pick your team against Chelsea

[tommyg]

is agger back?

[Fan65]

Reina

Finnan Carragher Skrtel Arbeloa

Pennant Gerrard Lucas Babel

Kuyt Torres

[Nicey]

Think Xabi might get the nod after the recent dressing down he has got .. lets see what you can do

[Kenneth]

-------------Reina

Finnan---Skrtel---Carra---Aurelio

Pennant---Gerrard---Mascherano---Kewell

---------------Yossi
--------------Torres

Subs: Itandje, Crouch, Lucas, Riise, Sami.

[JohnDoe]

I'm appalled by the amount of people who put Riise in the team

I'm considering Arbeloa and Agger are not fit and Alonso's suspended.

Reina
Finnan Carragher Skrtel Aurelio
Pennant Gerrard Masch Benayoun
Crouch Torres

This isn't the game for Hyypia.

[Red_Polo]

I'm appalled by the amount of people who put Riise in the team

Aurelio has struggled of late though and Riise usually does alright against Chelsea. I'm more amazed at the number of people who've put Skrtel in ahead of Sami who has done really well recently and will have had over a full week to recover form the previous game.

[Imy]

Aurelio has struggled of late though and Riise usually does alright against Chelsea. I'm more amazed at the number of people who've put Skrtel in ahead of Sami who has done really well recently and will have had over a full week to recover form the previous game.

I'd be worried about Anelka and Wright Philips tearing him apart with their pace.

[MrMichael]

If Arbeloa's fit, I'd play him at LB. Presumably he isn't. That whole side is a real problem, I struggle to see Benitez playing Aurelio and Benny there, or even more unlikely, Babel, who I'd start just for the hell of it. I actually think Benitez has got it right not starting him that much, the kid is sooooo raw and he don't half make the wrong decision at times, but with what's been going on in the league so far, its caution to the wind time. I'm afraid he might go with Aurelio AND Riise however. Pennant will probably be on the right, though i think I'd play Gerrard there in this one, with Lucas in the middle. With Skrtel's pace I'd throw him in at the deep end, but we'll play Hyppia, who has been superb this season but will force us to play deeper.

What I think we'll play

Reina

Finnan - Carragher - Hyppia - Riise

Pennant - Mascherano - Gerrard - Aurelio

Kuyt - Torres

What I'd want us to play

Reina

Finnan - Carragher - Skrtel - Aurelio

Gerrard - Mascherano - Lucas - Babel

Crouch - Torres

[bobbyfallon]

I'd be worried about Anelka and Wright Philips tearing him apart with their pace.

only problem is, is skittles ready for this one??

hard to see sami not starting

[Maestro]

Reina
Finnan - Carra - Hyypia - Riise
Gerrard - Lucas - Masher - Babel
Crouch - Torres

Looks about right. I'd go with Benny instead of Babel, and bring Babel on later.

[Maestro]

I'd be worried about Anelka and Wright Philips tearing him apart with their pace.

That's always going to be a worry with Sami, but in practise - how often has this happened? He's nearly always up against faster opponents, yet 9 times out of 10 deals with it admirably and comes up with a great performance.

Also, the only alternative is Skrtel, who would be a huge risk this early in his LFC career.

[Red_Polo]

I'd be worried about Anelka and Wright Philips tearing him apart with their pace.

Sure, that's the obvious concern with Sami, but is Skrtel really ready to face Chelsea away? I suppose only Rafa can tell having seen him training, but from the outside I think Sami is the safer bet.

[Exiled_red]

I'd be worried about Anelka and Wright Philips tearing him apart with their pace.

I can't see us holding a high line so ball over the top is unlikely to be a problem. I see Sami's experience getting him the nod over Skertel for this one

[Imy]

I'd give Skrtle the nod, throw him in against the best and see how he does, he'll be better for the experience AND it's not as if this is a MUST win game, we usually lose there anyway in that before the season started i wouldn't expect anything from this game, we're not fighting for the Premiership.

[Imy]

I can't see us holding a high line so ball over the top is unlikely to be a problem. I see Sami's experience getting him the nod over Skertel for this one

I think this has been one of MAIN problems with Agger injured, with Sami we have to play deeper meaning our midfielders are sometimes to far off to truly support the strikers, having a pacey centre back will go some way to helping overcome this problem.