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Tuesday, December 25, 2007
A very comforting 4-1 win over Portsmouth it was for Liverpool, hopefully one of many Christmas presents in this festive period. However, it was overshadowed by technical problems in the United Kingdom that prevented me from watching the match from the 2nd minute up to the half time interval. Luckily, I managed to watch two Fernando Torres goals, and unfortunately, a Benjani goal that threatened to haul the tide of the game. In the other Top4 results, I just didn't know why Robbie Keane couldn't convert the potential winning penalty against Arsenal, and as the rest goes, Nicklas Bendtner came on and scored within his first touch of the ball. Chelsea got a sneaky 1-0 win over Blackburn, whilst Everton were unlucky to lose to Manchester United 2-1 after a last minute penalty. In truth, all these matches, except for Liverpool's, should have ended up in at least a draw.
Damn!
Now turning to Liverpool's away game to Derby County. Liverpool thrashed the latter 6-0 in the reverse fixture in September, if I'm not wrong, at Anfield. Now, they'll just have to get 3 points away from home. Derby will be looking for revenge, and with a decent 2-2 draw with Newcastle behind them, they won't look as easy to beat this time round, especially with Paul Jewell at the helm.
Pride Park
Wednesday 26 December 2007
10.55pm (SG, GMT+8)
Channel 22 (SuperSports)
Liverpool Line-Up (Probable):
25. Jose Manuel Reina
46. Jack Hobbs
__ 4. Sami Hyypia
17. Alvaro Arbeloa
______________________________________ 12. Fabio Aurelio
8. Steven Gerrard (
C)
____ 14. Xabi Alonso
19. Ryan Babel
______________________________________ 7. Harry Kewell
10. Andriy Voronin
______ 9. Fernando Torres
Substitutes (Probable):
30. Charles Itandje, 6. John Arne Riise, 21. Lucas Leiva, 11. Yossi Benayoun, 18. Dirk Kuyt
So this is a really puzzling line-up to make for Rafa Benitez, against Derby County. He'll want to rest players for the weekend game against Manchester City this Sunday. Firstly, who'll start in defence? Sami Hyypia, Jack Hobbs and Jamie Carragher are in the running, but my opinion is, that Carragher played that extra game against Chelsea in the Carling Cup, so I would think Hyypia and Hobbs in the centre of the defence. Here's what I think, since Hobbs did quite well against Andriy Shevchenko and co., Kenny Miller and Steve Howard should not be much of a problem right? Anyway, Fabio Aurelio should get the nod above John Arne Riise to start at left-back, to continue his comeback from injury. Alvaro Arbeloa, with Steve Finnan still out, will have to continue playing at right-back.
It'll be interesting to see whether skipper Steven Gerrard starts from the beginning, from the bench, or just totally out of the squad of 16. Xabi Alonso should start in this game, to allow Javier Mascherano a rest, and to continue regaining match sharpness. Lucas Leiva or Mohammed Sissoko will start or get a place on the bench, although I would like Leiva to get the nod over Sissoko. It'll be nice to see Leiva start alongside Alonso should Gerrard be out of the first eleven.
Harry Kewell should continue on the left, regaining his fitness as well, and Ryan Babel might get a rare start on the right, with Yossi Benayoun on the bench. Well, maybe even Babel could get a forward role, with Benayoun still playing.
In attack, it'll be intriguing to see who gets the two forward positions. Andriy Voronin should start this match. With Peter Crouch still out with a suspension, it'll be either Fernando Torres or Dirk Kuyt, but I feel Torres will start to ensure a win for the Reds'.
C'mon Reds!
Bye~!
my thoughts at 5:14 pm