Sorry if this is a little early, as we have the CL game on Wednesday; however, I thought I'd get this started as it is our first real test of the campaign so far.

Firstly, I am glad that Drogba will be getting a full weeks training behind him before this game, as he's been shown to provide their defence problems in the past. Also, I've noticed Carragher being a little off the boil lately, so I think Drogba could give him some problems, or at least draw him in to open up space for Anelka or Lampard to run into. The first part of their game against Hull even the liverpool fans were commenting on their inability to defend. I took a look around The Liverpool Way, and in the Hull thread they were talking about Drogba scaring them, and their weak defence that needs "sorting out." They are also saying that they can't continue to rely on just Gerrard and Torres.

Secondly, I really hope that Ashley is fit for the game, as I think he'll be up against Johnson quite a bit, and that will be a great match up.

Thirdly, I think that the weekends games will have quite a dearing on this match irrespective of us and them both being in the CL midweek) as I think it'll give us a sharp kick in the bollocks; Terry and Drogba both saying that the match against Wigan was one of the worst they'd seen. However, they will be riding high, and especially Torres who is scoring for fun it would seem.

Also, the fact that Cech is gone is a worry, but Hilario is a good shot stopper, just so long as we don't start with Turnbull. It'll be interesting to see who will play in the middle, as we now have the creativity of Joe Cole and Deco available. I think one of them (Cole) might start, and deco will come on as a Sub if he makes the bench.

Finally, TLW are pretty split on this. They see us as being better than them and going to tear them a new one. Some think Johnson will have more than enough Success against Ash, and then some are certainly worried about Drogba. Then there are the rest who are unquestionably (and quite rightly) riding high on their weekend success and feel that they've got a great chance against us.

Personally, I'd stick Essien on Gerrard, and try get Lampard pushing into the box as much as possible. Thin it'll be a tight, close, hard fought game....but could see us both doing the f**king Mancs a favour and drawing this 1-1

Time to dust off the Christmas Tree?

Hilario

Bosingwa Carvalho Terry Cole

Ballack Essien Lampard

Anelka Cole

Drogba

Subs: Turnbull, Hutchinson, Zhirkov, Belletti, Deco, Malouda, Kalou

Edited September 29, 200916 yr by d-vder

The biggest worry for me is that Cech is out. Very good news about Ash, he's crucial and for me been one of the best players this season. I would also stick Essien on Gerrard to keep him quiet and off course we need to neutralize Torres. The scouse defence have looked very sloppy at times so I hope Drogba will cause them problems.

Also important to keep the faith if Torres should score early and we're 0-1 down at half time. Want everyone inside the Bridge, even those up in the east and west to be in full voice on Sunday. I'll be @MHL, gate NL08, row T, seat 382 shouting my head off

We definitely need a team of grafters out there against Liverpool, my main worry is that if they double up then Johnson and Kuyt can tear Ashley Cole apart if the incredibly lazy Malouda plays in that left-midfield slot.

Essien, like MHL_Blue said, more than has the ability to keep Gerrard out of the game, and, i fancy Drogba to have one of his great games again against Skrtel and Carragher.

Torres is in great-form and he'll definitely relish playing against Riccy and JT after the horror-show at Wigan, but i think Liverpool are defensively poor and if we can keep it very-tight at the back then we can win.

My ideal line-up would be, taking into account injury and suspension;

Hilario

Bosingwa, Riccy, JT, Ash

Essien, Ballack, Lamspy, Deco, Zhirkov

Drogba

Joe Cole, Anelka and Malouda on the bench to come on and make an impact if needed.

One weakness they have is the right side of their defence. Glen Johnson is a terrible defender, and Carragher has been pretty sh*te for years now, so if we can use the attacking combination of Ashley Cole and perhaps Yuri Zhirkov down the left wing, I think we may get some joy. If both of these are injured, then that's a different story altogether.

My ideal line-up would be, taking into account injury and suspension;

Hilario

Bosingwa, Riccy, JT, Ash

Essien, Ballack, Lamspy, Deco, Zhirkov

Drogba

Joe Cole, Anelka and Malouda on the bench to come on and make an impact if needed.

Bold move putting Zhirkov on for Malouda and Deco on for Anelka, but why not. As you say, at least we would have a bench that could make a difference if needed. Good to have Joe Cole ready for fight and have big hopes for Zhirkov. Deco can be brilliant on a good day.

Bold move putting Zhirkov on for Malouda and Deco on for Anelka, but why not. As you say, at least we would have a bench that could make a difference if needed. Good to have Joe Cole ready for fight and have big hopes for Zhirkov. Deco can be brilliant on a good day.

Deco offers that extra little bit of craft and for a little bloke he's quite tenacious in the challenge and i think we need that. As for Zhirkov in for Malouda, i think Zhirkov has to be more hard-working and more willing to defend than Florent is.

One weakness they have is the right side of their defence. Glen Johnson is a terrible defender, and Carragher has been pretty sh*te for years now, so if we can use the attacking combination of Ashley Cole and perhaps Yuri Zhirkov down the left wing, I think we may get some joy. If both of these are injured, then that's a different story altogether.

I was coming on here to say much the same thing, we can really get at them through our left side, plus their right side is defensively weak.

I suspect that it will be Ashley Cole and Malouda as they have developed a decent understanding, but purely from an arriving on a big stage point of view, I would love to see Zhirkov destroy Johnson just like Gronkjaer [alan pardewism] absolutely raped [/alan pardewism] Gary Neville all those years ago.

[alan pardewism] absolutely raped [/alan pardewism]

haha brilliant :)

Sorry , mean to throw my 10 cents worth into the mix but im getting slightly carried away watching them go 2-0 down to Fiortiena , and are all over the place , cant get the ball , jesus i hope they keep this up Sunday.

Sorry , mean to throw my 10 cents worth into the mix but im getting slightly carried away watching them go 2-0 down to Fiortiena , and are all over the place , cant get the ball , jesus i hope they keep this up Sunday.

Hopefully it doesn't stick a fire in their belly, like the Wigan game should have done for us...

We got this!!!

The biggest worry for me is that Cech is out. Very good news about Ash, he's crucial and for me been one of the best players this season. I would also stick Essien on Gerrard to keep him quiet and off course we need to neutralize Torres. The scouse defence have looked very sloppy at times so I hope Drogba will cause them problems.

Also important to keep the faith if Torres should score early and we're 0-1 down at half time. Want everyone inside the Bridge, even those up in the east and west to be in full voice on Sunday. I'll be @MHL, gate NL08, row T, seat 382 shouting my head off

I'm normally at the Shed End, but decided to infiltrate the East Stand to start the shinanigans there. ;)

Will do my damnest to motivate them! CHELSEA! CHELSEA!

Edited September 30, 200916 yr by d-vder

I'm normally at the Shed End, but decided to infiltrate the East Stand to start the shinanigans there.

Will do my damnest to motivate them!

Good luck, me and the old man ended up in the East Stand for the Porto game, most of them sit playing on their mobiles or sit reading there match programmes, we were stood up singing and cheering and people around us just stay sat down giving you funny looks.

Improve! Show hunger! Beat the bloody Scouse this weekend you Blues!

Seriously not looking forward to this match especially if we have Kalou and Malouda in the SQUAD. I think we would be better served with Zhirkov and Cole out on the wings with Studge coming of the bench but the odds of this ever happening is probably lower than me winning the lottery.

If we lose this match..............

I'm normally at the Shed End, but decided to infiltrate the East Stand to start the shinanigans there. ;)

Will do my damnest to motivate them! CHELSEA! CHELSEA!

Then I wish you good luck mate as the East certainly need a good kick up the backside..

i just have one question why do we sign turnbull if he doesnt even play when cech is out ?? i really dont understand that ...

what i would like to see:

----------------------hilario----------------

---bosingwa---carvahlo-terry----ashley--

---------------------essien----------------

------------lampard----zhirkov-----------

---------------------deco------------------

--------------anelka---drogba------------

subs: turnbull, ivanovic, malouda, joe, sturridge

i would like to see this because zhirkov could support ashley cole on the wing and still add some defensive quality in the center of the pitch ... lampard deeper then usually behind deco. deco can put himself onto the right sometimes and support bosingwa if he doesnt get enough space in the middle. essien in the holding position, he wasnt good there so far but we dont really have a choice i guess. drogba and anelka upfront ...

Edited October 1, 200916 yr by german-blue

Hilario

Bosingwa Carvalho Terry A. Cole

Lampard Essien

J. Cole Deco Zhirkov

Drogba

That way we have Essien to keep Gerrard in his pocket, and have someone near to him. Joey and Zhirkov starting centrally, but breaking forward to link up with Drogba and could go wide to make it a 4-3-3 if we need more width to break them down. It would mean stifling Lampard a little bit by playing him so deep, but I'd say that it's something worth doing for a game like this. Although he could swap with Deco to make it a more attacking line up, with Deco as a deep-lying play-maker and Lampard linking with Drogs.

OK, that won't happen, but it'd be nice to see. More likely to see a more defensive side much like the one German-blue posted up. It would be nice though.

I have no idea how people are leaving anelka out of the starting lineup, There is very little, if any chance that zhirkov will start considering his lack of gametime. Hopefully we will see him come off the bench. Anyone know if ballack will be back? His physicality would be very key against the scum midfield

I have no idea how people are leaving anelka out of the starting lineup, There is very little, if any chance that zhirkov will start considering his lack of gametime. Hopefully we will see him come off the bench. Anyone know if ballack will be back? His physicality would be very key against the scum midfield

Agreed. And on reflection, a different Xmas tree.....

Hilario

Bos Riccy Tel Ash

Ballack Essien Lamps

Anelka Malouda

DD

Subs: Turnbull, Hutch, Zhirkov, Belletti, Sturridge?, Cole, Deco

Edited October 2, 200916 yr by d-vder

i just have one question why do we sign turnbull if he doesnt even play when cech is out ?? i really dont understand that ...

If you saw how he played the other week for the reserves then you would understand.

He was woeful, and I really would not have any confidence in him playing in the first team at the moment.

Hopefully he will improve (including his confidence).

It will be refreshing to have Browsingwa and Drogs back. I'm less worried about having that CM lump called EssiLampallack when we have both Ash and Jose bombing down the wings.

Browsingwa

haha ;)

you think he'd have done something about that by now. he must take some abuse about it

not sure if mikel and ballack are still out...

hilario

browsingwa --- jt --- ricky --- cash

essien

lamps --- malouda

joey

drog --- nico

i would drop malouda for mikel or even ballack if either are fit

zhirkov hasn't got much playing time so i'd imagine he isn't match fit. maybe replace joey with him at HT if needs be

Our friends at the Daily Mirror have been upto their old tricks. Over 2 pages are articles about both Chelsea and Liverpool ahead of sunday. The Chelsea article is all about how under fire carlo us after 2 poor matches and how sunday is a much win game, pretty much doom and gloom. The Dippers one is as upbeat as you can get, with Kuyt saying their up for it and not scared of Chelsea and how last years win shows they will do it again. utter joke journalism as usual.