Team news & match thread.

[ronan]

thats huge news
no terry no carvalho
have to win

[Guest]

That's where we could have hit them with pace. Crouch playing, we'll probably resort to long punts forward. Hopefully that won't be the case.

[kurtangle01]

Cech
Geremi
Essien
Ferreira
Cole
Mikel
Ballack
Lampard
Robben
Kalou
Drogba

They look as strong as ever in the final 3rd but there is undoubted weakness at the back. We should be good enough to expose that.

[Guest]

But they still have Lampard, Drogba, Ballack and Robben, every one of them being top players.

[Resu]

Looks like the plan is to get the crosses in and then challenge them in the air. Aurelio and Pennant can put in decent crosses, and Crouch/Kuyt biggest advantage over Bellamy is the height. Looks like Rafa thinks there will be limited room for Bellamy to run into.

Aurelio or Agger to score first

[kurtangle01]

No Makelele covering for them either so lets hope we can dominate midfield. Todays game would have been taylor made for Momo.

[Guest]

They look as strong as ever in the final 3rd but there is undoubted weakness at the back. We should be good enough to expose that.

Hopefully we won't resort to long ball tactics.

[kurtangle01]

But they still have Lampard, Drogba, Ballack and Robben, every one of them being top players.

That's very true, fredo. If we can keep possesion of the ball then we can put their back 4 under pressure today. This is a make shift back 4 who haven't played together before and with a patched up goalie there is bound to be an element of uncerainty.

[livvy145]

Hopefully we won't resort to long ball tactics.

I doubt we will play any other way.

[REDSCOUSER]

Rafa has gone for physical presence up front with PC & DK. We'll beat the chavs.

[kurtangle01]

I doubt we will play any other way.

[REDSCOUSER]

Hopefully we won't resort to long ball tactics.

nah
pass & move it's the LIVERPOOL groove

[Resu]

It will be interesting to so how good Mikel really is.

[Guest]

That's very true, fredo. If we can keep possesion of the ball then we can put their back 4 under pressure today. This is a make shift back 4 who haven't played together before and with a patched up goalie there is bound to be an element of uncerainty.

I predict that we will play it a bit cagey, just to make sure we aren't picked up on the counter attack and we should take our chances when they come, that's the key.

[REDSCOUSER]

I doubt we will play any other way.