Liverpool FC Vs. Club Atlético de Madrid - Pre match thread

Started this one early, for the simple fact; I can't wait.  

Last chance to take somthing from this terrible season, c'mon redmen!!!!

Liverpool's last 6 (All Competitions):
D W D W L W

Atlético's last 6 (All Competitions):
D L L L W W

Personally I think the Lucas / Mascherano pairing should be seperated for this one, we're at home trailing 1-0 so the impetus should be on us to attack and get about these from the off.

I'd go with.

                              Reina

Johnson         Carra       Sotis       Agger

                      Masch     Aquilnai

Babel                    Gerrard            Yossi

                             Kuyt

Hard to know how this will line up until the injury situation is cleared up.
Kuyt and Agger off at the weekend. Could very well be.

                  Reina

Masch    Carra     Soto    Johnson

             Lucas   Aquilani

Pacheco      Gerrard         Benni

                  Babel

Should think this will be the best atmosphere of the season. Will be biting my nails all the way through though - especially with Nando out.

Time for Babel to grow a pair and be the player we all wanted him to be ?

This is going to be the most exciting game of the season, especially with us 1-0 down it will give us the opportunity to see the redmen attack and take the game to Atletico.

                   Reina

Johnson  Carra    Kyrgiakos   Agger

            Masch     Gerrard

Benayoun     Aquilani      Babel

                   Kuyt


Hopefully thats the team that will start against Atletico, shame about Maxi being cup tied though. I think they should scrap that rule.

Anyone know how Althletico got on this weekend? I know it saw win but scorers etc?

Isn't Aguero ready to play again for them?

Well the 12th man will be the crowd

We will win this as long as we play Aqualiani ( I said it ) , he has been our missing link this season. Was great at turf moor yesterday created chances left right and centre. Held the ball up and let the boys get forward.

I am on edge about the line up as nobody knows the extent of our injuries, but I fear that if Ngog is back and that he plays upfront we are out serious. He doesn't bring any attacking edge to the game what so ever.

 My line up would be this:

             Pepe

Johnson Carragher Sotis Agger

         Mascherano   Gerrard

Benny         Aqua          ?

           Babel

I think the only person who can play that wing is Babel but that means who do you we play upfront? Pacheco is too young to start up front and I am all for putting him up there but this is a must win game and if we lost it would the finger be pointed at him?

Super edit:

http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=250503&page=1

That seems to be a thread from an altletico forum and yes it includes there match talk of the 1st game.

this would be my team for thursday:

                                reina

      johnson       carra       krygious(sorry about spelling) agger

                                    aquilani    mascherano

              benayoun               gerrard               babel
   
                                                kuyt

Should think this will be the best atmosphere of the season. Will be biting my nails all the way through though - especially with Nando out.

Time for Babel to grow a pair and be the player we all wanted him to be ?

i agree wiv u but on a lighter side he is improving every game. he is also showing he wants to be apart of our starting 11 as the world cup is drawing closer.

I reckon:

Reina
Johnson Carra Sotis Agger
Lucas Gerrard
Benny Aquilani Babel
Kuyt

Subs: Cav, Degen, Ayala, Mascherano, El Zhar, Pacheco, N'gog.

No Ngog or Lucas please - Masch, Gerrard, Aqua, Kuyt, Babel & Yossi all should start.

We need at least 3 goals as I am sure AM will snatch one.

I believe the game will be won or lost in midfield, we saw how AM switched from midfield to the wings in seconds and they are using their wingers to the fullest effect. We have to stop them at all cost in midfiled, cut off the supply to their wingers and we push them to the sidelines and start a counter from midfield. A pair of wing booths for Masch would be helpful. On a more serious note, if Aquilani plays he should wrestle the ball from the AM midfielders and work on the counter. The 2nd half of the Burnley game is what all of us hope to see, smooth flowing and attacking football. Babel needs to position himself nearer to the box since he can't run 1/3 of the length of the field to beat the defenders. I'm sure AM will play it tight in defence and midfield and we need to shoot from distance. I kept saying we don't shoot enough from outside the box the whole of this season, it's better to loose possession due to taking a shot at goal instead of passing the ball to the left right back and lost possession and not giving us the end result. In the game against AM, every players should be asked to shoot at least once from outside the box and I'm sure it'll result in something we hope to see. Common all Redmen it's last chance saloon let's give AM a night they'll never forget.

Kuyt and Agger off at the weekend. Could very well be.

Agger isn't injured, Rafa only replace him as a protection.

Benitez said: "Daniel Agger is fine. I changed him because I wanted to protect him."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/rafa-on-kuyt-injury-and-4-0

I will play like this if Kuyt is injured: 3-6-1
                      Reina
         Carra       Sotis       Agger
            Masch.       Lucas
                     Aqua
Glen             Gerrard         Benayoun
                     Babel
If not 4-5-1
Reina
glen         Carra      Sotis      Agger
                  Masch.
         Aqua           Gerrard
Kuyt                                  benayoun
                   Babel

Whats the situation with Kuyt and N'Gog? If both out it has to be Babel up top doesnt it but who plays on the left then?. Aqua deserves to start after yesterday so maybe play him in the Stevie role with Stevie on the right Yossi on the left

Reina

Johnson Carra Sotis Agger

        Masch Lucas

Stevie   Aqua  Yossi

            Babel

or

Reina

Degen Carra Sotis Agger
 
          Masch Aqua

Johnson  Stevie Yossi

            Babel

Obviously based on Kuty not being fit

If Johnson doesn't play right back it will be Masch. Can't see Degen or Carra playing there. Would like to see:

               Reina
Masch   Carra     Sotis   Agger
                  Lucas
   Johnson    Gerrard     Benayoun
               Aquilani
                     Babel

But if Kuyt's fit expect him to lead the line and Babel/Yossi on the wings.

Will we see Alberto start is the interesting question.

We need the crowd to be on full voice. I'll give it my all on Thursday. Hope the Kop is in full swing.

Lets make it another European night to remember.

I would like to see Gerrard, Aquilani, Yossi and Kuyt on the offensive, that should be a very creative and offensive lineup.

I'd go with the same line-up that played against Burnley apart from Sotis back in to replace Ayala and Babel replacing Maxi.

..Anyone know how Althletico got on this weekend? I know it saw win but scorers etc?

Isn't Aguero ready to play again for them?..
Atletico won 3-1 to Tenerife and Aguero (in pretty good form) made one.
About the formation for Thursday,I like that given by RedLfCblood,only thing I would play Aurelio (is he fit or not?) in the LB and move Agger to the CB.Shame we cant use Maxi though..

I'd go with.

                              Reina

Johnson         Carra       Sotis       Agger

                      Masch     Aquilnai

Lucas                  Gerrard            Babel

                             Kuyt                                                                                                               

Lucas as a right midfielder It will be much better swapping gerrard and lucas. I would play as I said earlier.

..Anyone know how Althletico got on this weekend? I know it saw win but scorers etc?

Isn't Aguero ready to play again for them?..
Atletico won 3-1 to Tenerife and Aguero (in pretty good form) made one.
About the formation for Thursday,I like that given by RedLfCblood,only thing I would play Aurelio (is he fit or not?) in the LB and move Agger to the CB.Shame we cant use Maxi though..

Hugh, your on the internet right, try searching, Google, BBC, UEFA, I'm not having a go but come on.

..Anyone know how Althletico got on this weekend? I know it saw win but scorers etc?

Check this & then press line ups: http://www.flashscore.com/detail/soccer.php?match=367716&gmt_offset=-7200&tab=1

I put lucas right because he played once in that position before and did well plus gerrad can play there allowing Aquilani to go in strike so it gives us  better options up front