Centre of Defence

[JohnDoe]

Agger is our best defender. Carragher is our leader. Skrtel is not very good. Easy choice to make.

I think Wilson, in time, will jump over Skrtel as well.

[Imy]

Skrtel & Agger for me... Carra's lack of pace has caught up with him

Agger and another (Any young Hyypia's out there?)

Skrtel proved to be a liability and so did Carra for large swathes last season.

[Parr_Zee]

Agger and another (Any young Hyypia's out there?)

Skrtel proved to be a liability and so did Carra for large swathes last season.

Short memories peoples - Skrtel was immense in the season before last and kept the top strikers in the league (Drogba) quiet on several occasions. Yes, his formed dipped a bit last season but this coincided with when our whole back-four was playing garbage.

[SB]

Agger every time. Class player who also adds to attack with passes and runs

[dww]

I think it's easy to forget how impressive Skrtel was initially (after the H&W hiccup). If he can somehow become more dominant in the air (given his height he loses too many aerial battles) and cut out the rash, needless challenges from behind I think he could have a long future with us.

He was showing signs before his last injury that he was getting back to that sort of form.

Having said that, right now I'd pick Agger. And although I'd start with him against Arsenal, I don't think Carra can be assured of his place all season. On paper Skrtel/Agger looks a good pairing, albeit lacking in a truly dominant figure (as I touched on earlier re Skrtel).

I've long had worries about the Skrtel and Agger partnership lacking something both in terms of leadership and aerial prowess. Both of them have the potential to improve in both areas but I think it is a big season for them, particularly Skrtel.

Arsenal have shown with long runs of few goals conceded that you don't necessarily need to be great in the air even in the PL if your organisation is right and you can minimise the number of corners and wide set pieces you give away.

[Rudo]

The real stuff hasn't even started yet and Agger's injured already. FFS.

[Reece]

The real stuff hasn't even started yet and Agger's injured already. FFS.

Is he?

[SB]

Is he?

Joe Cole will make his Anfield debut tonight.

Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Cole will make his home debut in tonight's Europa League qualifier second leg and that his fellow England internationals will also start.

"We can play a stronger team this team and Cole, Gerrard, Carragher, Johnson and Jovanovic will all start the game," said the boss.

"A week ago they were definitely not fit and couldn't play but now they are ready.

"We have a lot of players like Cole and Jovanovic who are anxious to show the fans what they are made of and it's a great opportunity for them.

"We also have Pacheco back after a very successful tournament with Spain and he is desperate to show us what a good player he is.

"Agger is injured so won't take part and the other World Cup players who are have only just returned to training won't play."

http://www.lfconline.com/news/tmnw/c...916/index.shtm

Didn't take Agger long to get injured did it. Hopefully just a knock

[Imy]

Short memories peoples - Skrtel was immense in the season before last and kept the top strikers in the league (Drogba) quiet on several occasions. Yes, his formed dipped a bit last season but this coincided with when our whole back-four was playing garbage.

I remember when we first signed Kwarme, he looked the business and we all know how that turned out.

[Reece]

Didn't take Agger long to get injured did it. Hopefully just a knock

Thanks

[SB]

Thanks

I almost missed the little snippet and had to go back and read it again

[Exiled_red]

I can't face another season of Carragher either getting turned and skinned every 10 minutes or us sitting back, acres between our defense and attack, with Johnson having to babysit him.

[BrianF80]

I've long had worries about the Skrtel and Agger partnership lacking something both in terms of leadership and aerial prowess. Both of them have the potential to improve in both areas but I think it is a big season for them, particularly Skrtel.

Arsenal have shown with long runs of few goals conceded that you don't necessarily need to be great in the air even in the PL if your organisation is right and you can minimise the number of corners and wide set pieces you give away.

Leadership can be questioned, but both, to my eyes anyway, are far superior to Carragher in the air, no?

[JohnDoe]

Leadership can be questioned, but both, to my eyes anyway, are far superior to Carragher in the air, no?

Skrtel is terrible in the air.

[gentingfrmhell]

agger is an easy choice. much better footballer than skrtel and pretty even defensivley. but for me, the argument shouldnt be agger or skrtel, it should be who partners agger. he is so composed, plays the ball out of defense, good positioning and good pace.......for me it should be agger and carra with skrtel pushing carra to replace him. said it a while back, our future should be agger and skrtel and i'm sticking to it.

i would say nows the time, why wait? skrtel and agger in the centre would be perfect.

Skrtel & Agger for me... Carra's lack of pace has caught up with him