Liverpool v. Wigan [R]

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Starting this thread as soon as possible before good discussion gets wrecked by the eventual trolls that will make their way over to today's game day discussion thread (Man City v. Liverpool).

We are at home for this one, and this is Wigan. Should be routine, but as we all know and saw against Derby, no game in the EPL is routine. I see big changes for this game and I am almost tempted to say that some big players will get some rest. Gerrard and others looked a little sloppy today.

--------------------Reina-------------------
Arbeloa------Carra------Agger-------Riise
Babel--------Stevie-----Alonso-------Leto
--------------Crouch----Voronin-----------

Subs - Itandje, Finnan, Aurelio, Benayoun, Torres

2-0 to Liverpool. Stay unbeaten for four games.

[Red Bird]

Starting this thread as soon as possible before good discussion gets wrecked by the eventual trolls that will make their way over to today's game day discussion thread (Man City v. Liverpool).

We are at home for this one, and this is Wigan. Should be routine, but as we all know and saw against Derby, no game in the EPL is routine. I see big changes for this game and I am almost tempted to say that some big players will get some rest. Gerrard and others looked a little sloppy today.

--------------------Reina-------------------
Arbeloa------Carra------Agger-------Riise
Babel--------Stevie-----Alonso-------Leto
--------------Crouch----Voronin-----------

Subs - Itandje, Finnan, Aurelio, Benayoun, Torres

2-0 to Liverpool. Stay unbeaten for four games.

I'd play Lucas and Alonso in midfield, completely rest Gerrard and hope Agger is fit. Arbeloa, at centre-half, inspired little confidence today.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I'd play Lucas and Alonso in midfield, completely rest Gerrard and hope Agger is fit. Arbeloa, at centre-half, inspired little confidence today.

Yeah I feel the same, but I didn't want to get crucified by being the only one thinking that Gerrard should rest completely or start on the bench. Arbeloa was shaky at best at center back, and it caused Carragher to be nervous, more so than when Hobbs was back there.

[catenaccio_L'pool]

I'd love a win, I'll take a loss but please not another draw:D.
We could see Momo in this one and Gerrard on the right.

[Grinners89]

This lineup means that as many players as possible are rested without losing too much quality.

____________Reina____________

Finnan___Carra___Agger___Aurelio

Gerrard__Masch___Xabi___Kewell

_______Voronin___Crouch______

Bench: Itandje, Arbs, Lucas, Yossi, Babel

Hyypia: If he is over his ankle injury then i would like him to play instead of Carra as he has played the most games out of any player in the EPL :eek:...he must be absolutely buggered.

Riise: Aurelio certainly deserves his spot over Riise. Its amazing that Aurelio, who is probably not up to 100% match fitness yet still manages to do more than Riise. Even Aurelio's defending against Man City was better than Riise

Momo: With Xabi back, there is no spot for him on the team...he might make the bench but it does look like he will be gone due to his 1 start in every 5 or 6 games.

SG: With Xabi back, we do not lose any quality with the Xabi/Masch partnership. Xabi and Masch have played very well with each other and will certainly provide headaches for the Wigan midfield due to their defensive abilities (especially Masch) and will worry the Wigan defence with their passing range (especially Xabi).

Torres: Give him a rest. Rafa eased him in at the start of the season and he needs to give him a mid-season rest. We have 3 other capable strikers who can and have scored goals.

[Red Bird]

Yeah I feel the same, but I didn't want to get crucified by being the only one thinking that Gerrard should rest completely or start on the bench. Arbeloa was shaky at best at center back, and it caused Carragher to be nervous, more so than when Hobbs was back there.
That Derby game must have just about drained Gerrard. Hobbs must surely be better than Arbeloa at centre-half although this is just on one game's viewing; he may well tighten his game.

[Red Bird]

Still fitness doubts over Agger and Hyypia (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158241080102-1232.htm). So it may once again be Arbeloa at centre-half who will have to at his game against Heskey and Bent.

[liverbird]

I have a 3PM appointment with my local publican to watch this match (along with the BrownAles/Citeh match). Taking personal time and I hope Liverpool rewards me for this support.

I watched a lot of football over the holidays and I must say that Arsenal look very good. Manchester and Chelski are no better than we are but they've done better in getting results.

Can Rafa hire a specialist consultant to work on dead balls? I still don't know why Gerrard takes corners? Its not like he strikes a great ball and I'd rather he be in front of goal. What's the point in winning corners if nothing ever comes of them. At one point on Sunday we won a corner from a dangerous attack, and managed in three passes to get it back to Reina whose long hoof ended up with Didi. We were lucky that Sven had put stun dog collars on the City players that kept them in their own half:D

Team sheet:

----------Reina
Finnan -- JC --Arbs ---Riise
Gerrard---Xabi--Lucas---Babel
-------Crouch--Torres

Istandje
Kewell
Hobbs
Mash
Veronin

[Bobinhood]

Heresy i know but i would consider resting both mbe and torres for this one, becouse i think they both need a rest and becouse i think we can win it without them.

....pepe

finnan jc arbs risse

babel momo xabi fabio

veronin crouch


Maybe thats nuts, but with Luton up next he could give a rest and recharge the batteries on the big guns.

hey i got the city line-up, nailed it. Although resting torres and steve in one game....yeah i doubt it too. But it would look pretty smart if it worked.

[liverbird]

Heresy i know but i would consider resting both mbe and torres for this one, becouse i think they both need a rest and becouse i think we can win it without them.

....pepe

finnan jc arbs risse

babel momo xabi fabio

veronin crouch


Maybe thats nuts, but with Luton up next he could give a rest and recharge the batteries on the big guns.

hey i got the city line-up, nailed it. Although resting torres and steve in one game....yeah i doubt it too. But it would look pretty smart if it worked.

See I'd rest em against Luton. Play Momo there too. Not today though.

[dutchbrowncoat]

this here line-up hasnt a chance, but on paper this is probably the easiest game we have left, and while resting players would be nice, id love to blood some of the younger folk, what with that whole carling cup business out of the question. i thought aurelio looked decent in attack the last game, in his movement and shooting, so why not push him up, and provide give riise another chance to prove himself. between the two of them, we should get some decent service to crouchie. i wish pennant were back, so i could put him on the right, and give benayoun a shot in the center in a match like this. if things get bad...kewell for riise or aurelio, whoever is worse, and push up kewell. babel or voronin for el zhar or benayoun, and carragher in place of a shaky hobbs or arbs.

itandje
finnan - hobbs - arbs - riise
benayoun - lucas - alonso - aurelio
el zhar - crouch

subs - reina, carragher, babel, voronin, kewell

[LiverMorgh]

This doesn't sound like Rafa's thinking but I'd like both Babel and Kewell to be on the pitch at the same time. One playing the supporting striker and the other on the wing. In fact, they can even swap in the game.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Rafa has never beat a Steve Bruce led team in a league match.

[liverbird]

Rafa has never beat a Steve Bruce led team in a league match.


So tell the team its a Cup tie and we'll beat his team 7-0:D

(like the old joke about the concussed guy, who the Coach asks if he's ok? and the trainer says he doesn't know who he is, so the Coach says tell him he's Dalglish and put him back in)

[Red Bird]

Rafa has never beat a Steve Bruce led team in a league match.

Expect Bruce to park the bus, as he did earlier with Birmingham. They do have the players to cause us problems in Bent, Heskey and Koumas, though. If they lump it to Heskey, Arbeloa, who seems not to be competent in the air, may be in for a rough time.

[usscouse]

I've got my DVR set up so Hopefully my snorting and sneezing will get me out of here today.

I'll wait and see which Liverpool team comes out today (Metaphorically).......It's a bloody roller coaster this season, isnitt...?????

[Gandalf The Red]

Gotta win this one Im starting to get the horrible stench of Toffee and fecal matter nearby, make it ******** off reds!

[drobny23]

We are in a battle for Europe. Check out the table. Observe the teams nipping at our heels. Resting Gerrard and Torres is out of the question. I can be persuaded to bench one of them. Save Sissoko, Hobbs, the 'B' strikers (whoever they are) for the Luton match.

We need to pick up all three of these points. We can't rest quality players as if there remains room for error.

[liverbird]

Getting ready to leave for the day and see the game.

[usscouse]

I'm off.....

Talk to you guys later.....maybe........:rolleyes:

YNWA