Season opener - Latest team news

Paddy shows his appreciation to Steven Gerrard last weekend

As far as the team is concerned, all of our injuries are to midfielders - i.e. Robert Pires, Freddy Ljungberg and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. Apart from those three, we're full strength. Patrick Vieira looks to have survived an injury scare (no thanks to Steven Gerrard) and will play.

So, between the sticks, Seaman (who else?)

Across the back I reckon Cole, Keown, Campbell, Lauren.

Across midfield I reckon Edu, Parlour, Vieira, Wiltord.

Up front I reckon Bergkamp and Henry

The bench? - Taylor (it would appear that Carini is persona no grata for refusing to agree personal terms), Luzhny, Silva, perhaps Cygan, perhaps Aliadiere, perhaps Jeffers (is he fit? - don't ask me!).

Frankly, whichever eleven players start the game I reckon we've got the beating of The Blues - three points to us to get us out of the blocks running.