Liverpool thread

[davidmphill]

I have faith in Babel. He's getting a good run now and he is slowly coming to terms with football at a higher level. In hindsight I think Rafa was right in not exposing him to too much action early on and I am looking for a big season in 08/09.

As for being a one man team (Gerrard) i think that cant be said now, maybe a two man team with Torres coming to the fold!

[AJ]

I must admit to being a smudge concerned about this weekends match, Liverpool appear to be in reasonable form where we aren't really killing teams off last few weeks.

It could be a key point for our season, but frankly it's meaningless for you and I think that might just be the definetive factor in a narrow home win

[davidmphill]

Fair point but I would never call a Utd v Liverpool meaningless no matter what the position of the sides. Even when Liverpool were in their pomp in the 80's and Utd were struggling they could always raise their game to more than match Liverpool at times. Rafa's record isnt good v Utd, just the FA Cup win at Anfield to shout about with Crouch scoring.

Got a feeling that there could be something gained out of this game and Liverpool are quietly going about their business currently and for me that bodes well as did Fulhams win over Everton which takes some pressure off.

[AJ]

yeah, but back in the day it was british players, that actually understood what the game meant to the fans.

I doubt your spainish fellas will give a dammwith a big CL game soon

[WorkingForTheEnemy]

Hardly meaningless when we're still trying to secure a CL spot for next year.

[AJ]

Liverpool will cruise into 4th, it shouldn't be a concern. You're in great form

[Darren]

Shocking effort today, absolutely shocking.

Mascherano was a red card waiting to happen, constantly bickering with a prick of a ref and thats what happens. The back line had a mare, if it wasn't Rooney keen on scoring early on and another player Carragher would have been off and Man Utd had a penalty very early doors. Riena kept us in he with saves in one on ones, free crosses to free headers and shots. And also the token goal from a set piece given to Man utd yet again. Reina didn't have a great game with his kicking and for the first 2 goals, but it could have been much worse.

Babel was lively most of the time and looked a much better outlet than Kuyt, but at 1 down and still in the game we take him off.

[Charlie Wong]

Bennett is a joke of a ref, Torres was getting lumps kicked out of him all game, he didn't seem to be bothered. Maybe a bit more common sense was needed over the sending off of Masch, all he did was come over and ask Bennett politely, no aggression, no attitude whats so ever.

Mascherano was hard done by.

[ksportz]

Perhaps you should look at the video when he was booked... Two plain as you like "**** OFF"s to the ref after the booking followed by the Ref giving him the ssshhh sign (finger over mouth)..

He was also right in Bennet's face when enquiring about the Torres booking.. I reckon the Cole thing midweek swung it...

[Darren]

Originally Posted by ksportz

Perhaps you should look at the video when he was booked... Two plain as you like "**** OFF"s to the ref after the booking followed by the Ref giving him the ssshhh sign (finger over mouth)..

He was also right in Bennet's face when enquiring about the Torres booking.. I reckon the Cole thing midweek swung it...

Think what he got sent off for (and Torres booking) were a bit of a joke tbh.

As I heard somewhere today persistent talking to the ref is not a booking, Bennett got his timing wrong. Bennett and Styles are 2 terrible refs, an embarrassment.

Regardless of that, Mascherano was not lasting more than an hour in that game, he was a walking red card. For some reason far to pumped up for it.

No quibbles on the FA charge, just hope the FA and refs continue the hard line approach to bring the twats back into order. Have to say I find it more than amusing John "in the refs face" Terry is backing the clampdown.

[Darren]

George Gillett: My Liverpool dream is over

Mar 28 2008 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo

• * LISTEN to the full interview with George Gillett here

LIVERPOOL co-owner George Gillett today admitted his partnership with Tom Hicks had completely broken down and was beyond repair.
And he told of the death threats he and his family had been receiving from fans amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Anfield.
Gillett revealed he had also recently offered Hicks the chance to buy out his half share in the Reds but that he had run out of time.
He also declared that Hicks had tried to veto him selling to Dubai International Capital – whom he said would make ‘very responsible owners’ of the trouble-torn club.
The Dubai company has already had a recent £400m bid for Anfield turned down by Hicks, who insists he is not interested in selling his stake.
Gillett spoke at length for the first time of the crisis at Anfield in an interview with radio station Fan590 in Canada, where he admitted he may now pursue an interest in establishing a soccer club in Montreal which would play in America’s MLS.
The owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team did not reveal what he planned to do with his half share of Liverpool now, but said there were ‘pieces on the chess board moving’.
Said Gillett: “There are things going on - there are pieces on the chess board moving but it would not be helpful for us to comment.”
Referring to Hicks’ revelation in the Echo last month that the pair had approached Jurgen Klinsmann to line him up as a potential successor to Rafael Benitez, he added: “We get as many as 2,000 emails a week.
“Ninety five per cent of them have been directed at some of the comments made by my partner. And five per cent aimed at both of us.... ‘Go Home Americans!’
“The thing that angers fans the most is the prospect I might sell even one share of my stock to my partner.
“They do not want him to have any controlling interest in this club – they do not even want him to have any ownership in the club.
“As a result of that – and it’s been very difficult for my wife with the amount that I travel – we receive many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives – death threats.
“A number came to the office and my son Foster and daughter-in-law Lauren have received them.
“It’s interesting the calls are not against my wife or myself or my son or my daughter in law, as much as they are against us selling to our partner.
“So we are rethinking that.
“Frankly I don’t think it’s fair for me to put my family in that kind of danger.
“So instead of thinking about selling I might think about buying.”
Referring to his joint ownership with Texan billionaire Hicks, Colorado-based Gillett admitted: “This partnership has been unworkable for some time. But not because of us – we have tried to be co-operative, we have tried to be supportive but when your public persona is more important than the facts, that makes it difficult to have a rational relationship.
Asked about his plans going forward Gillett added: “We were very fair. We gave our partner a long period of time to try to make arrangements to buy us out.
“We didn’t put pressure on him but he ultimately did not get to the finish line.
“In the meantime, because of the things he said, the fans’ reaction has been so negative towards him – and towards us if we sold to him – that has now made that an untenable alternative for us.
“He threatened to block me selling to Dubai - that was certainly one of the things that made the fans upset.
“Lord knows DIC have the money; with oil prices going up every day, that’s not an issue. They certainly have the history and they are fans.
“I think they would have been very responsible owners.
“But making that not possible or difficult didn’t endear people to the fans.
Pledging to do what was best for the club now, Gillett promised: “What I know is that the fans and the great fabled history of this club deserves better – and we are going to do whatever we can to prove that in whatever role we play.”
Despite the threats and the general furore Gillett revealed he and his son Foster – a club director – intended to travel to England to attend one of the upcoming games against Arsenal next week.

[Darren]

Liverpool Torres 7

1 - 0

Everton

Match Links

• Live Scorecentre

• Barclays Premier League
• 30th Mar 2008
• KO 16:00
• Ground: Anfield
• Att: 44,295

• Match Facts
• Live Commentary
• Match Report
• Player ratings

Reds cruise as Blues lose

Spaniard strikes again to put Liverpool in control of fourth

Last updated: 30th March 2008


Torres: Clincial as ever




On an afternoon when more than Merseyside rivalry was at stake, Liverpool demonstrated they have the edge over Everton as Fernando Torres again proved the match-winner at Anfield.


Everton's bid to usurp Liverpool in fourth has in the past few weeks faded and again on Sunday their exertions were languid, as Liverpool will feel they should have added to Torres' first half strike.

When the goal arrived it was Yakubu Aiyegbeni who proved the inadvertent architect, as his dawdling in possession on the edge of his own box allowed Xabi Alonso and then Dirk Kuyt to feed in Torres. The Spaniard rarely misses and again his finish was unerring.

Kuyt missed a glorious chance from close range as he directed a header wide, before Steven Gerrard rattled the post with a trademark strike from distance.

Jose Reina, in Liverpool's goal, will rarely have an easier afternoon as he was not unduly troubled at any stage of the most comfortable of derby wins.


Bright start



Inside the first minute Liverpool worked half an opening down the right with Kuyt and Gerrard but when the captain crossed low to Torres the Spaniard's control, for once, let him down and the ball ran off the pitch.

A swift counter-attack from an Everton throw-in saw Lucas release Ryan Babel down the left and although his cross was disappointing Liverpool were able to win a seventh-minute corner and take the lead.

Gerrard's cross was half-cleared and when Alonso nicked the ball off Yakubu, Kuyt transferred it to Torres who clipped a shot past Tim Howard for his 21st league goal of the season.

The first tackle worthy of this famous derby came a minute later and it earned Lee Carsley a booking for hacking down Torres, although Gerrard curled the 20-yard free-kick wide.

The pressure was all Liverpool's and in the 16th minute they could have gone further ahead when Torres' pass inside saw Kuyt's shot blocked by the diving Tony Hibbert with the Dutchman's follow-up producing a low save from Howard.

Everton's frustration at not being able to get a grip a foothold in the game was growing and Phil Neville was booked for a late challenge on Lucas in the 18th minute.

Liverpool should have gone further ahead in the 28th minute when Rise's hanging cross from the left dropped invitingly for Babel but he failed to connect from close range.

When Phil Jagielka fouled Torres wide on the right Gerrard curled in a free-kick which Leon Osman headed over his own crossbar under pressure from Lucas.

The hosts got sloppy in the last 10 minutes of the half, needlessly giving the ball away to allow Everton to get themselves into the game.

Sami Hyypia's foul on Yakubu wide on the right gave Arteta the chance to deliver a dangerous free-kick to the far post where Lescott headed against the Finn but the visiting fans' calls for handball were optimistic.

At the other end a stinging Gerrard volley rebounded back off the post after Torres had headed the ball back into his path.


Lull in action



Gerrard's raking 50-yard crossfield ball allowed Jamie Carragher to head on to Torres but when he laid it off to Kuyt he volleyed wide just before the interval.

Everton started the second half brighter and Yakubu won a corner off Hyypia in the 49th minute but Jose Reina punched clear and as Babel tried to break he was chopped down by Steven Pienaar, earning the South African a booking.

There was some alarm, however, when Arteta swung in a left-wing free-kick but Osman, under pressure, diverted the ball wide.

Jagielka was booked in the 71st minute for a high foot on Gerrard, before Moyes made his second change in replacing Neville with Baines.

Kuyt curled a 20-yard shot just wide before Torres was booked for time-wasting in the closing stages.

Gerrard's long-range effort forced Howard to tip the ball wide in the final minute of normal time as the hosts held on for an important win.

[Darren]

2 of the Arsenal trilogy are done now, and 2 1-1 draws. I expected a result in midweek, but we really didn't deserve it at all. I never expected a result today, we got it and I think we deserved it as well. Had much the better of the first half, had the chances to win it late on as well but they fell to the long haired clown. Plessis impressed me today, especially given I have no idea who he is other that a french lad from our reserves. He looked quite comforatble out there.

Both teams are now out of the title race, both teams seasons rest on the the outcome of Tuesdays match. I'm not sure how we will play it, I expect us to rest on the away goal a bit too much for comfort tbh. Would ideally like to see us play 442 with Crouch partnering Torres in attack and Liverpool giving the gooners defence plenty to think about, but I'd be surprised to see anything other than a 451 and us sitting deep at times.

[Darren]

NEMETH FIRES RESERVES TO TITLE GLORY Paul Hassall 07 April 2008
	Liverpool Reserves are celebrating after a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers saw them crowned Champions of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North at Christie Park.
Gary Ablett's side, who went into the clash needing two points to confirm their status as the league winners, clinched the title with two games to spare courtesy of Krisztian Nemeth's superb first-half strike. It caps a remarkable season for the Reds coach and his team of youngsters, who will now be presented with the trophy following Thursday's match against Manchester City at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. On a night when the Reds knew victory would guarantee more silverware to add to the Dallas Cup won on their recent trip to the USA, they began brightly, and could have taken the lead after just eight minutes when the fledgling partnership of Krisztian Nemeth and Daniel Pacheco combined to create the first real opening of the game. The Hungarian hot-shot turned his marker brilliantly before playing in the diminutive Spaniard, who drilled a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area just wide of the near post. The visitors were playing the more purposeful football and seven minutes later they manufactured an even better opening with Nemeth once again the architect, this time playing Ryan Flynn through on goal with a delightful ball, but the midfielder somehow contrived to drill his low effort wide of goal from 10 yards out. Blackburn were offering very little going forward and the Reds front two of Pacheco and Nemeth continued to cause problems with some clever interchanges before they inevitably combined to give the Reds the lead on 26 minutes. Pacheco danced beyond the challenge of Keith Tracey on the half way line and launched an audacious 30-yard ball through to Nemeth who outfoxed the last defender in the penalty area before toe-poking his shot beyond Gunnar Nielsen to take his personal tally to eight goals in just nine reserve team appearances. It was no more than Ablett's side deserved as they moved the ball about with the same confidence and quality that had seen them lose just one of their previous 15 Barclays Premier Reserve League North fixtures. With the title within sight they continued to dominate the proceedings after the interval and they could have doubled their advantage on 56 minutes Pacheco fed Flynn just inside the area, but this time the Scottish youngster's low effort was well saved by Nielsen. Jay Spearing then curled a left-wing free-kick just over the bar while substitute Andras Simon flashed a low ball across the face of the six yard box as Liverpool pressed to try and find the second goal their performance deserved. It never arrived, but in truth it didn't matter. The match rarely lived up to expectations against a fifth placed Rovers side who had earned a goalless draw when the two teams met at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier in the season. As the clock ticked down towards title glory the Reds were rarely troubled and they comfortably closed out the game against the home side, who offered very little going forward in a rather disappointing display. Not that Ablett and co cared, as they eased their way through the final minutes of the contest to secure the championship ahead of what promises to be a party atmosphere at Thursday night's homecoming against Manchester City. Blackburn Rovers Reserves: Nielsen, Nolan, Olsson, Hodge (Zenaba 88), Flynn, Winnard, Peter, O'Keefe, Marshall (Howarth 65), Clarke, Tracey. Unused subs: Bussman, Paterson, De Vita. Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Ayala (Plessis 77), El Zhar, Spearing, Pacheco (Bruna 59), Nemeth (Simon 77), Flynn. Unused subs: Gulacsi, Kelly. Attendance: Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Krisztian Nemeth. Revelled alongside his new strike partner and showed he can create chances just as well as he can take them with some delightful through balls. A typically lethal finish for his goal.

[davidmphill]

Rafa's decision to recruit players from outside of the UK is fully vindicated here for me. He got criticised for not buying local and UK talent but he has got rewards here for his views and opinions. Personally I haven't a problem with it as the results back it up. At least 2 or 3 of these lads needs to be good enough to make the step up to the seniors to shut any doubters up.

[aliando]

hopefully we'll do the job tonight and go on to win the thing, but I'm still skeptical about our chances in the league next year, and still worried that only 3 places will go into the Euro Cup following this...

[mileni4uk]

[aliando]

good performance overall tonight but not totally convinced by the defence - glad to see kuyt have a good game, i like him and glad to see his effort level get rewarded by a top performance and a semi-final place

[mileni4uk]

Originally Posted by aliando

good performance overall tonight but not totally convinced by the defence - glad to see kuyt have a good game, i like him and glad to see his effort level get rewarded by a top performance and a semi-final place

More the midfield than the defence to be honest. They were leaving so much space pressing them. But just the first 20-30 minutes. After the Sammi equalizer we were fantastic and they only got us once on the break. Whis is an absolute error by Aurelio, who should have made a foul (yellow card) and the goal would have been prevented. Roll on Chelsea

[Charlie Wong]

Originally Posted by Sir Fernando

Ronaldo wasn't all that in his first couple of years in England. Think Babel can do a similar job for us with his pace and trickery in the future.

Originally Posted by davidmphill

I have faith in Babel. He's getting a good run now and he is slowly coming to terms with football at a higher level. In hindsight I think Rafa was right in not exposing him to too much action early on and I am looking for a big season in 08/09.

great impact tonight, blistering pace.


was really shittin' it after the first 20mins, the gooners were looking slick, amazing what a goal can do, then when adebayor gets the second, thought thats are lot. couldn't watch the Gerrard penalty.

its all good now though.