Ordinarilly I'd expect a win BUT our pre-season has been a joke, guys like Torres, Kuyt and Babel have seen no action at all and guys like Gerrard, Cole, Johnson have barely seen any either.

 

I'm confident. Not withstanding any jammy incidents, i think we're good enough to win.

Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Aurelio/Kelly
Lucas Masch
Maxi Gerrard Cole
Torres/Ngog​

Would be my preferred line up.

 

I think this will probably be the starting line-up, even though it would be nice to see Aquillani in the first 11, perhaps instead of Poulsen. Arsenal would be perfect for attacking line-up.

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Agger
Gerrard Poulsen
Kuyt Cole Jovanovic
Torres​

 

Yeah Poulsen may start cos Lucas won't arrive back to Merseyside till Friday, but Kuyt hasn't played a single minute in preseason so can't see him starting.

 

Well, can't remember who's been playing on the right wing besides Amoo under Hodgson, as far as I recall Maxi hasn't, or at least not much, and I'm sceptical that Roy really rates him. So Kuyt's probably the safest bet. There's no need for a workhorse like him to get many minutes, he's up and running all the time

 

Maxi managed half an hour against Rabot and the reason why he hasn't been playing is because he just arrived back from his holidays. Amoo is certainly not going to start.

Kuyt can't start. Unless Roy plays him as striker if Torres isn't fit :hmm:

 

Why couldn't he start ffs, and he'll probably play for Holland?

 

Damn. Forgot about the Dutch game tomorrow.

He can't start cos he's shit (ok, average) and not better than any of the options that are available to us. Why do you want him to start? because he runs and runs? If he does start, Roy won't be proving himself to be much different from Rafa.

 

I for one have always been quite a fan of Kuyt, I think he's a very underrated player. Hate it when people jump on a bandwagon when he happens to score a crucial goal (again).

At the moment though, he's unfortunately by far our best winger, as ridiculous as it sounds (at least if we stop making Joe Cole a winger). If he's not playing on the right, then he should start instead of Jovanović on the left.

 

I rate Maxi over him on the right, and i would prefer Jova who is more of a natural left winger to play on the left.

The only position i rate him in, is second striker and that's where Cole, Gerrard plays. Kuyt represents reactive football, and that is not what i want Liverpool to be playing.

 

Kuyt was really excellent at the World Cup, just shows that if the team around him is playing well he can be an incredible player. He's also a great crosser which is often missed. He was never a player to drive a game, that's true, but he's also no less "natural" winger than Jovanović is, both are forwards, fact.

 

Nah, Kuyt's crossing is poor most of the time. He rarely ever gets to the byline and make cutbacks, due to his lack of pace, technical ability and skill. Maxi on the other hand, constantly does that. And he also, raises Gerrard, Torres and Johnson's game.

 

Maxi fever.

Maxi was a good player but never really great even in his prime. He's coming near the end of his time now but can understand why someone may want a more traditional wide player starting.

Would be pleased to see Maxi start over Kuyt. Kuyt is a pain and is terribly under rated in what he offers to the team. Scored against Arsenal last season. Definitely a player Arsenal would rather not face would rather see Maxi.

 

Maxi is Kuyt with technical ability. Would be great to see Arsenal underestimating him.

 

Martin Atkinson the ref. Same guy who allowed Pienaar's assault on Mascherano and failed to send off Fellaini for the stamp.

Use the opportunity to take out Arshavin in the first 5 minutes. :hopeful:

 

He loves us...

if he starts this match, he`s gonna score.

 

He is so going to score :sigh:

 

He loves us...

 

i wish to be a good start for liverpool, to beat a strong rival in the 1st game would give us a great positive motivation no doubt.

regarding to our starting XI, it`s really difficult to predict our lineup in this match. let`s us wait after the international day since some of our players are going to play with their NT today, hopefully no injuries for them.

 

Can't say I'm happy about facing Arsenal first up, but then again, they aren't either, probably.

This would probably be our best team IMO:

Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Agger - Kelly
Aquilani - Poulsen
Kuyt - Gerrard - Cole
Torres​

And Amber, Kuyt's crossing ability is underrated. He's not the best in the world, but more often than not he puts it into a good area. Unfortunately, usually there's only Torres being marked by 2-3 players and no one else.

 

More often then not he hits it a defender. We occasionally get lucky when it bounces on to the path of a Liverpool player or it goes out for a corner.

When he's got plenty of space e.g. when we're counter attacking he does get his final pass/cross spot on.

 

some rumours raised up that players like Diaby, Nasri, RVB, Fabregas, Song and Arshavin may not play in this match.

 

I've got a feeling Torres wont be fit for this.

 

Jef20 I disgaree, from what I have seenyour best team should include Jovanovic as he is direct and takes on players.

 

Jovanovic will play, Cole has been signed to play through the middle. I'd like Gerrard to play on the right so Aquilani can slot into midfield but our team (for Arsenal) will most probably be;

Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Skrtel -Agger
Gerrard - Lucas
Kuyt - Cole - Jovanovic
Torres/N'Gog
​

I hope I'm wrong about the defence - Carragher & Skrtel :scared:

 

I like Roy, but he will play Gerrard back into CM because he wants to get on the good side of the fans and media who always say Gerrard's best position is CM. One of the best in the world in that position supposedly