WELCOME SUAREZ AND CARROLL

                                         WELCOME SUAREZ AND CARROLL

Well what a day yesterday was as I try to recover as I write this article, what an emotional rollercoaster of a day it was. It all kicked off for me on the Friday night with the shocking news that our talisman Fernando Torres handed in a transfer request to the club after Chelsea had made an offer for him. Especially when hours earlier we had recieved the great news that Ajax and Liverpool had agreed on a deal to bring Luis Suarez to Anfield. From getting such a high from the Suarez news to getting such a low from the Torres news was just typical of the season we have had with more lows than highs to be fair though. 
  Friday night really started the mayhem that yesterday was to bring. Would Torres stay or would he go, deep down I thought that was him gone especially after handing in a transfer request. Monday started off with Torres reporting for training as usual with a mass number of reporters camped outside Melwood waiting for any news on his departure to Chelsea. Kenny Dalglish gave a press conference in the morning being as evasive as ever to the media as he gave very little away. We heard that Paul Konchesky went on loan to Nottingham Forest until the end of the season, which I believe will be a good move for him as I don't think he will get much game time with Dalglish in charge. Liverpool agreed a loan deal with Coventry City for their young central midfielder Conor Thomas coming to Liverpool until the rest of the season. Thomas will be based with the reserves at the Academy. Great to see Liverpool building for the future with the signing of another youngster who has  represented England at under 17 level.
  Then after lunch came the news that Torres had left Liverpool and was on his way to London and Liverpool had a bid for Newcastle's Andy Carroll turned down. As the afternoon wore on there was so much speculation with Torres and Andy Carroll, but it seemed everything was going to depend on Torres signing, but Liverpool made a bid of £35 million for Carroll which was accepted and then it was getting him over to Liverpool as soon as possible. Rumours of Liverpool trying to sign Blackpool's captain Charlie Adam escalated as the evening wore on too, but at the end of the day Liverpool missed out on Adam. The Suarez deal was finally confirmed in the evening and the Torres and Carroll deals were just finalised minutes before the transfer window slammed shut.
                                                 SUMMARY

To lose a player like Torres is a massive loss to any club and especially to a rival club, I was very disappointed in Torres with his timing of wanting away just after recieving the news that Suarez was coming to Anfield. I thought he could have gave us the rest of the season. If Torres had wanted to go to Spain then I could understand but to go to Chelsea who are an ageing team with not much history, not a great support has me left scratching my head on his decision. But with the Torres leaving I felt it was paramount on us bringing another striker in, ok we had Suarez coming in but it still only left us with one main striker, so I applaud Kenny and the owners for moving swiftly in bringing Andy Carroll to Liverpool. Yes I think we paid over the price for Carroll but you have to do that sometimes if you really want something and Newcastle new we had cash to burn with the money from Torres coming in. It is a gamble the signing of Carroll too as he is very young and not an established striker yet, but he has so much potential and the prospect of Carroll and Suarez is mouthwatering bringing back memories of the Keegan and Toshack partnership, if they do half as well as them then we will be very happy. So yes we have lost a world class player who didn't want to play for us anymore, but we have brought in two potentially great strikers who are still very young and I think this could be the beginning of a new era for Liverpool and I am very excited about the rest of the season.

YNWA

THE SQUAD

                                       OUR SQUAD

Well thats another transfer window closed and now Roy must work with what he has, I believe he will be quite pleased with the squad that he has. Roy has quality in so many positions plus good players in reserve. Roy did admit however that he did want another striker before the transfer window closed and on the final day there was a lot of speculation trying to bring West Ham's Carlton Cole to Anfield and also apparently a late bid for Tottenham's Pavlyuchenko, but both failed.
  Like I said we have a strong squad, one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Reina with new signing Brad Jones in reserve. At right back we have the marauding Johnson with also the young Kelly who could also play left back in reserve, Carragher can also be moved to right or left back so we have options in these positions. In the centre of defence we have Carragher, Skrtel, Agger,Kyrgiakos and also the young and impressive Ayala and Wilson from Rangers. On the left side of defence we have our latest signing Konchesky who Roy knows very well, then we have Aurelio who I am so glad we got back and Agger can deputise there along with the young Kelly. Left midfield we have Jovanovic, Babel, Maxi and Joe Cole could be an option although I think he will be used more centrally. In the middle of midfield we have Gerrard, Lucas, Poulsen and new signing Meireles who a lot is expected. On the right side of midfield we have Kuyt, Maxi and Babel even Johnson could be an option. Up front we have the obvious Torres, Cole,N'Gog, and Babel, Jovanovic and Kuyt can also be used so really for all the talk about our squad not being strong enough I really have to disagree, and I believe we will have a good season. Roy Hodgson is a very good manager but it will take him time to get to know his players, his best team and get his players into his style of playing but I have every faith in Roy. So lets look forward to the rest of the season its only just began.

YNWA

MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 LIVERPOOL MATCH REPORT

                                                MATCH REPORT

This was always going to be a very tough match for Liverpool so early in the season with a new manager still trying settle in and get to know his players and his best team he really has been given a baptism of fire. Arsenal  last week, a tough Europa League tie on Thursday not to mention the fixtures that follow, it really is such a tough start. It didn't help having new signing Cole unavailable after his harsh red card last weekend. But worse still was the mayhem prior to the match when the transfer speculation involving Mascherano excluded him from the team.

                                                        THE TEAM

I couldnt argue with the team Roy sent out, I was pleased to see him play both Torres and N'Gog upfront, which I thought he might do with Cole missing, although I wonder if they were only paired at that last minute when Mascherano dropped out. To a lot of people's surprise away from home Roy went for a 4-4-2 formation which delighted me and I honestly was very happy with his team selection and formation.

                                             Barry and Milner celebrate        

                                                  THE MATCH

The game started with both teams trying to attack and Liverpool started not too bad but they were hit hard when City broke down the right and debutant Milner cutting the ball back for Barry to steer into the net. City grew in confidence with the goal and Liverpool really struggled for the remainder of the first half. Agger and Jovanovic were given a torrid time from Johnson and Richards breaking forward time and again. Liverpool couldn't keep the ball, to be fair City were working so hard at chasing Liverpool down but you expected better from Liverpool. Gerrard wasn't getting into the game, Torres and N'Gog were getting no service, Lucas couldn't get near the City midfielders and Kuyt was giving the ball away so badly. It was really poor in the first half even though Liverpool did start to creep into the match just before half time.

                                            Tevez claims the second goal

Liverpool came out better the second half attacking from the start and passing a lot better but then they were hit with a sucker punch when Man City scored a second from a corner. Milner sent over a corner wich Richards headered rising above Agger, his header went goalbound and with Tevez in front of Reina his distraction made Reina unable to save it although Tevez claimed the goal there appeared no touch from the Argentinian. Liverpool now had a mountain to climb but when an amazing piece of bad luck and great goalkeeping unfolded you just knew it wasn't going to be Liverpool's night. Gerrard smashed against the post which cannoned off the back of the diving Hart, any other day it would have rebounded into the net. Then the ball fell to N'Gog who shot but Hart saved then Torres had a go but Hart saved again and this was as close as Liverpool came.

                                          Tevez scores the third goal

An awful night for Liverpool was rounded off when the hapless Skrtel dived in bringing down the ever dangerous Johnson after another jinking run into the box, Skrtel should have seen red after an earlier yellow card. But City were worthy winners in this one and Roy will know that he has a lot of work to do.

                                                     SUMMARY

Nightmare for Liverpool, well beat, like I said I couldn't fault Hodgson with his team selection or formation but he could have made changes earlier Babel getting fifteen minutes and poor Pacheco getting the last five. City did play well but after watching the way Liverpool chased and battled against Arsenal this was like a totally different team with a distinct lack of effort in my view. I would give nobody pass marks in this match and players I have to have a go at are Skrtel, bombscare all night and should have walked at the penalty. Agger, I know he's playing out of position but he was so easily beaten all night although I don't think Jovanovic was giving him much protection in front of him. Lucas wasn't up to pace with the City players and  Gerrard didn't look fit to me very limited in his running.Kuyt was just terrible, but history now its the next match that counts roll on Thursday.

YNWA