Liverpool FC Forum

[A.B.]

Rafael Benitez has told his players to fight for their Champions League final places over the last two games of their Premiership season.
While thoughts of the clash in Istanbul will be put on hold at Melwood until the final ball of the league season has been kicked, Benitez knows the prospect of missing out on the starting eleven against AC Milan should help ensure his players give their all in the games with Arsenal and Aston Villa.

He said: "They will all want to play in the final and so of course they'll want to play well in these last two league games.

"The good thing is I won't need to rotate the players if I don't want to. We have a one week break between the Arsenal and Aston Villa game and then another ten days for the final.

"That means there is enough time for the players to recuperate if I want to keep the same team.

"I don't have to change the players around because we have a lot of time to prepare for each of the games."

So for the first time we can expect a full strength side. Ah the luxury of picking who plays and who doesn't...

[Ciggy]

As long as pellegrino is no where near a red shirt again we will win, not being harsh on him but hes way past it, might have been great in his day, but hes cost us 3 games this season.
And i hope rafa doesnt give him a contract, he can stay on board at melwood as a trainer but, hes not good enough, I will be devistated if he plays on sunday, or next saturday against villa

[A.B.]

Didn't you just read that Rafa won't rest players? So why would he play Pellegrino? Come on Lynds, put two and two together.

[andy_g]

are you trying to suggest he won't rest pellegrino, AB?

[Ciggy]

Didn't you just read that Rafa won't rest players? So why would he play Pellegrino? Come on Lynds, put two and two together.

A.B. rafa loves him and tinkers with the squad to fit him in, when he got dragged off against boro at half time last saturday hopefully thats the last we have seen of him

[joependo]

I know Pellegrino cost us that match against boro because he was too slow but sayin that you can't just blame one man you blame the whle team becos they should have scored2 against boro

[A.B.]

A.B. rafa loves him and tinkers with the squad to fit him in, when he got dragged off against boro at half time last saturday hopefully thats the last we have seen of him

He was tinkering with the squad because of the Champions League, the final is long time from now so he won't have to tinker with the squad with Pellegrino.

[siti_zaiton1982]

Rafael Benitez has told his players to fight for their Champions League final places over the last two games of their Premiership season.
While thoughts of the clash in Istanbul will be put on hold at Melwood until the final ball of the league season has been kicked, Benitez knows the prospect of missing out on the starting eleven against AC Milan should help ensure his players give their all in the games with Arsenal and Aston Villa.

He said: "They will all want to play in the final and so of course they'll want to play well in these last two league games.

"The good thing is I won't need to rotate the players if I don't want to. We have a one week break between the Arsenal and Aston Villa game and then another ten days for the final.

"That means there is enough time for the players to recuperate if I want to keep the same team.

"I don't have to change the players around because we have a lot of time to prepare for each of the games."

So for the first time we can expect a full strength side. Ah the luxury of picking who plays and who doesn't...

 

YNWA.

[76-1115222408]

No No No, he must not play in a red shirt again this season apart from injuries, but even then i wud put traore ahead of him and move Riise to LB. But that was a good shout about keeping him on at Melwwod, cause rafa did say that he was the key to their defence in Valencia(not ayala) because he could read the game so well (and used to tell ayala what to do!!).....So that would be invaluable experience to hand down to younger defenders.

YNWA

[stmichael]

the idea of resting players today is bullsh#t. when you've just reached the champions league final, player's aren't tired, they're on a high and can't wait for the next game.

having said that, there will be changes.

[Cool Hand Luke]

having said that, there will be changes.

We have had 4 days rest, so there is absolutely no need to rest any players.

I think we can be sure that Alonso will come in, probably for Biscan.

The only other dilemma is the striking situation, I would leave Morientes on the bench, because he is playing poorly on the moment, I would leave Cisse on the bench as well because I don't know if it would be wise to put him in such a bug game and such a huge pressure situation.

I say start with Baros, and stick with the team that beat Chelsea, with the exception on Alonso coming in for Biscan.


                Dudek

Finnan Hyypia Carragher Troare

Garcia Hamann Alonso Riise

               Gerrard

                Baros

Subs

Cisse
Morientes
Kewell
Biscan
Carson

[adamnbarrett]

I agree that there is no need to rest players. In this day and age the players have never been fitter and also back in the 70's etc there were more league games. Shouldn't need to rest players also we have a yong squad so they should last longer. It's not like we've got a team of 30+ years old.