Pre Match: Psv vs Liverpool

Vs

The Liverpool squad in full that have travelled for this game:
Reina, Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Carragher, Arbeloa, Darby, Kelly, Spearing, Gerrard, Alonso, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Riera, Keane, Babel, Ngog.


Rafa ready to shuffle pack in Holland http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_4605189,00.html

Rafa Benitez is preparing to make several changes for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

The Reds have already qualified for the last 16 of the competition and Benitez has the luxury of being able to rest players for his side's final Group D game.

Liverpool will still be looking to secure top spot ahead of Atletico Madrid but Benitez wants to rotate his squad in Holland.

The likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa could be left out, meaning Lucas, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, David Ngog and goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri are all in contention to start.

Benitez, who may even gamble on rookie reserves Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing, said: "It is difficult to say now who will play in Eindhoven, but it is clear that we will be making several changes.

"But we will probably take most of the senior players because of the prospect of injuries.

"The players are involved in more matches these days. Kuyt, Carragher and Arbeloa have all played a lot of games this season.

"But we have to send out a squad with four local players because of the regulations, so that does not make it easy.

"We cannot obviously, use young players who are not on the list registered for the tournament, so we are limited in making many changes.

"But Lucas will be involved. People have criticised him recently but he has been working so hard, he is the kind of player with a great character who will become very important for us."
Difficult

Benitez is wary of the threat posed by PSV as they seek to clinch a place in the Uefa Cup.

"There is still a lot on the match itself. It is still important for PSV and Marseille to get points to get into the Uefa Cup," said the Reds boss.

"But it will be difficult for Marseille against Atletico because their opponents are very good on the counter-attack and dangerous.

"And PSV also need to win, so they will make it very difficult for us. They have ability, pace and they are playing at home."

Important

Finishing top should benefit Liverpool in the draw for the next stage but Benitez realises that it is not quite so straightforward.

He explained: "It is difficult to know whether you want to finish first or second in the group.

"We cannot play an English side in the last 16, so that reduces the options.

"Looking at the groups we could finish top and still end up playing against Juventus or Real Madrid, it is also possible to face Lyon or Bayern Munich so it is very difficult to decide who you would rather play next.

"The best thing about winning the group is that you play the second leg of the next round at Anfield, which is very important for us."
                                                                                                                                               
I will play like this:
              Cavalieri
Darby  Carra.  Agger  Insua
               Plessis
Benayoun    Lucas      Babel   
          Ngog    Keane

Subs: Reina, kelly, dossena, gerrard, spearing, reira, kuyt. My pred 1-1 keane scoring. I would like more to feature spearing rather than plessis but rafa played him more.

             Cavalieri
Darby  Carra.  Agger  Insua
               Plessis
Babel         Lucas      Reira   
          Ngog    Keane

I'd go with that line up

             Cavalieri
Darby  Carra.  Agger  Insua
               Plessis
Babel         Lucas      Reira  
          Ngog    Keane

I'd go with that line up

Mine pred. squad and yours are very similar. the only change is that of babel & reira(i think yours is better).

Mine pred. squad and yours are very similar. the only change is that of babel & reira(I think yours is better).

I'll take that victory and run with it

I'll take that victory and run with it

Hope we win this match to be the leaders but I do think that we will neither win nor lose.

I'd go for

                 Reina

Darby   Agger   Carragher   Insua

El Zhar     Lucas     Plessis    Riera

               Keane    Babel

Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Arbeloa, Alonso, Pennant, N'Gog, Kuyt

I cant see Cavalieri playing because he had a shocker in the Carling Cup and because we are figting ith Athl. Madrid for top spot we need the best goal difference so with Reina in goal at least we are more likely to keep a clean sheet.

my prediction will be 2-1 with keane and ngog on the scoresheet.

                                     Cavalieri

            Darby           Hyypia      Agger         Insua

                          Mascherano     Plessis

           Pennant                  Lucas                 Babel

                                       Keane

                                 

I'd go for

                 Reina

Darby   Agger   Carragher   Insua

El Zhar     Lucas     Plessis    Riera

               Keane    Babel

I think he isn't qualified to play in champions league like hyypia.

                                     Cavalieri

            Darby           Hyypia      Agger         Insua

                          Mascherano     Plessis

           Pennant                  Lucas                 Babel

                                       Keane

                                      Keane

I think we have one keane in our squad 

Can't see many youngers playing,bar insua and maybe darby,more fringe players like KEANE!!!!

Pennant?Babel,Ngog.etc

Pennant?Babel,Ngog.etc

Not Pennant. He doesn't deserve to play for us.

Reina

Arbeloa     Agger     Carragher     Insua

Benayoun     Plessis     Lucas     Babel/Riera

N'gog     Keane

Subs: Cavalieri, Darby, Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard (just in case), Babel/Riera, Kuyt

I'd go for:

_{------------Cavalieri-------------
------Agger---------Sami--------
Darby----------------------Insua
---------Plessis----Lucas---------
El Zhar----------------------Babel
------------Keane----------------
----------------Nemeth-----------}

Hopefully we won't be as bad as against Tottenham.

I'd go for:

_{------------Cavalieri-------------
------Agger---------Sami--------
Darby----------------------Insua
---------Plessis----Lucas---------
El Zhar----------------------Babel
------------Keane----------------
----------------Nemeth-----------}

Hopefully we won't be as bad as against Tottenham.

Sami isn't in the UCL squad, and I'm sure Nemeth isn't either.

Sami isn't in the UCL squad, and I'm sure Nemeth isn't either.

& El zhar too

You can trust this wont be the B team.

Reina
Arbeloa
Carra
Agger
Dossena
Xabi
Stevie
Yossi
Babel
Kuyt
Keane

You can trust this wont be the B team.

Reina
Arbeloa
Carra
Agger
Dossena
Xabi
Stevie
Yossi
Babel
Kuyt
Keane

Sorry mate but don't agree with you 'cos rafa said that he will rotate or change players.

Sami isn't in the UCL squad, and I'm sure Nemeth isn't either.

Proper rookie error that.

I may be wrong, I haven't seen much of him, but what I have seen, I don't think Ngog could score in a brothel with a £50 note hanging out his arse pocket. I think we will win on Tuesday but not with Ngog. Keane and Babel mabey. Insua's worth his place at L.B as well. The form of Lucas is a bit worrying for me. Needs a good first 15 mins to up his confidence. We will need to keep the game at a high tempo. The dutch liketo play more slowly in the build up, we need to keep pressing the ball and hurry them up. That will put them out of thier stride a bit.
We can do this and go top in the group with plenty of goals but only with experienced strikers. Ngog won't do it for us i'm sure.There's his invite for a hat trick then !

I may be wrong, I haven't seen much of him, but what I have seen, I don't think Ngog could score in a brothel with a £50 note hanging out his arse pocket. I think we will win on Tuesday but not with Ngog. Keane and Babel mabey. Insua's worth his place at L.B as well. The form of Lucas is a bit worrying for me. Needs a good first 15 mins to up his confidence. We will need to keep the game at a high tempo. The dutch liketo play more slowly in the build up, we need to keep pressing the ball and hurry them up. That will put them out of thier stride a bit.
We can do this and go top in the group with plenty of goals but only with experienced strikers. Ngog won't do it for us i'm sure.There's his invite for a hat trick then !

Did you watch N'Gog in pre-season?

Inusa is also not in the UCL squad so we will have to use Dossena I guess. It will be a lot of fringe players

- - - - - - - - - - - Diego - - - - - - - - - -

Darby - - - Carra - - Agger - - Dossena

Kuyt - - - - Lucas - - Gerrard - - Yossi

- - - - - - - - N'gog - - Keane - - - - -

Subs: Pepe, Kelly, Spearing, Alonso, Riera, Javi, Babel

 I think Rafa will put out the strongest team possible as he wants to finish top of the group.Athletico Madrid will have a battle to overcome with Marseille so this is a good opportunity for us to secure top spot.Also as I hit the big 70 on Wednesday I think the Mighty REDS owe me for my support for over 60 years.So go RAFA and the lads knock P.S.V. for 6 or even 7 and make my day.

This are the players that can play in Champions league taken from http://uefa.com:

1   Diego Cavalieri »
25   Pepe Reina »
2   Andrea Dossena »
5   Daniel Agger »
12   Fábio Aurélio » Injured
17   Álvaro Arbeloa »
23   Jamie Carragher »
27   Philipp Degen » Injured
32   Stephen Darby »
34   Martin Kelly »
36   Steven Irwin »
37   Martin Škrtel »[/s] Injured
8   Steven Gerrard »
14   Xabi Alonso »
15   Yossi Benayoun »
16   Jermaine Pennant »
20   Javier Mascherano »
21   Lucas »
26   Jay Spearing »
7   Robbie Keane »
9   Fernando Torres » Injured
11   Albert Riera »
18   Dirk Kuyt »
19   Ryan Babel »
24   David N'Gog »

Just make sure none of the players get injured. Tricky game against Hull

Not being funny but Cavalieri? Are they F***ing joking.

This isn't a friendly.

Some are failing to realise, if we dont come first then we play either Juventus, Scum, Chelsea, Arsenal, Inter, Barca, Roma, Bayern and Lyon. Compare that to Panathinaikos, Sporting, Villareal, Porto, Bordeaux, Real Madrid (a very confidence shot Madrid). All guns blazing in this match, we need to win by one goal more than Atletico.

                              Reina

Arbeloa       Carragher        Agger       Dossena

                          Mascherano

  Kuyt           Alonso           Gerrard        Riera 

                              Babel

Cavalieri   Keane   Lucas   Darby  Benayoun  N'Gog  Spearing

I have no doubt we will win, but which Liverpool is going to rock up? The 1-0 Liverpool or the 6-0 side.

KUYT STAYS BEHIND AS REDS LAND IN HOLLAND
Joe Curran in Eindhoven 08 December 2008 from lfc.tv
   
The Liverpool squad have arrived safely in Eindhoven ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League clash with PSV.
Flight ZT4741 left John Lennon Airport at approximately 11am GMT and, after a moderately pleasant flight, the plane touched down at Eindhoven International Airport at 1.30pm local time.
 
Rafa Benitez's men seemed in good spirits en-route to southern Holland as they look to finish their Group D campaign with a victory at the Philips Stadium.
 
There were a few absences from the travelling squad, however. Dirk Kuyt stayed at home to recover from a slight hamstring strain he picked up towards the end of Saturday's 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, while Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Philip Degen are all out with hamstring, knee, calf and foot injuries respectively.
 
Reserve team starlets Martin Kelly, Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing were also included in the trip to Eindhoven, where the current temperature is a chilly three degrees Celsius.
 
The Liverpool squad in full: Reina, Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Carragher, Arbeloa, Darby, Kelly, Spearing, Gerrard, Alonso, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Riera, Keane, Babel, Ngog.

I feel Rafa will put out a fairly mixed team tomorrow night.  He wants to win this game, so I feel sure there will be some first teamers as well as reserves in there, like Spearing and Darby,  would be nice to finish top of the tree as well.

Don't want to take any chances so I'm sure the big names will be in there too, and then depending on the scoreline, make changes later in the second half.

Please play Pepe in goal, Rafa, we want to win this 

Just pray we don't get any more injuries  :

Only one recognised left back in the team

Only one recognised left back in the team

That is dossena, we can wait a see what happened.

This is a game Rafa wants to win but he has also hinted at resting 1 or 2 like Arbeloa. Maybe a chance for Darby?

Reina

Darby Carra Agger Dossena

      Lucas Mascherano

Yossi    Babel    Riera

          Keane

Subs: Cavalieri,Kelly,Gerrard,N'Gog,Arbeloa,Alonso,Spearing

Hope he leaves Yossi in as theres no point him scoring Saturday getting a bit of confidence and then leave him out next game.

Ive left Stevie out as I think he might be another rested by Rafa

This is a game Rafa wants to win but he has also hinted at resting 1 or 2 like Arbeloa. Maybe a chance for Darby?

Reina

Darby Carra Agger Dossena

      Lucas Mascherano

Yossi    Babel    Riera

          Keane

Subs: Cavalieri,Kelly,Gerrard,N'Gog,Arbeloa,Alonso,Spearing

Hope he leaves Yossi in as theres no point him scoring Saturday getting a bit of confidence and then leave him out next game.

Ive left Stevie out as I think he might be another rested by Rafa

Switch Babel for Keane. Then you have a team.

This is a game Rafa wants to win but he has also hinted at resting 1 or 2 like Arbeloa. Maybe a chance for Darby?

Reina

Darby Carra Agger Dossena


     Lucas Mascherano

Yossi    Babel    Riera

          Keane

Subs: Cavalieri,Kelly,Gerrard,N'Gog,Arbeloa,Alonso,Spearing

Hope he leaves Yossi in as theres no point him scoring Saturday getting a bit of confidence and then leave him out next game.

Ive left Stevie out as I think he might be another rested by Rafa

absolutly sign. But in fact i would also switch Babel and Keane like Eem said. Why we don't switch Insua for Dossena?

Insua,isnt even in the champions league squad.I suspect Darby,cavalieru,Lucas will all play.

Insua,isnt even in the champions league squad.

That's right. I've stuck the squad that's travelled in the first post of this thread - even though it was posted a few posts ago.

Hard to think how we'll line up for this. It's an important game obviously but you never know how Rafa will set it up with us being through. In these circumstances he likes a few changes doesn't he.

I think Keane is a cert to start. Whether he'll just stick with the favoured one up front or throw Ngog in alongside Keane is anyones guess.

It'll be interesting to see how the midfield are set up as well. If it's 4-4-2, then both Gerrard or Alonso probably wont start. If it's the 4-5-1 then Alonso might still be left on the bench with Gerrard possibly playing behind the striker. Either way, I reckon it will probably be Lucas and Mascherano the most likely pairing.

Out of the ressie lads, the most likely are going to be Cavalieri and Darby I'd say. But again who knows.

One thing is for sure, they'll be trying to have a go because there's still the UEFA cup place to play for, for them. So we've got to go out there and put in a performance no matter who's picked to play.

I don't want to see us being too casual because we're already through. But ironically enough, we may well see us put a good performance in because there's not much pressure....

To be honest, we can win and still finish second.

The way we're playing I think we would all have our eyebrows going if we hammered them.  Gut feeling thinks we will finish second, but I'm sure Marseille and Atletico will have some issues so that may be a tasty affair.

Either way, some players will get picked who haven't been firing on all cylinders for Liverpool.

They will have a real chance tomorrow to give Rafa some selection issues on Saturday.  All eyes will be on Keane.

All I can say is that I want our top players rested for Hull game on saturday.Gerrard,Xabi,Kuyt-we'll need them more on saturday.
Keane should grab his chance and score(it"s about time),Babel can also use some space upfront against offensive home side.

Stevie, Xabi, Jamie, Dirk and probably Javier and Pepe should be rested before the hull game.

we just need to make sure no one gets injured. Probably give Darby, Benayoun, Babel and Lucas chances

LUCAS: WE'VE COME HERE TO WIN

Joe Curran in Eindhoven 09 December 2008 

  Lucas Leiva today reiterated how his Liverpool teammates intend to finish top of Group D by beating PSV Eindhoven this evening. 
The Reds are already assured of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after taking 11 points from a possible 15 in the group stages, but the versatile midfielder insists they will be going all out to take top spot in order to be sure of playing the second leg of the next round at Anfield.
 
"It's not clear who we will play in the next round, because there is a lot to be decided in the other games," said Lucas, who has picked up five caps for the Brazil senior side and has also captained his country at under-20 level.
 
"We know how important it will be for us to play at Anfield, especially the second game of the next round, so that's why we have come here to win.
 
"We have to try to win against PSV Eindhoven because we really want to finish first."
 
Lucas also responded to recent criticisms from the crowd after two successive 0-0 stalemates in the league, saying: "It was a difficult time in that particular game against Fulham. We were playing at home and couldn't score.
 
"I just want to worry about what we are doing as a team.
 
"As I said before, I just want to improve my performance and help the team stay at the top of the Premier League, and hopefully we can win our group in the Champions League too."

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

AGGER: NO MOTIVATION NEEDED TONIGHT
 
Steve Hunter 09 December 2008 

  Daniel Agger insists Liverpool will not be taking things lightly against PSV Eindhoven despite the fact that qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League is already secured. 


With Sami Hyypia ineligible for the group stages of the competition, the Danish international is expected to return to Rafael Benitez's starting line-up in Holland tonight.
 
The Reds number five claims the team will not be resting on their laurels and said there will be no motivation needed ahead of the match.
 
"It's easy to say this is just another game but every one is important to us," Agger told Liverpoolfc.tv.
 
"Being already through is a great thing because there's no pressure on us but we want to win every game and that is what we will try to do tonight.
 
"I enjoy playing no matter what, whether it be the Carling Cup or the Champions League. To play for Liverpool is always a big thing for me.
 
"I want to win every game and play well in every game. I don't need a lot of motivation because to play for Liverpool is the biggest part of it.
 
"As a team we don't need any motivation for this game. We need to give 100 per cent every time we play because the other teams are good enough to beat us.
 
"Any Dutch team is quite good technically and PSV like to play the ball on the ground and keep possession, but we've played them quite a few times in recent years and have got some good results."
 
As for the team Liverpool could face in the knockout stages of the Champions League, the Dane insists he's given it no thought.
 
"I think we have to focus on doing this job properly and then think about the next stage after that," added the former Brondby defender

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


Good to see both Lucas and Agger positive for tonight's game, as I'm sure both will be involved, Agger more so than Lucas I suspect.

Really important  to win so we can have the second leg at Anfield, we all know what happened against Chelsea 


Dirk Kuyt has been left behind on Merseyside Ad, due to an injury he picked up at Blackburn on Saturday.

Made me laugh yesterday on LFC TV when the reporter was in Holland going through the list of players who hadn't made the trip to Eindhoven, Degen injured, Kuyt injured, Torres injured etc, and then he said "Jermaine Pennant, well, he hasn't been selected for this trip"  Well what a surprise !!!

 

Insua,isnt even in the champions league squad.I suspect Darby,cavalieru,Lucas will all play.

thanks mate a forgot about it

damn, would like to see insua actually. he's better in that blackburn game than dossena who has played more games

http://www.4-4-2.com/displaynews/date/2008/12/09/liverpool-ohne-kuyt.html

Kuyt is out as well. But i can't say this is serious.

We've already qualified, don't really need him and i read he stayed home cause of a slight injury

Some are failing to realise, if we dont come first then we play either Juventus, Scum, Chelsea, Arsenal, Inter, Barca, Roma, Bayern and Lyon. Compare that to Panathinaikos, Sporting, Villareal, Porto, Bordeaux, Real Madrid (a very confidence shot Madrid). All guns blazing in this match, we need to win by one goal more than Atletico.

Crouchinho I'm not having a dig, but you're wrong, chill, we can't get United, Chelsea or Arsenal in second round, that country protection still apllies, so instead we'll be looking at Juventus, Inter, Barca, Roma, Bayern or Lyon if we finish second. (No probs)

I personally, still think theres a chance that Atletico will draw or might possibly get beaten by Marseille, which I do agree with you mate that we should go out and attack. PSV are sh*te and should be treated as such, confidence will be up after last saturday, lets keep it going.

tarting 11

cavalieri
arby
carra
agger
dossena
babel
lucas
mash
riera
ngog
keane

Here's the match thread:

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=11339.0

Please use that

 Lucas Leiva returns to the Liverpool line-up to face PSV Eindhoven this evening as Rafael Benitez makes a host of changes from the side that faced Blackburn Rovers. 
Diego Cavalieri comes into the side in place of Pepe Reina between the sticks, while David Ngog, Daniel Agger, Albert Riera and Andrea Dossena also earn call-ups.
 
Reserve team starlets Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly are on the bench for the final Group D clash.
 
The Liverpool team in full: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riera, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Keane, Ngog.
Subs: Reina, Gerrard, Alonso, Benayoun, Darby, Spearing, Kelly

Guess we are more likely to concede a goal now with Reina on the bench. Other than that it's not too bad a line up, would have liked to have seen Darby start with maybe Arbeloa at left back.

2-1 win

Here's the match thread:

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=11339.0

Please use that

But technically it's still pre-match