The really early build up to the Newcastle game

[Mattshark]

------------------reina----------------
-----hyypia-------agger-------carra---
--------mascherano----lucas-----------
arbeloa----------gerard-------------kewell
-----------torres--------voronin---------

i know i've got arbeloa as right midfielder ahead of babel, bennayoun or whoever, but he has been amazing this season going forward from full back and even at right midfield he would give cover defensively........was going to put aurelio in a left midfield but that would be more like 5-3-2 not the 3-5-2 i tried to show here.....same formation we used against newcastle last year (2 years ago????) also put voronin ahead of crouch as voronin suits this formation better than crouch does.

i like that formation, but i'm really not sure Kewell is ready start, i'd go with Aurellio instead.

[Howard_lfc]

i like that formation, but i'm really not sure Kewell is ready start, i'd go with Aurellio instead.

Kewell just played the full 90 mins for Australia the other day so maybe he's closer than we thought.

[Jayesh87]

Let's hope so. Rafa was making positive noises about his comeback, but he hasn't even played a reserve match, so I'd say he'll probably be on the bench.

Maybe he will get 45 mins in the reserves on Thurs

[the rev leeroy brown]

i like that formation, but i'm really not sure Kewell is ready start, i'd go with Aurellio instead.

i see your point and if kewell isn't fit then aurelio would be my choice to replace him....but if kewell is fit then i think he a definate starter as we have to attack, attack, attack the ****ey newcastle tossers!!

[Jayesh87]

No ****in Riise, Kuyt or Sissoko.

Are Agger and Alonso fit for this one?

Would be tempted to play Kewell if he's fit.

We'll do them. No problem.

Rafa has ruled out Xabi.

[Red Chilli]

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

[rage]

------------------Reina----------------
Finnan------Carra-------Hyypia--Arbeloa
--------------Masher---Sissoko--------
Babel--------------Stevie--------Kewell
----------------Torres------------------

Easily slips into 4-4-1-1

swap momo for lucas or alonso if fit and hypia for agger if fit n i reckon thats pretty much our best 11

[Shanks65]

Daily Post:

FERNANDO TORRES is being lined up to make his first start in almost a month when Liverpool face Newcastle United at the weekend.

The Reds’ record signing has remained at Melwood during the international break to work on his fitness after struggling with an abductor muscle injury picked up in training with Spain at the start of October.

Although Torres was deemed fit enough to start against Arsenal later that month, his comeback was short lived. He hobbled of at half-time and has not been in the starting eleven since then.

But after making a goalscoring substitute appearance against Fulham at Anfield, Torres has stepped up his training and is now back to full fitness.

And with Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch and Andriy Voronin all away on international duty for Euro 2008 qualifiers, the fact that Torres is the only forward Rafa Benitez has been able to work with for more than a week makes the Spanish striker favourite to start at St James’ Park.

Harry Kewell is also in contention for a starting place having come through the full 90 minutes of Australia’s friendly match with Nigeria on Saturday.

It was the first time Kewell has completed a full match in more than a year and Benitez is delighted to see the winger fit and ready for action.

He said: “It was good to see Harry get 90 minutes. I was talking with him and he said it wasn't a high tempo game so he was able to get through it.

“Physically he probably still needs to improve his pace and stamina but he is getting there.

“When you talk about Harry then you talk about a player of quality and ability who can make a big difference to our team. He can give different things to us, especially against teams who play deep and compact.”

Prior to Kewell joining up with the Australian squad, Benitez had expressed concern about the way he would be used by his country as he continues his battle for peak fitness.

But Aussie coach Rob Baan believes he has done the Reds boss a big favour by giving Kewell a full run-out in a non-competitive game.

He said: “At least I think I helped Benitez a little to prove that Kewell can play 90 minutes now.

“He did a very good job in the first half and you could see in the second half that he needs more rhythm, but still he proved that he is a fantastic player.

[Woobus]

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/nufc/Newcastle-in-crisis-for-Liverpool.3507164.jp

Steven Taylor is a major doubt for Newcastle United's home game against Liverpool after being forced off for England's Under-21s with a back problem.
And Taylor's injury leaves manager Sam Allardyce facing a potential central defensive crisis for Saturday's game, with Abdoulaye Faye definitely out and Cacapa unlikely to be fit.
David Rozehnal is now the club's only fully fit senior centre half, and he is in action for Czech Republic tonight away to Cyprus.

Allardyce can only wait and hope that Rozehnal comes through their final Euro 2008 qualifier unscathed.

Taylor - who lasted 45 minutes of the Under-21s's 1-1 draw away to Portugal last night - had been in line for a start in the centre of defence against Rafa Benitez's side.

Faye is in the treatment room with the hamstring injury he suffered against Sunderland, while Cacapa is recovering from the same problem, having been out since the home defeat to Portsmouth.

Allardyce will have Taylor's injury assessed this afternoon by his medical team, and the hope is that a few days' rest will see him fit to take on the Reds.

However, the odds are seemingly against the 21-year-old making Allardyce's squad for the Liverpool game.

Taylor and his international colleagues arrived at Birmingham International Airport at 3am.

James Milner, physio Derek Wright - who has a dual role with Newcastle and England - and Taylor were driven straight back to Tyneside, arriving back at 7am.

Taylor had been patched up to lead Stuart Pearce's England side out in Agueda for in their latest European Championship qualifier.

But Pearce brought him off at half-time, fearing leaving him on for the second-half would worsen the problem.

Allardyce can also call upon Canada Under-20 international defender David Edgar, who has made one substitute's appearance so far this season, while Habib Beye can also play at centre-half.

Beye could be switched inside, with fit-again Stephen Carr able to come in at right back.

[The_weatherman]

Thought we could discuss this one a bit more, I think Sissoko is out as well as Xabi and I'd rate Mascher as doubtful, Rafa likes to give him extra rest after he plays in various parts of the world.

Agger should be back right and Aurelio as well?

Arbeloa - Carra - Agger - Aurelio

And I could see a midfield of

Benni - Gerrard - Lucas - Babel

Torres and Crouch hopefully upfront

Arbeloa and Benni seem to click rather nicely on the right which is why I'd prefer him to Finnan. I think this team offers technique, pace and power and should easily be good enough for Newcastle.

[bigfooty]

I don't think Crouch will play now. Considering he saw the full 90 last night on an energy-sapping pitch I think he'll be on the bench at best. A shame cos he scored a cracker.

[Shaggy]

I don't think Crouch will play now. Considering he saw the full 90 last night on an energy-sapping pitch I think he'll be on the bench at best. A shame cos he scored a cracker.

I think Rafa places as much emphasis on the amount of travelling as he does playing time, no?

Crouch has had minimal travelling to do.

What about our others? Voronin scored….in France? And Kuyt? I know he came on as a half-time sub on the Saturday.

[Chris]

Steven Taylor is a major doubt for Newcastle

PLEASE RECOVER! He's ****ing ****e.

[The_weatherman]

I think Rafa places as much emphasis on the amount of travelling as he does playing time, no?

Crouch has had minimal travelling to do.

What about our others? Voronin scored….in France? And Kuyt? I know he came on as a half-time sub on the Saturday.

That was my thinking and the reason I think we won't see Mascher, but on second thought Kuyt will probably play.

[Maestro]

Torres back, and disarray in the Toon defence?