Dogged Rafa calls Torres back to front

[Kaip]

Who know what he'll do?

I'm beginning to get majorly pissed off with all this shuffling around.

[cobain]

I don't think he will start Torres because he thinks the team needs him. Maybe he'll start Torres because Fernando is getting a little bit pissed off, having started all those games on the bench recently.

[pezzzer]

cant you see rafa is just bedding our new striker in slowly/, you dont take 26 million worth of player and throw him in 90 mins all the time against toss like portsmouth and manc brum. bed him in slowly, the carling cup game tonite will be a perfect session for the boy

can we all please trust rafa on this one
i think he knows what he is doing

[JPK]

Imagine he plays this Mickey mouse game and gets injured.Touch wood it never happens but it will really have the fans and media on his back.
If he starts tonight it is a sick joke.

[AFII]

Torres back for Reds
CARLING CUP IT'S CRUNCH TIME AS THE BIG GUNS LINE-UP IN THE THIRD ROUND Reading v Liverpool tonight, kick-off 7.45pm
David Maddock 25/09/2007

Rafael Benitez has confounded his critics by bizarrely selecting Fernando Torres to face Reading tonight.

The Liverpool manager shocked everyone at the weekend by leaving the club's record signing out of the side to face Birmingham in the Premier League.

The Anfield club stumbled to a frustrating goalless draw and that inspired a chorus of protest over the absence of the Spanish striker.

Benitez suggested the time was right to rest the £21million summer signing, but in a startling twist to the episode, yesterday called Torres into the party to visit Reading in the Carling Cup. Steven Gerrard has also been called into the squad and will travel, and the indications are that the Liverpool boss will select a strong side with Torres leading the forward line.

Given that the Carling Cup offers the big clubs the chance to rest their best players and give squad members a run out, it seems an almost perverse decision from the Spanish coach.

If Torres starts as expected, then he will hardly be rested for the weekend visit to Wigan and next week's Champions League match against Marseille.

Benitez, though, insists he is in the best position to judge whether they play or not. "Look, as a manager, you know your players and you know if they are tired or not. You see them every day in training, and you have to make a decision based on that," Benitez explained.

"You need to make the decision before the game, not afterwards. That is the best way to prevent injuries, and to ensure that you have the strongest team available. "I have four strikers and I need to use all of them." Gerrard is less likely to start the match, but it is a surprise that he is in the squad when Benitez claimed he is not "physically fresh" after the two recent England games.

Liverpool, though, will give some fringe players a run out tonight, with the likes of Lucas Leiva and Sebastian Leto offered the opportunity to press their claims. Summer signing Charles Itandje will also come in for his first appearance in goal. "I had a chance to go into the first team with Spanish clubs, but I wanted the challenge here at Liverpool, and even though Pepe Reina is No.1 I believe I can press him for a place," said Itandje.

TORRES PITCH BATTLES:

Prem v Villa (start, 79 minutes)

Cl v Toulouse (sub, 12mins)

Prem v Chelsea (start, 90 minutes)

Prem v Sunderland (Start, 90 minutes)

Prem v Derby (start, 90 minutes)

Prem v Portsmouth (sub, 28 minutes)

Cl v Porto (start, 90 minutes)

Prem v Birmingham (sub, 30 minutes)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-19842616/

[Shaggy]

This is bizarre.

[AFII]

So it looks like both Carra and Torres will play.

If anyone of them gets injured then our chance to win the league is more or less over.

If Torres plays then that's the first time I will doubt Rafa, not much, but to play Torres in a worthless cup game and rest him in the league is so bizarre that you will start to put the question if he really puts the league first and that is one thing he must do if we want to win it.

[fred_plasticine]

So it looks like both Carra and Torres will play.

If anyone of them gets injured then our chance to win the league is more or less over.

If Torres plays then that's the first time I will doubt Rafa, not much, but to play Torres in a worthless cup game and rest him in the league is so bizarre that you will start to put the question if he really puts the league first and that is one thing he must do if we want to win it.

well i'd agree with you but in rafa's own words torres wasn't rested but simply not the better option for the birmingham game ...
however ... if gerrard is the first name on the team sheet, so too should be torres ...

[AFII]

well i'd agree with you but in rafa's own words torres wasn't rested but simply not the better option for the birmingham game ...
however ... if gerrard is the first name on the team sheet, so too should be torres ...

If you believe Rafa then Torres wouldn't start more or less a single game at home. Almost every team will use the same tactics as Birmingham when they play us at Anfield.

Rafa was talking out of his ass and he really can't expect anyone to believe him.

[cobain]

If you believe Rafa then Torres wouldn't start more or less a single game at home. Almost every team will use the same tactics as Birmingham when they play us at Anfield.

Rafa was talking out of his ass and he really can't expect anyone to believe him.

BUT FFS show some faith in Rafa! The season ain't over yet and we still have to concede a goal from open play!

Oh the sarcasm I agree with your post AFII

[AFII]

Benitez picks big names for Liverpool's cup tie
Sep 25 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has sprung a surprise by including Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool squad to face Reading this evening.

The pair joined Jamie Carragher in the party to travel south for the Carling Cup third round clash at the Madejski Stadium.

Benitez’s decision not to rest both Torres and Gerrard will no doubt raise eyebrows, especially with the Anfield manager having previously complained about the demands on his players after already twice losing the majority of his squad to international duty.

While Torres and Gerrard are almost certain to begin tonight’s tie on the bench, the fact the pair are in a very strong travelling party underlines Benitez’s intention not to dismiss the competition.

Carragher is the more probable starter, and is likely to be partnered at centre-back by debutant youngster Jack Hobbs.

Sebastian Leto, Lucas Leiva, Momo Sissoko and Fabio Aurelio are jostling for a place, while Yossi Benayoun will be considered after missing the weekend draw with Birmingham because of the Jewish day of atonement.

Young Argentine left-back Emiliano Insua and Moroccan winger Nabil El Zhar could also come into contention.

One player definitely in the starting line-up is reserve goalkeeper Charles Itandje, who has vowed to grab a rare first-team opportunity with both hands. Itandje said: “At Liverpool there is a very good keeper who has been there a few years. I am clearly going to be number two.

“But, there are 60 matches a season and it is planned that I will play the League Cup and FA Cup.”

Itandje has already gained a reputation as a maverick and, following in the footsteps of Bruce Grobbelaar and Jerzy Dudek, is renowned for dancing on his goalline when faced by a penalty.

The 24-year-old turned down a regular starting role at promoted La Liga side Almeria to move to Anfield, and also claimed to have rejected the chance of a move to Everton because Liverpool are “a bigger club”.

“I could have signed in Spain with Almeria as a number one, but I didn’t choose the easy way,” said Itandje. “I preferred to join a very big club. It is up to me to create a doubt in the coach’s mind.”

And of interest from Everton, the keeper added: “I went there, and then I heard Liverpool were interested and I decided to go there instead, because it is a bigger club.”

Harry Kewell, though, misses out again this evening as he continues his recovery from a thigh problem.

“I don’t think Kewell will be in contention,” said Benitez. “It’s too early. He was going well and is improving but he still needs a little bit more time.”

Jermaine Pennant is also unlikely to be risked because of a minor hamstring problem.

CLICKY

[Joe Le Toff]

You couldnt make it up!

[Craig_H]

cant you see rafa is just bedding our new striker in slowly/, you dont take 26 million worth of player and throw him in 90 mins all the time against toss like portsmouth and manc brum. bed him in slowly, the carling cup game tonite will be a perfect session for the boy

can we all please trust rafa on this one
i think he knows what he is doing

Yeah, his back to back Premiership titles prove that....oh

[The_weatherman]

If Rafa starts Torres (which I doubt) he might be doing it in order to see a Torres / Crouch partnership IMO. Anyway I think Gerrard and Torres will be on the bench and only called upon if we need them, which is OK in my book. If we go out at first hurdle we have fewer games for the squad players to play so it would be good to advance.

Itandje

Arbeloa
Carra
Hobbs
Aurelio

Benni
Leiva
Momo
Leto

Crouch
Voronin

Subs. Reina, Gerrard, Torres, El-Zhar, Insua

[CAD]

"full-strength squad for the Carling Cup tie at Reading."

I have no faith in Rafa and havn't had any since Athens. This is why we fielded a crap team against Pompey? For this?