Liverpool vs Wigan: Pennant's back! WTF?!

Here's the line-up:
Reina
Aurelio
Carragher
Arbeloa
Finnan
Kewell
Xabi
Mascherano
Pennant
Gerrard
Torres

Bench:
Itandje
Riise
Benayoun
Crouch
Kuyt

Wow. Didn't see that one coming, but really pleased we now have a true right winger out there. A bit odd that Crouch isn't starting with him though. I guess Rafa has enough faith in Gerrard and Torres to head the ball in from JP's and Aurelio's crosses. I'm pretty excited, nonetheless.

My second thought was where's Babel? He's not even on the bench, but Kuyt and Crouch are? Even with Benayoun, it doesn't leave us with many options of pace. I'd have put Babel there instead of Kuyt.

I also don't understand why we're going with a fully loaded squad. It's Wigan, not even a top ten side. If we don't get all three points here, we might as well pack it in and fully concentrate on Champions League. Absolutely no excuses, not even with Arbeloa at centre-back. God forbid if there's an injury, that has me more nervous than anything.

Liverpool vs Wigan: What will Rafa do?

With Crouch back from suspension, Voronin possessing fresh legs, and Wigan the opponent at Anfield, I don't see why Rafa wouldn't give Torres the match off here. That would ultimately result in a two week holiday, assuming that he isn't used for our FA Cup tie on Sunday at Luton. El Niño would, of course, be on the bench, in an emergency roll in at least the Lactics tie.

I think the same goes for Gerrard, Mascherano, and possibly even Harry Kewell. A midfield of Xabi and Momo would seem efficient, with possibly Lucas joining them as well and Babel going up front to make a 4-3-3 formation.

The Agger situation is getting more and more discouraging. I'm hoping that he gets a run out here, but if he doesn't get one at Luton, the injury is more severe than they're letting on. Let's just hope it's not career threatening. With that said, I guess Hobbs will start at CB since Hyypia is supposedly out until the 12th. I would go with Arbeloa, but I don't think Finnan can go for the third time in a week.

Here's my final guess:
Reina
Riise
Carra
Hobbs
Arbeloa
Xabi
Sissoko
Lucas
Voronin
Crouch
Babel

Bench:
Itandje
Aurelio
Gerrard
Kuyt
Torres

Xabi might have be prepared to play a little centre back if needed. I'm pretty confident in the three points there, but not as impressively done as would like. Probably 2-0 with Babel getting at least one of 'em. Cheers.

Liverpool vs Wigan: What will Rafa do?

I have to admit I was quite surprised to see Torres start in the Carling Cup tie with Reading on Tuesday and I would be quite surprised to see him start tomorrow at the JJB after only three days rest. Last year we made mince meat of the Lactics with a 4-0 victory there, but that was as we were making our strong push up the EPL ladder and the best player for us that day was Craig Bellamy.

Some positives about this year's match-up is that former Liverpool Academy product, Paul Jewell, and their captain that day, Leighton Baines, are no longer there. Plus the Lactics are suffering from a major injury crisis that will see Landzaat and Heskey, among five total casualties, unavailable for manager Chris Hutchings. Basically I'm saying Rafa shouldn't expect to need Torres to win there.

In keep, I don't think we'll be seeing Itandje again until at least our opening FA Cup tie, so Pepe shall return. In front of him I see no reason why Riise won't be on the left, Hyypia and Carra in the middle, and Arbeloa on the right. I know I sound like a broken record, but Arbeloa needs a day off soon before he get burned out. This may be the match, but I doubt it with Finnan playing the full 90 on Tuesday.

At midfield, order shall be restored with Babel on the left, Gerrard and Mascherano in the middle, and Pennant on the right. Babel should be a key as pace is something the Lactics appear to have trouble with. I expect Masche to hang out in back even more than usual and Stevie-G allowed to go buck wild.

Up front, I think it'll be Kuyt and... maybe Torres, though Voronin seems to be the logical pick with him not playing in the mid-week. I would love to see Babel up front with Kuyt, but the only way that would happen is if Harry Kewell was available, although Benayoun could start on the left. The only problem I see with that, is that Yossi would have to restrict himself to the left side instead of having free-range as he did against Reading.

So here's my final answer:
Reina
Riise
Carra
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Babel
Mascherano
Gerrard
Pennant
Voronin
Kuyt

Bench:
Itandje
Torres
Finnan
Benayoun
Lucas

If we haven't scored nor look the threat by the half, expect Torres to be brought on, but I have a feeling that Kuyt is going to bring the pain. Also Hobbs might be on the bench instead of Lucas, we'll just have to wait and see if Rafa is going to ease the perpetual Reserve captain into the rotation. Cheers.

Should Sebastian Leto be sent out on loan?

After watching this highlight video of our Reserves side manhandling a Wigan Reserve side, I wonder if some of our kids are wasting their time against obviously subpar opponents.

Sebastian Leto, Nabil El Zhar, and Ray Putterill are all obviously more adept then their opponents in the 3-0 thrashing of a Wigan side that featured many Lactics first-teamers. I can understand keeping Leto around until Harry Kewell gets back to fighting form, but El Zhar and Putterill don't look to break into even a first team Cup side until at least next year. By the way, I didn't get to see the whole match, but Insua just looks bored the few seconds he makes the highlight reel.

I guess we need a Reserves side, but so far we look miles better than any of our competition. On Tuesday we thrashed Blackburn 3-1 and that was without Putterill or Leto as well as Lucas and Hobbs, two other players that frequently take the pitch for us as Reserves. Gary Ablett even called the win 'unconvincing'. A two goal win at Blackburn without four major players is unconvincing? We either played really horrid or Ablett has some unbelievable expectations.

Speaking of players on loan, I still can't find that Guthrie stunner for Blackburn yesterday. I'm beginning to wonder if there were even cameras there. Cheers.

Today's Banter: Ref change for Wigan, Crouch wants answers, & Gerrard 'almost fit'

- Due to protest from Wigan manager Chris Hutchings, the referee for our match on Saturday has been switched from Steve Bennett to Mark Clattenburg. Hutchings' ground for protest was Bennett's sending off of Kilbane for apparently no reason whatsoever in the Lactics tie at Newcastle on the first of this month. Though he has yet to receive any punishment for what has been deemed an 'incorrect decision', it was thought best that Bennett not be in charge of this upcoming fixture. Fine by me, the guy has handed out four red cards in six Premiership matches so far this season which would have probably meant a sending off for Mascherano at the JJB. Clattenburg has yet to hand out a red so far this year. Knock on wood.

- Peter Crouch would like to know FIFA's response to Graham Poll's accusations that the refs during last year's World Cup were asked to single the forward out. It's pretty obvious that he was. While he had the stage, Crouch also warned Torres that performance is not the main factor in Rafa's selection process and therefore he may not even be on the bench at Wigan. Crouchy may either be trying to force Rafa to start him Saturday or he may just be laying the foundation for a request for a transfer come January. If Torres is selected, look for the lanky striker's whining to increase.

- Gerrard has proclaimed that his best form is just around the corner as pain in his toe has subsided. I really don't understand why he was playing with pain for England or our club otherwise. In fact, it's pretty obvious he should have left the limping Three Lions to the wolves since he got no credit for his solid performances against Israel and Russia. Then again, we're talking about the English press who are more superficial than Victoria Beckham.

- By the way, if you didn't know, Danny Guthrie scored a goal for Bolton yesterday. It was the first strike for the 20-year-old midfielder with the club in which he is on loan and proved crucial as the Wanderers beat Fulham, 2-1, in League Cup action. As soon as I can find a video of it, I'll either link or show. Cheers.