Liverpool 07/08 Season Thread

Liverpool won the CL in Istanbul in 2005.

Here is a little snippet:

Locals looked on at the raucous Liverpudlians with fascination and apprehension, remembering the violence five years ago when two Leeds fans were stabbed to death in the same street where the supporters gathered.

"We Turks are hospitable people and it makes us happy when they have a good time," said Savas Altay, a 31-year-old waiter. "But we have traditional values and I hope they don't drink too much because then they do things which offend us."

As he spoke, a Liverpool supporter stripped naked on the roof of one restaurant before disappearing into the crowd to the cheers of hundreds of onlookers. Another fan climbed a tree and swayed precariously back and forward.

About 10,000 police officers were on duty for Wednesday's match and police have tightened security controls at the city's airports with officers on the lookout for any troublemakers.

Liverpool's last appearance in the European Cup final in 1985 was a tragedy, as 39 mostly Juventus fans were killed when rioting fans of the English club caused a wall to collapse at the Heysel Stadium.
 
All I'm pointing out is that Liverpool fans have traveled to Istanbul recently with no problems, unlike Leeds and ManU fans.

Your reference of Heysel and problems incurred by your fans and Leeds United in Istanbul was a little cheap, if expected.
 
Nando picked up an injury for Spain and is now doubtful for the Derby on Saturday.

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Thanks for the sympathy. On the plus side, it seems Xabi and Agger are ahead of schedule on their recoveries from broken metatarsals. We've REALLY missed both of them.
 
Despite your depth in CM, you don't have another quality DLP.

Sissoko, as I'm sure you know, can't pass and Masch is also a destroyer.

Alonso is your Carrick and you only realize how good he is when he is out of the side.

Everton will be a tough match for you and I expect a draw for you. A win @ Goodison would just be huge.

We have a tricky fixture @ an improving Villa.

Arse gets off easy again at home to Bolton.

I am actually happy with Arse's ridiculously easy early schedule. When the weather goes bad, they have to go on the road outside of London often.

As SAF said, this year's title race doesn't begin until after ECQ is over.
 
Torres will not make the trip to Turkey tomorrow, after failing a late fitness test. Bad news for Los Rojo's. I'm hoping he's able to go Saturday v. l'Arse, but I'm not feeling very good about it. At the very least he'll probably be a bit rusty and lacking fitness. I think Agger misses the Arse as well.
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Alonso should be back, but Arbeloa is an injury doubt. Here's my first XI:

----------------Reina-------------------
Finnan------Carra--------Sami---------Riise
Pennant-----Gerrard------Lucas---------Babel
------------Crouchy----Kuyt--------------
 
You really think Rafa would throw Lucas into a "must-win" game in a hostile environment? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it because that kid is class. I just don't see rafa doing it.

I think we're going to see SG on the "right" more and more now. I put right in quotes because he doesn't really play there. We have no RW and a guy just roaming around trying to make plays. Works for me. Remember, SG got 21 in 05-06 playing primarily on the right. If I had to bet on tomorrow's lineup:


-----------------Reina---------------
Finn----hyypia-----carra-----arbeloa
penn----SG--------masch-------JAR
--------voronin-------kuyt--------------

Bench: Itanje, Agger (if fit), Xabi, Crouch, Benny, Aurelio, Babel

Scary thought - we could be out of the CL by this time tomorrow (effectively).
 
I don't know if Rafa will play Lucas in such a critical game, but I do know that he was thrown into the derby, with no prior EPL experience, replacing Steven Gerrard. That shows some confidence from his manager. He also put a shot on target that would have been the winning goal. He's a very calm, collected player at the center of the park, and while it's a very critical game, I don't necessarily think it's all that difficult of a game. Difficult environment? Yes. But Lucas is a classy player and probably better than anyone Besiktas will put on the pitch.

I agree about Gerrard on the right. I'm definitely not against him playing out there, though he does pinch inward, allowing the opposing left middie and/or fullback to make runs up the left-hand flank. That's really the only problem, though if Masch/Momo/Lucas is there to support him, it makes it less of a burden.

From what I've read Swagger will not be fit for tomorrow's match. I'm hoping he's ready to go on Sunday. Arsenal's forwards (particularly the suddenly in-form Walcott) will give Sami fits.

I'm hoping for a draw in the Porto-Marseille game.
 
The CL games against Marseille and Besiktas might be the two worst games I've ever watched LFC play. Voronin was pretty awful, Masch couldn't connect a pass, Stevie looked off the pace, and Hyypia's just done. Sami is fine for spot duty, but the multiple 90 minutes in a row have taken a toll. Two own goals in two games.
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I wish Crouchy would have gotten the nod from the start. He made a difference immediately and helped create the goal.

I guess it's time to throw in the towel on CL and focus on the league and the FA Cup.
 
Pennant out for two months with stress fracture

While he wasn't exactly in good form, he started frequently and gave us a boost in depth. Guess Stevie will be moving out wide and Yossi will get a few more starts.

I had him penciled in for the start against the Arse. Guess I'll go with:

----------------Reina------------------
Finnan-------Carra------Arbeloa-------Riise
----------------El Jefecito---------------
--Gerrard----------Xabi-------------Yossi
-----------Crouchinho----Torres-----------

Agger in for Arbs if he's fit (which I doubt) and slide Arbs to the left. I could see Momo getting the start, but I prefer Masch to disrupt Cesc. Torres needs to play, obviously, and Crouchy had a great hat trick last year in this same fixture. Plus he's fresher than anyone else.

Come on you Reds!
 
Deserved result. Each team had their chances but could only capitalize once apiece.

Xabi is going to be out a bit more after aggravating his metatarsal injury. Agger can't get healthy fast enough. Hope El Jefecito is alright, looked like he picked up a knock. He was MOTM for me.
 
Doesn't look like there's ANY tv for the match today (checked Livefooty and myp2p). eSeason Ticket says they'll have it up by midnight (UK time). I guess I'll watch at home.
 
Based on the match reports I read it was a real cracker of a match. Robbie Fowler returns to Anfield and gets a few rousing choruses from the Kop. Classy.

El-Zhar scored on a thunderous strike from distance before Cardiff equalized. Not a minute later Yossi and Stevie G combine beautifully for the go-ahead goal, which ends up being the winner.

Supposedly Jack Hobbs had a great match, along with Itandje who made some brilliant saves. Good to see our young CB showing well (by some accounts he was MOTM). Lucas had a great first half, winning balls and creating for us, but sounds like he was gassed in the second half and had to come out. Boy needs to work on his match-fitness!

Glad to see El-Zhar get on the scoresheet in his LFC debut. I've got high hopes for that kid after seeing him in pre-season.
 
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