This is such a crucial match, and i will be very nervous! i am even more excited to be going to the game, i hope it can be a wonderful euro night. i remember i was at anfield at the roma match a couple of years back - brilliant anyway back on topic, Baros is supposed to be back for the game and after the victory against arsenal (& i am trying not to knee-jerk ) i think we are in a good position! i just hope with a few mins to go i am standing in the kop singing you'll never walk alone after a glorious night!
AS Monaco FC will be without Shabani Nonda and Jaroslav Plašil for the decisive UEFA Champions League Group A visit to RC Deportivo La Coruña on 8 December after both players suffered muscle strains.Nonda is monacos lead scorers with 10 goals in all competitions,so thats a massive blow!!Deportivo have improved alot since our match at the riazor,so i do see them beating or drawing against monaco!(lets not forget they did beat us,but they didnt play a good match,and had another draw in the french league) Oviously ,we would be more confortable if monaco dont manage to win,since we would just have to win against Olympiacos,and they would be quite happy since they would qualify aswell
Like Rafa says, we want to only think about the game in front of us, then the next. If we do that, and win each one, we will do well. So I'll think about this one starting at about 5 GMT on Saturday.
It would appear at first glance that Olympiakos would be the team most likely to come out with a win, however the last time Liverpool was underestimated i.e. against Arsenal, LFC came through. Not to jinx the team or anything, but with Gerrard getting his feet back under him, and X. Alonso playing like a man possessed Liverpool can certainly push for the victory. Not to forget Baros will be seeing some action. Key to the match; Liverpool has to control the flow of the game, and then play determined/consistent, and they could come out with a W.
wow we only need a 1-0 win. i just saw it on soccernet. GROUP A: [+] Olympiakos require only a point from their game at Liverpool to qualify. They will win the group if they beat Rafael Benitez's side. If they lose to Liverpool, then their fate will depend on both the scoreline in that match and Monaco's performance against Depor. Monaco also only need a point. Permutations: # If Liverpool fail to beat Olympiakos: Monaco and Olympiakos advance regardless of the result at the Riazor # Liverpool 1-0 Olympiakos, Liverpool 2-0 Olympiakos or greater: Liverpool will definitely qualify, Olympiakos will only qualify if Depor beat Monaco. # Liverpool 2-1 Olympiakos: This also applies to higher scoring games by the same margin. Liverpool will only qualify if Monaco draw with Depor, due to the Greek side's away goal. Olympiakos will only qualify if Monaco win or lose. Depor have already been eliminated http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=318243&cc=5739
wow,that makes things clear!!!But what happens if monaco drew and we beat Olympiacos????wont that mean that OLY and Liverpool qualify????if this does happen,we will all be with 10 points!We will qualify ahead of monaco because overall we beat them 2-1,and between Oly and Monaco,2-2,but Oly have the away goal ,so they would qualify ahead of them aswell!!! well,Olympiacos is surely the underdog in this game,but they could cause us some problem,but im still cretain that we will dominate the match!
What makes you say that? We are playing a Greek team at Anfield! Who would expect anything less than a win? We may have injuries, but we are still Liverpool.
Well,with what i saw from saturday,this would be my line-up:- ------------KIRK --Finnan--Carra--Hyypia--Riise --------Alonso-----DiDi----- --------Gerrard----Kewell--- -------BAROS--------MELLOR we have to go for the win, so we have to put a offensive side.Theres no second chances,so i hope rafa gets it right this time!
¨Former Brazil striker Rivaldo scored the lone goal Saturday to lift Olympiakos Piraeus into first place in the Greek league after beating rival Panathinaikos Athens 1-0 in the country's biggest derby.¨ Well ,thats kinda worying since theyll come to anfield all pumped up,but the good thing is that that 1-0 win was at there stadium,and even tough they play very good football in greece ,they dont have a very good record,so they will not be to confident coming to anfield!! Monaco won 2 : 0 against Rennes,so thell be pumped up for there clash against depor! Depor play on sunday,so well have to see what happens then! YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE
I don't hold my breath, so that I am not disappointed. The overall analysis says Liverpool has to win, and either shut out Olympiakos, or beat them by two goals. Not to forget Monaco's match against Depor. Home form hasn't been something anybody can really brag about.
We have gotten the results, however. Home Record 04/05 Premeirship: 6-0-1 :: 15 GF, 5 GA Carling Cup: 1-0-0 :: 2 GF, 0 GA CL Group A: 1-1-0 :: 2 GF, 0 GA Total: 8-1-1 :: 19 GF, 5 GA
We've been awesome at home. If it hadn't been for a lucky Birmingham goal our record would be perfect. I expect our lads to feed off the energy of the crowd and produce an inspired performance. 3-1 Pool.
i remember what happened last time rivaldo was at anfield. i was in the kop and we got beat 3-1 by barca, barca played like id never seen them before, world class - lets hope that there aint a repeat in rivaldos form like i said at the top of the thread i am extemely looking forward to the game, i am in the kop it should be a great atmosphere. however this morning when i had the radio on tickets were being advertised, lets hope there isnt any spare seats and this one is a sell out!
Rivaldo isn't the same player as he was then, and this time the players around him won't be nearly as good. Its one thing to be beaten by Olympiakos in Greece, but at Anfield its a totally different story. We need a convincing result to show that our season hasn't been a complete failure up to this point.
Kirkland Finnan Sami, Jamie, Riise ...........Didi Xabi........... Nunez............... Kewell ............Gerrard........... ..........Baros............... Sorry but Mellor should not be starting every match for Liverpool. He is not good enough. Scored a great goal vs arsenal. But let's be serious here. And please don't give Josemi his starting spot back, Finnan has earned it.
There's no telling whether Mellor is good enough or not until has has had a run of games in which to make the case either way. His form in the reserves is tremendous - and has been for three years now. He broke Rushie's reserves scoring record a year or so ago. He should not be starting every match, I agree with that, but only for reasons of protection. Above and beyond that, he's got a big role to play for us over the coming months - a period that will probably define what his future at the club is to be.
yeah,why not give him a chance????He wont be the fastest out there,but i think he can complement Baros well.Baros is a player with alot of pace and skill, but doesnt think to much or look for a partner to often!!!On the other hand,Mellor is not the quickets lad or is not that giffted ,but he does play with his heart,uses alot his brain and does look for partenrs! mellor is not that great with the ball,but what trubels defenders are his runs without the ball!!!
The lineup I would choose is: -----------------Kirkland Finnan---Carragher--Hyppia--Traore Nunez-----Gerrard---Alonso--Riise ---------------Kewell -----------------Baros Unlucky for Hamann, but we really need to go after them in this one. Traore deserves his place back since he was on great form before his injury. Riise is capable of getting a goal from the midfield too. I would like to see Gerrard and Alonso partnered in the midfield without Hamann behind them.
my team exactly, and many people's views here on merseyside mellor had the chance to impress last season at west ham, and failed to do it in div1, what makes you think he is CL quality??
I dont know why you guys like Traore so much!He had 1 good match and you guys put him in the starting line-up for all the games!!The goal at blackburn that cost us the win was his fault,the goal against Monaco was his fault too(yeah, i know he did a great save there,and that the goal was a hand ball,but he lost the ball in the mid-field trying to drible nonda,and left a big gap in the back!!)With riise and finnan at the back,the defence has been great,so why change it??Riise is not a left winger,so its useless having two LB in the left if we need to win this game!Gerrard has been great just behind the strikers,so why put him in a more defensive role if we have someone like DiDi,who has been plaing quite well!
I am not very big on Traore he gives the ball up too easily. On defense he is good. but he is a stiff with the ball. I doubt he'll be back over the summer. BTW the reds have targeted CB Ceasar of Deportivo.
Only one good match, eh? I seem to recall Traore playing very well in almost every single game he has played in up until his injury. There is no reason NOT to have him in the starting XI.
Agree. He is a better defender than Riise, and he is better going foward than people give him credit for. Which goal against Blackburn was his fault? All I remember was seeing Emerton make Josemi look stupid. Most of the goals we have conceded this season have come from the left wing of the opposition. Traore has been absolutley solid on the other side of the pitch. I agree that Josemi doesn't deserve to get his place back, but Traore should. Riise hasn't done anything special to keep his spot. With Garcia out, I think our best attacking side would be with Kewell in a more central role, leaving Riise our best option on the left wing.
traore has done great a great job for us and he should not be benched.If some of the never walk alone in this thread dont like it then come to my house for a hadkerchief.I mean you cannot blame him for whatever losses you people talk about.he is agreat player with great potential he deserves a spot unlike josemi where whenever he gets the ball you close your eyes and pray to god please dont make him screw up. by the way you folks realise that we need to win the least by 2-0 well i think we should all watch the match its crucial. mellor is good but what to do.