It's the time...

[bobbyfallon]

no matter who we put out we will take them. cant wait for this one

[el matador]

I would probably go for:

Reina
Carragher Hyypia Agger Aurelio
Lucas Alonso
Kuyt Gerrard Riera
Torres

I think the idea has to be to have possession high up the pitch and to give as much freedom to the front four as possible. They are not a hugely creative team and they are not exceptionally pacy. There is a good case for Arbeloa at fullback with Carra in the middle but I think we need Hyypia's aerial prowess and Agger to bring the ball into midfield to fit the rest of the plan. In an ideal world I would prefer a Babel type player to Riera as he gets closer to the striker but I think he needs to prove himself as being willing to put in the work needed in games like this.

FFS are you rafa in disguise ?

why on earth would you play lucas ahead of mascherano in the derby battle against everton ?

The best place for lucas is in the stands behind rafa's little right hand buddy - the quiet one with the clipboard.

[dww]

Lucas???

I really like him and for me we need Gerrard in an advanced role so it is either him or Mascher and I would like two ball players in there. I suspect that Rafa will choose Mascherano. I would suggest though that Lucas has been in at least as good form as Mascher of late.

[The_weatherman]

I would probably go for:

Reina
Carragher Hyypia Agger Aurelio
Lucas Alonso
Kuyt Gerrard Riera
Torres

I think the idea has to be to have possession high up the pitch and to give as much freedom to the front four as possible. They are not a hugely creative team and they are not exceptionally pacy. There is a good case for Arbeloa at fullback with Carra in the middle but I think we need Hyypia's aerial prowess and Agger to bring the ball into midfield to fit the rest of the plan. In an ideal world I would prefer a Babel type player to Riera as he gets closer to the striker but I think he needs to prove himself as being willing to put in the work needed in games like this.

I would go for that, although if Arbeloa plays I would swap Lucas for Mascher to even things out. How will Everton line up by the way?

[poorscousertommy]

I really like him and for me we need Gerrard in an advanced role so it is either him or Mascher and I would like two ball players in there. I suspect that Rafa will choose Mascherano. I would suggest though that Lucas has been in at least as good form as Mascher of late.

You're having a ****ing laugh aren't you?

Lucas had two decent games but in every other game he played he was the same useless piece of **** he has been since the day we bought him.

I have not disliked a Liverpool player as much as I dislike Lucas for some time.

Mascherano has not been that bad at all. Not as good as he can be but not bad.

[el matador]

You're having a ****ing laugh aren't you?

Lucas had two decent games but in every other game he played he was the same useless piece of **** he has been since the day we bought him.

I have not disliked a Liverpool player as much as I dislike Lucas for some time.

Mascherano has not been that bad at all. Not as good as he can be but not bad.

dont mince your words mate

[Neil Young]

I would go for that, although if Arbeloa plays I would swap Lucas for Mascher to even things out. How will Everton line up by the way?

------------------Tourette------------------

Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug

-----------Arteta---------Australian Thug----

[-------------------No-one------------------]

[dww]

You're having a ****ing laugh aren't you?

Lucas had two decent games but in every other game he played he was the same useless piece of **** he has been since the day we bought him.

I have not disliked a Liverpool player as much as I dislike Lucas for some time.

Mascherano has not been that bad at all. Not as good as he can be but not bad.

Mascher has been bad in some specific ways. he is back to giving away fouls in bad locations - earlier in the season the whole squad seemed to have cut this out/down but it has sneaked back into our play and the slight down turn in Maschers form has led to him doing this more in his enthusiasm to get the ball. Everton have Arteta who has excellent delivery and a sat of very dangerous players in the air so it is something I would seek to minimise.

I though Lucas played really well at the end of last season at times actually. I've always liked him as a player and consistently defended him. he has weaknesses and he needs to grow physically and in terms of imposing himself on games but I think he is developing.

[Pablo]

Lucas is the King of giving away fouls around the penalty area though Dave.

[Rigadon]

Liverpool v Everton: Toffees ready to “smash opposition in the mouth”

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2009/01/17/liverpool-v-everton-toffees-ready-to-smash-opposition-in-the-mouth-64375-22713113/

TIM HOWARD believes Everton are in the mood to “smash people in the mouth” as he warned Liverpool to brace themselves for a real derby battle.

Everton travel to their Merseyside neighbours on Monday night aiming for their first victory at Anfield in almost a decade.

After a poor start to the season, David Moyes’s side have hit their stride by winning five of their last six games, a spell during which Howard has not conceded a goal.

Only Chelsea have won more Premier League games on their travels this season, and goalkeeper Howard reckons Everton are prospering by going back to basics.

“Our away form has been fantastic, but we are going to have to be resilient at the back,” said the United States international. “I don’t think Liverpool are easily ruffled, but we will play to our strengths and see if we can at least put them to the test.

“I think, looking back, we went into the season trying to play a little bit more than we needed to. We were taking risks we wouldn’t normally do.

“So we had to get back to basics – smash people in the mouth, get the ball upfield and let the creative guys get it down and play.

“It won’t be a case of hitting people because it’s Liverpool – we’ll be hitting people because it’s the way we play best.”

Howard is convinced Everton have found the right blend of football that utilises their trademark combative style while allowing the team’s creative players to prosper.

“The key for me is that we have got back to the style of play that has made us so successful in recent times,” he said.

“I remember playing against Everton at Goodison Park and losing, and the abiding memory was the way they got the ball upfield double quick. No nonsense, particularly in the defensive third of the pitch. Just get it up there.

“We’ve got really creative players, like Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar, and the idea has to be to let them do what they do best where they can cause problems for the opposition.”

If the ****ers want a physical game bring it on...

They’ve apparently nicked our Torres song:

Tim Howard has got Tourettes, f*ck off, f*ck off,
F*ck off f*ck off f*ck off f*ck off, f*ck off, f*ck off,
F*ck off f*ck off f*ck off f*ck off,
F*ck off f*ck off f*ck off f*ck off,
Tim ‘F*ck off’ Howard, Everton’s number ‘C*NT’

[dww]

I would go for that, although if Arbeloa plays I would swap Lucas for Mascher to even things out. How will Everton line up by the way?

Not sure but judging by games like against Chelsea you might expect 4-4-1-1 type system with Cahill and Fellaini the most advanced players with Osman and Arteta giving forward impetus from midfield and Phil Neville tasked to kick anything that moves. Not sure if they have any strikers back but I would think that is as good a team set up as they have any way.

[dww]

Lucas is the King of giving away fouls around the penalty area though Dave.

I've never really noticed him do it - I'll look out for it. I would suspect he is not as bad as Mascher has been for the simple reason that he doesn't go in off his feet as many times in tackles.

[pondus]

------------------Tourette------------------

Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug-Thug

-----------Arteta---------Australian Thug----

[-------------------No-one------------------]

They’ve apparently nicked our Torres song:

Tim Howard has got Tourettes, f*ck off, f*ck off,
F*ck off f*ck off f*ck off f*ck off, f*ck off, f*ck off,
F*ck off f*ck off f*ck off f*ck off,
F*ck off f*ck off f*ck off f*ck off,
Tim ‘F*ck off’ Howard, Everton’s number ‘C*NT’

[el matador]

I've never really noticed him do it - I'll look out for it. I would suspect he is not as bad as Mascher has been for the simple reason that he doesn't go in off his feet as many times in tackles.

i remember in one game that i was watching, jim beglin turned around and said that Lucas was a liability and an accident waiting to happen.

Ive said a lot of negative things about lucas and i stand by everyone of them because i dont think he's good enough now and in not sure he ever will be.

Rafa needs to send him out on loan to spain for a season to see how he adaps to playing regular first team football and spain would be a good environment for him because its virtually a non-contact sport over there and he doesnt like the rough stuff.

I think it would be a good place for him to show us why everyone thought he was the next big thing from brasil.

[The_weatherman]

Not sure but judging by games like against Chelsea you might expect 4-4-1-1 type system with Cahill and Fellaini the most advanced players with Osman and Arteta giving forward impetus from midfield and Phil Neville tasked to kick anything that moves. Not sure if they have any strikers back but I would think that is as good a team set up as they have any way.

That will be a difficult game indeed. Might warrant starting Skrtel and Hyypia in the middle with Carra at right back. Can see logic in playing Lucas alongside Xabi to keep posession and try and outplay them.