First leg at Anfield tomorrow, 26 February. Heskey, Pongolle, Diao, Smicer unavailable: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N143968040225-1328.htm Levski are second in the Bulgarian league: http://www.bulgarian-football.com/apfg.html http://levski.bulgarian-football.com/ Soccernet preview: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=140941&cc=5739 Lineup: ....................Dudek Finnan--Henchoz--Hyypia--Carragher Murphy--Hamann--Gerrard--Cheyrou ................Owen--Baros Subs: Kirkland Biscan Riise Traore Diouf Kewell? Le Tallec I don't know how Kewell is progressing with the ankle, so I went with Cheyrou by default. And the match report I read indicated that Diouf sucked in his last reserve appearance, so I picked Murphy. Le Tallec didn't impress me in the FA Cup on Sunday. Discuss. . . -----
i think they should start murphy over le tallec also, he didnt show that much against portsmouth. i just wish there was someone else to take the place of cheyrou, he hasnt played well since his run of a few good games, and hes just starting to get annoying on the pitch
My thoughts, too. IF Kewell can start in his place, that would be my preference. But I just have seen nothing about his progress with the ankle--the suspension Sunday supposedly gave him more time to heal, but I can't find an update. ----
I think that Kewell will play and that Diouf will play on the right. I might be wrong but that's what I suspect.
Guardian reports this lineup for the game: Liverpool (4-1-3-2): Kirkland; Finnan, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher; Hamann; Murphy, Gerrard, Kewell; Baros, Owen.
Between our Cup exit on Sunday and my trip to Vegas tomorrow morning, I'm having an awfully difficult time getting ready for this match. Maybe after lunch I'll be more enthusiastic...
I think you're half right, LB. With his not being ruled out--the way Heskey was, for example--I'm guessing Harry is in. Diouf seems still to be out of favor from that mess with the Senegalese Federation. And he was unimpressive in the reserves last time out: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2004/feb/23/N143945040223-2227.html Baros is definitiely starting, BTW, which I think is a real positive: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N143983040226-1422.htm ----
I'm at a common internet station in San Francisco -- avoiding a really boring conference session -- I hope to get back at noon to catch somebody reporting the game.
Houllier: "We'll give sweat and blood tonight." http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N143982040226-1416.htm Those sweating and bleeding will include: .....................Kirkland Finnan--Henchoz--Hyypia--Carragher ....Murphy--Hamann--Gerrard--Kewell ..................Owen--Baros Subs: Welsh Traore Le Tallec Diouf Cheyrou Biscan Dudek ----
Kirkland Finnan Henchoz Hyypia Carragher Hamann Gerrard Murphy Kewell Owen Baros Subs: Dudek Diouf Biscan Le Tallec Traore Welsh Cheyrou
Dimitar Ivankov 27 Georgi Markov 35 Iliyan Stoyanov 22 Elin Topuzakov 11 Daniel Borimirov 7 Asen Bukarev 13 Kostantin Golovskoy 17 Omonigo Temile 26 Kostadin Vidolov 38 Lucio Wagner 25 Georgi Ivanov 90 Georgi Petkov 1 Martin Stankov 23 Stanislav Angelov 20 Biser Ivanov 4 Sasha Simonovic 15 Dmitar Telkiyski 21 Georgi Chilikov 19
As if it wasn't bad enough that the office firewall prevents streaming audio and video, now the danged computer isn't running the javascripts necessary for the text commentary. Thank god for BigSoccer!
By the way, Ed, I've been meaning to tell you that I love your avatar. That was one of the funniest half-hours I've ever seen.
Baros takes on a few players in the box and gets away, but his shot is blocked. Kewell concedes a free kick 30 yards out on the right. Cleared by Sami.
Baros turns his defender in the box and is taken down, but no penalty is awarded, nor is Baros booked.
Defender makes a mistake and Kewell gets in, but the defender recovers in time to concede a corner. Baros gets a head to Stevie's ball, but it's just wide. Keeper was completely lost on it.
Didi shoots from distance on the right, but it's wide. Shot from Sofia catches Kirkland by surprise, but he gets a finger to it and it's a corner. Headed behind by Henchoz. Second corner is cleared.