It's the time...

[el matador]

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’

the guy has a disbility for ****s sake and since when has laughing at disabled people been funny?

[Neil Young]

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.

Until very recently Fletcher at Man United was complete crap and he is still not brilliant (and won't ever be I think) yet somehow they've been pretty successful and he is an increasingly useful player. I think Lucas has been better than he used to show.

In other words, it can take time.

[el matador]

Until very recently Fletcher at Man United was complete crap and he is still not brilliant (and won't ever be I think) yet somehow they've been pretty successful and he is an increasingly useful player. I think Lucas has been better than he used to show.

In other words, it can take time.

see i dont think he was crap - he just wasnt as good as their other midfielders but the rumour was the liverpool wanted him as a youngster and because of the proximity rule they couldnt go for him.

He isnt a bad little player, nice and tidy on the ball and combative. He's not a world beater by any means but a useful squad player who makes important contributions to the team.

At times during games lucas can look decent but literally the next time he touches the ball he looks like a sunday league player still pissed from the night before.

I think he's 22 now so he's not exactly a youngster so the clock is ticking but he does need to bring all of the elements that he has to his game together so that we can get a cohesive and consistent performance out of him. He took a lot of stick this week because of his performance against stoke but in reality rafa should never have played him in such a high tempo and physical game because that's just not his style.

Play him against newcastle every week and he'd be worth £20m.

[dww]

I think he has developed in terms of going into tackles etc and he I'm not sure that the problem against Stoke was the physicality of the game. He needs to start looking to make things happen - at the minute he is too reactive and hence depends to much on the rest of the team playing well. He isn't especially strong but unlike, say, Benayoun he looks to be trying to get stuck in at times.

[Neil Young]

see i dont think he was crap - he just wasnt as good as their other midfielders but the rumour was the liverpool wanted him as a youngster and because of the proximity rule they couldnt go for him.

He isnt a bad little player, nice and tidy on the ball and combative. He's not a world beater by any means but a useful squad player who makes important contributions to the team.

At times during games lucas can look decent but literally the next time he touches the ball he looks like a sunday league player still pissed from the night before.

I think he's 22 now so he's not exactly a youngster so the clock is ticking but he does need to bring all of the elements that he has to his game together so that we can get a cohesive and consistent performance out of him. He took a lot of stick this week because of his performance against stoke but in reality rafa should never have played him in such a high tempo and physical game because that's just not his style.

Play him against newcastle every week and he'd be worth £20m.

Hmm, well, I don't think Lucas is crap so really that doesn't get us anywhere.

What we agree on is that Fletcher wasn't as good as the other midfielders in their squad yet has developed into a useful squad player.

I don't see why Lucas can't do the same, at least.

Still, we can agree to disagree.

[Parm]

If Carra plays at RB then we can kiss goodbye to any width down the right.

[magicalbarnes]

Is Arbeloa fit again?

[dww]

Just looked on the BBc and came up with this:

Liverpool v Everton
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Anfield Date: Monday, 19 January Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB; updates on BBC Sport website

Xabi Alonso (foot) and Fernando Torres (hamstring) have declared themselves fit to start for Liverpool.

Alvaro Arbeloa is also set to return after a hamstring problem, but centre-back Daniel Agger has a calf injury and may miss the game.

Everton will be without key midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who is suspended.

Up front, Everton are still without long-term injury victims James Vaughan (knee), Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Achilles) and Louis Saha (hamstring).

Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Arbeloa, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso, Benayoun, Lucas, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel, Keane, Kuyt, Torres, Riera, Ngog, El Zhar, Cavalieri.

[Parm]

ok, then we can go with Arbeloa at RB
Carra CB
Xabi and mascher in the middle.
Rest of the team picks itself, just hope Torres and keane get to start

[Baldemort]

I really dont get the sudden fascination with lucas. We have a world class defensive midfielder in mash, who also happens to be the argentine captain, and lucas gets a game ahead of him? Yes, mash hasnt been great this season, but he is still better than lucas. And i know who i would rather have in my team in a blood and guts merseyside derby.

[Parm]

I really dont get the sudden fascination with lucas. We have a world class defensive midfielder in mash, who also happens to be the argentine captain, and lucas gets a game ahead of him? Yes, mash hasnt been great this season, but he is still better than lucas. And i know who i would rather have in my team in a blood and guts merseyside derby.

funny how Lucas helped turn the derby last year at woodison though when he came on for Stevie eh

[Craig_H]

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.

Lucas has had 2 good games for LFC.

There's your answer.

[dww]

I really dont get the sudden fascination with lucas. We have a world class defensive midfielder in mash, who also happens to be the argentine captain, and lucas gets a game ahead of him? Yes, mash hasnt been great this season, but he is still better than lucas. And i know who i would rather have in my team in a blood and guts merseyside derby.

My 'fascination' with Lucas is anything but recent - I've been arguing his corner since late last season. I think there is an alternative to fighting fire with fire in this sort of game and that is to maximise the use of our attacking players and minimise the amount of times they get to use their height in the box - I think the best way to do that is a possession based game.

I think Rafa will go with Alonso and Mascherano for what it's worth and I can see a lot of good arguments for doing so.

[Craig_H]

funny how Lucas helped turn the derby last year at woodison though when he came on for Stevie eh

He hardly 'turned it'. He just happened to be in that position and had the shot. He didnt do much else.

[Baldemort]

funny how Lucas helped turn the derby last year at woodison though when he came on for Stevie eh

Let's forget the majority of games he's played in then.