Maccabi Haifa vs Liverpool

[darkknight]

The build up for this important tie is not going to plan.

Between the delayed departure, farcical press conference, Stevie sitting out the training session and those two injuries from the weekend I am getting a bad feeling.

Hope the lads keep thier heads, play sensible football and see us through to the Group phase

[StevieG08]

Agree with you, the build up to this game has been far from good. Like you say the players need to keep their heads and see themselves through to the group stages, where we should pick up a bit of form!
I think we need to play sensible football and hope to take our chances when they present themselves.

[Maestro]

This is a great early test of our qualities, IMO. Getting through this will be a huge boost for morale.

[darkknight]

I just hope wew do see it through - a set back here would do a great deal of damage to the way I see our season taking shape.

True - we would be left to 'focus on the Premiership' but at this stage in the 'Rafalution' (not sure I like that term ) the club needs to be involved deep into the Champions League as well as racking up the Premiership points.

For our ongoing development and to remain attractive to quality recruits, the importance of this tie can not be understated.

[scully]

Tom and a few others had a bad feeling before the first game, saying we're not going to go through, and I've got to confess that I have the same feeling. I'll be seriously relieved if I'm proven wrong.

[StevieG08]

As the players state themselves, a club like Liverpool needs to be doing well in europe. A win tonight will be a huge boost to morale, confidence and club finances. Plus winning becomes a habit.

[brikkis]

The build up for this important tie is not going to plan.

Between the delayed departure, farcical press conference, Stevie sitting out the training session and those two injuries from the weekend I am getting a bad feeling.

Hope the lads keep thier heads, play sensible football and see us through to the Group phase

Jeez, just got in and theres now 2 threads i'm reading about with lots of negativity. Come on lads FFS have a bit of faith.

[StevieG08]

Jeez, just got in and theres now 2 threads i'm reading about with lots of negativity. Come on lads FFS have a bit of faith.

I don't think it's a case of being negative, just an observation that the preparation for the game hasn't been good and the fact that this game could prove to be a 'banana skin'. Personally i think we will do them and see us in the group stage.

[darkknight]

Jeez, just got in and theres now 2 threads i'm reading about with lots of negativity. Come on lads FFS have a bit of faith.

..... I m not known for a sunny disposition .

[friedk]

if we can't get past Maccabi Haifa over 2 legs with the squad we have, then maybe the Champions League isn't the place for us.

We are leading from the first leg and playing at, what is effectively, a neutral ground. Xabi and Luis were rested on the weekend. They can't pack men behind the ball as they need a result; which means they have to cope with the pace of Pennant, Gonzales and Bellamy, as well as the passing of Aurelio, Alonso and Gerrard.

It hasn't been ideal preparation, but we have a top quality squad and these are tests they should overcome if we are going to do anything this season.

[univofchicago]

A win tonight will be a huge boost to morale, confidence and club finances. Plus winning becomes a habit.

Agreed.

And a win will do ME a lot of good as well...

I've been really depressed for the last three days...

[Shanks65]

icliverpool

Agger has his chance to shine

Aug 22 2006

By Ian Doyle, Daily Post


RAFAEL BENITEZ has backed Daniel Agger to fill the void left by Jamie Carragher's absence as Liverpool aim to secure Champions League progress this evening.

Liverpool take on Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa in Kiev (kick-off 7.35pm) looking to defend a 2-1 lead from the first leg of the third qualifying round tie and clinch their place in the lucrative group stages of the competition.

They will do so without Carragher, who is also in danger of missing next month's Merseyside derby at Goodison due to the ankle injury that forced him off during the weekend draw at Sheffield United.

It is the first time of his two-year Anfield tenure that Benitez will be unable to call upon Carragher for a European encounter.

But the manager is confident Denmark international Agger, who replaced Carragher at Bramall Lane and also started the Community Shield against Chelsea, can deliver on his European debut for Liverpool.

"In the last two games, Agger has played very well," said Benitez. "I signed him because I knew he was a good player and have every confidence in him.

"We have a better squad now. We can manage the competitions and we can use good players on Saturday and tomorrow.

"We know that we are playing a good team. We need to score to make sure we have more possibilities to progress, but we will be without players like Carragher who are important to us.

"It's not easy when you start losing players in the first game, but we will put a good team on the pitch."

John Arne Riise is also sidelined with an ankle injury with Fabio Aurelio poised to deputise at left-back, although Steve Finnan should be fit to return on the right side of defence.

Tonight's game - which could be worth £12million to Liverpool if they win through - would have been Carragher's 80th appearance in Europe for the club and the defender admits he may be out for longer than the anticipated fortnight period.

"We'll have to wait and see but I suppose at the moment you would have to say it's touch and go for the derby," he said.

"The scan showed no damage but there's a lot of swelling and I'm on crutches. Hopefully it's not too bad, though."

Liverpool's 18-man squad - which includes the recalled Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and fit-again Stephen Warnock, but was without knee injury victim Gabriel Paletta - trained at the Valery Lobanovskiy Stadium last night.

Benitez employed Steven Gerrard as a second striker in the first leg, but is unlikely to repeat that experiment with Peter Crouch poised to start up front. Gerrard sat out training last night with a stomach upset but is expected to be fit for tonight.

The Liverpool manager admits his team are not yet reaching their top level but expects an improvement over their performance against Maccabi in the first leg two weeks ago.

"I'm not puzzled by our form," he said. "After the World Cup we had some players coming back after their holidays and it's not easy to have all the players at the same level.

"The team is not 100% at the moment but we have confidence and quality and we will see tomorrow.

"But I think the players are fitter now than two weeks ago. We needed to improve our physical condition and I hope that we are in a better condition now."

Tonight's officials are all from Italy, with Roberto Rosetti the referee.

[baronvonskidmark]

I think that Alonso is the key man tonight, and hopefully he'll start instead of Zenden - but you never know with Rafa! With our defence depleted, it is absolutely vital that we keep the ball as much as possible, and Alonso is the best at doing this. Playing Crouch would also help this a great deal too - and I like the look of him and Bellamy together. But will Rafa play Garcia instead of Bellamy?

I don't want to put the mockers on the lad, but I think that Agger could come of age tonight. With Haifa needing to attack, a ball-playing centre-half striding out of defence helping set up counter attacks could be very useful indeed.

But I'm expecting a tight, tense game and no finger nails left come 10 PM!

[Kloppster]

I think that Alonso is the key man tonight, and hopefully he'll start instead of Zenden - but you never know with Rafa! With our defence depleted, it is absolutely vital that we keep the ball as much as possible, and Alonso is the best at doing this. Playing Crouch would also help this a great deal too - and I like the look of him and Bellamy together. But will Rafa play Garcia instead of Bellamy?

I don't want to put the mockers on the lad, but I think that Agger could come of age tonight. With Haifa needing to attack, a ball-playing centre-half striding out of defence helping set up counter attacks could be very useful indeed.

But I'm expecting a tight, tense game and no finger nails left come 10 PM!

2-1 to the 'Pool again

YNWA

[Shanks65]

Kuyt Speaks!!!

"I am just hoping and praying that the lads beat Haifa," he said. "I have never played in the Champions League before and that is why I came to Liverpool.
"It's one of those things I want to achieve quickly. It is very important for my career to play at this level.

"I know I need big matches to improve me, and that means Champions League football."