Liverpool FC Forum

by **Owzat** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:00 am

Seems to be a lack of eagerness to start this dead rubber match thread, so here we go.

Rafa is reportedly hoping to play Torres and Aquilani, our first non-event game of the season although arguably Debrecen away was never likely going to change the outcome of the group. So much for the notion that dropout places would reduce the dead rubber games, two-legged ties and no groups do that

I see ITV had a choice of the Arsenal or Liverpool game and went for the former even though Arsenal are guaranteed top spot so there's no more to play for in that match than in our's - except Arsenal could go through unbeaten.

by **dawson99** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:41 am

yeah, start Aquilani on the first nothing game of the season, then he gets injured no doubt.. cant wait for this game

by **bunglemark2** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:20 pm

Three words for this game:

Not Feckin' Ar.sed !

by **Owzat** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:50 pm

bunglemark2 wrote:Three words for this game:

Not Feckin' Ar.sed !

Already planning for Europa League footy.................?!?

by **account deleted by request** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:05 pm

Hopefully with Torres back and Aquilani starting we may get some indication of how the rest of the season will go. I think Rafa will play a few squad players in this one.

Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Insua/ Aurelio (if fit)

Masch Aquilani

El Zhar Gerrard Riera

N'Gog/ Torres (to come on for second half)

I think we will win this one 2-0 Gerrard and Torres to get the goals.

by **fivecups** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:12 pm

Does anyone know what was wrong with Aurelio last weekend?

by **Owzat** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:29 pm

Would we want first choice players to start, especially if they got injured in a meaningless "competitive" game? Just imagine if Torres, Gerrard or Aquilani pulled up injured, even if they only missed a few weeks you'd never hear the end of our injury crisis for starters.

by **account deleted by request** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:31 pm

Owzat wrote:Would we want first choice players to start, especially if they got injured in a meaningless "competitive" game? Just imagine if Torres, Gerrard or Aquilani pulled up injured, even if they only missed a few weeks you'd never hear the end of our injury crisis for starters.

I hope Rafa doesn't read that mate or Aquilani will never get a fecking game

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:05 pm

Torres set for Euro return

Rafa Benitez has revealed he is hopeful of naming Fernando Torres amongst Liverpool's substitutes for Wednesday's encounter with Fiorentina at Anfield - but Albert Riera is a doubt.

The Spain striker has not figured for the Reds since the Champions League fixture in Lyon on November 4 due to a groin injury.

However, following a period of recuperation at Melwood, Torres is edging ever nearer to a first-team return.

"He took part in a full training session yesterday and he will train again today in a light session," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "If everything is okay, he will be on the bench (against Fiorentina).

"It will be better to have him on the bench, let him have a proper warm-up and afterwards give him some minutes."

The Reds could be without Albert Riera after the winger sustained a knock against Blackburn.

Asked if he had any other fitness concerns following the weekend's action, Benitez replied: "Riera had some problems, so we will have to wait and see how he reacts to treatment with the physios. The rest of the squad is okay."

Meanwhile, the Spaniard confirmed Diego Cavalieri is in contention to make his third appearance of the season in the meeting with La Viola.

"It could be an opportunity for him," said the gaffer. "We will analyse him in training today and maybe he will have a chance."

by **bunglemark2** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:08 pm

Owzat wrote:
bunglemark2 wrote:Three words for this game:

Not Feckin' Ar.sed !

Already planning for Europa League footy.................?!?

Nope, not exactly.
My sentiments on the Europa League are exactly the same...

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:22 pm

Our position in the group is decided so I would rotate in this game, especially with Arsenal on Sunday. As far as I am aware Kelly and Babel are still injured and Degen and El Zhar were never registered for the Champions League. This is a great opportunity to give Pacheco and maybe one or two others a game against high quality opposition. Aquilani will get a start and Torres will hopefully get 20 minutes to test his groin.

Reina

Darby Carragher Skrtel Insua

Aquilani Lucas

Amoo Pacheco Dossena

Ngog

Subs: Torres, Gerardo, Gerrard, Aurelio, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Cavalieri

by **JoeTerp** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:07 pm

s@int wrote:Hopefully with Torres back and Aquilani starting we may get some indication of how the rest of the season will go. I think Rafa will play a few squad players in this one.

Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Insua/ Aurelio (if fit)

Masch Aquilani

El Zhar Gerrard Riera

N'Gog/ Torres (to come on for second half)

I think we will win this one 2-0 Gerrard and Torres to get the goals.

El Zhar is not registered for the CL

by **shawnk** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:02 pm

Actually, Aquaman needs to start somewhere and I think this is the perfect game for him to start with. This would be a game all about footy and no rough stuff I hope as I'm pretty sure Fiorientina wouldn't want their players to pick up any injury by playing rough. Furthermore, he's not getting any chance in competitive matches anyway from Rafa...

Liverpool win by 3-1 with Aquaman assisting all three goals! Come the fark on!

by **JoeTerp** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:19 pm

Rafa has already said that he is going to start

by **aCe'** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:26 pm

Wouldnt want us to get beaten here, not that it would make much of a difference but still

id go with this..

Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Dossena

Lucas Aquilani

Benayoun Riera

Kuyt Ngog

4-4-2 not a 4-5-1 with Kuyt down the right and Benny behind Ngog... We might as well try to play some football and pass it around a little instead of using a young, inexperienced player as a lone striker ... Theres alot of flexibility in the lineup in terms of players interchanging positions and such... Riera and Johnson should provide the width with Aquilani and Benny creating more from deeper... I'd also like to see Torres and Pacheco coming off the bench pretty early for this one... Torres to get some match fitness back so he can start the Arsenal game and it would be a good idea to see a little bit of Pacheco with the first team to see if he can cope at this level...

Having said that, i dont expect Rafa to do any of this...
this is lineup i expect to see:

Cavalieri
Johnson
Insua
Skrtel
Carragher ©
Lucas
Mascherano
Aquilani
Kuyt
Dossena
Ngog

Liverpool FC Forum

LIVERPOOL VS FIORIENTINA - Anfield wednesday 09/12/09 ko 7.45pm

Who is online