Match day 5 in the Champions League see's Liverpool taking on Real Betis at Anfield. All comments on the match to go in here please. If we can win this then our qualification into the next stage is sorted. Betis are without their main goal threat in Olivera, we will still have to keep an eye on Jaoquin. I think we shouldnt find it to hard but as Betis shown again Chelsea if you dont take them seriously they will bite you in the ass,

just out of curiousity, are we meant to be posting everything related to Liverpool's champions league campaign in here??

Indeed we are, it helps to generate debate between opposing fans.

On another note ive just read that Dani got injured against Seville so thats another Betis striker out of the game.

Liverpool will win this one, with their good form and their reputation of performing well in the Champions League. The strikers are starting to score now, which i think they will score against Real Betis. The only question not whether Liverpool will win but is that will Crouch start scoring ?? I hope so cause i feel really sorry for him, playing well but not scoring.

We should win this game easily
Betis are low in confidence they lost against seville , while liverpool have won 4 games ina row. Plus this game is at anfield and i am sure we will come out on top

Liverpool should be careful...Real Betis packs quiet a punch...its not impossible for them to win this game

Obviously Its not impossible for anyone to win against anyone.
Betis have their 1st team strikers missing.

Ps: the spelling is czech , not cezchs. (profile info)

Like everyone else has said, Liverpool are perfectly capable of winning this game. We've won 4 in a row, we're playing well and we're scoring goals finally. Betis on the other hand have drawn 1-1 to Santander and lost 1-0 to cross town rivals Seville 1-0. And they're missing Dani and Oliveira through injury which are the main attacking threats for Betis. Plus its at Anfield so things are looking good.

Glad Dani is out his one of the biggest cheats in the world We should win this win although it won't be easy but Betis are incredibly poor away from home and are home form has been good this season hopefully Crouch can finally break his duck and Cisse and Morientes get on the score sheet.

Zenden needs to start imo, even if Kewell is fit, unless we can accomidate them both which i dont see happening.
riise will come back into the team imo and Josemi might even get a start, although i hope not because Finnan is playing really well.

i'd like to see Crouch/Morientes and Cisse to start but again i dont see tha happening, i think Morientes and Crouch both deserve to start but it just means we lack pace.

my team would be

--------------Reina------------
Finnan--JC---Hyypia--Riise

Cisse--Gerrard--Momo--Zenden

--------Moro--Crouch--------

i didn't put in Xabi and Luis because they both picked up knocks and i'd rather be safe, because that teams still seems a strong one.
all three "strikers" deserve to play even if Djib is on the right.
Hamman dropped to the bench as momo's energy and freshness will benefit us.

i think we will win something like 2-0, i can see us geting another clean sheet because we just dont look like conceding recently, and have scored 10 goals in 4 games, 2.5 a game aint bad considering our poor goal drought at the start of the season.

I reckon they'll both start. Rafa will try and win the match as quick as possible then site back and take xabi and luis off and play on the counter.

Reina
Riise
hypia
carragher
finnan
Zenden
alonso
gerrard
garcia
crouch
cisse

score: 3-0

(Crouch , garcia & cisse

well, looking at Betis problems and our good form in the last games we should win this one.
in attack i would give Morientes and Crouch the chance to score the goals.
hopefully Crouch can end his goalless run during this match because it would give us a big boost when he starts to score goals and it would put more pressure on the other strikers which should be positive.

Reina
Finnan Carra Hyypia Riise
Gerrad Xabi Hamann Zenden
Morientes Cisse

Finish the job , we shouldnt need anythin from the chelsea game!!

I hope we win this game

I think weve got a good chance in doing so!!

COME ON RED MEN!

How many Betis players are out, i know for Oliveira and Dani, is there any other player with yelow or red card or injured.

I think with our form at the moment we will win easilly, but we dont play very good vs Spanish teams at Anfield and i must admit i m litle bit worry about this game.

Here si my team:

--------------------Reina-------------------------

Finnan------Caragher------Hyypia-------Risse

Cisse-------Gerrard-------Zenden-------Kewell

------------Crouch-------Morientes-------------

Sub.

- Dudek
- Warnock
- Josemi
- Hamman
- Alonso (if he is fit)
- Garcia (if he is fit)
- Sissoko

1-1

Kewell to play shit for the first 20mins then come off injured.

Crouch to miss a pen.

how did you not win funniest poster of the year award?

I think this will be a tight game... 2-0 win with the 2nd right near the end. Rafa will rotate a couple of players but knows a win will put you through (I think)?

Gerrard and Kewell to score.

The day of the game has come
very important game indeed. We have to get the points from this game , or else it might be hard for us.
I wouldnt mind seeing anyone score a goal for us. But would really be great if crouch scores the winner

I'm hoping Betis can pull off another miracle. Down with chelsea.

3 - 1 Liverpool

Nando to score first
Then Crouch
Then Cisse

Reina

Finnan Hyypia Carragher Warnock

FSP Sissoko Gerrard Zenden

Crouch Nando

Bench:
Dudek
Riise
Alonso
Garcia
Kewell
Hammann
Cisse

Oh well.. I found it funny!

Real Betis goalkeeper Toni Doblas has predicted that Liverpool striker Peter Crouch will break his scoring duck against him, in fact he is convinced of it, but he also feels as though his team will win at Anfield.
Doblas has respect for Crouch but says Real Betis are determined to go all out for the win they need to stay in the Champions League at Anfield.

Doblas said: "Crouch? You mean the giant! He looks more like a basketball player than a footballer. He is fighting for a place in the England team and at Liverpool so he must be decent.

"If he hasn't scored for so long then it's certain he'll score against me. It always happens to me.

"In fact, Crouch will probably score two goals, but I'm not going to worry about that as long as we win 4-2."

i read that that on liverpoolfc.tv oli
its very funny. he is convinced that he will get beatern

LOL that Real Betis goalkeeper is funny lad. Perhaps he is playing mind games with Peter Crouch ...

Liverpool will win 2:1 i think ~

Liverpool Pls Don;t use Crouch as Striker Ty

Use Morientes and Cisse .

......................................Reina..........................

Finnan...........Hyypia................Carragher....Riise

...LuisGarcia........Alonso....Gerrard....Kewell....

...............................Cisse... Morientes ............

This the team i'd like to see played:


-------------------Reina-----------------
Finnan----Hyypia----Carra----Warnock
Gerrard----Sissoko----Alonso----Kewell
-----------Pongolle----Morientes---------


My line up is pretty similar to everyone elses with the exceptions of Kewell and Pongolle. After Kewell's top quality performance against Uruguay last week I think he deserves a start here. He has shown that his fitness levels are now up to scratch and I really hope he gets a start. Pongolle is another player who I think is due for a start. I really like this lad, his skills and touches are brilliant, and I think if given a decent run in the first team he will begin to shine.

Doblas is a bit of a Joker, I quite rate him as a keeper actually but maybe he is a bit worried about how his defence will handle Crouch because they struggled against him in the first game.

Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Warnock
Gerrard Sissoko Hamann Kewell
Cisse Morientes

Is the team i would pick for this match, but im sure Rafa's team will vary this with Crouch starting and perhaps 1 of Xabi or Luis to start to.

That team is very unbalanced though. Riise is a rubbish left back and would certainly struggle with Jaoquin, not only that but you have Luis Garcia in a position he doesnt like and being left footed he would have to check back everytime he went to cross.

Luis Garcia did quite well for Barca playing on the right

He was all over the place I thought, he didnt stick rigidly to any place, he was popping up in the box all the time and thats how he got his hat-trick. I think if at all possible we should play a right footer on the RW and thats why Cisse and Gerrard have been playing there and not Garcia lately. Garcia can do the job dont get me wrong but I think we look a lot more balancec with Cisse or Gerrard there. I'd be tempted to go with Pongolle on the right as I think he plays well there and is right footed (i think)

Rafa could still even go for 4-5-1 again, we shall just have to wait and see.

i have a feeling that Morientes will score tonight, he usually scores against Betis.

yup he would be all over but I mean if you would look at the team sheet it would be

Ronaldinho--- Etoo ---- Garcia

Pretty much in the role that Guily is filling in these days .. atleast that was where he played in most matches i saw towards the end of the 04 season. Garcia is decent with both feet IMO but ofcourse an out and out right winger could be much better.

Sometimes though like Duff and Robben for Chelsea you can play well on the right even if you are left footed.

i hope he does cause. And i hope crouch scores as well.

i think this will be a close match so i wud say it will be a 2-2 draw with Morientes and Cisse scoring

Team Confirmed as

-------------------Reina-----------------

Finnan-----Carra-----Hyypia----Risse

Gerrard--Hamann---Sissoko--Zenden

---------Morientes----Crouch----------

Betis:

----------------Doblas--------------
Melli--Juanito--Rivas--Oscar Lopez
----Assuncao----Rivera---Arzu-----
Joaquin-----------------------Xisco
--------------Fernando--------------

Dani and Oliveira both out. Capi and Edu both on the bench, I really can't see them scoring the way we've been playing defensively as of late. Should be capable of taking the 3 points and topping the group tonight.

Joaquin and Xisco are probably the main threat from open play and Juanito and Assuncao from set peices. We have to be careful not to concede any free kicks around the box.

why the hell are they leaving luis garcia out of the lineup? or alonso? after their performances in spain they should be on the pitch

they'll probably be substituted in...

hamann had better play well...

Come On Crouch! Its your day son!

Injuries, they both had to come off during the games against Pompey. Alonso trained today but was sore after training so it was decided he wouldnt play. Garcia looked in a lot of pain on Sat and I suspect he is still feeling discomfort.

i hoping Crouch scores he deserves to and he is player well at the moment

half-time

HT 0-0

Crouch has had a few chances as has Morientes, they just dont look like a striking partnership upfront at times though. Betis have played some good stuff especially down the right wing and as I feared Riise is getting dragged out of position too often. Sissoko is breaking up play soo well but his passing has been poor. Nial Quinn reckons that Crouch has been outstanding and I have to agree, the prob is that Moro isnt anticpating the knock downs and flick ons.

All in all we have looked comfortable in defence but we really need to get a goal to settle things down.

everything looks alright until now. when we score the needed goal soon then i don't think we will get in trouble of losing this one.

come on you Reds! and make it a win.

0-0 at half time... so much for my prediction of 2-0 to Liverpool..

Anyways, we started pretty slowly, sitting back and let Betis have possesion. Played too much of the long ball for me in the half. We looked dangerous when we play the ball on the ground and get it out wide to Gerrard and Zenden although Bolo's final touch has been letting him down. Everyone is playing pretty well positionally, we're defending well as a team although Hyypia has almost been caught a couple of times.

I cant see Kewell or Cisse sitting on the bench for much longer, Gerrard has been drifting into the middle of the pitch, as he usually does to get the ball, leaving tons of space open on the right but theres no one there to fill it. So Im thinking either one of them will be coming on for Hamann soon with Stevie shifting into the middle.

Crouch has looked dangerous a couple times, he probably should've scored from a corner. Other than that he got a good shot off from nothing and went close on a diving header while giving a piggy back to a defender. I think this might finally be his game to break the duck!

I'm impressed with Betis and how they're holding their own against chelsea and liverpool.

Ya, Joaquin has murdered Riise a couple of times. Once with a few step overs on the edge of the box then panna'd him and skiped through him and Carra. Amazing stuff, although he couldn't make anything of it, it was great to watch.

I thought Sissoko has been good too. He danced around 3 or 4 Betis players at one point only to fire a shot into the stands as usual, if only he could shoot like Garcia.

substitution
morientis out cisse in