Derby v. Liverpool [R]

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Okay, so I am a little anxious to get to the next game. That's why I started this thread.

This game should be a formality, but we all know whenever we think it's going to be that way it usually turns out to be a little tougher than expected. We have a deep squad and we will have to use it, because we have another big spot in Europe game against Man City coming up next Sunday.

------------------------Reina-----------------------
Finnan--------Carra----------Sami--------Aurelio
Babel---------Stevie---------Alonso---------Riise
---------------Crouch--------Voronin---------------

Subs - Itandje, Agger, Kewell, Lucas, Torres

Does anyone know fitness/injury updates for Finnan, Agger, and Alonso? That would obviously affect who is on the field and on the bench.

3-0 to the good. I have a feeling Crouch and Voronin will both net one each and the maybe we will get one from one of the midfielders.

[burning247]

3-0 to the Red army.

[Red Bird]

I think this will be one of those matches where Benitez will start with Voronin and Kuyt. Alonso played against Chelsea but was withdrawn so it's a bit of a mystery why he was left out today. I think it was precautionary more than anything else and so Gerrard or Mascherano may be rested. Agger is slated to return for boxing day but don't take my word for it. Finnan has a stubbornly troublesome calf strain and is doubtful for the next match. For more details see here (http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php).

By the way, Crouch is still suspended [for the next 2 matches after today].

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

By the way, Crouch is still suspended [for the next 2 matches after today].

Duh, I am so dumb.

Yeah then I would see Voronin and Kuyt starting or maybe Babel and Kuyt up top.

[ForeverRed]

Voronin and Kuyt together? Hasn't really worked so far, they don't really compliment each other. Then again, it is Derby and it might be enough.

[Grinners89]

Voronin and Kuyt together? Hasn't really worked so far, they don't really compliment each other. Then again, it is Derby and it might be enough.

IM LOOKING FOR CHANGES...please Rafa ive had to take Nicorette "Rotation patches" just to calm my nerves...FFS just do it and rotate the lineup. Put Itandje in goal, Darby on the right, Hobbs back in the centre, Momo and Lucas in the middle and Voronin and Babel up front...PLEASE!!!


Now seriously...
Torres will start this game...and Voronin will start alongside him. My lineup is:

-----------------Reina-----------------
Arbs------Carra-------Sami------Aurelio
Yossi-----Momo------Alonso------Babel
----------Voronin-----Torres-----------

Bench: Itandje, Agger, SG, Kewell, Kuyt

Yossi was subbed off in about the 65th minute and Kewell was subbed off in about the 75th minute...so Yossi should definitely play and Kewell and Babel is a toss up...im reckon that Babel will start.

IMPORTANT QUESTION: Does anyone think that Rafa will trust Momo in any game...even this one against the cellar dwellers? Surely if Momo was to play one game in every 4 or 5 then this would be the one he would play.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

IM LOOKING FOR CHANGES...please Rafa ive had to take Nicorette "Rotation patches" just to calm my nerves...FFS just do it and rotate the lineup. Put Itandje in goal, Darby on the right, Hobbs back in the centre, Momo and Lucas in the middle and Voronin and Babel up front...PLEASE!!!


Now seriously...
Torres will start this game...and Voronin will start alongside him. My lineup is:

-----------------Reina-----------------
Arbs------Carra-------Sami------Aurelio
Yossi-----Momo------Alonso------Babel
----------Voronin-----Torres-----------

Bench: Itandje, Agger, SG, Kewell, Kuyt

Yossi was subbed off in about the 65th minute and Kewell was subbed off in about the 75th minute...so Yossi should definitely play and Kewell and Babel is a toss up...im reckon that Babel will start.

IMPORTANT QUESTION: Does anyone think that Rafa will trust Momo in any game...even this one against the cellar dwellers? Surely if Momo was to play one game in every 4 or 5 then this would be the one he would play.

If Torres starts he will score two and get taken off at halftime. He needs to be raring to go against Manchester City.

[Gandalf The Red]

torres must start while he is fit and subbed once we have the advantage.

[Jimmyb79]

Rafa i think always had a soft spot for Momo, but i think thats worn out.

I wonder if we will see that other signing Leto against a team like Derby?

This would be the ideal game for Babel to start up top, but i still see Torres starting. I'm sure Rafa wants him to hit the 20 goal mark.

I'm sure Rafa wont let the lads get complacent.

[StiltonFC]

This is where the Reds continue to stretch the goal differential. Just in case Liverpool doesn't win the EPL, the GD has to be better than Chelsea and Arsenal, both of which will be battling for second place, assuming ManU doesn't crumble. Arsenal is going to have a very difficult spell thru January, with both the FA and CC matches on their schedule. The matches themselves aren't difficult, but it's Fratton Park and Goodison Park for the next two and 6 in January, mostly against easy foes, except for the derby against Spurs near the end of the month. Except for Van Persie, who is just coming off injury, they are pretty healthy.

Any lineup that can score 4 goals will be fine against the Rams. :)

[poopoobigelow]

perfect game for to test the babel/torres strike partnership, i think...

and i'd like to see leto get a run... one bad game against marsielle and he's completely disappeared... i liked what i saw from him previous to that...

if we can score four agaist pompey, we can score ten against derby county...

[nathanakata]

i have a feeling Arry will score in this game...
its his turn now...
:D

[fUR1O'S Utd]

--------------Reina----------------

Finnan----Carra----Hyppia----Fabio

Lucas----Gerrard----Xabi----Kewell

---------Torres---Voronin---------

Subs: Itandje, Lucas, Kuyt, Agger, Babel

Stevie 1, Torres 3, Kewell 1

Liverpool 5-0

Cheers :)

[Grinners89]

--------------Reina----------------

Finnan----Carra----Hyppia----Fabio

Lucas??----Gerrard----Xabi----Kewell

---------Torres---Voronin---------

Subs: Itandje, Lucas????, Kuyt, Agger, Babel

Stevie 1, Torres 3, Kewell 1

Liverpool 5-0

Cheers :)

I reckon that Rafa bought another Brasilian before the Jan transfer window...bloody cheeky Rafa, he just wanted christmas early. Merry Christmas to all

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

It's a Christmas Miracle. I find out that the parents of one of my friends (who is out of the country) have FSC...so I will be able to see this game and the Man City game. Phew! I almost thought I was gonna miss 3 games on the bounce. That would have been terrible.

[bayern is god]

If we were to lose, or for that matter, not pick up all three points against Derby, it would be a travesty. Therefore playing an under-strength side would be a bad idea, as Derby would be more than up for it, they are a Premiership side remember, not a reserve team, they should be shown more respect. Maybe rest one or two players with the game against Manchester City pending, but the eleven I would line up with would be:

-------------------- Reina
-- Arbeloa -- Carragher - Hyypia -- Riise
-- Benayoun -- Alonso - Gerrard -- Babel
--------------- Voronin - Torres

Subs:
Itandje, Aurelio, Sissoko, Kewell, Kuyt

This would give a rest to Mascherano and Kewell. I think it would be key to keep the ball against a Derby side, and there would be no need for a player to break up the opposition attacks in the way Momo and Masch do, this was the problem we had away at Reading.

Fingers crossed a relatively comfortable victory on boxing day.

[Gandalf The Red]

If we were to lose, or for that matter, not pick up all three points against Derby, it would be a travesty. Therefore playing an under-strength side would be a bad idea, as Derby would be more than up for it, they are a Premiership side remember, not a reserve team, they should be shown more respect. Maybe rest one or two players with the game against Manchester City pending, but the eleven I would line up with would be:

-------------------- Reina
-- Arbeloa -- Carragher - Hyypia -- Riise
-- Benayoun -- Alonso - Gerrard -- Babel
--------------- Voronin - Torres

Subs:
Itandje, Aurelio, Sissoko, Kewell, Kuyt

This would give a rest to Mascherano and Kewell. I think it would be key to keep the ball against a Derby side, and there would be no need for a player to break up the opposition attacks in the way Momo and Masch do, this was the problem we had away at Reading.

Fingers crossed a relatively comfortable victory on boxing day.

well said it should be full steam ahead then pull a few players off and go into spoiler mode once we have got a 2 goal lead, its easier to score more when you have the lead

[StiltonFC]

If we were to lose, or for that matter, not pick up all three points against Derby, it would be a travesty. Therefore playing an under-strength side would be a bad idea, as Derby would be more than up for it, they are a Premiership side remember, not a reserve team, they should be shown more respect. Maybe rest one or two players with the game against Manchester City pending, but the eleven I would line up with would be:

-------------------- Reina
-- Arbeloa -- Carragher - Hyypia -- Riise
-- Benayoun -- Alonso - Gerrard -- Babel
--------------- Voronin - Torres

Subs:
Itandje, Aurelio, Sissoko, Kewell, Kuyt

This would give a rest to Mascherano and Kewell. I think it would be key to keep the ball against a Derby side, and there would be no need for a player to break up the opposition attacks in the way Momo and Masch do, this was the problem we had away at Reading.

Fingers crossed a relatively comfortable victory on boxing day.
i don't get this thinking. do you mean rest one or two players against Derby looking ahead to Man City? if so, then i understand.

Man City will be a more arduous match. fighting agin relegation is one thing. fighting for a Europe slot is another. Derby will definitely be up for the match, but Man City will feel they have a clear shot at winning and ending up securely in 4th place going into the New Year. the match is away. after that comes Wigan at Anfield and then Luton. if anyone should be rested, it's then.

[bayern is god]

i don't get this thinking. do you mean rest one or two players against Derby looking ahead to Man City? if so, then i understand.

Man City will be a more arduous match. fighting agin relegation is one thing. fighting for a Europe slot is another. Derby will definitely be up for the match, but Man City will feel they have a clear shot at winning and ending up securely in 4th place going into the New Year. the match is away. after that comes Wigan at Anfield and then Luton. if anyone should be rested, it's then.


you got me right!..i was saying we can rest a FEW players for derby considerin the game against citeh is vital..but i would still go with the line up i put forward..kuyt,kewell and mascherano will be the ones rested!

[poopoobigelow]

If we were to lose, or for that matter, not pick up all three points against Derby, it would be a travesty. Therefore playing an under-strength side would be a bad idea, as Derby would be more than up for it, they are a Premiership side remember, not a reserve team, they should be shown more respect.

i agree, as well... let's not have a repeat of birmingham, and assume that the three points are ours... those two points lost at anfield will haunt us for the rest of the season... let's field our best team -- maybe just put in hobbs or leto, get the lead, then sub torres and gerrard, NOT put out a second team, hope for some goals, and if we don't get them, expect to bring on torres and gerrard to save us in twenty minutes...