Preston North End v. Liverpool - FA Cup - Jan 3rd [R]

[liverbird]

Cavi
Darby, Agger, Hyppia, Insua
Mascherano, Spearing
El Zhar, Lucas, Babel
Ngog

Reina, Gerrard, Keane, Benayoun, Skirt, Carragher, Riera

what do the rest of you guess?

[newterp]

Cavi
Darby, Agger, Hyppia, Insua
Mascherano, Spearing
El Zhar, Lucas, Babel
Ngog

Reina, Gerrard, Keane, Benayoun, Skirt, Carragher, Riera

what do the rest of you guess?

Keane will likely play - as will Torres for a bit.....I think Rafa wants to field a strong team here as well. Just guessing.

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

Cavi
Darby, Agger, Hyppia, Insua
Mascherano, Spearing
El Zhar, Lucas, Babel
Ngog

Reina, Gerrard, Keane, Benayoun, Skirt, Carragher, Riera

what do the rest of you guess?

I think Dossena will play, just to see if he has progressed over the last month. Torres and Skrtel will play if there totally fit, its important the players get there match fitness levels up. So my team would be:-

---------------Cav-------------------
--Darby--Agger----Skrtel--Dossena--
--Benayoun--Lucas---Plessis---Babel--
-------------Keane-------------------
-----------------Torres---------------

[liverbird]

I don't think our 30 goal a year striker will be risked in his first return against a bunch of agricultural players from the Fizzy drink league

[usscouse]

Much as I think the 3rd round of the FA Cup is one of the most fun days on the Engerlish football calendar. I can't see Rafa putting out his first team for this.

We have a good start to our season and in with a 1 in 3 chance for top spot, I doubt he'll do anything to jeopardize that. Put on the Kids....with Carra of course. :)

[newterp]

Much as I think the 3rd round of the FA Cup is one of the most fun days on the Engerlish football calendar. I can't see Rafa putting out his first team for this.

We have a good start to our season and in with a 1 in 3 chance for top spot, I doubt he'll do anything to jeopardize that. Put on the Kids....with Carra of course. :)

yikes - that's the 1 guys that I think will definitely be rested.

Cav
darby---Skrtel---Agger---Insua
babel--Plessis---Spearing--El Zhar
Ngog----Keane

[Suss]

These are always dangerous fixtures. We are talking about which players should be rested, and for Preston this is the biggest game of the year.

Hopefully Torres at least gets a run out. Usually Rafa likes giving players 30 minutes as a sub before they make their full comeback and start a match.

[usscouse]

yikes - that's the 1 guys that I think will definitely be rested.

Cav
darby---Skrtel---Agger---Insua
babel--Plessis---Spearing--El Zhar
Ngog----Keane

That was a little humour there :) LB thinks Mr Liverpool wants to play in every match. He goes and tosses dishes around his restaurant if he's not playing.

http://www.cafesportsengland.com/images/db.gif

[liverbird]

That was a little humour there :) LB thinks Mr Liverpool wants to play in every match. He goes and tosses dishes around his restaurant if he's not playing.

http://www.cafesportsengland.com/images/db.gif
Jamie's been ever present in the league so I think this'll be his rest. Skirt is the injured comeback who plays here. who knows maybe Emile will lead the line:D or is he Cup tied?

[royalstilton]

Burnley

[liverbird]

burnley wtf?

[royalstilton]

wtf?
surely you 'member the wonderful 3rd round FA Cup match against Burnley.

personally, even though it may require Liverpool to play a more rigorous schedule, i would rather see a squad on the pitch that can easily trounce PNE, who, if you aren't keeping tabs, are 7 in the CCC and scoring quite well at home, thank you very much.

and, by cracky, they feature the Gunner Killer, Neil Mellor, late of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

[liverbird]

surely you 'member the wonderful 3rd round FA Cup match against Burnley.

personally, even though it may require Liverpool to play a more rigorous schedule, i would rather see a squad on the pitch that can easily trounce PNE, who, if you aren't keeping tabs, are 7 in the CCC and scoring quite well at home, thank you very much.

and, by cracky, they feature the Gunner Killer, Neil Mellor, late of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

I think the side I picked is more than capable of winning this game.

[royalstilton]

I think the side I picked is more than capable of winning this game.I ain't down with "capable", bro', nor "more than capable". I want "certain". Liverpool has a good chance this season for a treble.

Seriously.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

---------------------Cavalieri------------------------
Darby-------Hyypia----------Skrtel--------Dossena
--------------Plessis----------Alonso-----------------
Kuyt------------------Gerrard------------------Babel
------------------------Keane-------------------------

Subs - Gulacsi, Agger, Arbeloa, Lucas, Benayoun, Riera, Torres

If we are up by a 2 goal margin after half time. I think we can put on Torres and Arbeloa for run outs, just to get their legs back from injury time off. Also Lucas and Riera could see some time off the bench.

Once we get a lead, I would expect that Rafa pulls Gerrard, Keane, and Kuyt off the pitch, unless there are major injury complications with Skrtel.

0-2 to the good.

If we have a two-goal lead at half, we can pull Gerrard and put on Lucas.

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

---------------------Cavalieri------------------------
Darby-------Hyypia----------Skrtel--------Dossena
--------------Plessis----------Alonso-----------------
Kuyt------------------Gerrard------------------Babel
------------------------Keane-------------------------


You want Kuyt to actually play in this one....:eek:...i know hes super man, but lets not push it...hahahahahaha.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

You want Kuyt to actually play in this one....:eek:...i know hes super man, but lets not push it...hahahahahaha.

"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more."

[Grinners89]

What a great way to end the year, and hopefully a great game to start 2009 with the youngsters showing what they've got.

This is tough to predict...Degen, Dossena and Skrtel are all coming back from an injury so i doubt they will all start, and i dont know whether Degen and Dossena will be ready to play. Plessis has had a fairly average year so far in the ressies while Spearing is getting better with each match and is now ahead of Plessis. El Zhar will certainly start, same with Babel who needs 90 minutes to get some confidence and match fitness back. Keane will be fresh, while Ngog has featured as a sub in a fair few matches recently. Lucas definitely should start to continue his good form.

Cavalieri
Darby Skrtel Hyypia Dossena
El Zhar Spearing Lucas Babel
Ngog Keane

Subs: Gulacsi, Degen, Agger, Xabi, Benayoun, Riera, Torres

[USvsIRELAND]

Rest people. We're top of the league and need to stay there.

[royalstilton]

you guys are crazy with this resting the front line players. Benitez may choose to do it, but January is the softest month in the EPL schedule. 3 matches with an extra day of rest between.
Saturday 10 January -- Stoke away
Monday 19 January -- Merseyside Derby at Anfield
Tuesday 27 January -- Wigan away

win the next game on the schedule. lock away the result. then move on.