September Monthly Review

4 wins, 1 draw. We maintained our position as joint top in the league, got 3 precious points at Marseille, and are through to the next round of the League Cup. In the league we beat our two greatest rivals, although we could not break through the stubborn Stoke defense. Definitely we can still improve in October, and there are some tough games coming up.

Players of the Month (1) Gerrard 7.84 (2) Reina 7.50 (3) Carragher 7.34. Stevie G came back from surgery and scored two great goals at Marseille, Reina is strong at the back and add two more clean sheets to his record book, and Carragher is as solid as ever, doing some last man saves.

October prediction:
10/1 PSV Eindhoven (h) PSV is not as strong as they used to be, but we still need to do well to get three points.
10/5 Manchester City (a) They are still not there yet, and we need to take three points home.
10/18 Wigan Athletic (h) We need to break through their stubborn defense and avoid a repeat of Stoke.
10/22 Atletico Madrid (a) Torres return home, would be sensational.
10/26 Chelsea (a) We need to get a result at the Bridge.
10/29 Portsmouth (h) Return of Crouch, Carra will find a method to contain him.

Match Report 080927 at Everton: Torres back

2-0 and Torres is back with two lovely goals. If not for Kuyt's infringement he would have scored a hat trick. We controlled the game with ease and fully deserved the victory.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Rarely tested.
Arbeloa: 7 A good performance.
Skrtel: 7 Solid display.
Carragher: 8 Superb save on the line.
Dossena: 6.5 A little bit quiet.
Kuyt: 7.5 A constant threat.
Gerrard: 7.5 Self-disciplined performance.
Alonso: 7 Quietly but effective.
Riera: 7 Provide a few good crossings.
Keane: 7.5 Great assist to the first goal.
Torres: 8.5 Two great goals that settled the game.

Substitutions:
Aurelio: 6.5 Provided defensive support.
Lucas/Pennant: 6.5 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 7.5 Great team performance as we were always at the top.

Everton: 6 Didn't do much to deserve at least one point.

Man of the Match: Torres. Back from the goal drought.

The Derby

After a disappointing weekend vs Stoke we need to lift ourselves up as soon as possible, and a derby win will certainly help to boast the morale. Everton had not win at home yet this season, but they will be up for it, so we need to be strong.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Arbeloa
Skrtel
Carragher
Dossena
Alonso
Mascherano
Kuyt
Gerrard
Riera
Torres

Result 2:0

Match Report 080923 vs Crewe Alexandra: Credits to the railroad men

2-1 and although we are through, we need to give credits to the Crewe players. They gave us lots of pressures and at the end we are strong enough to go through. The youngsters did quite well and Rafa will take note and give them some more chances when available.

Players Rating:
Cavalieri: 6.5 A fair debut.
Degen: 6.5 Unlucky to have injured on his debut.
Agger: 7.5 Scored a great freekick, but is also responsible for the goal conceded.
Hyypia: 7 Solid display from big Sami.
Insua: 6.5 Willing to go forward.
Pennant: 7 A lively performance and provided a great assist.
Lucas: 7.5 Scored a brave header.
Plessis: 6.5 Solid performance.
El Zhar: 6.5 Lively and productive.
Babel: 7 Have a few chances.
Ngog: 6.5 A good full squad debut.

Substitutions:
Torres: 6.5 Have 2 great one on one chances.
Carragher: 6.5 Solid as a make-shift right back.
Keane: 6.5 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 6.5 Would be happy in general about the 2nd tier team performance.

Crewe Alexandra: 7 Raised to the moment and did well.

Men of the Match: Agger and Lucas. Two great goals scored.

Youngsters to shine

League Cup vs Crewe will be the last item on Rafa's agenda, and this is a good chance for youngsters to impress. Hopefully, Keane will open his account tonight.

My Team Prediction:
Cavalieri
Degan
Agger
Hyypia
Insua
El Zhar
Lucas
Plessis
Riera
Keane
Ngog

Result 4:0

Match Report 080920 vs Stoke City: Two points lost

0-0 and this is a very disappointing result. We were robbed by the referee of a Stevie G centurion goal, and then we try our very best but just could not break down the Stoke defense. Credit must be given to Stoke as being so resistant, and they deserved to get a point.

We now missed the opportunity to go to the top of the league, but there are still 33 games to play, so we need to get back to the right track now.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Not much to do but he is alert when called to service.
Arbeloa: 7 Doing well in helping the attack.
Carragher/Skrtel: 7 Solid as usual and also helped in attack.
Dossena: 6.5 Did not offer too much to the attack.
Kuyt: 7 Worked very hard but couldn't score.
Gerrard: 7.5 Goal should have count. He tried very hard to win it for us.
Alonso: 7 A nice curler and almost scored.
Riera: 6.5 Did not offer too many crossings.
Keane: 6.5 Have a few half chances but could not make it.
Torres: 6.5 Not back to top fit condition yet.

Substitutions:
Babel: 6 Not much offered.
Benayoun: 6.5 Offered a few sparks but couldn't turn them into goals.

Rafa: 6.5 Would be disappointed about the result, although the team had tried hard.

Stoke City: 6.5 Come to get a point and get what they deserved.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. 100th goal will come very soon.

Roll on

Stoke at home may seems like an easy game, but we still need to pay respect to the opponents. Their strength is their free throws and we need to be strong enough and alert to this big threat.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Arbeloa
Carragher
Hyypia
Dossena
Alonso
Mascherano
Kuyt
Gerrard
Keane
Torres

Result 3:0

Match Report 080916 at Marseille: Belief

2-1 and this is the 3rd time in this season that we win from behind. The team really has confidence to beat anyone in any situation.

Marseille was very strong in attack and we got caught by their quick action. Fortunately we have Stevie G and he scored a beauty and a re-taken penalty calmly. The team has a great start in the Champions League and if we perform like this, qualification won't be a problem.

Players Rating:
Reina: 8 Made many good saves to earn us 3 points.
Arbeloa/Aurelio: 7 Solid display and willing to help the attacks.
Carragher: 7 Despite one lose of mind that lead to the first goal, he was rock solid as usual.
Skrtel: 7 Good display.
Lucas: 7 Repaid Rafa's faith in helping to create the equaliser.
Mascherano: 7 A bit quiet but very effective.
Kuyt: 7.5 Clever flick on to assist Gerrard.
Gerrard: 9 Two great goals and bring his total goals for us to 99.
Babel: 7.5 A few great chances but were denied.
Torres: 6.5 A bit quiet on his return.

Substitutions:
Riera/Benayoun: 6.5 Came up to maintain the form of the team.
Keane: 6.5 Not enough time to shine.

Rafa: 7.5 Would be happy about the way we came from behind, but need to work on defense.

Marseille: 7 A good team at home but at the end we edge through them.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. 99 goals and counting.

Keep the momentum

After a nice win over our bittiest rival our focus is now moved to Europe. We beat Marseille 4-0 and their home last year, but they are an improved team now and they won't let this happen again. This is a tough group and we need to be at our best in order to get a result.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Arbeloa
Skrtel
Carragher
Dossena
Alonso
Mascherano
Gerrard
Riera
Kuyt
Keane

Result 2:0

Match Report 080913 vs Manchester United: We finally beat them

2-1 and we finally beat them. And we deserved it. Despite conceded a goal in the 3rd minute we keep pressing and pressing, and at the end we beat them. The whole team did well, and the Kop was very loudly as well. This win give us confidence and this season is going to be exciting.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Superb throughout.
Arbeloa/Aurelio: 7.5 Did well and provided many dangerous crossings.
Skrtel/Carragher: Two rocks in the middle.
Alonso: 7.5 A solid display.
Mascherano: 9 He is everywhere and drives the team in the absence of Gerrard.
Kuyt: 8 Superb workrate.
Benayoun: 7.5 Many clever runs that drags the defenders out of position.
Riera: 7.5 Nice debut.
Keane: 7.5 Good performance.

Substitutions:
Gerrard: 7 A composed display.
Babel: 8 Super sub.
Hyypia: 7 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 8 Would be happy about the performance especially the response to conceding the early goal.

Manchester United: 5.5 An off day for them despite leading in 3 minutes. They don't deserve to get anything from this match.

Man of the Match: Mascherano. Repaying Rafa's faith.

7 year's itch

It has been 7 years since we last beat them, and this is the time to do it again. We may have a bit fitness problem, but whoever plays will need to be at 100% to beat them.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Arbeloa
Skrtel
Carragher
Dossena
Alonso
Mascherano
Kuyt
Gerrard
Keane
Torres

Result 2:0

August Monthly Review

3 wins, 2 draws. We are joint top of the league and in the Champions League Group Stage. So far so good. But we have problem in scoring and now that Gerrard and Torres are both injured, and Keane has yet picked up his form. Rafa had a lot of homework to do, especially we have a few tough games coming. The team needs to improve to sustain the run.

Players of the Month: (1) Reina 7.56 (2) Gerrard 7.06 (3) Carragher 6.88. Reina has 4 clean sheets in the month and was the major contributor to the result of the month. Stevie G drives us to victories over victories and scored the winning goal vs Boro. And Carra, the man actually scores and has now scored as many goals as own goals.

September Prediction:
9/13 Manchester United (h) Tough game with Stevie G and Torres doubtful, it's time for Keane to deliver.
9/16 Marseille (a) Kick off of Champions League as where we left in Group Stage last season. We won 4-0 last time and this time it will be tough.
9/20 Stoke City (h) We need to win this game.
9/24 Crewe Alexandra (h) Time for the youngsters to shine. Ngog X Nemeth?
9/27 Everton (a) One of the biggest game of the season, they seems to be weaker and has yet to win at home, but we still need to be at our top to beat them.

Match Report 080831 at Aston VIlla: We missed Gerrard and Torres

0-0 and although the result is not too bad given it is an away game at a tough ground, the performance of the team was really bad. We rarely tested Friedel and at the end we get what we deserve - 1 point. The more worry sign is that Torres will now be out for 2 to 3 weeks. This is a very worrying fact consider who our next opponent is.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Not really tested.
Arbeloa/Skrtel/Carragher/Dossena: 6.5 Solid display as a group.
Mascherano: 7.5 Nice performance.
Lucas: 6 Not much help to the attacks.
Kuyt: 6.5 Had a few close shots.
Alonso: 6 Not much help in attack.
Keane: 6.5 Had one of our best chance when played in the middle, but he lacked confidence.
Torres: 6 We are going to miss him.

Substitutions:
Ngog: 6.5 Quite lively.
Aurelio/Benayoun: 6 Not much contribution.

Rafa: 6.5 Seems like he come for a point, and he gets what he want.

Aston Villa: 6.5 Solid display but in reality they did not do enough to win the game.

Man of the Match: Mascherano. Played a better game than the rest of the squad.