Pre-Match Build Up and Match Thread- PSV - 3 Apr 2007

[lfc4ever]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6525783,00.html

Injuries weaken PSV for visit of Liverpool

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, April 2 (Reuters) -

Liverpool will start favourites but PSV Eindhoven coach Ronald Koeman will fancy another English scalp when the Dutch club host the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Koeman's side put out Arsenal in the first knockout round in March and last season, when he was in charge of Portugal's Benfica, he outwitted Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez at the same stage to knock out the then defending champions.

Koeman's Benfica also consigned Manchester United to bottom place in their group last season with a 2-1 home victory.

PSV are riddled with injury problems, however, for the visit of a Liverpool side who looked in fine fettle when beating Arsenal 4-1 on Saturday to go third in the Premier League.

Towering Brazilian defender Alex, whose header knocked Arsenal out at The Emirates Stadium, is sidelined by injury while Ivorian striker Arouna Kone suffered a knee injury in that game and has not played since.

Youngster Ibrahim Afellay, capped for the first time by the Netherlands last week, is also struggling to recover from a hamstring injury picked up during Saturday's 1-1 draw at NAC Breda -- a result that meant PSV's lead in Dutch league was trimmed to two points.

"We don't have the fittest squad at this moment," said Koeman, "but we will not give up despite two matches against Liverpool in a week.
"Afellay is a major doubt. We have problems battling for silverware on two fronts."

PSYCHOLOGICAL EDGE

Former Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert played against NAC, and could get a rare Champions League outing against Liverpool.

Liverpool and PSV have already met twice in this season's competition, Liverpool posting a psychological advantage with a 2-0 victory at Anfield and a 0-0 draw away in the group phase.

PSV will be wary of the threat of Peter Crouch on Tuesday.
The lanky England international scored in the 2-0 victory over PSV in November and was in sparkling form when he notched a hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday after returning from surgery on his nose.

"Crouch hadn't played for 20 days because of his nose operation and he was desperate to play and score goals," Benitez said after the Arsenal win, hinting that Crouch may get the nod to start against PSV.

"All of his goals were fantastic. Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano controlled the midfield and it has set us up nicely for the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven."

Liverpool have proved a tough nut to crack in Europe this season, losing just one match away to Galatasaray when progress to the knockout phase was already assured.

Benitez confirmed on Sunday that captain Steven Gerrard, substituted against Arsenal, would be fit, saying the midfielder was simply tired after international duty.

Probable teams:
PSV: 1-Gomes; 2-Jan Kromkamp, 14-Manuel da Costa, 13-Alcides, 23-Carlos Salcido; 20-Ibrahim Afellay, 11-Edison Mendes, 6-Timmy Simons, 8-Phillip Cocu; 17-Jefferson Farfan, 9-Patrick Kluivert

Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 3-Steve Finnan, 23-Jamie Carragher, 5-Daniel Agger, 2-Alvaro Arbeloa; 16-Jermaine Pennant, 8-Steven Gerrard, 14-Xabi Alonso, 6-John Arne Riise; 15-Peter Crouch, 17-Dirk Kuyt

Referee: Bertrand Layec (France) (Additional reporting by Martyn Herman, London)

[Fagan]

Momo is banned for this game.

[cobain]

We will win this match! I have absolutely no doubt in that statement!

[anfieldanfield]

We'll absolutely stuff them over two legs, I have never been as sure as anything in my entire life.

[Slim]

We'll absolutely stuff them over two legs, I have never been as sure as anything in my entire life.

The last time you said that it was before the Manure game at Anfield!

For what's it worth I agree and think we'll win too, but I'm not sure we will absolutely stuff them though.

[JCase]

The last time you said that it was before the Manure game at Anfield!

For what's it worth I agree and think we'll win too, but I'm not sure we will absolutely stuff them though.

Hope we beat them good in the first leg and will not have to worry about the return leg.

[Darth Marty]

i fancy a 2-1 win for us out there but a tense, edgy 1-1 at ours, still, we make it through which is the all important thing! Thats my guesstimate on the outcome.

[lfc4ever]

Liverweb Match Preview

Opponents : PSV Eindhoven
Date : 03 April 2007
Venue : Philips Stadium, Eindhoven

TV Coverage : ITV1, Premiere Sport Portal, ART Sport, Mediaset Premium 2,
Supersport 4, RTE2, CT4 Sport, Canal+ (Spain)

<http://www.liverweb.org.uk/eurooppo.asp>Head to Head

Squads : The Reds travel to Eindhoven in a repeat of their group game
earlier this season. Momo Sissoko is out through suspension whilst Steven
Gerrard has a slight injury but should be ok.

PSV meanwhile have injury problems with influential centre back Alex out of
the match. Kone is also out for them up front and Afellay is a major doubt
for them.

Team Stats : This is the second time the Reds have faced PSV this season.
They drew 0-0 in Eindhoven in their first game and then beat them 2-0 to
top their group this sason.

The Reds have lost to Dutch opposition once before in the European Cup but
that was way back in the 60's when Ajax hammered the Reds. The aggregate
score was 7-3 in that tie.

The winners of this tie await either Chelsea or Valencia in the semi final.

Player Stats : Steven Gerrard will be hoping to play his 50th CL game for
the Reds (Quals inc). The game would be his 75th in Europe for the Reds.

Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Pennant will be hoping to play their tenth game
in the Champions League for the Reds.

Jamie Carragher is looking to come within one appearance of equalling Ian
Callaghan in the all time European appearance chart. This would be
Carragher's 88th European game - one behind leading appearance maker
Callaghan.

Referee : Bertrand Layec (Fra)

Betting : Liverpool 11/8, PSV 17/10, Draw : 2/1

Liverweb Prediction : Liverpool 2, PSV 1

[Mumsafan]

Bump

[Bob]

Because of the fact Kone and others are out for PSV coupled with are renewed swagger i likewise am fairly confident.

In fact i'm off to put my money where my mouth is... Crouch 1st scorer.

[Mumsafan]

The weather isn't as good out there as when we went

[Slim]

When Koeman is already publically saying he'd be happy with a 0-0 I am not confident it will be a good game to watch. It will be interesting to see if Rafa sticks with the attacking style after Saturday or reverts to a more defensive formation and tactics.

That said over the two legs I expect us to have too much for them. Hopefully then we can sit back and relax and watch the Scum and the Chavs struggle tomorrow night.

[Bob]

The weather isn't as good out there as when we went

Well Sara, to be fair i did spend most of my time in coffee houses and pubs so the weather wasn't particularly a huge factor.

[Marky]

When Koeman is already publically saying he'd be happy with a 0-0 I am not confident it will be a good game to watch. It will be interesting to see if Rafa sticks with the attacking style after Saturday or reverts to a more defensive formation and tactics.

That said over the two legs I expect us to have too much for them. Hopefully then we can sit back and relax and watch the Scum and the Chavs struggle tomorrow night.

Well i think we have to go for it, i wouldn't be happy with a 0-0 result.
PSV aren't the best team however they can still nick an away goal as proved against Arsenal at the Emirates,
i would really like to think we will attack them at every opportunity.
At least 1 away goal is essential imo.

[Johnny]

Koeman's side put out Arsenal in the first knockout round in March They didn`t stuff them 4-1 like we did.

PSV are riddled with injury problems we`re not.

Former Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert played against NAC, and could get a rare Champions League outing against Liverpool. If he get`s a new hip,ha.

Liverpool and PSV have already met twice in this season's competition, Liverpool posting a psychological advantage with a 2-0 victory at Anfield and a 0-0 draw away in the group phase.When we wernt playing so well.

PSV will be wary of the threat of Peter Crouch on Tuesday.
The lanky England international scored in the 2-0 victory over PSV in November and was in sparkling form when he notched a hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday after returning from surgery on his nose.Two hat-tricks in 4 days???????

"Crouch hadn't played for 20 days because of his nose operation and he was desperate to play and score goals," Benitez said after the Arsenal win, hinting that Crouch may get the nod to start against PSV.Our top scorer this year shocka!!!!

"All of his goals were fantastic. Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano controlled the midfield and it has set us up nicely for the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven."More of the same please,will Rafa play an identical team back to back for once.

Liverpool have proved a tough nut to crack in Europe this season, losing just one match away to Galatasaray when progress to the knockout phase was already assured.say`s something about Rafa in Europe.

Benitez confirmed on Sunday that captain Steven Gerrard, substituted against Arsenal, would be fit, saying the midfielder was simply tired after international duty.Behind Crouch again?????

Probable teams:
PSV: 1-Gomes; 2-Jan Kromkamp, 14-Manuel da Costa, 13-Alcides, 23-Carlos Salcido; 20-Ibrahim Afellay, 11-Edison Mendes, 6-Timmy Simons, 8-Phillip Cocu; 17-Jefferson Farfan, 9-Patrick Kluivert

Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 3-Steve Finnan, 23-Jamie Carragher, 5-Daniel Agger, 2-Alvaro Arbeloa; 16-Jermaine Pennant, 8-Steven Gerrard, 14-Xabi Alonso, 6-John Arne Riise; 15-Peter Crouch, 17-Dirk Kuyt

Referee: Bertrand Layec (France) (Additional reporting by Martyn Herman, London)