Liverpool FC Forum

[Cool Hand Luke]

The Carling Cup is always good fun and an opportunity for some of the squad and youth players to get some first team action. It would have been nice to avoid the Premiership teams to begin with but Reading didn’t take the competition seriously last season and I think it will be the same this year.

We should get our first look at back up goalkeeper Itandje, along with centre back this is the one other position were we lack proven Premiership quality back up.

Aurelio will be able to make his come back from injury and hopefully push on in the coming weeks for a first team spot. Arbeloa is thriving this year and considering he is young and does not play for Spain we should continue to play him, and I’m sure he will relish the opportunity to get another game at right back. This is an excellent opportunity to have a look at Hobbs against some decent opposition, when he came we were told he had so much promise but so far we haven’t had a chance to see him. In a straight choice between Hyypia and Carragher and would go for the latter, he doesn’t waste his time linking up for international football anymore and doesn’t suffer physically like Hyypia when he has to play regularly.

We should get a chance to see our South American signing start a game, and considering Sissoko was on the bench on Saturday and Benayoun didn’t even make the squad, I would suspect both would start.

Babel hasn’t impressed much since he has been here and when he arrived he clearly stated he fancied himself as a striker rather than a winger so I would give him the chance to prove himself upfront. Crouch has hardly featured so far so it makes sense to start him.

                     Itandje

Arbeloa   Carragher   Hobbs   Aurelio

Benayoun Sissoko     Leiva     Leto

              Crouch      Babel

Subs

Andriy Voronin
Jermaine Pennant
Jay Spearing
Emiliano Insua
David Martin

[account deleted by request]

I would be happy to see that team C.H.Luke, maybe Kewell to get 45 mins as well? Although I think Rafa will probably play Torres, before resting him again at Wigan

Can't say I would be too unhappy if we went out early in this competition, but it does have its uses getting players fit and giving the Res's a chance.

2 -0 Babel and Crouch

[maypaxvobiscum]

itandje

aurelio
hobbs
carra
huth

leto
momo
leiva
benayoun

babel
torres

subs:
martin
el zhar
kewell
insua
san jose

[Owzat]

We should not risk either CB in the circumstances, Reading will doubtless put out a reserve side because they won't want to get relegated from the money league, therefore we can afford to put out a weakened side even if we do want to win.

Torres will doubtless be left at home making why he didn't start on Saturday so much more frustrating, I'd play maybe seven first team squad players to give them a run out and maybe make them Crouch, Babel, Sissoko, Itandje, Leiva, Leto and Aurelio. I might even be tempted to have a penalty shoot-out competition, leaving out the first choice XI, and pick the outfield players based on that! I hope it isn't too weak but I wouldn't want to see Reina, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Arbeloa, Riise, Gerrard, Torres or Kuyt risked/injured over the fourth choice trophy

[ivor_the_injun]

A competition I genuinely couldn't give a toss about.

Alarm bells started ringing when the big 4 started playing their reserves and youth sides, but now that the mid-table sides have cottoned on to the fact that they're better off getting knocked out early doors instead of a brave run to the quarters or semis, decimating their squads as they go, it's got no real credibility really. You see better lineups in the meaningless pre-season trophies.

Good opportunity for a few youngsters, but unless a young side can take us all the way to the final, there's far bigger fish to fry.

[The Manhattan Project]

A reserve team until we reach the semis.

[7_Kewell]

haven't Kewell and Aurelio been playing a bit in the reserves?  Would be a good chance to give them a  60 min run out against prem opposition

[The Manhattan Project]

LIVERPOOL TO WIN THE MILK CUP!!!!!

[tubby]

A reserve team until we reach the semis.

Yep good shout. Maybe well get to give Levia an outing. Also might help to give Crouch or Kuyt a chance to get a few goals under theie belts.

[The Manhattan Project]

Hey, it's live on Sky Sports.

[AB's Red Army]

I really don't care about this game.

[The Manhattan Project]

Manhattan cares about it. If we lose then it's not so bad, but any win is good for momentum and team morale.

[tubby]

Just as long as we dont use up too many senior players on the way.

[The Manhattan Project]

"The MadStad" would be a good name for a nightclub

[The Manhattan Project]

OK, Tevez just scored.


The wheels of the Chavs are falling off, falling off, falling off, the wheels of the Chavs are falling off, from now on!!!!