Alright, here’s how my messy head worked today trying to guess who’ll play for PSV against my Reds tomorrow. Always makes me nervous, this!
The Starting Point: Panic & Scrolling
First thing this morning, grabbed my phone before the coffee kicked in. Instinct, y’know? Needed a PSV lineup leak like a fish needs water. Hit Twitter hard. Scrolled, scrolled, scrolled… saw a bunch of nonsense, fake accounts, arguments. Mostly people shouting names. Zero real leaks. Typical. So I took a deep breath and made more coffee. Strong.
Digging Into the Dirt
Right, coffee in hand, time for actual thinking. Remembered that PSV team sheet from that Arsenal game back in March someone linked ages ago. Dug through my messy bookmark folder – seriously, need to organize that – and found it. Something like:
- That goalie, Benitez? Solid.
- Those defenders… Teze, that big guy Boscagli? Names stick after watching highlights.
- Midfield duo? Schouten and that other fella, Veerman maybe? Brain fog before noon.
- Up front… their danger man! Bakayoko. Fast. Scares me. Need Trent (or whoever plays) awake.
- Big Luuk de Jong in the middle. Nasty in the air.
BUT… big problem. People talking online saying PSV are missing key guys. Like Dest, that fullback? Injured. Pepi the striker? Out. Mauro? Probably still hurt. So the lineup they put against Arsenal? Won’t be the same tomorrow. Great. Even harder. Their loss to that smaller Dutch team recently? Yeah, defense looks leaky. That’s gotta give Salah & co. ideas.
The Reds Puzzle: Klopp’s Mind Games
Switched focus to Liverpool. This is worse sometimes. Kloppo loves rotating! Checked the last few games:
- Konate and Big Virg are glued together at the back lately. Looks solid.
- Midfield… who knows! McAllister seems always there. Szoboszlai? Maybe. Gravenberch? Looked decent lately.
- Up top… oh man. Salah on the right? Lock it in. Diaz left? Probably. The middle? Jota? Darwin? Gakpo? Flip a coin! Gakpo knows PSV inside out… tempting.
- Fullbacks? Robbo back? Trent back? Both? One? Honestly, my head started hurting. Klopp keeps us guessing.
Saw reports about Harvey Barnes being around too? But Liverpool’s squad list is enormous. Who gets the nod? Who gets a rest?
My Final (Probably Wrong) Guess
Okay, deep breath. Here’s where I landed after staring at notes covered in coffee stains and crossing things out:
- PSV Attackers: Bakayoko scares me, De Jong worries me. Those guys have to start if they can. Midfield with Schouten feels certain too.
- Liverpool Backline: Alisson in goal, feels like Konate & Van Dijk are untouchable. Think Robbo might start if fit? Fullback roulette…
- Liverpool Midfield: Going with Mac Allister, Szoboszlai… and taking a wild guess on Gravenberch? Feels possible.
- Liverpool Attackers: Salah right, Diaz left… and honestly, I’m gonna say Jota through the middle. He’s been sharp, lethal. Sorry, Darwin fans!
So my Final PSV XI Pick: Benitez; Teze, Ramalho? (or Boscagli?), Obispo, Maatsen (who replaces Dest); Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Tillman, Saibari? (not sure!); De Jong.
My Final Liverpool XI Hopeful: Alisson; Bradley (or Trent?), Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Jota, Diaz.
The Reality Check (And Why I Love/Hate This)
Will I be right? Absolutely not! Someone will be ill. Klopp will surprise us. PSV will throw in some kid I’ve never heard of. It always happens.
That old Leicester lineup preview? Totally different from the actual game. Everton one was closer, but even then… tweaks! Why do I do this? It’s stressful! Probably the same reason I watch the game – the drama, the surprises. Getting it wrong sucks, but getting one tricky call right? Best feeling ever. Pure guesswork, research mixed with gut feeling, and hoping for the best. Let’s just hope whoever starts crashes those Reds dreams… respectfully, of course! Come on PSV! Now… time to see what leaks tonight…
