Portsmouth has been tricky up front this year to say the least. Sami and Agger need to stay sharp and keep Kanu quiet, or hopefully we grab an early goal. I'd like to say 1-0 , but I really do see Portsmouth scoring one here. 2-1 to the good guys
I was surprised his speedy Gonzalez goal didn't even make the shortlist for the BBC goal of the month. I've never even seen little Mickey cover half a pitch at that speed. Incredible. Good feet + double speed = damger man (or a second rate Babel)
Ugh, god, don't remind me! Even more frustrating was Harry Rednose stuffing nine men in the back. Small teams tend to do that. No one died during internationals today, right? Right. I like the look of this lineup for Saturday: -------------------Reina Arbs-----Agger--------------Hyypia--------JAR Pennant-------Alonso-------Momo--------Yossi ------------Kuyt---------Torres Subs: Itandje Hobbs Gerrard Babel Crouch
Riena arbs cara agger fabio pennant momo xabi ?kewell crouch kuyt Based on who played and who didnt and that we have a CL game on tue. Although fabio and Sir Hairy may still be injured.
gerrard will be playing - and I think Xabi too. PEnnant for sure. Babel played both Hollands game - for all 180 - I think he sits. But I can see Kuyt and Crouch - as neither played at all (brouch played a total of 10 minutes in 2 games.). You can have Torres be a 2nd half sub, as well as babel. and Sissoko.
I doubt that either Gerrard or Carragher will play on saturday. I believe we have a squad to beat Pompey without them. I expect Rafa to play a stronger squad against Porto, thus resting a few players whove played on internationals. Highly possible that Kuyt remains on the bench and that Voronin starts next to Torres.
I think Rafa will rest alot of familiar faces as well, but I also think that the quality that we have will mean that there is little to no drop off. We are going to win the league this season and we can't let points like these go uncollected. We must work together and work hard in order to stake a claim on all 3 points at Fratton park.
Finnan---Carra----Agger---Arbs Pennant----Gerrard----Xabi-----Babel -----------Kuyt-----Crouch--------- Hyppia Crouch Riise Torres Sissoko Portsmouth 0 - 2 Liverpool
Crouch benched & starting? I think crouch really needs a start for us, we need to keep him happy and the next two games will test the squad again. Or is he saved for a start against Porto?
Changing my lineup a little ------------------Reina------------------ Arbs-------Sami-------Agger-----Riise Pennant---Sissoko---Alonso-----Yossi ------------Crouch---Kuyt-------------- Subs Itandje Carra Aurelio Babel Torres
I defenitly agree that Crouch needs to start, but I don't think it will happen before the Birmingham game. Pompey....Torres-Voronin Porto....Torres-Kuyt Birmingham....Crouch-Voronin
I'm not gonna put what Rafa will choose... cause if it was hard to figure it out last season, its next to impossible now. I'll just choose something a little different Reina Arebola Carra Swagger Riise Gerrard Xabi Momo Voronin Crouch Torres
from .tv Jamie Carragher has won his battle to be fit for Liverpool's clash at Portsmouth at the weekend. The Liverpool defender has overcome his broken rib injury and has trained normally with his team-mates at Melwood this week. He is expected to go straight back into the side for Saturday lunchtime's game at Fratton Park when the Reds will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table. "Carragher has been training normally with the rest of the players who’ve been here all week," said Benitez. "He is okay and I think he will be available this weekend, which is good news for us. "Fabio Aurelio is now getting closer to the squad after playing 45 minutes for the reserves. Harry Kewell is also running again and is nearer to fitness. and Rafa on the game "Portsmouth are a good team with an experienced manager. Their players know what to do. They can control games. We know they are very tough to play against from when we faced them in Hong Kong. "They have some new signings who are playing really well. John Utaka is doing a good job right now and Kanu and Benjani are dangerous also." Meanwhile, Benitez revealed that Steve Finnan, who pulled out of international duty through injury last week, will train with the first team this afternoon as he steps up his bid to face Portsmouth.
Now that we know Carra and Stevie will play i'll take; --------------Reina--------------- Finnan----Carra----Agger----Arbeloa Benayoun----SG-----Alonso----Riise ---------Voronin---Torres-------- Itandje, Sissoko, Kuyt, Hyypia, Pennant.
--------------Reina--------------- Arby----Carra----Agger----JAR Pennant----SG-----Alonso----Yossi ---------Voronin---Torres-------- pennant will be starting after not having int'ls this week.
Rafa the Pirate is hard to predict. He's got dilemnas -- is Finnan fit? can Carra go 90 after sitting for awhile? which striker to pick? is Aurelio ready? Can Babel play 90 after doing so in back to back games? Who plays on the left? Now some things are simple -- Reina in goal, Agger plays after only playing 28 minutes on Wednesday, Pennant plays, Momo probably plays, Xabi plays, Mascherano sits after the long flight from OZ, Crouch should play (but Saturday or Tuesday), Kuyt should play as he sat on Wednesday. So I see: ----------------Reina Finnan(if fit or Arbs) ---JC---Agger-----Arbs (or JAR if Arbs' is moved) Pennant-------Xabi----Momo---------JAR (or Babel if JAR is fullback) -----------------Crouch-----Kuyt Istandje Hyppia Torres Gerrard Benayoun
12:45 KO in Blighty, that means 4:45 in the AM on the left coast here...!!! Of course I don't get it on TV, Setanta are doing the Bitters vs Scum, so hoping that a couple of you right coasters will be doing comms whilst chewing on your dead pig and hen ova.
sopcast will have it on, I had a great feed with no buffering for the two England matches. http://www.myp2p.eu/Saturday.htm