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Pick your Liverpool team to face Wigan Athletic
Skrtel and Aurelio absent but Johnson could return...
8 Mar 2010 14:45:00
By Neil Jones | Liverpool Correspondent
Picking a Rafael Benitez team is never easy, but here is the chance for Goal.com UK readers to do just that.
Benitez's Liverpool team head to the cabbage patch of the DW Stadium for a game with Wigan Athletic that promises to offer a stern examination of the Reds' top-four credentials.
Both Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio are definitely ruled out for Benitez. Skrtel is expected to miss at least six weeks with a fractured metatarsal, whilst Aurelio could be out for three with a thigh strain sustained in last weekend's victory over Blackburn Rovers.
The good news for Liverpool is that Glen Johnson - missing since December 29th with a knee injury - has returned to full training, and Benitez said on Friday that the right-back could well return to the squad. Javier Mascherano, who filled in admirably at full-back last weekend, should return to midfield as a result.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos will also be available again, after serving a three-game domestic suspension, and will be in contention to partner Daniel Agger at the heart of defence, assuming the Dane recovers from a bruised knee in time.
Others looking for a starting spot will include Alberto Aquilani - who has found himself marginalised in recent weeks - Maxi Rodriguez, Albert Riera and Ryan Babel. Of those, Maxi looks most likely, having assisted Fernando Torres' winning goal last weekend.
Goalkeepers: Reina, Cavalieri.
Defenders: Carragher, Agger, Insua, Johnson, Kelly, Darby, Degen, Ayala.
Midfielders: Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi, Aquilani, Spearing, Riera, Benayoun, El-Zhar, Plessis
Forwards: Torres, Ngog, Babel, Kuyt, Pacheco.
With that in mind, here is Goal.com UK's selection, using Benitez's trusted 4-2-3-1 formation:
Reina; Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kuyt, Maxi, Benayoun, Torres
The pitch at Wigan aids the decision on Johnson. Any doubts over his knee would be exacerbated playing on such a poor surface so, assuming Agger is fit, Carragher should continue at full-back, with Kyrgiakos taking Skrtel's spot in the middle.
Elsewhere there is not too much else to contest, though Gerrard in the middle could be switched for Lucas, with the skipper given a more advanced role. Maxi and Benayoun should offer the creativity needed to open up a porous Wigan defence for Torres' benefit, with Babel and Ngog able to come on as and when needed.
Do you agree? Let us know! Post your team in the space below.
Picking a Rafael Benitez team is never easy, but here is the chance for Goal.com UK readers to do just that.
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Benitez's Liverpool team head to the cabbage patch of the DW Stadium for a game with Wigan Athletic that promises to offer a stern examination of the Reds' top-four credentials.
Both Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio are definitely ruled out for Benitez. Skrtel is expected to miss at least six weeks with a fractured metatarsal, whilst Aurelio could be out for three with a thigh strain sustained in last weekend's victory over Blackburn Rovers.
The good news for Liverpool is that Glen Johnson - missing since December 29th with a knee injury - has returned to full training, and Benitez said on Friday that the right-back could well return to the squad. Javier Mascherano, who filled in admirably at full-back last weekend, should return to midfield as a result.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos will also be available again, after serving a three-game domestic suspension, and will be in contention to partner Daniel Agger at the heart of defence, assuming the Dane recovers from a bruised knee in time.
Others looking for a starting spot will include Alberto Aquilani - who has found himself marginalised in recent weeks - Maxi Rodriguez, Albert Riera and Ryan Babel. Of those, Maxi looks most likely, having assisted Fernando Torres' winning goal last weekend.
Goalkeepers: Reina, Cavalieri.
Defenders: Carragher, Agger, Insua, Johnson, Kelly, Darby, Degen, Ayala.
Midfielders: Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi, Aquilani, Spearing, Riera, Benayoun, El-Zhar, Plessis
Forwards: Torres, Ngog, Babel, Kuyt, Pacheco.
With that in mind, here is Goal.com UK's selection, using Benitez's trusted 4-2-3-1 formation:
Reina; Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kuyt, Maxi, Benayoun, Torres
The pitch at Wigan aids the decision on Johnson. Any doubts over his knee would be exacerbated playing on such a poor surface so, assuming Agger is fit, Carragher should continue at full-back, with Kyrgiakos taking Skrtel's spot in the middle.
Elsewhere there is not too much else to contest, though Gerrard in the middle could be switched for Lucas, with the skipper given a more advanced role. Maxi and Benayoun should offer the creativity needed to open up a porous Wigan defence for Torres' benefit, with Babel and Ngog able to come on as and when needed.
Do you agree? Let us know! Post your team in the space below.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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