Luton vs Liverpool - Pre Match Thread

After the bloody disapointment against wigan lets hope we can beat luton
Come on the Reds
I think we should play a mix between a relaxed early leage cup game and a normal premier league fixture

                                      PR

                            SF   JH    JC  JAR
 
                            YB   XA   SG   RB

                                   FT    PC

I think we should play

                     Itandje
 Finnan       Hoobs          Carra       Riise
 Pennant    Lucas            Alonso      El Zhar
              Voronin    Crouch

Subs: Martin, Kewell, Torres, Mascherano, Do we actually have any defenders left? (see my post about injuries below)

Lets try and avoid a repeat of 2 years ago.

Jack Hobbs, Babel and Crouchy deserve starts. Lets win this and look forward to an FA Cup QF.

Lets try and avoid a repeat of 2 years ago.

Jack Hobbs, Babel and Crouchy deserve starts. Lets win this and look forward to an FA Cup QF.

We have to go through two other rounds to get there first.

We have to go through two other rounds to get there first.

Well, what I meant was that once you get up to the 1/4 finals you are really in with a shout. When its in the "Rounds" stages,, thats when you can go out.

Well, what I meant was that once you get up to the 1/4 finals you are really in with a shout. When its in the "Rounds" stages,, thats when you can go out.

 

Didn't we get knocked out of the semi's in the League Cup by Chelsea?

No we got knocked out in the QF. I reckon this one will go right down to the wire 1-1 aty full time 5-4 on pens for LIverpool 

We will win this match. And I hope we win this cup as well, a bit of silverware would be nice at the end of the season! Plus it will go nicely with the CL and EPL

         CI

SF  JH  JC  JAR

         XA
YB             HK
         SG

     RB    FT

 

Why are you guys dropping Pepe... no way Jose.

My team would be

        PR

AA  JH  JC  FA

      JM
           XA
SG             RB
         
     EZ    FT

Subs: CI, PC, HK, JAR, LL

Prediction 3-0 win... another wonder goal from Xabi perhaps... and two Kid Towers.

Gerrard, Arbeloa, and Aurelio have just been announced injured - http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158276080104-1336.htm

   Steven Gerrard, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio have all been ruled out of Sunday's FA Cup third round clash at Luton Town.
All three players picked up muscle injuries against Wigan in midweek and are sidelined for the trip to Kenilworth Road.
 
Manager Rafael Benitez confirmed: "Steven and Alvaro have a calf problem and Fabio has a hamstring injury.
 
"They are all out of this weekend's game and will work with the physios to be ready for Middlesbrough next Saturday."
 

Looks like a back four of Finnan, Hobbs, Carra and Riise then doesn't it.

Would we be surprised if it was Sissoko and Alonso in the middle?

Can I ask a favour?
 
Can everyone stop posting players initials in their proposed lineups & actually post players names? That way I can tell peoples lineup at a glance rather than having to work out the initials, which becomes harder in these sort of games when a lot of people suggest reserve players.

I think the line up will be a mixture of youth and experience. Something like this:

                                   Charles Itandge

Steve Finnan         Jack Hobbs       Jamie Carragher        Emiliano Insua

Jermaine Pennant   Lucas Leiva       Xabi Alonso             Sebastian Leto

                          Peter Crouch      Ryan Babel

Subs:
David Martin; Fernando Torres; Nabil El Zhar; Harry Kewell; Sami Hyypia

I think the line up will be a mixture of youth and experience. Something like this:

                                   Charles Itandge

Steve Finnan         Jack Hobbs       Jamie Carragher        Emiliano Insua

Jermaine Pennant   Lucas Leiva       Xabi Alonso             Sebastian Leto

                          Peter Crouch      Ryan Babel

Subs:
David Martin; Fernando Torres; Nabil El Zhar; Harry Kewell; Sami Hyypia

That would be a good line up except and (please dont criticise me im just suggesting this) what if we play Martin instead of Itandje this is a team two divisions below us and he could use some experience. Have Itandje there as a back up if he cant take it andd give Martin a chance to show himself. SAfter all if he is going to play for us in the premiership then we should see how he respnds to playing against Luton.

Can I ask a favour?
 
Can everyone stop posting players initials in their proposed lineups & actually post players names? That way I can tell peoples lineup at a glance rather than having to work out the initials, which becomes harder in these sort of games when a lot of people suggest reserve players.

Done EddieC! Sorry for the confusion!

Fair shout that!! Like you say, he needs the experience and when else is he going to get it!!!

That would be a good line up except and (please dont criticise me im just suggesting this) what if we play Martin instead of Itandje this is a team two divisions below us and he could use some experience. Have Itandje there as a back up if he cant take it andd give Martin a chance to show himself. SAfter all if he is going to play for us in the premiership then we should see how he respnds to playing against Luton.

Good call but I would have to say that Itandje would be a better choice because the last time we played Luton we really underestimated them. Having said that you've got to start somewhere and Luton would be a good place to get experience if its anything like the last clash we had.

I personally think that torres should play because him and gerreard are the only ones that score on a regular basis for us but i totally agree that coruch should start. It would be great to see inusa play, he played a couple of times last season and he done well so why not. Also leto has played a few 1st team games this season and has'nt done too bad so it would be good to see him play. i think its a certainty that lucas will start as he hasn't played for a few games. martin would proably do ok in goal, played aainst charlton last season and done ok.

martin

finnan, hobbs, carra, insua

pennant, lucas, alonso, leto

torres, crouch

You know, I really think we should play some of our stronger players for this game. The past two league games we've not played top notch and matched our opponents degree of play, and look at what its earned us. Two points in 2 games. I know Luton definetly isn't world class, but Rafa better watch who he puts in. I agree with Torres and Crouch, but maybe throw in Masch and Alonso in the middle, and definetly keep carra and finnan in the back, maybe accompanied by Hyypia.

Bottom line, we can't underestimate them, no matter how horrible they are.

Let's Go Reds!! YNWA!!

You know, I really think we should play some of our stronger players for this game. The past two league games we've not played top notch and matched our opponents degree of play, and look at what its earned us. Two points in 2 games. I know Luton definetly isn't world class, but Rafa better watch who he puts in. I agree with Torres and Crouch, but maybe throw in Masch and Alonso in the middle, and definetly keep carra and finnan in the back, maybe accompanied by Hyypia.

Bottom line, we can't underestimate them, no matter how horrible they are.

Let's Go Reds!! YNWA!!

I agree with you on this Batman, unfortunately we can't afford to take any chances, which is a real shame because you should be able to play some of your 'lesser' players in a game like this.

Maybe one or two in the team, but that's all, the rest should be first teamers, we certainly can't afford to not win this game, can you imagine the stick Rafa would get from the press and media in general if we lose this, doesn't bear thinking about does it?

And some of the so-called Liverpool  (Rafa should go) fans would be calling for his head, especially as according to some people we aren't even going to finish in the top 4 this season

I'm going for 2-0 to the boys in Red.........Come On

7kingkenny7, I don't remember Martin having played a first team game for us?
 
If memory serves me correctly the Charlton game last season was Daniel Padelli's one & only game for the reds, and he had an absolute stinker.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record...this is a game we shouldnt be worrying about. but that said we still have to go out there and win it . i predict 3-0 to us!

7kingkenny7, I don't remember Martin having played a first team game for us?
 
If memory serves me correctly the Charlton game last season was Daniel Padelli's one & only game for the reds, and he had an absolute stinker.

Padelli was in goal for the Charlton game, he let the first goal in with -in a minute of the match starting : last match of the season  it was and we drew 2-2, Martin was an unused sub.