And so the final game of the season is upon us. One final game until the 07/08 season is laid to rest.

I'm oddly looking forward to it. I suppose the break in the football season is eased with the European Championships (regardless of whether we're in it), as a couple of weeks after the club season has ended the international scene carries us into the pre-season of the next club year.

The season has been enjoyable, a real roller coaster once again, and once again contrasting between the domestic and European scene - from the skirmish for fourth place with Everton and the defeat at the hands of Barnsley, to the valiant fight-back against Besiktas, Porto and Marseille and then the unforgettable European triumphs over Inter Milan and Arsenal. In that respect it seems apt that we should curtail our season versus Spurs.

You can label the campaign 'disappointing', but no Liverpool fan can say it hasn't been enjoyable, which for me defies said label. Anyway, to the match...

Team:

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


------------Arbeloa-----------Carragher-------------Hyypia---------------Insua



----------------------------------Lucas--------------Mascherano



---------------Kuyt-------------------....-Gerrard---------------------...--Babel


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

Subs: Itandje, Skrtel, Plessis, Benayoun, Nemeth.


The only change from the xi that walked out against Man City is Arbeloa. I believe Finnan was given his - hugely deserved - farewell at Anfield and it would be fitting if that was his final game for us. Arbeloa on the other hand could be our first-choice right-back next year, and i'd expect him to assume that role from next weekend. Insua will more than probably retain his position in the side. After excluding Riise from the weekend squad i can't foresee Benitez including him next weekend, which basically means the only option we have is to play Insua, with Aurelio injured (other than playing Arbeloa out of position, but with the match meaning little it would be odd for that to happen). I would prefer to see Riise play to be honest - or at least play some part, as he doesn't deserve to have the Champions League semi-final be his final match. Not after he's given us the best years of his career. But as i say, i doubt that will happen. Then it's really between Skrtel and Hyypia for the final place in defence. If Skrtel was fit he'd be expected but i'd opt for Sami for a twofold basis: a) Insua will learn much more by playing alongside the Finn, and b) with Agger hopefully recovering and returning to the side next season, he'll find himself behind the Dane as well as Skrtel and Carragher - in short meaning he'll seldom get time to play, hence would be nice to see him do so here and be a part of closing the season, one in which he has been instrumental for us.

In midfield we're kept the same. If Alonso were staying next season, which he may well could be, then i'd start with him in the side and exclude Lucas from the squad. If he is leaving then, like Finnan, the Man City match will probably have proved his last. I still don't think that'll be the case mind. If it were a choice between Lucas and Plessis though i'd start with the former, as his progress is more urgent in my opinion. The more games he can play the quicker and better he'll adapt, and the more he adapts the sooner we'll see the best of him. Plessis could come on for him with a half hour to go perhaps.

On the left i was pondering the inclusion of Benayoun, but resisted and kept Babel in the side. This should be a match for him to shine in - he'd conceivably get more space than usual and it'll be much more relaxed than usual. Like Lucas his progress is urgent. If he can end the season well it may set him up for a much stronger year next time around, which will be very important if we're to challenge for honours.

There's no real possibility that Torres will not feature. Scored already this season against Spurs and he'll be seeking another to take him past Ruud van Nistelrooy's scoring record for a foreigner in their opening season. Doubt he'll get it - we're playing away after all - but he'll be damn intent on trying.

As i said, Plessis should be involved after not being against City. The other player i hope to hell we see on the bench is Krisztian Nemeth, although i feel sick of saying it. If we use Voronin instead i'll be pretty p*ssed - i'm not his biggest critic but still don't want to see him here next year. And after a terrific opening season, the Torres of our reserves you could say, Nemeth deserves at least a substitutes appearance.

Hoping for a win to finish the season in relative style - and on 76 points, which is no disaster by any means. That said, with it being at The Lane and Spurs imaginably keen to close on a high in front of their fans it could easily go either way.

Another 2-2 draw perhaps?

Cant wait till this season is over!

Hope this is a good game, a win would be nice ofcourse but whatever lol

First time the two Spaniards Ramos and Benitez will come face-to-face with each other in the Premier League too.

indeed. finishing below a two bob team like West Ham must make this a hugely embarrassing season and one you would be eager to forget

Liverpool will walk away with this comfortably i feel. 2-0 to the scousers

close game im going for a 1-1

I'll go for a score draw too

Any chance on the inclusion of Crouch you think? If not, then that's a terrible way to part ways... He's had a great goal-scoring record for us considering how much playing time he gets (or lack thereof) and he gets snubbed in the Chelsea game and isn't even on the squad for the home closer. Voronin was even picked before him. I'm genuinely quite disappointed as I think he deserves a lot better treatment than what he's gotten and he's taken it in stride.

Nice try, but this season was a necessary evil and we've got it out of the way while still qualifying for Europe and winning something.

3-1 Spurs

Spurs 3 Liverpool 1

2-1 to Liverpool, Torres & Gerrard will be on the score sheet.

I don't think he was really snubbed for the Chelsea match. Skrtel meant we only had two subs, and then when we scored Rafa went more cautious with Pennant ... in extra-time it was a choice between the guy who took us into the semis by coming off the bench against Arsenal or Crouch. Not outrageous really.

Was surprised he wasn't against City though as you say. Even more so that he didn't even show his face - but that was his perogative after being excluded, and perhaps knowing he was on his way out decided he didn't want anything to do with our final games. Strange though. You'd of thought he, with Riise and Pennant, would've said goodbye.

I'm more disappointed with the treatment of Riise to be honest though. He definitely should have played a part against City with him definitely on his way out. 7 years ended in such a sad, sad way.

Would've gone with Babel and Crouch as per usual, to be honest... but that's in the past.

I agree it's been odd how Crouch, Riise, and Pennant were all left out of the squad considering they are all possibly leaving and with the match being a non-bearing game, you'd think they'd at least be on the bench to say goodbye to the fans.

totally agree riise was my one of my favourite players and shuold have got the honourable exit he deserved

i also think Liverpool will win this fairly comfortable ...Tottenham may of course shock everyone and on the day can compete with anyone ....Arsenal , Chelsea ..etc ...

But i`ll go for a 3-1 win to Liverpool ....


Then the `who will get Berbatov` circus will begin ....

James looks a doubt for Portsmouth's game against Fulham, which would mean Reina would automatically be awarded the Goldon Glove, for the third consecutive season - keeping 17 Premier League cleansheets so far.

Milan it looks like, hopefully.

it would be a shame as he an Keane have been great for Spurs this season ....would it kill you if he went to Arsenal .....

It would kill me if he went to any English team We can not sell our best players to the teams we aim to rival in years to come.

How many years would that be?

Well normally I would be grateful for a point if we were lucky...







...however, as we will be donning our brand spanking new classical quality home Kit, I hope we nick this 2-1!

Unfortunately our season doesnt go beyond this game. I love the feeling of having something to look forward to at the end of the season and the expectations of a final that we've become accustomed to over the last three years. All we can hope for now is that we close that gap between us and whoever finishes top, so this game against Spurs is important in that respect.

As it's been said in this thread there's a few players that will be featuring in their last game this weekend so it will be good if they play. One player that could be leaving is Xabi Alonso, he's been superb for us over the last four years but I feel he needs a change. This hasnt been his best season, he's been injured, he's struggled to find form at times and he featured on the bench on occasions. Also there's been talk of a rift between him and Rafa over missing a match to be at the birth of his baby, I don't think there's much truth in that but it could be a factor in Xabi leaving if it is in fact true. Alonso should start on Sunday but I think he should play in his best position, centre-midfield in a more advanced role. He's been wasted as the holding Midfielder for a few seasons now, he's much more more effective in centre-midfield but Rafa has prefered Gerrard, Masherano and Lucas there.

Also in this game I think it's time to stop playing Dirk Kuyt right midfield, If he continues to play there next season I will have no hair left... it's so frustrating! When he's running down the wing he reminds me of an old steam train trying to leave the platform. I know he works hard but at the end of the day that isnt enough. We need a pacey winger with skill that can put a few good crosses in. I think Pennant deserves his chance... in this game anyway.

Another player that should be selected for this game is Emiliano Insua, I don't think he's quite ready to be our permanent left-back but with Aurelio being injury-prone like Ben91 has said in the past and Riise on his way it will be good for Insua to get more first team experience.



I didn't realise Finnan's contract was up this summer Ben? He's one of our older players but I still think he has a lot to offer.

It's not Tez - i've just had the impression for a while now that Finnan will be leaving in the summer. He's been used scarcely this season... started poorly in my opinion against Aston Villa and has not shown the form of his past great seasons, seeing both Carragher and Arbeloa being preferred. His one good game, which admittadly was very good, came at home against Inter Milan. That's all i can remember.

I'm not 100% certain anymore, 'cause he could be kept to provide more depth, as i doubt we'd replace both Riise and himself, but we'll have to wait and see. There are a lot of players on the edge of leaving and i reckon he's one of them, regardless of what eventually happens.

Looks like this will be the last Spurs game for a number of players, namely Teemu Tainio (legend) and Dimitar Berbatov.


Lets hope they both get a good send off, especially Teemu as he is a real fan of Spurs and has done his best for the vlub whenever asked.

And I hope Berbs is given a well mannered send off and not any abuse for leaving.

And another note, Robinson is ruled out of his last game for Spurs by injury, hope he gets out there with the team at the end so everyone can see him off, been a great servant of the club over the years.