Your starting X1 vs Marseille please

[SB]

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Arbeloa, Degen, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Dossena, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, Lucas, Riera, Kuyt, Torres, Keane


I love trying to get into Rafa's head to pick the starting X1. Today I will go for


Pepe

Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena
Kuyt Xabi Lucas Riera
Benny
Babel

A draw is enough for this away game and I'm more interested in Saturday's match with Stoke.

I wouldn't rush either Stevie or Torres back although I would give them both a run but I would only use Masher if he is 100%.

It would be good to see Degen get a run and the same for Agger instead of Skittles.


Any ideas on how Rafa will send them out for this match

[dww]

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Mascherano Alonso
Gerrard ------Kuyt---------Riera
Torres

I think Gerrard will definitely play and there will be as few changes as possible from the United game. I've put Torres in as I think we will play as strong a team as possible but wouldn't be at all surprised if he was left out if there is any doubt about his injury.

[SB]

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Mascherano Alonso
Gerrard ------Kuyt---------Riera
Torres

I think Gerrard will definitely play and there will be as few changes as possible from the United game. I've put Torres in as I think we will play as strong a team as possible but wouldn't be at all surprised if he was left out if there is any doubt about his injury.

With the talk today about Agger and a new contract, I'd be surprised if he didn't start. I'd rather Stevie off the bench and let the others get on with it. At times other players seem to sit back and expect Stevie to do it all. Let them grow in confidence and bring him on late on when we have it won

[Chrono]

Is Keane injured? I notice nobody has included him.

[dww]

Not as far as I know - I didn't include him as I think he has linked up poorly with Torres and Gerrard - as such if they are fit to play I would leave him out and keep Kuyt in.

[SB]

Not as far as I know - I didn't include him as I think he has linked up poorly with Torres and Gerrard - as such if they are fit to play I would leave him out and keep Kuyt in.

Kuyt's name would be the first on the team sheet at present.

cue the Kuyt bashers

[nebbers]

Reina

Arbeloa - Carra - Agger - Dossena

Benny - Alonso - Lucas - Riera

Kuyt - Keane


Torres & Gerrard on the bench as Rafa will not risk them in 1st half as we should be good enough to win without them.

[kev776]

Keane must play, to drop him would dent his confidence even more, now is the time to back him.

[ukfootballfan101]

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Arbeloa, Degen, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Dossena, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, Lucas, Riera, Kuyt, Torres, Keane


Reina

Degen Carragher Agger Dossena


Mascherano

Kuyt Lucas Riera

Torres Keane

Subs:-

1. Babbel for Torres
2. Lucas for Gerrard
3. ???

[SB]

Reina

Arbeloa - Carra - Agger - Dossena

Benny - Alonso - Lucas - Riera

Kuyt - Keane


Torres & Gerrard on the bench as Rafa will not risk them in 1st half as we should be good enough to win without them.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that side run out and good enough to roll the frogs too

[kev776]

-------Pepe

Arbeloa--Carra--Agger--Dossena

Dirky--Scabby--Lucas--Reina

--Keane----------Babel

[SB]

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Arbeloa, Degen, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Dossena, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, Lucas, Riera, Kuyt, Torres, Keane


Reina

Degen Carragher Agger Dossena


Mascherano

Kuyt Lucas Riera

Torres Keane

Subs:-

1. Babbel for Torres
2. Lucas for Gerrard
3. ???

Welcome 101

I'd be interested to see how Mr Degen gets on if he is given the nod .

[SB]

-------Pepe

Arbeloa--Carra--Agger--Dossena

Dirky--Scabby--Lucas--Reina

--Keane----------Babel

Oh I hope that nick name doesn't catch on. I'd hate to explain to my son that we have someone called " SCABBY " playing for us

[SB]

Marseille v Liverpool preview
Reds meet old rivals at Stade Velodrome

Last updated: 16th September 2008

What a difference a season makes for Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez as he prepares his side for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League opener with Marseille.

Last term, Liverpool travelled to the Stade Velodrome requiring a win in their final game of the group stages to progress to the last 16 and Benitez was clinging to his managerial hot-seat.

The Spaniard had experienced a disagreement with Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks and it was thought certain that he would be sacked if Liverpool failed to record the win they required in the south of France.

Luckily for Benitez his side produced an impressive 4-0 victory and went on to reach the final four of Europe's most prestigious club competition.
Pressure

This season there is no such pressure on Benitez, despite scraping through qualifying for the competition, as his Merseyside outfit begin their Group D campaign in high spirits after a first Premier League win over bitter domestic rivals Manchester United since 2004.

Benitez is also expected to be buoyed by the return captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres to his starting line-up.

Gerrard (groin surgery) came on for the final 22 minutes against United at the weekend, while Torres (hamstring) remained on the substitutes' bench, but the pair - who both scored in the trip to Marseille last season - are expected to start.

Left-back Fabio Aurelio has a calf problem and has not travelled, which is likely to mean a return to the starting line-up for Andrea Dossena, while winger Ryan Babel could also feature from kick-off after a match-winning substitute appearance against United.

Positive

Javier Mascherano is fit, despite hobbling off with cramp on Saturday, while centre-back Sami Hyypia has not been named in Benitez's 25-man European squad and that could see Daniel Agger, who is keen to secure a new contract, replace Martin Skrtel.

Marseille will be eager to avenge last term's home hammering, which cost Erik Gerets' men a place in the knock-out stages, and will be hoping for positive performances from the likes of midfielder Mathieu Valbuena and striker Mamadou Niang.

Valbuena scored the goal which stunned Anfield in Marseille's 1-0 away victory last season, while Niang is confident the Reds can again be beaten.

Benoit Cheyrou, brother of former Liverpool player Bruno, is also likely to be included in Gerets' first XI, while another ex-Red, Boudewijn Zenden, could be on the bench.

[The_weatherman]

Reina

Arbeloa - Carra - Agger - Dossena

Benny - Alonso - Lucas - Riera

Kuyt - Keane


Torres & Gerrard on the bench as Rafa will not risk them in 1st half as we should be good enough to win without them.

Word for word what I was going to suggest