Build up for Burnley game

[red g]

Thank **** all that international ****e is over and done with we can get back onto what matters!!

great chance this week to catch up on some of those teams above in a weird quirk of the fixture list the 6 teams ahead of us are [laying each other, so a great opportunity to gain some points back.

Tottenham v Scum
Stoke v Chelsea
Man City v Arsenal

Burnley like to play football as well so i am hoping we give these lot a bit of a beating and get a season firmly back on the rails.

[Tee]

Another great test for us against a side who will get back in numbers. I expect them to also try and get forward leaving some space for Nando to work some magic and continue his goalscoring form.

Will be interesting to see if Riera gets the nod ahead of Benni. Hopefully Aurelio is fit and back in the team as he offers us another dimension with his free kicks and attacking play.

[Bender]

Rafa Benitez must decide if Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva can face Burnley, with the pair not due back in Liverpool until Friday.
Both midfielders have been with their nationals teams for South American World Cup qualifiers and now face exhausting journeys back to Merseyside ahead of Saturday's visit of the Clarets.

Mascherano is making a 6,000 mile journey home from Argentina's match in Paraguay, while Lucas faces a similar length trip after being part of the Brazil squad for their clash in Chile.

Both players won't get back to Melwood until Friday afternoon and with the Reds facing six games in 17 days, there is every chance Benitez may decide to start them on the bench this weekend.

[Reece]

Plessis and Spearing it is then

[Tee]

Rafa Benitez must decide if Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva can face Burnley, with the pair not due back in Liverpool until Friday.
Both midfielders have been with their nationals teams for South American World Cup qualifiers and now face exhausting journeys back to Merseyside ahead of Saturday's visit of the Clarets.

Mascherano is making a 6,000 mile journey home from Argentina's match in Paraguay, while Lucas faces a similar length trip after being part of the Brazil squad for their clash in Chile.

Both players won't get back to Melwood until Friday afternoon and with the Reds facing six games in 17 days, there is every chance Benitez may decide to start them on the bench this weekend.

Gerrard and Spearing CM, with Benni in the 'hole' and Riera out wide. Go on Rafa, you gotta trust the Scousers!!

[Craig_H]

Did all our internationals come through unscathed?

[BFG]

I think Lucas will play as he hasn't been involved in the Brazil games. I'd say it's more likely we'll have Plessis in instead of Mascher.

[red g]

no reports of any injuries for us as far as i am aware.

[ELNINO 9]

god just play steven with lucas, and use benny in the hole behind torres. simple stuff

[Craig_H]

god just play steven with lucas, and use benny in the hole behind torres. simple stuff

Yep.

[red g]

I think Lucas will play as he hasn't been involved in the Brazil games. I'd say it's more likely we'll have Plessis in instead of Mascher.

against burnley think Spearing would be better, seems better offensively from the little i have seen.

[red g]

Will Aurelio definitely come in for Insua??

got Insua in my FF team thats all

[Fierce]

Bah. First game this year and we cant put a full strength team out, just my luck

Would also like to see Gerrard in the centre with Lucas and Benny in behind Torres

Although I think Rafa would rather put someone else in the centre and leave Gerrard where he normally plays

Is Aurelio fit? He could come in, looked good there against Pompey. I think it was Pompey. Was it Pompey? Pompey. Looks weird if you read it a few times. Pompey. See?

[Craig_H]

What exactly would happen if Mascherano played? Would his leg fall off?

Or would he just be slightly below his usual standard, due to tiredness?

Would it be wrong to suggest that a slightly below par Mascherano would still be our best option?

[red g]

What exactly would happen if Mascherano played? Would his leg fall off?

Or would he just be slightly below his usual standard, due to tiredness?

Would it be wrong to suggest that a slightly below par Mascherano would still be our best option?

The Reds manager will be particularly concerned about Mascherano's condition as the 25-year-old suffered a calf injury shortly after returning from international duty last season.

Although he picked up that problem playing for Liverpool, Benitez believed the fatigue of travelling thousands of miles to play for his country was a contributory factor.