Liverpool FC Forum

[Toffeehater]

we may finish 2nd,we're very strong usually between jan & may, plus I expect another CL final.

Expecting to get to CL Finals!

Think about expecting that a few years ago.

And people think we should get rid of Rafa 

You are both delusional and are in for a big fall I fear. I reckon and pray that we make 4th spot in the league, and I have a weird feeling we'll get quite far in the champions league but can you please tell me why you believe with our current form that we will sail past two of Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea?? If you think that we will suddenly start playing better and more consistently can you explain what you base this on, seriously I'd love for someone to give me some hope for this season.

Bayer LEverkusen
Juventus
Chelsea
AC Milan

Man United
Birmingham
Chelsea

Barcelona
PSV
Chelsea

Those Heimdall are the teams we beat to win the Champions LEague, then the ones we beat to win the FA Cup and the final group are the ones we beat to get through to Athens.

Get a grip you moserable tw@t.

well said was hoping some1 would shut him up ,

                             Reina
Finnan                     Carra                 Agger                Riise



Pennant                 Gerrard                Masch                Kewell


                            Torres                 Kuyt


I'd fancy us to win 4-0 with a goal from kuyt , 2 from torres and 1 from gerrard

[bigmick]

I think Alonso and our wing play could be key as Boro will set out to frustrate us as per usual. Switching the play quickly and stretching the play quickly is really the only surefire way to open up teams who set up like this - given that we don't really have a Garcia-type player any more i.e. a player who can infiltrate tight spaces in the centre of the pitch - Benayoun just isn't being deployed here either. Generally speaking though, we don't have many players who can operate in tight spaces ala Arsenal or Man U, so we rely on our wing play more along with direct play up to our strikers, with Gerrard making runs in the channels when afforded the opportunity to. The latter looks more unlikely in a fixture such as this one. When we do manage to stretch them with our wingers, it's imperative Gerrard and/or Alonso get into the box, or at least on the 18yd line - Alonso can shoot that's for sure. We can't have two forwards alone in the box, we need midfielders to get into the box to allow our forwards to move. Midfield runners and especially Gerrard are difficult to pick up and can unsettle the opposing defence - meaning our forwards can be more dynamic. Often when we go the wing route, we come in, and the 18yd box is static. You need runners to upset this, sometimes it's just too predictable and easy to defend against.

Unfortunately (and I mean that in the nicest way) I agree with the post LFC in it's entirity, but it concerns me a little that we'll be able to put into practice what you allude to.

The first thing to consider is that they'll play for a draw, 100%. Now I'd like us to not take an hour or so to work that out, not even take twenty minutes to work it out, lets go into the game knowing it to be true because it is as sure as eggs is eggs. The game is basically going to be attack(us) against defence(them) unless of course we score, in which case it'll open up. Too often we are too circumspect, lets just attack from the first whistle and get the job done.

I went to this fixture last season, and such was the paucity of the performance that I can honestly say I can't think of a better place to be than 12,000 miles away this time. It was just about as depressing a game of football I have witnessed (aside possibly from Crystal Palace Away a couple of years back in the Carling Cup). Itb wasn't all out fault by any means, but their lack of ambition for a home team was astounding.

It's the kind of game we go into every season thinking "we should muller these' and it never seems quite to happen. It should of course as they are absolutely sh!te, we just need to score a goal. I think we will this time, they'll open up and we'll batter them 4-0.

[maguskwt]

we may finish 2nd,we're very strong usually between jan & may, plus I expect another CL final.

Expecting to get to CL Finals!

Think about expecting that a few years ago.

And people think we should get rid of Rafa 

You are both delusional and are in for a big fall I fear. I reckon and pray that we make 4th spot in the league, and I have a weird feeling we'll get quite far in the champions league but can you please tell me why you believe with our current form that we will sail past two of Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea?? If you think that we will suddenly start playing better and more consistently can you explain what you base this on, seriously I'd love for someone to give me some hope for this season.

Bayer LEverkusen
Juventus
Chelsea
AC Milan

Man United
Birmingham
Chelsea

Barcelona
PSV
Chelsea

Those Heimdall are the teams we beat to win the Champions LEague, then the ones we beat to win the FA Cup and the final group are the ones we beat to get through to Athens.

Get a grip you moserable tw@t.

well said was hoping some1 would shut him up ,

don't bet on someone shutting him up..

just when you thought that he was getting abit less annoying, heimdall strikes again...

[lakes10]

There is NO fear of us not geting 4th, the only reson we have sliped is due to a few strange team picks by Rafa (done with other games in mind and resting players). when we need it we will win to make sure we get in the top 4.

How will we do today???  well that is down to the team that Rafa picks, we should win by 2 goals, 1-3 or 0-2.


Yes i have a problem with Rafa but at the end of the day he is a good manager and if he set his mind on one thing only i am sure he would get it, shame it always seems to be the CL that he sets his mind on.

I have no shame in saying that at the back of my mind i did not think it might have been a good thing if we had not made it out of the CL rounds, If we had not made it and it had been clear that we were not going to make it i am sure we would have been in 2nd or 1st in the prem by now.

[HacksawJimDuggin]

Today I'd go for.

Reina
Riise
Carra
Sami
Finnan

Kewell
Masch
Alonso
Gerrard

Babel
Torres

Boro will set out too frustrate us today so I think we need the pass master (Alonso) in alongside Mascha with Gerrard playing from the right. Babel upfront alongside Torres pulling Boro's 2 centre halfs (both very decent) all over the place and creating openings for the midfielders. I fancy Alonso for a goal today.

How I think in games like that little Luis would be a great wee player too have too come on if Boro managed too frustrate us.

[GOAT]

"Liverpool have failed to score in seven of their last eight visits to Teesside, including the last five."   

[Cool Hand Luke]

In recent years Middlesbrough have had some great results at the Riverside against the big 4 but this is the right time to go there and get a convincing win. We had no midweek game and have virtually a fully fit squad to choose from. The interesting choice at the moment is what to do with Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano, all three are top draw players and all three want to play in the middle. Gerrard has been on top form playing in the centre with Mascherano, but considering this is an away game and Rafa will ask his 2 central midfielders players not to run beyond the ball I wouldn’t mind seeing all three in the team with Gerrard on the right this week and back in the centre against Aston Villa next weekend.


                         Reina

Finnan     Carragher     Hyypia     Arbeloa

Gerrard   Mascherano   Alonso      Kewell

               Torres        Crouch

Subs

Babel
Benayoun
Lucas
Agger
Itandje

[europian-kings]

reina

finnan      carragherr     hyypia       riise

pennant     gerrard      alonso       kewell

                torres     voronin

that is the team i predict...a few surprises i know.

[heimdall]

we may finish 2nd,we're very strong usually between jan & may, plus I expect another CL final.

Expecting to get to CL Finals!

Think about expecting that a few years ago.

And people think we should get rid of Rafa 

You are both delusional and are in for a big fall I fear. I reckon and pray that we make 4th spot in the league, and I have a weird feeling we'll get quite far in the champions league but can you please tell me why you believe with our current form that we will sail past two of Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea?? If you think that we will suddenly start playing better and more consistently can you explain what you base this on, seriously I'd love for someone to give me some hope for this season.

Bayer LEverkusen
Juventus
Chelsea
AC Milan

Man United
Birmingham
Chelsea

Barcelona
PSV
Chelsea

Those Heimdall are the teams we beat to win the Champions LEague, then the ones we beat to win the FA Cup and the final group are the ones we beat to get through to Athens.

Get a grip you moserable tw@t.

well said was hoping some1 would shut him up ,

don't bet on someone shutting him up..

just when you thought that he was getting abit less annoying, heimdall strikes again...

erm that didn't actually shut me up I just couldn't be bothered to answer as it was an irrelevant riposte by Leon. It didn't answer my question as to how we are going to get above two of Man Utd, Chelsea and/or Arsenal between now and the end of the season. I actually said in my post that I fnacy us to do well in the champions league but when have you guys actually ever bothered to properly read my posts!
You guys get me all wrong I think, I want to win as much as you guys do but I'm just being realistic.

[zarababe]

2-0 to the reds of the City of Culture

Torres and one other !

[heimdall]

2-0 to the reds of the City of Culture

Torres and one other !

I'd be happy with that, I actually have a good feeling for this match.

[Dundalk]

Is Hyypia  fit for this game or is there any chance of Agger getting a game

[Dundalk]

Robbie Savage straight in as captain of Derby today

Anelka to start on the bench for Chelsea

[Redman in wales]

From.tv

Steven Gerrard has recovered from the calf injury that kept him out of last week's FA Cup clash with Luton and he will captain the Reds in today's Premier League match with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. 

Gerrard will be partnered in the centre of the midfield by Javier Mascherano with John Arne Riise and Yossi Benayoun on the flanks. A look at the Liverpool bench today brings the welcome sight of Daniel Agger.
 
Liverpool; 
                     Reina

Finnan   Carragher  Hyypia   Arbeloa 

Benayoun Mascherano Gerrard Riise

              Torres    Voronin.


Subs - Itandje, Agger, Alonso, Kuyt, Babel.

[Dundalk]

Liverpool - Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Finnan, Riise, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres, Voronin. Subs - Itandje, Agger, Alonso, Kuyt, Babel.