Lyon V Liverpool 4.11.09

[marathonman]

Massive Game on Wednesday now. Time to look forward and forget about today. We don't know the quarter of what is going on at the club at present. We should be keeping our anger for our owners but for now let's get back to supporting Rafa and the Players.
Agger,Gerrard, Aurelio, Aquilani and Skrtel will hopefully be fit and we will see a different team on Wednesday.
We would do well to remember that if Rafa goes then he goes with £10 million plus and that's the transfer budget gone and tell me who in their right mind would put their career on the line to come to us when we haven't a pot to piss in. Only a shite manager with nothing to lose would even think about coming to us at present.
Rafa has my full support and always will have. I dread to even think of him leaving.
Come on redmen.
Time for the season to get back on track with 3 points.

[Beanokelly]

Great post but personally I'm not looking forward to this match cos it's going to be our biggest game this season forget the manure game this is going to be bigger cos cl football depends on this result cos I think we could take the other teams in the group.We must win at all cost to keep the dream alive for number 6

In Rafa I Trust

[vincenzo]

A repeat of last Sunday is whats needed. Just pray that this virus fcuks off and we can get a full strenght squad together cos its going to be a tough game.

[tyronered]

Massive Game on Wednesday now. Time to look forward and forget about today. We don't know the quarter of what is going on at the club at present. We should be keeping our anger for our owners but for now let's get back to supporting Rafa and the Players.
Agger,Gerrard, Aurelio, Aquilani and Skrtel will hopefully be fit and we will see a different team on Wednesday.
We would do well to remember that if Rafa goes then he goes with £10 million plus and that's the transfer budget gone and tell me who in their right mind would put their career on the line to come to us when we haven't a pot to piss in. Only a shite manager with nothing to lose would even think about coming to us at present.
Rafa has my full support and always will have. I dread to even think of him leaving.
Come on redmen.
Time for the season to get back on track with 3 points.
top post if only our fans could see the wood from the trees.

[scourge]

Wednesdays game is a must win one alright. As marathonman said I think we will see a different team than today. Will Aquilani be started? It will be interesting to see if he does. I dread to think what will happen if we don't qualify for the CL knockout stages. When the chips are down we have always managed to deliver. It will be some night

[vincenzo]

Is Kyrgiakos in our champions league squad??

[SUPERFAN]

i said a while ago that because of the financial position and reliance on CL football the sh1t could hit the fan as early as this january and now it is upon us.
forget about rafa walking or getting sacked,if lpool lose on wednesday then you can say goodbye to at least 1 of our players in the next transfer window.
this is an absolutely massive game,anything but a win for lpool and i think they're in big trouble.
gerrard has been held back from possible surgery with this game in mind so we can take it that he will play some part,hopefully a few of the other injured/sick players will be back also....

[muller]

every game from now to the end of the season is a must win as everyone knows but i think the club and rafa may have realised CL progression is vital for the club financially and the only major trophy we may win...

[Garrett]

Massive Game on Wednesday now. Time to look forward and forget about today. We don't know the quarter of what is going on at the club at present. We should be keeping our anger for our owners but for now let's get back to supporting Rafa and the Players.
Agger,Gerrard, Aurelio, Aquilani and Skrtel will hopefully be fit and we will see a different team on Wednesday.
We would do well to remember that if Rafa goes then he goes with £10 million plus and that's the transfer budget gone and tell me who in their right mind would put their career on the line to come to us when we haven't a pot to piss in. Only a shite manager with nothing to lose would even think about coming to us at present.
Rafa has my full support and always will have. I dread to even think of him leaving.
Come on redmen.
Time for the season to get back on track with 3 points.



Top post mate and definitely called for .... so glad to see others posting to support you on already.

Bottom line here is very simple, some of us went to Anfield last Sunday and joined thousands of other fans:

- firstly, in a protest against the yanks
- then to support the manager and the team

The result of both of the above were (1) great coverage on the protest and (2) we embarrissed the Mancs and took 3 points, along with a fantastic memory away for the day.

We need to behave in the exact same way now, for the next game - this time against Lyon.

The 12th man is never more important, that after LFC have lost a match, so lets all get behind the team and make sure we encourage all fellow Reds to do the same.

The bottom line is that if we don't, then Superfan's predictions on LFC having to sell top players to help pay the Bank etc will sadly come to pass and thats not what anyone here wants now is it ! ..... sorry Willie, but I'd far rather you got this prediction wrong mate ;)

[Huggie]

Massive Game on Wednesday now. Time to look forward and forget about today. We don't know the quarter of what is going on at the club at present. We should be keeping our anger for our owners but for now let's get back to supporting Rafa and the Players.
Agger,Gerrard, Aurelio, Aquilani and Skrtel will hopefully be fit and we will see a different team on Wednesday.
We would do well to remember that if Rafa goes then he goes with £10 million plus and that's the transfer budget gone and tell me who in their right mind would put their career on the line to come to us when we haven't a pot to piss in. Only a shite manager with nothing to lose would even think about coming to us at present.
Rafa has my full support and always will have. I dread to even think of him leaving.
Come on redmen.
Time for the season to get back on track with 3 points.

+ 1 , won't be at the game myself but i'm sure the loyal travelling fans including a few from this site will make the 12th man heard and get us right back on track.

[D-Red]

i said a while ago that because of the financial position and reliance on CL football the sh1t could hit the fan as early as this january and now it is upon us.
forget about rafa walking or getting sacked,if lpool lose on wednesday then you can say goodbye to at least 1 of our players in the next transfer window.
this is an absolutely massive game,anything but a win for lpool and i think they're in big trouble.
gerrard has been held back from possible surgery with this game in mind so we can take it that he will play some part,hopefully a few of the other injured/sick players will be back also....

It's really worrying that so much of that post is true. Lose this one and we're out, the implications could be gigantic. Suddenly a Summer's bid for Nando, Toomy, etc and we'd be in a position where we'd have to sell. In fact it would only serve to give the yanks a perfect excuse to sell anyway. What a bloody mess.

We're more than capable of winning it, but the short term implications of losing it are unthinkable. I heard someone yesterday saying we'd be better off losing it to force the yanks out. But it wont force them out, they wont sell with us in the uefa cup, it would only lessen the price they can get.

But it might be the catalyst for a big sale of our best players next Summer. Very very nervous about this one already.

We should win it, but then again, I said that about the home match against the same team.

[trucker]

Biggest game since Istanbul, we lose expect mascherano to be sold in January, and club to be in control of the banks next July, this is not scare mongering its nearly certain to happen, TBH If the banks get control of the club and sell us to somebody who is deserving of the club then I'm prepared for the 2 to happen.

[Shay]

Frightening times right now, its disgusting what those two American cnuts have done to the club to be faced with this scenario of having to sell players to pay interest burdened on the club to buy itself!

Makes me sick to the core

[Phil!]

Huge huge game!! Its going to be a tough game away from home but as I said in the Fulham thread we needed a big performance against the Mancs and the lads delivered. I believe that they will go out on Wednesday and give the performance we need to bring the 3 points home!! We need to get behind them and support the lads because we can do this!

[Garrett]

Biggest game since Istanbul, we lose expect mascherano to be sold in January, and club to be in control of the banks next July, this is not scare mongering its nearly certain to happen, TBH If the banks get control of the club and sell us to somebody who is deserving of the club then I'm prepared for the 2 to happen.


That happens and our progress will be thrown back 10 years mate, though I see where your coming from ... all for the greater good of getting rid of those two sh1ts.

There's gotta be a better way though....

[ROCCO]

Don't know what to think , very worrying times .... hard to call the game until i see the 11 players who will start ..

[reddave]

ye ..whos fit will be a huge part of this one..! even at full strenght this one would be hard. our backs are to the wall in this one so we need a big performance. not to many outside of us believed we could produce one against utd so i sure we can do it again.

2-1 to us..

[padski08]

We can turn our season around with 3 points on Wednesday. We are lucky enough not to be playing until next Monday again as players can hopefully use the extra day(s) to recover for Birmingham at home

Lose on Wed is unthinkable and i think Rafa and the boys know this. This is our Cup Final come early. Benitez risked alot of stick and throw back with his moves on Saturday but i believe in his ability and lets hope this gamble pays off.

In Rafa I trust

[Benbecul97]

Tough tough game as Lyon are no mugs at home. Its the toughest of our three remaining games. Getting beaten is not an option - a draw might be enough providing we win our last two. Alot will depend on the personnel available.

I just hope that Rafa's knack of getting a good result when he needs it comes true again.

[bobby benitez]

Need a win and a better than 1-0 win too. IMO a draw means Europa League football. Fiorentina will beat Debrecan and we must beat Lyon.

I for one woke up more postive this morning after the worst month results wise since pre-shankly (dont know that for a fact but I would guess I am not far wrong). Win on Wednesday, beat Birmingham (after either the mancs or chavs or both have dropped points) and suddenly things will look slightly better.

[ROCCO]

Anymore to be added to the list doubt fulls and can any be taken off as definitely fit ?

Cavalari
Johnson
Agger
Skrtel
Aurelio
Riera
Gerrard
Aqualini
Dossena
Kelly
Torres
Ngog


Just shows what Rafa has to deal with .... anybody wanting Rafa out wants there head testing ...

[Liverpool-law]

we lose expect mascherano to be sold in January

Could be the usual bullsh*t but I heard Masch was going in January anyway with his contract situation and the last chance to make decent money on him. Can anyone shed any light on that?

Massive game, need to win but if worst comes to worst a draw could be enough and let's face it, in the present circumstances realistically an away draw would be a good result...

[scousepaddy]

Im a really worried about this game, 12 players possibly out is it ? My stomach is in knots at the thought of what could happen without CL football!

[MrsPepe]

Im a really worried about this game, 12 players possibly out is it ? My stomach is in knots at the thought of what could happen without CL football!

my stomach is in knots since this morning as well, but I think its more from temper.

[marathonman]

Rafa has said that Torres is very doubtful.

[Ron1892]

Anymore to be added to the list doubt fulls and can any be taken off as definitely fit ?

Cavalari
Johnson
Agger
Skrtel
Aurelio
Riera
Gerrard
Aqualini
Dossena
Kelly
Torres
Ngog


Just shows what Rafa has to deal with .... anybody wanting Rafa out wants there head testing ...

Rocco im not doubting you, but could you just tell me where you got that list from and what injuries they have..

Thats some list and its only when its on screen you learn how serious our injury list is.

[bobby benitez]

Could be the usual bullsh*t but I heard Masch was going in January anyway with his contract situation and the last chance to make decent money on him. Can anyone shed any light on that?

Massive game, need to win but if worst comes to worst a draw could be enough and let's face it, in the present circumstances realistically an away draw would be a good result...

But draws killed us last year ;)

[ROCCO]

Rocco im not doubting you, but could you just tell me where you got that list from and what injuries they have..

Thats some list and its only when its on screen you learn how serious our injury list is.

Liverpool echo: Agger(back), Aquilani(virus) and Aurelio(calf) will hopefully be back. Gerrard(groin) and N'gog(calf) are major doubts .
Johnson -calf
Kelly-- injured
Torres ... well documented
Cavalari --flu
skrtel--thigh/flu

[Beanokelly]

Rocco im not doubting you, but could you just tell me where you got that list from

Sky Sports News done a list like Rocco's

[merc]

This game could be be so easily be over before it even starts.
Think every fan will be glued to the team selection post match.

Even more then any other time.

[Ron1892]

Cheers boys..

Thats a full team thats injuried...Scary.Hopfully the boys that have the flu will be recovered on time for wednesday..

Just noticed a few of the boys have calf injuries..

[callyno3]

Hopefully some of those injuries clear up If agger, skertel and Johnson aren't fit enough It could be Darby at right back as Degen wasn't in the champions league squad.
Alot rests on Yossi's shoulders for this one. It's up to him to be the main creator and him and Kuyt to get on the score sheet!

[marathonman]

Rafa Benitez is hopeful of having summer signing Alberto Aquilani available for selection in Wednesday's crunch Champions League clash with Lyon.
The Italy international is recovering well from a virus which kept him out of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham.

His return to the squad would be a boost for Benitez, who will definitely be without Steven Gerrard (groin), Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Martin Skrtel (muscle) for the Group E encounter.

"Aquilani had a virus. He trained today but was a little bit weak. Hopefully in two days' time he will be better," said Benitez.

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.

"Skrtel has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It's not too big but he is feeling something."

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager will make late fitness calls on the recovering Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson (calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David Ngog (ankle), none of whom travelled to Craven Cottage.

Benitez said: "Agger is improving - he will travel and we will then decide. He felt something in his back but it's much better now. We have to wait and see how he reacts.

"Fabio is improving but he still has a small problem in his calf, so we will have to wait.

"Ngog is much better, so he could be available.

"Johnson is training and working with the physios but he is a doubt at this moment. He will travel to Lyon and we will see."

Elsewhere, much was made of Benitez's decision to substitute Fernando Torres after 63 minutes of the Fulham loss with the score 1-1.

However, the boss feared his star striker could sustain a more serious injury had he stayed on the field.

Torres has yet to reach full fitness following an adductor injury suffered on international duty last month.

"I was surprised with the critics after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games," said Benitez.

"We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation. Still this morning, two days after the game, he is feeling something.

"He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time.

"So, I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100 per cent fit.

"We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players."




***FACT***

[trucker]

Fcukin scary when you see a list like that, Internatiols have killed us,and I hope our captain remembers that next time he decides to play a meaningless game with an injury,and stay with England after. Agger back? What the fcuk is wrong with him now,hes a disaster that lad?

[Niall]

Agger back? What the fcuk is wrong with him now,hes a disaster that lad?


Was hoping he had the flu and not his back AGAIN. Has to be a worry if it's the back again:(

[muller]

The injury list:

Gerrard - Groin
Torres - Groin
Aquilani - Virus
Riera - Hamstring
Ngog - Virus
Cavalieri - Virus
Johnson - Calf
Agger - Back
Skrtel - Virus
Dossena - Groin
Aurelio - Calf
Kelly - Ankle

source:

http://www.lfconline.com/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=470966

[ROCCO]

Rafa Benitez is hopeful of having summer signing Alberto Aquilani available for selection in Wednesday's crunch Champions League clash with Lyon.
The Italy international is recovering well from a virus which kept him out of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham.

His return to the squad would be a boost for Benitez, who will definitely be without Steven Gerrard (groin), Albert Riera (hamstring) and Martin Skrtel (muscle) for the Group E encounter.

"Aquilani had a virus. He trained today but was a little bit weak. Hopefully in two days' time he will be better," said Benitez.

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.

"Skrtel has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It's not too big but he is feeling something."

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager will make late fitness calls on the recovering Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson (calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David Ngog (ankle), none of whom travelled to Craven Cottage.

Benitez said: "Agger is improving - he will travel and we will then decide. He felt something in his back but it's much better now. We have to wait and see how he reacts.

"Fabio is improving but he still has a small problem in his calf, so we will have to wait.

"Ngog is much better, so he could be available.

"Johnson is training and working with the physios but he is a doubt at this moment. He will travel to Lyon and we will see."

Elsewhere, much was made of Benitez's decision to substitute Fernando Torres after 63 minutes of the Fulham loss with the score 1-1.

However, the boss feared his star striker could sustain a more serious injury had he stayed on the field.

Torres has yet to reach full fitness following an adductor injury suffered on international duty last month.

"I was surprised with the critics after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games," said Benitez.

"We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation. Still this morning, two days after the game, he is feeling something.

"He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time.

"So, I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100 per cent fit.

"We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players."

[SHOWTIME]

Fcukin scary when you see a list like that, Internatiols have killed us,and I hope our captain remembers that next time he decides to play a meaningless game with an injury,and stay with England after. Agger back? What the fcuk is wrong with him now,hes a disaster that lad?

I still can't believe Gerrard stayed with England while injured.I'm still fcuking seething over it!! :mad:

[T.N.F]

I hope when some people see that list they calm down a bit. Whelan ye pr1ck

[GaryMc]

Could be the usual bullsh*t but I heard Masch was going in January anyway with his contract situation and the last chance to make decent money on him. Can anyone shed any light on that?

Massive game, need to win but if worst comes to worst a draw could be enough and let's face it, in the present circumstances realistically an away draw would be a good result...

Lawerson said last Saturday week (United game Preview) on Today FM that all was not well in the Liverpool dressing room. There were divisions forming and some players were not on good terms with Masherano as they doubt his commitment following his flirting with Barca in the summer.

As for the match on Wednesday, when you see that injury list, it will suprising if Rafa can even fill the bench. Forgot that Degen was not in the GL squad, so Darby may play. I don't think I can remember a situation with some many players out. Its diabolical.:mad:

[barrydoherty]

I hope when some people see that list they calm down a bit. Whelan ye pr1ck

Actually has made me think about my reaction to saturday's result, still should be beating Fulham but so many injuries hopefully some will be back on wed :(

[dk.lfc]

its an injury list that sends shivers down my spine but we have
pulled things out of the fire before an i am keepin my faith.

[Rover 609]

Only confirmimg what everyone already expected,Gerrard didnt travel to France.

[SINGLE]

at least theres an injury update on official site.sg,skertel,riera defo out.jonston,fabio,swagger,alberto and swagger should be ok.fingers xed.

[djdwainec]

at least theres an injury update on official site.sg,skertel,riera defo out.jonston,fabio,swagger,alberto and swagger should be ok.fingers xed.

???

[T.N.F]

Actually has made me think about my reaction to saturday's result, still should be beating Fulham but so many injuries hopefully some will be back on wed :(

Not to go too far off topic, but i just think when your luck is out its out and it has deserted us in spades in recent weeks.

[trucker]

at least theres an injury update on official site.sg,skertel,riera defo out.jonston,fabio,swagger,alberto and swagger should be ok.fingers xed.

Dave who the fcuk is swagger, Riera?

[rev]

Dave who the fcuk is swagger, Riera?

Agger? :confused:

[Beanokelly]

Agger? :confused:

at least theres an injury update on official site.sg,skertel,riera defo out.jonston,fabio,swagger,alberto and swagger should be ok.fingers xed.

I thought that to but he has 2 swagger's

[Molby Is a Legend]

Dave who the fcuk is swagger, Riera?

I think he means agger trucker........................................... ...

Lads we have got through tougher tests before, I am confident we can pull this off on wens, Call it blind faith if you want but WE ARE LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB its time we stopped all this negativity from everybody players rafa and fans and we all galvanise the club and pull together in the same direction for the greater good of getting those yanks *******s out. as our club anthem famously states " when you walk through a storm hold your head up high and dont be afraid of the dark"

Well we are walking through a storm at the moment and we all should hold our heads up high and be proud to be liverpool fans, Lyon on wens night are the dark our players manager and fans should not be afraid we have nothing to lose we have already been written off by everybody from the media to our own "supporters" ( i use that word lightly in this context).

We will win this one and it will be the start of a great run


When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark


Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

[AthloneScouser]

Great post Molby, now the club needs us more than ever, and now its our turn to help out and not run away. We have to stand up and be counted for as a whole.
We are LIVERPOOL as you said

[bono]

Bit nervy about this one might be watching through my fingers but as in previous post's
I totally Agree we need to stand together I for one will not let anyone down.

Might need a shoulder to cry on after but sure that sometime's when your happy.

[rafalabamba]

Gonna be a huge game wedensday, but rafa undoubtedly is the KING at champions league football and i am uber confident we can pull this one off. Hopefully this match is a major turning point for us. I cannot wait for the match but im going to be so fcuking nervous all day, Allez les rouge

[MutantNinjaSkrtel]

Rafa's taken us to the Bernabeu,Old Trafford,San Siro,Nou Camp and Stamford Bridge and won.We are the kings of pulling it out of the fire when our backs are against the wall and I fully expect another decent result Wednesday night.

Aquilani off the bench to net the winner ;)

[djdwainec]

-1 is 7/1 in pp, already done it :) , we need a result and i feel we will get it, we support our team through everything not just when there winning!! Hope Aquillani starts, even having him on for an hour would be a huge boost for the players , the manager and of course the fans.

[SHOWTIME]

I honestly think we'll batter them by at least 2 or 3 goals.

We always deliver when the chips are down and I firmly believe come May we'll be heading to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for Number 6.

I really miss 'Big Ears' and can't wait to see Stevie hold him aloft again! :)

[bobby benitez]

Two days before Saturday's derby against St Etienne, the Lyon midfielder Sidney Govou was photographed falling around drunk in a nightclub. On Friday morning the manager, Claude Puel, stripped him of the captaincy. He decided against dropping the player and soon he was to be thankful, for it was Govou who restrained the midfielder Jérémy Toulalan at half-time just as it seemed his furious team-mate was about to attack the manager.

Toulalan, normally a most placid professional, had flown into a rage after Puel ordered him to "keep it simple, stop dribbling" as the players trooped towards the dressing room. "Just because you never knew how to dribble doesn't mean we shouldn't do it!" bawled Toulalan at the manager as Govou held him back. The scene is noteworthy for two reasons: firstly, it is amusing because Puel, a holding midfielder in the Monaco team that Arsène Wenger guided to the French title in 1988, was almost identical to Toulalan as a player. Secondly, it illustrated the pressure caused by the problems with which Lyon are having to cope as they prepare to complete their progress to the next round of the Champions League by pushing Liverpool closer to elimination on Wednesday.

Like Liverpool, Lyon have been bedevilled by injuries this season and will contest Wednesday's tomorrow's game without key players, all in central defence, where Toulalan is having to fill in because of the absence of Jean-Alain Boumsong, Mathieu Bodmer and Cléber Anderson.

It is true that those omissions did not prevent Lyon from winning 2-1 at Anfield two weeks ago, when Liverpool, without Fernando Torres, failed to exploit the improvised nature of Lyon's defence even after the visitors' one conventional centreback, Cris, had to be replaced by a 20-year-old midfielder, Maxime Gonalons. However, Rafael BenÃ*tez will draw hope from the fact that modest Ligue 1 sides have in recent weeks shown that Lyon's fragility is real. They have lost two of their last three league games, the most recent defeat a 4-1 humiliation at Nice. Even on Saturday against 17th place St Etienne, whom they ultimately beat 1-0, Lyon were ragged in the first period and could have been behind before substitute Bafétimbi Gomis' second-half winner. No wonder BenÃ*tez is so eager for Torres to be fit.

If the home team's travails give hope to Liverpool ahead of Wednesday, they also increase Lyon's motivation to beat BenÃ*tez's men. "Our result in the game at Anfield makes it more complicated for us in the sense that Liverpool have to come here and win," said Govou. "But we hope to qualify for the next round as early as possible so that we can manage our schedule more easily before the winter break."

Having to deploy Toulalan in defence is a double-blow for Lyon, since not only does it mean fielding a makeshift central defender who tends to get caught of position – and is not helped by the fact that 32-year-old Cris is clearly on the wane regardless of any injuries – but it also deprives Lyon of the France international's dynamism in midfield. Only intermittently has Jean II Makoun anchored the middle as well as Toulalan normally does. With the exception of the second halves at Liverpool and St Etienne Lyon have often been unable to secure and retain possession in recent weeks. This in turn has meant they have found it hard to harness the creativity and penetrative power of players such as Govou, who tormented Emiliano Insúa at Anfield, the 19-year-old Bosnian schemer Miralem Pjanic and the club's two main summer recruits, the Brazilian winger Michel Bastos and the barnstorming Argentinian striker Lisandro López.

All four of those players were instrumental in the swashbuckling start that Lyon made to the season, notably in the Champions League, where they crushed Anderlecht 8-2 on aggregate in the qualifiers and won 4-0 at Debrecen (though Bastos missed that), the heaviest home defeat in the Hungarian champions' history. Lyon's erratic form of recent weeks, however, has prompted Puel, as his instruction to Toulalan on Saturday showed, to preach a return to pragmatism over panache.

Toulalan himself is not even fully fit – he is still carrying a slight adductor strain. He is one of seven Lyon players to suffer with that complaint already in this campaign, prompting suggestions that Puel's pre-season training regime, which involved cross-country skiing and mountain-bike climbs, may have been too gruelling. BenÃ*tez is not the only manager whose methods are coming under scrutiny.

[GDLUCKXABI]

We'll probably go and win, I really hope we do as we are in dire need of a lift. If torres can play we have a very good chance. These are a good team, nothing special sow e can defo do it!

[Liverpool-law]

As marathonman said I think we will see a different team than today. Will Aquilani be started? It will be interesting to see if he does.

Can't see how he'd be able to play a full game after two 15 minute cameos so far after basically a year out.

[Fran74]

BBC Website are repotting that Johnson and Aurelio are definitely out tomorrow. Fcuk that anyway!

[padski08]

Johnson didnt travel

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Carragher, Ayala, Darby, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Spearing, Plessis, Ngog, Voronin, Torres.

From Liverpoolfc.tv

[sean]

BBC Website are repaoting that Johnson and Aurelio are definitely out tonight.

Where are they heading to tonight, anywhere fancy? And any news on whether they'll be playing tomorrow night...?

Honestly I'm so funny sometimes it hurts :p

[bobby benitez]

Johnson didnt travel

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Carragher, Ayala, Darby, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Spearing, Plessis, Ngog, Voronin, Torres.

From Liverpoolfc.tv

I'd rather go with Darby Carra Agger Insua than
Carra Agger Greek Insua

Give the kid his break and see if he is good enough. Kuyt is the best man you could possibly have in front of you if your an inexperienced player.

[Fran74]

Where are they heading to tonight, anywhere fancy? And any news on whether they'll be playing tomorrow night...?

Honestly I'm so funny sometimes it hurts :p

Ha ha. Was new story on the BBC site that they weren't playing. Didn't know they didn't even travel! Any news from Rafa's pre match press conference? What time would that normally be at?

[sean]

I'd rather go with Darby Carra Agger Insua than
Carra Agger Greek Insua

Give the kid his break and see if he is good enough. Kuyt is the best man you could possibly have in front of you if your an inexperienced player.

What a game to be finding out if he's good enough, pity it wasn't a Carling Cup game we are preparing for eh! That said I'd be more confident of getting a win if Darby does start and it'll mean more balance in our backline as well. Fcuk me though, what a nightmare injury list to be having going into a game of such massive significance.

[Phil!]

Johnson didnt travel

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Carragher, Ayala, Darby, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Spearing, Plessis, Ngog, Voronin, Torres.

From Liverpoolfc.tv

Hard to say what the starting team will be really

Reina
Darby Carra Agger Insua
Lucas Macherano
Kuyt Yossi Babel
Torres
Thats a possibility or maybe might decide to give Aqualani his full debut and play Carra right back

Reina
Carra Kyrgiakos Agger Insua
Lucas Macherano
Kuyt Aquilani Yossi
Torres

That would leave a bench of:
Cavalieri
Ayala
Darby/Kyrgiakos
Aquilani/Babel
Spearing
Plessis
Ngog
Voronin

Will be an interesting night but believe we can beat them!! Come on you redmen!!!

[bono]

Torres won't play full 90mins but will he start or will he come on? has to start imo.

[sean]

Torres won't play full 90mins but will he start or will he come on? has to start imo.

If fit enough I'm sure he'll be on from the start. He needs to play more of the game than not play, in a squad so decemated by injuries your going to need all the experience and class you can get. This is a game where I feel Rafa can take more of a gamble on him. Home to Brum on Monday, and while not taking anything for granted there, we need Nando more in this game than that one. Then you have the international break. If we've learned anything over the past few weeks then Spain will be told to fcuk off and be told that he's staying in Melwood for two weeks recovering from the injury they played their part in making worse.

[bobby benitez]

If fit enough I'm sure he'll be on from the start. He needs to play more of the game than not play, in a squad so decemated by injuries your going to need all the experience and class you can get. This is a game where I feel Rafa can take more of a gamble on him. Home to Brum on Monday, and while not taking anything for granted there, we need Nando more in this game than that one. Then you have the international break. If we've learned anything over the past few weeks then Spain will be told to fcuk off and be told that he's staying in Melwood for two weeks recovering from the injury they played their part in making worse.

Do Spain have a game? If so I'd do exactly as you said above. Only thing is Rafa has yet to tell any country to F off. Thats got to change. Everybody is injured unless its a competitve game and I think only the Greek is in the playoffs.

[merc]

Can see Aquaman starting, think the greek will get the nod at the back.
Torres must start up front with Babel on the left yossi in the middle and Kuyt on right.

Will defo be subs no matter how we are doing, probably Ngog for Torress (hopefully not Vorin), Aqua man for Babel with yossi pushed out on left.

[sean]

Do Spain have a game?

Yeah, they play Argentina in Madrid on Saturday week and then head to Vienna to play Austria the following Wednesday.

[SHOWTIME]

Please god Kyrgiakos doesn't start.He's just awful.He really is.

[barrydoherty]

Please god Kyrgiakos doesn't start.He's just awful.He really is.

+1 rather have Darby in at right back and Carra with Agger in centre rather than Greek at centre back along side Agger

Would go for myself


--------------------Reina--------------
Darby-----Carragher-----Agger----Insua

Kuyt----Mascherano-----Aquilani/Lucas---Benayoun

--------------Torres-------Babel-----------------


Would Play Aquilani instead off Lucas if he fit enought to play 60/70 minutes?
Want see Babel get chance of starting upfront but know it wont happen could see Rafa playing Spearing Centre midfield with Macro and Lucas if Aquilani is not fit

[T.N.F]

I'd rather go with Darby Carra Agger Insua than
Carra Agger Greek Insua

Give the kid his break and see if he is good enough. Kuyt is the best man you could possibly have in front of you if your an inexperienced player.

I think that will defo be the case - cant risk Carra and Kyrgiakos against a really fast Lyon attack

[T.N.F]

What a game to be finding out if he's good enough, pity it wasn't a Carling Cup game we are preparing for eh! That said I'd be more confident of getting a win if Darby does start and it'll mean more balance in our backline as well. Fcuk me though, what a nightmare injury list to be having going into a game of such massive significance.

I think (hope!) hes good enough

[T.N.F]

Do Spain have a game? If so I'd do exactly as you said above. Only thing is Rafa has yet to tell any country to F off. Thats got to change. Everybody is injured unless its a competitve game and I think only the Greek is in the playoffs.

Yeah,Aquilani, Torres and Gerrard fit just in time for the internationals....

[eoinlfc101]

i would like to see darby but i cant see him starting i have a feeling it will be this but i certainlt dont agree with it
Reina
carra Agger The Greek Insua


Mascherano Lucas


Kuyt Voronin Benayoun

Torres

i really hope im wrong with voronin i really do but i cant see him starting babel but who knows

[AthloneScouser]

Roumors that Aquilani will start just behind Torres. Can't see either lasting the full 90.

[edcarroll02]

Roumors that Aquilani will start just behind Torres. Can't see either lasting the full 90.

They might not need to, either way if there's a few goals in it at half time there's no point keeping them on. I don't really think we have much hope tomorrow night if the line up is what has been speculated. I wouldn't trust either Carra or Darby at full back, the Greek is terrible, and Agger is only back from injury, Gerrard is out, Torres isn't fit. We're putting all of our hopes on Yossi to spring some sort of magic!!

I remember saying at the start of this season that we were threadbare with 1 injury, this is just ridiculous but i really do feel that its a result of poor signings over the last few years, we don't have a good back up (or 2nd) striker!! Its unforgivable

[ROCCO]

Liverpool squad: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt, Aquilani, Babel, Ayala, Spearing, Darby, Torres, Voronin, Ngog, Plessis, Cavalieri.

[djdwainec]

i'd rather ayala before the greek to be honest

[Alex Raisbeck]

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Carragher, Ayala, Darby, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Spearing, Plessis, Ngog, Voronin, Torres.

Carra at right back then?

[KOPSTAR]

Massive Game on Wednesday now. Time to look forward and forget about today. We don't know the quarter of what is going on at the club at present. We should be keeping our anger for our owners but for now let's get back to supporting Rafa and the Players.
Agger,Gerrard, Aurelio, Aquilani and Skrtel will hopefully be fit and we will see a different team on Wednesday.
We would do well to remember that if Rafa goes then he goes with £10 million plus and that's the transfer budget gone and tell me who in their right mind would put their career on the line to come to us when we haven't a pot to piss in. Only a shite manager with nothing to lose would even think about coming to us at present.
Rafa has my full support and always will have. I dread to even think of him leaving.
Come on redmen.
Time for the season to get back on track with 3 points.thats right our hole problem is funds from the 2 pricks

[KOPSTAR]

I think Aquilani is going 2b fantastic for the rest of the season { injury free]

[sallycinnamon]

Slightly off topic here but all the talk of our injuries got me thinking how unfair it is and how it would be fantastic if all the clubs in the prem came down with serious bout of swine flu apart from Liverpool. Don't want the swine flu to kill any1 just to be bad enough a dose to take out all the clubs 1st teams and reserves and have them all sweating and shivering wrapped up in their beds till around 1st of June ! ! !

[Wexman]

Liverpool squad: Reina, Cavalieri, Carragher, Ayala, Darby, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Spearing, Plessis, Ngog, Voronin, Torres.

Carra at right back then? Maybe Darby might get a run out at right back tonight ? Rather have Agger and Carra as centre halves.

[RedArmagh]

would like to see

--------reina-------
darby carra agger insua
----masch lucas-------
Kuyt---Aquilani----Benayoun
--------Torres-------

[ROCCO]

would like to see

--------reina-------
darby carra agger insua
----masch lucas-------
Kuyt---Aquilani----Benayoun
--------Torres-------

i would like to see ..

--------reina-------
carra Ayala agger insua
----masch lucas-------
Kuyt---Aquilani----Benayoun
--------Torres-------

but expect Nemo wont start


--------reina-------
carra Ayala agger insua
----masch lucas-------
Kuyt--Voronin--Benayoun
--------Torres-------

[elvis]

Id like to see

-----------------Reina-----------------
Johnson-----Carra-----Agger-----Aurelio
-----------Masch-----Lucas-----------
Kuyt------------Gerrard-------Benayoun
-----------------Torres-----------------

But thats not going to happen.
Cant see Voronin or Ayala starting or Nemo for that matter,.

It could be something like this,.

-----------------Reina-----------------
Kelly-----Carra-----Kyrgiakos-----Insua
-----------Masch-----Lucas-----------
Kuyt------------Benayoun-------Babel
-----------------Torres----------------

[Liverpool-law]

It could be something like this,.

-----------------Reina-----------------
Kelly-----Carra-----Kyrgiakos-----Insua
-----------Masch-----Lucas-----------
Kuyt------------Benayoun-------Babel
-----------------Torres----------------

As far as I know Kelly is still out. I think Agger will make it for tonight, would like to see Darby at right back but it could be Carra with Agger and Kyrgiakos in the centre.

[callyno3]

johnson didn't travel, so if Agger is fit I expect carra at RB Darby might get a start if Agger isn't fit. Aquilani will not start I'd say. Maybe 30 mins max.

[JMurray#8]

What about a 4-4-2 with Torres and Ngog up front, Kuyt on the right, Yossi on the left with Lucas and Mascherano in the centre. As for the back I'd definitely have Agger and Carra at centre half with Insua left and Darby right...

[elvis]

As far as I know Kelly is still out. I think Agger will make it for tonight, would like to see Darby at right back but it could be Carra with Agger and Kyrgiakos in the centre.

Wouldn't mind that. it wouldn't be the worst,. but it might be too soon for Agger,. and after Carra refusing to play RB in the past, I wouldn't be fully confident putting him there against Pjanic, their LM is a class act,.

[scousepaddy]

my stomach is doing tumbles with the worry!

[eoinlfc101]

nights like tonight where made for this club

[T.N.F]

I absolutely hate the site that has these videos up, but there are some kwality memories here, get you in the mood

http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/11/video-liverpool-can-beat-lyon-tonight.html

[elvis]

I absolutely hate the site that has these videos up, but there are some kwality memories here, get you in the mood

http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/11/video-liverpool-can-beat-lyon-tonight.html

The memories,. Olympiakos still sends chivers up my body, amazing, i remember the match like it was yesterday,. the same with Istanbul,. and the fans in the videos, thats the way we all should be now, and especially now, and tonight,. And for the rest of the season win loser or draw,. Win tonight, must be on the cards,.

[Fowler's God]

I absolutely hate the site that has these videos up, but there are some kwality memories here, get you in the mood

http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/11/video-liverpool-can-beat-lyon-tonight.html

The Republik Of Mancunia loving Jaimie Kanwar(protrays to be a Liverpool supporter) - aka the know it all of Liverpool FC and regular knobjockey self righteous bullshitter.

---

back to the game:

Will be in college so I will miss this one. Hopefully a big performance like Marseille 2 years ago, Stade Gerland not a easy place to go. I think Roma were the last team to win there.

[prendy]

nights like tonight where made for this club

especially if Gerrard was playing but he's injured!

[CHRIS1892]

Might be a good time to break out the rosaries! Ooooooooooooooooh, the nerves, the anticipation!

[ROCCO]

Just seems the way we do things ....... only missing ingredient is Stevie

But have a lot of belief in Benayoun to be our Ace in the Hole ..

[Benbecul97]

Just seems the way we do things ....... only missing ingredient is Stevie

But have a lot of belief in Benayoun to be our Ace in the Hole ..

But a pretty vital ingredient! Lets hope the alternative ingredients will do the job - even if it does not turn out as tasty!

Ok - I'll get my coat :D

[MCLOCO]

What about a 4-4-2 with Torres and Ngog up front, Kuyt on the right, Yossi on the left with Lucas and Mascherano in the centre. As for the back I'd definitely have Agger and Carra at centre half with Insua left and Darby right... if only;)

[barnestormer]

massssssssssssive night,away from home,incosistant form,star players injured,rafa under pressure its time for the players who are fit to step up to the plate and show why there at liverpool fc babel,bennymoon,kuyt could fire us up!!

hold your head up high!!

come on lads and rafa go out there and wop them in there own back yards bring back some pride and belief!!!!!!!

[Malzheimer]

I'd love to see Aquaman, Yossi and Dirk playing in the lines tonight behind Torres with Masch holding and Lucas coming from deep. Without Aurelio and Johnson I think we will struggle to get round our wingers from deep tonight. I would rather Insua sit back along with whoever is on the right and concentrate on their defending.

An early goal or two and we can protect Nando and Aquilani by getting 'em off around the hour mark and then our defensive players need to step up.

Come on you redmen, its games like these when the odds are stacked against us that we stand up and show the world we are never down and out we are Liverpool FC!

[ROCCO]

But a pretty vital ingredient! Lets hope the alternative ingredients will do the job - even if it does not turn out as tasty!

Ok - I'll get my coat :D

Doesn't have to be tasty just once it does the job and everybody steps up to the plate.

[Podgecheco]

Im not as nervous as i should be however i do have good faith that wel get what we need tonight

[merc]

Just hutty up and give out the team selection already.
I cant take this any more :confused:

[MrsPepe]

Today is like the day of a final,counting the minutes, chewing the nails, stomach in knots, only I wont be in the pub:(

[Podgecheco]

Today is like the day of a final,counting the minutes, chewing the nails, stomach in knots, only I wont be in the pub:(

neither shall i Majella plus iv no laptop to rant on IK when im at home

[Benbecul97]

Doesn't have to be tasty just once it does the job and everybody steps up to the plate.

:D

[graham]

I'm usually really anxious in work when we have a big European game later. I don't feel it today. I think this season has just knocked the stuffin out of me

[Ron1892]

Im having a bad day and i hope i really hope it doesnt spill onto the pitch either tonight...

[gowinit6times]

This game has a real knock out feel to it. However at least we know what we must do and that is win, preferably by better than 2-1. I am fairly confident we can do it knowing whats at stake.

This is the hardest fixture left and if we can squeeze out a win by whatever means I think we can still qualify.

I hope we keep Aqualani in reserve for the last 30 since it could be important if the game is still in the balance to have someone who can come off the bench and make a difference. I doubt if he's ready for 90 minutes yet anyway.

[Podgecheco]

Great potential for aquaman to become a hero tonight, as they say "a hero will rise"

[MrsPepe]

neither shall i Majella plus iv no laptop to rant on IK when im at home

you might be as well of Podge;)

Il be pacing for the last 45 mins, I know that much. Im very bad.

When we played Arsenal that time when Walcott started his run up the pitch, I ran outside to tto the garden and watched it through the window:confused:

Made no difference whatsoever, but I cant help it. I think I think if I leave the room nothing bad will happen,lol. Weird i know:)

Anyways we will win tonight 1-3;)

[eoinlfc101]

i cant wait to finish work and get home for this we are going to win it lads

[x43r0]

I'm usually really anxious in work when we have a big European game later. I don't feel it today. I think this season has just knocked the stuffin out of me

I'm the same. Feels really weird

[Skintown Red]

Some fella on rawk is saying this might be the team
Rumours that its

Reina
Darby
Carragher
Agger
Insua
Lucas
Mascherano
Kuyt
Benayoun
Aquilani
Torres

Says he knows somebody from city radio.

Would be impressed with that team but think we would need to do a Real Madrid performance and blow them out of the water early doors, as I can't see Nando and Aquaman getting past the 65-70 mark

[Podgecheco]

I like the looks of it alright but how long till its confirmed can anyone tell me?

[MrsPepe]

I like the looks of it alright but how long till its confirmed can anyone tell me?

usually an hour before isnt it?

[DAN_LFC17]

...............Reina
Darby..Carra..Greek..Insua
.........Lucas..Mascherano..
Kuyt......Aquilani...Benayoun
..............Torres..........

[Skintown Red]

Shite now his say this

Carra is right back
Agger and the greek in the middle
Voronin is behind Torres. That's from Steve from Radio City 96.7.

Maybe take it with a pinch of salt but I'd say the second team is the more likely.

[ROCCO]

...............Reina
Carra..Kyrgiakos..Agger..Insua
.........Lucas..Mascherano..
Kuyt.....Voronin...Benayoun
..............Torres

[Ron1892]

Id play Babel before HHH..and its not often i offer support to Babel but he has more potential than Voronin and also over the past two games ive seen Voronin blame every one else except himself.

[bono]

Today is like the day of a final,counting the minutes, chewing the nails, stomach in knots, only I wont be in the pub:(

+1

[ROCCO]

Id play Babel before HHH..and its not often i offer support to Babel but he has more potential than Voronin and also over the past two games ive seen Voronin blame every one else except himself.



Id play myself in the hole before Babel there ..

[Ron1892]

Id play myself in the hole before Babel there ..

Well you'd probally be better than Voronion..I just dont rate the guy and i think he has a massive chip on his shoulder.If you watch him closely tonight if he plays, and if things arent going his way he will blame every one else.He's meant to be one of the more senior players of the squad to its up to him to stand up and show abit of leadership and in the two games ive seen of him this season,Arsenal and Fulham he hasnt done that..

[ROCCO]

Well you'd probally be better than Voronion..I just dont rate the guy and i think he has a massive chip on his shoulder.If you watch him closely tonight if he plays, and if things arent going his way he will blame every one else.He's meant to be one of the more senior players of the squad to its up to him to stand up and show abit of leadership and in the two games ive seen of him this season,Arsenal and Fulham he hasnt done that..

Besides the mistake for the goal v Arsenal i though he played very well and showed in the 2nd half the determination we will need to win tonight , could say were playing 4 strikers tonight , just need a clean sheet imo.
Upstairs the light is on for Voronin lets hope it is focused ....
Babels sticky tape on his boots never seems to work ... Think we need a more experienced player than Babel tonight to start ......

[1one80eighty]

...............Reina
Carra..Kyrgiakos..Agger..Insua
.........Lucas..Mascherano..
Kuyt.....Voronin...Benayoun
..............Torres

Without sounding negative, I really hope this isn't the line-up. With Jamie playing right-back, we would effectively be giving up that wing as any kind of attacking threat. I'm a huge admirer of Carragher's [continue to be inspite of the media frenzy that he's "past it"], but he really doesn't offer much as an attacking right-back. It's not for want of trying, but he's simply not that kind of player. He spends far too long on the ball, surveying his surroundings and trying to pick a pass, and while you can do this at centre-back, it is very different at full-back.

I see little value in playing Voronin "in the hole". He offers very little, looks uncertain about what his role is, and simply isn't good enough. If Benitez doesn't want to start the Italian, what about playing a front two with Torres and Ngog [if Ngog is fit enough to play; if not, what about Voronin actually playing there?]. The point is, if we don't have the players for 4-2-3-1, maybe that isn't the system to adopt.

[MrsPepe]

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala

[ROCCO]

Without sounding negative, I really hope this isn't the line-up. With Jamie playing right-back, we would effectively be giving up that wing as any kind of attacking threat. I'm a huge admirer of Carragher's [continue to be inspite of the media frenzy that he's "past it"], but he really doesn't offer much as an attacking right-back. It's not for want of trying, but he's simply not that kind of player. He spends far too long on the ball, surveying his surroundings and trying to pick a pass, and while you can do this at centre-back, it is very different at full-back.

I see little value in playing Voronin "in the hole". He offers very little, looks uncertain about what his role is, and simply isn't good enough. If Benitez doesn't want to start the Italian, what about playing a front two with Torres and Ngog [if Ngog is fit enough to play; if not, what about Voronin actually playing there?]. The point is, if we don't have the players for 4-2-3-1, maybe that isn't the system to adopt.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala.

[ROCCO]

TORRES STARTS - AQUILANI ON BENCH V LYON

Fernando Torres will start for Liverpool in tonight's Champions League clash with Lyon at the Stade Gerland, while Alberto Aquilani has been named amongst the substitutes - listen to the game live online from 7.30pm BST.
Daniel Agger returns to the centre of the Reds' defence to partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos, with Jamie Carragher set to operate in a right-back role.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres.

Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166338091104-1845.htm

[Ron1892]

Well Rocco lets hope experience pays off tonight with Voronion tonight..

As posted before tonights the night for a hero and if its him ill hold my hands up and say im wrong..

Your right about a clean sheet though..1-0 would be a nice score to get away with..

The bench has a few options on it which is good..

Carra had right back im abit worried off..At least he will have Dirk in front off him so he can track back and help him out.

[travis]

HHH has shown more heart and determination in his last few games than Babel has done all season , so I think he deserves to be there in the "hole" although the ball will probably rebound off his hole tonight to lay a shot on for Nando.

[Millhouse]

At least Torres is fit - we're gonna struggle to create

[ROCCO]

Lyon's starting line-up.
Lloris, Réveillère, Cris, Toulalan, Cissokho, Makoun, Källström, Pjanic, Bastos, Lisandro, Gomis.

Where's Govou

[ROCCO]

Well Rocco lets hope experience pays off tonight with Voronion tonight..

As posted before tonights the night for a hero and if its him ill hold my hands up and say im wrong..

Your right about a clean sheet though..1-0 would be a nice score to get away with..

The bench has a few options on it which is good..

Carra had right back im abit worried off..At least he will have Dirk in front off him so he can track back and help him out.

Lyon also have a lot of injuries { but still a very good side tonight }..... lets be Positive every one ... release hell .

[ROCCO]

We need a 300 performance tonight .....

[Ron1892]

Gouvu was stripped of the captaincy and it was given to Cris because he was out partying some night..Read it during the week somewhere.

[travis]

I have a feeling this is going to be an enjoyable thread to read at 10.pm tonight compared to the last match thread, we can draw here and still qualify from the group with good results in the next 2 matches.

[GaryMc]

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala.

[smiley1987]

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala.

come on boys lets see a performance , lets prove all the doubters wrong

YNWA

[ROCCO]

Midfielder Jeremy Toulalan will again play in central defence with Jean Alain Boumsong out injured.

Torres to take advantage of there weakest link ...

[carramagic]

If Boumsong was fit he'd be their weakest link! Come on Reds. Now's the time for Voronin to do something other than play simple ineffective one touch passes backwards please. Nervous as f**k but think the boys will do it

[graham]

Is anyone watching RTE? Dunphy claimed that Rafa has spent 190-200 million net spend which he claims is way more than Ferguson. I'm gonna mail them now about it. Love to know where he's getting those figures from

[Venom1983]

Dunphy just claimed on match coverage that rafa has spent 200m net and even though rafa has been better than fergie in his first 5 years fergie had a trend going whatever that mean and knew beckham etc were coming through even though he would have been about 15 at the time

Gotta love the way these guys can reinvent history

[rushiekop]

I'm nervous about our back four how I wish Sammi was still here. Heres hoping for the win we're looking for.

[LFC_Mark]

Is anyone watching RTE? Dunphy claimed that Rafa has spent 190-200 million net spend which he claims is way more than Ferguson. I'm gonna mail them now about it. Love to know where he's getting those figures from

no point mailing them all that will tell them is dunphy is doin his job..he is meant to talk rubbish and always does

[Daz]

Come on you redmen

[prendy]

im very nervous, hope im not behind the couch for the second half.


come on!!!!!

[LUCAN RED!!!]

C`mon lads. We can get a result. Keep the faith!!!!!!

[Liverpoolharp]

we are playin with 10 men cant believe Vornin is on after Saturday he is brutal.

[elvis]

Dunphys a kn*b i had to laugh, when he was talking,. Brilliant how he gets away with it,.

Come on the mighty Reds!

[rev]

Gonna be a nailbiter! Logging off now- can't stand the match thread if things go wrong!!

Come on redmen

[JMurray#8]

Come on Rafa, prove the doubters wrong and get everyone back on your side starting tonight!!!

Apparently You'll Never Walk Alone is being played in the dressing room, hope it brings a passionate performance...

[vincenzo]

Come on Redmen!!

[gav003]

At work so will be back in for a link in short. can't complain too much with the team imo considering who's left and what's gone before. Babel/ Voronin I guess. Praying the team can take us out of despair.

[LUCAN RED!!!]

C`mon

[elvis]

Id love to be there tonight,.

[x43r0]

In work too but luckily theres a tv here and i'm on my own so there won't be much work done :-)


Come on the lads!

[MrsPepe]

http://209.85.122.83/2500/33/0/e12987//e12987.gif We will shut them all up!!!

[scousepaddy]

This is fukin it!! come on boys it all cahnges tonight!!

[McLovin]

Come on the reds, we can do it!

[bono]

4-4-2 formation fcuks sake that was never a free.

[bono]

whats up with the Ref & Carra.

[bono]

Not another one of them nights please.

[x43r0]

Ref is blowin for anything slightly physical. Carra was very hard done by

[MrsPepe]

Fiorentina 1 up

[gav003]

http://iraqgoals.net/ch3.html

[Gray72]

We've seen this all before, as recently as Fulham. Plenty of possession, chance after chance and we just don't seem to be able to score. I must say it has been a good performance but just were are the goals coming from?

Voronin has to be the worse player I have ever seen in a Liverpool shirt. He offers absolutely nothing at this level and when he got the chance he hit it straight at the keeper. We need to learn to take our chances. Continually it has been left down to Gerrard and Torres and tonight looks no different.

[muller]

we need to have a couple of goals in the bag for the last 15, as there is no way nando or agger are going to last the 90...

[Deigo008]

jesus..... we deserve a goal....

[MrsPepe]

Debrecen equalised, I know it belongs in the other thread but its relevent

[bono]

Voronin is doing my head in bet yeah he pops up with the all important goal.

[scousepaddy]

decent half that! we will do these fukers

[scousepaddy]

Voronin is doing my head in bet yeah he pops up with the all important goal.

I hope to god he shuts everyone up including me!

[prendy]

great performance from 10 of the lads.

voronin is desperatly out of his depth...surely babel out wide and move benni inside would negate the need for him to be on the pitch

[General]

Decent 1st half from most of our lads, just praying we get a bit of luck for a change. Have to say though, Voronin's is the worst 1st half performance from a Liverpool striker I've ever seen and I've seen a few dodgy ones....Sean Dundee included!!! I have never said a negative word about him before but surely, Ngog must start the 2nd half.

[Ron1892]

Decent first Half..

Hope we dont rue missing our chances..

Voronion's first touch is terrible..Also he shouldnt be on the dead ball situation..

Lyon are there to be got at...

C'mon Boys do us proud..

[edcarroll02]

Voronin is never going to be good enough, I'd have any player from any team from under 18's up in his place!

On a more positive note were not playing too badly but I do feel that Lyon will get at least one against that makeshift back 4! Torres will be off soon enough, might be tough from there!

[corcaigh]

have to agree he is certainly the worse striker i have ever seen in a Liverpool shirt.he made that save very easy for lloris.

[Aido82]

this game is there for the taking

get voronin off and put babel on, he is shocking

[bono]

Anyone watching UTV whats the fella's name sitting beside's Townsend?
He's staring Townsend out of it & said Torres is the best in Europe.

[scousepaddy]

Anyone watching UTV whats the fella's name sitting beside's Townsend?
He's staring Townsend out of it & said Torres is the best in Europe.

are you having a laff?

marcell desailly incase your not

[loppy]

hope to god he takes voronin off now.

[MrsPepe]

are you having a laff?

marcell desailly incase your not

put him on par with basten earlier

[Daz]

Decent first half and we should be ahead. Pity the clear one on one didn;t fall to Torres. Would be surprised if Torres is still on the pitch after the 65/70 mark. Regardless of the score

[scousepaddy]

put him on par with basten earlier

he is dead right too! torres has nicer hair though :D

[Gray72]

You can be guaranteed that Lyon will not be as poor the second half. We just don't seem to be able to put chances away. That is down to having the quality on the park and we just don't have it at the moment.

Torres looks exhausted as he is expected to do the lot alone. Benayoun has really come into the game and Kuyt looks a danger. Unfortunately were it is all falling down is that central area that Voronin is manning!!! His touch is woeful, his vision poor, his composure is non existence and his set pieces awful. I would take him off second half and play Kuyt centrally and pop the woeful Babel of the right. I don't think Aquilani has the legs?

If we maintain our performance and show a bit more composure we could take this, I fear for us this second half. Especially if they get at Carra who looks vulnerable down the right and the half fit Agger who looks a step of the pace and the Greek who looks uncomfortable. All in all we can't complain too much it's in our own hands.

Come Onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!

[bono]

are you having a laff?

marcell desailly incase your not

Thats it nicknamed The Rock right could only remember his nickname thanks.

[scousepaddy]

Decent first half and we should be ahead. Pity the clear one on one didn;t fall to Torres. Would be surprised if Torres is still on the pitch after the 65/70 mark. Regardless of the score

we could have done with half time being in another ten mins we would have nicked one

[loppy]

torres looks wrecked.

[Deigo008]

Looks like Voronin has taken over from Luscas.... I dont think he will ever make it with this club.

[Phil!]

Decent first half! COME ON LADS!!

[barrydoherty]

Fiorentina2-1Debrecen

:(

[loppy]

too many wasteful hopeful balls.

[General]

Momentum gone - we need a change now and we cannot afford to wait!!

[barrydoherty]

Momentum gone - we need a change now and we cannot afford to wait!!

Voronin off Babel on please

[JMurray#8]

Voronin off Babel on please

Voronin off Aqualani on please!!! I'd bring Ngog on before Babel too...

[loppy]

too many wasteful hopeful balls.

[bono]

Babel coming on. Who's going off?

[Molby Is a Legend]

FFS when your luck is out it is out

[Deigo008]

come on not one of those nites.....

[Molby Is a Legend]

No it wont be deigo there is one there for us

[loppy]

ffs nothing wrong with that challenge.

[loppy]

too many wasteful hopeful balls.

[x43r0]

The greek nearly f**ked us over there!

[loppy]

why does it keep posting that message for me??! Only posted it once.

[bono]

why does it keep posting that message for me??! Only posted it once.

???:confused:

[Deigo008]

No it wont be deigo there is one there for us

hope ur rite

[General]

Aquilani for Lucas time!! Have to go for it even if we risk defeat.

[JMurray#8]

10 minutes plus added time left, is it time to sacrifice someone like Mascherano for Ngog or even Insua and go 3 at the back. Maybe even Insua off for Ngog, 3 at the back and Mascherano off Aqualani on for a little more creativity if we really want to risk it...

[x43r0]

Come on !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deigo008]

yes..............................

[bono]

Babel great goalllll.

[edcarroll02]

That's what we want from you Ryan!! Unbelievable strike

[Phil!]

The next 6 mins plus added time will kill me!!!

[loppy]

get in you beaut,

[elvis]

You beauty babel,.

I remember people saying that if Voronin was the hero tonight they would hold their hands up,. Wonder will it happen for Babel?

[bono]

2-0 cmon

[JMurray#8]

Thats the potential people always mention but we need to see that on a regular basis for people to get back on your side ryan!

[Molby Is a Legend]

hope ur rite


:D:D

[stevieg05]

Wooooooooh! What a cracker!!!!!!!!!!!! That will quieten the Babel bashers on here

[edcarroll02]

Wooooooooh! What a cracker!!!!!!!!!!!! That will quieten the Babel bashers on here

More likely to make it worse for him considering how poorly he usually plays

[JMurray#8]

Fu*k that...

[Deigo008]

ach...thats typical...

[General]

Wooooooooh! What a cracker!!!!!!!!!!!! That will quieten the Babel bashers on here

Great strike followed by a 20 yard free kick over the sideline and a sitter missed!!! That's why he gets bashed!!

[loppy]

ah jesus.

[elvis]

Balls to that,. they played well,. so fair play,. and its not over yet,.

[muller]

I feel quite ill :(

[edcarroll02]

Ah well there's always the FA cup!! Pity the game fell when it did

[General]

Holy fcuk!!! How many times this season??? 20 fcukin seconds left!!! We're out...

[prendy]

that was horrible

[JMurray#8]

Ah well there's always the FA cup!! Pity the game fell when it did

Is the FA cup good enough for you? Is that really enough for us to get excited about?

[Ron1892]

Feel like crying..

Who the fcuk did we piss up up there as we have been so unlucky lately..

[elvis]

Only realised that Lyon (already qualified) have to beat Fiorentina in Florence! And we need to win twice,.

[Deigo008]

europa....jesus....this season is the pits.

[fermoyred80]

Sickening, deserved to win trhat well. You can see the lack of confidence at the end closing games out. Lucas and Masch were brill tonight,

[carramagic]

If only Sami had stayed he'd be playing every week at the moment. We are rubbish at the back

[Gray72]

Absolutely crap. Forget the performance we needed a win and we have dominated another football match and lacked the quality to win it. The Greek is nothing short of abysmal and Babel for all his brillance in scoring passed up at least one other opportunity to win the game.

Rafa really doesn't know what to expect from this lot!! Ngog for Torres in the 85th minute suggested we had won the match and can you really bank on that with the mistake after mistake made by the back four. Babel could have shown more conviction in winning the header, the Greek should have stayed on his feet and Insua shown more strength. When will someone in this team grab a match by the scruff.

We don't deserve to progress for so many different reasons. If we continue to pass up clear cut chances we won't win matches in Europe. We continue to dominate play in matches and lose games by the opposition shown more quality in the final third.

[scousepaddy]

gutted..... played them off the park...... completely heartbroken !!!!

[stevieg05]

What a sickner. We hav only ourselves to blame missin the chances we did. Of course our 2 best chances wud hav to fall to Voronin and Lucas ffs. Kyriakos was brutal again, such a dodgy defender. Thought Agger did well and Masch was excellent. Oh well, we need a miracle now

[barrydoherty]

**** me awful! Who's fault was it for that goal didn't see if stream is awful but looks like greek! Doesn't look good

[rafalabamba]

out of all the results this year this is surely the worst, absolutely horrible

[Daz]

Only realised that Lyon (already qualified) have to beat Fiorentina in Florence! And we need to win twice,.


a draw will do but we have to win in Debrecen and beat Fiorentina by at least 2 goals

[scousepaddy]

**** me awful! Who's fault was it for that goal didn't see if stream is awful! Doesn't look good

why does it have to be someones fault? the greek lad could have maybe done a bit better, good finish by the lad

[scousepaddy]

a draw will do but we have to win in Debrecen and beat Fiorentina by at least 2 goals

do we not need lyon win in italy? with them already through?

[trucker]

fcukin sick,shocking for the goal agger and the greek. We had a £20m player on the bench and that game was there for the taken and should have and could have had that game in the bag if we'd gone for it earlier, i'm sick and annoyed.

[Gray72]

a draw will do but we have to win in Debrecen and beat Fiorentina by at least 2 goals

Forget it kidder, it's all over. Lyon will not get a result in Fiorentina and we certainly won't get a result in Debrecen playing like this. We dominated possession as we often do, however what wins football matches is goals and this teamsimply doesn't have enough.