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Team for Birmingham

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TheBunnyman

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Fernando Torres could play on Monday despite Rafael Benitez fearing both he and Steven Gerrard may require surgery.

Torres will test his groin injury with light training over the weekend. Gerrard is definitely out but Martin Skrtel returns after a virus.

Birmingham are without Barry Ferguson (banned) while Garry O'Connor (groin) and Keith Fahey (knee) are both doubts.

On-loan keeper Joe Hart could replace Maik Taylor after being ineligible to face parent club Manchester City.

Liverpool

Suspended: Carragher & Degan (1 match)

Doubtful: Aurelio (calf), Torres (stomach), Dossena (groin)

Injured: Gerrard (groin), Reira (hamstring), Johnson (calf)

Birmingham

Suspended: Ferguson (1 match)

Doubtful: O'Connor (groin), Fahey & Tainio (both knee), Martin Taylor (ankle)

Injured: Murphy (knee)
Click to expand...


Assuming the above is true, you can more or less pick our team by a process of elimination.

Reina

Kelly - Agger - Skrtel - Insua

Aquilani (*prays*) - Mascherano

Kuyt - Wash - Yossi

Torres

I don't see any reason why Wash can't play the no10 role. He looked good at linking play against Arsenal, and it might give him a bit more time on the ball than he'd get playing no9. Above all, it means Voronin won't play. I suppose you could argue that Babel ought to start after his goal v Lyon, but fuck it - we should know by now that he's only ever any good when he comes on as a sub.

Rafa has never beaten Birmingham in a league match, astonishingly, and they're decent defensively under McLeish, so I think this will be tougher than the Stoke, Hull and Burnley matches. We'll win though. We have to.
 
Reina

Kelly - Agger - Skrtel - Insua

Lucas - Mascherano

Kuyt - Yossi - Babel

Torres

Yossi needs to be behind Torres - it's his best role and he, along with Kuyt & Torres, are our best goalscoring threats.

Babel needs to play just because of that goal - HOPEFULLY, and it's a big HOPEFULLY, his confidence is soaring and he's ready to deliver a big performance.

Aquilani will play 30-45 mins I think.
 
Babel will be pants as always if he starts. Even after his goal on Wednesday, he was back to good old Babel immediately afterwards.

I'm done with Babel, a one off wonder strike can't fix it all.
 
-------------------Reina-------------------

Carragher------Agger----The Greek---Insua


Kuyt--------Lucas--------Masher----Babel

------------------Yossi------------------

------------------Torres-----------------
 
i'd go with Babel and Torres up front, with the right attitude we wont have a problem and he has to be willing to sub Babel early i.e 55-60 min mark if he's doing nothing
 
I wouldn't be surprised if he started Torres on the bench and brought him on if it was 0-0 after 60-70 minutes. The guy obviously needs not to be playing so he can recover from this injury. We should be able to beat Birmingham at home even with Voronin and Babel in the team.
 
Given that people have been putting Martin Kelly at RB in every teamsheet since he got injured in the A.Madrid game, I suppose this is a stupid question, but here it goes anyways: has he been declared fit?
 
[quote author=Bazza The Kopite link=topic=36988.msg981059#msg981059 date=1257515390]
We should be able to beat Birmingham at home even with Voronin and Babel in the team.
[/quote]

That suggests they are better than the average Birmingham player, which I'd probably dispute.
 
babel should play - whether he's good enough is a different matter but he was lively when he came on wednesday.

i still reckon we'll see a middle two of masch and lucas. it doesn't work, it'll never work but even when aquilani is fit i feel we'll see lucas and masch line up in the middle.
 
[quote author=rage link=topic=36988.msg981068#msg981068 date=1257516066]
i still reckon we'll see a middle two of masch and lucas. it doesn't work, it'll never work but even when aquilani is fit i feel we'll see lucas and masch line up in the middle.
[/quote]

Yeah, actually Aquilani has already been fit for a few weeks now but Rafa prefers Lucas and Mascherano.
 
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36988.msg981052#msg981052 date=1257514978]
-------------------Reina-------------------

Carragher------Agger----The Greek---Insua


Kuyt--------Lucas--------Masher----Babel

------------------Yossi------------------

------------------Torres-----------------
[/quote]

DB you really need to keep up. CARRA IS SUSPENDED!
 
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=36988.msg981064#msg981064 date=1257515692]
[quote author=Bazza The Kopite link=topic=36988.msg981059#msg981059 date=1257515390]
We should be able to beat Birmingham at home even with Voronin and Babel in the team.
[/quote]

That suggests they are better than the average Birmingham player, which I'd probably dispute.

[/quote]

Good point, Voronin certainly isn't, I think he'd struggle to get into Hull's reserves to be fair!


---------------Reina--------------------

-Kelly---Agger---Skrtel----Insua

-kuyt--Masch--Lucas--Babel/yossi

-----------Aquilani/yossi-------------

--------Babel/N'Gog/Torres---------

As I've said previously, Torres needs a rest, so he should start on the bench
 
Hopefully Skrtel, Kelly and Aurelio are fit.

Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Insua
Kuyt Lucas Mascherano Aurelio
Benayoun
Ngog
 
[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=36988.msg981046#msg981046 date=1257514775]
Babel will be pants as always if he starts. Even after his goal on Wednesday, he was back to good old Babel immediately afterwards.

I'm done with Babel, a one off wonder strike can't fix it all.
[/quote]

I said I wasn't going to defend babel but I have to take issue with this, he scores a sensational goal, then takes a wayward freekick and then shots when maybe he should have passed it. are people expect a sub to come on and score a hattrick? we don't even place that expectation on people that START the game.
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36988.msg981111#msg981111 date=1257518892]
so we're finally going to see the skrtel/agger combo...
[/quote]

I'm actually quite excited about it.
 
Reina
Insua
Agger
Skrtel
Johnson (Kelly/Darby)

Lucas
Mascherano

Riera (Aurelio)
Aquilani (Yossi)
Kuyt (Babel)

Torres (Kuyt)

Reserves in brackets if first choice arent fit.
 
We're facing a right back crisis on monday. As both Kelly and Johnson are highley doubtful.

IF both are unavaileble, then is my team;

Reina

Mascher Skrtel Agger Insua

Kuyt Aquilani Lucas Benayoun

Torres N'Gog
 
Torres to play on after second opinion
Soccer: Fernando Torres returned to Liverpool's Melwood training complex today after a whistle-stop trip to Valencia for a second opinion on his groin injury.

The striker visited a Liverpool hospital yesterday for further tests after flying back to Merseyside with the rest of the squad following the 1-1 Champions League draw with Lyon.

Torres then visited a Spanish specialist who has worked with him before and is also favoured by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez from his time at Valencia.

It is now expected the 25-year-old will do light training over the weekend and is still in contention to play against Birmingham on Monday.

Torres is believed not to want an operation on the problem, which is not a full hernia but a deeper groin injury affecting his adductor muscle.

He is also thought to want to play for Spain against Argentina next Saturday at his former home ground, the Vicente Calderon stadium of Atletico Madrid.

Exactly how Liverpool will feel about that is unclear but only a serious breakdown in Torres' fitness will make it possible for them to stop him travelling to join the Spain squad.

Steven Gerrard, who also has a groin problem, has also done light training this week and is not ruled out of the Birmingham game yet.


http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2009/1106/1224258208422.html
 
[quote author=the count link=topic=36988.msg981179#msg981179 date=1257525560]
Torres to play on after second opinion
Soccer: Fernando Torres returned to Liverpool's Melwood training complex today after a whistle-stop trip to Valencia for a second opinion on his groin injury.

The striker visited a Liverpool hospital yesterday for further tests after flying back to Merseyside with the rest of the squad following the 1-1 Champions League draw with Lyon.

Torres then visited a Spanish specialist who has worked with him before and is also favoured by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez from his time at Valencia.

It is now expected the 25-year-old will do light training over the weekend and is still in contention to play against Birmingham on Monday.

Torres is believed not to want an operation on the problem, which is not a full hernia but a deeper groin injury affecting his adductor muscle.

He is also thought to want to play for Spain against Argentina next Saturday at his former home ground, the Vicente Calderon stadium of Atletico Madrid.

Exactly how Liverpool will feel about that is unclear but only a serious breakdown in Torres' fitness will make it possible for them to stop him travelling to join the Spain squad.

Steven Gerrard, who also has a groin problem, has also done light training this week and is not ruled out of the Birmingham game yet.


http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2009/1106/1224258208422.html
[/quote]

WTF. He cannot possibly go and play for Spain in his current state. I'd rather he missed the Birmingham game and was declared unfit than that we risk him yet again for meaningless international match.

Keni, I was going by the Beeb's injury update which didn't mention Kelly. If he's still out, then we're gonna have to bite the bullet and play either Darby or a midfielder at RB. Maybe Mascher - if Aquilani's fit to start. Otherwise maybe Spearing - he might find life easier at RB than in CM.
 
WTF. He cannot possibly go and play for Spain in his current state. I'd rather he missed the Birmingham game and was declared unfit than that we risk him yet again for meaningless international match.
Click to expand...

Agreed. How many times since Torres has been at Liverpool has he come back injured from international duty. Pisses me off so much. He hardly ever gets injured playing for us. The cheeky fuckers will probably call him up too >🙁
 
I think the key is that Torres wants to play for Spain.
If Rafa prevented him from playing surely that would be poor man management!!!
 
[quote author=the count link=topic=36988.msg981204#msg981204 date=1257528022]
I think the key is that Torres wants to play for Spain.
If Rafa prevented him from playing surely that would be poor man management!!!
[/quote]

Considering many think he's shit at this anyway surely telling Torres to sit his arse back down in Liverpool won't make much difference.
 
Ballague was on SSN saying that Lpool have an agreement with Spain that Torres won't be travelling with them as he will recieve treatment during the International break.
 
Normally I hate the International break but this one could be digging us out of a big hole! Hopefully all our injured players won't get called up, there's no need for them to as their countries have all qualified pretty much. Gerrard, Johnson, Torres, Riera, Aquilani, Skrtel (i think). If we can get win on Monday night, come 2 weeks time we might just about have a full squad to choose from!
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36988.msg981112#msg981112 date=1257519052]
[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=36988.msg981046#msg981046 date=1257514775]
Babel will be pants as always if he starts. Even after his goal on Wednesday, he was back to good old Babel immediately afterwards.

I'm done with Babel, a one off wonder strike can't fix it all.
[/quote]

I said I wasn't going to defend babel but I have to take issue with this, he scores a sensational goal, then takes a wayward freekick and then shots when maybe he should have passed it. are people expect a sub to come on and score a hattrick? we don't even place that expectation on people that START the game.
[/quote]

Sorry I only just noticed this.

Everyone has players that they have soft spots for, Spidey, and fair enough you have one for Babel.

But one goal, however good it was, isn't suddenly going to change everything over night, although I hope of course that I'm wrong and that it does. Babel has shown over the last two seasons that he's ineffective and unwilling to work to get into the team. And any given opportunity he's looking for the easy way out, an easy move back to Ajax rather than humble himself, pull his bottom lip up, shed some pounds and work for his place in the team. He's had isolated moments of quality before, I haven't seen then suddenly change his fortunes, so I see no reason why this time is any different.

I was so excited when we signed him, I really thought, like so many others, that he would develop into a world class player. Three years on, I've lost all patience with him, I can't make excuses for players who think their 'owed' a place in the starting 11, his silly raps and 'superstar' image only fuel my frustration further.

I'm tired of believing in him. I'm done.

If he becomes a world beater over night, which I hope he does, then his 'superstar' image is justified and I'll have time for him again. Until then he can jog on.
 
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