allawee

I would like to see Babel on the right actually for few games and keeping Reira on the left. But you are right, I don't think it will happen

I don't really understand the number of fans who have this infatuation with Kuyt! Granted he works harder than Keane and many other players, but in his position (whether as a striker, a right winger, a right midfielder, playing in the hole....whichever) he still is limited and does not excel in any of these positions in my opinion in an attacking sense! I can see why Rafa likes to start with Kuyt, as he offers a solid platform during the initial stages of matches. However, I find it frustrating that when we are chasing games, needing to score goals or unlock defenses, that Kuyt is left on the pitch and Keane is sacrificed every time. That must really hurt and dent the confidence of Keane and I do sympathize with him. I may be wrong, but since the Man city game away, I don't recall Kuyt successfully changing the outcome of a match following Rafa's substitutions?!

I would love it to be this team and I would love for Babel to get a good run for few games. I think he has the potential to be a very good player, but he is just needs a confidence boost and consecutive starts for few games.

Many on this forum early last season when he was playing regulalry and following his 06/07 season, were calling for his inclusion in the England squad ahead of Lenon who was on fire then. Surely that's reasonable proof that he has the skills, but sadly no brain, application or dedication, which is what I was implying.

Still think he could have done a job. Even in the few games he played this season, his crossing from the right is much better than Kuyt. Stating the obvious, but his exit from Liverpool was nothing to do with his football ability, but off the field activties. Couple of years ago, I used to think that Rafa had a slight 'man mangement' weakness My doubts are creeping back!

I subscribe to the same opinion that playing Keane on the right and Babel on the left, drop Kuyt and Reira for few games where both have been ineffective and hit an miss for about 2 months at least. For me the next game we should start as: Reina Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Aurelio Masch Alonso Gerrad Keane Torres Babel

What was wrong with crouch?

Definite a step down from Crouch last year! or Bellamy the year before!

Still, that for us without Torres is very impressive! If you look at the 2 months before, the equation was in our/and Chelsea's favour rather than UTD, so it can change and flip again towards the end of the seasn and the balance back with us. No reason for the early doom and gloom

Except for Alan Hansen and Phil Thomson who somehow slipped through the net, it seems that whether it is Sky, SETANAT, the BEEB or ITV, one of the interview questions, is how much do you hate Liverpool Football Club?

On one hand, and worringly they only dropped 3 points at home last season after the 12th of Jan and that was the defeat to Man City. The dropped 9 points away and similar performace this season will see them totalling 89 points. But on the other hand, Ronaldo last year was unstoppable and this year, they had more luck, so I doubt if they will repeat the same scenario again! I see them dropping more points at home and our Match in March is so crucial!

Sorry, I am ahead of my time I looked at the wrong week on the BBC fixture list!

I still don't think Rafa's comments had any effect on the Stoke and tonight's game and certainly had no influence on the way Utd thrashed Chelsea and won against Bolton and Wigan! We will never know the answer to the question, but had Rafa not made his comments, would the table be any different today? my thinking is no.

I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't feature at all at the weekend. Well I would actually start him and Babel on Wed against Wigan, rather than him and Torres. Probably wont happen, but his finest performance came against PSV when he started with Babel and may be it is just me, Keane seems more comforable playing this season when he plays with Babel. (and before I get criticised for dropping Torres, I just think that Rafa is likely to rest few players and change the team on Wed, so I am just suggesting one of the changes)

Not sure if you are questioning Rafa's judgement there! As you say the G/T partnership was lethal last year, so why did Rafa invest 20M in Keane?! I still think the answer probably is because Alonso was suppose to go, Gerrard drops back to play Alonso role (may be slightly forward) with Mascharno's protection and Barry on the left. But when Alonso stayed and been playing so well, it changed things for Rafa, and Keane is actually surplus now becuase he is just not doing it and has not been able to modify his game to suit the way we set out!

Why does he always seem to run into players of his own team! and always on a different wave length to their passing and movement!

spot on!

I did not want to start another thread, becuase this is still very relevant. We are still joint top. We have not played brilliantly since the Newcastle game, we have not been keeping clean sheets and we have not been scoring freely. We have had some real bad luck as well, BUT: 1. The whole squad is fit again 2. The majority of the players are still fresh 3. We have the same point total as Man U (and 100% of all Liverpool fans would have still taken that position ath the start of the season) 4. We are in the FA Cup and in the Champions league 5. We are to play Arsenal, Villa and Chelsea at home 6. Keane will come good this season 7. Our luck will change soon, it has too. I think sadly too many fans listen to SETANTA and their biased stupid pundits. Who ever is in doubt should look at all previous PL seasons and tell me if there is even one season when there have been no twists and turns between Januray and May. I am sure Utd will slip at some point (has to happen and will happen), we will trip up again, Chelsea will appear as world beaters soon and the title will not be decided until May becuase the roller coatser ride has just started!

Skertel! I thought he looked edgy with his passing, poor positionally and at fault for the goal... My 3 are: Kuyt (for effort) Gerrard (for the goal) Riena (for 2 decent saves)

If that turns to be the case, I will love you for ever!

Oooooooh, look at you Mr "know it all". You know I have a soft spot for Giggs.

I always hated every player (just comes naturally) who played for United, but for some strange reason, Giggs is the exception. I always thought his attitude was different to the other united players. Very quiet and an assuming, yet very talented. Definitely not over rated! I agree with Stevie H, if he played for a bigger nation on a world stage, he would have been much more recognised internationally

I think one of our many problems against weaker teams is Carra on the right. Against strong teams and like always, Carra is solid, passionate and dependable. But he attacking threat and link play with whoever is on the right in front of him is very poor. I can't remember one single decent cross or attacking play on the right against Stoke. I am not criticising him here. It is not his fault, and he is doing a grand job filling in a position which is not his main position, but it is something that in this January transfer window we must adress I feel. I don't understand why the Johnson rumour has died and there will be many who come out say he is not the answer, but him and Valencia on the right for us would definitely address what I believe is our weakest points at the moment.

Can't disagree with this team, but I would have Bridge (as he is more expensive than Johnson in there and Lucas Neil as he is always sh^^ whenever I have seen him, and in attack, I would have Berbatove to partner his other German league failure instead of Defoe

Add to that the blatant dive today when Bosingwa tackled him, and no comments about that as well. This is not the first time that Rooney tried to con refs