25 November 2008

Liverpool v Marseille 11.26.08

2:45pm, live in the US on Setanta. I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to catch this match live, but at the worst I’ll see the replay at 9:15pm and have the review up by the morning.



Group stage so far:
Liverpool: 1-1 Atletico (h); 1-1 Atletico (a); 3-1 PSV (h); 2-1 Marseille (a)
Marseille: 3-0 PSV (h); 0-2 PSV (a); 1-2 Atletico (a); 1-2 Liverpool (h)

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 0-0 Fulham (h); 2-0 Bolton (a); 2-4 Spurs (a)
Marseille: 2-2 Lille (h); 2-3 Lorient (h); 3-0 Grenoble (a)

Goalscorers (Europe):
Liverpool: Gerrard 4; Keane, Kuyt 2
Marseille: Niang 5; Cana, Cheyrou, Kone 1

Referee: Olegário Benquerença (POR)

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Aurelio
Mascherano Alonso
Kuyt Gerrard Babel
Torres

Yeah, this might not happen, but I miss the 4-2-3-1. And if Gerrard’s back, I reckon this formation’s the best bet for more goals, which Liverpool clearly needs. Aside from Alonso for Lucas, this would be the same front six that faced Marseille in September.

But with Liverpool looking to get Torres and Keane on the same page, the 4-4-2’s still more likely. And if that’s the case, I expect Masch will be left out after last Saturday’s performance. Either way, there probably won’t be any changes to the backline.

Riera’s played a lot of matches lately, so even though Babel’s been no great shakes off the bench, I’m hoping he’ll get the nod. Maybe being on the pitch from the start, at Anfield on a European Cup night, will help push him toward the progress we’ve hoped to see from him this season.

A win here would seal qualification for the knockout rounds, while a draw would probably accomplish the same, depending on PSV’s result behind closed doors at Atletico.

But Liverpool can’t play it safe. The team’s been struggling to score, and Marseille has dangerous attackers in Ben Arfa, Niang, and Kone. Even after beating OM in the past two meetings, I still can’t purge last year’s 0-1 loss at Anfield from my memory. Valbuena, the goal scorer in that match, will miss out through injury, but Marseille still has enough skill and guile in their squad to punish Liverpool for any profligacy.

6 comments :

Abhiram said...

Podolski has put in his papers for transfer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/24/bayern-munich-lukas-podolski-tottenham-hotspur-manchester-city

Hope he comes to LFC. Could be another player we need for the 19th.

Just dreaming i guess... I am quite sure this will not happen but still.....

BackBergtt said...

rule number one of success: don't lose to teams bolo zenden starts for

i still cant believe that cockbag started a champions league final in a red shirt. what the fuck?

Anonymous said...

sorry but i have to wake you up from your dream, abhiram. liverpool is doing really bad financially, if anything, they would have to sell players :( touchwood!

Abhiram said...

I guess so vinnie but still,we can sell Pennant and Bennayoun and get the cash for Podolski. We'll not be compromised as Podolski can play LM also. But he will cost more than both their transfer fees. Thats the problem

nate said...

i honestly don't think podolski's worth it. never played outside of germany, and always seemed suited for a club like cologne rather than one like bayern munich. although, that reads harsher than i intend.

if transfer funds are available, i'd rather them spent elsewhere.

BackBergtt said...

id rather have diego than podolski

podolskis scoring record for bayern really isnt anything special and frankly he has been playing with alot better wide players than he would have with us (ribery, scwunstucker)