Torres okay for Chelsea

[G Richards]

Glad Torres is OK. I hope he is properly OK, rather than not really OK, e.g. Arsenal game.

It will be a tough game on Sunday. We've had many bad results and so expectations are low, especially considering Chelsea's home record. They also have a very good striker in Nicolas Anelka. He is keeping them in the title race while Drogba is away.

I'd say we have a 20% chance of a win, 30% chance of a draw and 50% chance of a loss. If the players are up for it and fighting for the shirt and their manager, then something good could happen.

[noodles]

On the offal that he is out on Sunday.

[jon lad]

no bad thing really. we'd obviously be better with him but it gives some of our other strikers the opportunity to show some ability. I hope rafa now starts with the wee man crouchy, with babel up front with kuyt peeling the half time oranges.

[Brownie]

Rafa Benitez has confirmed Liverpool fans' worst fears by revealing Fernando Torres is very unlikely to feature against Chelsea on Sunday.
The striker lasted just 23 minutes of Spain's 1-0 victory over France on Wednesday after picking up a hamstring injury.

The news comes as a major blow for Benitez, who is already without Daniel Agger, Andriy Voronin, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Aurelio and the suspended Xabi Alonso.

On top of this, Javier Mascherano will not arrive back at Melwood until Friday due to Argentina's friendly clash with Guatemala later today.

Benitez said: "We have lost Torres and Mascherano is not back until tomorrow. I don't think it (the international friendly situation) is fair. I think Mascherano will be okay for Sunday but we will have to see.

"The news we have on Torres is that it is a hamstring injury. I need to talk to the doctor but I think he will miss this game. Normally it is a week when a player goes off like this.

"It is a big problem for us."



Gotta be Babel up front surely, if he's fit and available?

Ou chances if winning were slim anyway but I think they just reduced.

[Scouse Missionary]

I reckon Torres will be ok, and they'll smuggle him into Stamford Bridge in a chest, pretending it's full of our practice balls. Then Grant will only find out he's fit and able when he gets the team sheet.

[noodles]

Originally Posted by Scouse Missionary

I reckon Torres will be ok, and they'll smuggle him into Stamford Bridge in a chest, pretending it's full of our practice balls. Then Grant will only find out he's fit and able when he gets the team sheet.

I'd imagine Chelsea will prepare as though Torres is playing.

[rebel23]

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Skrtel
Riise

Babel
Gerrard
Lucas
Pennant

Crouch
Yossi

[Alias75]

Think it'll be something like this...

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

Finnan.......Carragher..Hyppia..............Riise

..............Mascherano...Lucas..................

Pennant.............Gerrard.....................Ba bel

........................Crouch.................... ........


Swap Torres for Crouch if hes ok and it could be Carra at fullback again and Skrtel at center back, and it could be Benayoun for Pennant, but i think this is the formation we'll see.

[philyburkhill]

Yeah, Chelsea will just prepare as if Torres is playing, and if he isn't then they'll just let Kuyt go about his business as usual.

[Red Mist]

He's defo out. Confirmed on BBC website.

[Unrighteous]

So... Alonso Gerrard and Lucas in the middle with Pennant and Babel supporting Crouch, then?

[Scouse Missionary]

Originally Posted by David L

I'd imagine Chelsea will prepare as though Torres is playing.

The post was tongue-in-cheek.....

[Alonso]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous

So... Alonso Gerrard and Lucas in the middle with Pennant and Babel supporting Crouch, then?

Alonso is suspended.

[Unrighteous]

Oh right... We are fucked in a half.

Lucas and Gerrard in the middle... with Yossi off Crouch maybe?

[Xabi D]

Originally Posted by Brownie

Rafa Benitez has confirmed Liverpool fans' worst fears by revealing Fernando Torres is very unlikely to feature against Chelsea on Sunday.
The striker lasted just 23 minutes of Spain's 1-0 victory over France on Wednesday after picking up a hamstring injury.

The news comes as a major blow for Benitez, who is already without Daniel Agger, Andriy Voronin, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Aurelio and the suspended Xabi Alonso.
On top of this, Javier Mascherano will not arrive back at Melwood until Friday due to Argentina's friendly clash with Guatemala later today.

Benitez said: "We have lost Torres and Mascherano is not back until tomorrow. I don't think it (the international friendly situation) is fair. I think Mascherano will be okay for Sunday but we will have to see.


"The news we have on Torres is that it is a hamstring injury. I need to talk to the doctor but I think he will miss this game. Normally it is a week when a player goes off like this.

"It is a big problem for us."


Gotta be Babel up front surely, if he's fit and available?

Ou chances if winning were slim anyway but I think they just reduced

Wasn't he suspended for the Sunderland match? hence the reason he wasnt in the 16.

[Alias75]

Originally Posted by Xabi D

Wasn't he suspended for the Sunderland match? hence the reason he wasnt in the 16.

It would have been strange if we knew Alonso was suspended this week for him not to figure at all against Sunderland, knowing how Benitez works that doesnt make much sense.

[coop]

This is what i mean about putting all your eggs in one basket.

Your star player can always get injured and we need cover.

[PaulMcC]

Why does it have to be Babel up front?

He's not played up there for us much and when he has he didn't look too good.