Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid: Live match thread and post match frustration

I don't think we will play with 4 defenders 'cos if rafa wanted 4 defenders he would play Sotis 'cos he pure solid c.back.

SSN are saying Mass at CB next to Carra!

WTF!!

Man. I don't know whether to excited or concerned by this. I like the attacking players out there, but, the defense looks pure weird...

Unless we're going:

Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger

     Lucas Mascherano
           Gerrard

      Aquilani Yossi

             Kuyt

Atletico's Line-up

De Gea

Valera Dominguez Perea Lopez

Reyes Assuncao Garcia Simao

Forlan Aguero

                     Reina

Mascherano Carragher  Agger  Johnson

              Lucas    Gerrard

       Babel    Aquilani    Benayoun

                    Kuyt

Is how we're lining up according to most sites.

According to lfc.tv now this is our team.

Well Im more phucking pumped than ever

COME ON BOYS

Rafa is mysterious, played 6 + players who are of an attacking role and 3 known defenders.

If its confusing us its going to confuse Altletico

know i'm really confused

Why would he only play 3 at the back.

Doesn't make sense to me with Ayala and Sotis on the bench.

Still. Love the attack!

Ross you completely left out Babel in your new guess at our formation.

I'd guess Johnson to LB, Mascherano to RB

Yep,thats more logical,good team tho

Masch on Right, Dirk Starts

Dirk Kuyt has been passed fit to start tonight's Europa League semi-final return against Atletico Madrid - a game you can listen to live online from 8pm BST.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano starts at right-back and Glen Johnson on the left in what is a really attacking XI selected by Rafael Benitez.

The team in full: Reina, Mascherano, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Lucas, Gerrard, Aquilani, Babel, Benayoun, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Pacheco, Degen, El Zhar, Ayala, Ngog.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/masch-on-right-dirk-starts

We're not playing 3 at the back, i'm pretty sure it's this:

Reina
Masch Carra Agger Johnson
Lucas Gerrard
Kuyt Aquilani Benny
Babel

Love the attack for us!!! Have a go.

'Mon Redmen!!!

Makes more sense now.

Might be wrong but isn't Valera at right-back for them usually a midfielder too?

I'm not sure what to feel at the moment. I have no idea what's going to happen in this one.

Is this Rafa back to his tactical genius best? I'm up for the ride!

Another memorable European night at Anfield on its way folks.

Take your seat and hold on tight!

YNWA

I am really up for this with that line up

Babel to get 1 at least

Makes more sense now.

Might be wrong but isn't Valera at right-back for them usually a midfielder too?

I'm not sure what to feel at the moment. I have no idea what's going to happen in this one.

Valera plays both. I'd say like Dossena but Valera is actually decent at the back.

There'll be goals here.

We're not playing 3 at the back, i'm pretty sure it's this:

Reina
Masch Carra Agger Johnson
Lucas Gerrard
Kuyt Aquilani Benny
Babel

That makes more sense i ain't confused anymore.

If this works Rafa is a F***ing genius.

I am bubbling now

We have a lot of potential to score with this formation but we need to be careful.

We have a lot of potential to score with this formation but we need to be careful.

This is true, we have a great effective attacking threat but defense is worrying to Aguero!

What would piss me off beyond comprehension is if we were 2-0 up and they scored in the last minutes.

Just thought I'd get it out there now so it doesn't happen. 

Back four will be as second half at the weekend. Only question is Kuyt or Babel up front

I think it's going to be Masch at centre back along with Carra to try and help stop Aguero, neither Sotis or Carra have the speed to keep up with Kun should he get past them. I would have been confident enough with Agger at CB but we need him at left back at the moment.

Were going tw*t these left, right and centre and get an 8-0 win

Seriously though, I think we could be in for a long evening of football, reckon it will go like Chelsea in the CL semi final, we will win the game 1-0 and end up taking it through to penalties. Either way our main priority should be to keep it tight at the back because we cant afford to concede an away goal, they have Kun and Forlan who are both capable of causing our defence a lot of problems. We have Aquilani back in the midfield now so lets hope he can play in some killer balls for Babel or Kuyt to finish off.

Come on Reds!

What would piss me off beyond comprehension is if we were 2-0 up and they scored in the last minutes.

Just thought I'd get it out there now so it doesn't happen.  

I am sure if we do go 2-0 up then Rafa will change things.

It shows the lack of numbers we have in our squad that we possibly have 2 defensive midfielders playing in defence. Anyway, it may not be as clear as that. We shall see how Rafa sends them out. Have to say, although our bench is the best we can do at the minute, it does show the weaknesses of our strength in numkbers. On a plus side, good to see Kuyt is fit to play. Come on Liverpool!