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Liverpool v Birmingham City

Andy @ Allerton

By Andy @ Allerton
in Liverpool FC

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Andy @ Allerton

Andy @ Allerton

Posted
Posted

Beating Birmingham on Monday is really something that we should be doing. That said, I think it's going to be a tough old test, Brum will come to disrupt, annoy and stifle.

 

We need a bit of luck finally to go our way - something that's not happened too much so far this season.

 

With injuries, sending offs, suspensions and things just not happening for us, it'll be a tricky game - but win this and hopefully use it as a springboard while hopefully welcoming back a few of our walking wounded and who knows?

Lark

Lark

Posted
Posted

RAFA'S UPDATE ON INJURED SEVEN

Steve Hunter 07 November 2009

Rafael Benitez is hoping to have seven of his injured stars available for selection against Birmingham City on Monday night.

The boss will make a late decision on whether to start inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and he could also be boosted by the availability of Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Nabil El Zhar.

 

Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv, after Saturday morning's training session, Benitez said: "We have a lot of good news with players coming back from injury and they all took part in a light training session this morning.

 

"Steven trained on Friday with the physios and did a light training session today with the team and did well. He is improving and has more confidence.

 

"We will decide on Monday before the game if he can play. He hasn't been training for a long time so we have to be careful.

 

"With Fernando we know he has to keep working with the physios and we will see how he progresses. We will see how is he is because he still has some pain so we will decide if he can play on Monday.

 

"Johnson did a light session today and will train again on Sunday. If he is okay then hopefully he will be available to play against Birmingham.

 

"Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Nabil El Zhar are doing well and were also involved in the training session so we will decide if they can play on Monday.

 

"Albert Riera also trained after his hamstring injury and that is good news for us.

 

"You can see we have had a lot of young players on the bench in recent weeks but we have more players back in training now. It's good for me and an option we didn't have available before."

 

Jamie Carragher will sit out this game as he serves a one-match ban for his sending-off against Fulham but Alberto Aquilani is in line for a first taste of the Anfield experience after he was an unused substitute in Lyon.

 

The Reds No.4 is unlikely to start against Alex McLeish's side but he is in the squad and the boss added: "His match fitness is still a problem.

 

"We are hopeful of having some players fit and available so maybe he can wait and change the game if it's necessary.

 

"We were controlling the game in Lyon and Lucas and Javier Mascherano were doing a very good job. When we scored we didn't want to change the shape. Aquilani was better after his virus and could have played some part but hopefully now he will be better for Monday."

 

Hopefully they are all back and fit enough to play

Sion

Sion

Posted
Posted

:yes: we're getting players back :yes:

 

when you think about it, everyone fit, we could have a pretty good lot to pick a bench from

Cav, Dossena, Skrtel, Lucas, Riera, N'Gog, Kelly, Degen, Insua, Zhar, Kyrgiakos, Voronin, Babel

Gunga Din

Gunga Din

Posted
Posted
I think both England and Spain should do the decent thing for once and not select any of our players.

 

I think its time Rafa put his foot down and stopped releasing them for internationals when they clearly arent 100% fit

Red Kent

Red Kent

Posted
Posted
I think its time Rafa put his foot down and stopped releasing them for internationals when they clearly arent 100% fit

 

Does he have that option though ? I always thought that if there was any doubt the final decision was made by the national boss.

Swipe

Swipe

Posted
Posted
I think both England and Spain should do the decent thing for once and not select any of our players.

 

Just watching Barca game and the commentator says the have an agreement with Argentina that states Messi doesnt play in their friendly games, only competitive games.

 

And yet Spain seem to want to bust Torres every time they have a game. f***ing raging.

 

Read a headline the other day about Rafa pleading with Spain to be careful with Torres with these upcoming friendlies. f*** that, he should be telling them he won't be available.

 

The engerlish press would crucify Rafa even more if he made a big deal about Gerrard getting injuried for England as well.

 

So annoying.

Red Kent

Red Kent

Posted
Posted
Just watching Barca game and the commentator says the have an agreement with Argentina that states Messi doesnt play in their friendly games, only competitive games.

 

And yet Spain seem to want to bust Torres every time they have a game. f***ing raging.

 

Read a headline the other day about Rafa pleading with Spain to be careful with Torres with these upcoming friendlies. f*** that, he should be telling them he won't be available.

 

The engerlish press would crucify Rafa even more if he made a big deal about Gerrard getting injuried for England as well.

 

So annoying.

 

I think (if I remember right), Rafa sent Spain the training plan for Torres to ensure he's okay, Spain ripped it up......

Rimbeux

Rimbeux

Posted
Posted
Just watching Barca game and the commentator says the have an agreement with Argentina that states Messi doesnt play in their friendly games, only competitive games.

 

And yet Spain seem to want to bust Torres every time they have a game. f***ing raging.

 

Read a headline the other day about Rafa pleading with Spain to be careful with Torres with these upcoming friendlies. f*** that, he should be telling them he won't be available.

 

The engerlish press would crucify Rafa even more if he made a big deal about Gerrard getting injuried for England as well.

 

So annoying.

 

 

Barca got that because they allowed him to play the Olympics, they played hardball and got a deal.

 

Our main issue with Torres and Gerrard is that they are both desperate to play International football and will not cry off in the manner Giggs etc have for years, often to detriment of their own fitness.

Cam

Cam

Posted
Posted

The Torres conundrum will keep Rafa up all night.

 

Does he start with him (knowing that a breakdown will see him out for weeks) and plan to take him off after 65 to 80 minutes with the full understanding that if we're drawing or losing at that point (or even if Brum score in the remaining minutes) it could be a watershed moment in his relationship with the fans?

 

Or does he reserve Torres until late on in the hope that Voronin & Ngog can be good enough or hoping that if Torres is really needed he can come on and snatch a dramatic winner/equaliser to make to Rafa look like a tactical genius but knowing that the failure to get that late goal... could be a watershed moment in his relationship with the fans?

 

Drawing or losing tomorrow will be one thing. But choosing the wrong thing with Torres or doing something silly with a 'favourite' like Benayoun could be quite another.

Gunga Din

Gunga Din

Posted
Posted
The Torres conundrum will keep Rafa up all night.

 

Does he start with him (knowing that a breakdown will see him out for weeks) and plan to take him off after 65 to 80 minutes with the full understanding that if we're drawing or losing at that point (or even if Brum score in the remaining minutes) it could be a watershed moment in his relationship with the fans?

 

Or does he reserve Torres until late on in the hope that Voronin & Ngog can be good enough or hoping that if Torres is really needed he can come on and snatch a dramatic winner/equaliser to make to Rafa look like a tactical genius but knowing that the failure to get that late goal... could be a watershed moment in his relationship with the fans?

 

Drawing or losing tomorrow will be one thing. But choosing the wrong thing with Torres or doing something silly with a 'favourite' like Benayoun could be quite another.

 

 

if we cant beat Birmingham at home without Torres, we have more problems than any of us can imagine. if he isnt 100%, i personally wouldnt play him, we need to get him right.

Rory Fitzgerald

Rory Fitzgerald

Posted
Posted
if we cant beat Birmingham at home without Torres, we have more problems than any of us can imagine. if he isnt 100%, i personally wouldnt play him, we need to get him right.

 

We couldnt 2 seasons ago when Kuyt and Voronin started up top - apparently Brum would sit back so we needed players playing deep so that they could use the space

Andy @ Allerton

Andy @ Allerton

Posted
  • Author
Posted
if we cant beat Birmingham at home without Torres, we have more problems than any of us can imagine. if he isnt 100%, i personally wouldnt play him, we need to get him right.

 

 

Come across as a bit arrogant that mate - Brum will come to keep it tight and spoil and maybe try to nick a goal. They will make it difficult like they've made it tricky for everyone so far.

 

Would be nice if we could get a bit of magic going - but I expect a hard slog of a game with potentially little reward. These games are always hard - they'll have 11 behind the ball the whole game, are fit and strong and solid and will challenge for everything.

Siang

Siang

Posted
Posted

opportunity to reduce the deficit from 2nd placing and maintain the deficit at the top to single digit..

was looking at the odds for us winning the league, a nice 50 quid bet on us will make me richer by ... oh a few thousand quids!!

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