Liverpool FC Forum

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:42 am**

Well, all my bags are packed, I am ready to go ....
Flight from Tel Aviv to London on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon (28 degrees here ...) to the cold and gray London...

And now to the game ....
Seems that first place is important just to avoid meeting Barca too soon ... So I guess Rafa will play for a draw.
I got a bad feeling that he might rest a few players due to the December schedule, so (and i hope i am wrong) he might sit Stevie G and Garcia, play with Crouch and Cisse up front, Hamann, Xabi, Momo, Kewell at mid, and Finnan, Carra, Sammi and Riise. and Reina.

I think that Morientes is a good fit for such a game... Well, better than Crouch .... IMO.

Anyway, see you all at Stamford.

Cheers. Go Liverpool !! :buttrock

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 1:46 am**

Enjoy the game gabby, remember not everyone in England are as ignorant as Londoners are :;):

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 1:50 am**

Paul C wrote:Enjoy the game gabby, remember not everyone in England are as ignorant as Londoners are

I know mate ...
Have been there a few times .... and in Liverpool too :nod

Pictures and stories from the game only when I am back, on Friaday .....

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:55 am**

I doubt we would really play for a draw, although I think Benitez would field a relatively weaker starting eleven for the game, giving essential time for some key players to rest and be prepared for the gruelling Christmas schedule coming up.

So here's my starting lineup:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyypia Riise

Garcia Alonso Sissoko Kewell

Cisse Crouch

SUBS: Dudek, Josemi, Warnock, Morientes, Sinama-Pongolle, Hamann, Gerrard.

With this lineup, the team should play in a compact manner, closing down balls and controlling the tempo. Because we do not have Gerrard, we would lack his driving power in attack and we might understandably lack firepower upfront, especially when we would always be looking at hoofing up high balls to Crouch for nod downs. Bring Gerrard and maybe even Sinama-Pongolle on in latter stages of the game for more creativity.

I predict it to be another one of those 0-0 affairs, a match dominated by midfield clashes. Another clean sheet, and we would be sitting comfortably at the top of the table, avoiding the likes of Barcelona and Lyon too early in the tournament.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:04 am**

. Dudek

Finnan Josemi Carra Traore

Garcia Sissoko Hamann Kewell

Crouch Pongo

He won't field the big guns - we've got Boro to contend with and then Japan - we need to keep everyone fit and Rafa knows this.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:54 am**

He'd be crazy to play for the draw (I hate it when teams purposefully play for the draw) too often things go wrong when they do this. Play for the win, settle for the draw if it happens that way. We need to maintain the strike rate against Chelski.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:02 am**

If anyone has earned a rest - it's Carragher.

I doubt we'll have a full-strength team out aswell, maybe:

Carson

Finnan Josemi Traore Warnock

Hamann

Alonso
Sissoko Riise
Kewell/Pongolle
Crouch/Morientes.

I know thats a weak CD, but at the end of the day, keeping JC and Sami fresh is more important, IMO.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:04 am**

Fair enough Lando but I really don't want to see Chelsea demolish us again. Maybe I have too much pride but it will happen if we have Josemi and Traore as CB's, the most clueless feckers in the squad.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:10 am**

True. It's times like this when it becomes glaringly obvious that we are as weak as feck in CD, minus the best pairing in English football!

I can't wait to see who we get in Jan to "cover" for Sami!!! To be fair to him though, it'll take a f*cking astounding player to dislodge him on current form!!!

I suppose we could let the legends play vs Sh*tski!!! (We'll just have to watch Fatty and his w*nk tackles.) :angry:

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:16 am**

I understand that resting Carra and Sami is important[I would do that in the World Championship] but playing Josemi and Traore who've hardly played against anyside is asking for trouble, let alone Chelsea.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:44 am**

Agreed.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 6:01 am**

I doubt Rafa will be playing for a draw.He'll as eager as all of us to beat Chelski.So,he might be playing the strongest squad.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 6:17 am**

we are going to beat chelski this time..mourinho even said that its not important to be a group champion. it seems that he know that we might beat them and he afraid we do so, thats why he make noise...its mourinho defence mechanisme.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:46 pm**

Doubt it. He said that the Curling Cup final wasn't as important and that he would rest some players. What happened? We lost 3-2.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:47 pm**

theres never a time now when chelsea Vs Liverpool is a small game.

Liverpool FC Forum

CHELSEA VS LIVERPOOL 19.45 BST - All the discussion for the CL game

CHELSEA VS LIVERPOOL 19.45 BST - All the discussion for the CL game