Liverpool FC Forum

[JoeTerp]

I don't expect much messing around with funny business as far as the team sheet is concerned for this one.  Its Sunday, and we have to play on Tuesday, so I don't think the players will be thinking too much about the loss today.  I hope Finnan is fit, so that we can play Arbeloa at LB, and I don't see any reason not to start Yossi.  Come on you REDS (and Besiktas  )

[J*o*n*D*o*e]

be careful what you wish for because worst case scenario Besiktas win we lose where bottom of the group and out of europe, if we dont qualify for the knockout stages then the next best outcome is going into the Eufa cup and knocking the bitters out. now that would be sweet

[The_Rock]

Surely rafa has to play this team if we are gonna get a win....


                     Reina
   Finnan   Carra  Hyppia  Arbeloa
   Benayoun  Gerrard   Mash   Kewell
              Torres     Crouch

-Benayoun is our best RW at the moment.
-Kewell is our best LW in the club.
-European teams don't know how to defend against crouch
-Bring Babel on late on the game to create havoc.

Hope we win......

[maguskwt]

Surely rafa has to play this team if we are gonna get a win....


                     Reina
   Finnan   Carra  Hyppia  Arbeloa
   Benayoun  Gerrard   Mash   Kewell
              Torres     Crouch

-Benayoun is our best RW at the moment.
-Kewell is our best LW in the club.
-European teams don't know how to defend against crouch
-Bring Babel on late on the game to create havoc.

Hope we win......

good team... though I don't mind seeing lucas instead of mash...

[bigmick]

While we have been rotating and winning well for a few weeks now, this is where the system comes under the closest scrutiny for me. There seems to have been a tendency previously for one defeat to completely and utterly derail us, like our confidence is merely a balloon that once it's popped it just disappears to nothing, and we can't afford that to happen here.

I always say that one game leads into another, and for this is a classic example. Win in Marseilles, and we'll get a positive result against the Mancs and be right in the mix for the title. Lose here, and I have grave doubts for our season and wouldn't be surprised if at the start of the next one we have a new manager. These next couple of games are absolutely vital.

as for the team, well Rocks one is about the best we have currently available I would have thought, so lets surprise them and play that one.

[account deleted by request]

I think he will play Kuyt in this one. (Unless he has decided like most of us that Kuyt is just not good enough?)


Reina

Finnan        Carra            Hyypia       Arbeloa

Gerrard        Lucas        Mascherano    Kewell

                     Torres     Kuyt

Benayoun on for Kewell if Kewells fitness isn't up to 90mins. I think this is a game in which possession is vital, which is why I have gone for Lucas and not Gerrard in the centre, plus with Kuyt playing we may need Gerrards goals.

[JoeTerp]

I think both of those starting XIs are pretty good, but when do you hit the panic button if it remains 0-0 or 1-1?  I think Babel has to be the first off the bench and then either Yossi on for Lucas or Lucas on for Hyypia.  I am not sure how effective Crouch can be in a lmited window, but same applys to Kuyt, because if he does have a strength its running around all day long, which can only be effective if he plays for a majority of the game.  I guess of the two, Crouch can be the more effective sub, but it wouldn't make sense to sacrifice a better option for the majority of the game just to have a better sub.

[europian-kings]

reina
finnan
carra
hyypia
arbeloa
beniyion
gerrard
mashcerano
kewell
kuyt
torres

if i get 8+ correct im a happy man =]
subs to come on: crouch, leiva, babel

[skatesy]

Surely rafa has to play this team if we are gonna get a win....


                     Reina
   Finnan   Carra  Hyppia  Arbeloa
   Benayoun  Gerrard   Mash   Kewell
              Torres     Crouch

-Benayoun is our best RW at the moment.
-Kewell is our best LW in the club.
-European teams don't know how to defend against crouch
-Bring Babel on late on the game to create havoc.

Hope we win......

This is our best team and this should be the team that starts.

I would spend some time thinking about putting Kuyt instead of Crouch, however..

[Woollyback]

full strength squad, winner-takes-it-all match, revenge mission for the loss at anfield, hurt & angry from getting beat yesterday. i can see this going only one way*


*as long as rafa picks an orthodox team & system, and as long as sissoko isn't involved

[Ace Ventura]

I would assume that it will be the same line up that the rock has selected but with Kuyt for Crouch. Personaly i would pick Crouch but based on yesterday i think kuyt will definately play.
I think we will win as well, it wont be easy but with Gerrard and Torres we will always be a threat.

We will win by the odd goal and it will make the loss today ( while frustrating) make slightly more sense and be more acceptable.

[metalhead]

I still think Kuyt offers more than Crouch. I agree with most of you saying that Kuyt will start in this one.

I hope we win, we need a BIG BIG performance on Tuesday.

[josip84]

A little news from Marseilles perhaps?
OM beat AS Monaco 2-0 yesterday. They have gradually played better and better since coach Gerets was appointed. Everybody in Marseille expects a tremendous game. One thing is already certain :the Stade Velodrome will be on fire, the ground will be throbbing.

[The_Rock]

A little news from Marseilles perhaps?
OM beat AS Monaco 2-0 yesterday. They have gradually played better and better since coach Gerets was appointed. Everybody in Marseille expects a tremendous game. One thing is already certain :the Stade Velodrome will be on fire, the ground will be throbbing.

Hope gerrard has another big game for us....

He has to realise that it would be quiet summer for him as england are out of the european champ....

The only thing which can make up for that if he carries the champions league trophy in may...   

Comeon Gerrard...another big game.

[Kharhaz]

Hope rafa does rather than gerrard. Pick our strongest line up and give the right message to the team. Anything other than "get the win" is a negative. We will see his pre match talk in the way they play.