Match Report 061129 vs Portsmouth: 2 points lost

0-0 and we missed a great chance to sit at 3rd place. Portsmouth has a game plan to come here and get one point, and they succeeded. Rafa is short of options currently because of the injuries, and the team just don't have enough tricks to break down the dead lock. We never really tested David James and he earned his first point at Anfield since he left. At the end the draw is a fair result, albeit a disappointed one.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Not really tested in the whole match.
Finnan: 6.5 No contribution on the attack.
Agger: 7 Another solid performance.
Hyypia: 7.5 A comfortable match.
Riise: 6.5 Good in defense but not attack.
Pennant: 6 A disappointed performance.
Gerrard: 7 Tried hard but were only close.
Carragher: 7 Provide the solid to the team but not the creativity.
Luis Garcia: 6 Had the most dangerous chance but once again wasted.
Kuyt: 6.5 No supply at all.
Crouch: 6.5 Disappointed game.

Substitutions:
Fowler: 6 No contribution at all.
El Zhar/Guthrie: 6 Not much contribution in their league debuts.

Rafa: 6 Was constrained by the lack of options and lack of response from the wingers.

Portsmouth: 6.5 A solid performance and get a deserved point.

Man of the Match: Hyypia. Vintage performance.

No more injuries

With Stevie G the only first team midfielder available the least thing we want is another injury. Rafa will need to move one of Carra, Hyypia and Agger to play DM, and I would think it will help to release Stevie G's potential. And of course we need a disciplined Luis Garcia tonight.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Hyypia
Agger
Riise
Pennant
Carragher
Gerrard
Luis Garcia
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 2-0

Match Report 061125 vs Manchester City: Stevie G to the rescue

1-0 and it was our mighty captain who rescued us again. Due to the injuries Rafa opted for a rare 3-5-2 formation, Stevie G has a very disciplined performance and play as DM to protect the back 3. But one moment of superb tackling by Kuyt released Stevie G and the ball in the net. Bravo.

And from his own words you can see he matures a lot:
"I can't go forward at every moment. I have to think about the team and pick the right moments. Fortunately, today I picked the right moment."

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Another clean sheet and his confidence is back.
Carragher: 7 Doing well in the back 3.
Hyypia: 7 Doing well at both ends of the pitch.
Agger: 7.5 An superb performance.
Finnan: 6.5 Played in the 5-men midfield but not doing much in helping the attacks.
Luis Garcia: 6 Missed 2 great chances and was in general a very poor performance.
Gerrard: 8 Need I saw more?
Zenden: 6.5 Not much contribution.
Riise: 6.5 Can't cope with Luis Garcia's free role and at times confused.
Kuyt: 7.5 His hard working bring the ball to Stevie G and thundered into the net.
Crouch: 6.5 Missed a few half chance.

Substitutions:
Pennant: 6.5 After him coming on the team is more balanced.
Fowler: 6.5 Doing not much against his former team.
Bellamy: 6.5 Almost scored from his first touch.

Rafa: 6.5 The 3-5-2 seems not working too well as the strength of Stevie G cannot be released as he play at DM. Maybe Rafa should try Carra as DM instead.

Manchester City: 5.5 Their season mirrored us: Excellent at home, poor traveller.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. Gave us the 3 points single hand.

Let's shake off the injuries

With the injuries Rafa will need to reshuffle with limited resources. Midfield is in particular concern and Rafa may even need to play Carra there. We will see the return to Anfield of Hamann, and how we miss him!

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Riise
Luis Garcia
Gerrard
Zenden
Bellamy
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 3-0

Match Report 061122 vs PSV Eindhoven: A win with a heavy price

2-0 but the victory come with a big price as 3 midfielders were injuried. We are now confirmed to finish at top spot and Rafa can send a reserve team in the next match. Gerrard was influential in his favortite middle of midfield, and with Xabi now injuried Stevie will have lots of chances to play there, which should be good for the team.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Another clean sheet.
Finnan: 7 A good display in both ends of the pitch.
Carragher: 7 A good performance.
Agger: 7 Probably has disposed Sammi his first team position.
Riise: 7 A good job.
Pennant: 6.5 Did well before injuried. Get well soon.
Gerrard: 8 Close to his best.
Alonso: 6.5 We will miss him. A big blow to the team.
Gonzalez: 6.5 A good performance before the injury.
Kuyt: 7 A good display despite not scoring.
Crouch: 7.5 Nice goal and assist.

Substitutions:
Luis Garcia: 6.5 Influential when coming up.
Zenden: 6.5 We now need to see the best of Bolo as we have a midfielder shortage.
Bellamy: 6.5 Could play as winger to help the team.

Rafa: 7 A nice display but Rafa will now need to sort out the injury crisis.

PSV Eindhoben: 6 Did well in preventing us to score but at the end Stevie G destroyed them.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. Lead by example.

It's time to deliver

After the draw at the weekend it is now time for the team to deliver. Although the result of this match is not that important, it would be nice to kick start another winning streak now.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Pennant
Gerrard
Alonso
Gonzalez
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 2-0

Match Report 061118 at Middlesbrough: Unlucky

0-0 and we are really unlucky not to win this time. With 17 shots (10 on target) vs their 1 shot, Boro was very tough in denying us a well deserved win. But with performance like this result will be coming very soon. Dec 2 at Wigan.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Not much to do but handle the crossing well, and denied Euell a goal to keep the score.
Finnan: 6.5 Not much involvement going forward.
Carragher: 7 Solid display
Agger: 7 Comfortable display and almost scored.
Riise: 6.5 Tried hard to help the attacks but no return.
Pennant: 7 Lively performance along both flanks.
Gerrard: 6.5 Played in the middle as he wish.
Alonso: 7 Control the midfield and have a few shots not on target.
Gonzalez: 6.5 An OK performance.
Bellamy: 6 OK performance.
Kuyt: 6.5 Had a golden chance but shot wide.

Substitutions:
Crouch: 6.5 Deadly when coming up and almost scored.
Zenden: 6 Get a few boos from the home crowd and not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 6.5 A solid performace but still we lack the cutting edge up front. Maybe we now see the future back 5.

Middlesbrough: 5.5 Very negative and play for 1 point at home, and get it.

Man of the match: Reina. Good performance.

Rest in peace, two of the Greats of the 20th century

Milton Friedman, the greatest Economist, and Puskas, the greatest footballer, both passed away today...

Start winning away

Another away game and to everyone's surprise our record in Riverside since its opening is actually poorer than in Goodison Park, Old Trafford or Highbury during the same period. Boro just won last time and they seems to be failed to get back to back result (a bit like us...) but we definitely need to start winning away.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Warnock
Pennant
Gerrard
Alonso
Riise
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 2-0

Match Report 061112 at Arsenal: Nightmare

0-3 and we have absolutely no desire to win. We failed completely. The defense was a nightmare, the midfield lack strength after Momo's injury, and the attack has no goal provided. We just don't have any reason to win.

To think positive, we have now played all the tough away wins. Perhaps we are now in the home straight till the end.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6 One of the better defensive player and he did his best to minimize the damage.
Finnan: 5 Pedestrian.
Carragher: 5 Can count himself lucky to be still on the pitch at the end.
Hyyppia: 5 Too slow to contain the Arsenal attack.
Riise: 5 Him and Gerrard are to be blamed for the third goal.
Gerrard: 5.5 Poor condition.
Alonso: 6.5 One of the better player, but he can't do two men's job.
Zenden: 5.5 Missed many chances, but at least he tried.
Gonzalez: 5 Can't penetrate the Arsenal defense.
Kuyt: 5.5 A quiet game.
Crouch: 5.5 Scored an offside goal, but other than that very quiet.

Substitutions:
Pennant: 6 Tried hard but not much impact.
Bellamy: 6 Scored another offside goal.
Agger: 6 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 5 Need to sort out the defensive mess immediately.

Arsenal: 7 Played well on their home ground.

Man of the Match: Alonso. But other players need to help him as well.

We believe

With Sissoko out for 3 months Stevie G will return to middle. We need to silence the midfield if we really want to win this game. And maybe we need some magic from Luis Garcia as well.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Pennant
Gerrard
Alonso
Luis Garcia
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 1-0

Match Report 061108 at Birmingham City: Job done

1-0 and we are in the last 8 of the League Cup. The victory was marred by the injury of Sissoko. We are going to miss him. Get well soon. We were always in control if not playing superb football, Fowler and Bellamy both missed great chances. At the end the defense played well to keep the clean sheet. Amazingly, this is the first match we win away in England soil. So bring on Arsenal.

Players Rating:
Dudek: 7 Kept a clean sheet on his first match of the season.
Peltier: 6.5 Solid display.
Paletta: 6.5 Solid display but need to adapt to the English style or otherwise he will get a lot of cards.
Agger: 7.5 A nice goal that makes a difference.
Warnock: 6.5 Good display.
Pennant: 7 Returned home and have a nice assist.
Sissoko: 6.5 We are going to miss him.
Zenden: 6.5 Good if not supreme display. We now need him more as cover after Momo's injury.
Gonzalez: 6.5 Lively display.
Fowler: 6.5 On of his poorer display after he is back.
Bellamy: 6.5 Missed a lot of chances including a penalty.

Substitutions:
Alonso: 6.5 Good display after the unexpected call-up after Momo's injury.
Kuyt: 6.5 Good warm up for the big game on Sunday.
Guthrie: 6 Another run-in for the youngster.

Rafa: 6.5 Job done. But he now needs to face the problem of missing Momo.

Birmingham City: 6 Played well.

Man of the Match: Agger. More goals are welcome.

Jermaine back home

Last time when we visit Birmingham in FA Cup we beat them 7-0. Surely this will be a tough act to repeat, but Rafa's team will be fired up, especially for Pennant who is back to his home.

My Team Prediction:
Dudek
Peltier
Agger
Paletta
Warnock
Pennant
Zenden
Alonso
Gonzalez
Fowler
Bellamy

Result 2-0

Match Report 061104 vs Reading: Cruise control

2-0 and it was an unspectacular but convincing win. We never go higher than second gear. Reading come to avoid a humiliating defeat and succeeded. Now we need to transfer the winning habit to the away games.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Another confidence-built win although at times he was clumsy.
Finnan: 7 Solid display.
Carragher: 7.5 Good display in his 300th league display. Blocked a shot before Kuyt scored, and go up very often and even almost scored one himself.
Hyypia: 7 Solid defending and also orchestrating some attacks in style.
Riise: 7 Good display.
Pennant: 7 Good display and had a great corner that contributed to the second goal.
Gerrard: 8 Great display in the middle and had a great pass that lead to the first goal.
Alonso: 7 Solid display in the heart of midfield.
Zenden: 6 Hard working, but not much contribution.
Kuyt: 8.5 Scored two great goals.
Crouch: 8 Two great assists.

Substitutions:
Gonzalez/Sissoko/Fowler: 6 Solid display when coming up.

Rafa: 7 A good display and now we need to bring it up to the away games.

Reading: 6 Never really into the game.

Man of the Match: Kuyt. Proving his worth.

Rotation again

Luis Garcia is out and Rafa need to appl his rotation again. As he will rotate in the next league cup anyway, the count restarts again.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Gonzalez
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 3-0

October Month Report

4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat and the month just goes better. We started the month with international break, and after we are back we lost our first 2 points at home by drawing Blackburn. Then we beat Bordeaux at the home ground, and the defeat at Old Trafford have everyone write off our chance and questioning Rafa's rotation. We responded superbly by winning 3 in a row, first a 4-3 roller coaster vs Reading in the League Cup, then 3-1 win vs the only unbeaten team Aston Villa, and a 3-0 win vs Bordeaux that sealed our presence in the last 16 of Champions League. Things are getting better and better, and now we need to rediscover how to win away from home.

Players of the Month: (1) Kuyt 7.0 (2) Sissoko 6.75 (3) Alonso 6.54. Kuyt played well and scored a nice goal at home vs Villa. Sissoko as usual protected the defense well, and Alonso was very consistent despite not very impressive.

November review:
11/4 Reading (h) We win in the rehearsal, and we need to repeat this again.
11/8 Birmingham City (a) Last time we beat them 7-0, we will be happy to repeat the feat.
11/12 Arsenal (a) Let's start winning away from home here.
11/18 Middlesbrough (a) Please, win this one for me :)
11/22 PSV Eindhoven (h) A win will secure us the first spot in the draw
11/25 Manchester City (h) City is just poor away from home. Let's crash them.
11/29 Portsmouth (h) The surprised package of the season, but by the end of November their gas should be running out.

Match Report 061031 vs Bordeaux: Mission accomplished

3-0 and we are through. To everyone's surprise (except me :) ) Rafa has sent the same team in 100 games. The team played well and we deserved to win.

Player Rating:
Reina: 7 A clean sheet to boast his confidence.
Finnan: 7 Good defensive work.
Carragher: 7 Another solid performance.
Hyypia: 7 Vintage performance.
Riise: 7 Was unlucky to get headbutted but played well.
Gerrard: 8 Finally broke his duck. Look how relief he was!
Alonso: 7 Control the midfield as usual.
Sissoko: 7 Doing the dirty works well, but was unlucky to get a yellow card.
Luis Garcia: 8.5 European King. Big math player.
Kuyt: 7 No goal this time but performance was good.
Crouch: 7 Good performance as well.

Substitutions:
Zenden: 7 A nice through ball to set up Stevie G for that goal.
Pennat/Fowler: 6 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 7.5 Master stroke in keeping the same lineup. Now we are back to zero. :)

Bordeaux: 5.5 On current form it will even have trouble to win a UEFA cup spot.

Player of the match: Luis Garcia. We all love him.