Juventus v Livorno Preview

By tdf, April 8, 2014

I expect Llorente will be starting given his absence from the Lyon match. As for who starts alongside him, logically it will be Giovinco or Mirko. Hopefully Seba, for I would very much like to see him given a run of games before the end of the season, and really stake a claim for his continued presence in our squad next season. For he is a player who I feel is as much at risk as Mirko and even more so, Quagliarella, when it comes to making space for attacking improvements in the Summer.

We crushed local side Ivrea 10-1 last Friday afternoon with Agnelli, Conte and Beppe Marotta all in the stands. Conte deployed an interesting 3-4-3 formation-
Storari
Caceres Bonucci Ogbonna
Lichtsteiner Padoin Marchisio Peluso
Giovinco Quagliarella Vucinic

Not sure of all the scorers, although Mirko, Quags, Giovinco and Juve fans favourite Padoin were amongst them.

It would be a surprise to see the above formation, although it makes sense to offer a break to Pirlo, Chiellini and especially Asamoah as well as giving Ogbonna and other strikers the chance to gain some much needed match fitness. Any team we place on the field should be good enough to crunch Livorno, but with the gap down to 5 points presently, I expect to see Pogba and Llorente added to the first XI (at least).

Whilst local piedmont side Ivrea are far removed from a serie A side, winning any game so handsomely breeds confidence and re-invigorates the winning mentality. So the more of that crowd that play, the better.

Any doubt whatsoever regarding the fitness of Tevez must preclude even a cameo. The enforced break for Vidal will surely do his muscles if not his head the world of rejuvenation for like others, he has appeared jaded of late.

I hope and expect that whoever we choose between the sticks enjoys a quiet evening, and with that in mind, I’d rather pick Santo Buffon. Keep the old man fresh and sharp.

The presence at the friendly match of the president and directors was surely designed to give the team a jolt.

Livorno have only won one of their last five but will be buoyed by holding Inter to a draw last week and are scrapping for survival, so expect no easy ride. However, this match is one of our easiest (on paper) of the end of season run-in and we must be expected to win and win well. Give our fans something to cheer for from their hearts, not just their throats.