The FA Cup Final - Chelsea FC v Liverpool FC - 5th May 2012. 17.15.

Please add pictures as appropriate


After last night's display, I can say none of the players that played really grasped the opportunity to put themselves in the line up for the game...

We need to win this cup, We exist to win trophies, and Torres picking up his first Club honour against the team he "loved" is just not going to sit well..

After the Chav's display in the minutes silence against the Spuds, we really do not need further motivation for this one.... WIN THE CUP FOR THE 96 fans who the Chelsea fans disrespected.

My line up would be:


                                                 Reina

                     Agger                   Coates            Skrtel

Johnson          Gerrard(C)          Shelvey          Henderson       Enrique

                                   Bellamy

                                                    Suarez


Subs: Jones, Kelly, Spearing, Carroll, Maxi, Carragher, Kuyt

I'm saying 2-1 to us, but believe that this may be AET, as we seem to like a little drama in our cup finals, and never win things easily.


Kenny and the lads need our support more than ever on Saturday night.... Lets make some noise, and hopefully all be travelling home happy!

I'm sick with nervousness already. Trust our luck that those cu*ts start to come good at the end of the season and even worse luck that fkn judas c**t starts scoring again.

Please lads, bring that trophy back to Merseyside.

Hmm, honestly think it's a hard team to pick so here goes:
             Reina
Johnson Skrtel  Agger  Enrique
Kuyt   Spearing  Gerrard  Bellamy
     Carroll      Suarez

Often these games come down to who wants it the most.

Chelsea will no doubt want to win for Di Matteo.
There will be some staking a claim for the Champions League Final.
There will also be some sAving themselves for the Champions League Final.

Fact is, we NEED this. More than any game in a long time we need this.
We're at a crossroads right now. This could very well decide the fate of many within Liverpool Football Club.

No doubt the fans will get behind the team at Wembley.

I hope the players are big enough to leave nothing behind out there.
My they lie exhausted at the end of it and may they be victorious.

Good luck Redmen. For once may it be in your favour.
 

If luck evens itself out over a season, we'll have a record cup final win to celebrate!
Not wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves but is there a homecoming parade if we win?

I'll start with the team I'd go for then get my mind straight for the game.

                  Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique


         Henderson Shelvey


Downing      Gerrard     Bellamy


                   Suarez


Subs:
Doni
Carra
Coates
Spearing
Kuyt
Maxi
Carroll

i think it might be this

                   Reina

Johnson Skrtel/Carra Agger Enrique

Downing Spearing/Henderson Gerrard Bellamy

            Kuyt

                 Suarez

i know we will beat chelsea.

I really don't want to see another penalty shootout .... the last three trophies we won have been via penalties!! But I don't care, as long as we win it.

                                      Reina

Johnson           Skrtel                  Agger             Enrique

                          Spearing/Henderson

                      Shelvey                Gerrard

Downing/Kuyt                                                  Bellamy
                                       Suarez

Not that I want Henderson to play a defensive midfielder but it's either him or Spearing.

Come on Liverpool. Please, please, please win.

I'll start with the team I'd go for then get my mind straight for the game.

                  Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique


         Henderson Shelvey


Downing      Gerrard     Bellamy


                   Suarez


Subs:
Doni
Carra
Coates
Spearing
Kuyt
Maxi
Carroll

I think your spot on with the team there.

I'm thinking spring a surprise. 1-1-1-8. Of course Skertl and Spearing are gonna have to work their bollocks off but they are fit young athletes.
Di Matteo's inexperienced,just watch the sweat pouring off his head.   I think the drinks got to me.

I think we will play mainly the team which won at Norwich with perhaps the only question being Spearing or Shelvey to play behind Gerrard, and Skrtel coming in for Carra.

                                 Reina

       Johnson        Skrtel     Agger     Enrique

Downing      Henderson    Gerrard    Shelvey   Bellamy

                                Suarez 

Most of the challengers such as Maxi, Kuyt and Carroll blew their chances yesterday imho.

I think if we can control the midfield and allow Gerrard to raid forward we can win this game comfortably, otherwise I think it may be a long hard slog. A game of few chances, hopefully we take ours. 

I do not see Chelsea trying to blow us away. Firstly, they aren't capable and secondly I think they will have their eye on the CL final. This is a good lead up to that for them. They may play the suspended players (Terry, Ivanovic, Meireles and Bosingwa) or they may play the line up that will play Munich to get them ready for the occasion. I think they will try and contain us and hit on the counter. If they do that then I agree with s@ints line up except I prefer maxi and kuyt to shelvey and downing.

Chelsea forum:

Liverpool are woeful. But they bum the cup competitions so it will end up a tough game. I hate everything about them, how they massively proritise cups over the league and think they're amazing after winning the Mickey Mouse cup. Hope we smash them, and hope the most that Torres scores. 3-1 for me.

I can see the back 4 now.

Glen J    Carra  Skrtel  Agger.

Do I want Carra in there? No chance but I think KK wont risk Fabio in a Cup Final and I think Jose has been out of form for a while now so can't see him being trusted to be in the starting line up.

As for the rest of the team, who the F**k knows I just hope Andy and Luis start and Raheem gets a nice run out along the wing!

                                 Reina

       Johnson        Skrtel     Agger     Enrique

                   Kuyt     Spearing  Bellamy

                                Gerrard

                      Carroll         Suarez 

Subs - Don't care as long as Sterling is on the bench.

Think we need to press from the start and put them in a hole early.

I'll start with the team I'd go for then get my mind straight for the game.

                  Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique


         Henderson Shelvey


Downing      Gerrard     Bellamy


                   Suarez

That team works for me except I would have Spearing in ahead of Shelvey because we'll need a wrecker in there and depsite his legs, Jay does get about the pitch. Chelsea will line up 4-3-3 so we must do the same i think. have to win the midfield battle and we won't do that with 2 up top and Carroll-Suarez up top. It's also key that Agger and Skrtel resume their partnership at the back, no messing around with Agger at left-back or trying to find a spot for Carra. Bellers gets typecasted as the perrenial game changer off the bench but i'm desperate for him to start this game. We look our best when we play a right-footer on the left and a left-footer on the right as both our full-backs like to get forward and Spearing provides natrual cover when they do so.

Can't believe i'm going this game! Never been a final before but I've watched Liverpool-Chelsea live more than any other game and it seems like they have hit form at exactly the wrong time. Don't know if Torres will start but will be looking to give him a similar recpetion to the one he got at the bridge last year.

Lot of pressure on this game because it is the difference between our season being a success and a downright failure.

Comeon you fuc...kin Redmen!!!!!!

---------------Reina---------------
Johnson--Skrtel-Agger--Enrique
------Henderson--Shelvey-------
Downing-----Gerrard----Bellamy
---------------Suarez-------------

Lot of pressure on this game because it is the difference between our season being a success and a Downright failure.

Ju say Downing failure ?

Surely Bellamy has to start on the left ahead of the dreadful Downing. And Kuyt, despite being really sh*t this year, would start for me on the right ahead of Henderson. I feel Kuyt will perform well in a big game like this as he so often has.

Sterling has to be on the bench. He would make more of an incisive impact coming off the bench than Downing.

COME ON!

Copy and paste of my post on the FA CUp thread in General Forum:



I think it would be naive for us to play 4-4-2 against Chelsea, especially with a midfield of Gerrard and Spearing only in the centre. If gerrard gets forward, Spearing sits but is up against at least 2-3 Chelsea midfielders, who are relatively tall and strong. Plus with Chelsea having a fairly strong defence and aerial presence, not sure how much success big Andy will get against their defence. They dont have the quickest defenders so we should play to exploit their lack of mobility. Assuming we have a full strength team (bar Lucas), I would line up the team as...

                            Reina
  Johnson  Skrtel             Agger  Enrique

               Spearing         Henderson
  Kuyt                  Gerrard                 Bellamy (I chose Maxi initially)
                          Suarez

This will allow Gerrard to bomb forward and have more of a influence in the game behind Suarez. Suarez, Bellamy and Kuyt have all got great movement and a good understanding which will help us 

I picked Dirk on the right because he can offer some protection to Johnno who also gets forward but Kuyt is also as a aerial thread and outlet. In the past games against CHelsea if we need to knock the ball long, aim for Kuyt. Marking him aerially is Ashley Cole and there is only going to be one winner there Also Dirk can be a second striker if needed as he does tend to play centrally, even if his tactical position is wide right.

Maxi to come on in the 2nd half, taking into account possibly extra time and penalties. And options of Carroll, Downing, Shelvey as well.

Was considering putting Bellamy on the bench but if hes brought on just for the last 10-15 mins and we are behind, not sure how much impact he will have. Kenny likes to make his subs late like most managers. So it would be best for him to start, as he didnt play against Fulham.

Think it will be this, Bellamy is more of a impact player than Carroll, the bigger Wembley pitch should invite more crosses as there should be more space so i'd go with Carroll.

I will say, if Carragher starts ahead of Skertel thats a disgrace, not really confident with Downing either but Maxi didnt do it for me yesterday so Stuart would get the nod again having the option of Bellemy as the impact player.

Reina
Johnson       
Skrtel   
Agger   
Enrique
Downing     
Henderson   
Gerrard   
Shelvey   
Carroll
Suarez

Actually I wonder i wouldnt mind Carra starting as a DM alongwith Jay Spearing, he has more experience in that role than someone like Jordan Henderson or Shelvey, but its not really an ideal scenario. We really do miss Lucas.