Real Madrid (a) build up

[frank the tank]

Word on the street is Kevin Stewart is starting up front with Ballotelli lol

I thought he was a left back........may as well be alf stewart......

[frank the tank]

Leaving Gerrard out is a massive mistake and for me it signals the end for him. No doubts at all. A crazy decision because we have seen this season we have too many lightweights (physically and mentally) not up for the fight and if we start leaking some early goals their heads will drop and it is going to get messy. Gerrard has to start this for me.

Maybe stevie cant play 3 games in a week any more......at the start of those 3 games, brendan would have taken 6 points in the league and a loss to RM away all day long - especially as the CL group qualification would still be in our hands...... just because we were toilet against Newcastle doesn't change the rationale.....he would still not take 3 points v Chelsea over a draw away to RM and dropped points in the league. He is right.....to be honest he should rest Sterling and Balotelli as well but he will be ****ting it over a tonking....

I wouldnt mind seeing;

------------------------MIGNOLET------------------------

MANQ------SKRTEL--------LOVREN----GLEN

----------ALLEN------LUCAS-----CAN--------------

--MARKOVIC-------LAMBERT-----LALLANA

With the defense the way it is so lovren and skrtel getting game time together.....

[ronanm]

If SG is dropped, I don't really understand it. These are the games he should be playing in having been rested in others imo. Why drop your most experienced CL player at arguably the toughest club ground in the world at the moment? Bizarre.

[Kenneth]

If SG is dropped, I don't really understand it. These are the games he should be playing in having been rested in others imo. Why drop your most experienced CL player at arguably the toughest club ground in the world at the moment? Bizarre.

Because we'll lose even with him and it makes little difference to the CL group as RM will win the group whatever happens tonight.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

I'd pick:

-------------Mingolet
Manquillo Skittles Lovren Moreno
--------------Can
------Henderson Lallana
------------Coutinho
--------Balotelli Sterling

But he won't, he'll play one up top.

What's his reasoning for keep playing 1 on top? Is it pride, why can't he see what everyone else can?

[ronanm]

Because we'll lose even with him and it makes little difference to the CL group as RM will win the group whatever happens tonight.

Perhaps, but the magnitude of defeat should matter.

[Tee]

Because we'll lose even with him and it makes little difference to the CL group as RM will win the group whatever happens tonight.

As bad as we are, that is an absolutely disgraceful mindset for this club to go into this game with. We are Liverpool FC, FFS. (Not having a go at you Kenneth btw)

[Shaggy]

As bad as we are, that is an absolutely disgraceful mindset for this club to go into this game with. We are Liverpool FC, FFS. (Not having a go at you Kenneth btw)

Do you think? But we're gonna lose, you know that don't you

Six months ago I would've fancied us to beat them but you've gotta be realistic. We're gonna lose whoever we pick.

[Fierce]

Perhaps, but the magnitude of defeat should matter.

As bad as we are, that is an absolutely disgraceful mindset for this club to go into this game with. We are Liverpool FC, FFS. (Not having a go at you Kenneth btw)

Agree, but within reason

We've got Chelsea 4 days later, it would be completely stupid to risk players that we need on what is essentially a nothing game

It's not like we'll be putting out a reserve side, it's starting players that are pushing for a place anyway

[Pablo]

Do you think? But we're gonna lose, you know that don't you

Six months ago I would've fancied us to beat them but you've gotta be realistic. We're gonna lose whoever we pick.

I do agree with Tee. If we put out a weak team against these and give up before kick off everyone will be laughing at us. Incredibly small time. It's a Champions League game, we have to give it our all!

[Gibbo]

I do agree with Tee. If we put out a weak team against these and give up before kick off everyone will be laughing at us. Incredibly small time. It's a Champions League game, we have to give it our all!

Yep I'm with this.

[Shaggy]

I do agree with Tee. If we put out a weak team against these and give up before kick off everyone will be laughing at us. Incredibly small time. It's a Champions League game, we have to give it our all!

I'm not saying we give up - like Fierce says it's not gonna be a team of kids. It'll be Borini, Markovic, Lallana etc. Those three alone cost £60m!

I think Rodgers is damned whatever he does tbh. It's a glamorous tie but it's ultimately meaningless. We can lose 7-0 and still go through. Chelsea IMO is much bigger and as it's at home we have a better chance of getting the right result than we do tonight. A far better chance! It's much more important to get back in the CL next season than it is to get out of the group.

[cream]

Madrid have really energetic midfield and bags of pace upfront, I think it would be wise to rest Gerrard for this one.

[Pablo]

I'm not saying we give up - like Fierce says it's not gonna be a team of kids. It'll be Borini, Markovic, Lallana etc. Those three alone cost £60m!

I think Rodgers is damned whatever he does tbh. It's a glamorous tie but it's ultimately meaningless. We can lose 7-0 and still go through. Chelsea IMO is much bigger and as it's at home we have a better chance of getting the right result than we do tonight. A far better chance! It's much more important to get back in the CL next season than it is to get out of the group.

It's not the League Cup though it's the Champions League. We were all dreaming of ties like this. Now we just want to throw it away?

If we just jack it in before kick off what message does that send? To the fans and our own players. "Don't worry lads you're all ****, you'll get battered no matter what, so let's just throw throw this one and focus on the Chelsea game."

It all feels very Hodgson. I get the logic but it's not for me.

[Shaggy]

Paul Joyce says it’s - Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Henderson, Lucas; Markovic, Lallana, Borini; Balotelli

Kolo Toure v Ronaldo