I have had a nasty feeling that Zenden will play too. I'm not quite sure why but it seems like something Rafa would do. Perhaps Rafa thinks Riise and Aurelio haven't been in good enough form to play in tandem down the left, but the only other option appears to be Zenden. Unless Gonzalez is totally fit?
I hear the shouts for Finnan at right midfield and Arbeloa at right back but too many changes could upset the balance.
Personally, I think he'll stick with the same team that beat Chelsea with Gerrard on the right instead of Pennant. Barcelona, like Chelsea at the time we played them, can be vulnerable in the air so playing Kuyt and Crouch seems logical.
The way I see it, if we play Bellamy we're more likely to switch into "counter-attack" mode and just try and hit them on the break. I don't think that's going to work as it's going to put unnecessary pressure on the defence and midfield. Of course if Barcelona are on top form then we'll probably be forced to rely on coutner-attacks but we shouldn't encourage that.
With Kuyt and Crouch upfront we have the ability there to hold the game up and allow our defence and midfield to push up. It's all about trying to control the game. That's why I think Aurelio will play down the left - he is an excellent passer of the ball and uses the space very well. I think Gerrard will start on the right because he is our best crosser of the ball. If he can get it into Crouch and Kuyt then maybe we'll find some joy. My only worry is a lack of bodies getting into the box. With Gerrard out wide, Aurelio not likely to be making a beeline for the penalty area and Sissoko and Alonso in the middle, we lack that drive from midfield.
Perhaps things could be changed round if things don't go to plan, with Gerrard coming back into the centre. Pennant's form has improved greatly since Christmas, I wouldn't be surprised if Benitez decided to stick him in there but with Ronaldinho likely to be facing him, Gerrard looks like a more solid option.
Part of me thinks, "Fuck it - lets just get at them and play with 2 upfront" but another part of me thinks that Deco, Xavi and co. could run the strings in midfield and carve us apart, so match them in midfield.
4-4-2 worked well against Chelsea and Rafa has vowed to go at them, so I think that is the way we'll line up.
-----------------------Reina-------------------------
-Finnan--------Carragher---Agger-------Riise-
-Gerrard-------Sissoko----Alonso------Aurelio-
------------------Kuyt-----------Crouch------------
A bench containing Hyypia, Mascherano, Gonzalez, Pennant and Bellamy amongst others does not look too bad.
We can qualify. It'll be tough but it can be done.
