Liverpool vs. Spurs: Which line-up?

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The match against Spurs on Wednesday is crucial. It may permit us to get within 1 point of 4th spot at least until the coming weekend games.

Since as usual I got some stick for criticizing Rafa’s team selection against lowly Stoke City, I would like to know from all of you which team we should start off with against Tottenham Hotspurs.

Keep in mind that essentially, Rafa will have the same players available for selection namely: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Kuyt, Ngog, Aquilani, Maxi, Pacheco, Darby, Riera, Spearing and maybe some other unlikely inclusion from the reserves squad.

Keeping in mind how conservative we were against Stoke City, we will now be facing the all firing fast moving Spurs eleven, albeit with home advantage (if that means anything anymore).

Okay so fire away. First eleven, positions and game-plan! And….God help us!

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39 Comments

  2. ———-REINA———-
    DEGEN-CARRA–SKRTEL-INSUA
    MAXI-MASCH—-LUCAS-RIERA
    —AQUILANI – KUYT——-

    Btw….since I never chicken out, this would be MY starting line-up from players currently available.

  4. Same as last week, except Aquilani simply must start. Even if he hasn’t done much when he has, against a team like Spurs who will leave spaces at the back, someone with his passing ability is needed.

    Surely we can put Lucas, Aquilani and Mascherano in the same midfield? Rodriguez and whoever Rafa fees like on the flanks. Big Dave N’Gogsy up front…

  5. Reina
    Degen–Carra–Agger–Insua
    Maxi–Mascherano–Aquilani–Aurelio
    Kuyt–Babel

    But I would like to see Pacheco come in at some point of the game . He can certainly make a difference and I would like to see what he can do against Tottenham.

  6. My Lineup:
    ReinaGK
    Aurelio LB
    Carra CB
    Skrtel CB
    Degen RB
    Mascherano DM
    Aquilani AM
    Maxi RW
    Riera LW
    Kuyt ST
    N’gog/Pacheco ST

  7. I Would go with 4 4 2

    Reina Carragher Skrtel Kyrgiakos Insua Mascherano Aquilani Maxi Kuyt Ngog Pacheco

  8. reina – degen, carragher, kyrgiakos, aurelio – maxi, aquilani, lucas, mascherano, riera – ngog.

    hoping to see some attacking wingers for once. I feel there is very little to lose in trying this. kuyt must soon be at the end of his run, he needs better players around him to do the dirty works for. he’s useless on his own on the right. insua’s been shite as well for quite some time.

    suppose i’ll be disappointed again and we’ll start the game with 6 defenders, 2 holding midfielders, out-of-form kuyt and ngog in front.

  10. Reina

    Carragher Skrtel Kyrgiakos Aurelio

    Mascherano Aquilani

    Kuyt Maxi Riera

    N’gog

    Bench:Cavalieri,Insua,Degen,Lucas,Spearing,Pacheco,Eccleston

    By the way since when is Agger injured ?

  11. I feel that the reason he chose a more conservative side against stoke was because of this game. I think this game we will play the best lineup we can in terms of attacking players. Here is mine:
    ——–Reina———
    Carra-Kygriakos-Skrtel-AURELIO
    Maxi–Masch–Aquilani–Riera
    ——–N’gog—-Kuyt

    I really think Insua needs to be dropped today. In my opinion Aurelio is better than Insua on both offense and defense. He puts in at least a few magnificient crosses every game and holds his own on defense. Plus he takes great free kicks.

  12. Spurs will play 4-4-2 , and their strikers and wingers are dangerous.
    Given our injury situation, a “special formation” is needed.
    I’d go for a 5-4-1 which is more a 3-3-2-2-1 with
    Reina in goal.
    A back 3 of Carra Skrtel Kyrgiakos
    Then a semi-defensive unit composed of Masc as an anchor man and Degen + Insua / Aurelio as wing backs. Resorting to wing-backs is necessary since Riera and Maxi are not 100% IMO.
    In the midfield we should go with Aquilani as a play-maker and Lucas supporting him.
    Then an attacking unit of Maxi and Kuyt, both of which can support the striker and midfield, and drift out wide to support the wing-backs.
    Finally, N’Gog as a striker.

  13. bmfoley and Jevon, I don’t think Rafa will leave Lucas out of any starting line-up soon! And yes, admittedly I forgot to insert Babel in the list. He’s fit, but I don’t know how he is on Rafa’s good side at the moment!

  14. Reina
    Aurelio
    Carragher
    Skrtel (Agger if fit)
    Degen
    Mascherano
    Aquilani
    Kuyt
    Riera
    Rodriguez (AM)
    N’Gog

  15. Gk – Reina

    Defence – Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio

    Midfield – Maxi, Masch, Lucas, Riera

    Strikers – Kuyt up front with Aquilani in behind

    Subs – Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen, Spearing, N’gog, Pacheco

  16. Reina
    Degen–Carra–Agger–Insua
    Maxi–Mascherano–Aquilani–Aurelio
    Kuyt–Babel

    i agree with this lineup. it’s our most attacking w/o the captain and torres out there. i wouldn’t mind seeing an ngog-babel frontline, just because i’d like to see babel with the pressure on. i personally believe that if he had been given the same faith that lucas has been given, we might have gotten more production out of him. play him upfront, take away all the excuses. if he plays well, do it again. if he doesn’t….get rid of him. we don’t know the bad attitude at Melwood anyway.

  17. I have not heard news regarding Agger. Babel might be thrown into the fray.
    Keep in mind we have another 13 days of transfers available so Rafa will also want to put the players he wants to offload on show, namely Babel and perhaps even Degen.

  19. reina,caragher,krygiakos,skrtle,aurelio, maxi masch lucas riera kuyt ngog, crouch will be a handfull so krygiakos who played well at stoke and a threat at corners,bench would be insua aquilani pacheco degan not a lot of options but insua can come on for riera if he tires and swop with aurelio who can go left wing aquilani could play in the hole if ngog goes off,and degan could go right wing if maxi tires! pacheco the wild card could play anywhere across the front!

  20. Reina

    Carra – Skrtel – Kyrgiakos – Aurelio

    Masch – Lucas

    Maxi – Aqua – Reira

    Pacheco

    There’s no chance of Rafa agreeing tho! I’d have Amoo and Eccleston on the bench too.

  21. reina
    deggen carra skrtel aurelio
    maxi mascherano aquilani reira
    kuyt pacheco

    i think if he picks that team he will win 2 nil but if he goes with two defensive midfielders and ngog i think we will draw 1-1

  22. ————-reina———————-

    skrtel—carra—-insua—-krgyiakos

    masch—-aquilani—-maxi—kuyt—

    ——-ngog—–pacheco/eccelston——–

    65′ lucas for masch..
    (dont want lucas & masch togethr..they make a mess of a mid field together..)
    i know rafa wont agree with choiceof strikers..bt when else will we give them a real chance to prove their worth..
    Honestly belive pacheco is a gem..if wenger cud try fabregas from 16 try pacheco..he is 18 already..he needs exposure..even eccelston shud be better than NGOG in times to come..

  24. If Rafa had the stones to start with this team and throw young dani straight into the fire, We will beat spurs.

    Reina GK
    Kyri CB
    Skrtel CB
    Cara RB
    aurelio LB Insua is a liability.
    maxi RMF
    mash DMF
    aqua CMF
    albert LMF
    pacheco SS
    kuyt CF

    4-4-2 with pacheco between the lines.

  25. ———–Reina————

    Cara–Skrtel–Kyriakos–Aurelio

    ——–Mascherano———–

    Maxi——————–Reira
    ———Aquilani————

    —–Kuyt———–Ngog—–

    4-1-2-1-2

    Subs to be made at any time.
    Lucas on for Aquailani
    Pacheco on for Maxi (Kuyt goes right wing)

  26. Due to the defensive side against Stoke, i’m sure Rafa will field another one due to the pure attack of Spurs, but in my own opinion heres how i’d pick the starting 11.

    ———-Reina———-
    Degen–Carra–Agger–Aurelio
    ———-Masch———-
    Maxi—————–Riera
    ———-Aqua———–
    ——Kuyt—-Pacheco/Ngog

    I think this could be a perfect situation for a Diamond formation, with a perfect Defensive Midfielder – Mascherano and a excellent play maker – Aqua, and Riera can really perform sometimes when needed, so hes a obvious pick for the wing, aswell as Maxi who we need the experience for and to get him to settle in to English football asap. Kuyt as his positioning and threat at goal was again, a obvious choice, and due to Ngog’s bad performances recently, i think Rafa should give a start to Parcheco, as he really needs to be given chances to prove himself, otherwise he may aswell jump deck to another club where they will actually use him.

  27. _____Reina_____ __Carragher__Skrtel__Agger__Aurelio__
    __Mascherano__Lucas__Maxi__
    _____Aquilani_____
    ___Kuyt___Ngog___

    4-3-1-2

  28. ___________Reina

    Degen__Carra__Kyrg__Aurelio

    _________Masch

    Maxi___Aquilani___Riera

    ________Kuyt
    ____________N’gog

    Agger in for Kyrg if he’s fit and i’d like to see Pacheco second half

  29. give babel chance to play… If he can perform, we can sell him at better price… If not, Rafa can give many reason why he not on his list… :-)

  30. ——–Reina———
    Degen–Carra–Agger–Insua
    Maxi–Mascherano–Aquilani–Aurelio
    Kuyt–Babel

    I would Play Kuyt in the Hole behind Bable, Though Bable prob will not play, Then Either N’Gog, Pacho.

    Come on you Reds!! Lets lift it a notch and beat the Spurs!!
    I.R.I.T
    Y.N.W.A

  31. : Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Kuyt, Ngog, Aquilani, Maxi, Pacheco, Darby, Riera, Spearing

    Reina
    Carrager – Kyrgiakos – Skrtl – Aurelio
    Lucas – Masch
    Maxi – Aquilani – Riera
    Babel

  32. OK, by NOW its pretty obvious it’s hard to pick the side and that RAFA’s unpredictable,but im gonna give it a go…

    Reina

    Degen Carra Greekman/Agger Aurelio

    Maxi Lucas Masche Riera

    Aqua

    Kuyt

    i think this lineup is one to go for,
    let me just go through it..

    you must give the big greekman another go,
    he had a brilliant aerial challenging game against
    stoke,
    so he should be in to fight Crouchy(yes,he is starting)
    and to combat corners or set pieces.

    I chose aurelio over insua because the boy had
    been defensively suspect, and because I would love instill
    experience in the back line.

    and yeah no one could deny Lucas a start, he’s been by far
    quite impressive,
    and of course knowing Rafa, he wont drop Lucas,
    and so thats why im going with the triangle of Masche-Aqua-Lucas…its going to be very very compact and we would kick spurs’s arse in midfield.

    Plus we would stop their midfield from feeding defoe and crouchy. that would be a plus!

    ok..riera and maxi is the obvious choices on the flanks,
    i really hope maxi would put an out of this worrrlddd debut at anfield :D

    kuyt upfront instead of ngog, I think its safe to say, ngog could enter the fray 2nd half and try and change things.

    what do you think?

  33. Reina
    Carra Carra Carra Carra
    Carra Carra Carra Carra
    Carra Carra

    job done.

    subs

    Carra Carra Carra Carra Carra

  34. GK Reina
    RB Carra
    CB Kryiakos
    CB Skrtel
    LB Insua
    CDM Masch
    CM Lucas
    LM Aurelio
    RM Kuyt
    SS Aquilani
    ST N’Gog

    Kryi and Skrtel to deal with crosses and Crouch.
    Carra is more defensive minded than Degen, therefore more effective against crosses.
    Insua in LB with Aurelio in front of him to help him out if needed
    Lucas and Masch in the middle. Both can hound down the Spurs attacking flair in the centre and give them little time on the ball.
    If Aquilani doesnt start, I think it will be Kuyt playing in the hole with Degen out right.
    And then the frontman picks himself.

  35. Reina
    Carra – Skrtel – Agger -Aurelio
    Kuyt – Aquilani – Masch – Riera
    Maxi – Ngog

    Is Lucas eligible to play after getting 5th yellow vs Stoke on Saturday?

  39. Reina
    Degen – Agger – Carra – Aurelio
    Mascherano
    Maxi – Aquilaini – Riera
    Kuyt – Pacheco

    4-1-3-2

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