Liverpool vs Arsenal | 3rd March Saturday | 12.45 GMT |

vs

Venue - Anfield.



TEAM NEWS -

Liverpool
1. Gerrard is out with a tight Hamstring most probably.
2. Agger is out for a month.
3. Glen will face a late fitness test {Potential doubt}

Arsenal
1. I will update later, They are very confusing.

Changes - Spearing will come in at DM, Kelly might Replace Glen, Carra will most certainly replace Agger.

Problems
1. RVP

Can a Carra-Skrtel hold a RVP at bay? I think not.

If we lose this we go umm 10 points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, This game is horribly crucial for our small chance for 4th spot.
YNWA.

Agger...
In a game like this he would have been needed the most. Compared to Carra anyway.

And well, if we want to keep our top-4 dreams alive, this is pretty much a must-win game. We need to hit top form right now. Our next game is Sunderland away, which isn't any easier than this Arsenal game, and we have to start taking three points from these fixtures - although I find myself fearing the worst.

I'm going to say that Gerrard will be missed the most. His passing, vision and composure will be severely missed. If Suarez has another game like he did against Cardiff, we could be hurting for attacking ideas. I'm also a little worried about Adam without the calming influence of Gerrard. My worry is that he may revert to the wild and erratic tendencies we saw earlier this season.

While I listed Gerrard as my biggest worry, that doesn't mean I'm not disappointed at Agger's absence. I merely think that Carra is capable of putting in a good performance for a relatively short(thinking positively here) run of games. He is lacking in pace (which will be of major concern this weekend), but his football intelligence is considerable. He is also as rested and driven to perform as he has been at any point in the last few years, thanks to his prolonged stint as a substitute. Hopefully, his rest, drive and tactical acumen will bail him out in the dangerous situations he will surely face against a pacy Arsenal attack.

Predicted Lineup:
---------------Reina
---Kelly - Carra - Skrtel - Enrique
Hendo - Spearing - Adam - Downing
--------------Suarez
--------------Carroll

Kelly, because he will be more defensively minded than Johnson, even if Johnson is fit.
Hendo, because Kuyt played the full 90 against England after coming on for extra time last weekend.
Downing, because of his recent form and limited inclusion at mid-week.
Both Suarez and Carroll, because we need as many scoring options as possible.

Btw Bellamy hasnt started a game in while. Bar the memorial he played this week, I think he lasted against Spurs. So is he due an appearance.

Who's injured for Arsenal?

Off the top of my head: Mertesacker, Wilshere, Diaby, and Santos.

donttreadonred wrote:I'm going to say that Gerrard will be missed the most. His passing, vision and composure will be severely missed. If Suarez has another game like he did against Cardiff, we could be hurting for attacking ideas. I'm also a little worried about Adam without the calming influence of Gerrard. My worry is that he may revert to the wild and erratic tendencies we saw earlier this season.

While I listed Gerrard as my biggest worry, that doesn't mean I'm not disappointed at Agger's absence. I merely think that Carra is capable of putting in a good performance for a relatively short(thinking positively here) run of games. He is lacking in pace (which will be of major concern this weekend), but his football intelligence is considerable. He is also as rested and driven to perform as he has been at any point in the last few years, thanks to his prolonged stint as a substitute. Hopefully, his rest, drive and tactical acumen will bail him out in the dangerous situations he will surely face against a pacy Arsenal attack.

I actually think we'll do fine in this game without Gerrard, if he cannot play. He's been playing quite good, but not amazingly.

Carragher against Arsenal sounds very very scary
He'll have Gervinho / Walcott / Oxlade-Chamberlain running at him plus RVP's skills to deal with, I can see Carragher conceding a penalty in this game or just being exposed otherwise.

By the way, I wonder whether Yossi will play?

Diaby's back, Ramsey is out.

Rosicky very doubtful .

I've just read about Vermaelen being injured (and Wenger being super mad about it) due to him playing 90 mins for Belgium after already having an injury concern. There's some similar concern with RVP's groin and his inclusion against England, too.

RvP and Vermaelen both face late-ish fitness tests, but both are expected to be fit, I believe.

Big big game for us . . RVP & Vermaelen aside my fear is not to lose but to draw

I hope Kenny understands that a draw is just as bad as a loss for us. we should throw everything for a win here, I rather us losing but going out all attack in hopes of winning, rather than drawing and playing it safe throughout the match.

Should Bellamy be ok to play the 90?.If Djourou is playing I'd let him play up top.

no agger?? this doesnt look good. Carra is so lacking in pace, we would need whoever that takes the dm role to really play well.

Full Team:
Reina, Kelly, Enrique, Skrtel, Carra, Spearing, Adam, Henderson, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez.


Subs: Doni, Bellamy, Shelvey, Coates, Flanagan, Maxi, Carroll

Not confidant with that line-up, especially if it's a 4-4-2. I only hope they can hold on long enough for Bellamy and/or Carroll to come on and score in the last half-hour or so.

4 - 5 - 1, well, we gotta win the midfield battle now. I was hoping to see Carroll starting, had a feeling he could do well against Arsenal, but that would have meant a four-man MF. It's gonna be a possession game against Arsenal now, our guys better be up for it.

Very defensive lineup in my opinion . . don't see much vigor in going forward

Art Morte wrote:4 - 5 - 1, well, we gotta win the midfield battle now. I was hoping to see Carroll starting, had a feeling he could do well against Arsenal, but that would have meant a four-man MF. It's gonna be a possession game against Arsenal now, our guys better be up for it.

Not necessarily true at all. Suarez could easily drop back into a deeper role in a 4-2-3-1.

RedOranje wrote: Suarez could easily drop back into a deeper role in a 4-2-3-1.

Expecting to see Kuyt in the middle then??

Buy a Striker.

SOMEONE LIKE RVP.

Nishank wrote:Buy a Striker.

SOMEONE LIKE RVP.

Strongly disagree.

If buying has to be seen as an option, I say buy a CB who's ready to play in the BPL and isn't past it.



But, personally I gave up on the 4th spot after Bolton 3 - 1 Liverpool.
Let's see what we can do in the FA Cup and have a new go at the CL spots next season. For that is the reality. You'll Never Walk Alone.

Art Morte wrote:

Nishank wrote:Buy a Striker.

SOMEONE LIKE RVP.

Strongly disagree.

If buying has to be seen as an option, I say buy a CB who's ready to play in the BPL and isn't past it.



But, personally I gave up on the 4th spot after Bolton 3 - 1 Liverpool.
Let's see what we can do in the FA Cup and have a new go at the CL spots next season. For that is the reality. You'll Never Walk Alone.

We have THE WORST chance conversion in the league and are amongst the bottom half of the table in terms of goals scored. How someone can say we don't need a striker is beyond me.

Striker is a must buy this summer.

Art Morte wrote:

Nishank wrote:Buy a Striker.

SOMEONE LIKE RVP.

Strongly disagree.

If buying has to be seen as an option, I say buy a CB who's ready to play in the BPL and isn't past it.



But, personally I gave up on the 4th spot after Bolton 3 - 1 Liverpool.
Let's see what we can do in the FA Cup and have a new go at the CL spots next season. For that is the reality. You'll Never Walk Alone.

8.6% conversion rate in around 370 shots.

Striker please.