With hope, in our heart

It's Rafa's first Final in England and given our rebound and Chelsea's current form, this is really the best time to play them. All players, especially Stevie G and Dudek, need to raise to the big moment and keep pressing on Chelsea. In Rafa we trust.

My Team Prediction:
Dudek
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Traore
Garcia
Gerrard
Hamann
Riise
Morientes
Baros

Result 1-0

Match Report 052222 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen: We are half way through

3-1 and despite the setback of a late goal from Lekerkusen, this is really a magnificant result. Consider we are then only English team to win, you know how good we have been, especially consider that we were without Gerrard and Morientes.

From start to end we were in control of the game, Biscan especially shows us how he well he is, although he seems to be play well when Gerrard's not there. Rafa take note.

The 3 goals are all well taken. First one was a superb Biscan show: Tackle well and get the ball, inch perfect pass to Garcia, and he just can't miss it. The other 2 goals are wonderful curve-in free kicks from Riise and Hamann. Finnan was at fault when we were just 1-0 up with a poor header, and Dudek was also guilty for that goal at the end... Nevertheless, this is a good result, and if we make sure we can hold the defense, Quarter Final here we go.

Player Rating:
Dudek: 5 Make 3 superb saves but at the end that goal ruined his man of the match performance.
Finnan: 6 A bad header but fortunately the Leverkusen player missed it badly.
Carragher: 7 Superb as ever. Almost scored a goal.
Hyypia: 7 As good as Carra.
Traore: 6.5 He's also playing well despite some scary moment in the beginning.
Garcia: 7.5 A well taken goal. He's really on fire these days.
Hamann: 7.5 The goal was well taken. 1st goal of the season!
Biscan: 8 Shown we can rely on him if ever Gerrard leaves. But need to prove he can play this good consistently.
Kewell: 7 Played very well in his first game back. We definitely need more headcount as we are chasing 4th place.
Riise: 7.5 An excellent free kick. Shows he can curve the ball apart from banging it. Would be nice to score another in Cardiff.
Baros: 7.5 Unlucky not to score, he did lots of tricks and is a constant threat.

Substitutes:
Le Tallec/Potter/Smicer: Not enough time to impress, but it's nice to see Anthony back. Grab your chance, young man!

Rafa: 8 Players reacted well after the last defeat 10 days ago. Could be perfect if Dudek did not concede that goal, but everybody should be happy with a 3-1 result.

Man of the match: Biscan. But need to perform like this week in, week out.

Non-showers, please show up now.

This is a tough game in which we Gerrard and Morientes are unable to play, besides the usual injury players. And after the horrible display at Birmingham, the non-showers need to show up now. If we can't win by 2 goals, I think we really have big trouble to go to next round. And Rafa, maybe it's time to give Carra the captain's armband?

My Team Prediction:
Dudek
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Traore
Smicer
Hamann
Biscan
Riise
Baros
Garcia

Result 2-0

Match Report 050212 at Birmingham City: No heart at all

0-2 and it was a very poor display. We never win any 50-50 battle and it was not until Carragher had a header in the 90 minutes that we have a shot on target. With such a display what we can expect is to not concede too many goals, and Dudek did his job and prevent us to concede at least 2 more goals.

We failed to reduce the gap when Everton lost to Chelsea, with 11 games to go to close a 5 point gap, time is running out. And how are we going to beat Leverkusen without Gerrard and Morientes? I really don't know.

Player Rating:
Dudek: 6 Have 2 saves to avoid us to lose 0-4, and is not to be blamed for the 2 goals.
Finnan: 6 Nowhere for the 2nd goal, and no support for attack.
Carragher: 6.5 Partly responsible for not contain Gray for the second goal, but apart from this he is one of our best player. He is probably our only player that had the determination to try to get something and had our only shot on target.
Hyypia: 5 Conceded the penalty, although it is a bit harsh. But he was unable to contain Heskey at all.
Traore: 5 Horrible performance. He lost Pennant and then his crossing lead to the 2nd goal.
Baros: 5.5 Playing at midfield is just ineffective for Milan. But even if he was moved up in 2H his display did not improved much. Just one shot off target.
Gerrard: 5 Another poor game. I think we should seiously consider to sell him as he is having bad influence to the team.
Hamann: 5 Could not run the midfield. Poor display.
Biscan: 5 Very poor display and was rightly substituted.
Riise: 5 Ineffective display.
Morientes: 5.5 I feel sorry for him, no supply at all. He had one golden opportunity but his shot was too tame.

Substitution:
Smicer: 5.5 Came out in 2H but not particular helpful at all.
Nunez: 5.5 Another poor display, and time may be running out for him now.
Pellegrino: Not enough time to impress/embarass the team.

Rafa: 5 People are questioning his decision to play 5 in the middle, and yet we seemed to be short of headcount and a few players went AWOL.

Heskey: 7.5 An expected good display from him and probably Man of the match.

Man of the match: Carragher. The only player that has the determination, and had our only shot on target.

Another great chance to close the gap

Everton is playing Chelsea and it is a good opportunity to further close the gap. We lost to Birmingham in a rather unlucky game at Anfield 3 months ago, and it is now the time to revenge. If not for Garcia's suspension I am pretty sure Rafa will stick with the same lineup again. Morale is high and players have the spirit to fight, and with Nando on fire and Milan beginning to score ago, we can close the gap.

My Team Prediction:
Dudek
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Traore
Smicer
Gerrard
Biscan
Riise
Morientes
Baros

Result: 2-0

Match Report 050205 vs Fulham: Nando shows his class again

3-1 and it was a convincing win despite it was leveled at half time. Morientes is showing his class again and headed an unstoppable header. A Garcia mispass let Fulham into a quick counter attack and Andy Cole scored. In 2H Hyypia and then Baros scored. The gap is now down to 5 points and we have every chance to close it as Everton is playing Chelsea next. Would be nice to see it down to 2 in a week.

We controlled the game very well with about 70% possession. As Rafa also said if we keep on creating chances we will definitely win. And this game proves this again.

Player Rating:
Dudek: 7 Can't blame him on the goal, and also made a few saves.
Finnan: 7 Another good display. With him in the squad even Garcia plays better.
Carragher: 7 Another solid display in Carra. One thing he can improve is to carry the ball forward more.
Hyypia: 7 A well deserved goal but I am not sure if he really touch it or not. Solid at the back as well.
Traore: 7 Before we take the lead he was a bit lost confidence, too many mispasses. But after we take the lead again he was very solid, and had a nice shoot from a Nando back pass just saved.
Garcia: 7 A fine assist in that nice cross that found Nando. This is what we expect from him. However, his another "assist" that lead to the Fulham goal is too cheap. Need to improve this aspect of his game. But he definitely has more confidence now and played much better than a few weeks ago.
Gerrard: 7 A bit jaded but still had a good assist. Need to take a break some time.
Biscan: 6.5 He was doing things quietly, but give away the ball too easily.
Riise: 7 Another assist, another find display in midfield.
Morientes: 7.5 A superb header. Give us more, Nando!
Baros: 7 A fine taken goal that is well deserved. Let's start to score more!

Substitutions:
Hamann: 6.5 Bossing the midfield well.
Smicer/Warnock: Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 7 He has not have 2 games using the first 11 for a long time. And this bunch of players is probably the best lineup we have for the time being.

Fulham: 5.5 Not into the game and defense is especially poor.

Man of the Match: Morientes. A fine header. And his all round contribution is excellent.

We need to close the gap

A well deserved win at Charlton reignited our hope of catching up. Morale is high now, and although Fulham may be of a good form recently, our determination will drive us through. And Nando has opened his account already. Now is time for Milan to catch up.

My Team Prediction:
Dudek
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Traore
Garcia
Gerrard
Biscan
Riise
Morientes
Baros

Result: 2-0

Match Report 050201: Best away performance in 40 years

2-1 and of course that sentence of best away performance in 40 years is a joke by Rafa in response to the harsh response for the Southampton defeat, but it is close as the best in 40 weeks.

We were in control of the whole game with about 20 shots vs Charlton's 4, but to everybody's surprise Charlton took the lead. Before that Stevie G had hit the bar once.

The goal was created by a nice Murphy corner that nobody cleared and let Bartlett scored a free header. It seems that all our ex-players (eg Redknapp) take corner well, and Stevie G should learn from Murphy on how to take a good corner.

We keep on attacking and Riise also hit the bar in 2H, but it was fit the moment to have Morientes scored his first of many goals for us. He picked up the ball by a deflection through Baros and the Charlton defender and calmly scored. After that Murphy almost scored for Charlton but Traore had a great tackle and saved us. From this point onward there can only be one winner, and Garcia nicely passed the ball to Riise who scored his 6 of the season. Well done!

The performance was a lot better than the Southampton and every player responded very well. If we can play like this week in and week out there's no doubt we will finish 4th.

Player Rating:
Dudek: 7 Was not responsible for the goal, had a great save, but a parry almost lead to a Murphy goal but Traore saved him.
Finnan: 7 The hidden hero at the back. We looks much better with him playing.
Carragher: 7 Carra as usual. This is his 241th Premiership game and he has now edged McManaman to have played the most Premiership games for us.
Hyypia: 7 Sami is back. And he played very well.
Traore: 7 He may have lost Bartlett in that goal but later on he repaid our faith by stopping Murphy superbly.
Garcia: 7 Very lively and had a nice assist. This is what we expect from him.
Gerrard: 7 Bossing the midfield well and was unlucky not to score.
Biscan: 7 Low key but very effective.
Riise: 7.5 Scored a superb goal. He was a continuous threat to Charlton.
Baros: 7 Do all the runs and created a lot of chances and spaces for Nando.
Morientes: 7.5 A great goal to open his account and he worked very hard. Fully deserved.

Substitutions:
Smicer/Warnock/Potter: Not sufficient time to impress, but the referee make sure at least everybody touched the ball by adding 1 more minute to the required 3 minutes... Nevertheless welcome back Vlad!

Rafa: 7.5 His tactic was spot on and every players responsed well. Well done man.

Murphy: 7 Created the goal and almost scored one himself. But after that he faded as the team faded.

Charlton: 6 They won't take the lead if not for Murphy. I think they are capable to challenge 6th place.

Man of the Match: Morientes. Scored the first of his many goals for us. His work rate is extremely high.