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?

what was the song the berlin supporters where singing just before kick off? i recognise the tune 

Just got in from Town, any one catch the team?

Decent live link for the game

http://www.justin.tv/mstv_2     

Decent live link for the game

http://www.justin.tv/mstv_2     

Cheers tommo lar

Just got in from Town, any one catch the team?

Diego Cavalieri
Stephen Darby
Jamie Carragher (C)
Daniel Agger
Emiliano Insua
Jermaine Pennant
Damien Plessis
Javier Mascherano
Sebastian Leto
Dani Pacheco 
Andrei Voronin

Bench:
David Martin
Andrea Dossena
Sami Hyypia
Martin Skrtel
Philip Degen
Jack Hobbs
Yossi Benayoun
Dirk Kuyt
Jay Spearing

having to watch it on that link posted above because setanta is'nt bloody well working for me

Cheers for that ArkansasRed, and welcome the forum

Why is Voronin always going to the right hand wing???

Pennant is linking up well with the strikers as always, I hope he gets more games next season.

Why is Voronin always going to the right hand wing???

May be the tracking on his boots need checking, should go to Kwikfit, and see JD (Rafa)

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

I reckon hes going to keep him, and give him a chance?

May be the tracking on his boots need checking, should go to Kwikfit, and see JD (Rafa)

Nice link

Quite a boring half of football, not much in attacking on each side.

half time, hopefully we will see a better 2nd half

Masch looks like he's just turning up a gear

Cheers for that ArkansasRed, and welcome the forum

Thanks. Been a long-time reader, figured I'd add a bit to the discussion from time to time.

I'm actually flying out to the UK tomorrow and will spend the first four days in Liverpool. Crossing my fingers I'll get to go to the opening match at Sunderland as well. I was at Anfield for the 4-1 last March and it was great.

But back to the game. Darby looked decent in the back. Not much else to say so far.

Bye Bye Vororin

Just missed one on one from 12 yds out aka a PEN 

Everton are winning in pre-season, this is not a drill!

Everton are winning in pre-season, this is not a drill!

Sorry please say that again I thought you said Eveton were winning 

must be some pub team called everton

Bye Bye Vororin

Just missed one on one from 12 yds out aka a PEN 

Calm down lad!!! hahahah
He scores in every pre season game has a pen saved and you want his balls in a vice...hahaha

Calm down lad!!! hahahah
He scores in every pre season game has a pen saved and you want his balls in a vice...hahaha

Yes, a rusty vice :

Well done VORONIN haha just a really good penalty that, all them people giving me grief saying give him a chance I just gave him one just missed a pen!!!! F*** off to the German league! Cavlieri looks very dodgy I have to say can he not hold anything! and Dossena MMMM I will give them time just adapting to the game!

why the hell did he take it, he didnt do what bellamy done and take it off someone did he? i think one of the kids should have taken it, could have done wonders for their confidence

how is the game going? i have lost all coverage of it

Back on at

http://www.justin.tv/mstv_2

Boring as f** roll on August 16th and them famous European nights at Anfield

why the hell did he take it, he didnt do what bellamy done and take it off someone did he? I think one of the kids should have taken it, could have done wonders for their confidence

how is the game going? I have lost all coverage of it

Cable soccar at the top, (Sopcast) giving a great link/coverage

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=15131&part=sports

Attendence for this friendly 51,641!!!

I wounder how much the tickets were, cheaper than £17 I bet.

voronin, dont bother getting the plane back to liverpool! go sign for a german team and be done with it! some one will post your belongings

Attendence for this friendly 51,641!!!

I wounder how much the tickets were, cheaper than £17 I bet.

£8 FFS we are totally being ripped off, Season ticket @ 109 euros.

voronin, dont bother getting the plane back to liverpool! go sign for a german team and be done with it! some one will post your belongings

I think your being a bit harsh-= i'am not saying we should keep him but he played well tonight and i feel he was are best player. I know he missed the penalty but hes not the first player to miss a penalty

voronin, dont bother getting the plane back to liverpool! go sign for a german team and be done with it! some one will post your belongings

Dont like Voronin very much do you Kenny?

Dont like Voronin very much do you Kenny?

i would'nt say that  :

Never mind when he dose leave , you can pack his bags, and personally take him to the airport to make sure he has gone for good.

Never mind when he dose leave , you can pack his bags, and personally take him to the airport to make sure he has gone for good.

will do

voronin, dont bother getting the plane back to liverpool! go sign for a german team and be done with it! some one will post your belongings

Have to agree with you there Kenny    In fact I'll volunteer to take his belongings over to him !!

I missed the second half cause my stream was terrible.    Was it a bad penalty miss or just a good save? 

From what I saw in the first half, it wasn't the best of games.

Voranin impressed me today a bit.he seems technically good, but his reading of the game is tripe...but i think we should sell him.....

our strikers never really got a look in,
pennant really dissapointed me.
dossena looked good, spearing impressed
new goaly look ok , made a few decent saves

bad points.... pennant, insula

Didn't get to see too much of the game but from what I did see, Degen & Dossena looked pretty good?

didn't see the game, was at a barby in me nans. f***in horrible an all, me mate told me the highlights of the game and he said it wasn't exactly excitin. said i didn't miss much.

but like i said after the last game there's always positives, we're still unbeaten which installs an air of confidence that nobody can beat us and it's another clean sheet which will give the keeper and defence another boost of confidence.

Poor game tonight, nobody really did anything outstanding,  It felt a bit lacklustre to me.......  apart from Stephen Darby who was exceptional in the first half.

I will be glad to see Stevie and the Spanish lads back, to give the team a bit of bite.

Not much else to say to be honest.

Will look forward to hearing what Venison has to say on his return, I fully expected to see him on at half time

the 1st few games of pre-season when the big guns are'nt playing are dull though and its been the same every season for god knows how long, last year pre-season was'nt great until torres appeared

RAFA READY TO WELCOME BACK TORRES

Steve Hunter in Berlin 22 July 2008 

  Rafa Benitez reflected on the goalless draw with Hertha Berlin by suggesting Liverpool's level of play will step up a gear when Spanish quartet Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa return to training on Friday. 
The Spanish players have been on extended leave after their wonderful achievement in winning Euro 2008, and despite taking several positives from the Olympic Stadium stalemate, Benitez is looking forward to having them back with the squad again.
 
"All the Spanish players will be back training with us on Friday," he said. "Torres will be one of them and hopefully we will see the difference in our play because of the quality these players showed last season."
 
Benitez's squad are now on their way back to England after Tuesday's draw.
 
Andriy Voronin came the closest to scoring for the Reds when he had a penalty saved, while new Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri impressed with a second-half stop to deny countryman Cicero.
 
"Diego showed the quality he has with a really good save," said Benitez. "He is learning how we do things here and getting to know the players. I think he will be a good player for us.
 
"I thought the game was played at a high tempo and both teams were working hard. We had chances and they did too, so a draw was probably a fair result.
 
"The work-rate of the players was really good. We made some mistakes but that is normal for pre-season. We also did some really good things.
 
"When you have four of five players who normally play not available it's not always easy to play at your highest level, but the young players have done well. The players have worked hard in the training camp and that is positive for us."
 
Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano played his first 90 minutes of pre-season before he heads out to the Olympics with Argentina on Wednesday.
 
"It was important to give Javier his first 90 minutes," added the boss. "We needed to use him before he goes to the Olympics."


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

Talking of Torres   

He, along with the rest of the Spanish contingent will be back on Friday.

Will be good to see them back next week in the Villarreal game.

I'm sure they'll get a rousing reception from the crowd after their achievements in the Euro's.

Hopefully their success will rub off on the rest of the squad, cos they'll be buzzing when they get back
 
 

there is no hopefully about it MsG

there is no hopefully about it MsG

Ok then.........Definitely the success of the Spanish boys will rub off on the squad 

Better? 7-king kenny-7 

much better

I missed the first 15 minutes but I believe it was the same as the following 30 minutes. From what I seen though, as already mentioned, Darby was the one who impressed me the most in the first half. He goes about his business and plays his football in the most simple way with lots of enthusiasm. He's always proved his captaincy in the reserves for me and I think he'd take on the challenge of some first team league games with pure professional determination.

As for our much talked about striker since the pre season started, I'm not going to give him a hard time. I felt he wasn't good enough when it mattered last season. He puts in the effort but isn't switched on enough. And as for his pen, it wasn't a terrible one - I've seen Robbie Fowler hit the post against the bitters... While he's in a red shirt, he deserves support. But I'll be concerned about our ambitions if he stays and starts games in the league.

Second half for me was slightly better. The introduction of Benayoun and Kuyt helped a bit where keeping possesion up front was concerned.
I'm still not sure about Dossenas defending abilities, but he seems to ghost up into some good positions in the box when we're on the attack. Interesting.

On the whole though, I'm glad for no injuries, a clean sheet and another good workout.

I'm a little concerned about the depth of our squad where attacking is concerned though. The only one who's looked able of causing real problems in the final third so far for me is Pacheco.

This was the first time in my life i have ever seen Liverpool play live...the feeling was just unbelievable it is beyond words i was literally skipping to the gates ticket in hand i wanted to hi 5 every lad wearing the red shirt but then i saw there was about 20,000 of them only because back at home finding a liverpool fan is like finding a needle in a haystack. Our tickets were sort of front row but in the middle of the Herta fans right across the stadium from the Liverpool faithful so we were kind of shitty. At half time we decided to try and switch sides and get in amongst our lads we tried 4 gates and the ticket lads were so harsh they sacked us on all 4 occassions so we tried the last gate and after 10 minutes of pelading somehow we got through and the support was unreal by our fans I mean only liverpool can pull in 52000 for a friendly match so i pretty much had goosebumps the entire second half i felt proud to be a supporter of this club it is beyond words honestly i still cant soak it all up now.

In terms of the match in all honesty it was the first time i saw some of the young lads on show and  Rafa is right none of them are ready for the first team yet well Plessis is an acception but Pacheco is a little lad playing with men he had some good touches but never showed the grit to warrant him a place amonfg the 18. Insua was ok at best and Leto in my opinion does not have a future at Anfield. Watching the match live i came to appreciate the intensioty and the pace of the game it was hectic and a draw was well deserved not alot of chances by either side. Voronin was a standout as was Marcherano the rest were very average. To comment on our new signings Degan seems to be the sh*t and Dossena looks very slow lets hope that is purely due to the offseason and a lack of preseason training.

Glad you had a good time Dadorious !!    Its a brilliant feeling watching the Reds play isnt it  ?  Wait till you actually visit Anfield !! 

Bloody time difference. I was just waking up and heading off to school while they played.

Glad to see i missed nothing on a personal note but hope the boys show some form very soon.

A bit late just found a few pictures on my phone, that old German beer must of been strong cant remember taking them  impressive stadium shame about the 0-0 game of football, all said and done a enjoyable couple of days

Glad you enjoyed yourself and got home safely mate.
It is an impressive stadium isn't it.

Glad you enjoyed yourself and got home safely mate.
It is an impressive stadium isn't it.

You can imagine what it would of been like for the 1936 Olympics,

Just about made it back lost my extremely drunk mate eventally found him. fair play to the police they looked after him and put a call out over the loud speakers, after I had given up on him and was heading back to the station. eventually got him in a taxi only for him to get out again 5 minutes later, then got him on a bus back to a bar near the hotel. he couldn't remember a thing after halftime. and hasnt touched a drop since

will definitely return return to have a proper look around Berlin,

You can imagine what it would of been like for the 1936 Olympics,

Just about made it back lost my extremely drunk mate eventally found him. fair play to the police they looked after him and put a call out over the loud speakers, after I had given up on him and was heading back to the station. eventually got him in a taxi only for him to get out again 5 minutes later, then got him on a bus back to a bar near the hotel. he couldn't remember a thing after halftime. and hasnt touched a drop since

will definitely return return to have a proper look around Berlin,

Are the swimming baths still outside the stadium mate ?

Are the swimming baths still outside the stadium mate ?

Didnt look I forgot to take my Speedos