Liverpool FC Forum

by **barnesrush** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:21 pm

i think this is who rafa will play

reina
finnan
carra
agger
risse
pennant
alonso
mascherano
gerrard
crouch
kuyt

starting 4-4-2 with gerrard right and pennant left. also allows us to switch to a 4-2-3-1 with kuyt on the left and gerrard central. dont feel chelsea will leave enough space for bellamy to exploit. would use fowler from half time if we need goals. perhaps in a 3-5-2/3-4-3.

id be tempted to put sami in for risse and play agger left back but this may leave us narrow on the left if agger hasnt the capacity to get up and down all game.

reina

finnan carra agger/hyypia riise/agger

mascherano

alonso
gerrard

pennant
kuyt

crouch

by **stmichael** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:26 pm

The starting eleven for tomorrow (I have heard from a very reliable source).

Joe Corrigan

George Sephton
Pako
That fat steward from block 205
Gillet's Son

Ged Poynton
The manager from the Albert
Badgeman
Zenden

Phil Easton
Brian Hall

No subs - no injury worries.

by **duk** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:30 pm

reina

finnan
carra
hyypia
riise

alonso
mascherano

pennant
gerrard
bellamy

crouch

by **cornetto1** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:56 pm

i think we'll setup like -

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

Pennant Mascherano Alonso Gerrard

Kuyt Crouch

Anybody any thoughts on the possibilty of playing the three centre backs as we have at times this year - Hyypia, Carra and Agger, with Hyypia being better equipped to deal with Drogba's aerial presence than Agger was in the first leg? then we'd have Riise and Finnan being able to bomb further forward and put decent balls in the box, with Mascherano and Alonso still sitting in front of the defence, Gerrard in the hole supporting Kuyt and Crouch?? May be an idea in theory but i cant see any chance we'll line up like that considering we need to be so careful defensively as an away goal would be disastrous for us.

by **JoeTerp** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:16 pm

Bamaga man wrote:This would be my starting 11 against Chelsea:

Reina

Finnan(if fit) Carra Hyypia Arbeloa

Alonso Gerrard Mascha
Pennant Riise

Crouch

Providing Finnans not injured I'd line-up like this, if he is still injured my team would be:

Reina

Arbeola Carra Hyypia Riise

Alonso Gerrard Mascha
Pennant Gonzalez

Crouch

Those changes would be obvious IMO, the one that wasnt was Hyypia. After considering it I would opt for the experiance of Sami over Agger. But in saying that the problem I could see if Hyypia did start, and considering we're the ones looking for a goal. If we do push on then Drogba and co could could exploit our lack of pace at the back. For me thats where Agger might be a wiser choice, for recovery of pace. But in dealing with Drogba and Chelsea's high balls Hyypia is the man and also I think he'll mark him better during the course of the game. But it is a tough call.

If say after 65 mins that formation hasnt broken down, and we're looking devoid of ideas we could always pull one of Mascha or Xabi off to throw an extra striker on. If that still didnt work, I'd be inclined to pull off a full back add Agger go three at the back and swap another striker for the other full, and go hell for leather. Hopefully it wont come to that though

Its incredible how whether or not Finnan is fit we are going to be stronger/weaker at 3 different positions RB, LB, and LM, as I think most people would agree that our best option against Chelsea at LM would be riise since Zenden had loads of chances and never made a whole lot of it, and Gonzalez would probably be more of a liability than an asset even though he offers slightly more in attack with his pace, at least with Riise we have a fairly good defensive player at LM plus he offers the threat of connecting with a long strike that could come at any time.

by **Effes** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:51 pm

s@int wrote:Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa

Gerrard Mascha
Pennant Riise
Kuyt
Crouch

That would be my team.

We shouldn't play 2 defensive midfielders at home needing a win.

by **Lando_Griffin** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:59 pm

I would be sorely tempted to line up 3-5-2. The 5 in midfield would put immense pressure on their attacking midfielders to stay back and defend. The extra man would mean that their fullbacks are pushed further up the pitch to support their wingers, leaving a nice hole for Pennant and Riise to exploit:

Reina

JC Sami Agger

Pennant Xabi Mascherano Riise

Gerrard

Crouch Bellamy.

I'd give explicit instructions to Mascherano to keep tabs on Cole, and Xabi to cut wide in support of Pennant when required. (Obviously Gerrard would drop back to cover the gap, thus ensuring our defensive solidity.

I honestly think this is the team to play, as it can easily alter into a 5-3-2, or a 4-4-2, giving us more options.

Arbeloa on the bench as cover, assuming Finnan is unfit.

by **fivecups** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:24 pm

2 things are going to see us safe tommorrow. The first is the return of Steve Finnan and the second is the injury to Carvalho (the horrible c*nt).

We were completely unbalanced last week - we had no right-sided potency at all.

Finnan works well with Pennant (who's been in great form recently) and also frees Gerrard to roam the midfield. Our natural balance will return with Riise attacking down the left and supporting Arbeloa who looked better at left back. I'll go for a 4-4-1-1, although I rarely pick the same team as Rafa. I'd like the security of Alonso and Mascherano sitting in front of our defence watching particularly closely for Drogba. Remember one goal for the Ruskies and things will be difficult.

Chelski's defence was rock solid last week - Boularhouz will not know Terry's game as well as Carvalho does. Stevie and Crouchie will be able to exploit this. If Chelski score we could score three against this defence.

Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Arbeloa
Pennant
Alonso
Mascherano
Riise
Gerard
Crouch

Come on redmen - Let's feckin' kill these feckin' blue b'stards!

:buttrock

by **Ace Ventura** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:44 pm

Havent read through the thread, really tired in work but not sure if anyone has mentioned the line up for the Portsmouth game surely that indicated what sort of team he will play.

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Pennant Mascherano Gerrard Riise

Crouch Kuyt

I reckon that will be the team without doubt.

by **Gerrard30391** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:47 pm

Sorry hadn't seen this thread, just posted a new one!

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:50 pm

Ace Ventura wrote:Havent read through the thread, really tired in work but not sure if anyone has mentioned the line up for the Portsmouth game surely that indicated what sort of team he will play.

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Pennant Mascherano Gerrard Riise

Crouch Kuyt

I reckon that will be the team without doubt.

Bascombe from the Echo reckons that Pennant's late cameo at LM against Pompey was in preparation for tomorrow, mate. Personally, I'd rather see Gerrard at LM than Pennant if Riise's required at LB--Pennant is very, very one-footed and does not pose the same sort of scoring threat from distance that Gerrard would cutting infield on his right foot.

by **fivecups** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:51 pm

I hear Finnan is likely to be fit.

by **JoeTerp** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:00 pm

robben and essien are back and carvalho, sheva, and ballack are out and finnan and i guess now kewell are back for us

by **LFC #1** » Tue May 01, 2007 3:55 am

stmichael wrote:The starting eleven for tomorrow (I have heard from a very reliable source).

Joe Corrigan

George Sephton
Pako
That fat steward from block 205
Gillet's Son

Ged Poynton
The manager from the Albert
Badgeman
Zenden

Phil Easton
Brian Hall

No subs - no injury worries.

The road enders would have a fit!

by **Espionage** » Tue May 01, 2007 7:02 am

I am really interested in our formation for this one. I cant be bothered posting one as its all been said. I think that there is a pretty good outside chance that Rafa will use the sub of someone link Pennant (if he starts) for Hypia as the trump card. Get three at the back and nullify their lack of width. You might say they are pretty strong around the wings but I fear Drogba more then Joe Cole or Robben.

3-5-2/5-3-2 is a really flexible formation and great for do-or-die matches. Rafa has used it before and I think he will again tomorrow morning (well for me anyway).

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