Liverpool FC Forum

by **stmichael** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:47 am

Right, first home game of the season and time to step it up a gear.

The Boro fans up here on the local football phone in are going well over the top after one victory over a Spurs team who quite frankly flatter to deceive every season. They look good going forward I'll admit but we should dominate them in midfield this weekend. They haven't won at Anfield since the 70s and i can't see that changing.

Babel is available for selection and for my money has to start on the left hand side, especially as the likelihood is that he'll be playing against Hoyte, who will be making his debut for Boro.

I fancy a 2-0 win with Keane getting off the mark, but whatever the case 3 points is a must, especially considering the next two games are Villa away and United at home.

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:18 pm

Can't wait.. Got me tickets.. C'mon boys, time to wake up and smell the Premiership coffee!

There was a massive improvement secong half at Sunderland, but we need to move up several gears, which I expect us to do with another weeks training under their belts and the confidence of getting a win last weekend.

Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossenna

Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Babel

Keane Torres

Would be my best guess at Rafas starting 11, but I would personaly drop Kuyt and play Pennant there instead.

by **metalhead** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:19 pm

3-1 for the reds!

by **GYBS** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:22 pm

--------------pepe-----------

arbeloa-----agger----carra---dossena

--------xabi-------gerrard-------

kuyt---------keane----------babel ?

----------torres---------------

by **RedEire** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:52 pm

Whats the story with Pennant ? Did he even make the bench for the Sunderland game ?? Considering our lack of penetration out wide, he has to in for a shout or will Rafa be too concerned with Downing and basically use Kuyt as extra cover for Arbeloa? Is it just me or does Arbeloa look completely lost in the last few games - he is either taken to the cleaners or he commits a foul. When is the new lad Deggen available - hopefully he will have a bit of something that is missing at left back.
Glad to see Babel finished with the Olympics and he can show us exactly what he is made of - has had some good competitive games under his belt now so fitness should not be a problem.
BTW what the hell was Lucas trying to do to Mascherano yesterday - the tackle he made was very late and dangerous and could easily of taken Masch out and done some serious damage - Cop on Lucas - we can ill afford to have Masch out for any serious lenght of time.

by **Effes** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:03 pm

Why is it deemed Babel should play on the left?

What's to stop him playing wide right? With Benayoun on the left?

by **GYBS** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:07 pm

Effes wrote:Why is it deemed Babel should play on the left?

What's to stop him playing wide right? With Benayoun on the left?

cause yossi has been pants out there and babel is our best option out left .

by **GRAHAM01** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:16 pm

Effes wrote:Why is it deemed Babel should play on the left?

What's to stop him playing wide right? With Benayoun on the left?

it will only be for this game then we will get some one ( downing or who ever ) for the left then babal will be put on the right.

BUT.............. due to rafa not wanting to leave kuyt out of the team, kuyt will be are new right back, see it all clicks in to place now doesn't it!! that is why he is not worried about finnan going :eyebrow

you heard it here first folks

by **hello_red** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:20 pm

Defo have babel play inside left and have Dossena run on. :censored:

off the winger idea, we dont have any decent ones. Play alot more narrow, utilise the way we played in the latter half of last season.

1 - 0

A win is a win.

by **Effes** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:21 pm

GYBS wrote:
Effes wrote:Why is it deemed Babel should play on the left?

What's to stop him playing wide right? With Benayoun on the left?

cause yossi has been pants out there and babel is our best option out left .

I dont believe Banayoun has been gr@p out left; he can
be predictable having to cut in all the time, but he can still do a job out left.

by **vass-liverpool** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:10 pm

Ola Mr Benitez wrote:Can't wait.. Got me tickets.. C'mon boys, time to wake up and smell the Premiership coffee!

There was a massive improvement secong half at Sunderland, but we need to move up several gears, which I expect us to do with another weeks training under their belts and the confidence of getting a win last weekend.

Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossenna

Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Babel

Keane Torres

Would be my best guess at Rafas starting 11, but I would personaly drop Kuyt and play Pennant there instead.

why rafa is not using pennant more...? i thing he is very good and he deserves a spot in the squad

by **JoeTerp** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:34 pm

will Skrtel be available?

by **account deleted by request** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:52 pm

After the last game I would really like to see someone better on the right than Kuyt, El Zhar doesn't look ready yet, so I would move Benayoun back over to the right bringing either Babel or Aurelio in on the left.

At home we shouldn't be playing Hyypia (imo) so I would bring Agger back for this one. Agger hasn't looked his old self so far but he is only going to get his form back with games....

Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena

Benayoun Gerrard Alonso Babel/Aurelio

Torres Keane

I don't think this game will be as easy as some might think, Middlesbro' are a decent team going forward especially on the break, and we will have our work cut out stopping them getting a goal, so I think maybe 2 -1 or 3 -1

by **zarababe** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:47 pm

2-0 at least torres and gerrard - but hope keane scores !

by **Greavesie** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:29 pm

I'll take any kind of a win in this one, Boro always seem capable of pulling a rabbit out of the hat against the big four. We've had a couple of games now, our eyes should be open and Rafa has put them through more training (after the Sunderland game he brought them straight back onto the pitch to train

)

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