EPL: Liverpool vs Arsenal
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Agree. I think Wenger might start Walcott to rape Hyppia...Originally posted by ghimpheng:hope to see Liverpool play Peter Crouch And Torres
Drop hyypia he is too slow to handle Arsenal attack
Anyway the part about peaking early..isn it alrite?I mean Man Utd peaked right at the start of last season and continued that all the way (Well albeit until the last leg of the season when the whole of their 1st team defence was wiped out). In my opinion, I guess it's about the ability to keep the momentum going
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WENGER WARNING FOR LIVERPOOL
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has warned Liverpool that crashing out of the Champions League could affect their hopes of mounting a challenge for the Barclays Premier League title. Traditional football theory suggests Liverpool will concentrate on the league if they fail to claim the three wins to reach the knockout stages of Europe's top club competition, although Wenger doubts whether this would be the case.
"You don't know the psychological consequences it can have on a team in the next five or six vital points until you bounce back and find a balance again," said the Frenchman. "If you go into the UEFA Cup it can be worse." Juggling the two has proved difficult as well, with a perception that Liverpool's progress in Europe has come at a price, with domestic form suffering.
This season they are unbeaten in the Premier League but have dropped points at home, bringing Rafael Benitez's rotation policy into question. Their talisman, Steven Gerrard, was substituted last week and Peter Crouch, who inspired victory against Arsenal last season, has been in and out of the team.
It means Wenger has been left guessing Benitez's starting line-up ahead of Arsenal's trip to Anfield tomorrow. Wenger would not question Benitez's policy, though. "I agree with Rafa that it is the person who is right in May that counts," he said. "He has been in two European Cup finals in three years so you have to respect that. He must be doing something right.
"Frankly I don't like the phrase 'to keep everyone happy'. What does it mean? If a player doesn't play he is not happy. It's like something has been discovered when a player isn't happy. "People react surprised that there is competition but that is the essence of our job. We have to accept that. If I am a player and go to Arsenal Football Club I know it will be difficult because there is competition. I substituted Thierry (Henry), of course."
Wenger's success, though, has come from a settled line-up. It is so settled that Gilberto Silva cannot get in the team at the moment and Jens Lehmann will have talks with Wenger over comments he made this week after losing his place in goal to Manuel Almunia. Wenger has found a team that has won eight out of nine matches difficult to disrupt - and their only dropped points came from Lehmann's blunder at Blackburn.
The questions that remain include whether they can beat the other teams in the 'big four', and also how they will react when they are finally defeated, with the 'Invincibles' of 2004 suffering after Manchester United ended their run of 49 league matches. Wenger said: "There is one thing that is different. In the past we had such a long run that it was the end of an era. This is the start of a team. Should a defeat happen it will not be taken in the same way.
"After 49 games, nearly 18 months, the guys had been on the top of Everest and the next day you are down at the level of the sea again. Then you say 'let's climb up again'. (They would say) 'C'mon, give us a little breather'. "The team is empty because there is nothing to go for any more." -
*Benitez shrugs off Reds pressure*
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he is not worried about his future as he prepares for the visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
His side are in danger of going out of the Champions League following defeat to Besiktas and have they won just twice in their last five league games.
"We knew we needed to beat Besiktas so when we lost I expected the reaction to be like this," said the Spaniard.
"The only way is to work hard. That is the way to handle this pressure."
Benitez added that he expected the Liverpool board to show him the kind of patience that Arsene Wenger was given as he rebuilt his Arsenal side.
The Gunners, inspired by young players like Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, are unbeaten in the Premier League and have won their last 12 games.
"It is important that people realise it takes a couple of years to achieve results," he said.
"You can sign young players, good players with talent, but it takes time for them to realise their potential.
"Wenger has been using these young players for two or three years and now we are seeing them play really well with quality.
"It is what we are trying to do here. We have brought in a lot of young players. We have to wait a while for them to be ready for the first team."
Liverpool are also unbeaten in the league but their form has been unconvincing of late, culminating in the 2-1 defeat to Besiktas.
Benitez added: "When you are losing some games and you play a top side you know the motivation of the players is there and it's sometimes easier for a manager.
"When I have a player who is not doing too well, keeps giving the ball away, I say that the way to change that is to keep wanting the ball to try again.
"As a manager you must keep going, doing the right things and you know that will change things for the better."
Liverpool are the first top-four team Arsenal have faced this season but the Gunners are brimming with confidence following the 7-0 thrashing of Slavia Prague in midweek.
"It will be a difficult game for us," said Wenger.
"At the start of the season, people said our young team would not go far, but now they are saying we have to prove ourselves against the big teams.
"I feel we have the confidence and the belief now for this challenge.
"I thought we were good enough, before the start, to do this well this season, but then I am crazy enough to believe that!" -
Liverpool
25. Jose Reina
3. Steve Finnan
4. Sami Hyypia
23. Jamie Carragher
6. John Arne Riise
20. Javier Mascherano
14. Xabi Alonso
8. Steven Gerrard
10. Andriy Voronin
18. Dirk Kuyt
9. Fernando Torres
Subs
30. Charles Itandje (GK)
11. Yossi Benayoun
15. Peter Crouch
17. Alvaro Arbeloa
19. Ryan Babel
liverpool play big play 4-3-3
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Rafael Benitez explains the idea behind selecting an attacking team: "The idea is for us to attack." He's cleared that up then. "If you play against Arsenal and just defend that is very difficult, so it's better to attack and at Anfield we believe we can beat anyone."
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go liverpool go..
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got arsenal squad?
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Arsenal
24. Manuel Almunia
3. Bacary Sagna
5. Kolo Toure
10. William Gallas
22. Gael Clichy
27. Emmanuel Eboue
4. Francesc Fabregas
16. Mathieu Flamini
13. Alexander Hleb
7. Tomas Rosicky
25. Emmanuel Adebayor
Subs
1. Jens Lehmann (GK)
8. Lassana Diarra
19. Gilberto Silva
26. Nicklas Bendtner
32. Theo Walcott -
then put who?Originally posted by ghimpheng:hope to see Liverpool play Peter Crouch And Torres
Drop hyypia he is too slow to handle Arsenal attack
jack hobbs? -
Steven Gerrard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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goal!!!
GErrard! -
goal
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nice goal
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what the hell happen to the wall ?
Arsenal players tio bribe ah ? -
hurray
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GOAL!!!!!
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wah u go arsenal thread postOriginally posted by ghimpheng:what the hell happen to the wall ?
Arsenal players tio bribe ah ?
then come here post
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someone in the other thread say anfield noisy leh. its our 12th man
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lim peh say soOriginally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:someone in the other thread say anfield noisy leh. its our 12th man
wat u gonna do ? -
aiyo go and care about ur team la. down 1-0Originally posted by gunner77:lim peh say so
wat u gonna do ? -
Originally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:aiyo go and care about ur team la. down 1-0
its still early -
ya its still early for us to have another goalOriginally posted by gunner77:
its still early -
this time by torresOriginally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:ya its still early for us to have another goal -
Originally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:ya its still early for us to have another goal
liverpool will score 1 goal and defend the game.
boring *yawns * -
we play for a win not for fancyful footballOriginally posted by gunner77:
liverpool will score 1 goal and defend the game.
boring *yawns *