schmuckdonald

"We have Mascherano and Lucas both playing really well, with Gerrard in front. He can play instead of any of them. "He can play as second striker if necessary, but his best position will be between Gerrard and Mascherano - or between Lucas and Gerrard." Benitez also eased fears over Aquilani's fitness, despite the playmaker being set to miss the beginning of the season with an ankle injury. "We knew that he had some problems," he explained Benitez on skysports.com

Probably guarenteed to be, but i'm bored and wanted to throw it out there anyway...

Rafa obviously thinks we'll be alright at RB seeing as the two players he appears to be in for are out and out CB's. Don't think we'll get another attacking option, unless something comes out of left-field like Silva. Torres/Kuyt/Babel/N'Gog/Voro/Nemeth should hopefully cover it. Maybe Pacheco will get bled a little towards the back end of the season in one of the 3.

Genunly think we'll struggle but hopefully snag a winner, and I think Riera will get the nod at LW. EDIT: Rafa has said that Gerrard might not be ready for Sunday, what do you think he'll do if he isn't? Yossi in behind?

Absolute joke. He's worth less than £5m.

19 days and another transfer window in January.

Until the blood goes to his head. And then he's trying through balls from our own penalty area and just giving away possession. Or chasing down everything, along with Mascherano and leaving gaps behind.

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It's in the LFC section of skysports.com though....

Blackburn didn't turn up that day. In the slightest.

Thought it was a combination of the two? We only had Keane for like 6 months, we wouldn't have given them £20m up front. We probably only paid somewhere between £5-10m, but it basically all got cancelled out. So that money would have been combined with the Crouch money to buy Johnson. Or something less convoluted/better explained.

Keane money was what bought Johnson, surely? And the Alonso money is buying Aquilani and a defender. Probably.

It's pre-season and he's getting to know everyone and the system we play. JEEZUS CHRYST. He was one of the best right backs in the league last year, he's the first choice right back for Ingerland and he's still quite young. He'll come good.

Interesting about Valbuena. Although he's probably just trying to spark up some interest.

Lucas will start against Stoke @ Anfield, they aren't about to come out and attack us. It's the kind of game he should definitely be playing so he can get forward more and try and learn to boss games.

Who else can bar Aurelio?

He was carrying an injury, wasn't he?

Still a long way 'til August 31st.

I'd imagine that considering Aurelio missed pre-season and everything it'd take a while for him to be back so i'd expect Insua to be the first choice for the first 3/4 games. I'd rather play Lucas and Mascherano back there, Lucas has looked good and can ghost forward. If we don't have enough 'guile' in the middle of the park then Gerrard can drop a bit deeper back to pick up the ball, but I'd rather keep him up with Torres and have Lucas/Mascherano doing the water-carrying. Besides, I think this could be Lucas's year.

Granted, they're terrible, but so's the Championship....

F***ing hell.

That's a tad excessive, he has done well and all, mind. Plus it is just pre-season. Isn't he the eldest out of the three also? And the only one to have competitive experience? Although, I do agree it should be Kelly > San Jose > Ayala. But Ayala is youngest, so that's the way it should be really.

Again, weren't we playing 4-4-2 in that game?

The main point was that I don't want his link with Torres severed, that's our strongest point going forward. Gerrard can play any role, but his natural game is blood and thunder rather than playing with reserve. The same with Mascherano. He could play the role if necessary but i'd rather have an other option. Our game is predominantly based on control and dictating the tempo, Gerrard will always look for the killer ball, always feel the need to be everywhere and it can expose us. I love the guy but I'd rather have him higher up the pitch where these attributes can be better placed.

I can't see us not having a fair wedge. Benitez is playing this very well so far, I can't see him not having a plan.