Yep. Must be. He isn't listed among the 24. He has signed an extension. No worries. We will have our residential badass back soon enough.
Even if he is going to be a part of our 08/09 season, he wouldnt be playing in this friendly, and none of the Spanish players would be due to their participation in the Confederations Cup.
Agger is back in England getting treatment for a back injury. If he recovers sufficiently he will rejoin the squad.
I'm just hoping some of the young players get a good amount of time like last year. Let the veterans rest. It should hopefully be a long and eventful season.
That's disappointing. At least it's only pre-season and he has time to recover before the season starts.
I'll give it a try: ------------Cavalieri Degen--San Jose--Carragher--Insua El Zhar---Spearing---Gerrard--Babel ---------Voronin--Nemeth --------------Martin Johnson--Skrtel--Kelly--Darby Kuyt--Lucas--Plessis--Benayoun -------------Pacheco -------------Ngog Extra: Ayala and Gulacsi We don't have a left back in the 2nd half team, so I'm guessing Rafa will use Darby there. Unless Ayala can play left back?
1st Half Cavalieri Degen - Carra - San Jose - Insua El Zhar - Gerrard - Spearing - Babel Voronin - Nemeth 2nd Half Gulacsi Johnson - Kelly - Skrtel - Darby Kuyt - Lucas - Plessis - Benayoun Ngog - Pacheco Suss...did you have to do it as well Darby played LB for the majority of the time for the reserves last season with Mendy playing at RB, so im guessing he'll be there. Both teams are rather interesting as the teams will provide a very different approach, tactically to each half.
i'm excited to see nemeth play with some first-teamers... i don't remember seeing him in the preseason last year... wasn't he injured? i was impressed with pacheco, though... i'm betting on him to bag a goal...
It took St. Gallen about 8 minutes to get their ball out of their half. Their keeper has looked good, but that's in part due to the fact we keep putting our shots directly at him. Also, they're abusing the hell out of Babel. If they want a fight, it's HHH they should be messing with.
St. Gallen is getting the better chances. Everytime Degen goes down or gets fouled I always hold my breath. One time he went down, and it was to tie his shoe and I was still worried. Degen has decent pace and gets forward well, as does Insua. However, our defense (aside from Carragher) looks a little out of sorts. Spearing and Gerrard are playing well. I haven't seen much of NEZ. Voronin and Babel are working hard and getting on the ball a lot. Nemeth is meh. All to be expected as it is pre-season.
Not a very impressive first half from Liverpool. I have to say that Gallen had the better of the play and better chances. Babel looked bright early on and Nemeth doesn't look out of place with the first team. Spearing did well enough. He is very composed on the ball. Degen struggled. He looked lost on a few occasions when crosses came in from the other side. He didn't provide much going forward either. Its the first game of the preseason so I don't want to over analyze it. Hopefully we will see a goal in the 2nd half.
Dreads. And I have a feeling Rafa played him on the left because Dossena isn't back and he wants to give a Darby a run out at right back. We all know Johnson can play right back. This run out at left back is just to get him fitness.
Johnson just switched to the right and set up a really nice interplay ending with nice cross to the far post... man he looks young...
and that's full time. It ends on nice shot from Benayoun, which is unfortunately saved by the keeper.
Well. When comparing the fringe players here are my thoughts for this game. Kelly was better than Ayala. Degen was slightly better than Darby. Spearing was better than Plessis. Pacheco looked more exciting and more dangerous than Nemeth. Voronin worked hard, but wasn't outstanding by any means.