Liverpool v Fulham: Match Thread

[JD]

Liverpool v Fulham
Premiership
Anfield
Sat 10th November 2007 @ 5:15pm

If we don't score at least 9 then this club is going backwards and Rafa should get sacked.

Thoughts?

[solodee]

Surely going to be a win for Liverpool! I feel it in my bones! the goal-drought is really over. Say 3-0.

[JD]

Three points is all I want.  1-0, 9-0 or 10-9 - I don't particularly care.

Hopefully we can get through this without risking Torres needlessly.

After tonight's game, Rafa REALLY will have a selection headache.

[donrafael]

Everyone wants the ball, no rushing, just class touches and pure football.

I predict a bag of goals on Saturday, with Torres, Crouch and Arbeloa all getting in on the goal sheet.

[solodee]

Everyone wants the ball, no rushing, just class touches and pure football.

I predict a bag of goals on Saturday, with Torres, Crouch and Arbeloa all getting in on the goal sheet.

Maybe Rafa should give this set of players a second run at it.

[JD]

Maybe Rafa should give this set of players a second run at it.

 

[redkenny]

What would everyone's reaction be if Rafa played the same team he played against Beskitas?  I presume that's very unlikely, but out of that team I would like to see Crouch, Benayoun and Arbeloa start, for sure. Totally deserve it.

Knowing Sanchez, he'll have Fulham trying to kick lumps play professional fouls, so we have to keep the simple passes on the go and spread them wide open.
Personally, I'd like to see Crouch up front with Babel....

[solodee]

What would everyone's reaction be if Rafa played the same team he played against Beskitas?  I presume that's very unlikely, but out of that team I would like to see Crouch, Benayoun and Arbeloa start, for sure. Totally deserve it.

Then Gerrard, mascharano, Veronin, and the solid defense we had today. The next match might just have 90% of today's winners. If there are going to be any changes, it might be Veronin & (a distant maybe) Riise.

[JD]

To be honest RK since when has 'form' influenced Rafa's team selections?  Never as far as I have noticed.

You've already suggested the change that most of us would suggest - Babel and Crouch up front.  But would Rafa really leave out Kuyt? If he leaves out Kuyt at the weekend then he has effectively 'dropped' him. 

After praising him post-Blackburn this would be an extremely un-Rafa thing to do.  I await Saturday's team with intense anticipation!

[redkenny]

But would Rafa really leave out Kuyt? If he leaves out Kuyt at the weekend then he has effectively 'dropped' him. 

After praising him post-Blackburn this would be an extremely un-Rafa thing to do.  I await Saturday's team with intense anticipation!

I thought Kuyt was dropped last night to be honest. I thought he would start, because as you say form doesn't really come into Rafa's selections and he hasn't been on form for a while now yet he's still featured quit a lot. But the game against Beskitas was very much a must win game and he wasn't favoured at all.
Personally, I'd have him on the bench against Fulham. Maybe him being dropped will help him and the other strikers?

[bigredarmy]

unfortunately my gut feeling has rafa playing torres and kuyt upfront, wish it could be crouch to start with torres coming as sub

reina
finnan carra hyypia riise
youssi gerrard mascher babel
crouch torres?

[solodee]

unfortunately my gut feeling has rafa playing torres and kuyt upfront, wish it could be crouch to start with torres coming as sub

reina
finnan carra hyypia riise
youssi gerrard mascher babel
crouch torres?

Rafa shouldn't be in such a hurry to start with torres yet. Give him time to really heaL PROPERLY.

[EddieC]

TBH Fulham don't have any real threats that we need to look out for, so I would play to our strengths. Riise didn't have the greatest game once again last night, and IMO should be dropped imediately, and even though they did play better I would also leave out Voronin & Aurelio. Whilst Voronin did a good job last night I feel we need a bit more pace upfront in the Prem, and with Finnan almost certainly returning & Arbeloa's performance last night I don't see any other option than benching Aurelio to make way for Arbeloa on the left. I would go for:

               Reina

Finnan  Carra   Hyypia Arbeloa

Yossi  Gerrard  Masch  Kewell

         Crouch   Babel

I know some people are reluctant to start Kewell, but he's had four runouts now, and we can't keep wrapping him in cotton wool forever. Apart from that I think the rest of my selection is self-explanatory, so for once I'm gonna keep it short & sweet.

My prediction? The reds march on with a 3-0 victory.

[Saffi 7]

Again Eddie...its hard to disagree about JAR. Its hard to pick out substandard performances on a night like last night, but I remember an incident that highlights one of his slight weaknesses. When forced against the touchline, he turned, tried to play a pass to the defenders but was dispossessed immediately.

This was just the shot in the arm we needed, a strong performance that'll boost the confidence. We will beat Fulham on Saturday and get our campaign firmly back on the road...because of the way we play.

I should know better but here goes anyway...

Liverpool 2 (Gerrard, Crouch) - 0 Fulham.

[Brian78]

I could be wrong but isnt Fulham our last game before the international break? If so I hope Rafa sticks with the same 11 well maybe Kewell for Riise and maybe give Babel a start up front with Crouchy and have Torres to come in.

Confidence will be sky high and we should launch into Fulham from the start play like we did last night

But we all know Rafa and chances are 5 changes could be made. To be honest its not the changes that would bother me but would we get the same flowing football we got last night with so many changes?

Anyway 3 points is a must here and if we get them well be sitting nicely

[AJ]

TBH Fulham don't have any real threats that we need to look out for, so I would play to our strengths. Riise didn't have the greatest game once again last night, and IMO should be dropped imediately, and even though they did play better I would also leave out Voronin & Aurelio. Whilst Voronin did a good job last night I feel we need a bit more pace upfront in the Prem, and with Finnan almost certainly returning & Arbeloa's performance last night I don't see any other option than benching Aurelio to make way for Arbeloa on the left. I would go for:

               Reina

Finnan  Carra   Hyypia Arbeloa

Yossi  Gerrard  Masch  Kewell

         Crouch   Babel

I know some people are reluctant to start Kewell, but he's had four runouts now, and we can't keep wrapping him in cotton wool forever. Apart from that I think the rest of my selection is self-explanatory, so for once I'm gonna keep it short & sweet.

My prediction? The reds march on with a 3-0 victory.

Good team Eddie and I agree with the Kewell start too as he is looking really sharp and had some good crosses late on, also did anyone know Sheree is expecting another baby? (sorry if this has been posted elsewhere but I didn't see it) so looks like he's been busy off the pitch too.

Anyway with Finnan and Arbeloa and Yossi starting I can see many chances being created it's just a shame that when Pennant returns he might have a tricky job getting his place back.  Crouch is in excellent form too now and should be after another couple of goals for his tally and Babel is finally off the 1 goal mark also so I can see big potential.