Almunia

Toure Gallas Senderos Clichy

Walcott Fabregas Flamini Hleb

Adebayor Van Persie



Team names itself after todays finish

Wasn't impressed at all with Toure at RB but cannot think of another option - does pick itself.

If I was offered a clean sheet now, I'd jump at it. It's all we need out of the game.

For the life of me, I cannot see how it's an advantage to be at home in the second leg in two-legged macthes. Keep it tight in the first leg (where teams are naturally more cagier) and have the away goals to play for in the second leg where if you have a 0-0 behind you one goal means the opposition need two.

I don't think we have a squad of players capable of "keeping it tight" though. That side is probably the best but can see Torres or Gerrard taking at least once chance they'll get.

Me either Gubby - I am generally more confident with us playing home at first.

Could see Wenger going with Eboue RM.

Part of me thinks it was a blessing Ade missing that open goal at home to Milan.

Had he scored & we won 1-0 the whole Milan mentailty for the fortnight leading up, would've been completely different. The selections probably would too, they'd have known they had to score 2 goals and would've attacked far earlier.

As it was 0-0, it suited us that they seemed unsure of how much to attack. It was always in their minds to keep it safe while attacking which played into our hands.

We'll win over two legs - and that's not because I think we showed good spirit :blah: against Bolton, but because our players always try a lot harder in CL games than PL games.

Over two legs, the better team usually goes through.

To be fair, we did show good spirit against Bolton.

Yes, we did. But I don't believe this performance/result/anything good we've done is this game will have much of a knock-on effect for our CL games.

The point I was making is, we always seem to try harder in the CL. Even if we'd lost this, we'd probably do the same thing we did against Milan...put the bad result behind us, and win the game.

Yeah we do seem to rouse ourselves for the big games in the CL. Hopefully we do so against on Wednesday.

For what it's worth, after having watched the scouser derby.

- Carragher and Hyppia seem to be the weak link at the back. Carragher has had a poor season, with misjudgements galore ( though he's been particularly lucky with refs who for some reason have failed to spot about half of the pens he's given away this season <_< ) and in particular had a complete mare against ManU when he couldn't cope with any of the ManU attack. Hyppia, though he played well earlier on, seems to run out of gas after about 70 minutes and starts getting niggly and giving silly free kicks away in his own half. Also, their uncertainties seem to tranfer to Reina who also had a very poor match vs Mancs. I think Ade, vanP, Hleb and Theo all have the pace and the skill to stretch them.

- Biggest threat obviously comes from Babel-Torres-Gerrard axis. Babel is strong, and skilful though often lacking in composure in the final third. Not sure who should deal him - Kolo when it comes to strength and guile. One thing Eboue should be able to do is to match Babel with pace but I'm still scared to see him on the pitch. Torres - brilliant and on form and Phil and Gallas will need all their wits about him but I don't think it's a completely unequal match, Torres isn't quite the juggernault Drog is. Gerrard - well, we'll just unmuzzle Flams and let him get stuck in. Should be some battle.

Carragher at right back is just asking to be attacked aggressively.

Stop Gerrard and Torres = stop Liverpool alltogether

Liverpools midfield is aweful this season. Really it is. Very predictable (more so than us)

If the Hleb - Flam - Cesc partnership performs their perfect passing triangles we will win.

My thoughts on the game...

L'pool strengths

- The Gerrard Torres combo (we'll start with the obvious ones). Link up well, offer both pace and a driving force. Flamini will have to be at the top of his game to keep tabs on gerrard and torres cannot be allowed time to turn or get a defender facing front on in our box.

- The speed at which they switch the play. I know we all like to think of L'pool as a team that just hoofs the ball up the pitch but gerrard, torres and alonso are all equally adept at spanking the ball to the other side of the pitch. With Babbel's pace on the left or Torres dropping off on the wing this will stretch us...and we are not exactly known for offering width.

Weaknesses

- Set pieces. Just like us they are poor at defending balls into the box. If Ade is on his game he could have a field day against the ageing Hypiia and inexperienced Skertel. Hopefully Carragher will be played on the right again to take out his presence in the middle.

- Gaps in the middle. When they attack they really do drive forwards. Obviously against Utd they were a midfield man down but even against everton alonso and gerrard left gaping holes in front of the centre backs. If Van persie drops into the centre circle or hleb goes there when we counter they will have all the time in the world to turn and run at the defence. Our passing speed will be key in this, no slow one touch passes messing around in the middle, direct fast passing to cut them open.

- Full backs. Carragher is less effective on the right, defensively aurelio and riise are poor (hopefully arbeloa won't play). We will get joy on the wings.

Hopeful line-up

Almunia

Eboue Toure Gallas Clichy

Walcott Fabregas Flamini Hleb

Adebayor Van Persie

If both Hleb and Walcott track back we'll be ok. If Diaby and Eboue are on the wings we will be far too narrow and will probably lose. Senderos has been taken out purely because of the pace of torres. If Crouch plays then it may be a different story.

Key man: Hleb

Cesc will be pretty well shacked, at least at first in this, expect 2 men on him as soon as he gets a touch. Hleb is our next most creative player, needs to have a stand out game.

They were....until recently. But Mascherano has now clicked into place and Alonso seems to be regaining something of his form - he played quite well on Sunday. Masc will be coming after Cesc and Hleb so they'd better watch out.

I think the starting line up will be

Manuel

Toure - Gallas-Phil - Clichy

Eboue :unsure: - Fab- Flams - Hleb

VanP - Ade

Bench; Jens, Theo (on for Eboue 70 min), Hoyte, Bentdner, Diaby.

vs


Reina

Carragher - Skrtl - Hyppia - Aurelio

Gerrard - Alonso - Masc

Kuyt- Torres - Babel

Subs; That useless French goalie, Arbeloa, Riise, Benayoun, Pennant, Crouch, ...god they have a lot more depth.

If Carragher plays right back, we need to start Hleb out on the left. Carragher won't be able to handle the pace, so if Hleb can drag him out wide, I'd fancy RVP/Cesc/Adebayor to get a couple of chances against Hyppia and Skrtl.

Hyppia and Skrtel must be the slowest centre back pairing in the PL.

Well, he's scouse, so he's always asking to be attacked aggressively.

Keeping a clean sheet would be nice, however 1-1 wouldn't be a disaster

Id prefer a 0-0

I just played out the game on PES, and this is what will happen:

SPOILER

We go 1-0 up in the first 10 mins - senderos scores from a corner. Then we get a man sent off because Adebayor keeps making sliding tackles from behind. Then Gerrard scores a freekick.

Final score: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool. :(

Played it on FIFA

Scored enough goals to win 55 matches

I can tell you know the score before the match starts... It will be 0-0

We can score at their place

:haha: Knew that was coming...

Yep the women are much easier up there :good:


(Koplicker only joking :) )

I think Eboue may be suspended! He got booked in both legs of the Milan tie!

:jumpnana:

Diaby is available though wouldn't be surprised to see him start instead of Walcott!

I'm gonna go with

Almunia

Toure, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy

Hleb, Cesc, Flamini, Diaby

Adebayor, RVP

Out of the quarter final teams Roma,Schalke and Fenerbache have one player missing according to uefa.com

Much as I would like to see Theo on from the off, I reckon we'll play Eboue at right back and a midfield four of Hleb, Fab, Flam and Gilberto, with Ade and RVP up front. We cannot concede. Incidentally, am I correct in thinking that when we lost there 4-1 last year it was Toure and Gallas' first game at CB together? Looked like it anyway.

No It wasn't their first game together in central defence.

This will be 0-0 I think. It will be really cagey with few chances and us not capitalizing on a massive amount of possession.

I think we should start with 10 men personally..


:coffee:

As long as we can keep a clean sheet, then I'll be happy.

is finnan injured or has he been droped ???

Your wish may be granted if Eboue starts.

Oh I so hope he doesn't play.

we cud even start with 9 if eboue and diaby start!! :yikes:

:lol:

Almunia.

Toure
Senderos
Gallas
Clichy

Eboue
Fabregas
Flamini
Hleb

V.Persie
Adebayor

Almunia

Eboue Toure Gallas Clichy

Walcott Fabregas Flamini Hleb

Adebayor Van Persie

AW won't start Walcott.

I know

He should though and if Carragher is at Full back then play Theo on whichever side Carras in.

The guy will be destroyed for pace as he always was by a French striker we had whose name i forget