Portsmouth build-up thread

[Reece]

From the offal

Fernando Torres will again be missing from the Liverpool side which aims to maintain its lead at the top of the league table against Portsmouth on Wednesday night.
The Reds striker is still nursing the hamstring injury sustained on international duty earlier in the month and has been ruled out for the visit of Pompey to Anfield.

"Fernando is very close," said boss Rafael Benitez today. "Maybe he'll be okay for the weekend, but he cannot play tomorrow. "We will see how he is over the next two or three days and then make a decision for Saturday.

"We have some problems after the Chelsea game. You know Keane had an injury, while Kuyt and Alonso also had some knocks. We will have to check on them but I think they will be okay for the Portsmouth game."

[rage]

we still have enough strength in depth without keane and torres to beat these.

i just want to get through portsmouth and spurs with maximum points this week and then we can see how the other 3 have done. on paper we have a comfortable run now upto december where maximum points should be an aspiration

[bobbyfallon]

keane will play

[lfc1394]

keane will play

he can have a rest when Torres is back.

[Shaggy]

RAFA BENITEZ today warned his defenders they are set to face a much improved Peter Crouch to the one who joined Liverpool three years ago.

Crouch is set to make his return to Anfield as a member of the Portsmouth side which will bid to end Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season at Anfield tomorrow night.

Having left the Reds for the South coast club in the summer, the 27-year-old striker will be keen to show his former employers just what they are missing, and Benitez knows his players will have to be on their guard against him.

“It is clear that Peter is a better player now than when he came to Liverpool and we will have to be careful with him,” said the Reds boss.

“When we signed him people were talking about the money we paid for him, especially when he was waiting to score his first goal.

“But he showed his quality and he went on to do well for us and played many games for England also.

“It is clear that he is big, he has a really nice girlfriend, he is good in the air and he is a player with quality.

“So when we decided to bring him here it was because we knew that he was a good player.

“When I first came up against him as a manager he was a player with Southampton and I was thinking about how to stop him.

“Now we have some ideas but I will not say before the game.”

When Benitez swooped for Crouch in the summer of 2005 many commentators questioned the move, but a return of 42 goals in 134 appearances – including 39 from 93 starts – vindicated the Liverpool manager’s judgement, particularly as the 6ft 7ins striker also became a crowd favourite at Anfield.

Benitez reluctantly allowed Crouch to quit Liverpool for Portsmouth in the summer after coming to terms with his need to start games more regularly, something he could not be guaranteed at Anfield with Fernando Torres in such goal-getting form.

“It was a pity to lose him,” said Benitez.

“We offered him a new contract, but at the end of the day he decided to go to another club where he can play every week.

“That is something that you can understand because at a top side like Liverpool it can be difficult for this to happen, especially when you have a player like Torres who is on fire.

“It was difficult for Peter to play here every week, but he is a nice lad, a good professional and we wish him the best in the future.”

[Joe King]

“It is clear that he is big, he has a really nice girlfriend, he is good in the air and he is a player with quality.

[Mike]

Was just going to point that out myself.

[Marky]

It's a time for cool heads.

Lets rattle into them early doors and knock em for six.

[pondus]

Looks like Sol Campbell is missing tonight, first game in charge and your skipper is missing, that is a big blow for Adams.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonl...rip.4639034.jp

[pondus]

Anyone know why Hyypia is a doubt for tonight's game? Daily post and liverpool.no reporting this, but they don't say why.

I think we really need him at the moment with Skrtel out.

[BigChief]

“It is clear that he is big, he has a really nice girlfriend, he is good in the air and he is a player with quality.

Only two of those four statements are 100% correct.

[wiw]

Keep forgetting I'm going to this..weather forecast is rain, sleet, and seriously cold obviously

[PTP]

Keep forgetting I'm going to this..weather forecast is rain, sleet, and seriously cold obviously

yeah i'm going to - straight from work - and i have forgot my coat - so i'm just wearing suit trousers and a shirt! haha

[JohnDoe]

This is going to be a very difficult match, coming back after such a result at Chelsea and having the extra pressure of being the leaders, something we're not used to, will take another touch from Rafa to put the players in the right frame of mind. Pompey will be backs to wall and if we don't make it an easy game for us by getting an early lead, we'll have a tough time breaking them down.

I expect us to leave Mascherano on the bench and play two strikers out of Torres/Keane/Babel.

[pondus]

This is going to be a very difficult match, coming back after such a result at Chelsea and having the extra pressure of being the leaders, something we're not used to, will take another touch from Rafa to put the players in the right frame of mind. Pompey will be backs to wall and if we don't make it an easy game for us by getting an early lead, we'll have a tough time breaking them down.

I expect us to leave Mascherano on the bench and play two strikers out of Torres/Keane/Babel.

Torres is not ready apparently, and Keane is carrying a knock but may play