Team for Preston...

[anfieldanfield]

Going to this one, looking forward to it.

The Premiership and the tie with Real Madrid are obviously the main priorities. Even if Torres is fit, I can't see any point in risking him against a physcial Preston side in their own back yard.

That said, I do think it's important to keep this winning mentality ticking over and the FA Cup is a still a trophy to be won. A trip to Wembley wouldn't go amiss either.

I think Rafa will go for something like this...

---------N'gog--Babel
El Zhar--------------------Pennant
---------Lucas--Plessis
Aurelio---Agger--Skrtel---Darby
------------Cavalieri

Is that team too weak ? Not sure...

[ric.williams]

nemeth plz

[Shaggy]

I would like to see this team:

Cavalieri

Darby
Skrtel
Hyypia
Dossena

Benayoun
Lucas
Gerrard
Riera

Keane
Ngog

[Craig_H]

Definitely wouldnt play Gerrard.

[anfieldanfield]

I would like to see this team:

Cavalieri

Darby
Skrtel
Hyypia
Dossena

Benayoun
Lucas
Gerrard
Riera

Keane
Ngog

I can see the logic in playing Keane, but I'm really not sure it's worth risking Stevie.

[Mattshark]

Who ever we play, we'll still **** 'em

[Shaggy]

I recall Gerrard playing in a number of similar 3rd round Cup ties, such as Luton away. Admittedly we have many more options now but we have seven days to recover from the Preston game for Stoke away and I see no harm in playing Gerrard.

[Matt]

Cava

Darby
Skrtel
Agger
Insua

El Zhar
Gerrard
Spearing
Babel

Nemeth
Keane

[Matt]

...although it'd seem probable that Ngog would start ahead of Nemeth. Would love to see him involved though.

[Pass-move]

If it was up to me, I'd pack all the main lads off to Dubai for a few days and play the fringe and reserve lads. There's enough of them.

We've got another week after Preston before we play Stoke. Plenty of time from now until then to get everyone fresh and rested.

Brazillian

Darby Skrtel Hyppia Aurelio

El Zhar Lucas Spearing Babel

Ngog Nemeth

[dww]

I'd be tempted by:

Cavalieri
Derby Skrtel Agger Dossena
Lucas Plessis
El Zhar Keane Babel
N'Gog

[the rev leeroy brown]

cava

darby
hyypia
skrtel
dossena

el zhar
lucas
masher
babel

ngog
keane

[Chris]

I can't see any point in risking him against a physcial Preston side in their own back yard.

This is always ridiculously overplayed. Its not the 70s!

It's the perfect game to play him in if he's fit, if he's rusty i'd rather it in a Cup game than League game, if they're physical, well he gets smashed all over the place every game anyway.

[Pass-move]

I think we're being bit too over protective of Torres. If the injury has healed, it's healed. It's now about getting him back up to speed, and 20 minutes against Preston won't do any harm.

Rather that than just putting him straight in against Stoke with no game time under his belt.

[-V-]

We have a whole week free after the game.

I would take the game very seriously and play a very strong 11. We should be looking to win the Cup and no reason why we can't play a strong team. Barnsley hurt last year, lets take this seriously


Cavalieri

Arbeloa
Srktle
Agger
Insua

El Zhar
Alonso
Gerrard
Riera

Keane
Babel