Your starting XI v Villa

[Guest Snorky]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

Gerrard

Alonso

Sissoko

Kewell

Torres

Kuyt

[Guest jjasonuk]

I agree with that Kev, spot on i'd say possibly with Masch in the middle with Xabi but I think Momo will get the nod

[Knox_Harrington]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

Gerrard

Alonso

Sissoko

Kewell

Torres

Kuyt

I'd swap Momo for Pennant. And then agree wholeheartedly.

 

Who we get in the qualifying round and how we get on first leg will have a bearing.

[Sion]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

 

Benayoun

Gerrard

Alonso

Kewell

 

Kuyt

Crouch

[sean]

Mascherano won't start due to the fact he'll not start back pre-season until later than the others.

Pennant looks hungry to nail a spot. I think we'll have a left back quite soon, so a toss-up with JAR to start, depending on when we sign one.

[Guest Snorky]

I agree with that Kev, spot on i'd say possibly with Masch in the middle with Xabi but I think Momo will get the nod

 

I think Masch wont start playing until the end of August, he'll more than likely be on the bench I reckon.

[Benitez]

Reina

Finnan Carra-Agger Riise

Gerrard Sissoko Alonso Kewell

Crouch Torres

 

Although I suspect Crouchy won't get the start

[vish]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

 

Kewell

Alonso

Gerrard

Pennant

 

Voronin

Torres

[Nebraska Red]

I think Vish's team looks the most likely.

 

a starting XI that has options, plus the chance to put out a bench with loads of options.

[Billy Dane]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

 

Kewell

Alonso

Gerrard

Benayoun

 

Voronin

Torres

[McBain]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

 

Alonso

Gerrard

Mascherano

Kewell

 

Voronin

Torres

[jfogarty]

Reina

 

Finnan

Agger

Carragher

Riise

 

Gerrard

Alonso

Mascherano

Kewell

 

Crouch

Torres

[Alonso]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

 

Kewell

Alonso

Gerrard

Pennant

 

Voronin

Torres

That's the one for me!

[David Hodgson]

Encouraging thing here is that people are varying teams on the basis of 15 players who seem pretty much interchangeable. That's a good sign of the quality of the squad.

 

I think Ryan Babel is one good pre-season performance away from making the cut. Never underestimate Rafa's desire to play with his new toys.

[Rimbeux]

Reina

 

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

 

Pennant

Gerrard

Alonso

Kewell

 

Crouch

Torres

 

Carson Hyppia Sissoko Kuyt Babel

 

 

Think Babel will make near every squad due to his versatility

[R A Softlad]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

Gerrard

Alonso

Sissoko

Kewell

Kuyt

Crouch

 

Subs: Carson, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Babel, Torres

 

Start off with an experienced prem side - bring the new boys in over a period of weeks.

Edited July 30, 2007 by R A Softlad

[Bliki]

Reina

Finnan

Carragher

Agger

Riise

Gerrard

Alonso

Mascherano

Kewell

Torres

Kuyt

 

Subs:

Carson, Arbeloa, Crouch, Babel, Sissoko

 

I think that Mascherano is a key player for Rafa and he will defenitely start.

[Bo Benn]

Surprised everyone seem to take Kewell for granted in the starting XI.

Don't know how he did in the summer internationals personally but for Liverpool he mostly did a few decent subs by the end of last season. Not enough to prove he is still the player he was 3 years ago. I could see any of Riise, Babel or Benayoun play LM myself.

[ploveroil]

Surprised everyone seem to take Kewell for granted in the starting XI.

Don't know how he did in the summer internationals personally but for Liverpool he mostly did a few decent subs by the end of last season. Not enough to prove he is still the player he was 3 years ago. I could see any of Riise, Babel or Benayoun play LM myself.

 

I'll agree with that...I reckon Kewell is getting a fair run out in the pre-season friendlies with a view to proving he is worth a starting place. So far it's been less than convincing IMHO...he looks as if he has lost a yard of pace.

[Woodsyla]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Heinze

Gerrard

Alonso

Sissoko

Kewell

Torres

Kuyt

 

That's the XI I'd LIKE to see start against Villa !!!!!

[Cunny]

Reina

Finnan

Carragher

Agger

Riise

Pennant

Gerrard

Alonso

Kewell

Kuyt

Crouch

 

We will have a CL qualifier in the midweek, so I can see Torres playing in that and maybe Rafa will go with the Premiership hardened forward line for this away game.

[Stevie H]

reina

finnan

carra

agger

riise

gerrard

momo

alonso

kewell

crouch

voronin

 

based on who has had a proper rest this summer and the late arrival of a few of the signings. ease torres and babel in, keep the pressure off them.

[fred milne]

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Riise

Gerrard

Alonso

Sissoko

Kewell

Torres

Kuyt

That works for me. Only debate is Sissoko v Mascherano.

[Guest Kaizer]

That works for me. Only debate is Sissoko v Mascherano.

 

I guess a lot depends on when Mascherano is back from holiday, does anyone know?

 

All I know is that I want Voronin to start, if it will be up front with Crouch or Torres depends on if we get to see them together in the two coming friendlies.

I think they can form a great partnership but it might be too early to start with both players in our first away match.

 

Hopefully Kuyt will be nowhere to be seen since he is a complete waste on the road.

[Puskas]

I'm going to be controversial and start Gerrard from the bench, 'rested' along with Riise and Mascherano for the qualifier second leg and/or Chelsea (not what I would do, but what I think Rafa might do!).

 

I don't think Torres will start the first league game. He'll be on the bench though, with Gerrard, Benayoun and Sami.

 

Assuming we don't sign another left back:

 

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Arbeloa

Pennant

Alonso

Sissoko

Kewell

Voronin

Kuyt