EPL - Bolton v Liverpool
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Bolton v Liverpool preview
Both teams desperate to come away with the spoils at the Reebok
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Channel 27: 10:00 pm "Live"Liverpool have their backs against the wall as they make the short trip to Bolton on Saturday. In a week packed with football, Monday began with the Reds gifting their 31-match unbeaten home record to Aston Villa.
As a result Rafael Benitez's outfit have already lost as many games this season as they did in the entire campaign last year and critics are already sharpening their journalistic knives to write off the Merseysiders' title ambitions.
Liverpool were panned for a lack of creativity against Villa - adding fuel to the 'they miss Xabi Alonso' notion - so expect nothing but an almighty response from the 2008/2009 runners-up at the Reebok this weekend.
Bolton's home ground represents quite the hunting ground for Reds boss Benitez, with the Spanish tactician aiming to mastermind his third consecutive victory in front of the Trotters faithful.
Riera return
Albert Riera opened the scoring in a 3-0 Boxing Day pummelling the last time the pair met and the Spanish international could get the nod for his first starting berth of the season.
The tricky winger may replace Yossi Benayoun on the left, but the impressive Israeli could yet feature in the first XI in a more advanced role, just behind Fernando Torres.
Reds skipper Steven Gerrard, who endured a torrid night in front of the Kop on Monday, would drop back into midfield at the expense of the much-maligned Lucas Leiva to add ideas to what was considered a blunt middle four last time around.
Liverpool's defence, which has leaked goals from set-pieces yet again this term, could be bolstered with the addition of recent signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
The towering Greek came through 45-minutes of a Reds reserve match against Blackburn on Thursday, but the trip to Bolton may have come too soon for the 30-year-old and a place on the bench may be the likeliest outcome.
The visitors are still without the likes of Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger and Alberto Aquilani with the trio still recovering from knee, back and ankle injuries respectively.
Season-starter
Bolton, meanwhile, have yet to earn a point or even score a goal in the Premier League this season as Liverpool come to town.
Two 1-0 defeats against Sunderland and Hull means Gary Megson's side are also desperate to get their campaign underway.
The 1-0 Carling Cup victory against Tranmere may give the hosts confidence ahead of the league fixture, although a gulf of quality between the Merseyside duo is obvious and might just take that initial spring out of their step.
Mark Davies was the goalscorer against Rovers on Wednesday and the midfielder should be fit for Saturday's fixture despite picking up a hamstring injury, while Andy O'Brien is in contention after overcoming a groin complaint.
The Trotters still have fitness concerns over long-term casualties Ricardo Gardner and Joey O'Brien but Ricardo Vaz Te is back training with the first team and will be looking for a run-out in attack.
Gretar Steinsson was on the bench midweek and the full-back is in line to make his first appearance of the season and Jlloyd Samuel is set to retain his place in the Bolton defence ahead of new acquisition Paul Robinson.
Steinsson has overcome a virus while Samuel impressed at left-back during Wednesday's win and could make his first league start this term.
Possible starting XIs
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Knight, Cahill, Steinsson, Taylor, Mark Davies, Davis, Muamba, Kevin Davies, Elmander.
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Riera, Mascherano, Gerrard, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres.
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so meaning kuyt and torres could play together upfront?
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please play lucas!!!!
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Rafa's call to arms: Liverpool's rivals will suffer soon, says Benitez
Encouraging response: Benitez has witnessed an improvement in his Liverpool players since the abject defeat to Villa
He has been in the firing line like no other Barclays Premier League manager this week, but Rafa Benitez is adamant that others will be keeping him company before long. The Liverpool manager looked a picture of despondency at Anfield on Monday night as he reflected on a second defeat in three games so far and conceded that productivity levels had to be raised significantly.
The smile was back on his face yesterday, though, placed there by a rousing training-ground response from his players and growing conviction that the misery of defeat will be visiting his main title rivals more often than usual.
While Manchester United looked untouchable at times on their way to another Premier League crown last May, Benitez is convinced the emergence of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa will prevent any repeat and keep even the defending champions within reach.
Predicting the most open title race for years, before today’s game at Bolton Benitez said: ‘A lot has been made of our two defeats so far, but it is clear to me that the others at the top are going to suffer the same problems and come under the same pressure.
‘Any side at the top can lose games this season, and you will see it happen. It won’t be like before, when some team reels off 10 or 12 wins and is out on its own in top place. It is going to be a lot tighter and a lot more competitive, and that is why we need to remain calm as well as positive.
‘I know everyone was expecting us to have nine points after three games and be champions by September, but it doesn’t work like that. Even less so this season.
‘We were all really disappointed losing to Villa on Monday after making so many mistakes and not playing to our true level.‘But we have addressed what went wrong with the players, and they have reacted exactly as I hoped. When you have players of character and quality, you know they will look at a situation like this and want to do something about it. That’s exactly how it has been in every session, a real determination and no one pulling out of challenges.
‘I didn’t name anyone when I said senior players had to accept more responsibility, but everyone seemed to think I was referring to Steven Gerrard.
‘The fact is 80 per cent of those on the pitch were senior players, and I made it clear that we needed more from all of them. There had to be an improvement in all areas, and the signs this week suggest we are going to get it.
‘We’ve got to start winning games, but I am confident people will be writing a different story about Liverpool in a few weeks.’ Benitez is reluctant to disrupt Gerrard’s partnership with Fernando Torres up front but admits he may be forced to consider switching his skipper to a deeper role, if Liverpool continue to lack creativity in midfield.
‘Putting Stevie in the centre of midfield again is an option,’ he said. ‘It depends on circumstances, but it is something we have done before. I still have every confidence that Javier Mascherano and Lucas will continue to operate well together in the middle, but it helps that Stevie can change from one role to another without losing effectiveness.
‘One thing that we must strive to do is to avoid dropping points in drawn games. The focus has been on our two defeats, but it was the number of draws last season that cost us in the end. ‘If we can cut those out, it will make a big difference.’
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Originally posted by limpper:
so meaning kuyt and torres could play together upfront?
i'd rather yossi + voronin insteadkuyt is better on e flanks
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Originally posted by Shao Wei:
please play lucas!!!!
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Originally posted by AEW5001:
i'd rather yossi + voronin insteadkuyt is better on e flanks
lol
for me, i rather dirk play in the reserves man.
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I think I heard it in First Edition or read it somewhere that some Pool fans in England pity Lucas for all the blame that is place on him... They feel its unfair to blame him alone for the whole team's poor performance against Villa...
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But that Dirk is hardworking lah, this we must give it to him... He is like Alan Smith, really hardworking but... lacking some skills. But hey, he is in the Dutch squad, so he is an international player... cannot say he is lousy also lah... lol.
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Originally posted by zocoss:
But that Dirk is hardworking lah, this we must give it to him... He is like Alan Smith, really hardworking but... lacking some skills...
yeah. -
HAHAHA to the thread...
it will only happen if Benitez stop rotating his squad and put the correct person at the correct slot and STOP the ZONAL MARKING, its NT WORKING...
Dirk Kuyt is a GEM but Benitez never utilise him properli n let him ROT! > What a waste!
ACx
Arsenal Fan -
To be honest, apart from Rooney, I have not seen a more harkworking player than him... Tevez, Smith all hardworking also but usually cover the top and middle only. This Dirk cover top, middle and behind... Power man... He is like 3 lung Dirk... can keep running all the time... lol
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I'd take a kuyt over a berbatov anyday.
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Originally posted by zocoss:
To be honest, apart from Rooney, I have not seen a more harkworking player than him... Tevez, Smith all hardworking also but usually cover the top and middle only. This Dirk cover top, middle and behind... Power man... He is like 3 lung Dirk... can keep running all the time... lol
Burnley's no. 10 is another one.
Freak couldn't stop hassling Utd's defence. Basically covered the whole top half by himself. -
seriously, if reina gets injured, kuyt should replace him. Total Football!
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Originally posted by zocoss:
To be honest, apart from Rooney, I have not seen a more harkworking player than him... Tevez, Smith all hardworking also but usually cover the top and middle only. This Dirk cover top, middle and behind... Power man... He is like 3 lung Dirk... can keep running all the time... lol
Headless chicken. -
play lucas with mascherano in the middle... gerrard as the attacking mid... flank by DK and Babel.. Torres alone up front.. with Lucas liverpool will sure lose...
Liverpool isnt a very exciting team right?? Their players are not big name apart from gerrard and torres... YawnZ!!!!
They wanna win the league?? Yeah sure... in their dreams..
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nah, even in dreams we nvr win the title
being a liverpool fan for 11yrs till now, i nvr had a dream of us winning the title
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Poor Lucas... why is everybody blaming him...
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not for me, im not blaming lucas, im blaming rafael benitez.
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XI
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Samuel, Elmander, Muamba, Davis, Cohen, Taylor, Kevin Davies.
Subs: Al Habsi, Robinson, Steinsson, Riga, Lee, Basham, Andrew O'Brien.Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Riera, Gerrard, Torres.
Subs: Gulacsi, Voronin, Benayoun, Plessis, Kelly, Skrtel, Dossena.Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
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The spartan is making his debut for Liverpool.
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We must get a result here! No excuse!
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Originally posted by zocoss:
Poor Lucas... why is everybody blaming him...
I find that Lucas is the type of player you put in after you are leading with 15 minutes remaining to kill off the game.
He doesn't look like an attacking option though he is played often as one.
Rafa somehow believes in Lucas that way so that is why Liverpool's attack is somewhat dulled whenever he starts. It's like taking away an attacker and replacing with a defender. Good if you are looking to concentrate more on defense than attack.
