FC PORTO v LIVERPOOL

[ynwa.tv]

Down Memory Lane

 

Meet the Referee

[urban]

My pick for the starting 11 are:

 

Reina

 

Finnan - Agger - Carragher - Arbeloa

 

Pennant - Alonso - Gerrard - Babel

 

Kuyt - Torres

 

 

Bench:

Itandje

Hyypia

Aurelio

Benayoun

Mascherano

Crouch

Voronin

[Ginu]

My pick for the starting 11 are:

 

Reina

 

Finnan - Agger - Carragher - Arbeloa

 

Pennant - Alonso - Gerrard - Babel

 

Kuyt - Torres

Bench:

Itandje

Hyypia

Aurelio

Benayoun

Mascherano

Crouch

Voronin

 

That will probably be the lineup but I'd like to give Mascherano a game. He deserves it based on his performances so far this season.

[Kahnee]

My pick for the starting 11 are:

 

Reina

 

Finnan - Agger - Carragher - Arbeloa

 

Pennant - Alonso - Gerrard - Babel

 

Kuyt - Torres

Bench:

Itandje

Hyypia

Aurelio

Benayoun

Mascherano

Crouch

Voronin

 

Agree with most of that - reckon Masch will play instead of Alonso

[Beardsley]

That will probably be the lineup but I'd like to give Mascherano a game. He deserves it based on his performances so far this season.

 

 

I'll think we'll see The Monster Masch, based on the fact Porto works really hard in midfield. You need someone with more mobility than Xabi, and Mascherano will fill that role.

[The_Adder]

I'll think we'll see The Monster Masch, based on the fact Porto works really hard in midfield. You need someone with more mobility than Xabi, and Mascherano will fill that role.

 

Plus Xabi played on sat as well.

 

Yeah, swap him round with Masch and you got yaself a deal.

 

If Finnan doesn't make it we might see Arbeloa right and the return of Fabio on the left...

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Plus Xabi played on sat as well.

 

Yeah, swap him round with Masch and you got yaself a deal.

 

If Finnan doesn't make it we might see Arbeloa right and the return of Fabio on the left...

 

Agree there although I don't think Xabi was all that great on Sat.

[richt71]

Agree there although I don't think Xabi was all that great on Sat.

 

Rafa said today momo and Riise are out injuried for Porto. Xabi, Finnan, Arbeola and Stevie are Struggling after Saturday. Not sure how serious.

[Sion]

I went for fantasy rafa

 

Reina

Finnan

Carra

Agger

Arbeloa

Pennant

Masch

Gerrard

Babel

Kuyt

Torres

 

That means that team has no chance of turning out as i haven't got 11/11 yet

[Guest Snorky]

This is going to be a very very tough game. Porto are top of their league winning 4 out of 4.

 

2-1 at Braga

1-0 home to Sporting

3-0 at Leiria

1-0 home to Maritimo

 

I think Rafa will be playing a defensive line-up. One forward with Gerrard backing him up, leaving another 4 in midfield.

 

We'll be looking to hit them on the break, probably Torres will start.

[Guest Kaizer]

This is going to be a very very tough game. Porto are top of their league winning 4 out of 4.

 

2-1 at Braga

1-0 home to Sporting

3-0 at Leiria

1-0 home to Maritimo

 

I think Rafa will be playing a defensive line-up. One forward with Gerrard backing him up, leaving another 4 in midfield.

 

We'll be looking to hit them on the break, probably Torres will start.

 

I really hope not, that role restricts Gerrard movement a lot and takes his best asset out of his game, arriving outside/inside the box coming from the deep.

 

I think we will see Gerrard on the right with Alonso and Mascherano in the middle.

 

Porto usually attacks down the wings with players coming from behind and into the box to be on the end of crosses, I cant see their strikers being much of a problem for our defenders, what we need to do is pick up the running midfielders and stop them creating much on the wings, so to play Gerrard out wide and Xabi and Masch in CM makes all the sense in the world to me.

 

The combination Quaresma -Lucho Gonzales being the main threat and I think we will try to stop them create anything and then hope we create something ourselves so we can be able to nick it.

 

Here is a link to a site I use a lot for info on the Portuguese league.

http://www.portugoal.net/

[Knox_Harrington]

I believe I'm right in saying the manager played two up in every game last season away from home except the final. He certainly did in all the knockout games.

[Guest Kaizer]

I believe I'm right in saying the manager played two up in every game last season away from home except the final. He certainly did in all the knockout games.

 

Thats right, its a big difference as well playing with a striker as a link player compared to a midfielder, we certainly dont have the right midfielder to occupy that role.

[ali]

Alonso's limped out of training after 10mins, the docs got ice and compression on his foot, don't think he'll be playing.

[Guest Snorky]

Alonso's limped out of training after 10mins, the docs got ice and compression on his foot, don't think he'll be playing.

 

Why has the doc got ice and compression on his foot ? Wouldn't it be better putting it on Alonso's foot ?

[Alonso]

Thats right, its a big difference as well playing with a striker as a link player compared to a midfielder, we certainly dont have the right midfielder to occupy that role.

I think Benayoun would be suited to link midfild role. You could have Gerrard and Mascherano in midfield (as it looks like Xabi won't be fit ) with Pennant and Babel on the flanks and Benayoun in behind Torres. I do think tho that Kuyt's physical presence, hard work and non stop running will cause more problems for the Porto back line as well as give Torres more support.

[ali]

Why has the doc got ice and compression on his foot ? Wouldn't it be better putting it on Alonso's foot ?

 

as only 18 have travelled the doc might playing yet

[Mike S]

I believe I'm right in saying the manager played two up in every game last season away from home except the final. He certainly did in all the knockout games.

yep. and gerrard generally on the right with alonso+1 in the middle.

[Cunny]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2736841,00.html

 

Alonso doubt for Reds

Spanish star pulls-up in training

 

By Graeme Bailey Last updated: 17th September 2007

Alonso doubt for Reds

 

Alonso: Major doubt

 

Xabi Alonso is a major doubt for Liverpool's opening UEFA Champions League group stage clash with Porto.

 

The Spanish international suffered a blow to his foot at the weekend, which forced him off late in the clash with Portsmouth.

 

Now, having travelled with the rest of the Liverpool squad to Portugal - Alonso was forced to pull out of their opening training session after just a few minutes.

 

Liverpool are now assessing the injury, but it seems unlikely that he could start in the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday.

 

Should Alonso fail to make the game, then boss Rafael Benitez is left with a straight forward decision of recalling Steven Gerrard to start alongside Javier Mascherano - with Mohamed Sissoko already sidelined.

[Smith]

This is going to be a very very tough game. Porto are top of their league winning 4 out of 4.

 

2-1 at Braga

1-0 home to Sporting

3-0 at Leiria

1-0 home to Maritimo

 

I think Rafa will be playing a defensive line-up. One forward with Gerrard backing him up, leaving another 4 in midfield.

 

We'll be looking to hit them on the break, probably Torres will start.

 

Indeed, can't see Babel starting this one, although I wish he would.

 

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

 

Benayoun Gerrard Mascherano Pennant

 

Kyut

 

Torres

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Cant access betting sites in work, any got the odds Paddy Power are offering on Torres to score in 90mins ?

 

1st CL game for the lad, I'm sure he will be pumped !

[Gomez]

Any news on Finnan / Arbeloa?

[dorgie]

Echo says Momo Sissoko is back in Liverpool for "family reasons". I've only just logged on here, so anyone know what that's about ?

[Stevie H]

Echo says Momo Sissoko is back in Liverpool for "family reasons". I've only just logged on here, so anyone know what that's about ?

he's so hungry that he could eat his own mother.

[dorgie]

he's so hungry that he could eat his own mother.

 

That's cleared that up then