Match Thread Liverpool V West Ham United 1/12/08

[MsGerrard]

FOUR CHANGES VERSUS WEST HAM
 
Jimmy Rice at Anfield 01 December 2008 

  Sami Hyypia, Yossi Benayoun, Andrea Dossena and Robbie Keane have been recalled for tonight's game against West Ham. You can listen to the clash in full on our Match Night Live show from 7.30pm GMT. 
Rafa Benitez makes four changes to the side that faced Marseille last week, with Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger all making way.
 
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Hyypia, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Riera, Keane, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Insua, Agger, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas, Ngog.  

[carragerrard]

 
The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Hyypia, Alonso, Gerrard, Benayoun, Riera, Keane, Kuyt.
Subs: Cavalieri, Insua, Agger, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas, Ngog.
 
      Hoped Babel to start today ..but all in all  a good solid side


  ps..... thanks to the mods for  joiniing the 2 threads

[paulrobbo]

Benayoun on the right and Gerrard behind Keane? Or Vica Versa?

[JD]

Scratching my head at the Benayoun inclusion.

With Torres and Aurelio out I would have thought the team was already weakened enough thanks.  Is there something written in Mascherano's contract or something?

Hmmm... maybe it was an attacking change.

Come on you reds!

[paulrobbo]

Bit of a strange change the Hyypia one and even the Mascherano one, with Bellamy being quite fast.

[carragerrard]

 I think gerrard as CM near Xabi  . replacing Mascherano

[paulrobbo]

Benayoun on the right and Gerrard behind Keane? Or Vica Versa?

I think gerrard as CM near Xabi  . replacing Mascherano

Ah, I didn't spot Kuyt. Of course.

[clint_call01]

come on reds we must win this game. Good starting XI.

[jimbob]

would rather have seen kuyt on the right masc in for benni and gerrard with keane. well now we will soon see. IMO not our strongest line up from those available but lets hope Rafa knows best

[JD]

Well Dossena and Keane were enforced returns.

Hyypia did a fantastic job against Pompey.

As for Benayoun, well he's been moaning about not getting his chance, so I expected him to score and set up a few tonight and we'll all agree he has a point, and we'll beg him to stay.

Or something like that.

[adammac]

I am not surprised Javi isn't playing, last two games he has been poor but I am confused with Sami playing, I don't see West Ham as a side going to be pumping long balls for Sami to eat up. It will be a simply 4-4-2 with Yossi on the right and Kuyt up top with Keane (well I hope)

[jimbob]

javi's last 2 games havent been up to much I'll agree, but with that in mind how comes insua hasnt had a start infront of dossena? I agree with the sami comment tho you'd think that giving our 2 centre halves (carra/agger) more and more time together would be a good thing. like I say lets all hope that rafa know's best

I am not surprised Javi isn't playing, last two games he has been poor but I am confused with Sami playing, I don't see West Ham as a side going to be pumping long balls for Sami to eat up. It will be a simply 4-4-2 with Yossi on the right and Kuyt up top with Keane (well I hope)

[carragerrard]

 
 A little bit worried about Sami and Dossena against Bellamy"s pace
 Lets hope they prove me WRONG
 COME ON YOU REDS == This is a must win

[ShanerB]

Sami's inclusion is a bit of a head scratcher, Bellamy will obviously be leading the line tonight and Agger has much more pace than Sami. Nice to see Insua on the bench though, would have rathered him starting but at least if Dossena's having another nightmare we've got decent back-up

[The Kopite91]

Good starting XI. Surprised by Sami's inclusion but it's replacin quality with quality. Maybe Agger will come in later to bring some energy to the back four when the likes of Sami will get tired with Bellamy's runs Agger will be fresh and alert! (just a guess???)

Nice to see Keane play in a 4-4-2. He does better with a man to work off.

[crouchinho]

Poses alot of questions this side. Maybe a 4-4-2? Benny on the right with Kuyt up top. 4-4-1-1 with Benny just in behind Keane. We'll soon find out.

[jimbob]

I agree with this. I think starting with agger is a far safer option against bellamy's pace, and then swap him for sami once we have a lead on them. but perhaps the experience of sami will pay through. we dont see what used to happen in training perhaps sami had bellamy all tied up in training sessions despite his pace?

Sami's inclusion is a bit of a head scratcher, Bellamy will obviously be leading the line tonight and Agger has much more pace than Sami. Nice to see Insua on the bench though, would have rathered him starting but at least if Dossena's having another nightmare we've got decent back-up

[JD]

You'd imagine Kuyt will play that holding role with Benayoun on the wing.

[andylfcynwa]

Dont know what to make of this team, as much as I like Sami he is suspect to pace have to get behind the boys, but Dossena does my head in,thought Babel would have started ,early goal would be a bonus,don,t expect us to miss a challenge tonight we have to give it our all ,come on you reds.

[JD]

Setanta Sports are f**king morons.

I can't believe whatever that fella's name is just said to McManaman 'Steven Gerrard would prefer to win a league title in a red shirt than a blue shirt wouldn't he?'

Where do they get these people?

[7-King Kenny-7]

I would have much prefered to have seen babel start on the right than Yossi. I want to know whn we are going to be seeing babel and riera start a game on either wing.

[smigger15]

Setanta have just covered the appeal from Sue Johnston though for the release of Michael Shields, so they are not all bad 

[jimbob]

it would be nice to see. both with pace and skill on the ball. riera has certainly proved he is more than capable of getting back to help out his defence, not something we see as much of from babel tho. but I still agree, it would be nice to see them stretching teams together on either flank

I would have much prefered to have seen babel start on the right than Yossi. I want to know whn we are going to be seeing babel and riera start a game on either wing.

[JD]

If they're presenter wasn't a complete useless tit asking the most inane questions I'm sure they wouldn't have.

[smigger15]

If they're presenter wasn't a complete useless tit asking the most inane questions I'm sure they wouldn't have.

At least they recognise that he is a complete tit 

[andylfcynwa]

One thing I will say about Sami it would be a shame if we got to the end of the season and won the league and he hadn,t played enough games for a medal ,for he deserves one for the service he has given us.

[JD]

The majority of predictions for tonight have gone for 2-0.

Only one person has not gone for a Liverpool win....

[CRK]

Good rallying cry from Sue Johnston there! Hope it ends up doing something though!

Come on you Redmen!  Let's go top tonight!

[JD]

Here we go. 

Come on reds - show us a decent Anfield performance.

[crouchinho]

Wonder if Lucas Neill will make any runs up the field? Is he game enough?