Pre-Match: Liverpool v Standard Liege

KEANE CONFIDENT OF EURO PROGRESS
 
Paul Eaton 27 August 2008 

  Robbie Keane believes Liverpool will make home advantage count when they look to book their place in the group stages of the Champions League against Standard Liege this evening. 
The third round qualifying tie remains in the balance following a goalless draw between the sides in Belgium a fortnight ago, but even though Keane accepts a tough test lies ahead tonight he is confident the home fans will be celebrating a place in tomorrow's draw come the final whistle.
 
"We know what a big game this is but then every game is a must win when you are at a club like Liverpool," he said.
 
"It was difficult when we played Liege away and we certainly weren't at our best that night but we know how important this game is because Liverpool need to be in the Champions League and I'm sure the lads will be right up for the game and looking forward to it.
 
"It was a tough game away. They played well and made things difficult for us but luckily Pepe Reina saved us when he saved a penalty and now we have to look to make the most of that by taking advantage of the fact that this time it's us who are at home.
 
"We know the fans will be right behind us because they are always fantastic, particularly on European nights, and hopefully we will give them something to enjoy tonight."
 
Keane is still looking to open his goalscoring account for the Reds following his summer switch from Spurs - but he insists his front-line partnership with Fernando Torres is improving by the match.
 
He said: "Fernando and myself managed to link up quite a few times against Middlesbrough on Saturday, so there are definitely a few signs there that the partnership is developing.
 
"It would obviously have been nicer if one of us would have scored but it doesn't really matter who gets the goals as long as someone does and the results follow, that's the most important thing."


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Let's hope Robbie manages to stick one or two away tonight, he'll get a great reception when he does.

I'm just about to leave home for my trip to Anfield...........I'm hoping for a few goals tonight and put a smile on everyone's face 

Enjoy the game folks.

Catch you all tomorrow 

COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS 
 
 

enjoy the game MsG, I know I will. Can't wait for the match, just started me European pre-match routine. 3 cheese buttys for me dinne

I'm going for 3-0 tonight. We're hard to beat at home never mind in the champions league, the players to score for me are: torres, alonso and gerrard.

I would say carragher but he's scored his goal at weekend which will cover him for the next 8 years haha


would like the team to be :

                          Reina

arbeloa     carragher      skrtel    dossena

pennant   alonso     gerrard     babel

               torres    keane

Don't ask me why but I have a gut feeling Rafa will play Benayoun on the left wing one more time tonight.

lilcisse, I like the team you put out but I think Rafa might bring Babel on in the 2nd half again.


I have a funny feeling we'll win this 3- 1 with Torres to score 1st and then Benayoun, yes Benayoun to score a brace to restore some of our lost faith in him. I think Anderlecht  will get a consolation goal from that afro haired left winger of theirs that missed the penalty.

Go you Reds

I would like to see:

                 Reina

Finnan     Carra      Skrtel      Dossena

Babel         Xabi      Stevie       Aurelio

         Keane                Torres

Aurelio is probably the best crosser at the club at the moment and could share the attacking/defending with Dossena.  Would much rather see Babel in the team than Kuyt but it's not likely.  Same goes for Finnan and Arbeloa.

Don't ask me why but I have a gut feeling Rafa will play Benayoun on the left wing one more time tonight.

lilcisse, I like the team you put out but I think Rafa might bring Babel on in the 2nd half again.


I have a funny feeling we'll win this 3- 1 with Torres to score 1st and then Benayoun, yes Benayoun to score a brace to restore some of our lost faith in him. I think Anderlecht  will get a consolation goal from that afro haired left winger of theirs that missed the penalty.

Go you Reds

But we're playing Standard Liege Aussie

I have a good feeling about tonight I mean seriously who are Stanrard Liege anyway? let's show them who they're messing with! 

Torres hat trick 

But we're playing Standard Leige Aussie

No we ain't! Not according to RTE!

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0825/liverpool.html

 :


Mascherano set to miss Anderlecht game

Javier Mascherano is unlikely to be involved in Liverpool's Champions League crunch tie against Standard Liege on Wednesday.

Mascherano led Argentina to a second consecutive Olympic title in Beijing after his country retained their crown by beating Nigeria in the football final and he is heading back to Merseyside after his triumph.

The 24-year-old midfielder was due to leave China at the weekend, but boss Rafael Benitez does not think he will be prepared enough to face the Belgian champions at Anfield in the third qualifying round, second-leg tie.

The match is poised at 0-0 after Liverpool's alarmingly poor performance a fortnight ago in the first leg in Belgium.

The Reds stand on the brink of losing a minimum of €12.5m prize money from UEFA if they fail to qualify for the group stages.

Benitez said: 'Javier will be back with us soon. But I do not think he will be in contention to play in Europe.

'He has spent too much time travelling and playing, that makes it difficult to be at your best.

'The same thing applied to Ryan Babel. He returned from China last week after Holland were knocked out, but I only really considered him as a substitute at the weekend.'

Babel came on for the final 25 minutes of Saturday's 2-1 home win over Middlesbrough, but looked short of fitness.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas has also returned to Liverpool from the Olympics.

ain't they Irish anyway? (no offence to our Irish members of course)

I'm going for 3-0 tonight. We're hard to beat at home never mind in the champions league, the players to score for me are: torres, alonso and gerrard.

I would say carragher but he's scored his goal at weekend which will cover him for the next 8 years haha


would like the team to be :

                          Reina

arbeloa     carragher      skrtel    dossena

pennant   alonso     gerrard     babel

               torres    keane

What's the point in playing Jermaine Pennant unless it's to put him in the shop window? And why do that in a game that's obviously very important... Not that no other game is, but you can see the point i'm trying to make.

Dirk Kuyt has got to stay in the side in my opinion... He doesn't offer the width that Jermaine Pennant does, but he offers so much more in other areas, and too often there is no end product from Pennant, plus would you consider Pennant match fit enough to start such an important fixture?

My side would be...

Reina
Arbeloa (Though i think Finnan should be getting a game ahead of him, it's not the fixture to bring Finnan back in)
Carragher
Skrtel (Again, perhaps Agger should be in ahead of Skrtel)
Aurelio

Kuyt
Alonso
Gerrard
Babel

Keane
Torres.

ain't they Irish anyway? (no offence to our Irish members of course)

I'm Irish and I posted it. I think it's hilarious. Let's hope Robbie Keane doesn't read their news website or he might be in an airport in Belgium right now looking at the times of the next train to Anderlecht.

What's the point in playing Jermaine Pennant unless it's to put him in the shop window? And why do that in a game that's obviously very important... Not that no other game is, but you can see the point I'm trying to make.

Dirk Kuyt has got to stay in the side in my opinion... He doesn't offer the width that Jermaine Pennant does, but he offers so much more in other areas, and too often there is no end product from Pennant, plus would you consider Pennant match fit enough to start such an important fixture?

My side would be...

Reina
Arbeloa (Though I think Finnan should be getting a game ahead of him, it's not the fixture to bring Finnan back in)
Carragher
Skrtel (Again, perhaps Agger should be in ahead of Skrtel)
Aurelio

Kuyt
Alonso
Gerrard
Babel

Keane
Torres.

Pennant needs all the games he can get! I don't think he will start or feature though and it looked as though he was gonna go this summer and he still might. 

I'm Irish and I posted it. I think it's hilarious. Let's hope Robbie Keane doesn't read their news website or he might be in an airport in Belgium right now looking at the times of the next train to Anderlecht.

That's one for the jokes thread duck!

Pennant needs all the games he can get! I don't think he will start or feature though and it looked as though he was gonna go this summer and he still might. 

He does need all the games he can get, but i'd prefer it to be for someone else.

Just getting ready for a few pre Anfield pints.

Come on you mighty reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait for this one now! Only a couple of hours left until kick-off. Don't feel stressed out for once, I do think we'll come through this one comfortably enough. I don't have any logical reason for it based on our last performances, but I have a gut feeling it will all come together tonight.

Hope I'm right!

Can't wait for this one now! Only a couple of hours left until kick-off. Don't feel stressed out for once, I do think we'll come through this one comfortably enough. I don't have any logical reason for it based on our last performances, but I have a gut feeling it will all come together tonight.

Hope I'm right!

corresct mate hope we get 4 goals

corresct mate hope we get 4 goals

Me too, though I'd settle for one more than them!

Guys and Gals, Game is not being shown here in the US. Funny because last year they had the qualifiers on GOLTV. Anyway please keep the posts updated. I'm going to say 4-0 Reds. Keane to cash in. Can't predict anybody else. Please any streams to the game, let me know.

Match thread up.

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php/topic,9116.0.html