LIVERPOOL v ARSENAL

[magneto]

I think Pennant will start wide-right. I'd play Gerrard and Sissoko in the middle with Riise at left wing (Aurelio at left back).

[Phil M (ET Crew)]

Being at home I would rather Alonso in the middle with Gerrard. It should be us doing the attacking, so let them worry about how to break our play...

[fred milne]

I think Pennant will start wide-right. I'd play Gerrard and Sissoko in the middle with Riise at left wing (Aurelio at left back).

Gerrard and Sissoko is always going to be the least likely pairing out of those four players.

[magneto]

Gerrard and Sissoko is always going to be the least likely pairing out of those four players.

 

But its something worth trying. Instruct Sissoko to stay back and let Gerrard go forward.

[McBain]

But its something worth trying. Instruct Sissoko to stay back and let Gerrard go forward.

 

Rafa has said recently how he sees his midfield lining up. One of Masch or Xabi holding and one of Gerrard or Sissoko going forward

 

I'd go with Masch and Gerrard for this one

[fred milne]

Rafa has said recently how he sees his midfield lining up. One of Masch or Xabi holding and one of Gerrard or Sissoko going forward

 

I'd go with Masch and Gerrard for this one

On the basis that Sissoko is suspended against PSV, I'd go for Sissoko and Alonso with Gerrard on the right and Riise on the left. Arbeloa at LB, Bellamy and Kuyt up top.

[magneto]

For the remainder of the season I'd like Gerrard where he belongs..in the middle.

 

Pennant can play wide right and alternate with Finnan (with Arbeloa in at RB)

[Stevie H]

On the basis that Sissoko is suspended against PSV, I'd go for Sissoko and Alonso with Gerrard on the right and Riise on the left. Arbeloa at LB, Bellamy and Kuyt up top.

makes perfect sense.

 

what's crouchy's status?

[Romario]

No Henry! YES!!!!

[Leo No.8]

makes perfect sense.

 

what's crouchy's status?

 

Still out with his nose I think.

 

On the basis that Sissoko is suspended against PSV, I'd go for Sissoko and Alonso with Gerrard on the right and Riise on the left. Arbeloa at LB, Bellamy and Kuyt up top.

 

I think that's the team he'll go with. It's a formula which Rafa has stuck to against the top sides, Momo and Alonso in the middle with Gerrard on the right. No Crouch means the front two are pretty much set in stone as well.

Edited March 30, 2007 by Leo No.8

[crisps]

--------------reina----------

finnan--carra--agger--arbeloa

pennant--gerrard--mascherano--riise

--------fowler---bellamy----------

 

 

padelli

sissoko

alonso

hyypia

kuyt

Edited March 30, 2007 by crisps

[McBain]

Pretty sure Crouch is back

[magneto]

-------------------Reina--------------------

Arbeloa-----Carra------Agger----Aurelio

---------------------------------------------

Pennant-------Gerrard---Masc------Riise

---------------------------------------------

----------------Bellamy---Kuyt------------

 

Bench:

 

Padelli (get Dudek as far away from Arsenal as possible)

Finnan

Hyypia

Crouch

Zenden

Sissoko

[fred milne]

-------------------Reina--------------------

Arbeloa-----Carra------Agger----Aurelio

---------------------------------------------

Pennant-------Gerrard---Masc------Riise

---------------------------------------------

----------------Bellamy---Kuyt------------

 

Bench:

 

Padelli (get Dudek as far away from Arsenal as possible)

Finnan

Hyypia

Crouch

Zenden

Sissoko

Alonso not even on the bench?

[Rex Ham]

How come people are advocating picking Mascherano ahead of Alonso and Sissoko?

 

Have I missed something?

[ynwa.tv]

Double Agents

 

Down Memory Lane

 

Meet The Referee

[Guest Anders Honoré]

He's more solid.

 

I think we need Alonso's passing though.

Edited March 30, 2007 by Anders Honoré

[Bigal]

No Henry! YES!!!!

 

no van persie either

 

 

Momo to kill fabregas

[fred milne]

He's more solid.

Why do you say that?

[Guest jjasonuk]

He might just believe it to be true to said it?

[Guest Kev]

I want revenge, 30 nil will satisfy me.

[Bald Devil]

Chris Bascombe on the Arsenal Website:

 

THE STORY SO FAR

"It's probably been quite similar to Arsenal except Liverpool still have one competition to play for. What Arsenal did to Liverpool in the two domestic cups was repeated at Arsenal's expense by Chelsea, Blackburn and PSV. It can all be over very quickly. As for Liverpool they made a very slow start in the league, the new players took time to adapt, and it was very disappointing to be so far behind in the title race before they got going. Liverpool found their form in the winter, winning nine games out of 10, they beat Chelsea and there was brief talk of being back in the title race. But that didn't last long. It has been another stop-start season, you always feel there is more to come because they are capable of great performances, but they need to produce that consistently."

 

MAN OF THE MOMENT

"Jamie Carragher. He had a slow start to the season when the likes of Sissoko were more impresssive but Carragher's performances since then make him a worthy player of the season. He has been particularly good at Anfield and should really be in the top three when the national awards are handed out. Carragher is an out-and-out defender and has proved himself to be a quick learner after playing in so many positions. There was a rawness about him when he came into the Liverpool team, we thought he was a tough guy, a David Batty-type player in central midfield, but he's reinvented himself. Carragher moved to left back and grew into that role superbly, then he went to right back and improved in his attacking play. Now he's a centre back and he continues to absorb information."

 

NEW FACES

"Has Benitez brought quantity rather than quality? There might be some truth to that but he obviously thought the quality was there last summer. Craig Bellamy cost £6 million and he has done OK but he hasn't lived up to the expectations of those who thought he might do a similar job to Michael Owen. Jermaine Pennant is another one who arrived to use Anfield as a platform to get in the England side but he has been in and out of the team. The fact Steven Gerrard is back on the right now says a lot. Some of Benitez's signings have been a big success. Daniel Agger is a class act, he just goes from strength to strength. Momo Sissoko is still only 22 and has been compared to Patrick Vieira. We've had a few players compared to Vieira in the past who have been plain embarrassing but Sissoko is different, he has lots of attributes."

 

CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM

"The squad is better than it was a year ago but, having said that, Liverpool are going to struggle to get the same number of points. Djibril Cisse was up front last year and he has been replaced by a better player, Bellamy. Liverpool's defensive strength is still intact, but overall the team is five per cent better when perhaps they should be 15 per cent better. Manchester United are the only team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the league and they were lucky to do so."

 

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

"Liverpool's away record hasn't been impressive and as far as the squad is concerned I still think they need two strikers, a wide man and a full back. Benitez tried to address those problems last summer but they need more quality. Last year there was talk about buying the winger Daniel Alves but he was deemed too expensive at £15 million. He would probably cost £20 million now. If they could make the decision again I think they might have got him."

 

TALKING TACTICS

"The players who haven't been away on international duty tend to get a look-in so that means Peter Crouch, Pennant, Robbie Fowler and Fabio Aurelio. You can expect a lot of those players to be in the squad, especially with the Champions League game against PSV on Tuesday. The team which wins on Saturday will have a bit more breathing space as far as Champions League qualification is concerned but I suspect that Wenger and Benitez are too concerned about whether they finish third or fourth, as long as they are in the top four. If there is a losing team on Saturday they might have to sweat a bit more before the end of the season but it's hard to see them failing to qualify."

 

IMPRESSIONS OF ARSENAL

"From an Arsenal point of view it's a good time to be going to Anfield with the PSV game looming on Tuesday. Liverpool will need to play a lot better than they did in the Carling Cup tie in January. I don't think you'll see a different approach from Liverpool, especially in the first 20 minutes. They will go for it and as usual the first goal will probably be decisive."

[Dan]

Don't think Momo should play. He's really been shown up with this passing lately and against Aresenal you need to retain possession or they'll take the p*ss. Too many of our attacks have broken down through lack of creativity through the middle.

 

Gerrard and Alonso in the middle for me with Pennant and Riise on the flanks.

[Falconhoof]

Its a tough choice in midfield. Very difficult to pick out who will play.

 

I'd go for Pennant on the right as he seems to be playing himself into a bit of form and confidence.

I'd be tempted to play Bellamy on the left wing, put Momo and Alonso in the middle and give Gerrard a free role supporting Kuyt.

 

But I don't expect Rafa will play that way.

[Guest Prongsy]

Don't think Momo should play. He's really been shown up with this passing lately and against Aresenal you need to retain possession or they'll take the p*ss. Too many of our attacks have broken down through lack of creativity through the middle.

 

Gerrard and Alonso in the middle for me with Pennant and Riise on the flanks.

 

All this complete over exaggeration regarding Momo and his passing ability is starting to grate now. He is exactly the type of player that we need against Arsenal.