Early team news for Tuesday

[Red_Al_77]

Ballack out after operation. Carvalho out with knee injury. Essien back from suspension. I expect Chelsea will just swap Essien for Carvalho.

Liverpool's only injury worry seems to be Finnan.

[anfieldanfield]

I think Rafa said after the game that Finnan would be fit, no ?

[Rafa Shankly]

essian in defense,i like.

[Rocket]

essien in defence, got to play crouch

[Revo]

resting his players today cost chelsea the league, losing carvallo lost them another semi final

[Shaggy]

essien in defence, got to play crouch

Crouch had to play anyway (and clearly will be, having been left behind today) but now he's a ****ing shoe-in. Pennant must also start. Gerrard and Masher in the middle. Maybe Momo/Xabi will play with Mascherano and SG in a free role behind Crouchie - after all, Gerrard and PC link up very well together.

The left is a worry, as ever.

[Rafa Shankly]

resting his players today cost chelsea the league, losing carvallo lost them another semi final

maybe hed already conceded the title and is only concentrating on cup competitions,like we do.

[Shanks]

. Carvalho out with knee injury. Essien back from suspension. I expect Chelsea will just swap Essien for Carvalho.

Liverpool's only injury worry seems to be Finnan.

Just how big an advantage is this for us?

We really do have to come out of the blocks a lot better/quicker than we did last wednesday.

Essien at the back!

They will be there for the taking..

[Craig_H]

Ballack out after operation. Carvalho out with knee injury. Essien back from suspension. I expect Chelsea will just swap Essien for Carvalho.

Liverpool's only injury worry seems to be Finnan.

What's fecking happened to finnan?

I dont even recall hearing that he'd GOT injured in the first place.

We missed him on Wednesday.

[Shaggy]

Just how big an advantage is this for us?

We really do have to come out of the blocks a lot better/quicker than we did last wednesday.

Essien at the back!

They will be there for the taking..

They will be but Essien will have Terry next to him. In the league game at Anfield it was Essien & Ferreira at centre back, so they won't be such a shambles this time.

[Craig_H]

The left is a worry, as ever.

If finnan IS fit, then he can play RB with Arbeloa LB and Riise LM.

Riise always offers a threat at LM, which is more than Gonzalez does.

[Revo]

maybe hed already conceded the title and is only concentrating on cup competitions,like we do.

i remember not long ago arsenal were going for 4 trophies, man to see that hateful ****er squirm on tuesday night

[anfieldanfield]

I just cant see Rafa NOT starting with Xabi.

In every single 'big game' under Benitez, Alonso has always started.

I think it would represent a massive change if Rafa played Gerrard and Masher in the middle for this one.

If I were Rafa I would take a gamble and play Gerrard left and Pennant right, letting them switch sides every 15 mins or so depending on how the game was going.

[Rocket]

if all players were fit

-----------Reina---------------

Finnan --- Cara -- Agger -- Arbeloa

Gerrard -- Alonso -- Masher - Riise

-------- Crouch -- Kuyt--------


possibly drop alonso/masher play pennant instead

[anfieldanfield]

if all players were fit

-----------Reina---------------

Finnan --- Cara -- Agger -- Arbeloa

Gerrard -- Alonso -- Masher - Riise

-------- Crouch -- Kuyt--------


possibly drop alonso/masher play pennant instead

I think Rafa would be mad not to start Pennant on Tuesday night.