Rafa Benitez wasn’t really likely to pick the same team three games in succession, and Albert Riera has made way for Javier Mascherano for today’s visit to West Ham.
This means Gerrard will to return to his now more accustomed attacking role behind Torres with Benayoun and Kuyt taking up the wider positions, the central midfield duties being shared between Mascherano and Lucas.
Emiliano Insua retains his place at left-back in an unchanged back four also featuring Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson.
The bench features four players signed as defenders: Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Degen and Dossena.
West Ham: 1 Green, 15 Upson, 23 Ilunga, 30 Tomkins, 8 Parker, 16 Noble, 20 Faubert, 21 Behrami, 12 Cole, 32 Alessandro Diamanti, 41 Hines
Subs: 28 Kurucz, 04 Gabbidon, 18 Spector, 07 Dyer, 14 Kovac, 35 Payne, 24 Nouble
Liverpool: 25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 22 Insua, 23 Carragher, 37 Skrtel, 8 Gerrard, 15 Benayoun, 20 Mascherano, 21 Lucas, 9 Torres, 18 Kuyt
Subs: 1 Cavalieri, 12 Aurelio, 16 Kyrgiakos, 27 Degen, 38 Dossena, 11 Riera, 19 Babel
Referee: Andre Marriner
I think Babel is improving, seems that right side suits him
Torres was excellent.
At the back we were awful again??? Zonal marking again to blame and Carragher again making some serious mistakes, He also looked slow. Think when Agger regains fitness, that he and Skrtel should be our first choice partnership at the back.
But for gods sake Benitez sort this zonal shit out. At least put somebody on either post so that we have some defence when the zonal system doesn’t work as it has not on countless times this season so far.
Better though.
pls do not let Agger leave my team looks like selling all the great the good defenders.shoutout to Johnson i really like his style of play.