I really fancy us to get a point or three out of this game this afternoon. We have four players who want to prove to Liverpool they were mad to let them go – Nolan, Cresswell, Downing and Carroll.
You hardly need reminding that we haven’t won at Anfield since 1963. Could this be the year? Well, player for player, I reckon we are more than a match for them as we proved when we beat them 3-1 at Upton Park.
It will be interesting to see the starting eleven. Tomkins and Song have both had knocks and it may be that James Collins comes in to partner Reid, although I’d expect Alex Song to play. It may be too early for Kouyate. I still salivate at the prospect of Noble, Song and Kouyate finally playing together. There’s a mad story in the Mirror this morning that suggests Noble might be off to QPR or WBA. I reckon there’d be a revolution if that happened. I certainly do not see Darren Fletcher as a replacement for Mark Noble.
The other dilemma is whether to play Sakho or Valencia alongside Andy Carroll. I suspect Sam will stick with Enner to start with.
Team: Adrian, O’Brien, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Amalfitano, Nolan ©, Downing, Carroll, Valencia
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Oxford, Poyet, Noble, Jarvis, Cole
Kudos to Reece Oxford for making the bench.