Liverpool v. Internazionale [R] 1st Leg

[AussieLFCfan]

At the request of YNWAYNWA.......

-----------------Reina----------------
Arbeloa----Carra-----Agger/Hyppia----Riise
Pennant----Gerrard---Masch----Babel
------------Crouch---Torres-----------

SUBS: Itandje, Kewell, Benayoun, Kuyt, Alonso, Skrtel, Lucas.

Is this Rafa's last chance?

[ForeverRed]

Oh boy.

This could either be Rafa's saving grace and a much needed burst of confidence OR the final nail in his coffin and another humiliating chapter in our disapointing season.

[TheLaughingMan]

Not likely, but it's what I'd like to see (assuming Agger is still out):

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

Finnan-------------Carra---------------Arbs

----------Lucas------------Masch-----------

Pennant-----------Gerrard------------Babel

------------Kuyt--------Torres--------------

Bench: Itandje, Crouch, Yossi, Skrtel, Hyppia, Riise, Xabi

I think if Rafa can win this game, he can lose at the San Siro, but only if he grabs fourth in the league.

[rochester rhinos]

Not likely, but it's what I'd like to see:

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

Finnan-------------Carra---------------Arbs

----------Lucas------------Masch-----------

Pennant-----------Gerrard------------Babel

------------Kuyt--------Torres--------------

Bench: Itandje, Crouch, Yossi, Skrtel, Hyppia, Riise, Xabithree in the back huh thats pretty daring, considering Rafas job is on the line

[TheLaughingMan]

Rafa's job being on the line is exactly why I say put three in the back. A home draw will suffice, sure, but a win rekindles both the team and the supporters. Ibrahimovic may be the top scorer in the CL, but if Liverpool can control the pace of play in the middle and play mistake-free ball, I think they can contain Inter's offense and pull out a needed win.

[rochester rhinos]

Rafa's job being on the line is exactly why I say put three in the back. A draw will suffice, sure, but a win rekindles both the team and the supporters. Ibrahimovic may be the top scorer in the CL, but if Liverpool can control the pace of play in the middle and play mistake-free ball, I think they can contain Inter's offense and pull out a needed win.If Leiva and







mascherano have a good game than your prob right Pool could control the game...are Leiva and Masch that much better than Momo?

[Red Bird]

A side note from the Barnsley match. Just seen Benitez being interviewed by BBC. He was absolutley seething and without using so many words blamed the strikers. Expect a massive change on Tuesday.

Whihch bring sme back on topic. At their best, Mascherano and Sissoko were almost as good as each with former just shading it because he rarely wastes a pass. Sissoko, however, alarmingly declined after a shoulder injury with his passing rapidly going potty.

As for the defenders, three at the back is what has won us many crunch games in the past when Benitez has had to gamble. I expect a gamble but not recklessness. Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano in central midfield wouldn't be too bad. For all that he gave the ball away for their equaliser, I thought Alonso did pretty well against Barnsley. The real problem, as royalstilton and others implicitly pointed out in the Barnsley match thread, is who plays with Torres up front with neither Crouch nor Kuijt exactly covering themselves in glory yesterday. I'd take a gamble and put one of Babel, Benayoun or Kewell behind Torres. The other two can then fight it out for the other wide position.

I'm assuming Agger is still out:-

-----------------------Reina----------------------------
----------Skrtle----------Hyypia---------Carragher---------
---Pennant-----Gerrard----Mascherano------Alonso----Kewell/Babel
----------------------Benayoun------------------------------
------------------------------------Torres------------------------

Subs:-
Itandje
Riise
Kewell/Babel
Leiva
Finnan
Crouch
San Jose

My suspicion is that, with Pennant on one wing, Benitez will start with Crouch and play narrow on the left with Riise as left wing-back.

[ChanceTheDog]

I hope we stick with a 4-4-2, so I'm going with:

-----------------Reina-------------------
Finnan------Carra-----Hyypia--------Arb's
Yossi------Gerrard------Masch------Babel
------------Crouch-----Torres-----------

[Wingtips1]

-----------reina
finnan--carra--sami--arbs
--------masch---xabi
pennant----SG-------Babel
-----------Torres

this is exactly the type of game that Rafa will play conservative in. he is going to play SG behind torres hoping to 'negate' some of inter's dominance in the midfield, when he should realize we're at home and Inter should be adjusting to our tactics.

[TheLaughingMan]

A For all that he gave the ball away for their equaliser, I thought Alonso did pretty well against Barnsley.
Alonso is one of the best options for us, especially on form, but do you think he has enough match time under his belt to be fit enough and recovered from injury to properly deal with what Inter throws our way? That's my biggest concern with him as a starter.

[Red Bird]

-----------reina
finnan--carra--sami--arbs
--------masch---xabi
pennant----SG-------Babel
-----------Torres

this is exactly the type of game that Rafa will play conservative in. he is going to play SG behind torres hoping to 'negate' some of inter's dominance in the midfield, when he should realize we're at home and Inter should be adjusting to our tactics.
This formation can work as long as we attack the box in numbers when we have the ball. More likely, however, the ball will be lumped over the mid fielders' heads to a frustratingly isolated Torres who will be hemmed in by 5 Inter players while the nearest Liverpool player is closer to the centre-line than the 18 yard area.

[liverbird]

Took a whole day to get over yesterday. I don't hold much positive thoughts for this game. Torres and Crouch up front. Sami and JC at the back. Can't have a guy coming back after 4 months to mark Imbrimovoc. Mash, Gerrard, Pennat and Babel. Pick any of our crap fullbacks. I am praying for a miracle.

[YNWAYNWA]

-----------reina
finnan--carra--sami--arbs
--------masch---xabi
pennant----SG-------Babel
-----------Torres

this is exactly the type of game that Rafa will play conservative in. he is going to play SG behind torres hoping to 'negate' some of inter's dominance in the midfield, when he should realize we're at home and Inter should be adjusting to our tactics.

I'd go with that (maybe Arbs @ RB and Riise @ LB), Babel often teaming up w/ Torres up top (our best hopes these days)

will Inter's midfield be that dominant?

this bit suggests not:
A possible setback for Inter is that those players who best know Anfield, best know the habits of English football, are short of match fitness. Midfielder Olivier Dacourt, once of Everton and Leeds, has missed a large part of the season; ditto Patrick Vieira, late of Arsenal, whose comeback from injury was interrupted last weekend by a red card and subsequent suspension. Dejan Stankovic and Figo also nurse wounds, making the likely Inter midfield more mundane than it might have been. “Inter have actually had bad luck this season with injuries,” says Hodgson, “but people forget that because it’s such a big bench there.” link (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/mediawatch/drilldown/MW12496080217-1240.htm)

Rafa isn't possibly going to start Harry, is he? :eek:

[YNWAYNWA]

if you want to get a little fired up for Inter you may want to check out Inter '65: The True Story on lfctv @ 4PM ET

it's archived as well

[usscouse]

Took a whole day to get over yesterday. I don't hold much positive thoughts for this game. Torres and Crouch up front. Sami and JC at the back. Can't have a guy coming back after 4 months to mark Imbrimovoc. Mash, Gerrard, Pennat and Babel. Pick any of our crap fullbacks. I am praying for a miracle.I'm still having trouble with yesterday. Losing, the way we lost and the reactions from so called Liverpool fans and the everpresent trolls.

So let's look at this as a fresh start. We're the freaking HOME TEAM. It's not the time to hide in a shell play for a draw and hope they give up a goal on the break at the San Siro.

We Need a win specifically a Clean sheet win. We need to play some real and attractive football to do it as well.

If they score first.....we're in deep dark chocolate kaka, I worry about our ability to come back without leaving us open for more.

Two goals (2-0) for us might do the trick. They'll have to come at us after that and make for an interesting series. But I'm not the foundation of confidence right at the moment.

[canzano55]

Liverpool always restore their grace in Champions League and manage to shock their opponents everytime.

However what makes this game slightly different is the unorthodox opponent involved. Inter plays some very conservative, monotone football which doesn't exactly do Liverpool any favors I think.

I still think Liverpool is going to win this series, I predicted it back in January and I'm sticking by that prediction.

[burning247]

I might be stepping on some toes but Fabio, Kewell, and Riise don't belong on a champions league team. I'm not high on Arbs but we don't have much choice.


-------------Reina-------------
Finnan----Skrtel-----Carra-----Arbs
-----------Macherano-----------
-Benayoun-----------------Pennant
------------Gerrard------------
-----Torres--------------Babel-----

Of course that won't happen, but I think it'd be our best bet. Finnan and Arbs aren't good enough but they're the best we got. The combination of Hyypia giving up some odd balls and him overall being old, I would rather Skrtel get a run out after his great game against Chelsea. Macherano and Gerrard are locks. Say what you want about Benayoun, he is our most dangerous winger. Pennant isn't good enough but Kewell is shocking so we'll run him out. Babel and Torres running at you all game is enough to make any defense soil themselves, otherwise put Crouch up front and Babel on the left instead of Pennant.

Despite how sick to death I am about yesterday, I could still see us winning this game. So 2-1 to the good.

[usscouse]

I might be stepping on some toes but Fabio, Kewell, and Riise don't belong on a champions league team. I'm not high on Arbs but we don't have much choice.


-------------Reina-------------
Finnan----Skrtel-----Carra-----Arbs
-----------Macherano-----------
-Benayoun-----------------Pennant
------------Gerrard------------
-----Torres--------------Babel-----

Of course that won't happen, but I think it'd be our best bet. Finnan and Arbs aren't good enough but they're the best we got. The combination of Hyypia giving up some odd balls and him overall being old, I would rather Skrtel get a run out after his great game against Chelsea. Macherano and Gerrard are locks. Say what you want about Benayoun, he is our most dangerous winger. Pennant isn't good enough but Kewell is shocking so we'll run him out. Babel and Torres running at you all game is enough to make any defense soil themselves, otherwise put Crouch up front and Babel on the left instead of Pennant.

Despite how sick to death I am about yesterday, I could still see us winning this game. So 2-1 to the good.All good thoughts..... but 2-1 for us at Anfield and I'm afraid this thing is done. They'd only need one goal in the San Siro to win. As our friend from Milan states they're a well organized defensive team.

[Borriello]

As much as I disliked everything and anything associated with Liverpool last year. I must say that this Tuesday I'm becoming a reds fan myself.

I have a deep, burning hatred for Inter, and hope the worst for them every year.

Since I doubt most of you Liverpool fans have been able to watch Inter this year in the serie A. Let me give you a very unbiased scouting report. Inter is the biggest fraud team in Europe. Even the Italian commentators have admitted to their luck. They've been basically handed a number of games by dubious referee decisions. I've watched every Inter game this season, and I can tell you guys that this is a team that has been OUTPLAYED/OUTCLASSED by the likes of Catania/Parma and other serie A bottom dwellers.

GO LIVERPOOL!

[Massimo_Oddo]

Just thought id post this here
Inters likely starting lineup:

JC
Maicon Cordoba Materazzi Chivu
Zanetti Vieira Cambiasso Stankovic
Ibra Cruz

Another possibility is Chivu playing in midfield instead of Vieira (not match fit, hasnt played much this season) and Maxwell coming in at LB who has been impressive recently.

Samuel and Dacourt are out which is a blow for them since they were playing so well but they have more than enough cover.

Crouch would be nullified by Materazzi so I wouldnt start him. Will be interesting to see how Cordoba deals with Torres though, he could struggle. BTW, is Torres fully fit for this game? or is he a doubt? Watch out for Suazo if he comes off the bench, could cause your backline some problems and Crespo also, he always seems to score against Liverpool but he's been having some troubles recently.