[arfy05]

-VS-

VENUE- Stamford Bridge

---SQUADS---------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Finnan, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Alonso, Mascherano, Pennant, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Itandje.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Ben-Haim, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Shevchenko, Mikel, Makelele.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
​

LIVERPOOL TEAM (PROBABLE)

(4-2-3-1)

Reina

Arbeloa----------Carragher-----Škrtel----------Riise

Mascherano-------Alonso

Kuyt----------Gerrard---------Babel

Torres

​

OR

(4-4-2)
--------------Reina-------------​

Arbeloa--Carragher--Hyypia---Aurelio​

--------------------------------​

-------Masch--Lucas--------​

------Gerrard--------------Kewell​

-------Torres----Crouch/Kuyt------

VS

Probable Chelsea Lineup
​

Joe Cole------Drogba--------Kalou

Lampard---------Makelele--------Ballack

Ashley Cole-------Terry-------Carvalho-------Essien
​

​

Cech

Liverpool have recently had an irregular serial of fixtures where it has been hard to gauge thought on the level of the team, the 1st leg against chelski was complicated and we played partly to our best and the cruel last minute goal leaves us with a big challenge, the following fixture can really shape our season, so we need to build momentum and continuing winning. Playing away we need to be tough and take the iniative from the start, play high tempo and deadly infront of goal, step forward Steven Gerrard

, he has returned been irregular in the last match but now he is needed now more than ever. We need to cut out mistakes stop conceding goals and build up a confidence booster, as we are entering a tough fixture which can swing our season. We also need to keep close in our battle for progress in the Cup aswell as bragging rights, beating our opponents will announce ourselves and be a MASSIVE win both in terms of the competition and the momentum we can reap. The final pass and finishing needs to be worked on as well as the creative part of our game, no doubt Rafa will have spotted it and will work on this, hopefully it pays dividends on the pitch

​

• 
  [*]Rafa has stated now that he has a fully fit-esque squad for a sustained period in this Anfield season, though DAgger is out for the season, hard luck as he was growing in his football, but Skrtel can hopefully recover his loss
  . Xabi has been poor but in recent weeks has played more minutes to recover near his known level of performance. The success or failure of us lies in how we control the midfield and apply ourselves, Alonso can dictate the best out of every player in the two teams. He can swing the match for us and needs to play his absolute best.
  

• 
  [*]Gerrard I feel will play behind Torres with Masch and Xabi in the centre, they are the two players who form the foundation of our team and give the creative spark and control the game. Kuyt I think will play wide right but will always be roaming in attempts to open the opposition defence up and getting into goalscoring positions. Also Babel will most likely play left midfield roaming with Gerrard or Kuyt in the central deep role and all 3 exchanging positions from time to time. Babel needs to grow and show his presence, both in attack and defence. He needs to rise to the occasion and press chelski's fullbacks back and create occasions for us.

• 
  [*]
  There have been many players who need to rise and show there football, but ultimately the one player who can achieve the dream for Liverpool more so than any of his team mates is Fernando Torres. This is the big night and date with destiny he has talked about and commented he wanted to play in, this is where the legend of Torres can be born and his first etching into the history of Liverpool can be achieved. Last week he played a quiet game and did not score, missing a few key chances whilst receiving some punishment from Terry and Carvalho. This is the opportunity for him to avenge every kick, hack and abuse dished to him. Torres needs to play with calmness and subtlety, which has served him very well at Liverpool so far, moving into the spaces and demanding the ball, working to break the chelski wall and the possible road to moscow.

  ​

• 
  [*]
  The importance of a win are high, this is for the sake of momentum and continuing our challenge, hopefully we rise to the challenge, plus considering the competition is taking a rigid shape and we want to keep in touch and also gain momentum a win would allow for us to keep gain progress in the cup and beat our rivals, we had momentum and I'd love for us to sustain that again. We are fourth and if we win can closer to winning the cup

  this would at least show we're competing again. ​

• 
  [*]
  A key part of us winning this match will be the defence, we have had a decent amount clean sheets in EPL a greater tally than what we had in previous seasons, we should try and build upon that though we've started to make mistakes, if we cut out the defensive mistakes we can build on that as a foundation and go for the win.​

• 
  [*]We can win this match, though it will be tough, we'll need to be at our best. Being intense and strong from the start being up for the fight and winning every 50-50, this will allow for us to gain a foothold in the game. We need to play at a high tempo and really attack, the supporters can make there voices be heard in the away end, the crowd can also push us on and give us the extra gear to push that extra bit more. Then we need to take our chances, because they will not be at a premium, we need to be solid and cut out defensive mistakes and take our chances when they come, then hopefully we'd win. Though this is a statement of the obvious.

COME ON REDMEN!!!!!
YNWA
​

 

[arfy05]

The big one, the match where we really need to show up and fight to achieve the dream of a European Final :hopeful:

We cannot let any opportunity or play derail our effort, maximum effort from the players, the crowd to hopefully produce one of Liverpool's Great European Nights. The IMPORTANCE of a first goal and not conceding are massive, the first goal will go a long way to dictating this match and hopefully we can do it, but we'll need to find a clinical edge and find a solution to opening chelski up.

Maybe one avenue can be to use our maximum physical effort as theoretically our players should be fitter, although they never displayed such authority in the first leg, we need to in the second if we crave to progress. :hopeful:

[tub]WAFoaWmsM1U[/tub]​

 

[Kopite]

AND HERE

I still trust we`re going to reach the final .

 

[Shaggy Alonso]

Ahh feck, that shoot out brings back some truly happy memories.

 

[LB17]

i don't really care if chelsea have that supposed 'advantage', i'm confident of a win at the bridge. we've been in waaaay worse positions than this and still came through

 

[SM Online]

If Torres turns up we will win. I do fear he may be feeling the ill-effects of a long season though, not easy carrying a team on your shoulders most of the season.

 

[LB17]

i'd start crouch. maybe have him alone up front or partner torres

 

[Capitan Totti]

I am sure Liverpool will make it...

COME ON LADS! :boxing:

 

[Kopite]

i don`t think Rafa will change his form in this game as well . Crouch maybe play in the 2nd half ..if Rafa needs him , according to different circumstances during the game .

 

[skamen]

Do you think Riise will play? Aurellio is out for the season but I don't think I could stand seeing Riise wear shirt of Liverpool again after the first leg.

-Scott

 

[O-NRG]

i think crouch should play some part in this game... maybe a 60th minute sub.

 

[Liverpooldian]

Blast me if u want... i dont think we will make it to moscow. Its roman's home country and they would want to go there for thier paymaster.

 

[Deo]

Difficult, our chances are not good, but I think we can achieve a 1-1 and take the game to the penalties.

One important factor will certainly be the other game, which will be played a night before. If United win, the players won't like the prospect of facing them in the final, but if Barca make it, I'm sure they'll be motivated as hell.

 

[LB17]

Blast me if u want... i dont think we will make it to moscow. Its roman's home country and they would want to go there for thier paymaster.

you talking about match fixing ? hmm..

 

[Kopite]

Do you think Riise will play? Aurellio is out for the season but I don't think I could stand seeing Riise wear shirt of Liverpool again after the first leg.

-Scott

lol , the majority of liverpool fans don`t want him too after the 1st leg .

aurelio is injured .. ok , there are solutions to use in coming games :
arbeloa to play as LB and carra on the RB ( hyppia and skrtel as CB ) .
or to call insua up to the 1st team . i know he can succeed .

what do you think ?

 

[Kopite]

Difficult, our chances are not good, but I think we can achieve a 1-1 and take the game to the penalties.

One important factor will certainly be the other game, which will be played a night before. If United win, the players won't like the prospect of facing them in the final, but if Barca make it, I'm sure they'll be motivated as hell.

:wth:

do you mean they fear facing united in the final ??
our players must show their high motivation in the 2nd game and pass it to final if they respect the red shirt they wear . otherwise , they don`t deserve to play for the name of liverpool . :eyepatch:

 

[Deo]

They're humans, what can you do. I'm sure United won't like us in the final ether, its just too much at stake.

 

[Liverpooldian]

you talking about match fixing ? hmm..

Things like these just happens. Liverpool and arsenal 3 times in a week, brazil won the world cup in 2002 after the debacle in 1998. Foe died on the pitch and his team went all the way to the final etc etc...

 

[Jefe]

I actually wouldn't have minded a 1-1 to take to Stamford Bridge, but not the way it happened. Maybe if we had conceded first and then come back it would have been acceptable. But I still think we can grind out a 1-0 away or a 1-1/higher scoring draw.

I hope Rafa doesn't consider Riise for the 2nd leg, we can't afford another disaster. I'd play Arbeloa at LB and Carragher at RB as Kopite said.

 

[Kopite]

They're humans, what can you do. I'm sure United won't like us in the final ether, its just too much at stake.

ok , they might be affected .. but , both teams must prove their worthy to reach the final of UCL and .. it`s the biggest competition in europe which every team would love to play and hold its title . :star: