Stoke Vs Liverpool - 10/1/09 5.30pm

spockety

This match is on SETANTA SPORTS IRELAND, which is the channel that comes 'free' with the basic NTL subscription.

Rafa confirms that Alonso will play no part in this match. However we welcome back Fabio Aurelio, Martin Skrtel, and Fernando Torres, all available for selection.

Liverpool really ought to win this match. Stoke are hugging relegation, and although they have beaten Arsenal, and put up a good fight against United recently, as well as managing a scoreless draw at Anfield, they really should be put to the sword by Liverpool.

This weekend gives Liverpool a definite opportunity to put more points between themselves and Chelsea OR United, or with a bit of luck, both, given that they play each other on Sunday.

_blank_

Easy for Liverpool, Stoke have lost whatever magic they had.

0-3. Torres with 2.

Unearthly

Des wrote: »

Easy for Liverpool, Stoke have lost whatever magic they had.

0-3. Torres with 2.

Well that means Liverpool won't win

Ultimate jynxer you are

Spud83

Des wrote: »

Easy for Liverpool, Stoke have lost whatever magic they had.

0-3. Torres with 2.

Ha ha ha ha. YES!!!!!!

Des just jinxed Liverpool. He had a very similar first response in the Derby v United match thread.

mike65

Looks like Torres is starting this, good. With Alonso out I guess Rafa could go 4-4-2 with Keane up front and Gerrard with Masch (who is fit) in the engine room. Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel both back. Arbeloa isn't due back for 10-12 days.

---

Reira
Carra--Agger-Skrtle--Dossena
Kuyt---Masch--Gerrard-Reina

---

Torres-Keane

Subs - GK, Aurelio, Hyypia, Lucas, Babel, Yossi, El Zhar

OPENROAD

Hopefully Stoke will get a result have a feeling they might get something out of this game.

mayordenis

I'm not one to make outlandish guess's but my gut says 15-0 to pool

walshki

mayordenis wrote: »

I'm not one to make outlandish guess's but my gut says 15-0 to pool

Come on any more than 12 is just dreaming.

mayordenis

walshki wrote: »

Come on any more than 12 is just dreaming.

JUDAS BASTARD :pac:

walshki

mayordenis wrote: »

JUDAS BASTARD :pac:

I just want to spread the good juju out across games at the weekend in the hope there will be a 30 man brawl in the united chelsea game (refs plus benches to be involved obviously) leading to all involved parties being immediately deported from the EU for life. We need realistic expectations.

dfx-

mike65 wrote: »

---

Reira
Carra--Agger-Skrtle--Dossena
Kuyt---Masch--Gerrard-Reina

---

Torres-Keane

Subs - GK, Aurelio, Hyypia, Lucas, Babel, Yossi, El Zhar

You'd lose serious Fantasy Rafa points for that

Reina will probably have to spend most of his time covering for Dossena..

mike65

My running joke. Luckily FR only awards points on names not positions. Now that would be testing at times

internelligent

Right now, like most if not all Liverpool fans, I'd take a 1-0 win now with the ball hitting the net after a ricochet off Keane's ass. Personally, I'd love us to destroy Stoke 3-0 as it would:

a) Show we're not slowing down in our title push
b) Implicate Rafa was in no way intimidated by ferguson and is the one in control whether it's playing 'mind games' or whatever.
c) Put United and chelski under severe pressure to win which will only be a JOY to watch
d) Stop everyone doubting us, (Highly doubt it though)
e) Grow confidence in the squad after 3 consecutive wins, 2 being away.
f) Make me happy:)

That is all

Keep Insua at left back and I am happy ! Fella is a class act. Can we just have Dossena shot? Cant see anything but a win today against Stoke.

zAbbo

I thought Insua is off with the Argentine team for a tournament?

mike65

Yep, he's out for a month.

Highsider

A win any kind of win is what counts today. Alonso is a big big miss for us. my prediction 1-2 to the pool. Stoke to score first half and the usual "liverpool beginning to show the pressure of being top of the league"...comments from the pundits.:rolleyes:

Boggles

Liverpool 1-2

Fuller is a big loss, even thou he is crazy!

mike65

mike65 wrote: »

Yep, he's out for a month.

**** sake.

podge018

Team for today:

Reina
Carragher Hyypia Agger Aureilio
Lucas Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Reira
Torres

keane2097

podge018 wrote: »

Team for today:

Reina
Carragher Hyypia Agger Aureilio
Lucas Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Reira
Torres

Is that confirmed?

mike65

Hardly! Its a 5.30 KO

podge018

obviously setting myself up for a fall here but, you can take it as confirmed.

Tusky

podge018 wrote: »

obviously setting myself up for a fall here but, you can take it as confirmed.

err, no you cant. Its highly likely that it will be the lineup. However, noone knows for sure until 60-70 minutes before the game. He may well go for one of these:

----Masch--Gerrard

Kuyt

---

Keane----Riera

---

Torres

or

---

Masch--Gerrard

---

Kuyt

---

Riera

---

Keane--Torres

podge018

I got it from someone who supplied the last 5 starting line-ups hours in advance.

jesus_thats_gre

podge018 wrote: »

obviously setting myself up for a fall here but, you can take it as confirmed.

I really hope you have got that lineup from someone on the inside and didn't say that for no real reason. For you own sake like

Edit: just seen your post..

Tusky

podge018 wrote: »

Team for today:

Reina
Carragher Hyypia Agger Aureilio
Lucas Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Reira
Torres

podge018 wrote: »

obviously setting myself up for a fall here but, you can take it as confirmed.

podge018 wrote: »

I got it from someone who supplied the last 5 starting line-ups hours in advance.

on



The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Carragher, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Riera, Gerrard, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Keane, Torres, Dossena, Babel, Plessis, El Zhar.

No Torres or Keane ? Kuyt as a lone striker ? *bangs head against wall*

How come Skrtel is ready to start and Torres isnt...seeing as Torres was able to play a bigger part in the game last week than Skrtel ? So little pace in that attack as well...fingers crossed.

whatawaster

Team:

---

Reina

---

Carragher

---

Strtel

---

Hyypia

---

Aurelio

---

Mascherano

---

Lucas

---

---

Benayoun

---

Gerrard

---

Riera

---

---

Kuyt

---

Subs: Cavalieri, Keane, Torres, Dossena, Babel, Plessis, El Zhar

Highsider

Love it.:D March on you red men

mike65

Interesting

whatawaster

i think it's the right team if Torres isn't going to be risked from the start. It's essentially the team that trounced Newcastle, so they deserve another go.

mormank

agger not even in the squad?? gosh he really doesnt like doing things the easy way does he now!!

still, having said that i think we will win this by at least a two goal margin..all the midfielders and ahead are in good form, which is important..(kuyt maybe the exception as he hasnt really played as a lone striker, still close to player of the season for us so far)

mayordenis

I woulnd't be happy with Agger not being in the Squad at all, should be starting imo.

Anyway not worried about pace - they won't be playing a highline most likely they will be sitting on the edge of their box so pace isn't going to be able to get in behind.

harmankardon

good team,would love to see agger and skrtel start alongisde each other tho sometime soon.

new to this whole boards thing so be nice;)

been reading for a long time and must say Mr. Alan,what a guy!

whatawaster

mayordenis wrote: »

I woulnd't be happy with Agger not being in the Squad at all, should be starting imo.

Anyway not worried about pace - they won't be playing a highline most likely they will be sitting on the edge of their box so pace isn't going to be able to get in behind.

Skrtel, Hyypia and Carra are all better in the air. And that will be very important today.

mayordenis

whatawaster wrote: »

Skrtel, Hyypia and Carra are all better in the air. And that will be very important today.

Agger is as good as any of them bar hyp in the air.

spockety

harmankardon wrote: »

been reading for a long time and must say Mr. Alan,what a guy!

Haha.. easy tiger

whatawaster

harmankardon wrote: »

been reading for a long time and must say Mr. Alan,what a guy!

over-rated.

_blank_

Rafa lost patience with Robbie then.

Gelio

harmankardon wrote: »

Mr. Alan!

Mr Alan = Liverpool

whatawaster

Des wrote: »

Rafa lost patience with Robbie then.

i don't think so, Kuyt is probably better up front on his own. and that attack beat Newcastle 5-1

el rabitos

agger injured according to one of the lads on rawk. nothing too bad hopefully. **** timing for him

internelligent

Delighted Hyppia has held on to his spot. He's been excellent this season and is very deserving of his place.

No Torres or Keane though! OMG:eek:
Oh well, In Rafa we Trust - Legend in the making, especially after his little chat with the media.

yayamark

Des wrote: »

Rafa lost patience with Robbie then.

Dont think so just another rafa rotation.

Benayoun though my god what does anyone seen in him. Would like to have seen skertel and agger together.

Tusky

Des wrote: »

Rafa lost patience with Robbie then.

Dont see why...hes scored around 3 goals in his last 3 games

yayamark wrote: »

Benayoun though my god what does anyone seen in him.

He was excellent the last 2 or 3 times hes played.

~Rebel~

yayamark wrote: »

Dont think so just another rafa rotation.

Benayoun though my god what does anyone seen in him. Would like to have seen skertel and agger together.

On your first point, its the opposite, thats the same attacking 4 he sent out in the last league game, and they were awesome.

On yossi, earlier in the season id have agreed, but he's been great of late.

redzerdrog

there was talk during the week about sami being our major threat from corners so just backed him at 28/1 to score 1st!!

~Rebel~

redzerdrog wrote: »

there was talk during the week about sami being our major threat from corners so just backed him at 28/1 to score 1st!!

Not a bad shout, could see us getting plenty of corners today

Theresalwaysone

Anyone got a stream? Much appreciated.

smithy1981

Theresalwaysone wrote: »

Anyone got a stream? Much appreciated.

If eircom is your ISP then you can watch it free on their site.

If not then check justin.tv etc.

Theresalwaysone

smithy1981 wrote: »

If eircom is your ISP then you can watch it free on their site.

If not then check justin.tv etc.

Eircom is. How do I do this? Cheers