Liverpool FC Forum

by **The_Rock** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:30 pm

Seems rafa is taking this match pretty serious.... Perhaps he wants to win the 1st leg pretty well and put the reserves to hold on in the 2nd leg...... Anyway hope, gerrard or Baros or carra don't get injured for the scums match-up.

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Liverpool v Watford - confirmed team news
#387942 - 10/01/2005 15:10 Reply

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that he will field a strong side to take on Watford in Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie with skipper Steven Gerrard and Milan Baros tipped to start.

John Welsh, Zak Whitbread, David Raven, Mark Smyth and Richie Partridge (injured) will not be considered but there could be starting places for the likes of Darren Potter, Neil Mellor and Stephen Warnock.

"We will play a strong side against Watford," said the manager. "It is important to win all the games we play and this is a semi-final and we are at home. With this match on the Tuesday the players will also get a chance to rest before Saturday."

by **The_Rock** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:32 pm

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/01/10/story184052.html

Reds call on big guns for Cup clash

Rafael Benitez will revert to a strong line-up for Liverpool’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Watford at Anfield, having used youngsters and reserves in the earlier rounds.

Striker Milan Baros is back after a lengthy hamstring injury, while captain Steven Gerrard, who would have been rested on Friday had the FA Cup tie at Burnley not been called off, will also play against Watford.

New signing Mauricio Pellegrino has only had one training session since arriving from Valencia, and will not be involved.

Provisional squad: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Biscan, Diao, Warnock, Potter, Nunez, Hamann, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Riise, Mellor, Sinama-Pongolle, Baros, Harrison.

by **stapo1000** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:27 pm

The_Rock wrote:Seems rafa is taking this match pretty serious.... Perhaps he wants to win the 1st leg pretty well and put the reserves to hold on in the 2nd leg

i think that must be it- rafa is avoiding a potential injury crisis with the congested fixture list in 2 weeks time. i dont think he should play gerrard before a big game like the one on saturday

by **ICE-MAN** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:33 pm

i reckon the fact that it is at anfield has something to do with it as well, no travelling for the likes of baros gerrad or carra, and the fact that the pitch will be in better nick than if we were to play away! i reckon rafa wants to give baros an hour or so to give him some match practise, but i pray to god he doesnt get injured what we lacked against chelski was someont up front and if we play well against manure having baros up front will certainly help!

either way watford arent a bad team and will be well fired up for this match having drew with fulham on sat plus it being a semi final n all

anyways, hope we get the job done and can afford to rest the big guns for the return leg! :cool:

by Tobin*LFC* » Mon Jan 10, 2005 7:56 pm

strongest team against watford...
dudek
traore
hyypia
carragher
finnan
gerrard
hamman
riise
nunez
mellor
baros(hopefully)

play a 4-4-2.

agree? dissagree??

by **LFCFan4Life** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:12 pm

Dudek
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Traore
Nunez Gerrard Hamann Riise
Garcia
Baros

Subs:
Pellegrino
Pongolle
Harisson
Biscan
Warnock

Baros is fit and will play tomorrow

by Tobin*LFC* » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:15 pm

will benitez play him an take him off after an hour or do u think he will not start against watford??

by **LFCFan4Life** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:18 pm

Don't know, all that's been said is that he will play tomorrow.

by **begintoend** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:03 am

Its a game to be won by a great margin. I see why Rafa puts in a strong squad. I just hope whoever the player field against Watford doesn't get injured. We will win, but I must think that we must win with a great result. 3goals or more will be perfect.

We have come into a very important stage in the league and cup runs. This year has already marked LFC's improvement over the past years. Being on the first year in the club, any cup acheivement will be great for Rafa. Though he always has his priority on the league and CL.

by **Ciggy** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 9:40 am

Still think that the kids will be well p#ssed off tho, I can see 1 or 2 playing, but the rest will have a right cob on :Oo:

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 9:53 am

cisses_gona_get_ya wrote:Still think that the kids will be well p#ssed off tho, I can see 1 or 2 playing, but the rest will have a right cob on

It is a big part of the learning process that is coming thru the ranks.

It is not and never will be about certain members of the team deserving to win, it is about LFC, and what is best for the club. Sentiment aside, its the ONLY way to approach the game.

by **SouthernScouser** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:11 am

Do feel a bit sorry for the kids
Cause they've done us proud so far this season
(apologies if this has already been said)
But the likelihood is - if we get to the final & play Chelski
we'll have a ticket into Europe - just in case we fail to make a Champions League slot
Although I've been looking at our fixtures after the Scum U game
And on paper, we've got a good set of fixtures to really push on and go on a run
So hopefully we won't need to have the back up of the Mickey Mouse Cup
I think Rafa has probably had a good think about this & from what I've read - it would have been a totally different team if the Burnley match had gone ahead
You never know - if we put the tie to bed tonight at Anfield
Then he can afford to give the lads a run out in the Second Leg
That way at least they will get to play in a semi final

by **woof woof !** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:14 am

Man U at the weekend , I'd rather Baros was on the bench for the Watford game.

by **andy_g** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:17 am

from what i've been reading its rafa's plan to play a strong team v watford, get the tie wrapped up (hopefully) then let the reserves take care of the return leg. seeing as we didn't play burnley on friday the players have had enough time to be fresh and will have enough time to recover before the manure game. all sounds very sensible to me.

also baros needs a run out. i agree we definitely need him for the weekend, but we need him sharp and fit. this game should get him better prepared.

by **Roger Red Hat** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:25 am

So hopefully we won't need to have the back up of the Mickey Mouse Cup

Why call it that? It's got nothing to do with Walt Disney. It makes me mad when people put the league cup down. IT'S A CHANCE TO WIN A TROPHEY! It also holds a European Football ticket for the winning club - hardly a 'Mickey Mouse' cup is it?

Silverware is silverware, it just happens that some of the cups have more financial clout than others but, silverware in the cabinet is of vital importance to Rafa so I guess he needs to put that strong squad out. The kids should be proffesional enough to understand that.

Rafa's priority will be securing that place in the final.

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