Gerrard, Aurelio and Arbeloa injured..

[Red Chilli]

According to the official site. All out of the Luton match.....

Norwalk virus

[Red Chilli]

We should play Benya-noon up top with Crouch.

I reckon that'll be a devatating partnership

[AFII]

Benitez puts job on the line.. and rotates yet again
WIN OR BUST The FA CUP e-on 3RD ROUND Luton v Liverpool, tomorrow, 4pm
David Maddock 05/01/2008

Rafa Benitez is ready for an almighty scrap to save his Anfield career, after admitting he is prepared to take another massive selection gamble.

The Liverpool manager will rest key players for tomorrow's tricky FA Cup visit to Luton, even though he knows that if the risk backfires, his position will be placed under unbearable pressure.

He will give Fernando Torres (right), Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard - who has a slight knock - the day off, and with Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio injured, a vastly-changed Liverpool side will give Luton real hope of a huge upset.

While that may seem foolhardy following two desperately disappointing performances in the last week which saw them slip out of the title race, Benitez is adamant he should be allowed to use an expensively assembled squad in cup competition.

And defending himself against charges emanating from within the club his selection policy undermines results, Benitez insisted resting his top stars tomorrow must not be seen as a gamble.

"If you can't change players for an FA Cup tie at Luton, then you can't compete to win the three competitions we're left in," he said.

"I believe all the players in my squad are good enough to play against Luton. It does not matter if you use Torres, Crouch or Voronin, for instance, because for me, it is more or less the same.

"So where is the risk? We have three players injured because they played too many games in a row, so it's more of a risk to use Jamie Carragher again and Torres again than to use Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt, for example."

Benitez accepts that should his side lose at Luton then his position at the club will become almost untenable and crucially, he seems to have lost the support of the board at Anfield.

But he said: "We finished third in the last two years, we had 82 points which was the Premier League record for the club.

"We've won four trophies, including one Champions League and reaching another final, so the progress is clear."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20275276/

[AFII]

Benitez faith in fringe players for cup test
Jan 5 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

UNDER-FIRE Rafael Benitez will place his faith in his fringe players tomorrow in the confidence that whichever team he selects should be good enough to beat Luton Town.

Liverpool travel to Kenilworth Road to face the Coca-Cola League One strugglers in an FA Cup third round tie for the second time in three seasons.

The Anfield manager will be without the services of skipper Steven Gerrard, one of several injury concerns as the effects of the hectic festive programme bite into his squad.

One name that has been linked with Liverpool is 23-year-old Zenit St Petersburg defender Martin Škrtel.

The Slovakian, who featured in Zenit’s 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park in December, is valued at £4-5million.

Benitez has come under renewed scrutiny after successive draws against Manchester City and Wigan Athletic left Liverpool 12 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

Defeat at Luton would heighten the pressure, but the Spaniard has no qualms with juggling his resources tomorrow.

“It’s important for us to progress in the competition,” said Benitez. “It is clear that the league is more difficult now than two games ago, but it is a long race and we need to keep going.

“All the players in our squad are good enough to play against Luton in the FA Cup. If we decide to use Crouch, Voronin, Torres or Crouch, for me it’s more or less the same.

“I need to look at players that have not been playing. For example, Lucas Leiva was playing a few weeks ago and doing well, so he is capable of playing in these games.

“If you can’t change players for an FA Cup tie at Luton, then you can’t compete to win the three competitions we’re left in.”

As well as Gerrard, who has a calf problem, Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) and Alvaro Arbeloa (calf) will also miss tomorrow’s tie, although all three are expected to be available for the league visit to Middlesbrough next Saturday.

Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, John Arne Riise, Lucas and Momo Sissoko are all pressing for a starting role at Luton while Charles Itandje could replace Pepe Reina in goal.

“We know that we have had too many players playing games in a row, and it could be a risk to use them,” added Benitez. “Now, after the last game, we have Aurelio, Gerrard and Arbeloa injured.

“It’s more of a risk to use Carra again and Torres again than to use Crouch, Voronin or Kuyt, for example. We need to manage the squad and use the best players for the game against Luton.

“I don’t think the team overall looked tired at the end of the Wigan game, but maybe some of the players that were playing a lot of games in a row were a bit tired.

“We have two or three weeks where we don’t play two games a week. It means we can prepare everything much better, the players will be fitter and we can prepare the team for the rest of the season.”

With doubts persisting over Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger, Jack Hobbs is on standby to start at centre-back.

“I need to see the situation with Sami and Agger,” said Benitez. “They will train tomorrow and it would be a risk for both. I need to speak with the doctor and see how they are, but if they are available I might use one of them or maybe both. If not, then I will use Jack Hobbs.

“Daniel needs confidence. He needs to be sure. We had a problem with Alonso against Arsenal and were without him for another three weeks, so with Agger we must be careful.”

Benitez yesterday dismissed rumours of moves for Chelsea’s Wayne Bridge and Mallorca midfielder Juan Arango while insisting Hyypia, a target for Fulham, is not for sale.

Instead, a centre-back remains the priority with Liverpool confident they are close to securing a signature.

“We are working hard with the owners and the chief executive,” said Benitez. “We are progressing in some business. We need a centre-back and are not looking for a left-back.”

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...4375-20315679/

[AFII]

----------------Itandje
Finnan-----Hobbs-------Riise------Insua
-----------Xabi--------Lucas----------
Benny----------------------------Babel
------------Kuyt-----Voronin----------

[dannymogger]

Itandje
Finnan Hobbs Carra Riise

Pennant Lucas Alonso Leto

Crouch Kuyt

[Robster007]

Had that happened before the Wigan match we wda have 2 points more.

I looked in TJ's for one of those crystal balls over Crimbo, but they were sold out. As hard to get hold of as the wii's. Where did you get yours?

[dee]

Don't think any of them would have started anyway

---------------Itandje---------------
Finnan----Carra------Hobbs------Riise
Benni-----Lucas-----Alonso-----Babel
----------Crouch----Kuyt------------

Pretty much no choice. I'd say the only doubt would be Pennant or Flossy for the right midfield berth.

I'd have Leto and Insua on the bench to give a run out if we get a good lead.