Arsenal -v- Liverpool, 19.45 SS2

Frisbee

Massive game for both sides here.

Arsenal win and they look fairly confident of claiming third place.

Liverpool win and Arsenal are dragged right back into the battle for fourth.

At a guess I'd say:

---

Almunia

---

Sagna

---

Gallas

---

Vermaelen

---

Clichy

---

Fab

---

Song

---

Diaby

---

Rosicky

---

Bendtner

---

Arshavin


Nasri or Walcott could easily come in for Rosicky, I just think he might start as he was rested on Sunday.

If we don't start Bendtner and play Arshavin through the middle again we could be in trouble. Bendtner is a striker that will give us the physicality we need from the frontman to hold ball and bring Fabregas into play.

Song is going to be huge here in the attempt to neutralise Gerrard.

I'm gonna go for a score draw 2-2.

bUILDERtHEbOB

Tbh I just hope Liverpool don't lose. It's not vital for us to win this game considering it's away from home against a top side but it's important for us to keep the current run going.

Jazzy

agreed. a win would be nice, but i think its more important we dont lose

dannydiamond

bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

Tbh I just hope Liverpool don't lose. It's not vital for us to win this game considering it's away from home against a top side but it's important for us to keep the current run going.

Jazzy wrote: »

agreed. a win would be nice, but i think its more important we dont lose

WTF?

One of our biggest rivals and you'll settle for a draw before kick off?

I certainly won't, I'd rather lose having a go for third and a bit of comfort perhaps towards the end of the season than 'settle' for a point any day.

CHD

Chelsea and United keep showing how easily it can be done. I expect Liverpool to win.

argosy2006

i think arsenal will score, and i cant see liverpool scoring two,, 1-1.. or 2-1 to arsenal, but i hope not!
would be ok for liverpool to play for a 0-0 considering season we're having,

magma69

I am going to say a 1-1 draw. It really depends on how well Liverpool can keep Fabregas under control. If Masch can do a number on him Liverpool will win but I can see Fab getting the better of him for parts of the game at least. Liverpool have the momentum with them also. Really tough to call so I'll play is safe and go with a scoring draw.

Jesus Wept

Liverpool ftw!

Jazzy

dannydiamond wrote: »

WTF?

One of our biggest rivals and you'll settle for a draw before kick off?

I certainly won't, I'd rather lose having a go for third and a bit of comfort perhaps towards the end of the season than 'settle' for a point any day.

well if we lose, we give arsenal the initiative again. a draw means they have got bugger all points against utd, chelsea and pool and stifle their confidence.. so in that regard, id settle for a draw. i still expect us to play to win though

jesus_thats_gre

CHD wrote: »

Chelsea and United keep showing how easily it can be done. I expect Liverpool to win.

If Liverpool had Torres, I would be as confident as you. Rooney and Drogba done a massive amount of the damage in the recent games against Arsenal - they were what set the teams apart when it really counted I think.

I am also not that confident that Arsenal will loose a third game in a row either.

Karmafaerie

I expect Lucas rather than Masch to sit on Cesc.

I also expect Maxi to show a lot more in this game than in the derby if he starts.

Lastly if Ngog can carry on the form from the last game, he could cause problems.



Tight game.
I expect a draw, or a victory by one.
Could go either way.

livinginkorea

I really hope we can keep the momentum going and with Arsenal's defensive weaknesses showing recently then I recon we have a good chance but with one-touch-too-many N'Gog up front I think a draw is the most realistic option.

With City a game in hand we really need to get full points here.

When was the last time we beat Arsenal at home?

livinginkorea

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

If Liverpool had Torres, I would be as confident as you.


I am also not that confident that Arsenal will loose a third game in a row either.

+1

Spiritoftheseventies

sorry that game is on sky sports two

Frisbee

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

sorry that game is on sky sports two

Not according to the Arsenal website.

citytillidie

Frisbee wrote: »

Not according to the Arsenal website.

Its on Sky Sports 2 its been plastered all over sky since Super Sunday

Frisbee

citytillidie wrote: »

Its on Sky Sports 2 its been plastered all over sky since Super Sunday

Fair enough.

I just went by what was on the club's official webpage.

I hate this fixture. We don't win it very often.

I'll be delighted with a draw tbh and that's what I think it will be.

City away is a much bigger fixture for us on Sunday week.

If we could win however, there would be 2 champions league spots up for grabs.

daithijjj

I expect arsenal to have 70% possession and fabregas to run riot along with our nemisis arshavin.

Agger and skyrtel need big games for us and i expect reina to be busy. Ngog wont get a sniff against gallas and kuyt will be largely anonymous for 89 mins but will score.

Head says 2-1 arsenal. If we can handle fabregas and arshavin we can take a point away from this game. If torres was on the pitch my outlook would be different.

RandolphEsq

I see a Liverpool victory based on their form and taking into account Arsenal's miserable outcome recently against Chelsea and United

RandolphEsq

RandolphEsq wrote: »

I see a Liverpool victory based on their form and taking into account Arsenal's miserable outcome recently against Chelsea and United

United and Chelsea have front men in incredible form though and who happen to be two of the best in the league.

Big difference.

daithijjj

rarnes1 wrote: »

United and Chelsea have front men in incredible form though and who happen to be two of the best in the league.

Big difference.

I also thought that arsenal played very well v chelsea the other day, allthough the result didnt reflect it.

Splainc

Hoping for this team with Aquilani, Johnson, Benayoun, Torres injured obviously...

Reina

Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Aurelio

Mash
Lucas

Riera
Gerrard
Maxi

Kuyt

Basically i really want riera and aurelio on the left as walcott could take insua to the cleaners tonight

Mr Alan

would be quite happy to see Degan on the right side tonight, he has looked really dangerous and is very very quick.

Kess73

Normally this is a fixture where I think that a draw is as good as it is going to get in the league, but if Liverpool can knock Arsenal out of their stride early on by closing down quickly, then I think Liverpool may pick up their first win away to Arsenal in the league under Rafa.

Just don't see Liverpool coming away with nothing from this game.

Four goal game methinks.

3-1 to Liverpool or a 2-2 draw.

Spiritoftheseventies

rarnes1 wrote: »

I hate this fixture. We don't win it very often.

I'll be delighted with a draw tbh and that's what I think it will be.

City away is a much bigger fixture for us on Sunday week.

If we could win however, there would be 2 champions league spots up for grabs.

love this fixture. great history between the sides. One of the games i look forward to each seaon. Brother an arsenal fan. Seems to age five years everytime we beat them though

Boggles

As mad as it sounds Arsenal were excellent against Chelsea, had the majority of the possession and I thought Song was the stand out player in midfield and bossed it from start to finish.

They just could't dance passed a packed Chelsea box.

Walcott should be benched. Bendtner up top, with Arshavin off him.

I make Arsenal firm favourites. 3-1 to the miss firing gunners to get them back on track.

RandolphEsq

rarnes1 wrote: »

United and Chelsea have front men in incredible form though and who happen to be two of the best in the league.

Big difference.

0 0 with Villa before that, and 3 1 loss to Stoke, albeit in the FA cup. Lost 3 of their last 4.
Liverpool have won 3 of their last 4, conceeding 0 goals

Spiritoftheseventies

Arsenal really need to improve on their defending. Hasnt been up to scratch in last two games.

daithijjj

daithijjj wrote: »

I also thought that arsenal played very well v chelsea the other day, allthough the result didnt reflect it.

They played well but had no focal point in attack unlike united and Chelsea.

Frisbee

Boggles wrote: »

They just could't dance passed a packed Chelsea box.

Walcott should be benched. Bendtner up top, with Arshavin off him.

Ding ding ding ding ding.

Morzadec

dannydiamond wrote: »

WTF?

One of our biggest rivals and you'll settle for a draw before kick off?

I certainly won't, I'd rather lose having a go for third and a bit of comfort perhaps towards the end of the season than 'settle' for a point any day.

I'd settle for a point. Arsenal away is a tough fixture, and has been said it'd be great to keep our unbeaten run going.

A loss could really hurt us here

Nulty

Arsenal to bounce back 2-0 or 2-1.

Liverpools latest away fixtures are draws at Stoke and Wolves

Arsenal played Utd and Chelsea. Those were the toughest games of the year for them. A vulnerable Liverpool team will not pose the same threat. Arsenal's 35 goals this season tell me they'll get 2 tonight.

Arsenal can play Liverpool. They will, and they'll win.

civis_liberalis

Frisbee wrote: »

Arsenal -v- Liverpool, 19.45 SS1

It's on Sky Sports 2.

K-9

Splainc wrote: »

Hoping for this team with Aquilani, Johnson, Benayoun, Torres injured obviously...

Reina

Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Aurelio

Mash
Lucas

Riera
Gerrard
Maxi

Kuyt

Basically i really want riera and aurelio on the left as walcott could take insua to the cleaners tonight

I'd go with that.

1-1.

Frisbee

civis_liberalis wrote: »

It's on Sky Sports 2.

As I've already said twice, arsenal.com had it down as SS1 when I posted.

Roaster

I think Walcott will start and I think he'll run riot against Insua (although Benetiz might pick Aurelio to counter this).

We need to get back on track and I don't think Liverpool have the physicality of a Chelsea or United and for that reason I think we'll win 3-1. With the clown in goal and our defense though, Liverpool will score.

leninbenjamin

Arsenal on the back of 2 straight defeats, I really can't see them losing again.

If Bendtner starts, it means we can let Arshavin loose on the fullbacks and that should do some damage. Not sure if I want to see Walcott start myself, he still doesn't look 'with it' after the injuries. Think I'd rather have Rosicky or Nasri in that other forward slot, their intelligent play should cause Insua headaches.

L'prof

I am slightly nervous because a while back I said if we lost to United & Chelsea, then we'd either draw or lose to Liverpool. That said, I think we looked very good against Chelsea. As long as we cover for our fullbacks properly when they get forward, we should be ok defensively.

I'm gonna say Arsenal to nick it by one goal or a draw.

magma69

Frisbee wrote: »

As I've already said twice, arsenal.com had it down as SS1 when I posted.

Actually it's on SS2.

Galvasean

magma69 wrote: »

Actually it's on SS2.

READ THE THREAD.

magma69

jasonorr wrote: »

I am slightly nervous because a while back I said if we lost to United & Chelsea, then we'd either draw or lose to Liverpool. That said, I think we looked very good against Chelsea. As long as we cover for our fullbacks properly when they get forward, we should be ok defensively.

I'm gonna say Arsenal to nick it by one goal or a draw.

Lucky for Arsenal too that Liverpool don't play the most wide football and we lack pace up there too. So we may not be able to counter as effectively as Chelski and United.

magma69

Galvasean wrote: »

READ THE THREAD.

If you read the comment I replied to, I thought it would be obvious I was just joking.

JimsAlterEgo

0-0
2 teams trying to play thru the middle cancelling each other out

MementoMori

White Bib team is apparently

Reina

Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Insua

Mash
Lucas

Kuyt
Gerrard
Maxi

Dave

No word on subs.
Wonder if there is any chance Pacheco might have a chance?
Likely one of Degen, Kelly, Ayala is on the bench given Soto is out.
At a guess I'm going to go for Kelly as RB and CB cover.

Subs: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Riera, Babel, Spearing, Kelly, Pacheco

Going for a nil-nil draw.

magma69

MementoMori wrote: »

White Bib team is apparently



No word on subs.
Wonder if there is any chance Pacheco might have a chance?
Likely one of Degen, Kelly, Ayala is on the bench given Soto is out.
At a guess I'm going to go for Kelly as RB and CB cover.

Subs: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Riera, Babel, Spearing, Kelly, Pacheco

Going for a nil-nil draw.

I'm very happy with that selection. What is it with Rafa these days and picking teams that I actually agree with . Kuyt will make sure Clichy doesn't run riot down that flank. Hopefully Maxi will have a big game for us too. I'd love to see Pacheco make an appearance if/when we are lacking creativity in the second half. Getting all excited now so I am. COME ON YOU REDS!

Splainc

Babel might get a start up front to quicken our counter attack but his holding up of the ball is poor and Ngog did well on saturday.

Game will not be 0-0. Very rarely is.

daosulli

Splainc wrote: »

Hoping for this team with Aquilani, Johnson, Benayoun, Torres injured obviously...

Reina

Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Aurelio

Mash
Lucas

Riera
Gerrard
Maxi

Kuyt

Basically i really want riera and aurelio on the left as walcott could take insua to the cleaners tonight

Yea I'd go with that team.

Glico Man

Splainc wrote: »

Babel might get a start up front to quicken our counter attack but his holding up of the ball is poor and Ngog did well on saturday.

Game will not be 0-0. Very rarely is.

Generally his hold up play is actually quite good. It's when he's on the flank that its craP


I'm going to go for a tight 1-0 to the pool with Kuyt to continue his scoring run

Fink Goddie

Anyone else worried about tonight, cant see Arsenal losing again!
There's noone on the team sheet tonight that looks like they could win it for us, except maybe Kuyt?

mayordenis

Fink Goddie wrote: »

Anyone else worried about tonight, cant see Arsenal losing again!
There's noone on the team sheet tonight that looks like they could win it for us, except maybe Kuyt?

whats the starting lineup?