Everton vs. Liverpool - Match Thread

[fred milne]

Assuming Torres is out, I'd like to see us line-up something like this on Sunday:

 

Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Aurelio

Mascherano Aquilani

Benayoun Gerrard Riera

Ngog

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Insua, Dossena, Lucas, Babel and Kuyt.

[Rich Gobey]

Bang on about it all you like but Aquilani won't start.

[fred milne]

Bang on about it all you like but Aquilani won't start.

You may well be right but its not unheard of for Rafa to throw in a surprise selection.

[Paddy 66]

I hope he doesn't start, those dirty b***sh**e b**t***s would target him and try and do him. I'd rather see him come on later once the game has slowed down a tad.

[Swipe]

Be staggered if it's not Lucas and Masch in the middle again.

[Rimbeux]

Be staggered if it's not Lucas and Masch in the middle again.

 

 

For most of the foreseeable future, almost certainly until the Christmas congestion

[Conrad]

And he'll definitely start Kuyt

[fred milne]

Granted Lucas & Masch in CM and Kuyt at RM have been fixtures in the side but given recent performances and results perhaps its time to try something different.

[Conrad]

Granted Lucas & Masch in CM and Kuyt at RM have been fixtures in the side but given recent performances and results perhaps its time to try something different.

 

I agree but I don't think Rafa will, though knowing him there could well be 1 surprise selection, Babel up front or something

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Gerrard ran the midfield beautifully last season. If he has no Torres to bounce off of, he may be dropped back and Acquillani may get the nod in there.

 

However, I for one cannot see him playing his first competitve game away to those savages.

 

I'll be looking at the yellow/red card market on Sunday

[john_lfc]

Reina

 

Johnson

Carra

Agger

Insua

 

Kuyt

Gerrard

Mascherano

Aurelio

 

Benayoun

 

Ngog

[fred milne]

Gerrard ran the midfield beautifully last season.

He did that in conjunction with Alonso. I wouldn't necessarily feel as confident about him doing it again with (say) Mascherano alongside him.

Edited November 27, 2009 by fred milne

[tomasjj]

Against these yarddogs Aquilani I will be massively surprised if Aquilani starts.

Lucas and Masch in the middle, and Kuyt to start as well. Abysmal form or not, his physicality is needed at the pits.

[Andy @ Allerton]

I'd have

 

------------- Pepe

 

Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio

 

 

----------- Mascherano

 

 

Kuyt Gerrard Spearing Benayoun

 

 

------------- N'Gog

 

 

 

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Riera, Skyrtel, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Voronin (Or anyone on Earth but Babel)

 

 

 

With that formation I think we'd simply outmanouvre, frustrate and outmuscle Everton. They just wouldn't be able to compete. Although Kuyt is off form, Mascherano sitting deep would allow Kuyt to drop, while Johnson goes past him creating width - and also Spearing to drop to cover Aurelio and Benayoun if they get width down the right. Gerrard will also be able to cover the middle, but won't be stopped supporting N'Gog if he needs to because of Mascherano behind him - plus Masch will give a bit of much needed supporting cover for the back two - a lot of the pressure and problems caused this season look to me to be caused because there are too many free players running at the static defence - as they move, this gives more space and causes more pressure and with no one to cover - you're in s*** street straight away. With Kuyt, Spearing and then Mascherano becoming a buffer - while still allowing more width from the likes of Aurelio and Johnson who can rove without being too worried. I think it's going to be vital to deny Everton any space to manouvre and if we can get enough attacks down the flanks, their defence just doesn't look up to much. But we need to get at them. I would consider that this is the perfect game for Spearing in the middle as he's a local lad, tenacious, gets stuck in, breaks things up and hounds all the players around him constantly. I think he would revel in this game and come out top on all his personal battles.

[Gunga Din]

I'd have

 

------------- Pepe

 

Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio

 

 

----------- Mascherano

 

 

Kuyt Gerrard Spearing Benayoun

 

 

------------- N'Gog

 

 

 

 

Subs: Cavalieri, Riera, Skyrtel, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Voronin (Or anyone on Earth but Babel)

 

 

 

With that formation I think we'd simply outmanouvre, frustrate and outmuscle Everton. They just wouldn't be able to compete. Although Kuyt is off form, Mascherano sitting deep would allow Kuyt to drop, while Johnson goes past him creating width - and also Spearing to drop to cover Aurelio and Benayoun if they get width down the right. Gerrard will also be able to cover the middle, but won't be stopped supporting N'Gog if he needs to because of Mascherano behind him - plus Masch will give a bit of much needed supporting cover for the back two - a lot of the pressure and problems caused this season look to me to be caused because there are too many free players running at the static defence - as they move, this gives more space and causes more pressure and with no one to cover - you're in s*** street straight away. With Kuyt, Spearing and then Mascherano becoming a buffer - while still allowing more width from the likes of Aurelio and Johnson who can rove without being too worried. I think it's going to be vital to deny Everton any space to manouvre and if we can get enough attacks down the flanks, their defence just doesn't look up to much. But we need to get at them. I would consider that this is the perfect game for Spearing in the middle as he's a local lad, tenacious, gets stuck in, breaks things up and hounds all the players around him constantly. I think he would revel in this game and come out top on all his personal battles.

 

 

is that your team speaking as an Evertonian?

Edited November 27, 2009 by Gunga Din

[Chili Palmer]

Pep

 

Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio

 

Mash Lucas

 

Kuyt Stevie Yossi

 

N'Gog

[fred milne]

That's what I'm expecting to see.

[Gunga Din]

Pep

 

Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio

 

Mash Lucas

 

Kuyt Stevie Yossi

 

N'Gog

 

 

aye, i think thats what we'll get.

 

Torres hopefully on the bench

[The Hitman]

That's the side right there,provided all of those are fit.

Very concerned about us from the set-piece here.

[Gunga Din]

That's the side right there,provided all of those are fit.

Very concerned about us from the set-piece here.

 

 

i'd want to see Kuyt and Benayoun trying to cut in as much as possible in this game, giving Ngog more support and allow Johnson and Aurelio to create the width when we are attacking. these are shocking at the back, and if we can get numbers forward, we should give these a chasing on sunday, and Hull had players cutting in during the week and caused them all sorts of problems

[sutty]

I'd have

 

------------- Pepe

 

Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio

----------- Mascherano

Kuyt Gerrard Spearing Benayoun

------------- N'Gog

Subs: Cavalieri, Riera, Skyrtel, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Voronin (Or anyone on Earth but Babel)

With that formation I think we'd simply outmanouvre, frustrate and outmuscle Everton. They just wouldn't be able to compete. Although Kuyt is off form, Mascherano sitting deep would allow Kuyt to drop, while Johnson goes past him creating width - and also Spearing to drop to cover Aurelio and Benayoun if they get width down the right. Gerrard will also be able to cover the middle, but won't be stopped supporting N'Gog if he needs to because of Mascherano behind him - plus Masch will give a bit of much needed supporting cover for the back two - a lot of the pressure and problems caused this season look to me to be caused because there are too many free players running at the static defence - as they move, this gives more space and causes more pressure and with no one to cover - you're in s*** street straight away. With Kuyt, Spearing and then Mascherano becoming a buffer - while still allowing more width from the likes of Aurelio and Johnson who can rove without being too worried. I think it's going to be vital to deny Everton any space to manouvre and if we can get enough attacks down the flanks, their defence just doesn't look up to much. But we need to get at them. I would consider that this is the perfect game for Spearing in the middle as he's a local lad, tenacious, gets stuck in, breaks things up and hounds all the players around him constantly. I think he would revel in this game and come out top on all his personal battles.

 

If Spearing plays I'll be starting a Look at me Rafa out thread

[Andy @ Allerton]

If Spearing plays I'll be starting a Look at me Rafa out thread

 

 

Not if he played well and we won. I don't think Everton are better than Real Madrid.

 

I think that Lucas has an excellent chance of being sent off (again) against Everton - whereas if Spearing gets involved, kicks a few of them and puts himself about, then he can disrupt them and get a few of them annoyed and hopefully on yellows, which means Lucas can maybe come on later on when the usual Derby early madness is over.

 

Wouldn't really like to see us down to ten and losing again on Sunday.

[Gunga Din]

Not if he played well and we won. I don't think Everton are better than Real Madrid.

 

I think that Lucas has an excellent chance of being sent off (again) against Everton - whereas if Spearing gets involved, kicks a few of them and puts himself about, then he can disrupt them and get a few of them annoyed and hopefully on yellows, which means Lucas can maybe come on later on when the usual Derby early madness is over.

 

Wouldn't really like to see us down to ten and losing again on Sunday.

 

 

yes, because he deserved that sending off last season

 

in a game when up until then was our best player

 

so lets get this right. you dont want to play Lucas because there is a chance he'll get sent off, yet you'll play spearing (who is f***ing garbage but thats another story) to kick a few of them?

 

Jesus

[Gilps]

Just so long as you've thought it through clearly, Andy

[GWistooshort]

From the official site..............

 

TORRES FITNESS UPDATE

Jimmy Rice 27 November 2009

 

Fernando Torres will face a late fitness test ahead of Sunday's 212th Merseyside derby.

 

The striker has not featured since our trip to Lyon on November 4 following a groin problem which originated on international duty.

 

Having gone through two to three weeks of recuperation, Torres is nearing fitness.

 

"We will check him tomorrow. He's training well, he's been with the physios and we'll check after the training session," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.

 

Elsewhere, Benitez has just two other injury doubts for the trip to Goodison.

 

He said: "Ryan Babel will not be available and Martin Kelly is still training with the physios.

 

"Albert Riera has been training so we'll have to decide. I don't see any other problems. Everyone is training."

 

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...091127-1326.htm