Liverpool FC vs Arsenal - EPL - April 21 [R]

[AussieLFCfan]

Walk on. A week to rest and recover.

Well we can score goals, let's hope our defense wins this one for us to keep the pressure on the scum.

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Aurelio
Mascherano
Kuyt Alonso Riera
Gerrard
Torres

Subs: Cavalieri, Benayoun, Babel, Agger, Dossena, N'Gog, Lucas.

[newterp]

presumably Gerrard is 1000000% healthy for this game......

[liverbird]

Thats my team. We have a week to rest, They have to play CL tomorrow, then a FA Cup semi against the diving Chavs on saturday and turn around and play us on Tuesday. Clearly we should be better rested and prepared. They are without Gallas and have other injuries. Come on you Reds

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Walk on. A week to rest and recover.

Well we can score goals, let's hope our defense wins this one for us to keep the pressure on the scum.

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Aurelio
Mascherano
Kuyt Alonso Riera
Gerrard
Torres

Subs: Cavalieri, Benayoun, Babel, Agger, Dossena, N'Gog, Lucas.

Reina
Arbeloa - Carragher - Agger - Aurelio
Mascherano - Alonso
Kuyt - Gerrard - Riera
Torres

Subs - Cavalieri, Skrtel, Dossena, Lucas, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog

[AussieLFCfan]

lol both Agger's made my lineup :o

[Twenty26Six]

This game is HUUUGE.

This fixture is our best chance to pick up points on Utd. Both teams won't play a team harder than Arsenal for the rest of the schedule.

[el-capitano]

Every game is huge from now on in- but yeah I know what you mean- this is, on paper, one of the hardest remaining games left for us this year.

Since they are out of the running to win the league and can concentrate on the CL, (where have you heard that before ;) ) they can rest a few of their big names against us, although I would like to beat them with them playing a full squad! :D

[Suss]

This game is HUUUGE.

This fixture is our best chance to pick up points on Utd. Both teams won't play a team harder than Arsenal for the rest of the schedule.

Its possible (likely) that Man United will be playing Arsenal in the Champions League. That makes their league encounter even more interesting as it will be the 3rd time they are playing each other in a few weeks.

[Grinners89]

In.

Reina
Arbeloa - Carra - Agger - Insua
Masch - Alonso
Kuyt - Gerrard - Riera
Torres

Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Dossena, Lucas, Yossi, Babel, Ngog


Let's hope that Riera can show some more of that great wing play that he showed in the short time he was on against Chelsea. His beating of Ivanovic and cross to Kuyt for that goal was probably the best bit of wing play we have seen since Kewell was fit. It looked so simple, yet so efficient.

Gerrard and Insua back in the line-up as Aurelio looked shocking defensively and although I dont want Insua worn out too early, he has at least shown some good defensive skills.

If Skrtel starts again then im scared Agger will want to go...especially when Carra doesnt deserve to start ahead of either Skrtel or Agger due to his form in recent matches.

[Red Bird]

Reina
Arbeloa - Carragher - Agger - Aurelio
Mascherano - Alonso
Kuyt - Gerrard - Riera
Torres

Subs - Cavalieri, Skrtel, Dossena, Lucas, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog

You know, I'd mightily be tempted play Insua but Aurelio's threat at set-pieces cannot be under-estimated.

[Grinners89]

You know, I'd mightily be tempted play Insua but Aurelio's threat at set-pieces cannot be under-estimated.

True...he just has to improve his defensive performance from what he showed over the two legs of the Chelsea CL tie.

[newterp]

True...he just has to improve his defensive performance from what he showed over the two legs of the Chelsea CL tie.

yep - Aurelio's offense was negated by his defense.

[newterp]

In.

Reina
Arbeloa - Carra - Agger - Insua
Masch - Alonso
Kuyt - Gerrard - Riera
Torres

Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Dossena, Lucas, Yossi, Babel, Ngog


Let's hope that Riera can show some more of that great wing play that he showed in the short time he was on against Chelsea. His beating of Ivanovic and cross to Kuyt for that goal was probably the best bit of wing play we have seen since Kewell was fit. It looked so simple, yet so efficient.

Gerrard and Insua back in the line-up as Aurelio looked shocking defensively and although I dont want Insua worn out too early, he has at least shown some good defensive skills.

If Skrtel starts again then im scared Agger will want to go...especially when Carra doesnt deserve to start ahead of either Skrtel or Agger due to his form in recent matches.

Rafa's decisions with respect to Agger - of late - make no sense.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Rafa's decisions with respect to Agger - of late - make no sense.

Agreed. Agger has to start.

[Red Bird]

Rafa's decisions with respect to Agger - of late - make no sense.
Agger has been injured. He also lacks match sharpness and we already have a working partnership-- although they have started leaking goals lately--between Carragher and Skrtel. I can see his playing some part in the match, though.

[Grinners89]

Agger has been injured. He also lacks match sharpness and we already have a working partnership-- although they have started leaving goals lately--between Carragher and Skrtel. I can see his playing some part in the match, though.

I understand that he has been injured, but Im just saying that a back four that continues to play poorly, doesnt deserve any more chances. Agger has played well whenever he has been called upon and should get his chance. Just like if any other players are making costly mistakes and seemingly not giving 100%, then they would be dropped.

Carra and Aurelio have especially been poor on the left side of defence, while Skrtel and Arbs have been clearly better on the right, but not great.

Carra just seems one step off most challenges and doesnt have the pace, probably due to fatigue, to get to those last ditch tackles. And yes, I understand that as I say this, he will prove me wrong in the remaining matches of this season.

However, lets not kid ourselves...Carra has never been a world class defender, but his last ditch tackling and "heroic" efforts have been better than any other defender of his generation. He always puts his body on the line and gives 100% for 90 minutes in every single match, something that many footballers dont do these days. His organisational skills are world class and thats what he, and Sami, bring that Skrtel and Agger dont yet. His leadership and voice on the pitch ensure that everyone is always aware of where they need to be, oncoming threats etc.

Skrtel, Sami and Agger all have better overall defensive skills however his leadership is unquestioned compared to those other three.

[Red Bird]

I understand that he has been injured, but Im just saying that a back four that continues to play poorly, doesnt deserve any more chances. Agger has played well whenever he has been called upon and should get his chance. Just like if any other players are making costly mistakes and seemingly not giving 100%, then they would be dropped.I agree. But it's only recently that they have started to leak goals; before that Agger was mostly injured.

I agree with the overall thrust of your argument, though. In fact, it's been mentioned that we concede relatively fewer goals when we have Hyypia/Agger than Carragher/Skrtel.

I can think of no other centre-half in the division who brings to the table what Agger does-- maybe Gallas in his prime. The partnership of the future would definitely be Agger/Skrtel spelled by Hyypia and Carragher and Benitez needs to convince Agger of that.

[Suss]

I understand that he has been injured, but Im just saying that a back four that continues to play poorly, doesnt deserve any more chances. Agger has played well whenever he has been called upon and should get his chance. Just like if any other players are making costly mistakes and seemingly not giving 100%, then they would be dropped.

Carra and Aurelio have especially been poor on the left side of defence, while Skrtel and Arbs have been clearly better on the right, but not great.

Carra just seems one step off most challenges and doesnt have the pace, probably due to fatigue, to get to those last ditch tackles. And yes, I understand that as I say this, he will prove me wrong in the remaining matches of this season.

However, lets not kid ourselves...Carra has never been a world class defender, but his last ditch tackling and "heroic" efforts have been better than any other defender of his generation. He always puts his body on the line and gives 100% for 90 minutes in every single match, something that many footballers dont do these days. His organisational skills are world class and thats what he, and Sami, bring that Skrtel and Agger dont yet. His leadership and voice on the pitch ensure that everyone is always aware of where they need to be, oncoming threats etc.

Skrtel, Sami and Agger all have better overall defensive skills however his leadership is unquestioned compared to those other three.

Its really been one game that the defense let us down...and that was against Chelsea at Anfield. I don't count yesterday because we were always chasing the game which left us stretched at the back. It was a crazy game that we have never seen before and will probably never see again.

I also disagree about Carra. He certainly was a world class defender. For about 3 seasons (2005-2007) he was as good as anyone in the world. This season his age is starting to show a little, but he our defensive coach on the field. Rafa almost never drops him because of his importance. I really hope Agger signs a new deal because next year he will definitely get more games.

The Carra and Skrt partnership is tried and trusted, and its too late in the year to make changes to the spine of the team. Next season Agger should get his chance.

[Grinners89]

Its really been one game that the defense let us down...and that was against Chelsea at Anfield. I don't count yesterday because we were always chasing the game which left us stretched at the back. It was a crazy game that we have never seen before and will probably never see again.

I also disagree about Carra. He certainly was a world class defender. For about 3 seasons (2005-2007) he was as good as anyone in the world. This season his age is starting to show a little, but he our defensive coach on the field. Rafa almost never drops him because of his importance. I really hope Agger signs a new deal because next year he will definitely get more games.

The Carra and Skrt partnership is tried and trusted, and its too late in the year to make changes to the spine of the team. Next season Agger should get his chance.

Nesta and Maldini were world class defenders. Rio Ferdinand is a world class defender. Carragher, while having better qualities in terms of leadership, organisation, voice and similar things...he was never any match for Nesta or Maldini in terms of defensive skills.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

The Carra and Skrt partnership is tried and trusted, and its too late in the year to make changes to the spine of the team. Next season Agger should get his chance.

If he's here.