Team for Reading - Momo a booking away from suspension?

[Morph]

IMO Riise is the best option at LM with Warnock behind him

I wouldn't bother unsettling the back line, just for the sake of playing Riise Left mid, Aurelio has done well when he's played there. Also is Gonzalez fit?

[Resu]

Gonzo, is he injured?

[PTP]

fair do's - imo both Gonzo and Aurelio have struggled and I feel the team would be more solid with Warnock/Riise then say Riise/Aurelio

[Morph]

fair do's - imo both Gonzo and Aurelio have struggled and I feel the team would be more solid with Warnock/Riise then say Riise/Aurelio

But why would you want to unsettle a settled back line? I don't get it.

[Marky]

Latest on injuries etc for tomorrow's match:

CRAIG BELLAMY is fit to rejoin Liverpool's squad as the Reds seek to preserve an impressive home record against Reading tomorrow.

The Welsh striker hasn't featured since the home draw with Blackburn on October 14 due to a calf problem.

But he returned to training this week, and manager Rafa Benitez expects the forward to be available.

Unfortunately, Luis Garcia is unlikely to have the opportunity to build on his goal run.

Garcia has scored three in the last two fixtures,but a hamstring problem is expected to sideline him.


"Everyone is training normally except Luis, who spent yesterday working with the physio," explained Benitez today.


"We're not sure if Luis will be available for this game. He hurt his hamstring when he had ashot in the second half on Tuesday.


"But Xabi Alonso trained without any problems yesterday and Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez are okay now. They are training normally."

[Snigger]

I'd rest him because he's a 'resource' i dont feel we'd need to use, in order to win the game.

With bigger games (and plenty in a short space of time) to come, he should be used a little sparingly, IMO.

What big games? we have Arsenal then a relatively easy run through to Chelsea on Jan 20th - we are in the next round of the CL and we need to make up an 11 point deficit. We have to win these games and that means playing our best players. Reading are no push over.

4 Nov 11 Reading (H)
12 Nov 12 Arsenal (A)
18 Nov 13 Middlesbrough (A)
25 Nov 14 Man. City (H)
29 Nov 15 Portsmouth (H)
2 Dec 16 Wigan (A)
9 Dec 17 Fulham (H)
16 Dec 18 Charlton (A)
23 Dec 19 Watford (H)
26 Dec 20 Blackburn (A)
30 Dec 21 Tottenham (A)
1 Jan 22 Bolton (H)
13 Jan 23 Watford (A)
20 Jan 24 Chelsea (H)

[PTP]

But why would you want to unsettle a settled back line? I don't get it.

I reckon playing the strongest team available is the best thing to do. IMO Warnock at left back with riise at left mid is a stronger/better option at the moment then any other left sided combination we have in the squad.

Warnock coming in at left shouldn't unbalance the back line, he's a solid defender who has played there plenty of times with the other three. If we kept the same back four and had Aurelio at left mid, imo it would unsettle the WHOLE team more.

We are at home to Reading, we should be more concerned about attacking than defending, if playing Warnock at left back is going to unsettle the team/defence we have more problems than i thought.

[Fan65]

The best team should always play, if Momo is fit then play him, we need to win this game and not underestimate the opposition. If Momo is the best choice in his role then he should start. There is no reason to believe he'll get a yellow against Reading as they'll never get to the ball in front of him anyway.

Should he be banned from the Arse game then use this great squad to our advantage. i.e. SG in CM JP on the wing, I'm sure he'll have something to prove in this one.

[Craig_H]

What big games? we have Arsenal then a relatively easy run through to Chelsea on Jan 20th - we are in the next round of the CL and we need to make up an 11 point deficit. We have to win these games and that means playing our best players. Reading are no push over.

4 Nov 11 Reading (H)
12 Nov 12 Arsenal (A)
18 Nov 13 Middlesbrough (A)
25 Nov 14 Man. City (H)
29 Nov 15 Portsmouth (H)
2 Dec 16 Wigan (A)
9 Dec 17 Fulham (H)
16 Dec 18 Charlton (A)
23 Dec 19 Watford (H)
26 Dec 20 Blackburn (A)
30 Dec 21 Tottenham (A)
1 Jan 22 Bolton (H)
13 Jan 23 Watford (A)
20 Jan 24 Chelsea (H)

Arsenal away obviously and Boro away is never easy...then PSV to ensure winning the group. After that, the games are 'easy' on paper, but any away game is a big game for us at the moment.

Reading at home should be a piece of piss, our reserves battered them the other week, before we nodded off at the end.

[Shaggy]

Reading at home should be a piece of piss, our reserves battered their reserves the other week, before we nodded off at the end.

[Craig_H]

Reading fan i got chatting to on the way out told me they were 2 players off fielding their first XI.

[Shaggy]

Not sure how that works – they made about seven changes from the side they fielded in the Prem the previous weekend. I think he was telling you porkies.

[Craig_H]

Possibly. His beak did expand somewhat, now i think about it.

But I think we're straying a little from the point.

Reading, within the context of the Premiership, are pants, and within Fortress Anfield, an under strength side should still easily bring us 3 points.

I see little or no need for the strongest side to be picked, when it's clearly not needed.

[Shaggy]

ALONSO FIT BUT BELLAMY OUT OF READING CLASH

Steve Hunter

03 November 2006


Rafael Benitez has revealed that midfield ace Xabi Alonso will be fit for the Reading clash at Anfield on Saturday but Craig Bellamy misses out because he is short of fitness.
Alonso has recovered from the knock that forced him to leave the field early in the second half during the midweek 3-0 win over Bordeaux.

The Welsh international has resumed training after recovering from a calf problem but Benitez won't risk him against Reading. Chile international Mark Gonzalez also comes back into the reckoning for the visit of Steve Coppell's side.

"Xabi is fit and available and while Craig is training again I won't risk him against Reading," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Mark Gonzalez is fit and available and we will see how Luis Garcia is on Saturday."

[Morph]

I reckon playing the strongest team available is the best thing to do. IMO Warnock at left back with riise at left mid is a stronger/better option at the moment then any other left sided combination we have in the squad.

Warnock coming in at left shouldn't unbalance the back line, he's a solid defender who has played there plenty of times with the other three. If we kept the same back four and had Aurelio at left mid, imo it would unsettle the WHOLE team more.

We are at home to Reading, we should be more concerned about attacking than defending, if playing Warnock at left back is going to unsettle the team/defence we have more problems than i thought.

Completely disagree, it's far easier to change an attacking player without unsettling the team than changing the defense. The way I see it why change two positions LB, LW when you only need to change one?

Gonzalez and Aurelio are both very capable on the left, and I see no reason now that Gonzalez is fit, for why he can't play. Some of his better appearances have been at Anfield, and it's about time he gets to play more regularly, and there aren't many easier games on paper than reading at home.