Hertha Berlin v Liverpool, Tuesday 22nd July (6:45pm)

On Setanta this one.

Still no Stevie G. When are the Spanish lads back? They back for Villarreal? Got a feeling Kuyt might start up top with Pacheco.

2-1 win for L'pool. I've got a feelin Danny Agger is gonna score in this one. I'll have a guess at Babel gettin the other.

In work again! Problem with the pre-season ones is they're usually on at daft times!

Should be an easy win, give Pachecho a decent run out!

When are the Spanish lads back? They back for Villarreal? Got a feeling Kuyt might start up top with Pacheco.

Not too sure. Fingers crossed it'll be soon, possibly coinciding with a couple of new additions to the squad too!

Think the Spanish lads return after the Swiss training camp.

Definitely back for Villareal. 

Must admit to knowing very little about Hertha Berlin but again I expect another Voronin goal.  Put the Keane money away Rafa!

<this post may contain some sarcasm>

I believe the trio of Lucas, Javi and Babel will be gone to their pre-Olympic camps for their nations ?

I shall not be missing this game!! i have missed the last 2 and its been hell not watching them play, dread to think what i would do if i missed a 3rd game in a row

Think the Spanish lads return after the Swiss training camp.

Definitely back for Villareal. 

Must admit to knowing very little about Hertha Berlin but again I expect another Voronin goal.  Put the Keane money away Rafa!

<this post may contain some sarcasm>

Isn't this game in Germany? Think the training camp finishes today.

Not 100% though.

No Stevie G.
No Spanish lads
trio of Lucas, Javi and Babel will be gone to their pre-Olympic camps

Better take my boots might even get a run out

The spanish lads get back at the end of this week apparently.

i think we should win this game, even without so many players. I think i would play babel upfront with kuyt in this game in one half then with pacheco in the other half. Yossi RM, Pennant on the left plessis DM and spearing AM, and degen RB dossena LB agger and skrtel cb's. at HT bring on El Zhar so he can play at last haha, Leto and a few others, maybe darby, insua etc

A win would be class

I can't wait to see our very own Venison get a game. 

But hopefully we're going to see a bit more of our left back investment and get a bit more of an idea at how good he is at defending. I hope for his own confidence he has a good game.

Isn't this game in Germany? Think the training camp finishes today.

Not 100% though


yes this is mate, the berlin stadium which held the world cup 2 years ago, 67,000 seater.

Isn't this game in Germany? Think the training camp finishes today.

Not 100% though


yes this is mate, the berlin stadium which held the world cup 2 years ago, 67,000 seater.

Why answer your own question ?

Correct me if i'm wrong but Craig Linfield doesn't seem to be getting a chance this pre season. Whenever I've seen him play he looks very good, quick and agressive. Would have thought with our lack of strikers we could at even trleast give him a run out. Or hasn't he travelled with the rest.
Made up to see Spearing playing well but he may be like Guthrie definately good enough for the prem but not Liverpool's best midfield in the world. Shame. 3-0 tonight

REDS SET FOR OLYMPIASTADION TEST

Paul Hassall in Berlin 22 July 2008 

Liverpool face Hertha Berlin tonight in a clash that will see them lock horns in one of the most breathtaking stadiums in the world. 


The Olympiastadion Berlin - one of the German capital's most impressive sights - boasts a 76,000 capacity and was the venue for the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy.
 
It is the type of arena most professional footballers dream of performing in - and the Reds players are no exception.
 
Here's what Rafa and the boys told Liverpoolfc.tv about their thoughts on playing in such a fantastic stadium.
 

Rafa Benitez
It will be a great experience for the youngsters and it's always nice to play in such a prestigious stadium.
 
Fabio Aurelio
It's a fantastic stadium and will no doubt prove to be a great experience for us. We are now in better condition following the two matches in Switzerland and the game against Tranmere so we will hope to do better against a good opponent like Hertha Berlin.
 

Dirk Kuyt
"It's a great stadium and I remember being very impressed by it at the World Cup two years ago. We are looking forward to the game in Berlin and we will be expecting another tough test against Hertha.
 

Jay Spearing
It's definitely somewhere I'd love to play and be involved at. To play somewhere like that would be a great experience for me and I need to try and force my way in and show everyone what I am made of. 

********************************************************************************************

I think this will be quite a tough test tonight for the lads.

So I'm going for a slight victory to us by a 2-1 scoreline.

It will be interesting to see who Rafa plays tonight, as he's already managed to see most of the squad, I'd like to see Dossena get another go though, see what he can do.

What happened to livefooty.doctor-serv.com?  It's the only place I can watch the game and it seems to have gotten lost 

I think Voronin will prob net again. Would like to see Kuyt hitting goalscoring form. Babel will prob get a run in de striker role dats wat he wants to do.

PACHECO AND VORONIN FACE HERTHA
Paul Hassall in the Olympiastadion (Berlin) 22 July 2008 
  Daniel Pacheco will lead the line alongside Andriy Voronin as the Reds look to notch up their third win of the pre-season against Hertha Berlin in Germany. 
Jamie Carragher will once again skipper the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard while their also place in the starting XI for Jermaine Pennant, Sebastian Leto and Javier Mascherano.
 
New signing Andrea Dossena returns to the bench after making his debut against Wisla Krakow with Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Martin Skrtel also amongst the substitutes.
 
The Liverpool team in full: Cavalieri, Darby, Insua, Agger, Carragher, Plessis, Mascherano, Pennant, Leto, Pacheco, Voronin. Subs: Martin, Dossena, Hyypia, Skrtel, Degen, Benayoun, Kuyt, Spearing, Hobbs.

Do you think Rafa's hoping Voronin will score again tonight and tweak his price up a bit ? 

Do you think Rafa's hoping Voronin will score again tonight and tweak his price up a bit ? 

Probably, he's giving him plenty of chances anyway, isn't he?

Probably, he's giving him plenty of chances anyway, isn't he?

He's probably going to need them.

Although he's done pretty well so far this pre season.

 Link for the game ..havent tried it myself

http://lfcglobe.com/live-stream-hertha-berlin-sc-v-liverpool/

 seeing the game on a german free to air station  DSF on astra

A few people were backing Babel for striker's role or at least getting on the scoresheet, but he didn't even make the subs bench!  : I wonder if that's Rafa making his intention's clear for next season? After all, if he had been tempted to play Babel up front surely he'd be trying him out during pre-season?