Steaua away Build up

[SB]

oe Cole is set to make his first appearance for five weeks in Liverpool's Europa League tie against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.

The return of the England midfielder following a hamstring injury is a boost after a dislocated shoulder ruled out Jamie Carragher for three months.

Captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring) is also unavailable, with Liverpool expected to field a weakened side.

Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles and Fernando Torres have been rested.

Reserve team youngsters Jack Robinson and John Flanagan have also been included in the first-team squad for the first time, along with fellow fringe players Danny Wilson, Daniel Pacheco and Nathan Eccleston.


Liverpool are unbeaten in European competition this season, so a draw on Thursday will put them through to the knockout stages of the competition with a match to spare.

Manager Roy Hodgson said this game is a chance for the younger players to stake their claim for a regular first-team place.

"I have faith in the young players and whatever happens on Thursday night I won't lose faith in them," said Hodgson.
yeah right oh Roy, like we believe that
"But it's an opportunity for them to force their way into my attention even more."

Provisional squad: Reina, Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel, Jones, Hansen, Skrtel, Eccleston, Ngog, Pacheco, Robinson, Flanagan

[SB]

So here's the Provisional squad:

Reina, Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel, Jones, Hansen, Skrtel, Eccleston, Ngog, Pacheco, Robinson, Flanagan

Don't know much about Robinson & Flanagan. Is Robinson a LB & Flanagan a RB?

Keepers. Pepe , Hansen and Jones
Defenders. Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio,Skrtel, Robinson, Flanagan
Midfield. Lucas, Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel,Eccleston, Pacheco
Strikers.Ngog, (with Jova and Babel able to cover if need be)


Players in Red to start

[The_weatherman]

Provisional squad: Reina, Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel, Jones, Hansen, Skrtel, Eccleston, Ngog, Pacheco, Robinson, Flanagan

If some of those players make as decent squad players at least, then we will have the homegrown situation sorted in the near future I'd think.

SB is that team you posted a guess or a leak?

[Drago]

Can that squad put this nonsense about Roy not giving young players a chance to rest? I can't stand the man but that criticism is simply not true.

[Pablo]

I'm so excited about this game that I've decided to go Xmas shopping instead.

[red g]

So here's the Provisional squad:

Reina, Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel, Jones, Hansen, Skrtel, Eccleston, Ngog, Pacheco, Robinson, Flanagan

Don't know much about Robinson & Flanagan. Is Robinson a LB & Flanagan a RB?

Keepers. Pepe , Hansen and Jones
Defenders. Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio,Skrtel, Robinson, Flanagan
Midfield. Lucas, Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel,Eccleston, Pacheco
Strikers.Ngog, (with Jova and Babel able to cover if need be)


Players in Red to start

would b surprised if Poulsen did not start.

[SB]

If some of those players make as decent squad players at least, then we will have the homegrown situation sorted in the near future I'd think.

SB is that team you posted a guess or a leak?

That's the squad that's travelled. See if I can find the link.

Here's a link but not the same one. Squad's the same though

[SB]

I'm so excited about this game that I've decided to go Xmas shopping instead.

I'll have a nice bottle of Red wine and a box of choccies thanks old mate

[SB]

would b surprised if Poulsen did not start.

So would I but the ones in red are my hopeful starters

[BigChief]

Flannagan and Robinson are now our staple reserve fullbacks. Both are tough lads, but against better reserve opposition both have been shown up at times. Robinson with a lack of pace and Flannagan with positional sense.

But on the positive side both like to get forward and Flanners has great crossing ability and self belief in going forwards (probably why he gets caught out of position). Would be good to see them play in the 2nd half to check their mettle.

[Neil Young]

I think we'll line up like this:

---------------Sausage---------------
Sausage--Sausage--Sausage--Sausage
Sausage--Sausage--Sausage--Sausage
---------Sausage----Sausage---------

[Fredo]

I think we'll line up like this:

---------------Sausage---------------
Sausage--Sausage--Sausage--Sausage
Sausage--Sausage--Sausage--Sausage
---------Sausage----Sausage---------

I didn't even realise we were playing tonight.

[Exiled_red]

Has the team been leaked anywhere yet?

[Fernandinho]

Can someone gimme a hand and tell me what channel the game is on, my internet is really slow.

[dww]

I think we'll line up like this:

---------------Sausage---------------
Sausage--Sausage--Sausage--Sausage
Sausage--Sausage--Sausage--Sausage
---------Sausage----Sausage---------

Oh, for the days when you could have at least put Insua at left back.