Quote keithcun="keithcun"Only if you want it to be.
Tomorrow, who knows!
Obviously he'll go out there with Torres up front and if fit, Gerrard behind him. I think we'll play another 4 in midfield, hopefully Alonso, Mascherano, Riera and Kuyt. Arbeloa and Aurelio at full back and Skrtel and Carra in the middle. If Gerrard's not fit to start, I would imagine he'd possible go Babel/Benayoun out on the right and Kuyt with Torres.
Madrid will have to come out and look for goals which could suit us, which may throw up a surprise in the above team/formation. He could go Babel instead of Riera to use his pace on the counter but I've a feeling he may save that for later in the game depending on what happens in the first 60.
A win would be excellent, a score draw great and a draw OK. Losing by only one would be salvageable but I wouldn't want to come away with needing 2 to draw level at home, that could be too much to ask considering our form of late. One thing has been steady, even in our poor form of late, we are very hard to beat, so you have to be optimistic.
As you say, in Europe things seem to come together better for us, but I'll suppose we'll just have to wait and see. I don't do score predictions and I'm not going to start now. It could be anything.'"
Agreed with you starting 11 - Dossena's selection on Sunday was presumably on the basis he isn't playing against Madrid unless everyone gets the Craig Bellamys* on paella.
Real's 6 goal 'beat down' plays into Benitez's hands in my view. They'd be looking for goals anyway but they'll be practically assuming they'll get them after the weekend. Benitez will line them up nice and tight, frustrate and let the crowd become impatient. It's a cliche but that first goal will be huge.
This fixture was fascinating when it was drawn, even more so now following the way the 2 teams seasons have gone since it was. Liverpool have lost the initiate in the title race over here and Real are trying desperately to wrestle some momentum from Barca and are starting to do it. Plus, it's on Sky so no David 'I love crawling on Kerbs' Pleat to get in the way on the commentary. Splendid.
*s
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