Liverpool FC Forum

by **Madmax** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:09 pm

blackburn wont have few players so we should win this one convincingly.. big sam talking out of his gonads that fat porky shyte manager.. Feck him he dont bother me..
Common liverpool win this one and keep up the pressure on mannure..
After the 3-1 battering from chelsea i just felt at that moment we wont win any trophies this season.. Hope im wrong!!

by **tubby** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:23 pm

I think Santa Cruz is out for them also.

by **LegBarnes** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:23 pm

Is this one on sky ? or is it 3 pm kick off ?

by **KennyisGod....still** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:24 pm

sky 12.45 ko

by **LegBarnes** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:25 pm

KennyisGod....still wrote:sky 12.45 ko

sweeet !

thx....

by **GOAT** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:35 pm

Looks like Gerrards a bit dead then, Rafa says he can't start both the next 2 games

Surely we have enough to beat blackburn without him, should we take any chances though

by **tubby** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:39 pm

Can't start the next 2 games? Oh sheeeeet so we are buggered for the Chelsea game also.

by **Madmax** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:40 pm

Will be interesting to see what side rafa fields.. If the chelsea game was say 1-1 i would be sure againt blackburn we would have seen a fairly weakened side. Priority would have been given to the champs leauge. Anyhow im sure his not a clown and wont do that with the chelsea game seems to be hanging by a thread. Should field strongest side... If stevie is fecked give him game off otherwise i would play him!

by **tubby** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:43 pm

Big Sam spots Reds' weaknesses
Rovers out to dent Liverpool's confidence further

Sam Allardyce is hoping Liverpool's confidence has taken a knock ahead of Blackburn Rovers' trip to Anfield.

Liverpool are facing elimination from the UEFA Champions League after losing 3-1 at home to Chelsea in the quarter-final, first-leg tie on Wednesday night.

Branislav Ivanovic's headed brace turned the game in Chelsea's favour, although Allardyce feels criticism of Liverpool's zonal marking system is unfair.

However, the Blackburn boss identified some weaknesses in the title challengers' side that he wants his players to exploit on Saturday.
Unstuck

"I went to watch what was probably the most in-form team in this country at the moment come a little unstuck on the night," said Allardyce.

"We can only hope that that knocks their confidence a little bit.

"It can happen to us all on occasions, but Chelsea got the tactics right and also used their outstanding ability to punish them very heavily in the end.

"I just want to get as many of my experienced players as fit as possible to go and pick a side who can combat a very good Liverpool team, and then try and expose one or two weaknesses that were shown up.

"But I thought there was a little of unfair criticism of the zonal marking system, because I don't think any system would have stopped those two goals on the night."

Guns blazing

Allardyce will warn his players, however, to expect that Liverpool will come out fighting on Saturday - because the Premier League may be their only chance of silverware.

"Their pride will have been hurt. But they are still just one point off Manchester United, so it will be a very big game for them," he added.

"I think they'll be all guns blazing, but iit's something we've come across before and have had to cope with.

"I'd like to see a repeat of the performance of what we did at Manchester United, where we were very unlucky to lose."

by **GOAT** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:44 pm

bavlondon wrote:Can't start the next 2 games? Oh sheeeeet so we are buggered for the Chelsea game also.

Nah he says he can't start BOTH of them, meaning he can start one or the other, because of his groin injury, he'll probably start the Chelsea match, unless Rafa has given up on the CL and starts him against blackburn

Reds to nurse Gerrard over run-in
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard may not be risked from the start against Blackburn

Liverpool midfielder Gerrard has developed a groin problem which means he will have to be carefully managed through the remainder of the season.

He is very unlikely to start both Saturday's Premier League clash with Blackburn and in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final at Chelsea.

Boss Rafael Benitez said: "We were aware of the injury before the first leg against Chelsea on Wednesday.

"It is not easy for him to play two games in four days with the injury."

We have been talking about the fitness of players like Steven for a long time, do we have rotation or do we keep our key players on the pitch?

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez

As Liverpool continue their chase for the title, and survival in Europe, it is clear their 28-year-old midfield maestro will not be available for every minute of every match.

What was originally viewed as a relatively minor thigh injury sustained at Anfield in the Champions League first-leg 3-1 defeat is being viewed altogether more seriously.

"The decision I have to make is whether I use him against Blackburn or Chelsea," said Benitez.

"If we do play him against Blackburn it does not mean we are writing off the Champions League. But we must approach each game on its merits.

606: DEBATE
We need him fit for the Champions League game and should rest him, we should be able to beat Blackburn without him

gonzoluv

"If he feels he can play, then he will and we will assess the situation afterwards. Anything more could be a risk. Maybe we could keep him on the bench and use him if we need to?

"After Chelsea we have a complete week before our next game because the Arsenal home game is the following Tuesday.

"After that, even if we qualify and have a Champions League semi-final, that is only two more games. We will be playing virtually one game a week and that makes it easier to manage the situation regarding Steven's fitness.

"I have spoken with Steven and we will do the same on Saturday along with the doctor. If he breaks down now we could lose him for two or three weeks and that would be a serious blow."

Benitez, much criticised in the past for his squad rotation policy, explained the dilemma he was in.

"We have been talking about the fitness of players like Steven for a long time, do we have rotation or do we keep our key players on the pitch?

"We have had that problem with Fernando Torres and now Gerrard."

He said his team was not prioritising the Premier League over the Champions League, but added: "We play Blackburn first and that obviously is what we are concentrating on. After that it will be Chelsea.

"We will try our best at Chelsea, it is not over yet, but we want to be top of the table after our game with Blackburn because that will put pressure on Manchester United."

by **tubby** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:50 pm

I dont like those words "carefully managed through the remainder of the season". Sounds like another tweak and he could be out for a while.

by **Greavesie** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:51 pm

I'd see how we get on against Blackburn without him for the first half, we should have too much for them surely

by **Greavesie** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:52 pm

Madmax wrote:blackburn wont have few players so we should win this one convincingly.. big sam talking out of his gonads that fat porky shyte manager.. Feck him he dont bother me..
Common liverpool win this one and keep up the pressure on mannure..
After the 3-1 battering from chelsea i just felt at that moment we wont win any trophies this season.. Hope im wrong!!

I felt exactly the same mate

by **Scottbot** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:22 pm

I'd prefer to see the Captain start on the bench and use him the last 25 minutes if he's needed tomorrow. I also wouldn't risk him on Tuesday. Imperative we win tomorrow but we're gonna need a (fully) fit and firing Steven Gerrard to have any chance of winning our remaining games. I'd give Babel a run out in Riera spot and play Benny through the middle behind Fernando.

by **Rafa D** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:49 pm

If Gerrard can play, then he has to start tomorrow. By all means, Rafa can bring him off, when the job is done.Then rest him for the return to Stamford Bridge.

We need 3 points tomorrow. We need to take top position back and put the pressure on the mancs. And Gerrard is our best player.

This is the stage of the season we have to get right. If he feels he can play, Rafa should not hesitate to put him in. We need to get Chelsea out of our system as soon as possible.

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