Trez doubt for Anfield Road Sunday 3 April, 2005
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David Trezeguet remains a major doubt to feature against Liverpool on Tuesday, while Pavel Nedved could prompt a change of tactics.
Trezeguet returned from international duty with an ankle injury and was set to miss Saturday’s match with Fiorentina – a tie that was rescheduled along with every other Italian game as a sign of respect for Pope John Paul II.
Latest reports from Turin suggest the Frenchman is far from ready to start at Anfield Road in the Champions’ League quarter-final, although he could feature in the second half.
The Fiorentina game was set to test out Nedved’s fitness levels after sitting on the sidelines since suffering concussion in a clash of heads with Raul Bravo on February 22. Technically, he only played 35 minutes of that game at the Bernabeu, so Nedved’s last real match was against Brescia on January 23.
The 2003 European Player of the Year could nonetheless be able to start the match, prompting a change of tactics.
Fabio Capello had found some success with the 4-3-3 system, enabling Juventus to beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the second leg of their Champions’ League clash and notching up a string of Serie A victories.
However, with Marcelo Zalayeta also struggling with a back problem, it looks likely he’ll revert back to a 4-4-2 with Alessandro Del Piero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic upfront. Nedved and Mauro German Camoranesi take the flanks with Manuele Blasi and Emerson in central midfield.
It is rumoured that Nedved would make way for Trezeguet – or Zalayeta – in the second half at Anfield for the trident attack to hit Liverpool in the closing stages. Alessio Tacchinardi is suspended for the first leg.
Meanwhile, UEFA have confirmed that Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere has been assigned to Juve’s match. Pierluigi Collina will officiate Tuesday’s other quarter-final between Olympique Lyon and PSV Eindhoven.
Juventus squad: 1 Buffon, 4 Montero, 7 Pessotto, 8 Emerson, 9 Ibrahimovic, 10 Del Piero, 11 Nedved, 12 Chimenti, 15 Birindelli, 16 Camoranesi, 17 Trezeguet, 18 Appiah, 19 Zambrotta, 20 Blasi, 21 Thuram, 22 Bonnefoi, 24 Olivera, 25 Zalayeta, 27 Zebina, 28 Cannavaro