Holland
We caught up with master Dutch-accent impersonater Steve McClaren, currently coach of FC Twente, to gauge his pre-match thoughts ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool have played PSV on a number of occasions in recent years, how does their current team compare to the other sides that Liverpool have faced?
The PSV that will facshe Liverpool on Wedneshday has lesshhh quality than the PSV Liverpool met before. Eshpecshially the defence is weaker. Or how you say, more weak, yesh?
How is your domestic season going so far?
PSV have not been very convinshcing sho far. The 5-1 victory over Utrecht wash a great reschult, but going down to AZ Alkmaar 1-0 was disappointing and showed how much the team needshh to improve in order to compete in Europe's premier competition. Or as you shay, the premier competition of Europe.
Who are your danger men?
Ibrahim Afellay always hash the potential to schneak in and get a goal shomewhere, while Nordin Amrabat likesh running at opposition defenders. How you say, at opposchition defendersh, he likesh to run. Dutch Maroccans could create a few problemsh for the Liverpool defence to deal with.
What tactics are PSV likely to use against Liverpool?
I think Huub Stevens will adopt a tried and tested 4-4-2 formation for thish match. Danko Lazovic hasn't yet hit it off with new striking partner Nordin Ambrabat, but Edison Mendez could remedy that with his probing crosshes.
Who will they be worried about in the Liverpool team?
All of your playersh will be able to caushe PSV problems, but they fear Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres more than anyone else. There ishc not another player which they fear more, you could say.
What was the feeling in Holland about the group PSV were put in?
Mosht PSV fans see this as the group of death at the moment. Losching 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in the opening Champions League match could be a schign, how you say, not like a road sign, but like a schignal, of worshe things to come, and playersh like Timmy Simons and Mike Zonneveld will have to be on top of their game to keep out Liverpool at Anfield. Deschpite winning another Dutch League championship last season, it would still be a big ashhhk to get anything off Liverpool or Atletico in Europe.
How optimistic are PSV fans about qualifying for the knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League?
Having reached the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup last scheason, PSV's fans will be hoping to qualify for that competition again via the third-placed team in the group shtages of the Champions League. Or how you shay, the UEFA Championsh League. Given the shtrength of the teams in their group, I think that would be the most realishtic expectations for them this scheason.
What is your prediction for the match at Anfield?
Liverpool will run out comfortable winners - 2-0. Or how you shay, zero for PSV and two for Liverpool.
Liverpool have played PSV on a number of occasions in recent years, how does their current team compare to the other sides that Liverpool have faced?
The PSV that will facshe Liverpool on Wedneshday has lesshhh quality than the PSV Liverpool met before. Eshpecshially the defence is weaker. Or how you say, more weak, yesh?
How is your domestic season going so far?
PSV have not been very convinshcing sho far. The 5-1 victory over Utrecht wash a great reschult, but going down to AZ Alkmaar 1-0 was disappointing and showed how much the team needshh to improve in order to compete in Europe's premier competition. Or as you shay, the premier competition of Europe.
Who are your danger men?
Ibrahim Afellay always hash the potential to schneak in and get a goal shomewhere, while Nordin Amrabat likesh running at opposition defenders. How you say, at opposchition defendersh, he likesh to run. Dutch Maroccans could create a few problemsh for the Liverpool defence to deal with.
What tactics are PSV likely to use against Liverpool?
I think Huub Stevens will adopt a tried and tested 4-4-2 formation for thish match. Danko Lazovic hasn't yet hit it off with new striking partner Nordin Ambrabat, but Edison Mendez could remedy that with his probing crosshes.
Who will they be worried about in the Liverpool team?
All of your playersh will be able to caushe PSV problems, but they fear Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres more than anyone else. There ishc not another player which they fear more, you could say.
What was the feeling in Holland about the group PSV were put in?
Mosht PSV fans see this as the group of death at the moment. Losching 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in the opening Champions League match could be a schign, how you say, not like a road sign, but like a schignal, of worshe things to come, and playersh like Timmy Simons and Mike Zonneveld will have to be on top of their game to keep out Liverpool at Anfield. Deschpite winning another Dutch League championship last season, it would still be a big ashhhk to get anything off Liverpool or Atletico in Europe.
How optimistic are PSV fans about qualifying for the knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League?
Having reached the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup last scheason, PSV's fans will be hoping to qualify for that competition again via the third-placed team in the group shtages of the Champions League. Or how you shay, the UEFA Championsh League. Given the shtrength of the teams in their group, I think that would be the most realishtic expectations for them this scheason.
What is your prediction for the match at Anfield?
Liverpool will run out comfortable winners - 2-0. Or how you shay, zero for PSV and two for Liverpool.
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