Team against Chelsea in the CC

[Chris]

Not bad, wanted Babel, Lucas and Fabio to start so happy with that.

[red g]

The Liverpool team in full is: Itandje, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hobbs, Carragher, Alonso, Lucas, Sissoko, Babel, Voronin, Crouch. Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun.

4-3-3?

or babel on left and ?? on the right of a 4 man midfield?

[red g]

or probably sissoko in the hole

[Red_Al_77]

From the Offal

Xabi Alonso is back in the Liverpool starting XI for Wednesday night's Carling Cup tie at Stamford Bridge after recovering from a metatarsal break.

The influential midfielder, who hasn't featured since the end of October, lines up alongside Lucas and Momo Sissoko in the middle of the park.

Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin and Peter Crouch make up a three-pronged attack.

The Liverpool team in full is: Itandje, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hobbs, Carragher, Alonso, Lucas, Sissoko, Babel, Voronin, Crouch. Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun.

well that bench looks awesome...not. You reap what you sow.

[Nic83]

What about chelsea? Full strength I suppose. Can't understand that lineup. We are at one of the toughest grounds to win at and he plays that team. A trophy is a trophy.

[red g]

What about chelsea? Full strength I suppose. Can't understand that lineup. We are at one of the toughest grounds to win at and he plays that team. A trophy is a trophy.

oh the fickleness

if we played a full strength team everyone would be going bonkers as we are prioritising the cup!!

[Red_Al_77]

That side has about as much width as an anorexic ant.

[Chris]

oh the fickleness

if we played a full strength team everyone would be going bonkers as we are prioritising the cup!!

Yep, was never gonna win.

I wanted a full strength with Lucas and Babel in but cant complain about the rest. Hyypia himself admits he struggles with games every few days so gets a rest, most play their sub keeper, Gerrard is ill, Torres got back from injury and played non stop so a rest is fair, same with Kewell aswell. Dont see the problem.

[Red_Al_77]

oh the fickleness

if we played a full strength team everyone would be going bonkers as we are prioritising the cup!!

Really? I thought Liverpool existed to win trophies. It was good enough for Liverpool in the past.

[Diego]

What about chelsea? Full strength I suppose. Can't understand that lineup. We are at one of the toughest grounds to win at and he plays that team. A trophy is a trophy.

we're in all competitions, we have a big squad it's the worthless cup is good to give a few of them ago. you see arsenal play kids yesterday, and with having played 3 games in 7-8 days it's nice to see that some of the lads get a break after all next week matter far more...

[AFII]

Really? I thought Liverpool existed to win trophies. It was good enough for Liverpool in the past.

Well, we are only resting three players.

Lucas is almost as good as Masch, so not any big difference.
Hyypia need a rest before the league games with Agger out and Hobbs are our only choice.
Torres need a rest and the other strikers need to play to stay match fit.

Torres is the only one that you can argue should play or else we have more or less the best available starting XI when you consider that Itandje have been promised by Rafa that he will play the CC games.

[Red_Al_77]

Well, we are only resting three players.

Lucas is almost as good as Masch, so not any big difference.
Hyypia need a rest before the league games with Agger out and Hobbs are our only choice.
Torres need a rest and the other strikers need to play to stay match fit.

Torres is the only one that you can argue should play or else we have more or less the best available starting XI when you consider that Itandje have been promised by Rafa that he will play the CC games.

Yossi should start instead of Momo. Kuyt should be playing or at least on the bench. We have no back up forward, and we have no width in the starting line up. Kewell has played 3hrs in the last 3 weeks and he needs a complete rest? I'm sorry but in my book every match is important especially for those fans who shell out their hard earned cash to be on the terraces tonight.

[red g]

Really? I thought Liverpool existed to win trophies. It was good enough for Liverpool in the past.

we do.......but the games moved on. if we cant try our fringe players here, when can we?

[Red_Al_77]

we do.......but the games moved on. if we cant try our fringe players here, when can we?

Playing them in one game will neither prove or disprove whether the fringe players are good enough or nor will it help with their fitness to play in one game. I want us to win and the possibility of Everton getting further than us is making my skin crawl.

[bigfooty]

I too want us to win but the further we get in this competition the more likely it is that Rafa will start sacrificing league points to ensure we win it. Like, say, resting Torres ahead of a second-leg of a semi-final.