Pre Match: Liverpool v Birmingham City (EPL 9/11/09 8pm)

Torres and Gerrard Injury Latest

Rafael Benitez today revealed that he will give Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard late fitness tests before deciding whether the duo can face Birmingham City on Monday.
The Reds boss has had to cope with a growing injury list in recent weeks but is hopeful he will be able to recall some key personnel when his side face Alex McLeish's men.
 
"We are improving. We have some players doing light training again. At least they are training and hopefully today they will be a bit better," he told his pre-match press conference.
 
"We will see if they can be available. There is a big difference between players being fit and whether they can be available.
 
"It is something we have to analyse. For example, yesterday Gerrard was training with the physios on his day off. He is improving. We don't know if he will be fit. We don't know if he will be available. We will have to analyse the situation. He was injured before and has now been 15 days without training with the team.
 
"Can he play or can he be on the bench? At this moment we do not know."
 
Asked about the fitness of Torres, the boss said: "He has gone to Spain to see a specialist. We have also been in contact with our medical staff. We know that he is a little bit better than he was before.
 
"He still has some problems and will be working with the physios. We don't know if he can face Birmingham. He can train, but we will have to manage the situation. After all this we will make a decision."

LFC TV

Back to the league we go and a chance to get only our second win in nine games. Gerrard and Torres are doubts yet again, no news on Skrtel, Aurelio, Riera or Johnson as of now.

Got a feeling we're going to smash Birmingham whatever the team!

Come On You Reds!

It's at Anfield right?

It's at Anfield right?

o yes 

-----------------------reina---------------------


---johnson----skrtel---agger----insua----
 
--------------------yaya toure----------------

------aquillani------------------gerrard------


--de federico-----------------d. silva-------

--------------------torres-----------------------

It's at Anfield right?

Yes it is. I've got for 3-1. I have a feeling will be unlucky an concede.

This is a fantastic chance to get back on winning ways.

-------------------------------------------------Reina-----------------------------------

Degen/Johnson/Kelly--------Carragher-----------Agger---------------Insua

Kuyt--------------------Mascherano---------------Lucas---------------Aurelio

------------------------------------Benayoun------------------------------------

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

If fit, have Stevie behind Torres and Benayoun goes to the left. Tempted to hand Aquilani an Anfield debut, though.

Just been listening to Fields of Anfield Road with tears in my eyes. That song should be played in the dressing room before every game to remind whichever 11 are playing what traditions they're carrying forward, and the importance of not just what, but who they are playing for.

Justice for the 96.

You'll Never Walk Alone.

-----------------------reina---------------------


---johnson----skrtel---agger----insua----
 
--------------------yaya toure----------------

------aquillani------------------gerrard------


--de federico-----------------d. silva-------

--------------------torres-----------------------

What on earth?

Are you deluded?

I think we should rest Torres and Gerrard for this one, give Ngog a start up front alongside babel supported by kuyt and benny on the wings, with aqualani and masch in the middle and skrtel, insua agger and the new centre back kraggy.  Looks to me like we have no other option than to use agger as rb as i seem to remember him filling the role previously for part of a game. As for the result i would happily go for a 2.0 return to form. Out.

Rafa's update on injured seven

Rafael Benitez is hoping to have seven of his injured stars available for selection against Birmingham City on Monday night.
The boss will make a late decision on whether to start inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and he could also be boosted by the availability of Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Nabil El Zhar.
 
Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv, after Saturday morning's training session, Benitez said: "We have a lot of good news with players coming back from injury and they all took part in a light training session this morning.
 
"Steven trained on Friday with the physios and did a light training session today with the team and did well. He is improving and has more confidence.
 
"We will decide on Monday before the game if he can play. He hasn't been training for a long time so we have to be careful.
 
"With Fernando we know he has to keep working with the physios and we will see how he progresses. We will see how is he is because he still has some pain so we will decide if he can play on Monday.
 
"Johnson did a light session today and will train again on Sunday. If he is okay then hopefully he will be available to play against Birmingham.
 
"Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Nabil El Zhar are doing well and were also involved in the training session so we will decide if they can play on Monday.
 
"Albert Riera also trained after his hamstring injury and that is good news for us.
 
"You can see we have had a lot of young players on the bench in recent weeks but we have more players back in training now. It's good for me and an option we didn't have available before."
 
Jamie Carragher will sit out this game as he serves a one-match ban for his sending-off against Fulham but Alberto Aquilani is in line for a first taste of the Anfield experience after he was an unused substitute in Lyon.
 
The Reds No.4 is unlikely to start against Alex McLeish's side but he is in the squad and the boss added: "His match fitness is still a problem.
 
"We are hopeful of having some players fit and available so maybe he can wait and change the game if it's necessary.
 
"We were controlling the game in Lyon and Lucas and Javier Mascherano were doing a very good job. When we scored we didn't want to change the shape. Aquilani was better after his virus and could have played some part but hopefully now he will be better for Monday."

LFC TV

I wouldn't risk gerrard or torres with the big champions league games coming up come on it is birmingham I'm sure that whatever team we put out will hammer them

I reckon Babel should get a go playing the Torres role,hopefully Aquilani will play a part too,3pts here and We could really kick on.Top 4 finish still very much on,especially the way villa.city & spurs are so inconsistent.

Rafa's update on injured seven

Rafael Benitez is hoping to have seven of his injured stars available for selection against Birmingham City on Monday night.
The boss will make a late decision on whether to start inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and he could also be boosted by the availability of Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Nabil El Zhar.
 
Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv, after Saturday morning's training session, Benitez said: "We have a lot of good news with players coming back from injury and they all took part in a light training session this morning.
 
"Steven trained on Friday with the physios and did a light training session today with the team and did well. He is improving and has more confidence.
 
"We will decide on Monday before the game if he can play. He hasn't been training for a long time so we have to be careful.
 
"With Fernando we know he has to keep working with the physios and we will see how he progresses. We will see how is he is because he still has some pain so we will decide if he can play on Monday.
 
"Johnson did a light session today and will train again on Sunday. If he is okay then hopefully he will be available to play against Birmingham.
 
"Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Nabil El Zhar are doing well and were also involved in the training session so we will decide if they can play on Monday.
 
"Albert Riera also trained after his hamstring injury and that is good news for us.
 
"You can see we have had a lot of young players on the bench in recent weeks but we have more players back in training now. It's good for me and an option we didn't have available before."
 
Jamie Carragher will sit out this game as he serves a one-match ban for his sending-off against Fulham but Alberto Aquilani is in line for a first taste of the Anfield experience after he was an unused substitute in Lyon.
 
The Reds No.4 is unlikely to start against Alex McLeish's side but he is in the squad and the boss added: "His match fitness is still a problem.
 
"We are hopeful of having some players fit and available so maybe he can wait and change the game if it's necessary.
 
"We were controlling the game in Lyon and Lucas and Javier Mascherano were doing a very good job. When we scored we didn't want to change the shape. Aquilani was better after his virus and could have played some part but hopefully now he will be better for Monday."

LFC TV

Lovely, looks like we'll have a much stronger side against Birmingham.

Aquilani will surely get a run out, if not a start.

We always seem to strugle against Birmingham but not this time hopefully come on reds

We play like we did against lyon and cut out silly defensive mistakes and we will beat these.

My revised team to Play Brum (based on new information)

Reina


Agger Skrtel KYRGIAKOS Insua

El Zhar Aqualani Masch Babel

Benny

Kuyt

Pepe
Johnson Agger Skrtel Insua
Kuyt Aquiliani Masch Aurelio
Benayoun
Torres


Not bad, not bad! (Ever the optimist)

Even with the limited options we have  we should still tw*t these on Mon. Tempted to give Babel a start cause of that wonder goal.

Reds by two or three at least. YNWA

Honestly a drab 1-0 will make me happy as a pig in sh*t as long as we play well. I just want good performances, sick of seeing us lie down and get ass raped every week.

No brainer, but ths is a must win game.

In my very humble and probably wrong opinion if there is any doubts about Stevie and Nando dont risk them. If need be have them on the bench to bring on. Give N'Gog or Babel the front role and maybe throw aqualaini in (replace him on the hour/70 minute mark with Stevie or Nando). Hopefully Johnson and Aurelio are fit, I think Insua needs a break, Skrtel and Agger if both fit to play at the back


                            Pepe

Johnno    Skrtel              Agger   Aurelio


            Masch         Lucas

Kuyt              Aqualaini       Yossi


                 N'Gog/Babel

Aquilani will start ... hopefully.

Aquilani will start ... hopefully.

Rafa said he probably won't start, but could feature.

 Reina

Johnson    Skrtel              Agger   Insua


            Mascherano         Lucas

Kuyt              Benayoun       Babel


                     N'Gog