Citeh v. Liverpool [R]

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Another Big Match!

I suspect Rafa puts out this squad...

-------------------Reina--------------------
Finnan---Arbeloa-------Carra------Aurelio
Gerrard----Alonso---Masch--------Kewell
------------Torres-----Kuyt-----------------

Subs - Itandje, Agger, Riise, Benayoun, Babel

I am not sure about the health of Sami or Agger. I wouldn't put Agger in this match unless he is fully ready. If Sami is healthy and ready I think he should play, considering Man City's strikers are a toothless bunch.

I think the interesting matchups will be in the midfield Ours (Gerrard, Masch, Alonso, and Kewell) versus Theirs (Petrov, Hamann, Garrido, Geovanni, etc) and Torres/Kuyt versus Richards/Dunne.

Hopefully this won't be like last year's corresponding fixture with Man City. But with all the quality on the field from both teams I think it will be a good game.

2-1 to the good. 9 points from 9 in the Christmas program.

[usscouse]

Big match...! Rafa has to play the 'first' team for this one. City are doing well and are just 2 points behind.

Be devastating to lose this one and a big boost to win away from home.

Hope you really meant 1-2...:)

[Twenty26Six]

Reina
Finnan - Carra - Agger - Arby
Benny - Masch - Gerro - Kewell
Kuyt - Torres

That's what I WANT to see...

[ForeverRed]

With Xabi fit now I think Rafa will try to include him in every important game since he distributes the ball better than anyone.

Ideally I'd like to see something like this :


---------------Alonso------------Mascherano-----------

--------------------Gerrard---------------------------

------Yossi----------------------------------Babel------

------------------Torres-------------------------------

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

With Xabi fit now I think Rafa will try to include him in every important game since he distributes the ball better than anyone.

Ideally I'd like to see something like this :


---------------Alonso------------Mascherano-----------

--------------------Gerrard---------------------------

------Yossi----------------------------------Babel------

------------------Torres-------------------------------

I would love for a formation like that to work. But it means that technically Torres is on his own up front. Torres doesn't work well as a lone striker, he needs someone to play off of. I would put Kewell in place of Babel.

[liverbird]

With Xabi fit now I think Rafa will try to include him in every important game since he distributes the ball better than anyone.

Ideally I'd like to see something like this :


---------------Alonso------------Mascherano-----------

--------------------Gerrard---------------------------

------Yossi----------------------------------Babel------

------------------Torres-------------------------------


I like this. But I'd start Harry and save Babel for the last half hour.

[usscouse]

I'd like to see both Yossi and Babel come on in the last half hour....
Have I said that before...:rolleyes:

[Suss]

---------------Reina
Finnan----Carragher--Agger---Arbeloa
Gerrard---Alonso--Mascherano---Kewell
------------Crouch--Torres

I'm not yet convinced that Torres and Crouch can't play together. They are clearly our two best strikers, so I think we should give it another go. Gerrard can play in the areas normally occupied by Kuyt or Voronin, leaving us with two real goal threats up front.

[ForeverRed]

I would love for a formation like that to work. But it means that technically Torres is on his own up front. Torres doesn't work well as a lone striker, he needs someone to play off of. I would put Kewell in place of Babel.

Thats the thing, I don't think either Kuyt or Voronin can technically compliment Torres and thats why I have a formation like this in mind, a quasi 4-3-3 with two supporting wingers. I just put Babel instead of Kewell because he has more experience in such a system since thats what he played in at Ajax and the Oranje.

[RCCook]

---------------Reina
Finnan----Carragher--Agger---Arbeloa
Gerrard---Alonso--Mascherano---Kewell
------------Crouch--Torres

I'm not yet convinced that Torres and Crouch can't play together. They are clearly our two best strikers, so I think we should give it another go. Gerrard can play in the areas normally occupied by Kuyt or Voronin, leaving us with two real goal threats up front.

Crouch is still suspended- he'll be eligible again after the City match.

I'd go with your lineup, but subbing Kuyt for Crouch.

[Bobinhood]

Rotation lads, Spinning wheel got to go 'round. Plus no sami probably which is a problem. And im a JAR fan but that darby game was shocking which = seat on sunday.

Pepe

Finnan...JC..Arbs..Fabio

Bene...Mash...SG....Kewell

Kuyt....El Hombre



Charles Howell III, Risse Sissoko Babel Veronin.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Thats the thing, I don't think either Kuyt or Voronin can technically compliment Torres and thats why I have a formation like this in mind, a quasi 4-3-3 with two supporting wingers. I just put Babel instead of Kewell because he has more experience in such a system since thats what he played in at Ajax and the Oranje.

Yeah, Kewell does have experience as a striker but not so much as a winger like Babel has with his Ajax and Holland NT experience. I would like the formation, then again I would also like Crouch and Torres to be effective together. Whatever works, scores goals, and wins lets go for it. The 4-3-3 could also lead to some attractive footy.

[StiltonFC]

This is not specifically on point, but have Torres, Crouch and Kewell had more than, like, 15 minutes together?

[Red Bird]

We apparently have a defensive crisis with Hyypia having twisted his ankle against Derby, Agger still has a gingerly-feeling foot and Arbeloa has flu. Doesn't look good. In addition, Carragher is on 4 yellows.

[StiltonFC]

We apparently have a defensive crisis with Hyypia having twisted his ankle against Derby, Agger still has a gingerly-feeling foot and Arbeloa has flu. Doesn't look good. In addition, Carragher is on 4 yellows.
Here's where ya hope for a 4-3 result.

[liverbird]

We apparently have a defensive crisis with Hyypia having twisted his ankle against Derby, Agger still has a gingerly-feeling foot and Arbeloa has flu. Doesn't look good. In addition, Carragher is on 4 yellows.

I suspect Arbs or Hobbs will be on the bench and Agger will start with Carra. Might be a good game to get a yellow for Jamie. We can get Sami back by the Wigan game. Although if Jamie can hold out and get one against Wigan then he'd only miss the Luton FA Cup game as a sit out:D

[Red Bird]

This is not specifically on point, but have Torres, Crouch and Kewell had more than, like, 15 minutes together?

I think they did in the 4-1 mauling of Porto at Anfield. Other than then, I can't recall any other occasion.

[Red Bird]

I suspect Arbs or Hobbs will be on the bench and Agger will start with Carra. Might be a good game to get a yellow for Jamie. We can get Sami back by the Wigan game. Although if Jamie can hold out and get one against Wigan then he'd only miss the Luton FA Cup game as a sit out:D

Possibly. Benitez seems to think Agger may come in if required but there is a hint that Hyypia may be ready. Much of it depends on what he wants Eriksson to believe, of course.

[Red Bird]

Babel reckons (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158199071228-0858.htm)-- is that Benitez speaking, I wonder?-- that we rely too much on Gerrard and Torres.

Ryan Babel today spoke of his desire to help take the goalscoring burden off the shoulders of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Torres and Gerrard were again Liverpool's match winners at Derby on Boxing Day as the Reds snatched all three points to move into the top four in the Premier League table.

The two players have netted 16 of Liverpool's 33 league goals this season and Babel - who is currently third in the top scorers list with three - accepts he is one of the players who needs to appear on the scoresheet more often.
Hmm ...probably true but Arsenal rely way too much on Adebayor and Fabregas, the mancs on Ronaldo and Rooney. Still, it would be good to get a few more goals from Kuijt, Kewell, Voronin, Babel & co.

[Kilteddj]

Babel reckons (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158199071228-0858.htm)-- is that Benitez speaking, I wonder?-- that we rely too much on Gerrard and Torres.


Hmm ...probably true but Arsenal rely way too much on Adebayor and Fabregas, the mancs on Ronaldo and Rooney. Still, it would be good to get a few more goals from Kuijt, Kewell, Voronin, Babel & co.

I wholeheartedly agree, Kuyt has done fairly poor this season, I did expect more from him after putting a mediocre goals tally last season (mind you 12 is nothing too sniff at), and put this down to him adjusting to the EPL. The guy is like a workhorse though and he helps relieve our stikers looking to penetrate the defence by getting in the midst of things and dropping off or causing a marking problem in general.

Voronin I think when you put in perspective the money clubs spend on stirkers and their goals per game, the guy hasn't done too bad, he's experiencing a dip in form, but you have to admit in the pre-season and the early part of the season he looked a mighty astute freebie indeed. I'd like
the guy to get another year to see how he unfolds....

Babel, in my opinion, is a powderkeg of potential just waiting to explode. With the skill training and experience that he should get at the best club ever, I undoubtably expect a lot of big things to come from this young man.

Kewell just needs to get back to peak form and looks like he may be reaching that form soon if he doesn't trip over a blade of grass and break his ankle....

;)