I've noticed that a number of people have posted their team line-ups for the final and quite a few of you have left out Alonso in favour of Mascherano. Now since the Argentine joined in January I must admit I've been very impressed with him. He's a workhorse, always gets stuck into a challenge (and more often than not comes away with the ball) and he's not a bad passer either. However if it comes down to it, I think I still prefer Xabi. OK he's not been playing to his usual high standards this season, but lets not forget that it is he himself who has set these high standards. It's been a long time since I saw a footballer who can read the game better than Alonso, he's a decent tackler if perhaps not quite of the same high standard of Mascherano (or even Momo for that matter), but where he excels most is his ability to open a team up with a killer pass. Alonso's vision and awareness when selecting a pass combined with his ability to aim a ball at a target the size of a 20p piece from 40 yards away is what Liverpool have thrived on since his arrival in 2004. His creative drive in midfield is a must as I see it and certainly in the games I've seen us play recently when he's not been on the pitch looking for those spaces that other players just can't see, we've looked a little toothless in our attack as we miss that killer ball. So while in my view Mascherano is a player of awesome calibre for us to call on, in the end, when it comes down to it, come the 23rd of May their is nothing I would like more than to see Xabi Alonso ripping holes in the Milan defence for Gerrard, Kuyt, Pennant and the likes to get on the end of and cause some real damage. Anyone else agree?
It is a tough choice but a good one, both offer slight differences, it almost seems as though people have forgotten about momo. For the final he may play all three, Milans main threat is through the middle, so with masherano and alonso holding, it may mean stevie playing off the striker or out left or right.
Mascherano is a quality play since joinin Liverpool but u cnt leave out Alonso frm the squad, I wld definatly choose Alonso, Momo Sisoko is quality too, therez too many quality playerz too little positions
Xabi has his own qualitys as does Mascherano but what about Momo sissoko here are 3 players fighting for 2 spots and 1 has to lose and while 1 lose's Liverpool lose some quality.
<div class="quote_poster">Hudge Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Why dont you have 5 in midfield?</div> Took my quote exactly there. With 5 in midfield you could play a lone stiker and play Xavi Alonso behind the striker as a sort of playmaker.
