Liverpool FC Forum

[The Manhattan Project]

Dudek has got to deliver this time.

Rosicky's first goal was outstanding, but the second and third Arsenal goals were soft IMO.

[Anfield rapper]

I think Robbie and Bellamy might start Rafa said he is sticking with Dudek in goal.

well he's going to have to isnt he...

I agree it would be like saying the Carling cup is more important than the FA cup if he plays Reina tonight. As for playing Bellamy f*ck that. Rafa obviously didn't want to play him on saturday for some reason and if he got injured in a Carling cup game i would be well annoyed. If its revenge Rafa wants then he should put all his efforts into the league match against them which is coming up soon.

[SouthCoastShankly]

I think Robbie and Bellamy might start Rafa said he is sticking with Dudek in goal.

well he's going to have to isnt he...

I agree it would be like saying the Carling cup is more important than the FA cup if he plays Reina tonight. As for playing Bellamy f*ck that. Rafa obviously didn't want to play him on sunday for some reason and if he got injured in a Carling cup game i would be well annoyed. If its revenge Rafa wants then he should put all his efforts into the league match against them which is coming up soon.

Saturday you mean

[Effes]

It would be nice if we got through, but if not, it wouldn't bother me.

Yea, it wouldn't bother you, but what about the fans who want to go to Cardiff?!

[Anfield rapper]

I think Robbie and Bellamy might start Rafa said he is sticking with Dudek in goal.

well he's going to have to isnt he...

I agree it would be like saying the Carling cup is more important than the FA cup if he plays Reina tonight. As for playing Bellamy f*ck that. Rafa obviously didn't want to play him on saturday for some reason and if he got injured in a Carling cup game i would be well annoyed. If its revenge Rafa wants then he should put all his efforts into the league match against them which is coming up soon.

Saturday you mean

Oh i see what you mean yeah my mistake. 

[Anfield rapper]

9 January 2007 - The Mirror

RAFA: MY GAMBLE COULD DESTROY GERRO'S SEASON
CARLING CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Liverpool v Arsenal, tonight kick-off 7.45

Benitez can't rest Stevie for 'vital' quarter-final

David Maddock

RAFA BENITEZ is ready to risk injury to his big guns, in an attempt to salvage silverware for Liverpool.

The Anfield boss admitted that Saturday's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal has left him needing to change his approach for tonight's Carling Cup clash with the Gunners.

Benitez wanted to field a shadow side, with several youngsters thrown into the quarter-final tie. But now the Carling Cup represents the most realistic route to honours this season, and he could be forced to wheel out big-hitters like Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Dirk Kuyt.

The Liverpool manager knows that is a massive gamble, because the short recovery time from the weekend leaves players vulnerable to injury, but it is a chance he knows he is now forced to take.

"It's a risk, but we will have to look at maybe making a few changes to the team I originally had in my head for the match," said Benitez.

"You have to assess how they react physically and talk with them, because we know it is more important to stay in the Carling Cup now.

"When you bring out players for games like this you know it is a risk, because they can get injured when they don't have the rest time, and we also have to think of the big games we have coming up.

"We have to keep in contention in the Premiership and the Champions League as well, so that's a factor. But at the same time, maybe we don't have the options in midfield because we have players injured, so we might have to take the risk."

Benitez knows that with a 12- point gap to make up on Manchester United in the Premiership, and with Barcelona looming in the Champions League, the Carling Cup represents the most obvious chance for glory.

He was intending to use youngsters like Danny Guthrie - who signed a new two-and-ahalf- year contract yesterday, Lee Peltier and Paul Anderson, but will instead take the visit of Arsenal more seriously than his opposite number, Arsene Wenger, and field almost a firstchoice side.

"We know how important it is for us to progress in this competition. It is a chance to get into a semi-final, and it will be a very different game than it was in the FA Cup on Saturday," he said.

"We felt we didn't get the things our efforts deserved from that game. I will look at the players and decide, but we will take it very seriously."

For Liverpool, tonight's revenge match with Arsenal offers them the chance to prove that they have what it takes to beat the top clubs.

Saturday's defeat was yet another at the hands of their big three rivals at the top of the Premiership, and there is a widespread feeling that the Merseyside club do not have the quality to compete at the very highest level.

It is a fear that is apparent to midfielder Alonso, and he admitted yesterday that the failure to beat the big clubs is a problem for him and his team-mates.

"We haven't managed to beat Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal in the major competitions this season, and that's something that worries us," he said.

"Against the big teams, we aren't performing or getting the results that we might have expected. In the Premiership, they all still have to come to Anfield and we have to show we can get results against them.

"But the defeat to Arsenal on Saturday makes us more determined to beat them on Tuesday. It is a good game for us, we now have a quick chance to make amends." And Dutch goal ace Kuyt refuses to be deflated by Liverpool's FA Cup exit. The £9million signing from Feyenoord insisted: "Liverpool still have three trophies to go for. We deserved more than we got on Saturday.''

If thats true i think its crazy. We've got important games coming up and if any of our first team get injured tonight iit will be well annoying. I think we need to get our priorities right.

[mattylfc]

9 January 2007 - The Mirror

RAFA: MY GAMBLE COULD DESTROY GERRO'S SEASON
CARLING CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Liverpool v Arsenal, tonight kick-off 7.45

Benitez can't rest Stevie for 'vital' quarter-final

David Maddock

RAFA BENITEZ is ready to risk injury to his big guns, in an attempt to salvage silverware for Liverpool.

The Anfield boss admitted that Saturday's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal has left him needing to change his approach for tonight's Carling Cup clash with the Gunners.

Benitez wanted to field a shadow side, with several youngsters thrown into the quarter-final tie. But now the Carling Cup represents the most realistic route to honours this season, and he could be forced to wheel out big-hitters like Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Dirk Kuyt.

The Liverpool manager knows that is a massive gamble, because the short recovery time from the weekend leaves players vulnerable to injury, but it is a chance he knows he is now forced to take.

"It's a risk, but we will have to look at maybe making a few changes to the team I originally had in my head for the match," said Benitez.

"You have to assess how they react physically and talk with them, because we know it is more important to stay in the Carling Cup now.

"When you bring out players for games like this you know it is a risk, because they can get injured when they don't have the rest time, and we also have to think of the big games we have coming up.

"We have to keep in contention in the Premiership and the Champions League as well, so that's a factor. But at the same time, maybe we don't have the options in midfield because we have players injured, so we might have to take the risk."

Benitez knows that with a 12- point gap to make up on Manchester United in the Premiership, and with Barcelona looming in the Champions League, the Carling Cup represents the most obvious chance for glory.

He was intending to use youngsters like Danny Guthrie - who signed a new two-and-ahalf- year contract yesterday, Lee Peltier and Paul Anderson, but will instead take the visit of Arsenal more seriously than his opposite number, Arsene Wenger, and field almost a firstchoice side.

"We know how important it is for us to progress in this competition. It is a chance to get into a semi-final, and it will be a very different game than it was in the FA Cup on Saturday," he said.

"We felt we didn't get the things our efforts deserved from that game. I will look at the players and decide, but we will take it very seriously."

For Liverpool, tonight's revenge match with Arsenal offers them the chance to prove that they have what it takes to beat the top clubs.

Saturday's defeat was yet another at the hands of their big three rivals at the top of the Premiership, and there is a widespread feeling that the Merseyside club do not have the quality to compete at the very highest level.

It is a fear that is apparent to midfielder Alonso, and he admitted yesterday that the failure to beat the big clubs is a problem for him and his team-mates.

"We haven't managed to beat Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal in the major competitions this season, and that's something that worries us," he said.

"Against the big teams, we aren't performing or getting the results that we might have expected. In the Premiership, they all still have to come to Anfield and we have to show we can get results against them.

"But the defeat to Arsenal on Saturday makes us more determined to beat them on Tuesday. It is a good game for us, we now have a quick chance to make amends." And Dutch goal ace Kuyt refuses to be deflated by Liverpool's FA Cup exit. The £9million signing from Feyenoord insisted: "Liverpool still have three trophies to go for. We deserved more than we got on Saturday.''

If thats true i think its crazy. We've got important games coming up and if any of our first team get injured tonight iit will be well annoying. I think we need to get our priorities right.

I think quarter finals of a cup (regardless of the fact its Carling Cup) should be pretty high on the priority list to be honest.

Cant go into games hoping players dont get injured.  Need to put a good enough team out to try and win the game. We have a decent enough squad to bring players in when required.  A loss tonight would be a big blow so shortly after the FA Cup exit.

Im sure we will be fine tonight, come on you reds!

[irf]

i think Liverpool will get their revenge and win 3-1.

I will be watching it live for free on this site:

http://www.gullystation.com/forum/register.php?referrerid=6

can't wait 

[redsince2001]

donno abt the result ....but we'll control the game

[ghostdogg]

Gerrard said: "After the six minutes the noise level was unbelievable. All the players thought it was fantastic, and I hope the noise level is the same tonight because it definitely makes a difference."

Can anyone here explain to me what difference it made on Sat'day, because I sure didn't notice it...

[jkop]

Gerrard said: "After the six minutes the noise level was unbelievable. All the players thought it was fantastic, and I hope the noise level is the same tonight because it definitely makes a difference."

Can anyone here explain to me what difference it made on Sat'day, because I sure didn't notice it...

I think Stevie probably means its good to hear the fans make a bit of noise and that they are behind the team no matter what the result instead of just sitting there booing or sucking their thumbs. Liverpool fans best in the world !

[PabloAimar]

i think we'll win this one. 1-0 or 2-1

arsenal wont be arsed with it and benitez has hindsight in his corner.

bellamy will play but im not sure how effective he'll be against the pace (and intelligence?) of arsenal's defence.

no point hoofing in continuous crosses - crouch wont be playing and toure and senderos are as good as anyone in the air.

riise/dudek to have a better game than saturday & kuyt and/or gerrard to score

[Graeme Noble]

I hope Gerrard and Kuyt play.

[red37]

interesting comments from Rushie:


Reds are only best of the rest Jan 9 2007

By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo



MY BIGGEST concern heading into the second half of the season is whether Liverpool have enough quality to hurt world class teams.

Arsenal proved again on Saturday how when we come up against the top sides, we still seem to have more to worry about than the opposition.

On the surface, there didn't appear to be too much between the teams, but there's a strength to the likes of Arsenal which Liverpool still lack.

You always get the feeling if we concede the first goal, we're in serious trouble, whereas a side like Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea will always have the firepower to hit back strongly. Perhaps the difference is a player like Thierry Henry whose sheer presence can have an impact on the opponent.

Over the next few weeks, United, Chelsea and Barcelona will all come to Anfield, but I suspect none of them will be too fearful.

I'm optimistic Rafa Benitez's side will give a good account of themselves, but the record against the rest of the so-called `big four' isn't impressive.

Arsenal's performance underlined the difference between the country's best and the rest.

Liverpool have comfortably beaten the majority of visitors to Anfield for the last 18 months, but it's no coincidence the last two English teams to win here were Arsenal and Chelsea, both in similar circumstances.

Liverpool came away feeling they had plenty of possession but were punished for their mistakes. These sides do this to Liverpool better than Liverpool do it to them, and that simply comes down to the high calibre of their players.

On the plus side, there's an instant opportunity to make amends tonight.

I expect Benitez will make changes, and in some case that shouldn't overly weaken the side. Players like Aurelio or Gonzalez can slot in, but I think it's important the heart of the side like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are involved.

I'd also like to see Robbie Fowler play too, because he's not had many opportunities lately.

The biggest talking point arguably centres on the goalkeeper.

There's been some criticism of the selection of Jerzy Dudek, but I see no problem in that. He's been a top class keeper for a long time and I felt sorry for him on Saturday. When you've not played for a while, you're rusty.

It's interesting to note that Benitez, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson all played their reserve keeper at the weekend, but only Liverpool suffered.

That's simply because Manuel Almunia wasn't tested enough.

Dudek is also playing tonight, and I'm sure he'll be better for having 90 minutes under his belt.

I understand there are significant Premiership and Champions League fixtures coming up, but realistically the Carling Cup is the best chance left to win some silverware this season.

It's a competition which is often criticised, but if it was good enough for the Liverpool team which regularly won the European Cup to win every year, it's certainly good enough for the current side.

Riise needs competition

THERE are some players who need consistent competition for places to maintain their form.

I'd place John Arne Riise in this category.

Riise has been a great player for Liverpool over many years, and scored some memorable goals, but there's no doubt his form has dropped this season.

I'd say that's partially down to the fact he knows his place is secure.

Fabio Aurelio has struggled with injuries, as has Steve Warnock, and that has allowed Riise a safety zone.

The signing of Lucas Neill, should it happen, would not only add another quality defender to the squad, but may also inspire Riise back to his best.

[peterc1992]

at the back

   j c    agger    hyypia    aurelio

pennant guthrie gerrard gonzalez

      bellamy   fowler


weakened side but i need to rest some players,fowler to play,i want him anyway but maybe against the quick arsenal back line he wont,bellamy will definitely start

pennant will ahve to keep his place after a decent display against arsenal :P gonzalez in for garcia,and maybe guthrie in the centre i dunno