Get into the group stage

With the game hanging on a 1-0 we still have a lot to be done.  Certainly Rodgers will be resting a few players, but the formation is there and the youngsters should grab the chance.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Kelly
Carragher
Agger
Downing
Allen
Shelvey
Henderson

Borini
Suarez
Sterling

Match Report 1208276 vs Manchester City: Get in shape

2:2.  Before the game we will take a point, but with the performance of the team it seems like a 2 point drop instead of 1 point game.  During the game we matched or played better than the Champions most of the time, but two sloppy mistake by the defenders means that we can only go home with 1 point.  Nevertheless, the team seems to be more adopted to the new formation.  All we need to do is to prevent some suicidal defensive error, and the strikers to take their chances.  After all, there are not many team as strong as the City and if we can maintain such standard, the future will be bright.

Welcome the Champions

Over the last year City was well deserved Champions, and this time it will be a very tough test for us.  Without Agger, Carra may need to start and we need to be perfect if we are to beat them.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Skrtel
Enrique
Lucas
Allen
Gerrard
Borini
Suarez
Sterling

No complacancy

Although it is only Hearts, we should still have a professional approach in order to win the game.  Gerrard and Suarez are rested and the rest should be up and prove themselves.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Allen
Lucas
Henderson
Borini
Carroll
Sterling

Match Report 120818 at West Bromwich Albion: Back to reality

0:3.  That's as poor as we can get.  The match was no doubt distorted by the sent off and other ridiculous decisions by Phil Dowd, yet we didn't play too well as well.  It was the same old story that we had the majority of possession (even with 10 men), passed well, but could not find the net.  Suarez is more a provider rather than a finisher, and we need to find one quick.  And what was Joe Cole doing there?

Man of the match: Allen.  Passed well but need to be more assertive in future games.

Into the unknown

Another season starts.  And this is a season of unknown with so many changes.  As a fan we really don't know what to expect, we try to be (over)optimistic every season but this season we are really unsure, especially with a tough start to the season.  But we do need to be calm.  And to hope that luck will be on our side finally, and in Brenden we trust.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Lucas
Gerrard
Allen
Borini
Suarez
Downing

Qualify first

It is the first game for Rodgers at Anfield and a win or draw will see us through to the next round.  There is a gap in the qualify but we are still in pre-season so the players need to play hard in order to secure a win.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Skrtel
Enrique
Lucas
Gerrard
Henderson
Borini
Suarez
Downing

Another season starts

Another season starts, and with King Kenny gone and Rodgers in, there will be many changes.  The priority for this season is to grab back the top 4 spots, but this in itself is already a very difficult task  Nevertheless we will give our very best and try to achieve it.

Team Prediction:
Jones
Flanagan
Carragher
Skrtel
Enrique
Spearing
Henderson
Shevley
Borini
Morgan
Downing

Farewell

It is the last game of the season and could also be a last game of many players/coaches.  Swansea has already secured Premier League status and could be a bit loose, but we still need to play well if we want to end the season on a high.  And of course, we still have that little thing in mind to overtake our neighbor...

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Kelly
Carragher
Skrtel
Agger
Kuyt
Shelvey
Henderson
Gerrard
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 120508 vs Chelsea: A good response

4:1 and this is an absolutely perfect response to the FA Cup final and a good way to sign off the season.  True, Chelski may have sent a B-team but it should not weaken the team efforts.  The win put us a point behind Toffee and we should try to win the last game to see if we can overtake them.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 A better performance.
Johnson: 7 A good game.
Carragher: 7 Lead the defenses well.
Skrtel: 7 Solid as usual.
Agger: 7.5 Played well on the left and scored a nice goal.

Downing: 6 Could not score once again despite gifted with a penalty...
Henderson: 7.5 Played well and was awarded with a nice goal.
Shelvey: 7.5 Shown his intelligence and scored a nice goal.
Maxi: 6.5 May have played his last home game.
Suarez: 7.5 Forced a superb own goal to break the duck.
Carroll: 8 Played really well despite not scoring.

Substitutions:
Kuyt/Sterling: 6.5 A short time to shown their skills.

King Kenny: 7 Would be very happy on the response the players shown.

Chelsea: 6.  See you in Europa League.

Man of the Match: 8 King in the Air.

Revenge

After the poor display it is time for a revenge.  No doubt both teams will rest some players but this is still a lot to flight for, as we should try to overtake the Toffees in the last two games.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Agger
Enrique
Downing
Shelvey
Henderson
Maxi
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 120505 vs Chelsea: Too little, too close

1:2 and although people may morn about the goal that was disallowed, in fact we didn't play too well and King Kenny probably had get it wrong in terms of formation.  Without Carroll, Suarez was forced to be along up front and the midfielders dropped too deep that allowed the Chelski players rooms to play.  A triple errors lead to a goal conceded early on, and we never recovered.

It was a really disappointment to the team, but we will bounce back and return to Wembley again and clinch the Cup.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6 Made an error for the first goal.
Johnson: 6 Failed to win the Cup again...
Skrtel: 6 Faced a hard time.
Agger: 6 Could not cope with Chelsea attack.
Enrique: 5.5 Another mistake with his form dipped.
Spearing: 5.5 Did poorly in the big game.
Henderson: 5.5 A fair game without much achievement.
Bellamy: 6 Could not tear off the Chelski defense.
Gerrard: 6 Failed to inspire the team.
Downing: 6 Did not do much until Carroll was on.
Suarez: 7 Was isolated up front until Carroll is on.

Substitutions:
Carroll: 7.5 Should have come earlier and should have scored the equaliser.
Kuyt: 6 Failed to have an impact.

King Kenny: 6 The formation was all wrong.

Chelski.  Played better than us.

Man of the Match: Carroll.  Confidence is back.

Let's do in again

Another Cup Final, another visit to Wembley, but this time it will be even tougher.  Chelsea may have their focus on fighting for 4th place and winning the Champions League but they will not give this game up too easily.  We will have to play very well if we want to win it, but we are capable to do so.  Seize the moment.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Kuyt
Gerrard
Spearing
Maxi
Suarez
Carroll

Result 2:0

Match Report 120501 vs Fulham: Poor attitude

0:1 and as King Kenny said, the attitude of the team was really poor and we deserve nothing from the game.  At time it feels like it was a pre-season game, and the players had no intention to push forward to win.  We definitely need to improve the attitude or else the Cup Final will be a tragedy...

Players Rating:
Doni: 7 Made a few superb saves to save us from further humiliations.
Kelly: 6.5 A good game.
Coates: 6 A solid game.
Skrtel: 6 Unlucky to concede the own goal.
Aurelio: 6 Could be his last game for us.
Henderson: 5.5 Very quiet.
Shelvey: 6.5 Have another good game.
Spearing: 6.5 A solid performance.
Maxi: 6 Failed to find the target.
Kuyt: 6 Not effective at all.
Carroll: 6.5 Played with a good attitude despite failed to score.

Substitutions:
Downing: 5.5 Anonymous.
Enrique: 6.5 A solid game when called up.
Stearling: 7 Another good performance.

King Kenny: 6 Would be very disappointed about the performance.

Fulham: 7 A good performance from them.

Man of the Match: Doni.  Proved that he is a capable backup.

Final check for FA Cup Final

The home game to Fulham is the last game before the Cup Final, and players would need to focus and try to earn a place in the Final squad.  Fulham had been doing well recently so it is not a pushover that we can win easily.  And certainly Spearing would like to have a go in revenging the wrong red card he got at the Cottage.

My team prediction:
Reina
Kelly
Carragher
Coates
Aurelio
Kuyt
Shelvey
Spearing
Maxi
Carroll
Bellamy

Result 2:0

April Month Review

3W 1D 2L and we won the most important game in the FA Cup semi-final, but the performance is once again inconsistency.   With two goalkeepers sent off, Brad Jones had become the unlucky hero in keeping the goal.  The strikers were also on fire especially Suarez scored 5 goals in the month.  Going into May we will have 4 important games, with the FA Cup final that we are all looking for to make the season a memorable one.

Players of the month: (1) Suarez  7.28 (2) Shelvey 6.93 (3) Carroll 6.66.  With 5 goals scored and a superb hat trick, Suarez's form is superb going into the FA Cup Final.  Shelvey did very well in the month and would be fighting for a spot in the first team.  Carroll's confidence is also back with two nice header scored.

May prediction:
5/1 Fulham (h) A game for the players to grab the FA Cup spots.
5/5 Chelsea (n) Bring us the glory.
5/8 Chelsea (h) We also need to win the game if we want to overtake Everton.
5/13 Swansea City (a) A nice place to visit to end the season.

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