Liverpool v Besiktas- Build Up Thread

[Red Chilli]

I've got a bad feeling about this game, I can see a 0-0 stalemate

[Darth Marty]

nah, we will win. I just hope it doesnt paper over any cracks...we desperately need to get more fluidity up front and I just cant see that happening with our current players, we are nearly there..maybe, just not quite. Still, a convincing win tomorrow for sure.

[desertscouser]

I've got a bad feeling about this game, I can see a 0-0 stalemate

Honestly, although we're playing poorly at the moment tomorrow night will be a different ball game all together. We will win tomorrow night, of that I am 100% certain.

[Shanks65]

Telegraph. Don Howe

Liverpool have been left with a mountain to climb to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League and they should exploit their rivals' fear of heights by using Peter Crouch as the spearhead of their attack at Anfield tonight.

I know that Crouch has been unable to establish himself as a regular first-teamer due to the arrival of Fernando Torres and, of course, Rafael Benitez's rotation system. But the visit of Besiktas could give him the chance to get himself into the manager's good books because of his aerial threat.

Crouch might not be a permanent fixture in the Liverpool side but Benitez most certainly still rates him. There's no way he will have written him off, otherwise he would have moved him on last summer when Craig Bellamy left for West Ham.

Crouch represents the best hope of breaking down what will be a very disciplined Besiktas side because, generally speaking, defenders at continental sides just don't like having to deal with a threat like the one the 6ft 7in England striker will pose.

Not only do the defenders dislike facing someone good in the air, but also their goalkeepers are usually very vulnerable when it comes to high balls.

The presence of Crouch will also make Liverpool more dangerous at set-pieces, which Benitez knows could well be decisive.

The prospects of Crouch making a rare start would seem high given some of the compliments Benitez has started paying him following his appearance as a substitute in the 0-0 draw at Blackburn last weekend.

For this airborne plan to work, though, the service has to be first rate and the odds on that happening have looked better since Harry Kewell returned to action.

Kewell is a wonderful player and is blessed with a fine repertoire of skills, such as the ability to beat full-backs and deliver good crosses. He's also got a fine shot.

By all accounts, Kewell also impressed after his second-half introduction at Ewood Park, but this means that Benitez has a big decision because the Australian has only just come back from long-term injury. Should he start with Kewell and bring him off midway through the second half when he will have probably wilted? Or does he wait until after the break when others are wilting?

There will be a lot of tension in the air and this will no doubt bring the best out of Liverpool's talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard, who seems to have been his club's saviour so often. Benitez will warn his players against going gung-ho, from the outset at least, because he will recognise that Besiktas will be a professional, well-drilled side who will look to soak up the pressure before hitting Liverpool on the counter.

It will certainly be a tough game for Liverpool and I am sure it will be a tight contest. Not one for the faint-hearted. But with Crouch around, I'd bet that Liverpool rise to the occasion to keep their Champions League ambitions alive.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/06/sfnhow106.xml

[Shanks65]

I've got a bad feeling about this game, I can see a 0-0 stalemate

Nah mate. We`ll do em.

The Turks are bound to come and pack the defence. IMO Yossi is the best man to pick holes in their back line. He has to play. Would be great to see Kewell start too, although this game may be too soon for him.

Crouch has to start, as has been said by many already on here. He`ll get their defence panicking. Would love to see Babel behind him, although the chances of rafa doing that must be slim.

Maybe even Harry behind Crouch?!

Either way, we should put these boys away without having to resort to dragging Torres on to the field.


04:45KO here. Got to start work at 9am. Gonna be a mess


Come on red men!

[tommyg]

---------------Reina---------------
Finnan--Carragher--Hyypia--Arbeloa
Benayoun-Gerrard-Mascherano-Kewell
-----------Babel--Crouch-----------

looks good

[ningnangnong]

I think we'll ****ing batter Besiktas, ****ing batter them.

[tomasjj]

As has been said, we need Yossi in this game.
He can find the small openings in a packed defense.
Hopefully our other attackers will be mobile enough to cause Besiktas problems.

I reckon we will see Gerrard in a free role more or less, where he can run onto the flicks and knock downs from Crouch.

Also, against a packed defense it is important to shot from distance AND be on those rebounds. So Gerrard needs to shoot, as does Babel if he is playing. And the strikers need to be on the rebounds.

I also hope our fullbacks are attacking down the flanks to create 2 on ones and get some decent crosses in, but that is hoping for too much I think, at least after seeing all the crap crossing the last games.
(Riise is turd these days, and Finnan is too cautious in my view, even if his crossing is decent. If there is space ahead of him, Finnan will just stand here and wait for the ball to be played into his feet and not run into space...frustrating to watch.)

[keniget]

Gerrard has the most assists this season with 4.

Riise is 2nd with 3.

[tomasjj]

Gerrard has the most assists this season with 4.

Riise is 2nd with 3.

You are refering to my comment on Riise, right?
Well, I still think he should be replaced.

What do you reckon about my other comments above? Is this what we can expect to see today?

[Rhys]

so is torres back fo this game? great news. where has pennant been for the recent past games, is he injured?

id start

----------reina
finnan--carra--hyypia--arbeloa
yossi--gerrard--mascherano--kewell
--------crouch---torres---------

[SB]

so is torres back fo this game? Apparently fit great news. where has pennant been for the recent past games, He's injured and out for around 8 weeks is he injured?

id start

----------reina
finnan--carra--hyypia--arbeloa
yossi--gerrard--mascherano--kewell
--------crouch---torres---------

Rafa said that it may be too early for Harry to start a match and would be surprised if he started Torres. More likely to come off the bench IMO.

[AFII]

-------------Reina
Finnan----Carra---Hyypia----Aurelio
--------Masch----Lucas-----------
----Benni-----Gerrard----Babel-----
---------------Crouch-------------

[SB]

-------------Reina
Finnan----Carra---Hyypia----Aurelio
--------Masch----Lucas-----------
----Benni-----Gerrard----Babel-----
---------------Crouch-------------

Hope your right. With Rafa's comments about Harry not being ready to start, I'd go with that side.

[tomasjj]

I have given up trying to guess Rafa's team selections.

I don't think I have ever gotten it right, maybe just 2 times out of 100.