BenÃtez’s more immediate concern is to prepare his team for the FA Cup fifth-round tie at home to Barnsley tomorrow and the first leg of their Champions League last16 tie against Inter Milan at Anfield three days later. Fernando Torres has overcome a hamstring problem that ruled him out of the goalless draw away to Chelsea on Sunday, but the Spain striker is unlikely to be risked against Barnsley with so much riding on the outcome of Liverpool’s game against the Italian champions. Extract from Times 15.02.08 Good news.
I agree, hope he goes with Crouch and Nando up top. Was just looking at Inters record this season in the league. V impressive. Still think we can do them but would like to see us give it a go at home like we did V Juventus in 05.
Talk coming out of Milan the Figo will definitely miss this one, and the Chilean star Jiminez is a doubt. That would severely hinder their play coming down the wing which can only be a good thing for us.
Here is the Inter squad for the last league match, I don't think there is too much to be afraid of there http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/match?id=224324&cc=5739 Vieria and Stankovic did not play Pele seems to have come out of retirement
Toldo, Crespo, Maniche & Solari on the bench.. Yeah nothing to be afraid of there alright. I mean we will have Intandje, Voronin, Kewell and Pennant.
Maninche is no great player and Toldo and Crespo are coming near the end of their careers. I dont know much about Solari but he seems one of these players who is always at a big club, but never does much. I agree though Intandje, Voronin, Kewell and Pennant are no comparison with them
Agree that Maniche (too fat) and Solari (never rated him) are not great but Toldo and Crespo still have something to offer in my opinion. Just felt that the bench looked Very strong. But then again it is the 11 that start in Red that they will be worried about.
So tough to call with this. We always seem to pull off a victory in the CL against the better opponents. Havent seen inter play this season but they seem to be running away with it. cant really call it. I just hope crouch and torres start and the team we had against chelsea was good.
From what ive been watching of them, they always seem to have high scoring matches,alot of draws,but these high scoring games are with average sides. Im not saying that Juventus are average but they played them in the Cup recently and it was like 3-3 on the first leg and same on the return(3-2 i think) Theyr similar to AC because against Juventus they conceded two goals within a matter of minutes,they just completely broke down. Could be an intresting match,if we play the right squad,otherwise id say we could just nip it at home and draw away :/
More worried about our own form than theirs tbh, although we always seem to pull it out of the bag come the big European nights hopefully we can bang out a decent run
stab at team selection Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyppia, Arbeloa, Gerrard, Alonso, Masherano, Benayoun, Crouch and Torres
I don't think his selection has ever been a problem for us in Europe to be fair. I wanted Inter before the draw, we always seem to play better against the big teams. Of course that was before the huge dip in form we've had but I'm quietly confident, certainly for the first leg anyway.
rafas team selection in CL has never been (imo) in question.not conceding and winnin at anfield is the key for me
id like to forget bout all the recent crap sorrounding LFC for at least 90 mins,hope the lads give us another memorible night at anfield. CMON the POOL
I missed all the crap at the weekend as was in Prague thankfully. I could not believe the result when I got it on my phone. Anyway its make or break time, I think we can sneak a lead in the first leg. 2-1 with a Torres brace. Imagine where the team would be without him I might head to the Tram for it as have to drop off some tickets, anyone else heading there?