Liverpool FC Forum

LFC_fan wrote:Risse has been declared fit to play tonight but somehow i don't think Rafa will risk him, even if he's fit, he did play the 2 matches over the last week for his country. Hopefully its warnock who gets the LB slot and not Traore. Expect Zenden to slot in at LM. Otherwise the defence should remian unchanged.

The midfield will be interesting though. Really wish that FSP will be given a run-out in games like this. Though ppl argue that one shdnt make too many changes (if any at all) to a winning team, but its games like this that we need to make full use of our increased squad. Gerrard and Alonso both had internationals over the week and Harry Kewell definitely won't be starting this one (he might not even be on the bench, Rafa'll most probably save him for the Betis game) Much as i would like to see FSP start against pompy, i'll be happy to see him make the bench in place of Kewell. Expect our midfield to line up as Gerrard, Hamman, Alonso, Zenden from right to left.

The midfield line-up is only pure speculation as Rafa has so many different options. But i'll like to see didi come into the side for this game. With Alonso pulling the strings in front of him, we should be fine. Another option is to rest Alonso, push Gerrard into the middle, put Finnan in RM and introduce "Oh no, i CAnt bear to watch" Traore at the back.

Don't think Rafa will risk Luis and he should be saved for the Betis game like Kewell. With all this talk about Crouch needing to be more aggressive, expect Crouch to start upfront. Like i said, i would very much like to see pongolle start up front with crouch like in the first champs league game against Betis (pongoelle's goal was a beauty) but either Cisse or moro will most probably get the nod. If either of them start alongside coruch, expect the other to come in sometime in the middle of the 2nd half.

In all, this is a game we have to win. No excuses. anything less than 3 points will be deemed extremely disappointing. Pompy's weakness is in midfield and with our current midfield, we should easily walk all over them. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that our strikers can do their job. Got a feeling Zenden will score (if he plays), with a couple of goals from our strikers, hopefully a certain mr crouch. He has my backing and i admit he certainly brings a different dimension to our game but being a striker, he really needs a goal now, if not to shut his critics up, at least to serve to boost his diminishing confidence.

Go Red Men