WEDNESDAY 23rd OCTOBER 20:00 BST

The Reds travel to Germany in search of their first win in 4 games. Lets take a look at the match, the opposition and what we need to do to get back on track.

Frankfurt are a team with some young up and coming talent mainly in attack. With a bit more of an experienced defence. Goal Keeper has been an issue for them and they look set to replace another young talent with experience there sooner rather than later.

They have had to rebuild their forward line with the departures of Marmoush to City and Ekitike who is smashing it with us. Their games have all been goal fests so far. Scoring and conceding.. With the one exception a 3-0 defeat to Bayern. Which kind of fits our level..

Liverpool as we all know are struggling right now but its an easy fix.. I was going to go long winded but I’ll spread this over the next two games as the line ups I feel will be slightly different with an emphasis on going to Brentford and putting things firmly right..

DISCLAIMER: No one needs sacking.. No one needs selling.. No negativity needed as this squad is solid and will soon start to deliver..

Now to the problems.. Bradley at right back. Taken off twice at half time which tells its own story. Mo is not firing and struggling.. Virg needs to defend much better. Not that we need to drop them or sell them. Its simple if you aren’t playing well you are dropped til you find your form again.. 

The problem is with the quality in the side that could be a long wait. Which was one of the secret to Liverpools success. You don’t want to be dropped..

Szoboszlai has to be our starting right back. He is Trent on acid.. He plays with the hunger that Trent lacked. It also allows the midfield to push forward when he comes into that inverted role. He is a proper midfield quarter back and totally changes the dynamic of the team.

Mo looks to be struggling still. A mix of the loss of Jota and Tsimikas his best mate not being around quite possibly. He looked close to tears in the tunnel last time out. These boys are only human.. It’s a tough one for Slot to handle. Game time might do him good but a rest could also be the answer.

Virg needs to adjust his defending style in second phases of defence (when we clear it and they whip it back in) and the same goes for corners and free kicks. If you look at all the last minute goals. Palace, Chelsea and United. All second phase goals and he is nowhere to be seen.

The solution stay in the middle of that penalty area til we are well on the attack and sniff out the danger. Old school Center Back defending.. Still the first name on the team sheet but like Mo. They are not getting any younger so it’s time to adapt their styles to suit their years. Positioning, Simplicity and use all that Experience..

In summary it is all small margins. We aren’t getting smashed.. It’s little things. Apart from the whole right side of the team being weak in tough away games.. You just can’t do that at this level.. This is where Slot has to step up and do his job.. 

QUICK STAT CHECK 

We are on our worst run ever.. Well probably not.. Still I’m not posting the numbers.. haha.. Frankfurt are W:2 D:1 L:3. Smashing Galatasaray at home while they got smashed by Ath Madrid away both 5-1’s.. They’ve scored 17!! And let in 18!! Wild stuff!! In their last six games..

LIVERPOOL LINE UP

Mama, Kerkez, Virg, Konate, Szoboszlai, Macca, Jones, Wirtz, Gakpo, Frimpong, Ekitike. This will change for Brentford..

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Leoni is out for the season with a torn ACL, Ali is out for a couple more weeks, Endo a little bit longer. While Gravs hobbled off against United and rested for this one. He should be back at Brentford..

FRANKFURT LINE UP

Zetterer, Brown, Theate, Koch, Kristensen, Chaibi, Skhiri, Knauff, Uzun, Doan, Burkardt

THE GAME

So looking at the stats and our form you would think 4-3 either way but we have a few little tricks up our sleeves.. Namely Frimpong, Wirtz and Ekitike who know this team and ground really well. As does Szoboszlai which should be enough to see us through..

They are full of beans up top and give it a few years we will be talking about them a bit more. They are quite comfortable on the ball too.. Uzun looks a real talent and Burkardt can hit the back of the net.. Just to name a couple.. So keep it tight for that first 20.. Another Achilles Heal the past few games..

Then keep it tight for the 90.. Virg do what we have just said. Old school defending and leadership from the back. Stay in the middle of that pitch and don’t let anyone do anything when they try to enter. Especially away from home. At Anfield its totally different..

Next get the tempo right. It has been far too slow. Keep the ball moving. Again all this is obvious and the team knows this ten fold.. This new squad is more suited to keep the ball in midfield too and attacking positions rather than knocking it around the defence so lets unleash it..

The full backs too need do what we are renowned for. Kerkez needs to overlap and Szoboszlai just needs to keep doin what he does and get forward down that right a bit more too. This will force all the attacking options inside where they will be frightening.

Wirtz and Jones can unlock any team while our strikers are seriously dangerous.. This is an evolving team full of elite talent that when it clicks will dominate football for years. This I am in no doubt. So lets defend like Trojans and Attack, Attack, Attack..

Their defence is not strong at all and can be seriously got at. So over to Arne now to pick the team and it shouldn’t be far away from the one listed. This should look slightly different against Brentford which we can look at later this week.

OurLFC DANGERMEN   Wirtz and Ekitike..

PREDICTION.. 3-1 TO THEM MIGHTY REDS