Liverpool v. Sofia [R]

[liverbird]

Lineup:

-------Carson
Finnan---JC ---Whitbread-- Warnock
Garcia---Xabi--Hamann----Riise
-------Cisse---Moro

Reina
Hyppia
Zenden
Josemi
Momo
Baros

anything better than a 3 goal loss and we go through and we have another game on Friday

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

I realy want riise to play this game,and hope he beats either zenden or warnock for a place in the starting XI regularly.

[kopiteinkc]

Hey we have a match today and with e-season ticket it looks like a live video feed :D

[Suss]

Barragan and Potter will at least make the bench according to the pre match reports. Carson is probably going to start in goal and Hamann will play for sure. Rafa hinted at using 2 different squads for today and Friday. So if Xabi and Didi play today, it will be Gerrard (if fit) and Sissoko on Friday. I wouldn't be suprised if Whitbread comes in for Sami in today's game as well.

[usscouse]

3 goals.....Now why does that sound familier...?


D o n 't u n d e r e s t i m a t e

[never walk alone TPK]

Riise needs to play trust me.He is far better then zenden and I dont know WTF rafa is thinking cause if we dont play riise he will surely bring unnecesary comments ((HINT::ROBBEN)) and i dont want to see that happening.He is a class talent deserves his spot.

[Red Bird]

D o n 't u n d e r e s t i m a t e
'ahem.

[hubbabubba]

Anyone know if the game is going to be broadcast on PPlive?

[LiverpoolFanatic]

They are showing it live on the official site. You have to have eseason ticket to watch it.

[Wingtips1]

Benitez is mindful of the drain on his playing resources which are caused by tough early-season matches.


'It is a big problem for us to play official games so early in the season,' he said.


'Friendlies are different, because you can use 22 players.


'Proper games cannot be used like that, and players who are playing cannot train as much. It is not ideal.'


Liverpool are expected to bring in Darren Potter, John Arne Riise, Scott Carson and Antonio Barragan against Sofia - already holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg.


'I have a lot of respect for Sofia, and they play well in attack,' said Benitez.


'But we have another game on Friday in Monaco, and this is the time to use the squad to give players some rest and to field a side which will still be strong and do the job for us.


'If we want to be sure we must score as soon as possible, and the game will be finished. They will try hard from the start, very high tempo, and we expect that. But we hope that we can end the tie early.'


There is no question which of this week's high-profile matches Benitez knows he has to prioritise.


'We need to win the first one to be in the Champions League - that is the first objective,' he said.


'Then the second game against Moscow means we can win another trophy. We will use two good teams in both games and we have the ability to do that.


'We had a very good result in Sofia. It is very important to control the first part of the second leg - but we do need to be careful.


'We can use Dietmar Hamann, who has plenty of experience, and we have Xabi Alonso in midfield - so we can replace Steven Gerrard.'
(from a soccernet.com article)


--------reina
finnan-jc--sami--warnock
-------didi
zenden--xabi--riise
--------garcia
--------cisse

lets hope our strikers can get amongst the goals this week and bring them some badly needed confidence. we can use our youngsters on Friday

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

I think didi and carson would play,along with riise and Barragan
----------Carson
--Barragan-CR-Hyypia--warnock
--garcia---sissoko--didi--riise
--------------alonso
---------------morientes

[Suss]

Here is the actual lineup:

-------------Carson
Finnan--Josemi--Hyppia--Warnock
Potter---Sissoko--Hamann---Riise
---------Cisse----Morientes

Subs - Reina, Garcia, Alonso, Carragher, Pongolle, Zenden, Barragan.

That lineup lacks creativity in midfield. Then again, we don't really need goals to
go through. Its nice to see Pongolle back on the bench. I doubt he will play a role though, because he just played for the reserves yesterday. If the result is beyond doubt in the 2nd half, we will probably get to see Barragan.

[Welcome2Anfield]

anyone know if the game is going to be on BBC Five Live radio
or where i could possibly pick up a feed (other than LFC.tv)

[kopiteinkc]

anyone know if the game is going to be on BBC Five Live radio
or where i could possibly pick up a feed (other than LFC.tv)

BBC Five Live is blocked to users outside of the UK today ...

[kopiteinkc]

Official site video feed shows Phil Neal joining in with YNWA as the teams come out ...

[Suss]

Match underway. Comon you Reds.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Liverpool attacking Kop End in first half. Phil Neal in with Hunter at the match.

Let's go you Reds. Josemi at CB. Oh dear. :eek:

[Suss]

Riise makes a good run, but his poor cross is knocked out for a corner. Potter's corner lands on the roof of the net.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Long ball hits Josemi in the back of the head.


Riise on attack. Corner to LFC.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Your connection must be faster than mine Suss. I'll leave the comms to you.