February Month Review

1W2D1L and we are further down in 7th place, 7 points behind 4th place with 1 game in hand.but still in both Cups.  We only get 1 points from 2 tough league games, but we did well in the FA Cup and also beat Cardiff City in the League Cup with a bit of luck.  The coming months would be busy and we still have a chance to get the 4th place spot.

Players of the month: (1) Skrtel 7.27 (2) Carroll 7.1747 (3) Agger 7.169.  Skrtel defended brilliantly and scored 2 great goals in the Cup games.  Carroll starts to play well for the team highlighted with a Man of the Match performance vs Brighton.  Agger also defended well and we hope he will get well soon.

March prediction:
3/3 Arsenal (h) Gooner has been revived recently but if we want to finish 4th place, this is a must win game.
3/10 Sunderland (a) Sunderland's good run has finally slow down a bit so it is up to us to beat them.
3/13 Everton (h) Toffee seems to be revived a bit recently so it will not be an easy game.
3/17 Stoke City (h) We could not tear them down in the league but in the Cup it will be a difference story.
3/21 Queen's Park Rangers (a) QPR would still fight for their safety and it would not be an easy game.
3/24 Wigan Athletic (h) Wigan seems likely to go down this season and we need to show no mercy and get the points.

Match Report 120226 vs Cardiff City: We won it 8 times!

2:2 and once again we won in the penalty shootout and recapture the League Cup at Wembley.  We did not play too well and full credits to Cardiff City, but at the end luck is on our side and we won the penalty shootout.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Could have done better to avoid the second goal.
Johnson: 7 A good game with the winning penalty.
Skrtel: 7.5 Scored the much needed equalizer to bring the match into extra time.
Agger: 7 Solid defending.
Enrique: 7 A monster in defending.
Henderson: 4 A poor performance.
Gerrard: 7 Good passing but failed to shot on target.
Adam: 6.5 Has his penalty finally landed?
Downing: 8 Finally he regained his capability of how to cross a ball.
Suarez: 6.5 A bit short of confidence.
Carroll: 6.5 Tried hard but failed to score.

Substitutions:
Bellamy: 6.5 A bit disappointed by his high standard.
Carragher: 7 Decent display when called up.
Kuyt: 8 Big match player.

King Kenny: 6.5 Would be delighted of winning the League Cup, now go and make sure the momentum is still on and fight for the 4th place.

Cardiff City: 7 Credits must be given to them for defending so well.  Hope to see them soon in the Premier League.

Man of the Match: Downing.  Best game so far.

Bring the Cup home

It is 6 years since we won a trophy, and it is 17 years since we last won it at Wembley.  One thing for sure is that our players won't take it for granted, and they will give 100% to ensure we can bring the trophy home.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Gerrard
Adam
Henderson
Bellamy
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 120219 vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Hat trick own goals

6:1 and this is a strange game with three own goals, a missed penalty, and even a streaker.  The difference in the class of the two team really tells, and despite they scored an absolutely brilliant equalizer, once we are in control we never look back and this is a well deserved victory.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 A very comfortable game.
Johnson: 7.5 Enforced the 2nd goal with a nice header.
Carragher: 7.5 Comfortable apart from being hugged by the streaker.
Skrtel: 7.5 Superb header.
Enrique: 7.5 Solid defending.
Henderson: 7 A solid game.
Gerrard: 7.5 A superb shot that should be counted as a goal.
Adam: 7 A nice game.
Downing: 7.5 One of his better game so far.
Suarez: 7.5 Always threatening despite the penalty miss.
Carroll: 8 Starting to play well.

Substitutions:
Kuyt/Shelvey/Maxi: 7 A good warm up for the League Cup final.

King Kenny: 7.5 Would be absolutely thrilled about the team effort.

Brighton & Hove Albion: 6 The defense really let them down.

Man of the Match: Carroll.  Getting better and better.

Have a good cup run

The FA Cup is a nice distraction and we are presented with a good opponent in Brighton.  We have beaten them in the League Cup, but they will be well prepared for the FA Cup game, and we need to show them respect to continue our good runs in the Cups.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Spearing
Kuyt
Gerrard
Henderson
Bellamy
Suarez

Result 2:0

Everyone must perform

It's away game at Old Trafford and as usual this is the most difficult game of the season.  We were unbeaten in our two games at Anfield this season, but if we want to get something there, everybody must perform.  And there is no doubt that every player will raise their game.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Spearing
Kuyt
Gerrard
Henderson
Bellamy
Suarez

Result 2:0

Match Report 120206 vs Tottenham Hotspur: Anfield cat rules

0:0 and the highlight of the night, apart from the return of Suarez, is the Anfield Cat.  In truth both teams did well defensively, and a draw is a fair result, although it will make our chase of 4th place more difficult.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Did superbly at the one-on-one with Bale to keep the clean sheet.
Kelly: 7 Another solid performance.
Skrtel: 8 Defense brilliantly.
Agger: 7.5 Defended well and had a few half chances going forward.
Johnson: 7 Did well at a unfamiliar left back position.
Spearing: 7.5 A brilliant performance although his passing are a bit too ambitious at times.
Kuyt: 6 Did not do enough for the night.
Gerrard: 6.5 An OK performance.
Adam: 6.5 Passed the ball well.
Bellamy: 6.5 A solid performance.
Carroll: 7.5 Getting better and better.

Substitutions:
Suarez: 6.5 Failed to inspire the team.
Downing: 6.5 Did not do too much for the short timeframe.

King Kenny: 7 Could draw a few positives from the game but this is yet another 2 point loss.

Tottenham Hotspur: 7 Should be genuinely capable in keeping 3rd place position.

Man of the Match: Skrtel.  Getting better and better.

Welcome back, Suarez

After a month of unfair suspension Suarez will be back to lead us to the ultimate challenge of the coming months.  Spur won't be easy to beat but with the team morale at a high at this moment, we have every chance to beat them.  So go for it and bring 3 points home.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Spearing

Gerrard
Henderson
Bellamy
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

January Month Report

4W2D2L and we are still in 6th place, but still in both Cups.  The month started badly with a defeat away at City, but then we bounced back and beat them in 2 legs in the League.  The league result was not good as we only get 4 out of a possible 12, but with Suarez back we will improve a lot for February, especially when there are many big games coming up.

Players of the month: (1) Bellamy 7.59 (2) Gerrard 6.97 (3) Skrtel 6.93.  Bellamy finally get more games and he never disappoint us.  With Gerrard back we will have more options.  And Skrtel was as usual reliable at the back.

February prediction:
2/6 Tottenham Hotspur (h) Spur is very tough to beat so this is a big challenge for us.
2/11 Manchester United (a) Another tough game and we need to be at 100% if we want to help the City.
2/19 Brighton & Hove Albion (h) Brighton may be at Championship only but they have beaten Newcastle to arrive to the 5th round, so no complacency.
2/26 Cardiff City (n) Yes we are going to Wem-bee-lee!  Let's make sure we will do well and bring the League Cup home.

Match Report 120131 at Wolverhampton Wanderers: 3 strikes from 3 strikers

3:0 and it is a our first double of the season. We were in control from the start to the end and once the deadlock is broken, the goals just keep flowing in.  With Suarez back for the next game King Kenny will have a headache in choosing who to start, but this is a happy dilemma.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Not really tested.
Johnson: 7 A good performance.
Skrtel: 7 Solid defending.
Agger: 7.5 Good at the air and almost scored.
Enrique: 7 Good performance.
Henderson: 7 Good performance at the middle.
Spearing: 8.5 An excellent performance.
Adam: 8 Two nice assists.
Kuyt: 7.5 A nice goal to open the league account.
Carroll: 7.5 Scored a good goal and could score more.
Bellamy: 8 Excellent as usual.

Substitutions:
Carragher/Shelvey/Aurelio: 6.5 A nice run for the three players.

King Kenny: 7.5 Would be delighted about the performance.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: 6 A poor performance and they need to improve if they want to survive.

Man of the Match: Spearing. A nice lad.