Mascherano To Miss Liege Tie

[BrooklynRed]

Which I think is a huge issue. See my signature; We need him back asap.

Javier Mascherano to Miss Champions League tie

Rafael Benitez says Javier Mascherano is unlikely to be involved in Liverpool's Champions League tie against Standard Liege on Wednesday.

The Liverpool manager does not expect the 24-year-old to be in contention for the match after leading Argentina to a second consecutive Olympic title in Beijing, despite returning to the club in time to take part.

"Javier will be back with us soon," Benitez said. "But I do not think he will be in contention to play in Europe. He has spent too much time travelling and playing, that makes it difficult to be at your best.

"The same thing applied to Ryan Babel. He returned from China last week after Holland were knocked out, but I only really considered him as a substitute at the weekend."

The match is poised at 0-0 after the first leg in Belgium.

[Marky]

WTF did i tell youse????

In Marky we trust

[Matt]

Obviously we're a better team with Masch in it but I'm not really concerned about him missing Wednesday.

I'm guessing we'll be playing 4-4-2 again so I'd love to see Babel and Aurelio come in for Kuyt and Benny but I won't hold my breath.

[JPK]

BR Gerrard is our most important player followed closely by Torres.

[RedReet]

I would reverse the two.

Other players are able to slot in for Gerrard either in midfield or behind Nando and do an admirable job. At the minute we have no one who can lead the front line and play on the shoulder of the defenders like Nando.

Torres is essential to every formation we play, whereas Gerrard although missed, can be replaced in any position.

[JPK]

I would reverse the two.

Other players are able to slot in for Gerrard either in midfield or behind Nando and do an admirable job. At the minute we have no one who can lead the front line and play on the shoulder of the defenders like Nando.

Torres is essential to every formation we play, whereas Gerrard although missed, can be replaced in any position.

Ya actually they are equally as important. Both matchwinners.

[Morph]

I would reverse the two.

Other players are able to slot in for Gerrard either in midfield or behind Nando and do an admirable job. At the minute we have no one who can lead the front line and play on the shoulder of the defenders like Nando.

Torres is essential to every formation we play, whereas Gerrard although missed, can be replaced in any position.

Disagree, you can take Gerrard out and the team will not function and Torres will get no decent service, you take Torres out, we still function we just aren't clinical in front of goal.

[RedReet]

That’s a bit damning on the rest of the team.

Without Nando making the runs, Gerrard (which is often his downfall) tries to do too much himself, to the detriment of the team as a whole.

Quite often we play better as a team when Gerrard isn’t playing, although I’m not denying that we are a much stronger force when he is.

[ronanm]

Irrespective, he should play with the medal in every game to remind the lads that he's a winner and that they should be too.

[Mike]

Just hope Rafa does not play Plessis because of this, although i do think he is decent.

Xabi was the difference against Sunderland, seemed to play much better with him than without.

[El Jefecito]

Just hope Rafa does not play Plessis because of this, although i do think he is decent.

Xabi was the difference against Sunderland, seemed to play much better with him than without.

Xabi was the "difference" in the Boro game too. It could go either way with Xabi. I'm so concerned about what happens to Xabi under pressure that I think I'd prefer Plessis and SG. Plessis gives the ball away less and as long as SG made sure he was available for the simple pass that the balance might be better.

Damn, I'm constructing our CM to limit damage rather than win the game

[JPK]

Xabi was the "difference" in the Boro game too. It could go either way with Xabi. I'm so concerned about what happens to Xabi under pressure that I think I'd prefer Plessis and SG. Plessis gives the ball away less and as long as SG made sure he was available for the simple pass that the balance might be better.

Damn, I'm constructing our CM to limit damage rather than win the game

Gerrard was the difference and we won. Plessis does not want the ball. Something you could never criticise Xabi of.

[El Jefecito]

Gerrard was the difference and we won. Plessis does not want the ball. Something you could never criticise Xabi of.

That's just made up stuff. He's never hidden.

[El Jefecito]

Gerrard was the difference and we won. Plessis does not want the ball. Something you could never criticise Xabi of.

Difference was in inverted commas for a reason. It was sarcasm, but a valid and irrefutable point.

[JPK]

That's just made up stuff. He's never hidden.

Saw it with my own eyes. He froze that day