After the brutal encounter at Anfield yesterday against Manchester City we are facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.I know Chelsea are plotting for revenge against us.In as much as I would like us to win the competition I do not want us to put the fitness of our players in jeopardy.For an example, Suarez had very little or no rest during summer because of Copa America.In particular I would like to see Suarez being rested for tomorrow's game. In addition to that the folloing players must take some rest or on the bench. 1.Enrique 2.Johnson 3. Skrtel 4.Agger 5.Lucas 6.Adam Or do you think we should play our strongest team. Comments:
Keep the best XI on the pitch and keep the momentum going. We've got a run of winnable league games coming up which we can use to rotate the players if needs be. What we don't want to do is disrupt the flow and balance of the team (IMO).
this is a very hard question to answer. St John is right that objective one must be to win this one as there are lost of chances to rest comeing up btu then again christmas is coming. I think we must assess johnson here as he's looking a lot fitter and more cpapable since coming back in but he is just over a series of hamstrings and with Kelly available I think this is one i'd do. Next the question must be doni or reina and seeing we are talking a seriously good reserve this may just be one thats ok to do. Skertl will not want to be rested for fear of carrgher owning the jersey again after fine displays.... equally i would not want to see agger rested and skertl moved left. I'd be in favour of seeing coates i nthe game if the right chelsea players were on show. I'd not drop enrique as his pace is vital... aurelio is pointless now. Lucas is an interesting call. we don't have adequete cover here. Squarez needs a rest IMO. Over all we need to win the game first and it s going to be hard to repeat the trick.
i would definitely rest johnson, wont really hurt the team to have kelly. Id keep Skrtel but maybe drop Agger just because it doesnt take much for him to be out for the rest of the season, enrique i would keep beause we dont have adequate cover. Id drop downing (as opposed to resting him) for maxi, keep lucas and adam, teyre in top form, and play henderson. Up front Caroll instead of Suarez if he needs a rest (on the bench) with Bellamy if he can play, otherwise either suarez or kuyt
If we do go into the match with a relatively unchanged line-up, what we really don't need is 30 minutes of extra time. That would crucify a few of the lads, the likes of Kuyt, Johnson and Enrique, whose game needs them to motor distances at pace. Adam would probably also suffer (his fitness has improved markedly, but perhaps not to the 2 hour mark yet...) If we go into the game with a 4-4-2, which appears likely, then I could see Carroll playing up with Suarez or Bellamy(so long as his head is right after all that's gone on this weekend), if you want to rest Suarez. It also gives us a chance of playing a match without Suarez which is less critical than a league game (if you don't mind risking the momentum we've generated since the International Break...
I would go with: Doni Kelly Carra Skrtel Enrique Kuyt Spearing Adam Maxi Carroll Bellamy Still very strong and suarez,johnson,agger and lucas get a rest.
I'd play an almost completely different starting XI. Maybe ge Flanagan and Robinson involved? Certainly Spearing and Kelly.
To be honest, having a match 48 hours after the City match is ridiculous, but anyhow, I think we should play a strong lineup, although I heard some where yesterday Kenny is going to play some kids, Johnson and Enrique should be rested with Kelly and Aurelio in. Carragher in for Agger, Spearing in for Henderson, Carroll on for Suarez and Maxi in Downing and Bellamy in for Kuyt, I'd put Gerrard in there aswel but I'm not sure on his fitness
Doni/Jones (if he's up for it) Kelly Skrtel Carra/Coates Aurelio/Wilson Kuyt Spearing Maxi Downing Morgan Bellamy Reina, Coates, Johnson, Adam, Sterling as subs. Gives Suarez, Enrique, Lucas and Agger deserved rest and gives the lads a run out. Remember it's appalling that the FA would do this to us 48 hours after City, so saving face is important. If the FA won't take it seriously, neither should we. The problem with the cup (and the sponsors know this) is exactly that teams are forced to play a reserve squad. Who is going to pay for TV rights for Chelsea vs. Liverpool Reserves? By undermining our bid for the cup we shouldn't be embarrassed of undermining the value of it.
If Bellamy can play ( big if) then I would like to see him and carroll but that looks good bozz. I would also tell Adam to drive forward more as well as you know Spearing can stay back more.
It is because of the Europa cup being played on Wednesday 30/11.Alternatives are there: (1).Play on Thursday or (2)shift to after the last champion leaque matches next week or(3) better still allow Chelsea to visit Anfield and Arsenal to go to Manchester.The FA are control freak.
Kenny's fitness dilemma matches. It's not just us, it's Man City. "To ask any team or any players to play two games of high intensity in 48 hours is a bit of a joke. "I don't know why the PFA don't come in and say something about it - it's their players. For me it's difficult to understand why they don't come out and say something. Or do they agree with it? "We know we've got to accept it although we don't agree with it, and it won't affect the application or give us an excuse in any way, shape or form. The video you selected is only available to LFCTV Online members. You are now watching our Preview video, login or click here to sign up. "We've not trained yet but there'll be one or two bumps and bruises I would have thought, and maybe one or two missing, but we have a strong squad and we've made changes in other Carling Cup matches. It will be a late shout because we have to give everyone the best possible opportunity to recover. "We've sold out our tickets for the match, we know what's expected, the players know what's expected of them, so all we can do is try our best and see what happens." Chelsea have had an extra day to recuperate from their 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday. Dalglish added: "I don't expect Chelsea to have to make changes. He (Andre Villas-Boas) has said he'll use the competition to try and develop three young players he has that he likes, so I suppose those three will play." Meanwhile, Dalglish was delighted with the effort of his players and the supporters in giving Manchester City their sternest test of the Barclays Premier League season so far. "The performance was excellent," he said. "The support for the players from our crowd was superb, they really appreciated the effort and commitment shown by our players. "For us it's a work in progress. There are at least five or six new players who came in at the start of the season and for them to bed in as quickly as they have and put in some pretty good performances - the performances have been excellent and I don't think they've had the reward they deserve. "Sunday was much the same but if they continue to play like that and continue to get support like that, we won't be far away." Source:http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kenny-s-fitness-dilemma
Keep it strong, but make some changes. 2 games in 3 days is to much. Keep in: Reina Kuyt Add in: Maxi Carroll Carragher Kelly Its hard to judge with out seeing the players first though.
