Liverpool v Reading (a)- Build up Thread

[DaveC]

Marseille away will be far easier than reading away.

How do you work that out?

Marseille are a good side, especially at home, and will be fighting to stay in the CL.

That is one intimidating place to go and get a result.

[Pablo]

DJS and desertscouser I wholeheartedly agree with you both about Torres. But do you think Rafa does? I can see him starting on the bench on Saturday myself.

[Craig_H]

How do you work that out?

Marseille are a good side, especially at home, and will be fighting to stay in the CL.

That is one intimidating place to go and get a result.

How about knowing your own team as well as you apparently know Marseille?

European tempo suits us far more, Marseille will know a draw is good enough and we'll be able to out pass them and pick them off.

Reading see games such as LFC and Man Utd as their cup finals, they'll be totally fired up, will want to get in our faces and rough us up, something which we still sometimes find difficult to deal with.

[DaveC]

I think you're severely underestimating a Marseille side that have already tactically outwitted us this season and look desperate to qualify for the next stages.

I know my own team and we've been poor in Europe this season, and look like a totally different side to the one that has excelled in this competition in previous seasons.

If we only needed a draw, I might agree with you, but needing to go there, which is extremely difficult at the best of times, and get a win, is going to be very, very tough, a lot tougher than going to Reading, where they are likely to sit back due to our current form.

There's also the managerial ramifications should we go out of the CL, so I'd say that gives the game a bit more significance.

[REDSCOUSER]

I would play Arbeloa/Hyypia as our CBs v Reading. If Hobbs starts then makes a mistake it will affect his confidence and the crowd will get on his back. If it was a home game then Id defo start him but away from home its a bit dodgy.
As long as RAFA does not rest Gerrard & Torres and compromise the league for the CL then I am fine with any startin' 11 he names.
Another TORRES hatrick me recks.

[anfieldanfield]

Marseille away will be far easier than reading away.

That's a massive shout mate.

[tomasjj]

Read my above post awkward arse

I did.

[slimbimjim]

The gap between us and Arsenal is 7 points now and we have a game in hand

If we beat Reading this brings it down to 4 points.

They play Middlesbrough away (could be tricky) but I expect them to win.

Then it's clash of the big 4. I am fully confident that we can beat Manure and Chelsea will get a draw.

This brings it down to 5 points. With a game in hand

We then have Portsmouth at home then Derby away. 6 points in the bag I reckon while Arsenal have Tottenham (derby!) and then Portsmouth away (tough).

[Assassin]

Carra will not start against Reading, he will not be risked............end of story

[AFII]

-------------Reina
Finnan--Hyypia---Hobbs---Arbeloa
--------Masch-----Lucas--------
----Benny----Gerrard---Babel----
--------------Torres-------------

I wouldn't take any chances with Carra unless he is 100%. The Marseille game looks to be very important for the January transfer window so that game is a must win game, not only because we want to stay in the competition.

Kewell should also be rested.

[the rev leeroy brown]

-------------reina---------
arbeloa--hobbs--hyypia--riise
yossi--lucas--gerrard--kewell
------babel-----crouch------

i know rafa wont play babel and crouch upfront, but i would love to see babel play there. failing that babel wide right and vornin up top with crouch.....keep torres fit and not risk injury with marseille game coming up....same thing with gerrard so might put momo in alongside lucas and if agger nearly fit start him with hyypia ahead of hobbs.

[Craig_H]

The gap between us and Arsenal is 7 points now and we have a game in hand

If we beat Reading this brings it down to 4 points.

They play Middlesbrough away (could be tricky) but I expect them to win.

Then it's clash of the big 4. I am fully confident that we can beat Manure and Chelsea will get a draw.

This brings it down to 5 points. With a game in hand

We then have Portsmouth at home then Derby away. 6 points in the bag I reckon while Arsenal have Tottenham (derby!) and then Portsmouth away (tough).

As long as you're not getting ahead of yourself...

[Craig_H]

That's a massive shout mate.

Probably is, but i just dont see them doing the 'in your face' stuff that english sides often do - eg newcastle against the Arse tonight...

Marseille will probably let us play our football and i think we'll be comfortable.

[Red Chilli]

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

[sonsofthedesert]

Probably is, but i just dont see them doing the 'in your face' stuff that english sides often do - eg newcastle against the Arse tonight...

Marseille will probably let us play our football and i think we'll be comfortable.

I hope your right.