Thread for the Portsmouth-LFC match. First meeting between the two in eleven years, IIRC. No TV coverage in the US. Owen is still unavailable due to that lingering injury. And given all of the other injuries, not too many squad-selection options: ................Dudek ..Finnan—Hyypia—Biscan—Riise ..Diouf—Gerrard—Diao—Smicer …….......Heskey—Kewell Subs: Kirkland Le Tallec Henchoz Sinama Pongolle Traore The toughest choice for me was Diao v. Le Tallec; Diao is a bit better defensively, we're away, and we have plenty of other offensive options, so my guess is that he'll get the nod. But honestly, I flipped a coin to make that decision . . . The couple of times I’ve seen Portsmouth, they’ve looked pretty good. This is another one of those challenging away fixtures in which we ought to produce a result—if we’re serious about getting back into the Prem’s “elite” ranks (CL, etc.) Preview here: http://www.4thegame.com/redir/_6b757751b4d2e6bb6bc78b86f936d103/previews/form138574/pfclfc.html -----
I'm hoping he'll go with Tony Le T and chase the whole 3 points. But your lineup is plausible and perhaps more likely.
I think we can come away with a win at Portsmouth provided we play attacking football. Is Henchoz still not fit enough to start??
Jerzy Dudek John Arne Riise Sami Hyypia Stephane Henchoz Steve Finnan Vladimir Smicer Steven Gerrard Igor Biscan El-Hadji Diouf Emile Heskey Harry Kewell Subs: Chris Kirkland Djimi Traore Anthony Le Tallec Florent Sinema-Pongolle John Welsh
Great to see the twin towers back together in the centre of defence with Henchoz returning to the side. I'm hoping Harry Kewell can score a couple of goals for us tonight. (our time)
Hislop Schemmel De Zeeuw Stefanovic Zivcovic Stone Faye Quashie Berger Sheringham Yakubu Sherwood Foxe Wapenaar Taylo Roberts
Yakubu offside. Berger gets his first touch. Heskey hits the post! Finnan plays him over the top, but he just misses. Schemmel puts it out for a corner. Smicer to take. Kewell, Smicer, Riise...out for a goal kick. 2 mins. 0-0
Finnan, Kewell...Stefanovic. Sheringham, Quashie, Teddy, Schemmel, Berger puts it in. Horrible marking. 3 mins. 1-0 Portsmouth.
Hyypia, Finnan, Heskey fouled. Free kick about 35 yards out. Kewell to take - left footed curler. Over the wall but grabbed by Hislop. 5 mins. 1-0 Portsmouth
Quashie gets in a cross but Dudek tracks back and grabs. Finnan, Henchoz, Biscan, Henchoz, Gerrard, Heskey... Smicer, Diouf, Finnan, Henchoz, Hyypia, Gerrard, Biscan, Gerrard, Heskey offside.
Kewell, Smicer, Kewell, Gerrard, Biscan, Kewell, Gerrard, Diouf shoots and Hislop saves. 8 mins. 1-0 Portsmouth
Zivcovic, Quashie, Schemmel, Stone...Goal kick for LFC. Berger, Quashie, Zivkovic... Gerrard, Smicer, Riise, Hyypia, Biscan, Gerrard, Diouf, Finnan, Diouf, Heskey offside again.
Schemmel, Stone, Biscan clears Schemmel, Yakubu, Sheringham... Heskey... Stefanovic over the top but Sheringham offside. Dudek, Kewell, Riise, Hyypia, Dudek, Heskey... Finnan, Gerrard...Henchoz, Gerrard... Biscan, Finnan fouled by Quashie. Riise to take. Finnan, Biscan, Gerrard...grabbed by Hislop. 17 mins 1-0
Hyypia, Heskey... Schemmel, Stone, Quashie, Stone... Biscan, Gerrard clipped by Berger. Gerrard, Kewell... Berger, Schemmel, Stone...
Sheringham makes some beautiful moves but Yakubu is offside. Hunter criticizing the lack of chemistry b/w Sami & Stefan. 18 mins. 1-0 Portsmouth Stone, Fay, Schemmel, Sheringham... Kewell fouled. Gerrard, Diouf... Zivcovic stopping Diouf every time he touches the ball.