Xabi

[rudedog]

I honestly think the loss of Alonso for this game was one of the key reasons for our failure to win. If Liverpool FC were a band, Xabi would be the drummer - the backbone, out of the spotlight but controlling the tempo and knitting together the perfomances from the other members.

[dww]

The thing is I don't think that it is universally true - we have seen times when Alonso has played but failed to spark. The problem for me is that at the minute we lack leaders not in terms of people who are willing to fight for the ball but those who can be relied upon to keep us going forward and to keep to set plans. In particular against Stoke we looked to miss some leadership.

It is a point where Wenger's comments about leadership being a collective thing these days is true. You can't always rely on Gerrard to inspire us in attack - everyone has to be willing to try things and make things happen when the game seems to be drifting from us.

[the rev leeroy brown]

badly missed xabi at the weekend. can only hope and pray he is fit for everton game or we will suffer. with rafa not trusting stevie g to play centre mid and masher not firing on all cylinders and lucas being ****, our midfield is weak in the absence of xabi.

[magicalbarnes]

Xabi Alonso today declared himself fit to face Everton in the first of next week's Merseyside derbies on Monday.
The 27-year-old midfielder needed seven stitches in his instep following Liverpool's FA Cup victory over Preston 12 days ago.

The injury kept him out of last weekend's goalless draw at Stoke City because his foot hadn't heeled sufficiently to wear football boots.

Now back in full training, Alonso is hopeful of a return to action against David Moyes' men.

He said: "I am back training. I had the stitches taken out on Monday.

"I'm still a little bit sore in that area. Right now I am able to play with the inside of my foot but my instep will be okay for Monday."

[Scratch]

-------------------Reina----------------------

cara--------skrtel---------hypia--------aurelio

-----------------macher----------------
Kuyt---------------------------riera
----------------Gerrard--------------

-------------Keane/torres------------

Keane or Torres up front?? So we're playing a 4-4-1 formation?? I like it, we are Liverpool, and we'll beat you with 10 men!!