Liverpool v Middlesborough - Pre Match Thread.

[redkenny]

Back to the bread and butter then and I hope we can take some of the european magic into our league form.

Personally, I'd like to see the same line up as Tuesdays because that was a strong performance against a tough side. Dropping any of the players wouldn't be deserved in my opinion. Need to keep that confidence high and have players prove their worthy of a place in the team. I believe they all practically done that against Inter.

A win is obviously essential. So is the determination to play well and be focused by the players.

And our fans need to keep that support going for league games, like they do for european games.

We're better than Middlesborough, let's hope we can prove it!

[Crazy Horse]

I'm going for 3-0. I want to see us start to really have a go at teams at Anfield. Nothing but a positive performance and result, Like redkenny says were better than this shower and I'm backing us to prove it.

[lil cisse]

I think the same lineup aswell.

I'll go for a 3-0 with torres getting 1 kuyt 1 and babel 1

[Fern-Ando Torres]

I think Rafa will go with the same line-up as Tuesday with possibly one exception. Because Boro are a big side Rafa might opt for Peter Crouch up front!! Either way, if we play like we did on Tuesday we should win comfortably.

[Venison 86]

Personally, I'd like to see the same line up as Tuesdays because that was a strong performance against a tough side. Dropping any of the players wouldn't be deserved in my opinion. Need to keep that confidence high and have players prove their worthy of a place in the team. I believe they all practically done that against Inter.

Just the five or six changes then  , Seriously it would be a good reward for the players to start with the same eleven, and 3-0 sounds a good shout

[Court LFC]

1 - 0

Lucas goal?

It's getting put down in the Prediction Lea... oh it's down. 

[redkenny]

Just the five or six changes then 

  I sincerely hope not mate.

Just seen if Carra is selected it will be his 350th league appearance for the reds. Also it said on the Premier League fantasy footy email thingy that he's suspended until the 24th? Got to be rubbish that.

[lil cisse]

suspended for what ?

[redkenny]

suspended for what ?

It'll be a mistake. There's nothing on the official site.

[lil cisse]

Ok good.

[Rafa La Bamba]

2 - 0

Riise & Benayoun

[ayrton77]

Feel pretty good about this one! No upcoming Champions League match for a few weeks, so no excuses to rest our top players IMO. Very important one to win, as Everton are playing Man City Monday, so they could well drop points (fingers crossed!). Could shut a few mouths if we get equal with them and still have our match in hand!

Bouyed with confidence from Tuesday, we need a good attacking team, finish them early (for once!) and get our doubts behind us. 

3-0 or 3-1 I reckon !

[Billy1]

More of the same as last season will do for me,we won 2-0 with Stevie Gerrard scoring both goals.the team that day was Reina,Arbeloa,Riise,Carragher,Agger,Mascherano,Sissoko,Zenden,Pennant,Gerrard,Crouch.Kuyt replaced Sissoko after 50 minutes and Gonzalez replaced Stevie after 86 minutes.The other subs that day were Dudek,Hypia,Fowler,.It is interesting that 5 of those players are no longer with us.

[Brian78]

I tell ye what folks the crowd need to continue on from Tuesday as much as the team. I thought Anfield was cracking the other night and defo helped the lads. Now lets transfer that to our league form for f**k sake

As for the team I know some hear hate the thought of changing a winning team but I feel Xabi needs a game

[theinsider]

Didn't Carragher pick up a 5th yellow or did that not happen?

Just checked and he's on 4 with Mascherano on 5

[Rafa La Bamba]

Didn't Carragher pick up a 5th yellow or did that not happen?

Your the insider mate

[GERNS]

I just hope the tempo is high and we don't let the bas**rds have a moments rest. After Tuesday, we should be up for anything and everything. I f we don't win this one, while the confidence is high, then we need lynching.
Having said that, What team is going to start ?  Should be a comfortable  2-0 under normal circumstances.

[Bpatel]

I am feeling very confident about this match. It should be an easy win for us. The performance on Tuesday was exactly the performance we need to see. The players played very well and hopefully that game has lifted our confidences.

I am going for a 3-0 win for us.   

[7-King Kenny-7]

I would quite like to see the same line up that finished the game against inter milan because they are full of confidence and that is just what we need to move up the table, I think that we could win 4-0 if we go same line up. Torres 2, Kuyt, Gerrard


(its my birthday saturday so if they dont win I will not be happy )

[solodee]

Liverpool (2) Midd (0) Gerrard & Torres

[ShanerB]

Didn't Carragher pick up a 5th yellow or did that not happen?

Just checked and he's on 4 with Mascherano on 5

everyone, I think gareth southgate has infiltrated the forum! look at the username, if that doesn't draw suspicions then I dont know what will!

[Dadorious]

I think we need to run with the same team again. I would give Kuyt a start again I think he is close to regaianing confidence therefore needs as much game time as possible. Not going to predict any scores as I am always wrong. Also would not mind seeing someone from the youth team at least get a look in on the bench.

[Billy1]

 I would like to see RAFA start with the strongest team available and do this in every game.With 5 subs on the bench if a player looks tired then sub him.Just listened to Jan Molby on the radio and he said he cant fathom out why the Reds cannot get the same results in the league as we do in Europe.I am picking the REDS to get 3 points against Boro.

[solodee]

My wish is that these run of draws and losses will come to an end. We really out-played Inter milan the way we swept AC Milan out of the pitch last season (they won, sadly), Middlesborough wouldn't really survive with these teams, we ought to easily crush them.

[JD]

Carragher IS suspended for the game.  Expect Hyypia and Skrtel to start in defence.

[JD]

It is also Sami Hyypia's 454th game (or something like that) which puts in 20th position of all time Liverpool appearances.

Legend.

[F9T]

Carragher IS suspended for the game.  Expect Hyypia and Skrtel to start in defence.

I heard that Daniel Agger could be on the bench, I just can't remember what site, I'll post it as soon as I find it,

[donrafael]

I expect Arbeloa, Skrtel back...


                Pepe

Arbeloa  Skrtel  Sami   JAR

Yossi      Lucas  Xabi    Babel

           Torres Crouch

Subs: Charlie, Pennant, Kuyt, Gerrard, Finnan

[Brian78]

why would you drop Finnan Don? He was outstanding the other night. Likewise Kuyt is 2 from 2 so leave him there get his confidence back with a good run of games. Id actually leave Torres out as he played 90 mins the other night straight after a muscle injury. So Id go

                                                         Reina
Finnan                              Skrtel                        Hyppia               Aurellio

Pennant                          Alonso                         Gerrard            Babel

                                Kuyt                          Crouch


As I said I feel Xabi needs a game and its better to have Stevie with him more so then Masch

[7-King Kenny-7]

why would you drop Finnan Don? He was outstanding the other night. Likewise Kuyt is 2 from 2 so leave him there get his confidence back with a good run of games. Id actually leave Torres out as he played 90 mins the other night straight after a muscle injury. So Id go

                                                         Reina
Finnan                              Skrtel                        Hyppia               Aurellio

Pennant                          Alonso                         Gerrard            Babel

                                Kuyt                          Crouch


As I said I feel Xabi needs a game and its better to have Stevie with him more so then Masch

I can see where your coming from about leaving torres out but that is a big no! he scored a cracker against them last time and he will have the worried the whole game, he done well against Inter so keep the line up the same if possible, torres was left out before and we drew with birmingham and pomppey! you dont see united or arsenal resting there best striker. he completed 90mins so he is clearly ok.