Liverpool v Chelsea KO 4:00pm SS1

Super-Rush

Rumoured Liverpool team,

Renia Carragher Soto Skyrtel Konchesky Johnson Lucas Meireles Maxi Gerrard Torres.

Is Roy going for the win? :eek:

Haven't seen a Chelsea team yet but from reports Lampard is still out but Malouda returns.

ilovelamp2000

Johnson isn't in the squad today apparently

NukaCola

Chelsea will be hot favourites but i'm going for 1-1....

ynwa_17

If that is a team, its probably 3 at the back with Johnson and Konchesky as wing backs.

But then i'm awfully pessimistic these days, when it comes to anything Liverpool.

~Rebel~

I'm quite happy with that team.

My biggest worry would be Carra getting skinned at right back by Malouda, but with Johnson ahead of him providing support we have a decent mix of pace and power against him.

I still very much worry about Drogba against Soto and Skrtel though. If we could combine those 2 into one player, they'd have the attributes to deal with him, but as it is, for power and strength in the air, i'd fancy drogba over skrtel every time, and on the ground it has to be drogba over Soto, so for whichever attack looks like its coming, if he pushes himself closer to the one he can beat under those circumstances, I think he'll have chances...


<edit>
Lots of conflicting reports it seems. If its just Carra at right back without adequate protection in front of him to help with Malouda, I think Malouda will destroy him time and time again.

ynwa_17

Reina, Konchesky, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi, Kuyt, Meireles, Torres.

Subs: Hansen, Wilson, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey, Ngog, Jovanovic.

Kelly?? :eek: Baptism of fire FTW

flahavaj

Big questions are how Kelly copes against Malouda if he plays, and whether Roy plays Meireles as a CM or on the wing, or indeed behind the striker.

~Rebel~

ynwa_17 wrote: »

Reina, Konchesky, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi, Kuyt, Meireles, Torres.

Subs: Hansen, Wilson, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey, Ngog, Jovanovic.

Kelly?? :eek: Baptism of fire FTW

Is that really the bench?! Spearing, Poulsen and Shelvey!? FFS!

Super-Rush

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Is that really the bench?! Spearing, Poulsen and Shelvey!? FFS!

Yep

ynwa_17

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Is that really the bench?! Spearing, Poulsen and Shelvey!? FFS!

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kuyt-returns-listen-live-1

Yeah very surprised as well.

Johnson and Kyriagkos must've picked up injuries, I can't see any other reason for not having them on the bench.

Wolfe Tone

Cant see pool winning this. Im hoping for a draw.

Sir Gallagher

Deary me, look at the hack of that bench.

Panthro

who is this young Kelly then? I haven't heard much of him thrown in the mix.

For the Chelsea team, I'll go with the prediction of:
Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
I'm not sure if the team has been announced yet or not, possible changes include Yuri or Kalou in there somewhere.

Kess73

super-rush wrote: »

Rumoured Liverpool team,

Renia Carragher Soto Skyrtel Konchesky Johnson Lucas Meireles Maxi Gerrard Torres.

Is Roy going for the win? :eek:

Haven't seen a Chelsea team yet but from reports Lampard is still out but Malouda returns.

---

Reina

---

Carragher

---

Skrtel

---

Soto

---

Konchesky
Johnson

---

Lucas

---

Meireles

---

Maxi-

---

Gerrard

---

---

Torres

---

or

---

Reina

---

Carragher

---

Skrtel

---

Soto

---

Konchesky

---

Lucas

---

Meireles

---

Johnson

---

Gerrard

---

Maxi

---

Torres

---

or even some variation of playing five at the back with wingbacks (5-4-1, 5-2-3, 5-2-2-1)

---

Reina

---

---

Carragher

---

Skrtel

---

Soto

---

Johnson

---

Konchesky

---

Lucas

---

Meireles

---

---

Gerrard

---

Torres

---

Maxi

---

ilovelamp2000

Both wrong Kess.

Well done.;)

Kess73

And just spotted a different line up lol

~Rebel~

The first team I dont mind actually, I'd rather Kelly over Carra against Malouda tbh. Its a risk, but for me Carra getting burned is closer to a certainty. At the back however, I dont see anyone who I would be confident of beating Drogba in the air though.

I'm happy with the formation and midfield selection too.

That bench is a bit of a joke though. I cannot think of any circumstances whereby it is useful to have Spearing on there. 6cm's between first team and bench - is that really necessary? Pacheco? Johnson? even Babel? No? ok...

tok9

I thought Malouda was out?

Great to see kelly start but I'm worried about what Drogba will do to Carra and Skrtel!

Kess73

papagormo wrote: »

who is this young Kelly then? I haven't heard much of him thrown in the mix.

For the Chelsea team, I'll go with the prediction of:
Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
I'm not sure if the team has been announced yet or not, possible changes include Yuri or Kalou in there somewhere.

Kelly is a young defender who can play in either full back slot or at cb. His final position will prob end up at CB when he gets a little older, but right now he is already probably a better pure defender than Johnson ever will be. Have no worries about him playing at RB today. Has not had a lot of first team appearances as of yet, think he has about ten first team games to his name to date, but don't expect him to look overawed or nervous.

Big, strong with decent pace.

Panthro

Malouda is recovered and should feature.
Lampard is still out.
Boswinga and Essien are doubtful

tok9

Drogba on the bench!!

Peyton Manning

Come on the Pool !!!!

stumpypeeps

Kess73 wrote: »

Kelly is a young defender who can play in either full back slot or at cb. His final position will prob end up at CB when he gets a little older, but right now he is already probably a better pure defender than Johnson ever will be. Have no worries about him playing at RB today. Has not had a lot of first team appearances as of yet, think he has about ten first team games to his name to date, but don't expect him to look overawed or nervous.

Big, strong with decent pace.

I actually think he's very quick. First time in a long time we've had a defender with real pace.

ynwa_17

Just to get all the 'pool fans in the mood, back to a time when we really cared about the team:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs

Peyton Manning

Essien and Drogba not starting for Chelsea.

Kess73

ynwa_17 wrote: »

Reina, Konchesky, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi, Kuyt, Meireles, Torres.

Subs: Hansen, Wilson, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey, Ngog, Jovanovic.

Kelly?? :eek: Baptism of fire FTW

4-2-3-1 looks most likely then.

Three midfielders on the bench again today? Think I would have had at least one of either Pacheco, Eccleston or Babel there, given that Babel has trained all week and Pacheco has to be fresh since he has not gotten a look in since the Northampton game in September.

tok9

Chelsea

Cech Ivanovic Alex Terry Cole Ramires Mikel Zhirkov Kalou Anelka Malouda

PHB

Such a different looking Chelsea team, no Carvalho, Lampard, Drogba is weird

Kess73

stumpypeeps wrote: »

I actually think he's very quick. First time in a long time we've had a defender with real pace.

Oh I do think he is quick. I think he will be able to match anyone that Chelsea can put on their left side for pace and beat any of their left siders in terms of strength.

opr

Roy's Pre-Match Press Conference

Opr

Kess73

Archimedes wrote: »

Essien and Drogba not starting for Chelsea.

Now that is good news. A fit and eager Essien would be the Chelsea player I would least like to see against Liverpool.

Ordinary man

I can't see anything other than a chelsea win here maybe 2 or 3 nil

stumpypeeps

Kess73 wrote: »

Oh I do think he is quick. I think he will be able to match anyone that Chelsea can put on their left side for pace and beat any of their left siders in terms of strength.

I like you see him as a potential successor to Carragher. Such a bonus to have a pacey centre half. I can't remember the last time we had one.

ynwa_17

Having seen that Chelsea line up, their there for the taken. Its probably the weakest Chelsea side to face us in the past few years. However, the same can be said about ourselves. If Liverpool turn up to play, it could make for a good game.


Who am i kidding, we'll get raped :pac:

flahavaj

Good feeling in my gut that the 'Pool can with this, Chelsea without Lampard, Essien and Drogba.

Drumpot

Have a funny feeling that Liverpool are going to get something from this . . Im going for 1-1 . .

MR NINE

drogba on the bench and no essien. there cud well be something in this for liverpool

Dublin_Gunner

Decent starting 11 for 'Pool.

---

Reina
Kelly--Carra--Skrtel---Konch

---

Meireles--Lucas
Kuyt

---

Gerrard

---

Maxi

---

Torres

Kuyt and Maxi can switch wings, and hopefully Meireles is given a bit of freedom to get forward.

The right hand side is a bit slow though, could be worrying with Cole & Malouda...

Quandary

Come on you scouse gentlemen :pac:

Liverpool have been slowly improving lately, a win against Chelsea could really springboard the club.

Come on lads, do Utd a favour today!

Kess73

stumpypeeps wrote: »

I like you see him as a potential successor to Carragher. Such a bonus to have a pacey centre half. I can't remember the last time we had one.

I can think of quick centre backs that we had had in the last 10 to 15 years, like Babb, but have to go back further than that to name our centre backs that were both quick and good

Mind you Agger has a bit of pace about him that gets underestimated a lot, not blistering pace but quick all the same.

Of course one of our best CB partnerships of the last 15 to 20 years, Henchoz and Hyypia, was hardly blessed with pace.

ynwa_17

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

The right hand side is a bit slow though, could be worrying with Cole & Malouda...

What?

Surely its a lot faster than what we've had in the last few games with Maxi and Carra.

Kess73

ynwa_17 wrote: »

Having seen that Chelsea line up, their there for the taken. Its probably the weakest Chelsea side to face us in the past few years. However, the same can be said about ourselves. If Liverpool turn up to play, it could make for a good game.


Who am i kidding, we'll get raped :pac:

I don't think that the Chelsea line up is a weak one at all, but I am glad not to see Essien and Drogba starting.

internelligent

Kess73 wrote: »

I don't think that the Chelsea line up is a weak one at all, but I am glad not to see Essien and Drogba starting.

essien on the bench?

Lukker-

Happy with that line-up, Drogba and Essien deserve a rest, be nice and fresh for Fulham on Wednesday.

Kess73

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Decent starting 11 for 'Pool.

---

Reina
Kelly--Carra--Skrtel---Konch

---

Meireles--Lucas
Kuyt

---

Gerrard

---

Maxi

---

Torres

Kuyt and Maxi can switch wings, and hopefully Meireles is given a bit of freedom to get forward.

The right hand side is a bit slow though, could be worrying with Cole & Malouda...

Kuyt may not be a speedster but he is hardly slow, and Kelly is a fair bit quicker than Kuyt. One thing that we do have down the right today is plenty of stamina and strength, with both right sided players being damn hard workers.

I would be a bit more concerned with Maxi not tracking back enough to cover Konchecky than I would be with anything on our right.

Lukker-

internelligent wrote: »

essien on the bench?

No, toe injury.

super_furry

Can't see anything but a big Chelsea win here today.

Dublin_Gunner

ynwa_17 wrote: »

What?

Surely its a lot faster than what we've had in the last few games with Maxi and Carra.

FFS my dead granny is faster than Maxi & Carra, so that's hardly saying much.

Kuyt & Kelly are hardly blessed with pace. They both can work hard though, so hopefully that sees them through.

ynwa_17

internelligent wrote: »

essien on the bench?

No

Turnbull, Drogba, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Sturridge, Kukuta, McEachran

NukaCola

Thank fcuk Drogba's not starting.....

argosy2006

no soto, not even on bench, ?