Liverpool V Real Madrid Anfield 22/10/2014 - 20:45CET (19:45 local time)

and its off to the match I go....excited lots for another special European night at Anfield....let's hope by the time I get back tonight the forum is full of smiles 

COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS !!

Go-go go mate -have a nice evening,cause it will be a nice evening for all of us too hehe......... -sing your heart out, and tell all the present reds to do the same

 YNWA

So anxious/nervous/excited all in one!! I can't wait to watch this one!! Only down side is that I can't get away from the office to see it live, so I have to record it and watch it after work.... Gonna have to go on communication lockdown about 15 minutes before kickoff.....

This is the game where a new Kop hero can emerge!! Let's see who has the nerve to make a name for themselves!!

Certainly an option mate ... probably more mobile. Im desperately wanting rickie to do well ... this would be the game of his life.

If borini started ... id be ok with that.

But you dont pick someone who couldn't give a f*ck in the last game. You have a squad for a reason.

Can't afford to have passengers and to be playing with 10 men. All players need to be working and no room for laziness.

Come on, let's go for the win.

The point I'm making is that you're complaining about Balotelli not making runs and your solution to that problem is to replace him with a 32 year old who has a very similar style of play, i.e. Lambert is no more going to make runs in and around the box than Balotelli is so what exactly are you accomplishing? If you're going to drop Mairo then replace him with someone who gives you something different. Borini for example, or Sterling as a false 9. That's all I and others are pointing out.

But lambert would give us something different to balotelli. He would show for the ball, which mario doesnt. He would hold the ball, which mario doesnt. He would work hard, which mario doesnt. He would be physical, which mario isnt and he will put his head where it might get kicked which mario wouldn't. So whilst repecting your opinion ... you cannot debate that whilst not having alot of speed lambert does indeed give more to the team that balotelli does.

That said, sterling through the middle or borini would be fine by me. I don't want balotelli in the team, which is an opinion i am entitled to. He does not deserve a place in this team.

Usually matchday drags but just over 4 fecking hours to go! 

Start Sterling up beside Balo. Its an easy change if things aren't going to plan. Will scare the bejaysus out of Madrid if we do. He would have Pepe in his pocket all day long.

Can't afford to have passengers and to be playing with 10 men. All players need to be working and no room for laziness.

Come on, let's go for the win.

Exactly. Pick Balotelli and you have 10 players plus 1 passenger.

the money we have spent and we are scratching around to make a decent team up.I don't want Balotelli near the pitch if he starts sulking the crowd will turn nasty and we need positivity all night long.
I would definitely play Sterling with Lallana and Couthino linking up with Gerrard and Henderson holding.
What do we do sit back and defend or play on the front foot.despite the opposition we should never shy away from a fight at Anfield

I'm unsure about Balotelli.... he doesn't deserve to start, but he's one of them big game players and probably would score today....

But lambert would give us something different to balotelli. He would show for the ball, which mario doesnt. He would hold the ball, which mario doesnt. He would work hard, which mario doesnt. He would be physical, which mario isnt and he will put his head where it might get kicked which mario wouldn't. So whilst repecting your opinion ... you cannot debate that whilst not having alot of speed lambert does indeed give more to the team that balotelli does.

That said, sterling through the middle or borini would be fine by me. I don't want balotelli in the team, which is an opinion i am entitled to. He does not deserve a place in this team.

Lambert can hold the ball and bring other players in Balotelli does not provide other team mates with chances and that is a fact.

Lambert can hold the ball and bring other players in Balotelli does not provide other team mates with chances and that is a fact.

Thats the point I am trying to make. When we get the ball tonight it has to stick up top to allow the likes of sterling and maybe lallana or coutinho to play off that.

We don't have alot of options upfront. But balotelli would not start tonight. Lets be clear, if he does I will support him like any other player who pulls on our shirt. But i don't think he is good for the team ... and therefore the club and it would not surprise me to see him shipped out in january.

Our young Reds have set the tone for the main event later with a spirited 3-2 win this afternoon.

Don't care who starts tonight, everyone has a point to prove and if they can't do it on the biggest stage they don't deserve to be here.

I'm unsure about Balotelli.... he doesn't deserve to start, but he's one of them big game players and probably would score today....

I would go as far as to prematurely say that, this is Balotellis last chance at a guaranteed start. Hes crap in the non big games, if hes crap in the big then he is of no use to us.

All logic is saying that this will be a thumping by Real Madrid but I just have this funny feeling that our game is more suited against the bigger teams at the moment and with a bit of luck who knows. Mind you we probably used up most of our luck against QPR ;-)

Relax...We've got this.

I would go as far as to prematurely say that, this is Balotellis last chance at a guaranteed start. Hes crap in the non big games, if hes crap in the big then he is of no use to us.

Agreed.

I would go as far as to prematurely say that, this is Balotellis last chance at a guaranteed start. Hes crap in the non big games, if hes crap in the big then he is of no use to us.

The problem is that he is not the kind of player you want leading the attack. When Sturridge is back I'm confident we'll start seeing the best of Mario.

Balo will start and score and we will win. #believe

YNWA

The problem is that he is not the kind of player you want leading the attack. When Sturridge is back I'm confident we'll start seeing the best of Mario.

I have heard so many assumptions as to "the best of Balo".

Holds the ball up well.
Is quick.
Confident.
Scores Worldies.
And my favourite - got loads of potential.

Havent seen a glimmer of any of the above, so nothing to suggest he is going to be good in a front 2 either.

The biggest change I want to see from the squad today...is that all out press that we had last year. We shut down virtually every midfield we came across last year when our guys were flying all over the pitch, placing every player on the ball under immense pressure. Greatly effective and such a joy to watch. I wouldn't mind seeing the 5 in midfield again, as long as they bring the press.

Balotelli is due a great performance, it's frustrating when a renowned striker isn't knocking in blatant easy chances, but I've seen many top strikers fluff their lines. Think it may just be me, but I see him working hard since he came here.
He hasn't been getting top class service, that's all I see.
Can see him doing well on the big stage if he gets picked.

The teams form has been all over the place and hasn't impressed me, however we are still up there and not out of touch with the top, so I think this could be one of those games where we just click and shut all the naysayers and awestruck Real Madrid-wannabe-metrosexual fans up.

Class.

http://www.thesportbible.com/articles/carlo-ancelotti-has-his-say-on-liverpool-football-club

Lose
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