With a host of first team players out of action for Liverpool’s trip to the Britannia Stadium Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez faces a selection headache going into the game on Saturday.
The most notable absentees from the Liverpool dressing room tomorrow will be talismanic captain Steven Gerrard and top scorer Fernando Torres.
The two star players aren’t the only injuries the Reds boss will have to address going into the match. Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun will miss out along with winger Albert Riera and England first-choice right-back Glen Johnson.
However the Liverpool manager can take some comfort in the fact that he has new signing Maxi Rodriguez at his disposal to face the Potters after the winger signed a permanent deal of Wednesday night.
The Reds will also be boosted by the return from suspension of Argentine captain Javier Mascherano, who may slot into the middle alongside Lucas Leiva.
Taking all this into account Rafa has a tough job on his hands in deciding who will be in his starting eleven. Here’s my selection
GK: Reina
RB: Phillip Degen
CB: Jamie Carragher
CB: Martin Skrtel
LB: Daniel Agger
RM: Maxi Rodriguez
CM: Alberto Aquilani
CM: Javier Mascherano
LM: Fabio Aurelio
AM: Dirk Kuyt
ST: David N’gog
It’s a tough choice to make, but that’s how I’d line-up.
Stoke are experts in the air so a tall and solid defense is essential which is my reasoning behind dropping Emiliano Insua from the first-team after a string of less than consistent performances.
Although many Reds may have chose Steven Darby over Phillip Degen I thought the full-back put in a decent shift against Reading and made some great runs down the wing and into their box. Last season we had trouble breaking down the Potters and I believe extra pressure from the full-backs may just make a difference.
The middle of the park was a tough choice to make, while I’d like to see Lucas in the center along with Mascherano, with Aquilani supporting Kuyt up front I felt we needed a more attacking option in the middle. With Fabio Aurelio looking like the only candidate for the left side (Babel claimed on Twitter he’s not in the squad) we needed a more attacking presence in the middle than the Brazilian.
Whenever I’ve seen Kuyt in the hole supporting the striker I’ve always thought he’s done a decent job. He lacks the pace to be a true winger and I think it brings out the best in him when he’s brought inside, hence why I put him in behind David N’gog.
Speaking of the Frenchmen I was unsure whether he’d be affective against a rough and tumble Stoke side, but with Torres out through injury and Voronin gone to Moscow Kuyt would be the only other real option and I’d much prefer him to be in the hole supporting N’gog than than Aquilani there supporting Kuyt.
While Pacheco has done brilliantly in the reserves whether it’s the right game to give him his first full debut is questionable. Although if he fit straight in he could be ideal to sit behind the striker if he doesn’t fit in it could cause us even more problems, which we just simple can’t risk at the moment, not when a win is needed.
Tell me your choices in the comments section, you might agree or you might think I’m totally off the mark. Whatever you think post it up.
M. Owen
michael@empireofthekop.com
This is my team, as long as Pepe is fit!
GK: Reina
RB: Jamie Carragher
CB: Martin Skrtel
CB: Daniel Agger
LB: Fabio Aurelio
RM: Maxi Rodriguez
CM: Jay Spearing
CM: Javier Mascherano
LM: Dirk Kuyt
AM: Alberto Aquilani
ST: David N’gog
Degen is a complete waste of space. On top of him being a total jonah I don’t think he has lasted a full game since he came. And Rafa won’t drop Lucas.
Will Rodriguez play at all? If he does, I reckon it will be as a sub.
Bit of a culture shock having to play your first match against Stoke after playing in La Liga.
Riera is playing.
Rafa stated that today.
I thought Degen was good vs Reading. Exceptionally good. he never lost the ball and made forward runs while distributing well.
MAXI will not start, Mark my words. He MIGHT just get 10-15 mins if lucky. I do agree with Kuyt in the Hole and N’Gog up front, The issue is wether RAFA plays Masch and Lucas together, I feel that is way wrong, Aqua man needs to start with Masc(If he is fit), No point playing him if he just gunna be like Stevie”G( Half fit ). So Lucas is the more likley of the 2.. Hmm!! What do you think??
As for the Back 4, Agger will not go on the left. If we played a 3.1.2.3.1.. Carra could play a holding role, he to slow out on the right!!
Comments??
Reina GK
Aurelio LB
Carra CB
Skrtel CB
Degen RB
Mascherano DM
Aquilani AM
Maxi RW
Riera LW
Kuyt ST
N’gog/Pacheco ST
I think this is probably the best lineup we have but I would like to see Pacheco make an appearance sometime during the game. I think Maxi will play he it doesn’t appear he will have much of a problem adjusting to English football and I think he’ll be able to jump right in tomorrow
Lets Hope RAFA can See what you see JEVON: Qwality!!
Michael I agree with what you say, although Rafa has always been a lottery at team selection, I feel he may select the following lineup:
————REINA————
–CARRA-SKRTEL–AGGER-INSUA–
MAXI-MASCHERANO-LUCAS-AURELIO
——-AQUILANI-KUYT———
I will add a possibile variation with Ngog in place of Aquilani.
I agree with who said that Lucas will not be left out. I also agree with who says Carra is better on the right than Degen. If Riera really plays, then he will replace Aurelio in my initial line up (and I find the spaniard to be much more effective in that position than Aurelio).
I am bracing myself for a tense 90 minutes. My God how we need a positive result to uplift our spirits.
Fingers crossed!
My God Jevon, are you serious bud????
We Do have the skill, Just not the EXP. The Younger lads have it in bucket and spades, Just the game time.. there time will come I am sure, But we in a Volotile situation. We have to get the BIG 3pts from this next game. The best line up we can go with is what JEVON stated, any other Comments worth a look?
Yes of course, Lets here them!
Rikko, my only difficulty with Jevon’s line up is the back four. Personally Carra-Skrtel-Agger-Insua/Aurelio give me more confidence than Degen-Carra-Skrtel-Aurelio. But then this is all theory. Somehow I’m sure Rafa will throw in a surprise or two.
unlucky folks! doesn’t matter who plays, we can’t defend high balls into the box….and guess what?? we’re playing a team whos whole game is based on high balls into the box….
i agree with nick, and i think jevon’s lineup is the best.
and i have to say, i was impressed with degen. he was just unlucky with injuries at the start. im sure benitez would agree with me that degen was effective overlapping, then again, no one agrees with benitiez! jokes aside, this would be my lineup.
4-1-2-1-2
Reina GK
Degen RB
Carragher RCB
Agger LCB
Aurelio LB
Mascherano CDM
Maxi RW
Riera LW
Kuyt RS
Ngog LS
GK: Pepe Reina
RB: Philipp Degen
CB: Jamie Carragher
CB: Daniel Agger
LB: Emiliano Insua
RM: Dirk Kuyt
CM: Lucas Leiva
CM: Javier Mascherano
LM: Albert Reira
AM: Alberto Aquilani
ST: Maxi Rodriguez