Liverpool thread

[davidmphill]

This has been rumoured for a while over here and in the States.

Fowler to join the MLS with Steve Nicols New England Revolution the favourites.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/6404031.stm

Wouldn't shock me in the slightest. He's currently number 4 striker and with Voronin coming he will slip further down the pecking order and rumours are abound in regards to Samuel Eto'o possibly coming!

[Darren]

Originally Posted by davidmphill

This has been rumoured for a while over here and in the States.

Fowler to join the MLS with Steve Nicols New England Revolution the favourites.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/6404031.stm

Wouldn't shock me in the slightest. He's currently number 4 striker and with Voronin coming he will slip further down the pecking order and rumours are abound in regards to Samuel Eto'o possibly coming!

It's possible I guess, and why not. Soak up some sun and get a nice end of career pay day. Still have him down as either retiring end of season or staying for one more. We will see though. He could certainly still pull a crowd in MLS/Qatar for what he has done in his career.

[Darren]

MINI-DERBY CALLED OFF Paul Eaton 28 February 2007
	Due to a waterlogged pitch at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, tonight's scheduled mini-derby clash with Everton has been postponed.
No new date has yet been set for the fixture.

*Slow news day*

[christo85efc]

[Darren]

Originally Posted by christo85efc

Its good to see fans of small clubs contributing to the thread as well

[christo85efc]

Pete and AK won't agree with you that Arsenal are a small club!

[Darren]

LIVERPOOL 0 - 1 MANCHESTER UNITED Saturday 03 March 2007 12:45 , Barclays Premiership

REDS SUNK BY O'SHEA SUCKER PUNCH Liverpool have lost for the first time in the Premiership at Anfield this season after an injury time goal from John O'Shea gave Manchester United a 1-0 win on Saturday that they had done little to deserve. The Reds will be devastated after dominating this game and looking the only side likely to win, but they were undone when Reina could only parry Ronaldo's free kick and O'Shea was there to slam the ball home from close range. And when you consider that Reina had hardly a save to make the entire 90 minutes that come before that goal, it makes it even bigger pill to swallow for Rafa's men. Thoughts of Tuesday night and Barcelona were banished for 90 minutes at least and Rafa Benitez will have pleased Reds fans when he named a strong side that suggested he rated this game; and the Premiership, as high as the pursuit of Champions League glory. When the game started it was Liverpool who were quickest out of the blocks and we'd had only 4 minutes when Van der Sar was called into action for the first time, to clear from Bellamy after Gerrard's header had created danger. The United goalkeeper was to be the busier of the two stoppers in the first half, but in truth it was the Liverpool attempts that missed that caused him most concern. The giant Dutchman was comfortable in saving Gonzalez's header, but he would have been powerless to stop John Arne Riise's 25 yard blockbuster had it been on target and not two inches wide. That we reached half time with the scores at 0-0 was of little surprise after the opening 45 minutes mirrored so many of the recent encounters between the Reds of Liverpool of Manchester. But Rafa's Reds could rightly claim to have bossed the first half after United's best moments came when Ronaldo twice blazed wide. Liverpool came out for the second half seemingly intent on capitalising on the momentum they'd built up in the first half and they came closest yet to breaking through when Kuyt fed Bellamy and he forced Van der Sar into a brilliant save. Bellamy had the ball in the net just minutes later when he converted the rebound from Riise's shot before having his celebrations stopped by an offside flag, but it was all Liverpool and another Riise shot that went over saw Alex Ferguson rush to the edge of the technical area to rally his side. When the dust cleared the game soon settled back into being a tight affair. Liverpool continued to ascendancy, but chances to score a glorious winner were becoming harder to find. Rafa Benitez shuffled his pack as the game drifted into the last quarter, introducing Aurelio, Pennant and finally Crouch. But as hard as Liverpool tried, they just couldn't find the winner that, because of their superior ambition, they deserved. You thought there could only be one winner when Paul Scholes was sent off for a failed punch on Xabi Alonso in the closing minutes, but we were to reckon without the fates siding with O'Shea and United. Liverpool thought they'd won it just a minute earlier when Van der Sar saved brilliantly from Crouch, but it wasn't their day.

[Darren]

LIVERPOOL 0 - 1 BARCELONA Tuesday 06 March 2007 19:45 , Champions League Last 16 (2)

REDS MARCH ON DESPITE DEFEAT Liverpool have qualified for the quarter finals of the Champions League after they knocked the holders Barcelona out of the competition on away goals despite a 1-0 defeat in the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday night. A late goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen gave Barcelona the win on the night, but the two goals Liverpool scored in a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago was enough to see them through. And no one could deny them the glory after they created the majority of the games chances and deserved to be well ahead at the break. All the pre-match talk from the Liverpool camp had centred on the importance of producing a performance as good, if not better, than the one produced to earn a famous win in the Nou Camp. And Rafa Benitez decided to start this one with the same eleven that stunned the reigning European Champions in Spain a fortnight ago. It was a measure of the enormity of this game that Anfield was already packed when the players from both sides were going through their warm up routines some 30 minutes before kick off. Reds fans were clearly anticipating a classic European night as they gave a glimpse of the atmosphere to come with some early renditions of their favourite anthems. The volume had risen significantly by the time the game had kicked off and Liverpool did their best to keep the fans singing by going at Barcelona from the start. And they almost scored a vital opener after just 8 minutes when John Arne Riise drilled a low shot just wide of a helpless Victor Valdes' left hand post. Valdes was beaten again 3 minutes later when this time Riise smashed an unstoppable dipping volley against his crossbar. The crossbar was rattling and Barcelona were rattled and Liverpool came close again in the 26th minute as they poured forward again. The Barca stopper was the hero as he produced a brilliant double save to deny Bellamy and then Kuyt from close range, but he had his captain Carles Puyol to thank when he cleared John Arne Riise's headed follow up off the line. Barcelona had got out of jail again, but they were almost the creators of their own downfall when a hashed clearance from Valdes gave Sissoko a shot at an open goal from 35 yards and he was unlucky to see his instant shot bounce back off the crossbar again. The first half amazingly ended 0-0 - Liverpool had had ten shots to Barca's one. You wondered at half time whether the Reds would stick or twist in the second half, but they came out with the same attacking intent and created another chance almost immediately before Barca smuggled the ball clear. We knew better though than to reckon against a Barcelona reaction and they promptly reminded us that they were still in this tie when Ronaldinho struck a free kick into the arms of Reina before wriggling free and hitting the post just a minute later. Barcelona were threatening to turn it on. Their passing had become crisper and Messi was the next to test Reina's reflexes, but Liverpool in turn grew more determined and Gerrard and Kuyt fired warning shots at Valdes goal in retaliation. Gerrard came close again as the game crept into the last quarter, but Barcelona dragged themselves back into the tie when ex-Chelsea player, Eidur Gudjohnsen, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, danced around Reina before scoring. Barcelona now had five forwards on the pitch and they were going for broke, but Liverpool had enough to hang on and they march into the Quarter Finals having once again made Europe sit up and take notice of them after another famous win.

[Darren]

Website report aside, how the hell did we not win that Momo hits the bar, Riise hits the bar, Wldes makes some stunning saves. All at 0-0.

BArca for a side chasing 2 goals did very little, other than hit the post and score. But we hit the bar twice and looked the better side.

[Darren]

REDS DRAW PSV IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Mark Platt 09 March 2007
	Liverpool have been drawn to play PSV Eindhoven in the last eight of the Champions League, with the first leg away. Should the Reds progress, Rafa's team will face either Valencia or Chelsea in the semi-final.
The draw took place in Athens, host city of the final, on Friday morning. The first and second legs of the quarter-final will take place on 3/4 April and 10/11 April respectively. PSV have won the competition once in 1988 and actually met Liverpool during this season's group stage, drawing in Holland 0-0 and losing 2-0 at Anfield. The draw for the semi-final also took place and should Liverpool progress past PSV, they would face either Valencia or Chelsea in the semi-final, with the first leg away from home. Ac Milan were drawn against Bayern Munich and the winners will face either Manchester United or Roma in the other semi-final.

[Darren]

Magpies eye England star
16:43 March, 13, 2007
Newcastle United are being linked with a shock move for England striker Peter Crouch.

Mail The FansFC Editor
Send This Article To A Friend
Post Your View on The Msg Board

Liverpool will bring at least two new forwards into Anfield this summer, throwing Crouch's situation into doubt.

Magpies boss Glenn Roeder is watching developments unfold and could be poised with a big-money bid.

Crouch though insists he is happy to fight for a first team shirt at Liverpool.

He said: "There's a lot of speculation about what might happen in the summer but you just have to accept it as part of being at a big club like Liverpool.

"It will be tougher to get in the team and nobody's place will be certain.

"It means you will have to work as hard as possible to keep your place. That does not bother me. The fact that the manager will be looking to strengthen the squad can only be good news."

[peteg40]

Just taken Third off you guy's with a game in hand

[Darren]

Originally Posted by peteg40

Just taken Third off you guy's with a game in hand

Plenty to celebrate then. We'll just concentrate on PSV in the Champions League

[aliando]

Originally Posted by peteg40

Just taken Third off you guy's with a game in hand

3rd and fourth in the league - what was the euro qualification difference again?

[Darren]

Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool

By John May Like their teams, there was no separating Bouma and Kuyt Aston Villa and Liverpool fought out a dull deadlock in a defence-dominated encounter at Villa Park. Villa, though, were left feeling sore at referee Lee Mason's refusal to give a penalty when Stilian Petrov had his heel clipped in the box. In a game of few chances, Liverpool substitute Robbie Fowler saw a header saved by Thomas Sorensen late on. Ahead of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard limped out of the action. Interview: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez Interview: Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill On a ground where they have not been beaten since February 1998, Dirk Kuyt missed a chance to get Liverpool off to a flier. John Arne Riise's cross found him unmarked, only eight yards out in the centre of goal, but the Dutch striker got his timing completely wrong and looped his header woefully wide. Player rater: Who was your man of the match? As Villa's back line squeezed up to compress the space and constrict the life out of Liverpool's passing game, the visitors decided to go over the top and use Craig Bellamy's pace. Daniel Agger's lump forward was a legitimate tactic as Bellamy outpaced Phil Bardsley but Sorensen was alert to the danger and his starting position enabled him to sprint out and take the ball off the Welsh striker's toes. Jamie Carragher and Gareth Barry decide the hokey-cokey is more fun Liverpool had plenty of possession but Villa's two well-organised lines meant the visitors were forced to shuffle crab-like sideways and the game meandered along, crying for somebody to grab it by the scruff of the neck. Despite having the turning-circle of a Norwegian supertanker, John Carew was a good focal point for Villa and his touch-on of Ashley Young's cross just eluded Gabriel Agbonlahor's lunge at the far post. Villa had a very legitimate shout for a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Steve Finnan's poor control allowed the ball to run to Petrov. In attempting to atone for his error, Finnan caught the Bulgarian across the right shin, while Jamie Carragher appeared to clip his left heel but referee Mason amazingly waved away the appeals. That Liverpool did not utilise Bellamy's pace enough in the first half was evident at the start of the second when he left Olof Mellberg choking on his exhaust fumes to deliver a cross that Wilfred Bouma won as Gerrard closed in. 606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the match Mellberg provided Villa's first effort on target on the hour, although his weak header did not even warm Jose Reina's hands, while at the other end Gerrard cut inside but fired powerfully into the side netting. Javier Mascherano had flitted decoratively in and out of the game but his surging run set up Gerrard, whose shot almost deflected into the path of Fabiano Aurelio. Villa's Patrik Berger, on as a substitute, had a glimpse of goal against his former club when a corner was cleared to him but his half-volley sailed over the bar. Liverpool substitute Fowler almost snatched the winner at the end with a typical poacher's near-post header but was denied by Sorensen's sharp save.

[Darren]

Also had the misfortune of being at the Villa game, one of the worst I have ever been to. Horrendous game of football.

[steverobs]

Great advert for the Premier league being the best league in the world!!!!

[aliando]

Originally Posted by dmckeelfc

Also had the misfortune of being at the Villa game, one of the worst I have ever been to. Horrendous game of football.

been a while since i've seen someone use 'villa' and 'football' in the same sentence

[Darren]

Originally Posted by aliando

been a while since i've seen someone use 'villa' and 'football' in the same sentence

In fairness worst was in there as well

I'm glad I went for other reasons than just football though, otherwise it would have been 2 flights and a pile of money for nothing. Even the ref had a nightmare, the whole game was truely horrendous

[Darren]

Liverpool's Academy heroes reached the final of the FA Youth Cup for the second season in succession after a 7-3 aggregate victory over Newcastle in the semi-final. Watch the highlights from Anfield now.

Two goals from Craig Lindfield and a stunning strike from Jimmy Ryan gave Steve Heighway's side a 3-1 win on the night in an entertaining affair at Anfield. Both sides were also reduced to 10 men in the second half when the Reds young Swede Astrit Ajdarevic was shown a straight red for an over the top challenge, while Newcastle's Kazenga Lua Lua was also red carded for foul and abusive language towards the referee. The young Reds will now meet either Arsenal or Manchester United in the two legged final with the Gunners leading 1-0 from their first leg semi-final.