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Preview: Maccabi Haifa vs Liverpool


Return leg tonight as Liverpool travel to Kiev (having arrived yesterday) to take on Maccabi Haifa in the second leg of this Champions League Third Round Qualifier.

Been a rough time of late surrounding this match with the Israeli FA and press not in the slightest bit happy or content that the match was moved to Kiev and they’ve let Liverpool know that quite matter-of-factly. Liverpool themselves were subjected to an “extremely tense” press conference yesterday with Israeli journalists seemingly accusing Benitez of forcing UEFA into moving the match to Ukraine.

Tensions will certainly be high tonight, as will security, as The Reds bid to seal their place in the Champions League proper having taken a slender 2-1 lead into tonight’s game. While John Arne Riise, Jamie Carragher and now Gabriel Paletta won’t be taking any part it is suggested that Steven Gerrard might not make the game having been forced to sit out yesterday’s training station with a stomach bug. If anything though, I don’t think I’d be believing the press on this one with Liverpool in much need of their midfield general on the pitch tonight.

We’ve got a good side going out, shame that Dirk Kuyt didn’t arrive before the first leg as the extra firepower on foreign soil would have been handy but Benitez is likely to start Crouch and Bellamy up front. Fabio Aurélio will likely fill in at left-back for Riise with Mark Gonzalez starting on the left following his game-winner in the last leg at Anfield. Danny Agger should also fill Jamie Carragher’s shoes after a good run out against Chelsea while Steve Finnan will likely return to right-back for the big occasion.

We can also look forward to Xabi Alonso’s return who was left out at the weekend, as was Luis Garcia who may well return to the right of midfield.

No doubt at all that Roni Levy will be out to upset Liverpool, he’ll be kicking himself after watching his defence allow Mark Gonzalez through to score before the final whistle, a goal which thankfully lends a lot of weight to Liverpool tonight. But it is most certainly no time to rest knowing full well what is at stake in Kiev.

The game kicks off a little earlier, just after 7:30pm Irish time and if you’ve got an e-Season ticket with LiverpoolFC.tv you’ll get live audio and video feeds from the game.

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2 Responses to “Preview: Maccabi Haifa vs Liverpool”

  1. Neil on August 23rd, 2006 3:03 am

    Many tense moments from tonight’s match! I can’t believe the bad luck that we’re having with injuries - now with Sissoko out for what will be at least 2 matches.

    Set piece defending was poor and the back line looked shaky at times. On the bright side, I thought Pennant, Crouch and Garcia (worked hard the whole match) played well. Most importantly, we’re through to the group stages.

    Here’s hoping that LFC look a bit more solid against West Ham.

  2. Ken McGuire on August 23rd, 2006 11:08 am

    Yeah, it was rough going alright! Disappointed for Sissoko, just thankful his injury wasn’t anything at all related to his eye, not that I’d wish it was his knee that was damaged but I’d be worried when you see him taking a big knock.

    Interesting to see what the draw for the group stage brings on thursday morning!

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