. Given Celtic's relative match preparedness this will be the toughest test of the preseason, and one that can afford the Liverpool squad with much more of a challenge than their previous fixtures. That Celtic had a Champions League tie earlier in the week might drain some of their resources, but the occasion and expected atmosphere will surely provide a boost.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I'm happy with whatever tomorrow so long as everyone comes out in one piece; it would be nice to see something resembling the Stoke squad log serious minutes, along with a twenty-odd minute appearance for Daniel Sturridge. In terms of numbers and physicality it's not the most imposing side, but as we've seen, one that's more than capable of producing quality and cutting edge in the final third.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Kickoff is later than we've been used to, with the start time set for 5:00PM BST/12:00PM EST. The match will be aired live on BT Sport in the UK, BeIN Sport in the US, and <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fliverpoolfc.com%2Fvideo&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2013%2F8%2F9%2F4605818%2Fliverpool-celtic-preseason-friendly-dublin-decider-squad-suarez-out-tv-listing" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">online at LFCTV</a>. We'll have the team sheets posted an hour before kickoff as part of the matchday thread, which will run as usual in the morning hours. Hope you'll all be around to join us for the end to a largely successful preseason, and as we kick on into the week ahead of the start to the Premier League season.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/8/9/4605818/liverpool-celtic-preseason-friendly-dublin-decider-squad-suarez-out-tv-listing-Ed-