LIVERPOOL V BLACKBURN ROVERS MATCH PREVIEW

                                                 MATCH PREVIEW

thiss like every game at the moment is going to be massive for LIVERPOOL especially with MAN CITY winning yesterday, they need to close the gap.
still LIVERPOOL should be going into the match with a lot of confidence especially after the great away win in europe against UNIREA on thursday.
they might be a bit tired though with not many days rest and the travelling..
BLACKBURN pose a tough test, although away from EWOOD PARK this season they have only won once this season. but they are a team that are hard to break down, a thing LIVERPOOL have struggled to do all season.

                                              THE TEAM

there will be changes to the team the day from thursday's team, SKRTEL certainly out with a broken foot and KYRIAGOS still suspended, so i think RAFA will bring CARRAGHER back in to the centre of defence and i think he will bring in young KELLY into right back after coming on on thursday. i also believe TORRES will start after being gently eased back which will give us a massive lift.

                                                 
GOALKEEPER- REINA
RIGHT BACK- KELLY
LEFT BACK- INSUA
CENTRE BACK- CARRAGHER
CENTRE BACK- AGGER
LEFT MIDFIELD- BENAYOUN
RIGHT MIDFIELD- KUYT
CENTRE MIDFIELD- LUCAS
CENTRE MIDFIELD- MASCHERANO
CENTRE MIDFIELD(ATTACKING)- GERRARD
CENTRE FORWARD- TORRES

                   KEY PLAYER- MASCHERANO as always his work rate and the way he protects the defence is key to LIVERPOOL doing well.

PREDICTION- LIVERPOOL 2-0 BLACKBURN ROVERS

      

LAST MEETING MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

COMMENTS WELCOME

YNWA                                                      

UNIREA 1-3 LIVERPOOL MATCH REPORT

                                               MATCH REPORT

THE TEAM-
i thought LIVERPOOL had a strong line-up was a bit surprised by one or two selections, like KUYT not playing, was good to see BABEL getting another start and also N'GOG.
but overall i thought it was a very strong line-up.

                                    MASCHERANO scores against UNIREA

THE GAME-
it was a tougher game than the scoreline suggests. the park didn't help, very poor surface to play football on i think suiting the home side. UNIREA attacked from the off as they needed a goal and they put LIVERPOOL under a lot of pressure at times with one of their corners givng them an early lead, the big UNIREA defender powering in a free header.
but earlier in the season i think LIVERPOOL would have crumbled, considering the conditions, losing an early goal, but this LIVERPOOL team of recent times is showing a lot of resiliance and did so again.
LIVERPOOL continued to play their passing game and probe for an opening not panicking and they levelled when MASCHERANO hit a rocket from 25 yards into the top corner scoring only his 2nd goal in 3 years, but how important.

                                    GERRARD runs at the UNIREA defence

with LIVERPOOL taking the lead again in the tie it gave LIVERPOOL more confidence and they soon took the lead on the night with a good goal from BABEL who scored from what only looked a half chance, he controlled the ball brilliantly inside the box when stretching for it before turning and smashing the ball home.

                                     GERRAED celebrates his record breaking goal

UNIREA still created a few chances and never gave up but GERRARD killed it with a goal in the second half BENAYOUN doing brilliantly before slipping a pass to GERRARD inside the box which ne blasted straight through the UNIREA keeper.
this goal also made him britain's highest goalscorer in european football surpassing ALAN SHEARER'S record of 32 goals in europe. LIVERPOOL played out the match in control and saw off the challenge of UNIREA in which was a tricky tie.

only downside to a good night was the injury to MARTIN SKRTEL who broke his foot in a crunching challenge.

VERDICT- good performance away from home in europe against a team that has wins over GLASGOW RANGERS and SEVILLE in europe this season.

MAN OF THE MATCH- MASCHERANO thought his work rate and passing superb and topped it off with a tremendous goal



MATCH HIGHLIGHTS




YNWA

UNIREA URZICENI V LIVERPOOL MATCH PREVIEW

                                                         PREVIEW

i think this 2nd leg will be a very tight dour game. i don't think UNIREA offer much and i think LIVERPOOL will lack enterprise with their team selection with one eye on sundays game against BLACKBURN. LIVERPOOL are staying tight at the back at the moment but not scoring many goals and i personally don't see UNIREA causing too many problems.

                                   N'GOGS only goal of the 1st leg

THE TEAM-

GOALKEEPER- REINA
RIGHT BACK- CARRAGHER
LEFT BACK- AURELIO
CENTRE BACK- AGGER
CENTRE BACK- SKRTEL
LEFT MIDFIELD- BABEL
RIGHT MIDFIELD- KUYT
CENTRE MIDFIELD- AQUALANI
CENTRE MIDFIELD- MASCHERANO
CENTRE MIDFIELD (ATTACKING)- GERRARD
CENTRE FORWARD- N'GOG

i think RAFA will rest 1 or 2 players on thursday bringing AURELIO back in and also AQUALANI for a rare start hopefully giving him more confidence.

 i think RAFA will try and change his team a little but not massively because he is taking this europa league importantly but also wanting 4th place in the league
i don't think TORRES or BENAYOUN will start on thursday as i think they will try and give them a bit more rest and not rush them too quickly back.

KEY PLAYER- CARRAGHER i think CARRA will have to be good organising his defence and encouraging the team from the back in which i'm sure could be an awkward night in europe, if LIVERPOOL don't apply themselves correctly.

PREDICTION-                UNIREA URZICENI 0-0 LIVERPOOL
                                      

MAN CITY 0-0 LIVERPOOL MATCH REPORT

 

MAN CITY 0-0 LIVERPOOL

what a big game for both teams but did it turn out too big a game to lose.

for a spectacle it was dire with both teams set out with the same formation . not many chances at all, there could only be one outcome, there was a lack of tempo about the game, too many misplaced passes from both teams and a referee that booked a lot of LIVERPOOL players and not MAN CITY players, he also missed 1 or 2 big incidents.

THE TEAM

i was expecting the team RAFA set out other than BABEL coming in for N'GOG who i later found out was injured.

but i was hoping to see BABEL playing up front but he was mostly out wide although RAFA switched him about during the game.

i feel when KUYT is playing up front he needs somebody alongside him and i felt he got isolated too often.

                                                  THE MATCH
i felt the game started off slowly and went downhill from then on . both teams set their stall out early doors not to lose. i think both teams were happy with a draw but if they could have nicked a win they would have taken it. i felt in the first half LIVERPOOL shaded possession without doing a lot with it, too slow in the build up and passing poorly. best early chance was a ball whipped in by GERRARD that had KUYT and MAXI sliding inside the 6 yard box trying to get on the end of it . i think the best chance of the half came to SKRTEL when a corner kick was swung into the box and SKRTEL with virtualy a free header could only direct his header past the post.
the 2nd half was much the same, poor passing from both teams, lack of pace and both teams not getting enough men forward.
the 1st shot of the game came on the hour mark with ADEBAYOR collecting a pass on the edge of the box with the use of a hand wich he got away with, and striking a vicious shot low to REINA'S right hand post, REINA making a very good save. as the game wore on both teams made changes, the long awaited arrival of TORRES coming on for BABEL, and BELLAMY came on for CITY who did seem to give CITY a lift, and to be fair i felt in the latter stages they looked the most likely team to steal it.

                    TORRES unhappy with the ref

CIT looked like they were going to score with 10 minutes remaining when ADEBAYOR got the better of SKRTEL and ran clean through on goal but when he was just about to shoot SKRTEL made a great recovering tackle to save the day. AGGER gave ADEBAYOR a blatant push in the box which he was lucky to get away with. then in the last few minutes BENAYOUN ran into the box and was caught by KOMPANY but BENAYOUN stayed on his feet when players would have went to ground.
and so the game finished 0-0.

                                            RAFA encouraging the reds

MAN OF THE MATCH- SKRTEL thought he played ADEBAYOR superbly not giving him much change all day.made a game saving tackle late on when a goal looked certain.

   
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

YNWA

MAN CITY V LIVERPOOL MATCH PREVIEW

                                        MANCITY V LIVERPOOL MATCH PREVIEW

massive game for both teams, i think it will be a very tight game with not many chances. MAN CITY are going into this game with very inconsistent form but they do seem to raise themselves for the big games this season and this is another one.
LIVERPOOL on the other hand have had a good run of form recently especially with all their injury problems.
LIVERPOOL played on thursday night so going into this game with not much rest, but surely in as big a game as this tiredness won't come into it.

    some of LIVERPOOL'S injuries seem to be clearing up BENAYOUN could feature today, GLENN JOHNSON is not far away either from full fitness and there seems to be a possibility of TORRES being on the bench today which would be a massive lift.

                                           THE TEAM    (what i reckon)

GOALKEEPER-REINA
RIGHT BACK- CARRAGHER
LEFT BACK- INSUA
CENTRE BACK- AGGER
CENTRE BACK- SKIRTEL
LEFT MIDFIELD- MAXI
RIGHT MIDFIELD- KUYT
CENTRE MIDFIELD- LUCAS
CENTRE MIDFIELD- MASCHERANO
CENTRE MIDFIELD(ATTACKING ROLE)- GERRARD
CENTRE FORWARD- N'GOG

i think the team will be close to this setting the team out as a team that will be hard to break down as similar to line-ups of recent weeks. can't see it being much different as big a game as this and playing away from home.

KEY PLAYER- MASCHERSNO his work rate and the way he breaks things up protecting the defence will be key to LIVERPOOL'S success today.

PREDICTION-    MAN CITY 0-1 LIVERPOOL



Liverpool 2 - 2 Manchester City. Barclays Premiership 2009/10. - Awesome video clips here

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST MEETING

STAY TUNED FOR MATCH REPORT

YNWA

LIVERPOOL V UNIREA URZICENI MATCH REPORT

 

LIVERPOOL 1-0 UNIREA URZICENI

i felt there was a great support for the team last night not many empty seats for at the end of the day it is our season's consolation cup.

to be fair RAFA treated this game with respect also i think realising that the fans are looking for any kind of silverware as they have seen a few barren years.

THE TEAM-

i was happy enough with the team selection AQUALANI, REIRA and AURELIO getting rare starts the rest of the team being more or less regulars proving RAFA wasn't taking this game lightly.

personally i would have liked to have seen BABEL start on the left midfield but at least he came on.but like i say i was happy enough with the team.

                             GERRARD and RAFA chat during a stoppage in play

THE MATCH-
LIVERPOOL got off to a flyer in the 1st minute robbing the ball from UNIREA'S kick off and going straight down the field with KUYT playing a lovely little flick through to GERRARD side footed a shot that was heading straight into the top corner when the UNIREA keeper made a great diving save touching out for a corner. this lifted the crowd and there was a feeling like it would be how many tonight. KUYT was looking lively down the right puting in some dangerous crosses and once flashing a great effort right across the face of goal which the UNIREA keeper did well to get a hand on.
but after the bright start the game developed into a pattern with LIVERPOOL controlling the game and UNIREA camped in their own half defending deep.

 

GERRARD with one of his wayward headers

UNIREA offered nothing as an attacking force, but LIVERPOOL with all their possession never created much at all a few aimless crosses GERRARD had a couple of decent chances with headers but they went wayward.
the crowd also became quiet with the team not giving them anything to cheer about, the game became so pedestrian with th feeling that it was going to be one of those nights.
LIVERPOOL expecting something to happen rather than making it happen , there was such a lack of energy that it gave the appearanc of a training match at melwood, i think a few players were thinking about sunday's match rather than this one.

                          N'GOG dives to header the only goal of the game

the second half wasn't getting any better in fact i thought it was getting worse LIVERPOOL being frustrated by UNIREA'S defending, in fairness UNIREA defended superbly puting their bodies on the line to block every LIVERPOOL attempt which was becoming mostly from long range efforts.
desperate for a change BABEL was sent on for REIRA and soon after PACHECO was sent on as well. this seemed to lift the crowd and BABEL especially seemed to be seeing a lot of the ball and looked up for it running at the defence at every opportunity.
the goal eventually came on 81 minutes when BABEL down the left cut in on his right foot pu over a perfect cross for the diminutive PACHECO who slipped in between 2 defenders and placed a perfect header across goal towards N'GOG who bravely dived to header the ball into the UNIREA net with a defender tightly marking him.

REACTION-
 very pedestrian performance, but another clean sheet , another win and great to see PACHECO and BABEL making an impact and looking very promising.

MAN OF THE MATCH-
KUYT i thought his attitude and work rate was superb trying to make things happen when others around him were going through the motions.





YNWA

LIVERPOOL V UNIREA URZICENI MATCH PREVIEW

                                        MATCH PREVIEW



i know its a bit of a let down for everybody that its not the champions league but its still european football personally i'm still excited about it , but are you ? and will the anfield faithfull be tonight will there be a big crowd especially as its on tv, i have my doubts that it will be a full house and i'm a bit concerned that the crowd will wait for the team to give them something to cheer about rather than the support creating the atmosphere for the team, which could lead to a frustrating night.
i'm a bit unsure how RAFA is going to approach this game with one eye on sundays match at MAN CITY which is a massive game, i think RAFA will take sundays match a lot more importantly, however he knows that this is our only chance of silverware this season and therefore i think he will put out a strong side tonight mixing the line up a little prioritising for sunday.
THE TEAM-

GOALKEEPER- REINA
RIGHT BACK- DEGEN
LEFT BACK- INSUA
CENTRE BACK- SKIRTEL
CENTRE BACK- AGGER
LEFT MIDFIELD- BABEL
RIGHT MIDFIELD- MAXI
CENTRE MIDFIELD- LUCAS
CENTRE MIDFIELD- AQUALANI
CENTRE MIDFIELD (ATTACKING)- GERRARD
CENTRE FORWARD- N'GOG

i think CARRAGHER will be given a rest for sunday even though fit for tonight, AQUALANI will be given a rare start with LUCAS holding midfielder, BABEL to be given a rare start hopefully to stake a claim. i think N'GOG will lead the line to try and give him some confidence with MASCHERANO, KUYT given a rest, but to be honest i think tonights team is anybodys guess.

THE MATCH-

UNIREA have a new manager and will maybe make the team a bit different from the one we witnessed earlier in the season in the champions league group stage.
i think they will set their stall out to frustrate and make it difficult for LIVERPOOL to break down so an early goal would be greatly welcome or it could become a frustrating night, UNIREA will be up for it massive game for them coming to a place like ANFIELD so it won't be easy.
i think with looking at the opposition and imagining LIVERPOOL will have more of the ball i think RAFA will play more attack minded players in the likes of BABEL and AQUALANI possibly coming in.
but i still think it will be a difficult game and i don't so many goals in this with LIVERPOOL at the moment lacking firepower and not getting many goals without TORRES, still shoring up at the back has been a massive improvement in recent weeks.


UNIREA showing how dangerous they can be against GLASGOW RANGERS


PREDICTION-
LIVERPOOL 2-0 UNIREA URZICENI
will post a match report in the next couple of days.
enjoy the match.
YNWA

RYAN BABEL

                                                      

RYAN BABEL (ENIGMA)

   what do you think of RYAN BABEL ?
personally i am still unsure of him. i would like to try and explain what i think of him at present. BABEL was a big money signing at a very young age which may have been a weight on his shoulders which makes expectations so high, i think young foreign players need time to settle in to a different country with different cultures etc.
as far as RYAN'S performances have gone i have felt he has had some great games and some not so great games. i think his lack of consistency in his performances has to do with RAFA'S consistency in selecting him. i have seen RYAN play a great game then he has been substituted or dropped for the next match, now for me this does nothing for a player's confidence especially to a young player.

       i think if BABEL was to get a regular game he would become a big player for LIVERPOOL, but recently with media speculation there has seemed to be displeasure from BABEL towards RAFA at his lack of opportunities and then transfer speculation in the transfer window concerning BABEL.
but now that the transfer window has closed we have seen BABEL getting some game time coming on as sub in some recent games and hoefully puting him in RAFAS plans once again.
personally i think RAFA doesn't play him that often because BABEL is a very attack minded player and his desire to work and defensive side of his game are questionable, and RAFA always sets his team out to be very hard working and in my opinion bordering on defensive making BABEL a luxury.
i think BABEL will have to change his attitude to get a regular game in this team because of RAFAS attitude, because i don't see RAFA changing his style of play.

        i think BABEL has so much potential he has explosive speed, great skill and what a shot, he is a player that excites me but also i can see RAFA'S frustration with him they way in which he can give the ball away easily and fail to track back.
i do think he is a luxury type player but he is a dangerous player who can do something out of nothing.
if i was playing him i would like to see him out wide either flank i think he would be a danger as long as you have back up behind him ie. AURELIO on the left or CARRA on the right to give BABEL that freedom to attack also i would like to see him playing just behind TORRES with GERRARD playing deeper in the centre of midfield.
problem is i am not RAFA and time will tell if he is going to get a chance to make an impact here.

thanks for reading.

YNWA

ARSENAL 1-0 LIVERPOOL MATCH REPORT

ARSENAL 1-0 LIVERPOOL

Arsenal v Liverpool
by distromatch

match highlights




THE TEAM-

basically i was happy with the team selection last night, RAFA is very restricted with his options regards to his long term injury list and then with KYRIAGOS suspended meant having to change the defence which has been foundation of this great run of recent form.in defence i would have done the same, CARRAGHER at right back, bringing SKIRTEL into the centre.
as in my preview post my midfield would have been a little different AURELIO on the left to protect INSUA, but to be fair i felt MAXI and INSUA played very well together down the left and i can't argue with the selection. the rest of the team i feel i really can't argue too much about other than upfront. i think it was too big a game for N'GOG who i feel has lost a wee bit of confidence in recent games and a bit light weight for this game, i think i would have plumped for KUYT, although BABEL with his explosive speed could have started but think his work ethic comes into question, truthfully there are not many options at the moment up front.

  liverpool's penalty shout at the end of the match



THE MATCH-


i felt LIVERPOOL did enter the match to frustrate ARSENAL and not give them the space to play the type of passing game that they play so well, and it worked so well with LIVERPOOL not giving them many chances to score one of the best in the first half was BENDTNER who when in on goal at the edge of the box hit his shot high and wayward.
i also felt that LIVERPOOL took the crowd out of the game with the way they frustrated ARSENAL. LUCAS had a half chance running into the right hand edge of the box which he hit just over. but in general the first half had very few chances.
the second half however became a bit more open, with one or two chances coming at either end with i felt ARSENAL shading the play.
then ARSENAL had a big shout for a penalty BENDTNER burst into the right hand edge of the box and AGGER commited himself to a challenge sticking his right leg out, BENDTNER saw this challenge coming flailed his arms as he hit the deck, the referee saw this as a dive and booked him with, to be fair no complaint from BENDTNER.
a big blow came for LIVERPOOL with the loss of CARRAGHER to injury DEGEN replacing him. shortly after ARSENAL'S goal came, they worked a good opening down the right and when the cross came over there was DIABY with a free header to bullet it past the helpless REINA.
after the goal i felt ARSENAL started to sit deep and gave up posession to LIVERPOOL. LIVERPOOL brought LUCAS off for the more attacking BABEL, and it was BABEL who came closest in the dying minutes cutting inside from the right unleashed 25 yard rocket which brilliantly touched onto the bar by a full stretched ALMUNIA . then in the last minute of stoppage time LIVERPOOL got a free kick about 30 yards out, GERRARD took it striking a jumping FABREGAS in the wall as he seemingly tried to lift his arms to block it hitting him on the arm in the process as the ball looked net bound, the LIVERPOOL players claimed handball but MR. WEBB played on the ball was cleared and he then blew for full time.
the LIVERPOOL players then surrounded WEBB leaving the pitch as they showed their frustration.

                            gerrard argues with webb at the end of the match


MAN OF THE MATCH- MASCHERANO worked his socks off frustrating ARSENAL'S attacking ambitions with his great tackling and reading of the situation.


                                            POST MATCH VERDICT

i felt the game plan was spot on trying to frustrate ARSENAL rather than trying to openly attack them whereas they could pick you off on the break.
really felt workrate was great from everybody , the first time i saw the ARSENAL shout for a penalty i honestly thought it was, but when i watched a replay i though WEBB got it spot on.
to me game changing moment was CARRA going off, ropey for a few minutes at the back after he left the field hence conceding the goal which i think CARRA would have read the situation and came across to the centre of the box to defend wheras DEGEN got a bit lost.
i also thought PENALTY for the FABREGAS HANDBALL but wasn,t to be.
overall, i felt a draw would have been fair but when has football ever been that.

results elsewhere on the night were not too bad so let's go to MAN CITY get a result and put this behind us.

cheers for reading and look out for more posts
YNWA

ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL PREVIEW

                                            ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL PREVIEW

seems every game at the moment is a big game for LIVERPOOL, but games against ARSENAL are always massive. ARSENAL on the back of 2 defeats to title rivals really need a win to get them back on track, and when was the last time ARSENAL lost 3 in a row.
LIVERPOOL on the other hand are on their best run of form of the season unbeaten in 7 and only losing 1 goal in the process. with key players like TORRES, BENAYOUN, JOHNSON all missing during this great run it has made it all the more impressive. scoring goals has been a problem especially with TORRES missing, but where earlier in the season LIVERPOOL were losing a lot of goals they are now losing very few giving them confidence running through the team in recent weeks.

there will have to be a change to the side on wednesday with KYRIAGOS out after the sending off on saturday. other than that i wouldn't change much.
my team for ARSENAL game would be-

GOALKEEPER- REINA
RIGHT BACK- CARRAGHER
LEFT BACK- INSUA
CENTRE BACK- SKIRTEL
CENTRE BACK- AGGER
LEFT MIDFIELD- AURELIO
RIGHT MIDFIELD- MAXI
CENTRE MIDFIELD- LUCAS
CENTRE MIDFIELD- MASCHERANO
CENTRE MIDFIELD( ATTACKING ROLE)- GERRARD
CENTRE FORWARD- KUYT

 

that's my team, i would still keep CARRA at right back because i think he is doing a great job out there and can still organise the defence from there. i would bring SKIRTEL into the centre of defence as i think he was unlucky to miss out on saturday, i thought AGGER was immense on saturday so more of the same. might sound a bit strange this but if AURELIO is fit i would play him left midfield solely for the reason of protecting INSUA who i think can struggle against pacey wingers, and ARSENAL have a lot of pace ie. WALCOTT. MAXI out on the right is a very disciplined and clever player and i think could compliment CARRA well down the right, meaning i would be shifting KUYT into the centre, i think playing N'GOG in this game he could struggle and might just not be strong enough for this test whereas i think KUYT will give more of a goal threat and work the ARSENAL defence really hard.

KEY PLAYERS - ARSENAL- ARSHAVIN well he scores about every time he shoots against us 

LIVERPOOL- GERRARD not stating the obvious but i think he will be key to creating chances for us

PREDICTION

ARSENAL 0-1 LIVERPOOL

                                                                                                                                                           

LIVERPOOL 1-0 EVERTON REPORT

                                                MATCH REPORT

what a derby blood and thunder, the way a derby should be played, tackles flying, injuries, controversy, you name it. certainly not a lot of pretty football on offer but thats derby football for you.
very big game for both teams EVERTON on a great run and LIVERPOOL on a great recent run, best of the season.
team selection for LIVERPOOL, i was a bit surprised with the change in defence SKIRTEL dropped for AGGER . in midfield MAXI playing on the left for RIERA other than that i would have picked the same team.
the game was physicall from the off with some really hefty challenges going in, felt the referee tried to let the game flow, but had to start showing cards as it started to get a bit too much. PIENAAR'S stamp on MASCHERANO should have been a red card but only a yellow was shown, then not long after as FELLAINI surged forward overunning the ball KYRIAGOS came sliding in 2 footedly catching FELLAINI although the more i look at it KYRIAGOS went in with 2 feet but FELLAINI went over the ball and basically stamped on KYRIAGOS so i think KYRIAGOS was very unlucky to be shown a straight red card for the challenge. but to go down to 10 men so early in the game was a massive blow to LIVERPOOL having to reorganise, moving MASCHERANO to right back and bringing CARRA into the centre of defence. but to be honest i thought they started to play better a man down. the teams work rate was superb, one things for sure where there's a lot of criticism for lack of quality in the team, there is no lack of endeavour, the battling and chasing for every ball made me proud to be a LIVERPOOL SUPPORTER.
the goal came in the 55th minute when LIVERPOOL got a corner on the left, GERRARD zipped in  a brilliant ball right on to KUYT'S head who was standing inside the 6 yard box getting bumped and pulled by EVERTON defenders , and he directed the ball into the net. with LIVERPOOL taking the lead it gave them something to hang onto and how they fought for it.
EVERTON had more of the ball the remainder of the game but without creating too many chances. LIVERPOOL defended valiantly for the rest of the game and i felt really deserved the win.
i felt there was 11 er 10 heroes today but special praise goes to CARRA who martialled the defence superbly, AGGER brilliant defending all day especially after missing so much of the season, GERRARD gave us that bit of quality but when he had to play deeper after sending off thought he made some amazing tackles.
MAN OF THE MATCH-KUYT worked his socks off as usual but clinical with goal his 50th so deserved.
OVERALL-
right battle of a derby and dealt a body blow early on, but team spirit and work rate is inspiring and being rewarded by puting together a good run of results.
next up ARSENAL away.
let's hope we can continue this run of form.

                                         the crucial goal YES !
                 

LIVERPOOL V EVERTON PREVIEW

                         

                                                          PREVIEW

really big game for both teams this weekend, LIVERPOOL on a run of 6 unbeaten and starting to look solid especially at the back. EVERTON on the other hand on a tremendous unbeaten run, which stretches all the way back to november, where ironically enough it was LIVERPOOL that inflicted that last defeat, which i'm sure will add spice to this fixture.
i think if LIVERPOOL can win this it will give a massive boost especially with ARSENAL to go to on wednesday night.
THE TEAM
i don't think rafa will change the lineup to much mainly due to the fact of players unavailable.
i think his lineup will be-
GOALKEEPER-REINA
RIGHT BACK- CARRAGHER
LEFT BACK- INSUA
CENTRE BACK- KYRIAGOS
CENTRE BACK- SKIRTEL
LEFT MIDFIELD- RIERA
RIGHT MIDFIELD- KUYT
CENTRE MIDFIELD- LUCAS
CENTRE MIDFIELD- MASCHERANO
CENTRE MIDFIELD(ATTACKING ROLE)- GERRARD
CENTRE- N'GOG
slightly different from last week but i think LUCAS will come in for AQUALANI due to the physical nature of the derby game and with AQUALANI still trying to get match fit and looking at times a bit light weight.I think N'GOG will start again after having a rather quiet and ineffective game last week.
KUYT out on the right will give workrate with the option of moving him in to centre later in the game.
KEY PLAYERS-
LIVERPOOL- GERRARD- think he is starting to look more like himself in recent weeks and LIVERPOOL will be looking to their captain to inspire them.
EVERTON- CAHILL-very dangerous midfielder who scores a lot of goals coming from deep and very dangerous in the air.
PREDICTION-  LIVERPOOL 2-1 EVERTON (hopefully)
will post a match report in the next couple of days.

WALK ON AND STAY RED











                                 

TRANSFER WINDOW

transfer window is closed and once again we've been very quiet. but with everything going on at ANFIELD in recent times its hardly expected. with these AMERICANS at the helm who don't seem to have their heart and soul in the club. you just feel with the problems and lack of stability off the park we shouldn't really be expecting a lot of money being spent. also, with the attempt at trying to raise finance for the new stadium and also speculation wether RAFA is staying or going, the lack of activity in the transfer window was only to be expected.
to be honest with you, i really only felt LIVERPOOL only needed the likes of a striker anyway to back up TORRES.
even at that, especially in recent games i have seen vast improvements, especially with all the injuries to key players. i've felt the defence which has been shaky most of the year has tightened up, ironically with arguably 2 of the most critised members of defence SKIRTEL and KYRIAGOS, in my opinion the 2 of them have been superb. only thing is knowing RAFA he'll probably change the defence especially when AGGER and JOHNSON comes back.
i also feel the midfield not looking too bad, with MASCHERANO, LUCAS playing well together and the option of AQUALANI who is getting sharper every game the centre of midfield looking ok, on the left RIERA, AURELIO option of BABEL, on the right new signing MAXI, KUYT, DEGEN to mention one or two on the right, the midfield looks pretty good.
up front GERRARD who is getting sharper, TORRES when he's back, KUYT is an option, so is BABEL, obviously N'GOG who is improving all the time, also youngster PACHECO who looks a prospect.
so all in all i feel we don't look in too bad a shape for the remainder of the season.
i just feel this season we have been ravaged with injuries, and a lot of players not playing to form but i think there are a lot of positives for the rest of the season.
so,
        WALK ON AND STAY RED