Funny.....that's what I was thinking after I made my posts

Ok.....I will let the debate drop for now with the hope of being able to answer the points you have made at some future date.

We need to win this 1st leg by two clear goals or more and of course, concede none at home. If we can do this I think we'll be on our way to Moscow. If we concede, we're in trouble

I don't think we need to win by two clear goals or more but we'd definitely be in trouble if we concede. I'm quite confident we could draw at Stamford Bridge though, so i'd take a 1-0 at Anfield quite happily, knowing a goal for us (like it would've for them in 2005, 2007) would kill the game. They'd need three after all.

Anyway, we're four days away so that's good enough for me to start thinking about the team (even if we've still a small matter of Fulham tomorrow)...

------------------------------- Reina

----- Carragher ----- Skrtel ------ Hyypia ------ Aurelio

----------------------- Alonso --- Mascherano

-------- Kuyt -------------- Gerrard ------------- Benayoun

---------------------------.-- Torres


The only surprise i'd really think of is Benayoun. Babel struggled against Arsenal and Benayoun would help us keep the ball better in a game we, as Crabhead said, really need to win... There's no time for players to go totally missing, which Babel can tend to do. Yossi played a massive part in our win against Blackburn, coming on and changing the game, so i reckon he'll have forced his way into Rafa's thoughts.

Also, we really could do with winning, so we need people to impact on the game if it isn't going on course. Babel does this perfectly, along with Crouch, and either would cause a lot of problems for Chelsea from the substitutes bench.

I doubt Crouch will be in store for another surprise inclusion to the starting line-up. The only 'regular' i foresee being dropped is Babel.

Error

Right. After Fulham i'd probably stick with what i've said in using that eleven. Benayoun wasn't great against them but he does better at home. That said, Babel's omission from the weekend suggests he could well start, and i don't think he'd have too much trouble if he's on his game (Chelsea's right-back position isn't their strongest).

Bench: Itandje, Arbeloa, Lucas, Pennant, Babel/Yossi, Voronin, Crouch.

I reckon Pennant could be included on the bench after Fulham. He turned the home leg versus Inter Milan so it's worthwhile having the option of him ready. It's an attacking bench, with next to all our attacking options there (bar Kewell for obvious reasons, and Riise). Arbeloa can cover for our defence quite comfortably (if one of our centre-backs has to withdraw Carragher can move there...). So yeh, that's that.

Early calculations make me think maybe only 5 of the 16, being 2 of the starting 11, will start against Birmingham City. So we should go go hell-for-leather. We'll have a big rest over the weekend with Chelsea playing United so that shouldn't be a concern. Victory without conceding would be excellent.

I'm a bit worried about this though as we're almost going into it as favourites.

Still think we need the safeguard of two goals and non conceded. We're hopeless at stamford bridge and most certainly need the goals to calm our nerves. If Chelsea come at us as they need the goals we may be able to pick them off with a killer away goal.

The first leg is very very important for Liverpool

Is Gerrard really injured after scoring 3 goals with his head in training or is Rafa playing 'mind' games. Chelsea also seem to be struggling with a few injuries, Drogba is a doubt and I noticed Terry limping off at the end of Thursdays game at Everton.

That is very true, but i don't think a 1-0 or even 0-0 would be a disaster. We do very badly at Stamford Bridge in the league but in Europe we haven't replicated that, seeing two 0-0's and a 1-0 defeat. Grant should not be as big a problem as Mourinho in these sort of two-legged ties, so i'm confident we could score away from home and maybe get a score draw.

But yeh, we need to go out at Anfield with the purpose of winning. Primarily we have to avoid conceding though - then anything else is a big bonus.

I think Rafa is playing not-so-subtle mind games with Gerrard. Likewise Grant: Drogba, Terry and the like will all be 100% there.

And to those who don't know, Michael Essien is suspended for this game. That's a huge plus for us, as their middle will be severly weakened without him.

If you offered 1-0 at Anfield now, i'd take it.

We are more than capable of getting a draw at the very least from Stamford Bridge.

More the latter mate, but I just feel that Chelsea will leak a goal or even two at the Bridge. They seem to be more mentally fragile these days, and I just feel that Grant won't be able to react tactically to Benitez's moves.

I tip Liverpool to take a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge then finish it off over there.

PS - can someone change the sub header to "sh1t on a stick"? It'd be even more apt than just "longball v longball" in my opinion.

There's no chance in Gerrard NOT having a part in this game...it does not make sense at all and I can see Rafa getting in huge $hit for doing that...

I think it will be a high scoring game...and it could end up in penalties(for the 2nd leg).

Final for me=Liverpool vs Man U

anyone but united.

Liverpool Team: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Babel, Gerrard, Torres.

Chelsea Team: Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, A. Cole, Makalele, Ballack, Lampard, J. Cole, Malouda, Drogba.

I predict 2-1 to Chelsea, should be a good game!

I think it'll be a draw... 1-1 maybe...

Hi all I'm here....


Liverpool 2 - 1 Chelsea


Method in the Madness.

Anyone seen gerrard yet? Is he playing?

Pen for Chelsea surely?

Kuynt

Robinsons Jam anyone?