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?
We can not sell our best players to the teams we aim to rival in years to come.