TrueBlueSeaFC87

Without a doubt.

Obviously, we don't want to lose this match, but are we okay with a draw or do we absolutely need the 3 points right now? If Jose is playing for the draw, I can see a midfield of Mikel, Ramires, and Matic with 3 attackers up front. But being clear 8 points is huge, so maybe Jose plays with Remy on the wing (especially if Fabregas isn't fit for this match).

I'm slowly getting sick of Ivanovic and his tendency to bomb too far forward. If I were Jose, I'd think about playing him up with Matic and let Azpilicueta and Filipe Luis play in their natural positions. That way we can have an attacking force of Oscar, Fabregas, Hazard and Costa.

I don't believe it for a minute either, but I would love his pace and ability to get into space on our team. I think he'd be a better signing than Reus, who may have injury problems (anybody remember that fella named Fernando Torres?) But it won't happen so no need to really dwell too much on this thread.

Draxler, Mertens, Levezzi? None of them better than Reus, but Draxler and Levezzi are definitely better than Willian I feel.

http://www.usagoals.com/football/1095856/2/liverpool-fc-vs-chelsea-live-stream-online.html

GK: Courtois / Cech LB: Luis CB: Terry CB: Cahill (although I certainly feel Zouma has earned a couple more games starting) RB: Ivanovic DM: Fabregas DM: Matic AM: Willian AM: Oscar AM: Hazard ST: Costa Bench: Zouma, Mikel, Ramires, Schurrle, Remy, Drogba

Fixed it for you Praz.

We definitely don't need a RB. Ivanovic has always been a CB playing RB because we had Terry, Cahill and Luiz in the CB position. I fully expect Terry's minutes to start being limited next season and Ivanovic to fill in the CB role when that occurs. Azpilicueta will move over to his nature RB position and Filipe Luis will play LB next year. We will have Kalas and Zouma backing up the CB with Ivanovic being in a super sub role (I can see him playing a Ramires type midfield position too). We definitely need a Attacking Wing Midfield (hopefully Reus, but I'd take Draxler also), because Salah and Schurrle aren't very reliable. I think we are set for CF, mainly because I think Bamford is looking like he could be a solid #3 option, but I wouldn't be surprised if we brought someone like Charlie Austin, Berahino, or Ulloa in as our #3 choice. Other than that, if we plan on keeping Cech, I don't think we need anything right now.

HA! Remy > Bony. How often does Bony go missing at Swansea, I believe Remy has scored every time he has started for us.

Why when we have Bamford who looks just as good, just hasn't had an opportunity to play in the top division?

Overrated or not, they are ahead of Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, Southampton, Swansea, and Newcastle in the table. They also beat City which is more than we can say. This will be a tough match on Boxing Day (especially if we don't have Hazard), but I do think we will come out with the 3 points.

If Hazard is in doubt, we need to have Schurrle and his offensive ability starting in this one. Courtois Ivanovic Terry © Cahill Azpilicueta Matic Mikel Schurrle Fabregas Oscar Costa Bench: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Willian, Salah, Drogba

I agree, I originally had it like Kun = Costa + Hazard. The difference between Aguero and Costa is that Aguero has the ability to dribble into scoring opportunities. Costa is a tradiational striker in the sense that he gets into scoring positions and his teammates feed him the ball. Aguero is in the same vein as Messi and Ronaldo, just not as good.

Do we have a projected starting XI for tonight's game?

Lampard = Oscar Silva = Fabregas Kun = Costa Yaya = Hazard Then we also have Willian, Matic and our defenders who can all put the ball into the net if they wanted. Not to mention or bench is much more balanced than City's is.

I really liked how Azpulicueta and Luis played together on Wednesday. With Cahill being in my opinion, slightly out of form, does anybody feel we rest him and move Ivanovic inside with Terry? ---------------------------------Cech ----------------------------- ----- Azpilicueta ----- Ivanovic ----- Terry ----- Luis ----- ----------------- Matic ---------------------- Mikel ------------- ------- Schurrle ---------- Oscar ---------Hazard -------- ----------------------------- Costa -----------------------------

Courtois Azpilicueta Ivanovic Terry Luis (normal defense if we want Cahill going in this one) Ramires Mikel Fabregas Oscar Hazard Costa Bench: Cech Luis (if Cahill is playing) / Zouma (if he isn't) Willian Schurrle Remy Drogba I like the thought of being able to bring on Willian off the bench. He seems to infuse some energy when he is playing and if we are having to remove a parked bus, we might need that extra energy with a half and hour left or so.

Funny, 8 months ago, a lot of us (not including myself) felt that Costa wasn't all he was hyped up to be. Now some of us feel we cannot win games without him. TBH I feel A LOT better with Remy or even Drogba at striker than I ever did with Torres, Eto'o and Ba last year.

I personally don't think we need another striker. Costa and Remy will be fine for the next 5 years or so. Plus with the way Bamford has been playing, and Solanke getting some first team matches, I think we're okay for the future. HOWEVER, If we were to get another striker, I'd have to say Destro would be the only player I'd want us to try and get.

I think we need another attacking wing midfielder. Although I really like Schurrle and Salah, they just don't have the finish that we need coming off the bench. Obviously Reus would be ideal, but I cannot see him coming to us. Draxler or Sterling would be nice, and if Reus does move to Bayern, maybe we could pry Shaqiri away from them. I just don't think we have the bench like we did last season to keep up our form.

I'd like to see both Filipe Luis and Azpilicueta (at least for the first half) start this match. Luis has been absolutely dominate on that left side, and I'd really like to see what they can do together. Let Ivanovic get some rest for Loserpool. GK: Cech RB: Azpilicueta CB: Zouma CB: Cahill LB: Luis DM: Ramires DM: Ake AM: Salah AM: Oscar AM: Schurrle ST: Drogba / Solanke Bench: Schwarzer, Willian, Matic, Christensen, Ivanovic, Solanke / Drogba,

That is a NASTY, NASTY goal.

I'm confused on how the suspension process works. Obviously Ivanovic is suspended for 1 game because he picked up that second yellow yesterday. But I noticed a lot of you putting him in your starting XI for this game. Now I always thought that if a player picked up a suspension they weren't allowed to play in games of the league (or tournament) that they picked it up in. Hence why suspended players are still allowed to play in the CL. Or is it that the suspension covers all FA sanctioned games.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how Filipe Luis plays in a big PL match. I feel like he has been absolutely class every time he is on the pitch. He provides much better crosses than Ivanovic does, and makes some really good overlapping runs. Him and Hazard looked really dangerous yesterday. It's too bad we cannot see both Luis and Azpilicueta on the field at the same time, since it appears that Jose has some major fascination with Ivanovic at RB.