Liverpool vs Northampton: Build Up and Match thread

[danperkins]

This game is a massive chance to see Babel played in his preferred position, i think we should give him a bash either striker or right midfield at a push.

[The Birdman]

Team should be this -
Jones
Kelly Wilson Agger Aurellio if fit if not then Konchesky
Lucas Shelvey
Pacheco Babel Jovanovich
Ngog

It's fine having some of the other youngsters on the bench as we should win easily but we need as many games as possible in this competition and really have a serious go at winning it as Man U, Chelsea and Utd won't rate it high in their priorities

[Fredo]

RT @JimmyRiceWriter: Kyrgiakos, Jones, Wilson, Agger, Spearing, Pacheco, Ngog, Babel all set to star v Northamption. More to follow on .tv

[Craig_H]

Kyrgiakos starting in nets?

[Shaggy]

Kyrgiakos, Wilson AND Agger? Agger at LB again then?

[Craig_H]

There's only 8 players listed there. The Hodge must really fancy our chances.

[little dave hedgehog]

i think we may see danny wilson at left back. though it's not his best position, he did play there for rangers.

[Shaggy]

Brad Jones and Danny Wilson will be handed their debuts when Northampton Town visit Anfield on Wednesday night, Liverpoolfc.tv can reveal.

The duo will be thrown in as Roy Hodgson makes numerous changes to his starting XI for the Carling Cup encounter.

The likes of Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Daniel Agger are also set to feature at the back against the League Two side.

Hodgson told us: "Danny Wilson will play on Wednesday night. Soto Kyrgiakos and Daniel Agger will be the two centre-backs and Danny will play left-back. He came here as a centre-back but is capable of playing at full-back in the same way we think Martin Kelly is capable of playing in this position.

"He's a player with great potential, very comfortable on the ball.

"Brad Jones is an international goalkeeper for Australia and he's played many games for Middlesbrough. I have no doubts about him and his competence.

"Pepe Reina is a fantastic character who wants to play every game, whether it's a seven-a-side in training or any game Liverpool Football Club plays, but it's important that Brad gets his chance.

"Goalkeepers have got to be a very special breed. You need a character who is good enough for the Premier League but who also understands that there's another goalkeeper at the club who's probably better than him.

"You look for an exceptional person and then all you can do is try to keep them on board as much as you can. That is done by treating them with the proper respect in training, and that's very important, and by giving them a chance to play when the opportunity presents itself."

Further up the field, Hodgson is likely to put his trust in players like Dani Pacheco, Ryan Babel and David Ngog.

The boss said: "I'm quite interested in Dani as well. He's a player who came back a little later after taking part in the U19 European Championships. He's impressed in training and looks like a very interesting prospect. His first-team chances have been limited because he wasn't in Switzerland in pre-season, where he would have played for sure.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing him play on Wednesday night, and it's another great chance for Ryan Babel and David Ngog to stake their claim for a place in the team."

Despite the changes, Hodgson is adamant the League Cup is a competition Liverpool are taking seriously.

"It's a strange game for us in a sense. It's one where we definitely need to rotate the squad having played so many games, and with us having to play so many more before the international break," he explained.

"But on the other hand it's a competition I take very seriously and I want to have a good run in the competition. We are bothered.

"There's a responsibility on those who replace the big-name players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher to name but six. And to be fair they've shown themselves capable of taking on that burden in a couple of European matches already.

"As we saw in the last game against Steaua Bucharest, Jay Spearing was arguably one of the best players on the field. If you never give him a chance, how do you know that?"

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/duo-to-get-league-cup-debuts

[-V-]

Im so pleased that we are using these games and the Europa League to develop the youngsters. I was worried it wouldn't happen but they are getting game time and its pleasing to see. The EL especially is actually turning out to be very useful since we are using the right approach

[RedReet]

I think a lot of fans are and luckily for Roy it’s giving him a lot more breathing space with certain supporters. We all get a much needed break from watching our depressing first team football, get a chance to get overexcited and carried away about our ‘next big thing’, and even if we lose no one will really blame him as it was only a bunch of kids.

Well played Roy.

[-V-]

Aye, just a shame its the only thing he's done right so far

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Good to know that we have a couple of youngsters who can play in different positions-kelly and wilson.

[little dave hedgehog]

called it

[PTP]

so

-----------------jones----------------

kelly-----soto---------agger--------wilson


----------tbc---------tbc

tbc-----------pacheco----------babel-

--------------Ngog--------------


with the three other positions hopefully going between lucas, spearing, shelvey, amoo - and maybe suso/ince/sterling getting a sub appearence

should be interesting

[Craig_H]

It's not on tv and i dont think there's going to be a stream either.

FFS.