Our 25 man squad in full

[red g]

Is our starting XI now as poor or maybe even worse than in Rafa's first season?

From memory:
Squad then: Dudek, Traore, Carragher, Hyypia, Finnan, Riise, Alonso, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Kewell, Baros, Carson, Josemi, Hamann, Nunez, Biscan, Cissé, Smicer.

GK: Better now.

Defence: Better then: Finnan, Carra, Hyypia and Riise.

Midfield: Better then: Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell

Striker/s: Better now (purely because of Torres).

We're going backwards fast. That fact it's even open to debate is worrying!

its a squad game though isnt it? that back 4 may be better only coz of Sami but i think in defence, midfield and attack you would take ouur current squad over rafa's first season squad

[Mostar]

I think it would depend on who we are playing , against the lesser teams I'd play Meireles - Gerrard - Cole with Cole in the hole. But against the better teams I'd put Poulsen along Meireles with Gerrard behind Torres and Cole on the left with Kuyt on the right.

I agree. I also wouldn't play Jova and Kuyt in the same formation as they are very similar players (just on opposite flanks) and we cannot afford to have them both as starters. I would also give a chance to Babel and Maxi as they both could bring a different look to our attacking options.

[Norbs]

Misread it

What is Itandje still doing at the club? Why hasn't he been released?

I wouldn't name him in our squad out of principle.

Exactly what I thought

[BrooklynRed]

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

Johnson Agger Cara Konchesky

------Poulsen------

Kuyt Meireles Cole

----Gerrard----

--------Torres--------

This is the way we need to play and this is a good team full of class players. They just need chemistry and time together.

[Shaggy]

Liverpool FC has submitted its 21-man squad to the Premier League. Home grown players: Carragher, Cole, Darby, Gerrard, Johnson, Jones, Konchesky, Spearing. Non home grown: Agger, Aurelio, Babel, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Kyrgiakos, Leiva, Meireles, Poulsen, Reina, Rodriguez, Skrtel, Torres.

Roy Hodgson can also call on U21s Gulacsi, Kelly, Wilson, Shelvey, Pacheco, Eccleston and Ngog for Barclays Premier League games.

[Scratch]

Liverpool FC has submitted its 21-man squad to the Premier League. Home grown players: Carragher, Cole, Darby, Gerrard, Johnson, Jones, Konchesky, Spearing. Non home grown: Agger, Aurelio, Babel, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Kyrgiakos, Leiva, Meireles, Poulsen, Reina, Rodriguez, Skrtel, Torres.

Roy Hodgson can also call on U21s Gulacsi, Kelly, Wilson, Shelvey, Pacheco, Eccleston and Ngog for Barclays Premier League games.

Only those U-21's, or others as well??

[Shaggy]

Only those U-21's, or others as well??

No idea. Surely we're not precluded from picking others if we feel like it? For example, Suso?

Has Ayala officially gone to Hull?

[red g]

No idea. Surely we're not precluded from picking others if we feel like it? For example, Suso?

Has Ayala officially gone to Hull?

i think you can pick as many kids as you want, obviously suso isnt particularly on people's radar.

[Fierce]

So Itandje has gone then?

[Mostar]

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

Johnson Agger Cara Konchesky

------Poulsen------

Kuyt Meireles Cole

----Gerrard----

--------Torres--------

This is the way we need to play and this is a good team full of class players. They just need chemistry and time together.

Looks good.

Only change I would introduce would be to alternate Maxi & Kuyt and that's about it.

[el matador]

cant believe we only have 21 senior players

[DannyMan2006]

cant believe we only have 21 senior players

Agreed, shocking state of affairs.

[Shaggy]

The Mancs have apparently submitted 23 including Hargreaves who is as good as deceased. It's not great but it's not that bad.

[Exiled_red]

cant believe we only have 21 senior players

And it's debatable whether Darby and Spearing should be classed as 'senior players', I know they are over 21, but experience wise, I feel that they are only here to make up the homegrown quota (I hope I can be proved wrong and if needed they can push on into contention for a place).

I can't believe how thin our squad is, anything more than a couple of injuries/suspensions and our squad really will be stretched

[MrMichael]

And it's debatable whether Darby and Spearing should be classed as 'senior players', I know they are over 21, but experience wise, I feel that they are only here to make up the homegrown quota (I hope I can be proved wrong and if needed they can push on into contention for a place).

I can't believe how thin our squad is, anything more than a couple of injuries/suspensions and our squad really will be stretched

N'gog however is classed in the youth group, as are Wilson, Kelly and Shelvey. And Pacheco. I think in a normal season we'd quite like to see each of those getting a bit of game time, probably ahead of Darby and Spearing actually, so even though our squad is a bit light I don't think its critical with us not being in the CL.