Spurs v Liverpool Match Thread

Fernando Torres returns to the Liverpool team to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup this evening as Rafael Benitez makes a host of changes from the side that faced West Brom.

Andrea Dossena comes into the side in place of Fabio Aurelio at left-back, while Philip Degen replaces Alvaro Arbeloa on the opposite side of defence and Damien Plessis gets a start in the centre of the park.
 
The Liverpool team in full: Cavalieri, Degen, Agger, Hyypia, Dossena, El Zhar, Lucas, Plessis, Babel, Ngog, Torres. Subs: Gulacsi, Riera, Darby, Insua, Benayoun, Carragher.

N'Gog and Torres up front. Interesting.

Good lineup that.

Yes it is a interesting line up,a blend of youth and experience,presume Sami Hyypia is captain?
Nice to see Torres back ,not seen much of N`Gog so cannot really comment about him.All the other youngsters i know about and hopefully they will be a match for what is sure to be a very strong Spurs line up.
No Kuyt,Gerrard or Keane  even on the subs bench although we all knew they would not be starting the match.

1-0 Hyypia.

100/1

Mmmmm....... Yossi's playing and he's on the bench 

Good team that, pretty well what I expected.

Looking forward to seeing how Degen shapes up tonight.

1-3 for me tonight 

Benayoun should be Babel. Babel starts

So we have 4 very fast players going forward in El Zhar, Torres, Babel and N'Gog. Plus Degen and Dossena our two wing-backs. Lucas, our attacking midfielder.

Don't any of you dare call this a negative lineup.

No Pennant ? Not even on the bench .

No surprises whatsoever there, well apart from I thought Insua would start.

But - come on.  Three defenders on the bench - what's that all about.  What is he expecting to happen?

We don't even have a recognised striker on the bench either. Surely Torres isn't going to play the whole game? Maybe Babel will move up front.

Good blend in the team. Experience and Youth but I agree with you guys, the bench is a bit strange 

Still going for a 2-1 Reds victory.

Torres and Babel with the goals

Nice line up there, hopefully Carragher stays on the bench and gets a nice rest...damn forgot to put my prediciton in...I know it wont count but I'm going for a 3-2 win to us.

he'll probably move degen on the wing for a bit.... and replace him with insua or something. (switching dossena to right back)  thats my guess.....but three def is a bit strange.   I hope the team has an out and out leader ion there.... i am a bit scared that this team doesn't have anyone that will rally the troops so to speak..... hyypia I suppose, but who is going to take charge?  you know what I mean?

Kick off.

Pavluychenko had a chance there.

Strong Spurs line up.

what's happened to the seventh sub?

very strong side,   but we should easily exploit their wings

alonso is on the bench aswell as those mentioned above, come on red men

Torres and N'Gog already connecting well with each other.

Hmmm... *Strokes imaginary beard*
Looking at Raffa's selection I'm quite confident... If Plessis or Lucas step up in a big way and hold down that midfield I think we can do the buisness..

Plessis booked already.

bad early yellow card....for plessis

Pavluychenko should have done better then.  Head back across goal and he failed to get a touch.

Ra Ra Rafa Benitez!!!!

Reds in great noise down there.

yeah they are nice and loud aren't they!!!! i love hearing that.