Liverpool FC Forum

[Redman in wales]

Onwards and upwards after the slight disappointment of last night we now turn our attentions back to the league.

Portsmouth willl not be an easy game. Far from it. But I suspect our minds will be somewhere else at the moment.

With champions league football garrenteed for next season, a 4 point cushion on arsenal (who have yet to play chelsea) and our biggest game yet of this campaign on tuesday, i expect to see many players rested.

For me: hyypia, momo, zenden, gonzalez, bellamy and Fowler must all feature. I imagine something like this:

                                Reina

Finnan/Arbeloa      Carra     Hyypia     Riise

Gerrard/Pennent   Sissoko   Zenden    Gonzalez

                         Fowler     Bellamy



but admittedly the centre of the park is very weak, so maybe one of alonso, mash or gerrard in there.

[duk]

i think we should use the formation that we intend to use against chelsea, get used to it have a bit of practice if you will

i also think the line up should be on the lines of the team we intend to use then too

however i do agree robbie should feature as i honestly don't think using him weakens our team - he is class

Kewell in the last 20mins??

[redtrader74]

Lets not play anyone who will play on Tuesday, at least no more than 30mins. one because if we need to play extra time those cheating fu(kers will be knackered, two maybe someone else can push for starting tues. The CL game is the most important, win and we have 3 weeks to secure 3rd before the final.

[SouthCoastShankly]

Onwards and upwards after the slight disappointment of last night we now turn our attentions back to the league.

Portsmouth willl not be an easy game. Far from it. But I suspect our minds will be somewhere else at the moment.

With champions league football garrenteed for next season, a 4 point cushion on arsenal (who have yet to play chelsea) and our biggest game yet of this campaign on tuesday, i expect to see many players rested.

For me: hyypia, momo, zenden, gonzalez, bellamy and Fowler must all feature. I imagine something like this:

                                Reina

Finnan/Arbeloa      Carra     Hyypia     Riise

Gerrard/Pennent   Sissoko   Zenden    Gonzalez

                         Fowler     Bellamy



but admittedly the centre of the park is very weak, so maybe one of alonso, mash or gerrard in there.

Mascherano's lack of football this season is reason enough not to rest him surely

[stmichael]

i wouldn't play a single first team player in this game. the result is irrelevant.

[duk]

I don't see resting players an advantage
I would use this game to make sure everyone knows what they'll be doing on tuesday

[tubby]

i wouldn't play a single first team player in this game. the result is irrelevant.

True. Surley now everything is riding on next Tuesday and the last thing we want is a big injury.

[JoeTerp]

I don't think that playing against portsmouth pretending that they are chelsea is going to help us much in preparing.  I say rest as many as possible.
                    Dudek
Darby    Hobbs     Hyypia   Paletta
Anderson    Sissoko  Zenden   Kewell/gonzo
        El Zhar/Lindfield     Fowler

[Cool Hand Luke]

This team is stong enough to win:

                              Reina

Finnan          Paletta          Hyypia       Riise

Pennant        Sissoko      Mascherano  Gonzalez

                     Fowler        Bellamy


Subs:

Crouch
Gerrard
Zenden
Carragher
Dudek

[Scottbot]

This team is stong enough to win:

                              Reina

Finnan          Paletta          Hyypia       Riise

Pennant        Sissoko      Mascherano  Gonzalez

                     Fowler        Bellamy


Subs:

Crouch
Gerrard
Zenden
Carragher
Dudek

That team looks a good shout to me Has although i would like to see Pennant start the game (didn't think i'd be saying this 3 months ago!) on Tuesday so he may also get a rest. Finnan needs a run out and Fowler MUST be in the squad to play Chelsea so he needs 90 mins on Saturday. Can you just picture Fowler scoring the winning goal to put us in the European Cup final!?!

[Lando_Griffin]

Meaningless game in all fairness, and with that in mind I would go with the following team:

                                             Dudek (Cos it'd be typical if Pepe were injured)

                     Paletta              Hyypia            Arbeloa

Anderson                    Mascherano       Sissoko                     Gonzalez

                                             Zenden

                               Fowler                      Kuyt.


If we don't win - who gives a f*ck? Fact is we NEED a result on Tuesday, and if that means losing this one - so be it.

The team for Tuesday should then look something like this IMHO:

                                             Reina

         Finnan                  JC                       Agger               Arbeloa

Pennant               Alonso                          Gerrard                      Riise

                                  Bellamy            Crouch.

If not - stick Mascherano in for Bellamy, Gerrard in the second-striker role, and then bring Bellers on late on when they're knackered. Same applies to Gonzo.

Anyhoo - Portsmouth. The lucky f*ckers - best time to play us.

[The Manhattan Project]

Second string team.

[account deleted by request]

Good chance to blood a few of the reserves, give Robbie a game, and give Reina a rest. Meaningless game now, so it wouldn't surprise me too much if none of the players who play on Tuesday are involved.

[Novo]

Dudek

Finnan          Paletta          Hyypia       Riise

Pennant        Sissoko      Mascherano  Gonzalez

                    Fowler        Bellamy

[woof woof !]

If we don't win - who gives a f*ck? Fact is we NEED a result on Tuesday, and if that means losing this one - so be it.

Rafa seems to agree with you Lando, saw a quote yesterday along the lines of,

"I would swap third place for fourth place in the league if it meant a place in the (cup) final" .Even if that means leaving some players at home to watch tv " .