[kopiteinkc]

This thread will contain the result later today.

If anyone is willing to give updates on the match, those of us too cheap to buy the e-season ticket would appreciate it!

[scouseratheart]

i second that... .tv is running slow as crap right now...

[dcc134]

Game starts 3.30 est


I can do the first half, but it is friday, and I get out of work at 4.

I'll try and find the lineups awhile.

[kopiteinkc]

Very much appreciated!

Any takers for the second half?

[dcc134]

No teamsheet yet.

Jari is out for a month with a knee injury.

Heskey is probably out another week with his hamstring injury

Owen is likely going to rest tonight due to a groin injury.

Carrager trained last night, but is also expected to miss the game tonight

[dcc134]

My predicted lineup

Dudek

Babbel Henchoz Hyppia Riise
Gerrard Hamman Cheyrou Berger
Diouf Baros

[kopiteinkc]

from shankly gates this rather long preview:

Real Madrid preview

By James Carroll
Date: 2/8/2002

Liverpool's pre-season preparations continue tonight as they take on European Champions Real Madrid in the prestigious Madrid tournament with Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard both set to figure for the reds.


Gerard has recovered from an thigh injury and is set to play some part in the Madrid tournament whether it be tonight or on Sunday.

The England international midfielder came through a training session yesterday unscathed but is likely to start tonight's game on the bench. Owen too could start the game on the bench after he missed training yesterday but he is still set to figure at some point.

Tonight's game is certainly a big test for Liverpool and while both sides are likely to rotate their teams heavily, reds' boss Gerard Houllier says that he is delighted to be taking on the Spanish giants.

He says: "I deliberately wanted to play much tougher opposition in our pre-season schedule this year. To play Lazio, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich or AC Milan gives us the kind of hard test we are looking for."

"Obviously none of us are at the kind of level of fitness or sharpness we would be if these were Champions' League matches, but the players will benefit from the experience of playing in the Bernabeu Stadium."

"It will hold us in good stead if we have to play Real again here in a more competitive game. Real are the European Champions so, at the moment, they are the best in Europe. It's an honour for the club to be invited here to play them in this event."

"Our last two games before the Community Shield will be as difficult as they could be so by the end of the weekend we will be much nearer the level we want to be."

"I am going to have to be cautious with one or two players, especially the World Cup ones. I will give them a few free days. The problem is not a physical one but more of a mental one. It is nothing serious but I have to be wary about mental fatigue," added Houllier.

If Liverpool win tonight's game then they will face the winners of the AC Milan v Bayern Munich clash on Saturday evening. If they are defeated, they will go into a 3rd/4th place play-off against the losers of the other tie.

The tournament has been set up so that the four most successful teams in European history can face each other. Real lead the way with nine European Cup wins, the last being in May, and Houllier has been quick to praise the hosts.

"This game reminds me of the match we played last season in the Super Cup final because we are playing the Champions of Europe," said Houllier.

"The difference is that this game is at a different stage of the season and both teams will be rotating players during the match."

"Real Madrid have been the best team in Europe over the last five or six years. They have won three Champions League finals and they have always managed to reach at least the quarter final of the competition. That tells you about their consistency at the top level."

"We are always aiming for the top ourselves. We want to aim for the moon and if we do that then maybe we will land among the stars."

"We still have some work to do to reach Real Madrid's level though. We need a bit more experience but that will come with time. First we need to enjoy at least the same kind of season we did last year."

Meanwhile, former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman has attempted to play down the hype surrounding the game. The Real Madrid star left Anfield under the bosman ruling in 1999 to move to Spain and he says that fans should read too much into the result.

"It's only a friendly game," said McManaman. "We haven't got many of our players back yet because our season doesn't start for another month."

"But if you're going to play a friendly game then this is a nice one to play for both sides. You can't read anything into the result though."

"We've only had one decent pre-season game so far so I wouldn't read too much into what happens in this match."

"Our Spanish World Cup stars, like Raul, won't be playing and we will make a lot of changes at half time. But it should still be a good game for the fans."

Liverpool are set to start with Senegal international striker El-Hadji Diouf in attack alongside Emile Heskey. Bruno Cheyrou will contonue in midfielder after being so impressive in Tuesday night's game with Lazio.

[dcc134]

Here is the teamsheet as per the turnstile
starters
Jerzy Dudek
Stephane Henchoz
Sami Hyypia
Abel Xavier
Gregory Vignal
Vladimir Smicer
Dietmar Hamann
Danny Murphy
John Arne Riise
Emile Heskey
El-Hadji Diouf
subs :
Chris Kirkland
Patrik Berger
Nick Barmby
Bernard Diomede
Igor Biscan
Bruno Cheyrou
Djimi Traore


Audio just came on, fairly poor reception so for.

[kopiteinkc]

Apparently 1,000 Reds fans made the trip to Spain.

[dcc134]

Zidane and Figo playing, no Raul, no roberto carlos.