Neil Warnock will ponder tough decisions when his Bluebirds take on unbeaten Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Cardiff City’s manager admits the trip is a ‘virtually impossible’ mission for his players and he must have one eye on back-to-back home fixtures against Leicester and Brighton.
City’s situation is difficult and my belief is that Warnock should drop both Harry Arter and Aron Gunnarsson. He must also surely consider playing Kenneth Zohore from the start.
The influential Arter is one booking away from suspension and a caution at Anfield would rule him out against Leicester, while Iceland captain Gunnarsson was only able to complete two full training sessions before he played for 77 minutes against Fulham.
It was an astonishing effort by ‘Gunnar’, whose ability to should his back four and protect the backs of midfield players behind him were critical factors in their first Premier League win.
By resting Arter and Gunnarsson, protecting them from suspension and injury, both will then be refreshed and available to face Leicester City at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, November 3.
Those clashes with Leicester and Brighton both offer the hope of earning crucial points.
Joe Ralls is suspended and unavailable, but Loic Damour, Jazz Richards and Junior Hoilett would each relish the chance to play in midfield. Warnock could, though, turn to Sol Bamba in a defensive role just ahead of the back four with Bruno Manga moving alongside captain Sean Morrison at centre-back.
Richards and Greg Cunningham would the be the main contenders to play at full-back.
Scot Callum Paterson has done an astonishing job in attack, playing out of position, winning aerial battles and scoring what Warnock described as a ‘poacher’s goal’ against Fulham.
Paterson, too, could do with a rest and giving Zohore the nod in such a huge game could prove a ‘light the touch paper’ moment needed for the big Dane to regain his confidence, zest and power.
Zohore has all the attributes needed top give Virgil van Dijk and his fellow defenders a torrid time – and at some stage the centre-forward has to start firing again.
🗣 "I think we can cause problems… You've got to go there and believe."
Watch the Gaffer's pre-#LIVCAR press conference from @TheValeResort 👉 https://t.co/crB3Q5DfPj#CityAsOne 🔵⚽️🔵⚽️ pic.twitter.com/0mD8LR8pyc
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) October 26, 2018
This, surely, could be his moment with both Danny Ward and Gary Madine injured, while Rhys Healey is on loan at MK Dons.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp faces a Warnock team for the first time and says: “It will be a big pleasure to meet Neil.
“Maybe not in the 90 minutes but before and after. He looks a character, an emotional and lively person.
“He looks like a very demanding manager and always has my respect.”
🗣 Morrison pre-#LIVCAR: "We won't take our foot off the pedal…"
Watch more from the skipper on @CardiffCityTV 👉 https://t.co/5sg14xcJ95#CityAsOne 🔵⚽️🔵⚽️ pic.twitter.com/WqAgQTJTDE
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) October 26, 2018
Warnock described Cardiff’s Anfield mission as ‘virtually impossible’ and talked about attacking players Salah, Mane and Firmino, saying: “They are as good as any in the world. We have to play at the top of our potential to give them a good game and hope they have an off day.
“I hope the lads are looking forward to it. Anfield is a special place in football, a remarkable place.”
Cardiff City, possible: Etheridge, Manga, Bamba, Morrison (capt), Bennett, Hoilett or Richards, Damour, Camarasa, Murphy, Decordiva-Reid, Zohore. Bench: A Smithies (gk), Zohore, Harris, Arter, Richards or Hoilett, Cunningham.
Premier League
| Club |
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF | GA | GD |
Pts
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 3 | +23 | 23 | |||
| Liverpool | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 23 | |||
| Chelsea | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 21 | |||
| Arsenal | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 21 | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 21 | |||
| Bournemouth | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 17 | |||
| Watford | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 16 | |||
| Everton | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 15 | |||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 15 | |||
| Manchester United | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 16 | -1 | 14 | |||
| Leicester City | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 12 | |||
| Brighton and Hove Albion | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 11 | |||
| Burnley | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 8 | |||
| West Ham United | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 7 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 7 | |||
| Southampton | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 6 | |||
| Cardiff City | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 19 | -11 | 5 | |||
| Fulham | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 25 | -14 | 5 | |||
| Huddersfield Town | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 18 | -14 | 3 | |||
| Newcastle United | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 2 |