Pick your starting X1 v's Sunderland

[SB]

About 12 hrs to go and I'm going mad in antisipation. I'm trying to keep a lid on it so help me out and let's try to get inside Rafa's head and pick the starting X1 for him.

I'll go with

Pepe

Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena

Kuyt Stevie Xabi Aurielio

Torres Keano

Subs ( no idea really but )

Skittles
Yossi
Ngog or Voronin
Goaly
Finnan

[Rashid]

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Dossenna
Pennant Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane Torres

[SB]

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Dossenna
Pennant Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane Torres

No Arbeloa or Kuyt

I forgot about JP. Off the bench for me though

[SB]

Sunderland (a) Preview
Written by Matt Ladson on August 15th, 2008
Sunderland vs Liverpool
Sat. 16 Aug, 5:30pm | Stadium of Light | Premier League

Liverpool’s Premier League season kicks off at the Stadium of Light as they face Sunderland in the early evening match on the opening day of the 2008/09 season.

Captain Steven Gerrard has been passed fit as the Reds look to begin the season on the right note, and improve on their poor showing in Belgium on Wednesday. Gerrard has recovered from a thigh injury sustained in pre-season which limited to a sub appearance against Standard Liege.

In this corresponding fixture last season, Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Momo Sissoko and Andriy Voronin. It was a match which saw Voronin and Fernando Torres link up well but they are unlikely to start together on Saturday, with Torres set to line-up alongside Liverpool’s biggest summer addition, Robbie Keane.

Another summer signing set to start in the North East is Italian left back Andrea Dossena.

Roy Keane is without Sunderland’s player of the year last season, Kenwyne Jones, but a familiar face will make his debut for the Wearsiders. Former Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf will make his Black Cats debut after moving from Bolton this summer. Fellow summer signing Pascal Chimbonda is also set to start, as could Steed Malbranque and Teemu Tainio.

Rafa Benitez anticipates a tough match after the disappointing show in midweek; “We need to change our mentality quickly for the Premier League opener. Facing Sunderland away will be a very tough game, they have strengthened their squad and are always difficult on their own ground.”

Likely Liverpool Team: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Kuyt, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Keane, Torres.
Possible Sunderland Team: Gordon, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Higgingbotham, Collins, Diouf, Malbranque, Richardson, Tainio, Reid, Murphy.

Last Five Meetings
Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0 (February 2008); Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2 (August 2007); Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2 (November 2005); Liverpool 1 Sunderland 0 (August 2005); Sunderland 2 Liverpool 1 (December 2002)

The match is live on Setanta Sports (5:30pm kick off).

[SB]

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Dossena, Insua, Benayoun, Gerrard, Plessis, Alonso, Kuyt, Aurelio, Pennant, Torres, Ngog, Keane, Voronin, Cavalieri, Finnan.


Forgot about Plessis too

[Exiled_red]

----------Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena
--------Plessis Xabi
Gerrard --- Keane --- Benayoun
-----------Torres

Subs
Cavalieri, Finnan, Skrtel, Pennant, Kuyt, N'Gog, Voronin

[friedk]

----------Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena
--------Plessis Xabi
Kuyt --- Gerrard --- Keane
-----------Torres

Subs
Cavalieri, Finnan, Skrtel, Pennant, N'Gog, Benyaoun, Aurelio/Insua

[el matador]

----------Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena
--------Plessis Xabi
Gerrard --- Keane --- Benayoun
-----------Torres

Subs
Cavalieri, Finnan, Skrtel, Pennant, Kuyt, N'Gog, Voronin

same as above but id swap gerrard and keane and maybe bring in finnan for arbeloa.

[JPK]

__________________ Reina __________________

____ Skrtel ________ Carra _______ Agger _____

Arbeloa _________________________ Aurelio ___

_____________ Xabi ________ Stevie ___________

___________________ Kuyt ___________________

____________ Keane _________ Torres __________

[SB]

__________________ Reina __________________

____ Skrtel ________ Carra _______ Agger _____

Arbeloa _________________________ Aurelio ___

_____________ Xabi ________ Stevie ___________

___________________ Kuyt ___________________

____________ Keane _________ Torres __________

I like it but what's the odds of Rafa agreeing

[rage]

__________________ Reina __________________

____ Skrtel ________ Carra _______ Agger _____

Arbeloa _________________________ Aurelio ___

_____________ Xabi ________ Stevie ___________

___________________ Kuyt ___________________

____________ Keane _________ Torres __________

clearly the best lineup available to us. our best players in their best positions, bar kuyt, but i can understand why you've put him there.

[JPK]

clearly the best lineup available to us. our best players in their best positions, bar kuyt, but i can understand why you've put him there.

Kuyt is Rafa's favourite bud and will always make the first 11. Rafa will shaft him eventually though.

[JPK]

I like it but what's the odds of Rafa agreeing

He has been known to use it away from home before. Sunderland wont be expecting it for sure.

[SB]

He has been known to use it away from home before. Sunderland wont be expecting it for sure.

I really hope your right TBH.

I'd love to go there and show the rest of the prem that we mean business this year.

[bigbill]

clearly the best lineup available to us. our best players in their best positions, bar kuyt, but i can understand why you've put him there.

Agreed - people playing in positions that they are comfortable in. Would be very nice to see that this afternoon...