LIVERPOOL V BIRMINGHAM MATCH THREAD [Mod Warning Post #1]

MOD WARNING:
SLY DIGS will result in bans as will going off-topic and generally acting the muppet

Monday 9th November 2009 Anfield. Kick off 8pm.

Liverpool welcome Birmingham to Anfield on Monday aiming to get their season back on track.
The Reds have endured a miserable slump in form having won just once in their last eight matches in all competitions.
Under-pressure Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez has never beaten Birmingham in a league encounter and he will be keen to end that run as he looks to help his side climb up to fifth spot.
Benitez will make a late decision on the fitness of key duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Torres has been playing through the pain barrier with a groin problem, while Gerrard has missed the last four games with a groin injury of his own.
Gerrard has returned to training, but Torres is the more likely of the two to start.
The Reds will be without suspended duo Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen following their dismissals at Fulham last weekend.
Martin Skrtel is likely to replace Carragher in defence after recovering from injury, while Glen Johnson could also return from a knock.
Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio could both figure after recovering from injury, but Martin Kelly misses out again with an ankle problem.
Alberto Aquilani could finally make his first appearance at Anfield after recovering from ankle surgery and most recently a virus.
The Italian is likely to be named on the bench and could be involved at some point in the game.
Birmingham make the trip to Merseyside without midfielder Barry Ferguson following his sending-off against Manchester City last time out.
Lee Carsley is likely to replace Ferguson in the midfield engine room for Alex McLeish's men.
Joe Hart is expected to return in goal in place of Maik Taylor as he was ineligible for the draw with his parent club Manchester City last weekend.
Garry O'Connor and Keith Fahey are both doubtful as they struggle with groin and knee problems respectively.
Possible starting XIs

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Kuyt, Torres.
Birmingham: Taylor, Carr, R. Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Bowyer, Larsson, Carsley, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez.

Big game for us and 3 points is vital.

Aquilani to start perhaps?

leninbenjamin

unlikely Benitez will throw Aquilani in imo. And he'd be mad to start Torres or Gerrard. They need more recovery time!

gosplan

Think it's potentially a good game for Liverpool but they really need to watch the shambolic defending when Birmingham break.

Birmingham away will just park the bus. As long as Liverpool don't get stupidly caught out, then they've 90 minutes to score a goal that will give them a massive confidence boost.

Villa, Spurs and City have fu*ked up big time. With Liverpool's results they should be a decent bit behind the Cl places but win this and they're a point off fourth and only four off United.

Tusky

Good to see that lots of players are coming back from injury. Hopefully Aquilani gets at least 30 minutes.

Kess73

Going to have a stab at what team I expect tonight.

---

Reina

---

Johnson

---

Skrtel----Agger

---

Insua

---

Masch----Lucas

---

Kuyt

---

Yossi

---

Aurelio

---

Torres

---

Subs: Subs:Cav, Kyrgiakos, Kelly, Babel , Aquilani, Voronin, Ngog

spockety

I think Babel will start, I have no idea why I think that though.

Mr Alan

i don't think Johnson is fit?

Kess73

I think if Torres cannot play, then Babel may get a run up front over N'Gog.

Kess73

Just listening to Radio City and they reckon Torres is defo out for tonight.

Boom_Bap

i was reading some interviews and Benetiz is keen to give Aqualani a run out tonight at Anfield. He wanted to play him midweek but thought that Mach and Lucas where controlling the midfield and didnt want to interupt. I doubt he'll start but we'll probably see a 20-30 minute appearance.

Kess73

Yep, Aquilani needs to start getting game time to get himself match fit.

Johner

I'd say Liverpool will win 4-0.

Tusky

We may well see this.

---

Reina

Carra----Agger---Skrtel----Aurelio

---

Masch--Lucas

Kuyt

---

Aquilani

---

Benny

---

Torres/N'Gog

Kess73

Tusky wrote: »

We may well see this.

---

Reina

Carra----Agger---Skrtel----Aurelio

---

Masch--Lucas

Kuyt

---

Aquilani

---

Benny

---

Torres/N'Gog

Carragher is suspended for this game, as is Degan. We might see Kelly at RB if Johnson does not play.

kida

B'ham will "park the bus"
0-0 if gerard and torres out
2-0 if either is playing
3/4-0 if both play

Aidric

Liverpool should win it but Birmingham have been unlucky in a few games this season. I don't think they are as bad as their league position. Liverpool to win by the odd goal.

Blazer

Birmingham would be complete fools if they came to Anfield with the intention of settling for a draw.
With Gerrard+Torres out they should be going at them hammer and tongs...
It's fairly obvious to everyone and their dog at this stage that Liverpool are a 2 man team...without Gerrard+Torres fully fit they're nothing special.

I honestly can't see why Benitez is risking the two lads...they're risking serious long term injuries if they play...
Owen used to be the very same..Liverpool constantly playing him when he was injured and rushing him back as they needed him...
and what thanks does he get? that he's a mercenary and a traitor etc..
As much as I don't like the guy I don't blame him for looking after No.1 as no else will.

flahavaj

Handy Liverpool win tonight, Babel to fill his boots in a 4-0 cakewalk.

Boggles

This could be all about attrition.

Midfields will be packed, both playing one up front.

1 goal will win it.

Home side for me.

StickyMcGinty

Kess73 wrote: »

I think if Torres cannot play, then Babel may get a run up front over N'Gog.

babel & N'Gog are both risky enough, you dont know what performace you're going to get out of them. Still prefer either of them over Voronin though.

liverpool 2-0, yossi to score just before half time, Babel/N'Gog to wrap it up with 10 mins left.

Kess73

StickyMcGinty wrote: »

babel & N'Gog are both risky enough, you dont know what performace you're going to get out of them. Still prefer either of them over Voronin though.

liverpool 2-0, yossi to score just before half time, Babel/N'Gog to wrap it up with 10 mins left.

While it is true that neither are consistent enough to know what type of performance you will get from them on any given day, if Torres is out, there is not a lot of choice.

Although the idea of popping Kuyt up front and putting Babel on the right is not the worst idea.

Kess73

Kess73 wrote: »

Although the idea of popping Kuyt up front and putting Babel on the right is not the worst idea.

I'd go with that myself if Torres is out. Ngog can come on in 2nd half if needed.

I have to laugh at some of the predictions that Liverpool will have this easy. Haven't we lost 6 of the last 8 games ??

We don't look like a team capable of convincingly beating anyone at the moment.

I'd take a dreary 1-0 win and no new injuries thanks very much.

~Rebel~

Berkut wrote: »

Birmingham would be complete fools if they came to Anfield with the intention of settling for a draw.
With Gerrard+Torres out they should be going at them hammer and tongs...
It's fairly obvious to everyone and their dog at this stage that Liverpool are a 2 man team...without Gerrard+Torres fully fit they're nothing special.

If Gerrard and Torres are missing, pool's best chance of getting goals is if Brum do what you say they should do and go on the attack. If Brum attack, that leaves space behind and makes it much easier for our more limited attack (sans G&T) to break through.

I see Brum playing very very tight for the first 50mins, then maybe venturing a little more on the break for 30mins or so, before reverting back to defensive for the final 10 (this is all if pool dont score obviously.)

Morzadec

Looks like we should be able to get a strong enough team out and I would expect a win.

I think it could be vital to get an early goal, because Birmingham aren't the worst team at defending (they almost shut United out at Old Trafford) and I fully expect them to come to Anfield to defend.

I think the crowd will be important and I fully expect them to back the team and the manager. If it's 0-0 at half time or if we happen to concede first I would hope that the fans don't turn on the team/make a nervy atmosphere.

I would gladly take 1-0 as the result is massively important after this dry streak, but I think the team should be looking to put a few past Birmingham and I think they will be able to.

everdead.ie

I reckon a draw birmingham are so difficult to break down

Kess73

A scrappy 2-1 will do me. Points on the board are all I want right now. If we can get the points and have a good performance, then all the better.

Kent Brockman

Liverpool have not got a good record v Birmingham AFAIK (cant be bothered looking it up right now but I think pool have won 1 from last6 and not won in last 4 i think)
A 3 or 4 nil win is what is required here if they want to have any chance of being involved this season.
My young lad informed me he might have to start supporting someone else if they dont win tonight:D Probably Arsenal because he has RvP and Fab in his fantasy football team lol!

Fromvert

Can we win and keep a clean sheet please.

Morzadec

Kent Brockman wrote: »

Liverpool have not got a good record v Birmingham AFAIK (cant be bothered looking it up right now but I think pool have won 1 from last6 and not won in last 4 i think)

In fairness I often think that a team's 'record' against another team is not too relevant. Especially in this case as Birmingham weren't in the Premiership last year.

If you look at the two starting XI's from the last couple of times we played Birmingham (and drew) I'm sure there are a lot of differences. MacLeish wasn't even manager for the first game.

I think current form and players available is a better way to look at it. On this reckoning Liverpool will of course be big favourites, but there will be an air of uncertainty over the result which may not have been there usually.

~Rebel~

Fromvert wrote: »

Can we win and keep a clean sheet please.

aye, we really need to start shoring things up at the back! I'd rather we win by a low score, keeping a clean sheet then hammer them conceding one or two.

Holsten

Would like to see Babel get a start, after his cracker against Lyon, out on the right with Dirk behind Torres.

Also deffo want to see Aquilani get on the pitch at some point.

3 points please!

Morzadec

~Rebel~ wrote: »

aye, we really need to start shoring things up at the back! I'd rather we win by a low score, keeping a clean sheet then hammer them conceding one or two.

Agreed I would probably take 2-0 over 4-1 as illlogical as that sounds.

That said, if we win 4-1 I will be very happy!

spockety

I'll be happy if we win 1-0 with the ball going in off Lucas' back side courtesy of a deflection from a brummie keeper miskickout.

bUILDERtHEbOB

Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Insua

Yossi Lucas Mascherano Riera

Kuyt Ngog

Gerrard on the bench.

Lex Luthor

this game is ripe for Yossi. I fancy him to get 2

Morzadec

bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Insua

Yossi Lucas Mascherano Riera

Kuyt Ngog

Gerrard on the bench.

Is this definite or just a prediction?

Headshot

(assuming Gerrard is out)
as I usually say if benni plays behind the striker liverpool will win

I dont understand why benni plays on the wings, he should only play there if Gerrard is playing other wise and a no no from me

Kess73

Morzadec wrote: »

Is this definite or just a prediction?

Riera is still meant to be injured with a hamstring injury according to this link.


http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php



Mind you they have Johnson and Gerrard listed also.



But on the official site, this interview gives the impression that Riera is in training.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166381091109-0842.htm







Journalist: First of all Rafa could you bring us up to date with Fernando Torres' fitness?

Fernando has been to see a specialist in Spain and they were talking with our medical staff, so the situation now with him is he has to carry on and work with the physios and see how he feels. If everything is okay then maybe he can be available against Birmingham. I was talking with the technical director of the Spanish team and the fitness coach and I explained to them the situation. They know Fernando needs to work with the physios for a while and that is the situation.

Journalist: How much of a risk is it to keep on playing him despite him not being fully fit?

It's a good question because it was a risk to play him against Manchester United. He scored our first goal and everybody was talking about what a massive difference he makes. But after we knew we needed to manage the situation. When I took him off against Fulham, I was criticised by a lot of experts because he was not on the pitch and after they could see he has a problem. Against Lyon I took him off with five minutes to go and people were asking why, so you cannot win. It doesn't matter what you do - someone will criticise you because it's easy. So the situation with Fernando is he can work now with the physios.

Still, we have to keep working with him because he has a problem and we have to manage and try to do the best. One of the questions was will he need an operation? You never know, but at least he is trying to do his best and he is working very hard with the physios.

Journalist: Do you have an agreement with Spain that he won't go and play for his national team against Argentina?

I don't need an agreement because clearly he is not fully fit and they know this. It's a similar situation with Steven Gerrard. Steven hasn't been training with the team for 15 days so normally when you have a player working just with the physios it makes no sense to call the player up for an international match. Both players will be in a difficult situation over the next week. I think the Spanish manager knows and it will be easier for us because they can both keep working with the physios.

Journalist: Do you now expect the England and Spain managers not to select them in their squads?

If you are in a position where you have not been training for 15 days with your team, I don't think you will be fit to play games at the maximum level. With Spain it's very clear because they understand the situation, but with England I don't know because I haven't spoken to Capello.

Journalist: Talking about the criticism you have received Rafa, was there any time you regretted taking Fernando off?

Clearly you can see that Fernando has a problem and that is a fact. I am really surprised because some people have played football for years and they don't understand that the manager has more information. When you are front of the TV, and you just talk without knowing facts, you haven't a clue.

Journalist: How do you deal with all the criticism and do you have enough inner strength to get you through it?

I have enough experience and I know how it is in England. We are trying to do our job in a difficult situation sometimes. It's part of the game, but we have a lot of confidence in our team, our squad, the staff and especially our fans.

Journalist: Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are two of the best players in the world so how much of a concern is it to you that on the occasions they haven't been available the side has looked pretty ordinary?

We have had some bad games and bad results, and also some very good games, so if you take two of the best players out of any top side in Europe then the team can suffer. If you have one or two bad results without these two players then the confidence goes down, so the question is to start winning games and playing better, and it will be easier. You saw the difference in the last minute against Lyon. One minute before I'm sure the headlines would have been totally different. One minute later we made one mistake and it changed everything but the performance of the team was good.

Journalist: Pepe Reina said he is confident you are building something special, so how far down the line do you think you are to reaching that goal?

I agree with him and I have a lot of confidence that we will improve. If we can win one or two games in a row then confidence will be high again and it will be easier for everyone. Pepe has a very positive mentality and I have the same idea. We have a good squad. We know we can improve and we have some key players to come back who at this moment aren’t playing. We've got Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera coming back and Glen Johnson was having a light training session and I could see the difference. The players want to be ready and want to help.

Journalist: There's an old cliche in football that says luck balances itself out. Some people would say you got a lot of luck with late winners last season and now this campaign you have had the beachball goal at Sunderland the late goals by Lyon. Do you think that maybe luck is balancing itself out in a bad way for you at the moment?

Yes, that is clear. It's something we have to change and how can you do this? By working harder on the pitch and that is the only way in football. You can talk and talk but as a manager you have to work.

Journalist: Is this the opportunity now with all the problems you've got to give the Kop a chance to welcome Alberto Aquilani to Anfield?

It could be. We were controlling the game in Lyon and Lucas and Javier Mascherano were doing a very good job. When we scored we didn’t want to change the shape. Aquilani was better and could have played but hopefully now he will be better for Monday.

Journalist: Are you tempted to start him against Birmingham?

We have to be careful because his match fitness is a problem. We are hopeful of having some players fit and available so maybe he can wait and change the game if it's necessary.

Eire-Dearg

I think Torres will start, and I hope Aquilani and Babel starts. Sacrifice Kuyt for Babel though? Not going to happen!

Kess73

Headshot wrote: »

(assuming Gerrard is out)
as I usually say if benni plays behind the striker liverpool will win

I dont understand why benni plays on the wings, he should only play there if Gerrard is playing other wise and a no no from me

Yeah I hate to see Yossi out wise. I love seeing him playing in the hole behind the main strker. It is where I feel he is at his best, and where he can cause the most damage.

Morzadec

Aquilani won't be starting then if that interview with Rafa is anything to go by.

Can't say I'm too surprised

Despite his wonder goal last week I still wouldn't start Babel, unless we are really stuck. He hasn't earned it and is way too hot and cold. Bring him on for the last 30mins without a doubt.

Looking forward to see Aquaman. I'd say he plays well in the rain

Unearthly

One of those games where if Liverpool get an early goal they could get quite a few. Or they struggle to break them down all game and ends in a draw.

CivilServant

Holsten wrote: »

Would like to see Babel get a start, after his cracker against Lyon, out on the right with Dirk behind Torres.

Also deffo want to see Aquilani get on the pitch at some point.

3 points please!

Do you remember his two subsequent shots? Makes me think he was lucky

flahavaj

I can't for the life of me understand how Benayoun doesn't play every game in Gerrard's position when hes not fit. Hes far less effective on the wing and doesn't track back that well either.

magma69

Crisis will be officially over tonight when Liverpool win by a 3 goal margin! . I can feel it in my bones.

jesus_thats_gre

Kent Brockman wrote: »

Liverpool have not got a good record v Birmingham AFAIK (cant be bothered looking it up right now but I think pool have won 1 from last6 and not won in last 4 i think)

Would echo Morzadec comments. Clubs that are up and down like yoyos are just too unpredictable to bring any sort of past records into it.

jesus_thats_gre

CivilServant wrote: »

Do you remember his two subsequent shots? Makes me think he was lucky

I nearly choked after the free kick

Eire-Dearg

According to Henry Winter, the word is Gerrard starts - no Torres.

The Muppet

Looking forward to the game tonight. Birmingham have a decent record in this fixture so it should be a good game. No Torres will be a blow if true but with Gerrard back Liverpool should be capable of taking the 3 points.