OK; enough celebrating over the win Saturday. Back to business. A must win, obviously. We're down 1-2 from the first leg. I'm sticking with the eleven that got us the win at So'ton. ...........Kirkland Carragher--Hyypia--Henchoz--Traore ..Diouf--Murphy--Gerrard--Riise ..........Heskey--Owen Subs: Dudek Cheyrou Smicer Diao Mellor Somehow I don't think GH will do this--though I hope he does. Sheffield Utd. are a pretty good side; I would expect we'll see them in the Prem next year. But at Anfield, with a final at stake, we ought to prevail. The key is to shut down Tonge much as we did Beattie on Saturday. I'd predict 2-0 to the Reds, with a slim chance it will be only 1-0. Mellor's away goal in the first leg may prove the difference, unless we can improve our offensive production. ----
Well that line up will get you fined and fired as manager cos Traore is suspended for this one Riise will probably revert to left back in Traore's absence, so Diao could come into the midfield. Personally I'd try someone else at left back and leave Riise at left midfield. Maybe Biscan or Vignal or something. If Riise moves back, Heskey may end back at left mid and after Saturday no-one wants that. So I would have: ...........Kirkland Carragher--Hyypia--Henchoz--Vignal ..Diouf--Murphy--Gerrard--Riise ..........Heskey--Owen
Uh-oh. Thought his suspension didn't kick in until Sunday. It's Henchoz only who sits against Palace. Riise to left back, I guess; but I don't like it either. Biscan or Smicer to left midfield. Keep everything else the same. Vignal, whom you listed as a possible, is out on loan. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2003/jan/14/N138514030114-1409.html So GH's job is safe for another week. ----
I hope Smicer is brought into the left midfield position and Diouf is kept on the right. Riise back to left back for the next couple of games, Traore will fill in for Henchoz on Sunday against Crystal Palace. Baros could come in to give Owen a rest in this game.
I'd gamble on Murphy and Djouf out wide right and left and Diao with Gerrard in the middle. Riise at left back, hopfully moving up often to support Djouf on the left in attack.
Personally, i'd like to see Sheffield Utd win. Its not every manager who can make all the Liverpool backroom staff cry like schoolgirls, and then get them all to bitch effeminatly about how they were treated roughly. In Warnock, United have a truly quality manager. If they win in Anfield, and they deserve to what with all the 'You've no chance at Anfield' rubbish they've been getting, then no doubt non-Liverpool fans will have something to remember fondly for a long time. And i think it can be done, although realistically i think it'll be 1-0 to Liverpool (Penalty) Now i'll bugger off before Matt Clark starts going on about how cute i am, and usscouse embarrasses himself by over reacting to naff Man Utd jokes
Get along, Kid Charlemagne... No comms for me today. Catching the replay at Summers later tonight. Oh, and if the guy who said to me at halftime two weeks ago "You're gonna want to do something else with that tie after the game" is reading this, don't ever give me any indication as to the result again.
Pre-match fun . . . http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N138610030121-1450.htm Gerard Houllier has promised his team's football will do the talking and silence their Sheffield critics during tonight's Worthington Cup semi-final at Anfield. Liverpool have been incensed by the pre-match talk coming out of Bramall Lane in which Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock and his assistant Kevin Blackwell have had far too much to say for their own good. Houllier isn't interested in any war of words and is prepared to let his players do the talking tonight as they bid to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit. The Liverpool boss said: "I will not be distracted by anything. We'll let our football do the talking now and the players and fans will be focused only on the game. "There has been a campaign going on - I don't need to say what it is - and our fans are the best when it comes to supporting the players and club when they need it most. "Whenever we have a big match you get this kind of thing happening. There have been attempts to distract us but we will remain professional. "We've had a difficult period but our fans have been with us all the way. We want to reward them by reaching a cup final. Our team will play for and with the supporters tonight. "We have been to places where we've had a hot reception. Tonight we are looking forward to some hot support. The players' performance can be enhanced by the fans from the first minute until the last. They will play their part, I'm sure of that." ----
I can assist with pbp if necessary. Line up according to the official site is: Kirkland Riise Henchoz Hyypia Carragher Smicer Gerrard Murphy Diouf Heskey Owen Subs: Dudek Baros Mellor Cheyrou Diao Kick off in 20 minutes
As well as live radio from the LFC official site for e-season ticket holders, there is free radio coverage via BBC 5 Live on the internet for this one. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2680649.stm for the link to the audio stream
If you need a hand, I've subscribed to the e-season ticket (more cost effective then spending $10 + transit+drinks at a bar to watch) so I'll be listening and can help.
Thanks. I know there are few out there who can't listen to the audio stream (free or not at work) so I'll update as frequently as I can. I have noticed a few overload messages on BS already today, so for those listening in, be patient I believe soccernet.com has a text comms going today too. Kick off in 5.
A couple of minutes in, still 0-0. Owen outpaces Page to Diouf leads to corner Cleared and Murphy forces a throw
Most play down the left at the moment. Lots of Riise throw-ins. Gerrard to Heskey to Diouf but Owen offside. Great play by Heskey and Gerrard.
Deflected shot by Sheff Utd, Kirkland saves. Murphy to Riise, forces a throw Heskey forces a good save. Turn and shot described as the "old Heskey" Sounds like he's playing well again. 18 mins 1-0
What are the tie breakers for this -- suppose Liverpool wins 1-0. Does that mean it's a straight 2-2 tie and they play extra time and then go to penalties or does Liverpool go through because they scored at Sheffield?