PSV vs LIVERPOOL @ Philips Stadion, Netherlands UEFA Champions League - Group D, Matchday 6 December 9, 7:45pm GMT Click here to convert to your local time GROUP D STANDINGS 1. ATLETICO.....P5...W2...D2...L0...9GF...4GA...11Pts 2. LIVERPOOL....P5...W2...D2...L0...8GF...4GA...11Pts 3. MARSEILLE....P5...W0...D0...L4...5GF...7GA...3Pts 4. PSV.............P5...W0...D0...L4...4GF...11GA...3Pts PSV's recent form ERE: 08-Nov-08 (away) NEC Nijmegen 2-0...LOSS ERE: 16-Nov-08 (away) Ajax 0-0...LOSS ERE: 22-Nov-08 (home) Heracles 0-1...WIN ERE: 29-Nov-08 (away) Heerenveen 0-1...DRAW ERE: 06-Dec-08 (home) FC Groningen... Liverpool's recent form PL: 15-Nov-08 (away) Bolton Wanderers 0-2...WIN PL: 22-Nov-08 (home) Fulham 0-0...DRAW CL: 26-Nov-08 (home) Olympique de Marseille 1-0...WIN PL: 01-Dec-08 (home) West Ham 0-0...DRAW PL: 06-Dec-08 (away) Blackburn 1-3...WIN PSV possible line-up: ______________Isaksson____________ Marcellis__Rodriguez__Brechet__Pieters ______Mendez__Simons__Dzsudzsak ______________Afellay_____________ _______Koevermans___Lazovic_______ Subs: Cassio, Salcido, Manco, Bakkal, Culina, Wuytens, Nijland Liverpool possible line-ups: Rafa has said that Arbs, Carra and Kuyt need a rest but given Skrtel's injury, Carra has to play, with Kelly able to sub in for him when needed. Here is my prediction. ________Cavalieri_________ Darby__Carra__Agger__Doss ______Lucas__Masch______ Yossi_____Gerrard_____Riera __________Keane_________ Subs: Reina, Kelly, Insua, Spearing, Pennant, Babel, Ngog ***According to the often incorrect UEFA site, El Zhar and Plessis are not in the CL squad, therefore I have not considered them. MATCH BACKGROUND
-----------Reina Arbs----Cara----Agger---Insua --------Xabi----Lucas Kuyt---------SG----------Riera -----------Keane
I would give Darby a go.... but Rafa won't play with both Darby and Insua in the field..Lets go for the top spot!
He probably won't. It would be different if Sami was in the squad, because then if we played a center back pairing of Carra and Sami then I would trust their veteran leadership to help lead both Darby and Insua. That being said. I think one of Darby or Insua should get a start.
Why Lucas? I'd have Kuyt play upfront with Keane with either Yossi or El Zhar on the right. Torres is the only one in our team that can handle the lone striker role.
I was thinking about that today. In January the clubs must submit the new squad lists, do any of you think Sami should be included....and if thats the case (i'm sure its most of you), who should be left out? Actual squad list. Goalkeepers No. Name 1 Diego Cavalieri » 25 Pepe Reina » 41 Martin Hansen * 43 Hakan Duyan * Defenders No. Name 2 Andrea Dossena » 5 Daniel Agger » 12 Fábio Aurélio » 17 Álvaro Arbeloa » 23 Jamie Carragher » 27 Philipp Degen » 32 Stephen Darby » 34 Martin Kelly » 36 Steven Irwin » 37 Martin Škrtel » Midfielders No. Name 8 Steven Gerrard » 14 Xabi Alonso » 15 Yossi Benayoun » 16 Jermaine Pennant » 20 Javier Mascherano » 21 Lucas » 26 Jay Spearing » 35 Ryan Flynn * 39 Nathan Eccleston * Forwards No. Name 7 Robbie Keane » 9 Fernando Torres » 11 Albert Riera » 18 Dirk Kuyt » 19 Ryan Babel » 24 David N'Gog »
I am not sure about the rules, but just to be safe, I think Hyypia would have to replace a foreign defender or other player. So, Degen. He has been a waste of a roster space in the group stages, and it's unfair to Sami to put a frequently injured player on the team. It's not only unfair, but it's foolish. Hyypia would contribute much more to the squad in the knockout stages than Degen would. I am a strong supporter of Hyypia replacing Degen.
i'd like to see this: -------------Pepe Arbs----Carra----Agger----Doss ------------Masch Kuyt----Captain----Riera ----Yossi----Keane i'm sticking by my earlier claims that Yossi and Keane will pair up nicely. i also like Dossena's game...except for the fact that he doesn't play defense. Does anyone else think we've lost our edge/nastiness since Skrtle's got hurt? Perhaps people need to be saying we have to find ways to win without Skrtle, not Nando.
Hopefully Hakan Duyan is replaced by Sami...he's not even making the XI for the U18's. Reina, Cavalieri and Gulacsi is enough quality and back up to handle the final stages.
And unless Torres is playing, I'd not countenance a lone striker right now (unless Gerrard is expressly forbidden from going straying behind the imaginary line dissecting our attacking half). If Lucas is included play him with one of Alonso or Gerrard, not Mascherano. If Babel has recovered from that, he must also play. We are approaching that time of the season when matches come thick and fast and we need all players match-sharp.
Because Mash looked a little beat up coming off. In this match we might sit back and look to beat them over the top -- I'm playing Keane to be a willing runner against the high line. Kuyt and SG to try to support him.
From uefa.com Tiebreakers (a), (b), and (c) are all ties. Athletico's goal difference is one better than ours. Their goals scored is one better than ours. If, for example, we win 2-0 and they win 1-0 we would win the group based on tiebreaker (f)....coefficient points. In any case, winning may not be enough. We need to win by a few goals to ensure that we finish top. These are still important games for PSV and Marsielle with the Uefa Cup spot up for grabs.
I like that too. The only reason I really want to finish top of the group is so we can play the second leg of our knockout clash at Anfield. The opponent will be difficult regardless of who we get.