Liverpool will return to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Carling Cup quarter-finals, just nine days after beating the Blues in the Premier League and Andre Villas-Boas’ side have the opportunity to gain some revenge.
Although the Carling Cup isn’t exactly the most prestigious of tournaments, it could be argued that it has an added importance for us as we attempt to work our way back into form following a poor run of results. Also, it’s a competition with silverware available, so we may as well go for it.
John Terry picked up a yellow card accidentally (on purpose) against Wolverhampton at the weekend and will be suspended for the game as it was his fifth booking of the season.
Fernando Torres has been getting used to the Chelsea bench lately but could return to the starting line-up against his old side, whilst Raul Meireles, another former Liverpool star, is cup-tied.
It’s a game we’ll take seriously but I’m expecting AVB to go with a relatively young side, which is no bad thing as the old guard have been the guiltiest underperformers during our run of poor form.
Romelu Lukaku and Josh McEachran could be given a rare opportunity to shine, whilst Salomon Kalou may be promoted from being the team’s tea boy for one game.
I’d start this team:
P. Cech
J. Bosingwa – Alex – D. Luiz – R. Bertrand
Ramires – O. Romeu – J. McEachran
D. Sturridge – R. Lukaku – J. Mata
Both Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic have played a lot of football so far this season and this could represent the best opportunity to give them a rest, so the back four more or less picks itself as JT is suspended.
Oriol Romeu impressed against Wolves at the weekend and deserves to keep his spot as a holding midfielder, whilst Ramires is a shoo-in for his position and both will need to work hard in order to protect the back for. Josh McEachran has been something of a forgotten man lately and I don’t see why he cannot make an appearance in this game as we will have Frank Lampard on the bench if he’s needed.
Daniel Sturridge has been scoring goals for fun lately and it only seems right to keep giving him the opportunities to do so. Juan Mata is our main creative source and it’d be hard to pick a team without him, but I would hope we didn’t have to play him or Sturridge for the full 90 as we’ve a big game against Newcastle at the weekend. Didier Drogba hasn’t offered much apart from holding up the ball a bit, so I don’t see why that task would be beyond Romelu Lukaku, who hasn’t seen much game time this season and there won’t be many better opportunities to play him.
i’d do pretty much the same, but maybe start malouda ahead of mata, n Anelka for Sturridge. i think if we want to get ANYTHING out of Torres for the remainder of his time here, we gotta give him a go, n maybe bring on lukaku, if its not working
u need to wake up from your slumber and select the starting eleven again……malouda and anelka??? i think ure liverpool’s fan!!!
What’s wrong with being a Liverpool fan? We certainly have more success than chelsea. YNWA 😉
i go with your lineup, torres{sub} 4 lukaku while kalou 4 either mata or sturidge in the half time
1.cech 2.bosingwa 3. Cole 4.luiz 5.ivanovic 6. Oriol romeu 7.ramires 8.meireles 9.torres 10.sturridge 11.mata
same line up as that but maybe kalou instead of mata give him a rest.
Turnbull
bosingwa-luiz-alex-betrand
ramires-romeu-mcechran
kalou-torress-anelka
———– Turnbull
Boswinga — Alex Luiz — Ryan
————- Romeu
——– McEachran Meireles
Sturridge ———— Malouda
————- Lukaku
He’ll want to give Malouda a go and rest Mata
I’d put Mata, Ramires and Sturridge to use if needed. Malouda, Lampard and Anelka/Kalou to start in their place.
*I meant put them on the bench to call upon if needed, obviously
Whats happening, nobody is mentioning mikel, was bcos of that mistake he made in the former march?
Turnbull,Ferrira,Alex,Ivanovic,Bertrand,Romeu,Malouda,McEachran,Anelka,Kalou,Lukaku
turnbull
ferreira luiz alex bertrand
romeu josh
kalou malouda anelka
lukaku