Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

So here we are. We're not in very good form. We've already played Chelsea, Bolton and Everton away, so it's a relative relief that we have an easy game coming up next weekend at Old Trafford.

It's not exactly the place you want to go when you're on a bad run, but as I've said before, never write us off. We've gone to Old Trafford before off worse runs than this and got a result. It's almost as if we seem to get results when you least expect it.

I fear we might play a little deeper and look to use the pace of Bellamy on the counter. If we do that may just play into their hands. What I'd like to see us do (if Sissoko is fit) is for us to push up and swamp the midfield area. That's our strength and relatively their weakness.

What is for certain is that the defence has to book their ideas up as they'll probably be facing more crosses than in any other game this season, especially if Ronaldo plays. Riise has to play left back because Aurelio will get murdered.

Arsenal went their earlier in the season without Henry, beat them, and it kicked started their season, and they havent looked back, we have to do the same,and hopefully it will have the same affect on us.

All in all, I'm always nrevous before this fixture but probably more so than ever before going in to this one. Anyone going by the way?

[66-1112520797]

I don't mean to burst your bubble or nothing but we've got Bordeaux up next, thats what we should be focusing on.

[clik]

agreed, this is a must win game, and i think Rafa may play 5 in midfield with Bellamy wide on left and Kuyt if fit up on his own but as you said st mike we must exploit the midfield cos thats where they are weakest its about time we beat one of the bigger clubs under Rafa and hopefully a victory in Bordeaux will give us the belief to go to old Trafford and get the points.

[jkop]

Obviously both games are a must win, we must beat manure to stay in if we still have a chance of a title push, and Bordeaux for our european campaign. Ill go for 2-1 against manure and 3-0 against Bordeaux.

[stmichael]

we never win after a CL midweek, and we have collected 1 point away so far this season, I would be lying if I said that my confidence was up for the OT game. I agree we have to win it, not only because we need the points, but we need to make a dent in that overly confident team. If you watched the Wigan game yesterday, you could just sense it right from the start of the 2nd half, that this would be 90's style Man u comeback, and it all comes down to having the right mentality and belief that you are better than the opposition. We need to take that mentality away from them at OT, if not I cant see us getting anywear near the title

[bigmick]

agreed, this is a must win game, and i think Rafa may play 5 in midfield with Bellamy wide on left and Kuyt if fit up on his own .

Well I must say here and now that if we do that then I think we will most certainly lose the game. What we need to do is play our strongest team and take the game to them. My suspicion is we are going to need to score at least once to get anything out of it and we aren't going to if we have Bellamy wandering about at left-midfield with a nonplussed look on his face.

If we take the trouble to give Gerrard a cuddle sometime soon and remind him that he is the very best at what he does in World football and that the whole club depends on him playing to somewhere near his ability, hopefully this should do the trick and he might find some form. If he does, Man Utd don't posess anybody (including Giggs) who could possibly cope with our captain at Right-mid if he is given license to explode. Similarly, Sissoko and Alonso would account for the crab-like Carrick (did they really pay 18 million quid for him) and the excellent but past his very best Scholes without oo much trouble. Ronaldo could create us a problem as he's a very good player. Similarly their front two of Rooney and Saha exude menace so I for one think it's imperative that we give them plenty to worry about up their end otherwise we will lose.

Having said that, I think you are very likely correct and he will play 4-5-1. Maybe we just need to prove one more time it doesn't work before we finally consign the system to the bin once and for all.

[clik]

Similarly their front two of Rooney and Saha exude menace so I for one think it's imperative that we give them plenty to worry about up their end otherwise we will lose.

[quote="clik"]Similarly their front two of Rooney and Saha exude menace so I for one think it's imperative that we give them plenty to worry about up their end otherwise we will lose.

this when attacking

               Reina
finnan   jc hyypia    riise

       momo  alonso   

gerrard   garcia      bellamy

            kuyt


and a five man midfield when mancs have ball

[redmikey]

if the lads can't get fired up for this game then we might as well give up !

i hope stevie plays out right but dirfting to cause max damage, and that his blood is boiling to show everyone how great he is again as he has always got a point to prove against the scum

i hope rooney dosn't pick this game to display his talent to the fullest, he isn't playing badly at the mom but when the lad is at full steam he is one of the few player who can be called world class

my team                          pepe
              finnan     carra    sami    jar
             gerrard      xabi   momo   zenden
                        bellamy   crouch

zenden because he will keep the ball which you have to at the scum

this is our chance to show the pundits, media and our own in house doubters that this is a class set of players under the right manager,  big games for big players

[The_Rock]

Old Thrashboard clash is a must win ? Depends on how u look at it. The way i see it (as it stands now), we have a better chance of winning the champions league than the premier league. So if u ask me, the Bordeaux match is more of a "must win" match.

Hate to say it but the way we are set up...we are more of a cup winning team.

[zarababe]

On .tv

  RAFA CALLS ON SENIOR STARS TO SHINE
  Mark Platt 16 October 2006 

  Rafa Benitez today called on his senior players to help get Liverpool back to winning ways as he prepares his troops for vital games in Europe and at home in the coming week. 
With a Champions League trip to Bordeaux on Wednesday followed by the big Manchester United clash at Old Trafford, Benitez is well aware of the need to regain top form.
 
In the wake of Saturday's frustrating 1-1 draw with Blackburn, the Reds boss is refusing to panic, however, and admits he can sense light at the end of the tunnel once his key men are firing on all cylinders.
 
"It's clear some of our more established players need to be at the top of their game. I said I thought it would be November before we were at our best because of a number of reasons," said Benitez.
 
"If you look at our formation for the game, we had the same back four, with Xabi in front of the defence, that has done so well for us last season.
 
"We had the same players there, but we need to get the balance right when we are attacking because, like the Galatasaray game, we were vulnerable to counter-attacks.
 
"Saturday was disappointing again, but for 30 minutes of the second half we played much better football, we attacked well and the crowd was really behind us.
 
"The problem is we are only playing like this for 30 minutes now when we know we must do this for 90.
 
"But there were positives from the weekend. It's been difficult, but we will improve. I have confidence because we know we have good players who will start to play better.
 
"Maybe we will have to be more patient. It will take time, but I'm sure we will do it."

[66-1120597113]

The Scum fans are gloating.They think because of our form they are gonna hammer us.I took some shi.t in work today about our performance on Sat v Blackburn!

How i'm gonna love it if we beat them on Sunday,Monday morning wont come soon enough!

Its a hard call as to what team Raffa will pick!
We need to very weary of Ronaldo,he has looked like one of the best wingers in the world this season and is ripping teams apart!
Basically if they beat us our title race is over,if we win its game on! If we loose we're 11 behind them,win and we trail them by 5! What a massive game so early in the season its the 6 pointer of 6 pointers!

Im not confident being honest but have a sneaky suspicion that this game could be the kick up the @rse the players need...if they are'nt motivated on Sunday they never will be!

[account deleted by request]

I hate this fixture, what scousers feel when we play Everton ,I feel in this match. I would rather take two draws before the season starts than have to suffer what I go through in this fixture. I used to go to a lot of the games against the Mancs home or away ,and I have only seen Liverpool win once! Its a game that if we win I am overjoyed for a few days but if we lose I am really down all week.

I hate this fixture I cant watch it, I switch the radio on get worked up and switch it off, cant bear not knowing and switch the radio back on, only to get all worked up again.

I hate this fixture it just means too much, the down side of losing is just so much more than the up side of winning.

Liverpool to win 2-0

I hate this fixture!

[66-1120597113]

I hate this fixture, what scousers feel when we play Everton ,I feel in this match. I would rather take two draws before the season starts than have to suffer what I go through in this fixture. I used to go to a lot of the games against the Mancs home or away ,and I have only seen Liverpool win once! Its a game that if we win I am overjoyed for a few days but if we lose I am really down all week.

I hate this fixture I cant watch it, I switch the radio on get worked up and switch it off, cant bear not knowing and switch the radio back on, only to get all worked up again.

I hate this fixture it just means too much, the down side of losing is just so much more than the up side of winning.

Liverpool to win 2-0

I hate this fixture!

Come on Saint these are the best ones mate!! I love it

I love waking up in the morning with butterflies and sitting waiting in anticipation!

Its what football is all about...BIG games like this!!

Bring it on!

[account deleted by request]

Big games ,FA cup finals, League title games, CL Finals ,I love and can cope with. I just cant cope very well with the games against the Mancs.

[Crouchamania]

This is what football's all about, big games like this and in all honesty they don't get any bigger than this. "The Derby of England" some people call it.

I reckon we'll sneak another 1-0 win but a draw wouldn't be THAT bad if you consider the 2 teams form. Mind you these aren't the kind of games you "want" to be drawing.

Hope Stevie rediscovers his form in this game and nets his 1st of the season. Hope Robbie plays too and scores so he can do his 5 to the Stredford benders.