Portsmouth vs Liverpool - Pre-match

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Okay, we're out of the FA Cup but there's no point talking about 'what ifs' as it's all over. Yes, I hate losing to Everton but at least we're still in the race for the title and in the Champions League. Remember 2006/2007? We were thrashed by Arsenal in both the League and FA Cups but we went on to reach the Champions League Final. This season, may still end in glory for us.

With Steven Gerrard out, I guess we've got to go 4-4-2. And I have a feeling, we'll depend on Fernando Torres who looks to have come back in form last week with a brace. We've got 3 pretty tough games against Portsmouth, Man City and Real Madrid - all without Steven Gerrard.

There's no excuse, we can't afford to drop points anymore. The lads must do their best to win all these games.

------------------------------------------Reina----------------------------------------------

Arbeloa-------------Carragher-------------------Hyypia/Skrtel--------------Aurelio

Benayoun--------------Mascherano-----------------Alonso--------------------Riera

--------------------------Kuyt---------------------Torres----------------------------------

That looks like the best one at the moment. I feel Hyypia should get a game as we're gonna come up against Peter Crouch.
Not sure about Kuyt at the moment but probably him ahead of Ryan Babel. Benayoun should start after his impressive performances the past few weeks.

Come on Xabi, Benayoun, Riera, put some good supplies in and win the game.

Yes! Onwards and upwards. I'm happy to move on and think about more important games.

And I'd be happy to go along with your selection Ad.

I think with Gerrard out, changing to 4-4-2 and having Kuyt up with Torres will be good to try. Torres will have to play yet with all the running about he done on his own last night, it might be beneficial to have someone to share the graft up front.

We could also give Babel a go up with Torres, drop Riera or Benayoun to the bench and have Kuyt on the right.

Somehow, I think it will be Kuyt behind Torres in that Gerrard position though.

Is Xabi suspended for this game after his fifth booking against Chelsea?  And I'm guessing Lucas will be suspended too so who will partner Masch?

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I've a feeling this could be another 0-0.  Hope I'm wrong though.

Rafa will stick with 4-2-3-1 for this Im sure.

& he will use the squad, esp. after 120 mins last night.

- Arbeloa - Carra - Squirtle - Aurellio -
----------- Masch - Xabi --------------------
-El zar ----- Yossi -------------- Babel -
--------------- Torres -----------------------

Don't you think Benayoun has been playing pretty well, redkenny?
I think he deserves a start.

Fernando can come up with a goal out of nothing but good supplies would really be helpful too!

- Arbeloa - Carra - Squirtle - Aurellio -
----------- Masch - Xabi --------------------
-El zar ----- Yossi -------------- Babel -
--------------- Torres -----------------------

Will Squirtle use his water gun against Peter Crouch?

Are xabi & lucas both suspended ?

5 yellows.

Portsmouth are the whipping boys at the moment, just hope we can add to their misery!

Liverpool has to take advantage of Portsmouth's poor run of form and Man City's poor away form.

I forgot about Alonso, but I was under the impression his suspension starts after the Pompey game?

Edit:

Just had a look, Lucas is out.

Is Xabi suspended for this game after his fifth booking against Chelsea?  And I'm guessing Lucas will be suspended too so who will partner Masch?

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I've a feeling this could be another 0-0.  Hope I'm wrong though.

Thought Alonso misses Man City?

Thought Alonso misses Man City?

That's what I thought as well as his suspension was supposed to start from the 8th Feb.

From the FA: Suspended from all football until the Club have completed 1 first team match for 5/10/15 cautions - start date 8th Feb

------------------------------------------Reina----------------------------------------------

Arbeloa-------------Carragher-------------------Hyypia/Skrtel--------------Aurelio

Benayoun--------------Mascherano-----------------Alonso--------------------Riera

--------------------------Kuyt---------------------Torres----------------------------------

Think I would go with exactly the same team mate.

Was hopefully going to this game too but the woman who was going to give me the tickets has changed her mind


Hopefully they will put the FA Cup defeat behind them and carry on in the league with the momentum and drive we had picked up from doing Chelsea over.

3-0, Torres 2, Babel 1

I'd go with the Torres/ Babel upfront very pacy and maybe sit back and counter for a change at least until were two nil up, some of our bets goals last year and this have been quick breaks we struggle against dug in opposition and I'd have Yossi in ahead of Kuyt been showing some good form lately.

When Is Insua back?

i would go with babel behind torres just for pace and also give torres space to get behind defenders.

arebola----------carra----------skrtel----------aurelio

kuyt---------masc----------alonso----------riera

-----------------babel--------------------

------------------------torres----------------------------

Trying to rack my brain back to the Man United game when we didn't have Gerrard and Torres.

Keane was up front for that - so insert Torres there.

But I can't remember if Kuyt played up front, or if he played on the right and Benayoun played in Gerrard's position?

Anyone remember if it was 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 that day?

                   Reina

Arbeloa Carragher  Agger  Aurelio

Benayoun Masch Alonso   Babel

             Kuyt     Torres

Riera needs dropping for a couple of games. As a few people have pointed out he's gone way downhill recently. If we've got a decent lead by 65-70 minute then bring Torres off for Riera and stick Babel up top. I chose Agger over Skrtel as we're bound to be the more attacking team, and Agger is good at bringing the ball into the midfield. Which will hopefully push Alonso a five or ten yards further forward from time to time. As soon as Alonso entered Everton's third of the pitch in the second half yesterday he played a killer ball into Riera which he really should've done better with.

I'm quite worried about the City game. If Gerrard isn't fit and Alonso is suspended, we'll be looking pretty darn thin in the centre of midfield. Especially in an attacking midfield sense.

I dont like Benayoun on the right he comes in and narrows things too much Id like to see him up with Torres.

Don't forget Babel would be playing against Glen Johnson and I think his pace would cancel Babel out. Riera might offer us something different, although we could bring him on if things weren't working I guess.

Having to cope with injurys and suspentions I'm sure that Portsmouth will now expect to win and therein lies their downfall, I hope that Rafa starts with Babel along side Torres only because he has a better first touch than kuyt and kuyts distribution is not good in tight places like inside the 18yrd box, so I would like to see him in midfield because of his energy along with Xabi and Mascha. Wide right, Beny. Wide left, Reira. The defence takes care of itself with Aurelio Skrtel Carra Abeloa.

The only controversial place is kuyt in the middle but with his energy levels and our squad down to the bare bones he is well worth a try in that part of the field and who knows it may suit him......

I've a bad feeling about this match, think we might draw it 0-0, Portsmouth aren't as bad as there results say lately, watched them against Villa a couple of weeks ago at home and thought they were the better team, would take a one nil now.

would take a one nil now.

Think everyone would to be honest mate.

Just don;t want a draw.