Injuries is the biggest enemy

Rafael Benitez really has a dilemma or two for tomorrow's game against Portsmouth.
With Gerrard as a positively injured player, and Alonso and Torres as uncertain ones, the worst case scenario would of course not feature any of these players. Besides the injuries, Lucas Leiva is suspended after the clash against Everton in the FA Cup.

Now as Benitez has sold Robbie Keane and Pennant is at Blackburn as a loan, the midfield-options for Benitez would be El Zhar, Benayoun, Mascherano, Kuyt, Riera and possibly Damien Plessis.

With only Mascherano and Plessis as the "real" central midfielders, Benitez may have to look at some other options and improvise. Who knows, maybe Benayoun will be used in Gerrard's part where he's right behind the striker?

The decisions about the midfielders will also affect the decision about who's going to be the striker. I say striker and not "strikerS" as I believe Benitez will continue his formation as he has done the bigger part of the season.

Even though both Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt is "originally" strikers but has been used as left and right midfielders, I think Benitez can't afford using these players as strikers. If that will happen, my opinion would be that Babel will be the one on top, with N'Gog as a substitute or the opposite.
Kuyt as a lone striker is no good option, as I have pointed out before in this blog.

That leaves Kuyt on the right side with Riera on the left, with possibly Benayoun, Plessis and Mascherano for the central midfield.

If Benitez doesn't feel he's getting the offensive play that he wants, I would definitely choose Hyypia in the defence as he is dangerous when it comes to corners and free kicks.

That said, IF Torres and Alonso would turn out to be fit to play... this post is pointless!

I'll end with a small LOL for that one.

LOL.