Match Report 120428 at Norwich City: Hat trick hero

3:0 and what a way to score a hat trick!  It must be one of the longest hat trick in Premier League history with a total of 80 yards, and surely it is a good way to prepare the FA Cup Final.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Superb one hand save to keep the score at 2:0.
Johnson: 7.5 An inch perfect pass to Suarez for the tremendous third goal.
Carragher: 8 A good performance with a great block before the third goal.
Agger: 7.5 Another solid display.
Enrique: 7 A good performance.
Henderson: 7 A solid performance at DM.
Shelvey: 7.5 Have two great chances to open his account.
Downing: 6.5 Not so effective on the right hand side.
Gerrard: 8 A good performance by the captain.
Bellamy: 6.5 A bit poor from his high standard.
Suarez: 9 A superb hat trick.

Substitutions:
Coates/Kuyt: 6.5 Not enough time to impress.

King Kenny: 7.5 Glad about the team performance.

Norwich City: 6 Not much motivation in the game.

Man of the match: Suarez.  First of many hat trick for us.

Play safe but win it

With one eye on the FA Cup Final some of the players may play safe in the league games, but we still need a few points to save the season.  We were very unlucky at home vs Norwich, and the return game could still be tricky if we do not turn up.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Kelly
Carragher
Coates
Enrique
Spearing
Kuyt
Henderson
Shelvey
Bellamy
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 110422 vs West Bromwich Albion: Same old story

0:1 and this is the same old story all over the season:  We dominated early on, denied a penalty, couldn't score, hit the woodwork, one mistake and we lose the game.  Of course the players might have one eye on the FA Cup final, but the form definitely needs to be improved.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6 Made two good saves in 1H, but was unable to deny the goal conceded.
Johnson: 5.5 One careless mistake and all the good works were gone...
Skrtel: 6.5 Defended solidly.
Agger: 6.5 Missed two goalmouth opportunities.
Enrique: 6 Wasted many chances for taking a shot.
Kuyt: 6.5 His finishing let him down.
Henderson: 6.5 Quiet in 1H, but played better in 2H with two close chances.
Spearing: 6.5 A solid game.
Maxi: 6.5 Should have win a penalty for us.
Suarez: 7 A great threat up front as usual.
Carroll: 6.5 A few great link up play with Suarez.

Substitutions:
Bellamy: 6 Not much impact.
Downing: 6 Almost invisible.
Shelvey: 6 Not enough time to impress.

King Kenny: The league form is really worrying, not sure how he can improve it if he stays on...

West Bromwich Albion: 6 Lucky for them.

Man of the Match: Suarez.  If he can improve his finishing...

Welcome and no thanks Roy

After he was fired this is the first time Roy Hodgson visit Anfield.  With the FA Cup place secured players will now need to try to improve the league form, with an aim to win all the remaining games.  It will not be easy, but if players want to win a place in the FA Cup final and in next year's squad, they better improve now.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Kelly
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Henderson
Gerrard
Shelvey
Maxi
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 120414 vs Everton: A great response from the players

2:1 and what a way to enter the FA Cup Final.  We did not play too well in the first half but the players responded well after the break, and at the end a gift from Distin and a superb header from Carroll means that we will be visiting Wembley for the third time of the season.  Nevertheless we need to improve our game as Chelsea will be tough opponents for sure.

My Team Prediction:
Jones: 6.5 Another fine performance from the lad.
Johnson: 6.5 Another good game.
Carragher: 6 Sadly his time is almost up.
Skrtel: 7 A good performance in defense.
Agger: 6.5 Played out of position and was partly blamed for the goal conceded.

Henderson: 6 Solid game with plenty of rooms for improvements.
Gerrard: 6.5 A bit quiet.
Spearing: 6.5 An effective if not impressive game.
Downing: 6 Not much impact.
Suarez: 8 The main man on the front.
Carroll: 7.5 Answered the critics with another superb header.

Substitutions:
Maxi: 6.5 A fine game.
Bellamy: 7 Inch perfect free kick delivery.

King Kenny: 7 How he would like the response from the players.  Now make sure we improve from now on!

Everton: 6.5 Did not do too much to win the game.

Man of the Match: Suarez.  Glad to hear him commit his future!

Seize the moment

It is the derby semi final and it will be a memorial day for both sets of players, especially it is just a day before the Hillsborough memorial.  Both teams will be eager to win the game, and as Gerrard said, make sure you play to be a hero.

My Team Prediction:
Jones
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Spearing
Kuyt
Gerrard
Shelvey
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 120410 at Blackburn Rovers: The team spirit is back

3:2 and what a way it was to end the win less streak.  We played very well and were truly deserved to be 2-0 up in 16 minutes, but then a mistake by Flanagan had Doni sent off and we had one man down and let Blackburn equalized.  At the end, we shown we have determination to win the game and an injury time header by Carroll finally ended the streak and we took 3 points home.  This is a morale boasting win for the team and now we can focus on the next game at Anfield South.

Players Rating:
Doni: 6.5  Unlucky to have sent off.
Flanagan: 5 Was lucky to be still on the pitch before the ultimate error.
Skrtel: 7.5 Inspiring Captain.
Coates: 7 Another solid performance.
Johnson: 7 A nice game after the long injury.
Spearing: 7.5 Solid protecting the back 4.
Henderson: 8 A great game at right back.
Bellamy: 7 A great run for the first goal.
Shelvey: 7.5 A good game at the middle.
Maxi: 7.5 Two great goals scored.
Carroll: 7.5 Sealed the game with a superb header in the dying minutes.

Substitutions:
Jones: 6.5 A great penalty save and we need you to perform.
Agger: 7.5 Came on and made an impact.
Enrique: 6.5 Provided some needed support to defense.

King Kenny: 7 Would be thrilled about the reaction of the team.  We need to continue this in the derby game.

Blackburn Rovers: 6.5 At the end we have more hunger to win the game, good luck to them.

Man of the Match: Henderson.  This is what we expect of him, play with confidence and a hunger to win.

Be confident

Ewood Park was a tough place for us to visit and ironically it was where the Hodgson era ended.  As Blackburn is fighting for relegation they would be very eager to beat us, especially when we are low in confidence.  King Kenny should try some new faces and hope that the players can sort it out, before the all-important derby game at Anfield South.

My Team Prediction:
Doni
Flanagan
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Spearing
Kuyt
Gerrard
Shelvey
Bellamy
Suarez

Result 2:0

Match Report 110407 vs Aston Villa: Please hold your heads up high!

1:1 and although the decisions by the referee were shameful to say the least, we should also blame ourselves of not raising our games after conceded so early, and this is a really serious problem.  Sure, we have no way to finish top 4, Europa place is secured, and it is almost impossible for us to relegate, but the fans deserve more, and the players must play much better for the remaining of the season.  But can they?

Players Rating:
Doni: 6.5 Solid display apart from the blunder that lead to the first goal.
Flanagan: 6.5 A better game from the kid.
Carragher: 6.5 A solid performance.
Skrtel: 6.5 A rock at the back.
Enrique: 6 Need to improve his confidence.
Henderson: 5 A very disappointed first half.
Shelvey: 6.5 Solid performance.
Kuyt: 6 Missed a glorious chance from 3 yards to equalize.
Gerrard: 6.5 Still the one we look for.
Downing: 6 A good 1H but dropped in 2H.
Suarez: 7 A good equalizer and was unlucky not to score more.

Substitutions:
Bellamy: 6.5  Gave us more options up front.
Carroll: 6.5  His presence let us win a few aerial fights.
Agger: 7 Was instrumental in getting the equalizer.

King Kenny: 6 Need to install confidence to the players.

Aston Villa: 6.5 Will survive this season.

Man of the Match: Suarez.  He's no diver.

Doni as savior

Finally Doni get a chance to show us how he can do, and we would need him at least for the next 3 games.  He was with Rom for 6 years so he has quality, and now it is the time for him to show the world how good he can be.

My Team Prediction:

Doni

Flanagan

Carragher

Skrtel

Enrique

Spearing

Kuyt

Gerrard

Shelvey

Bellamy

Suarez

Result 2:0

Match Report 120401 at Newcastle United: We made ourselves April's Fool

0:2 and we just made ourselves look like a fool.  Sure there was at least a hat trick of mistakes made by Atkinson and if the penalty stands and Simpson get sent off, we could have win the game, but the point is that if we are behind we should try to win the game back, instead of just give up.  This is so un-Liverpool and with this attitude, we would be lucky not to be relegated.

Players Rating:
Reina: 4 After 16,463 consecutive minutes in the league, the streak ended in a shameful way.
Flanagan: 5 Should do better in stopping the 2nd goal, but he is young and is 3rd choice right back anyway.
Carragher: 5.5 Getting worse and worse as age comes to him.
Skrtel: 5.5 Need to take some blame of not properly marking Cisse for the first goal.
Enrique: 5.5 Constantly booed.
Spearing: 6 Doing the holding DM job well.
Suarez: 5.5 Did not seem to be interested in the game.
Gerrard: 5 Failed to inspire the team.
Shelvey: 6 Have a good game and should start in the remaining of the season.
Bellamy: 5.5 Not an effective game for him.
Carroll: 5 Should do better for the one on one.

Substitution:
Downing/Kuyt/Henderson: 5.5 Not much impact to the game.

King Kenny: 4 He is in danger of ruining his name, so some sort of remedial action is really critical and urgent now.

Newcastle United: 7 More hunger to win the game and hope they can overtake Chelsea.

Man of the Match: Spearing/Shelvey.  Two brighter players in a dull match.