Keep Winning

We are in a good run and we will continue this good run. Bolton has just beaten Manchester United, and we need to stop their run and make sure we get the 3 points. Don't let them win 2 at a row yet.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Gerrard
Mascherno
Sissoko
Kewell
Torres
Crouch

Result 2-0

November Month Review

4 wins and 1 draw and we are now after all the meaningless international games. The team is played well and should we win our game in hand we will be second in the league. We are also still in the Champions League and a win at Marseille will see us through to second stage. Off the field Rafa is having some trouble with the owners but it is nice to see thousands of fans backing Rafa, yet we know the contributions of the owners and not criticizing them. Everybody now just need to go back and work together to the benefit of the team.

Players of the Month (1) Gerrard 8.17 (2) Benayoun 7.50 (3) Mascherano 7.38. Stevie G is now hitting form and do well consistently. Benayoun also did well and scored a hat trick. Mascherano is also as solid as ever. It is also worth mention that Torres is back from injury and also managed to score 3 goals in 200 minutes, leading to 2 team victories.

December Prediction:
12/2 Bolton Wanderers (h) We need to keep winning especially at home.
12/8 Reading (a) We beat them in the league cup, and will do it again in the league.
12/11 Marseille (a) Crucial game. Win it and we are through.
12/16 Manchester United (h) Game of the season. We need to win this game to keep pace. And G&H will be here as well.
12/19 Chelsea (a) Although league cup is a low priority but since this is Chelsea, we still need to do our best.
12/22 Portsmouth (h) Portsmouth is doing well but we have the ability to beat them.
12/26 Derby County (a) Derby is heading trouble and if we beat them on Boxing Day they will probably be relegated.
12/30 Manchester City (a) A surprise package, this will be a very tough game but we need to beat them to round off the year.

Match Report 071128 vs Porto: Still hope

4-1 and we are still in the Champions League. Although we need to beat Marseille at their home, but we now have the believe and the strength to do so. And it was nice to see the fans backing Rafa, yet without criticizing the American owners. Everybody should move on and focus in supporting the team, and act for the benefit of the team.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Not really tested.
Finnan: 7 A solid performance.
Carragher: 7.5 Arrange the defense well.
Hyypia: 7 Another vintage performance.
Arbeloa: 7 Did well apart from the goal conceded.
Benayoun: 6.5 Average performance.
Gerrard: 8.5 Scored one, made two.
Mascherano: 7.5 Solid display although he is party blamed for the goal conceded.
Babel: 7 Tried hard but just couldn't score a goal.
Voronin: 6.5 Worked very hard but couldn't create any significant chances.
Torres: 8.5 Scored two great goals. Bravo.

Substitutions:
Crouch: 8 Came up and changed the game.
Kewell: 7.5 Created the winning goal with his vision.
Kuyt: 6.5 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 7.5 Would be happy about the performance. Now we need to win the next game.

Porto: 6.5 Didn't create much chances.

Men of the Match: Gerrard and Torres. Simply awesome!

Win it for Rafa

Rafa is a man who is whole-hearted to win trophies for Liverpool. No doubt about that. In repay to Rafa we need to win this game and keep us within chase of qualification. The fans are ready and so are the players. We have been in similar situation in the past and go through, and we will do this again tonight.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Gerrard
Mascherano
Sissoko
Kewell
Torres
Kuyt

Result 2:0

Match Report 071124 at Newcastle United: Great play

3-0 and we have a comfortable win. Although the game is clouded by the boardroom chaos the team is not affected and coasted to victory easily. We simply out-played Newcastle and should have win by a larger margin, but after all, getting three points is most important.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Comfortable game with not much to do.
Finnan: 7 Easy game but failed to go forward to contribute.
Carragher: 7.5 Bossed the back 4 well.
Hyypia: 8 His best game this season, excellent positioning, and also found time to go forward to assist for Kuyt's goal.
Arbeloa: 7 Solid in defense but not much going forward.
Gerrard: 9 Scored one, created the other two. Great performance.
Lucas: 8 Nice passings.
Sissoko: 7.5 Doing the dirty works well.
Kewell: 7 Gradually back to form.
Kuyt: 7.5 Managed to get on scoresheet.
Torres: 7.5 Missed a hat trick.

Substitutions:
Babel: 7.5 Scored another nice goal.
Crouch/Riise: 6.5 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 8 Wasn't affected by the quarrels with owners. Hope he will stay on.

Newcastle United: 5 Just a disgrace. Very poor performance.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. Played well for Liverpool, not England!

Back to real business

From Rafa's comment there seems to be some problem behind the scene. But now we are back to real business and we need focus and beat Newcastle to keep challenging the top. The injured players are recovering well, and we can field a strong squad to meet this challenge.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Arbeloa
Babel
Gerrard
Mascherano
Kewell
Voronin
Torres

Result 2:0

Match Report 071110 vs Fulham: Fernando saves the day

2-0 and it was the brilliant Torres that scored the goal and saved us the day. We were on top for 80 minutes but just couldn't score a goal, and then a clever Reina passed the ball to Torres, with a beautiful spin, scored the goal and changed the game. This is the kind of player we need to win the title.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Superb vision for the assist.
Arbeloa: 7 Solid display.
Carragher: 7 Lead the defense well.
Hyypia: 7.5 One of his best of this season.
Aurelio: 7 Almost scored from a free kick. Will get that goal soon.
Benayoun: 7 Missed an absolute sitter.
Gerrard: 7.5 Driving the team forward.
Mascherano: 7 A little bit poor from his usual high standard. Too many mis passes.
Riise: 6 Another so-so performance.
Voronin: 7 Had chance to score at least 2.
Crouch: 7 Did well and earned us the penalty for the decisive goal.

Subsititutions:
Babal: 7 Nice performance.
Torres: 8 Come to save us.
Lucas: 7 Another nice performance from the youngster.

Rafa: 7 Nice touch by picking up the same team, and then changed to make the difference.

Fulham: 6 Was trying hard to get 1 point. Would be struggling for survival as usual.

Man of the Match: Torres. It's really joyful to watch him play.

Catch up

After the superb performance in midweek we need to transfer the form to the league. Surprisingly we only won 1 match and drawn 4 at home, and we need to start picking points at home now. Fulham has not win away for a long time and we need to extend their streak as well.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Mascherano
Sissoko
Benayoun
Gerrard
Voronin
Crouch

Result 3:0

Record Breaker

8-0 and we have broken the biggest win record in Champions League history. We controlled the game from the beginning and this time, an early goal set the pace and we just cruised till the end. Benayoun was sensational and shown us why Rafa has trusted him. At the end the whole team did well and the result is about right. If we can play like this day in day out, we will qualify and can win the League title.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Made one save in the whole match.
Arbeloa: 7.5 A solid display.
Carragher: 7.5 Lead the defense well
Hyypia: 7.5 A much improved performance.
Aurelio: 7.5 Getting better and better.
Benayoun: 10 3 goals and 2 assists. Sensational.
Gerrard: 8.5 Scored one and created another.
Mascherano: 8 As good as usual.
Riise: 8.5 A quick throw-in that lead to the second goal and an assist from a shot. Was unlucky not to have scored one himself.
Voronin: 8.5 2 assists and was also unlucky not to register himself on the scoresheet.
Crouch: 9 Opened the floodgate and closed it. A sensational performance.

Substitutions:
Babel: 8.5 A brilliant back heal, a fluke goal, and was unlucky not to score a hat tricks.
Kewell: 7 Getting better and better.
Lucas: 7 A solid display.

Rafa: 8 Would be very happy about the performance. Now we need to do it day in, day out.

Besiktas: 5 No defense at all. It's a mystery why they beat us 2 weeks ago.

Man of the Match: Benayoun. Is he Luis Garcia in disguise? But Yossi is younger and more consistent.

Cup Final #1

In order to have any chance to qualify the Group Stage we need to win this game. What kind of attacking formation will Rafa play? Nobody knows. And should we lose this game and concentrate in the league? Maybe.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Benayoun
Gerrard
Mascherano
Aurelio
Voronin
Crouch

Result 2-0

Match Report 071103 at Blackburn Rovers: We need improvement

0-0 and it should be a fair result. We played very badly in 1H and may be 2 down, but we played much better in 2H. Kewell and Crouch had a good game and deserve a starting place. Kuyt had a really bad game, but as Rafa said he is a hard working warrior, and we need to give him chance.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Did well when required.
Finnan: 7 Had a better game.
Carragher: 7 Did 1.5 men's job and almost conceded a penalty.
Hyypia: 6 A mispass earned Carra a yellow card.
Riise: 6 Still disappointing.
Mascherano: 7 Good game as usual.
Sissoko: 6.5 Still too many mispasses.
Benayoun: 6 Not effective.
Gerrard: 7.5 Almost win the game for us.
Babel: 6 Not effective.
Kuyt: 6 Missed a lot of chances. Could have scored 2.

Substitutions:
Kewell: 7 Changed the game when he was bought up.
Crouch: 7 Did well and almost scored.

Rafa: 6.5 Need to find someone to score other than Torres and Stevie G.

Blackburn Rovers: 7 Did well and could have win the game in 1H. Serious top 6 contender.

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

No more injuries

Away at Blackburn is always a tough game for us, and a few years ago, Baros and Carragher were both injured in this matchup. We now have enough injuries to worry, so the least thing we want is more. Nevertheless, we still need to get something from this game, especially as Arsenal is playing Manchester and they will lose points. Time to do some catch ups.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Gerrard
Mascherano
Sissoko
Benayoun
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 2-0

October Month Review

2W2D2L for the month of October. On the plus side we still maintain our unbeaten run despite we dropped 4 more points, but on the minus side we lost both Champions League matches and are now on the edge of failing to qualify. Also more worrying is the injury list is piling up, with Torres and Alonso out after a brief return vs Arsenal. Come November there will be some tough games coming, and we need to start winning.

Players of the Month (1) Gerrard 7.09 (2) Mascherano 6.91 (3) Reina 6.70. Stevie G picked up his from finally with 3 goals and 2 assists and also earned us a penalty at Everton. Mascherano just did well consistently and played the Hamann role extremely well. Despite not picking up a cleansheet Reina was the main reason we did not concede too many goals despite Agger is still a week from return to the squad.

November Prediction:
11/3 Blackburn Rovers (a) A tough away game, but we need to get something.
11/6 Besiktas (h) Need to win this to have any chance to qualify.
11/10 Fulham (h) One of the easier game of the month, but we still need to find some way to score.
11/24 Newcastle United (a) Another tough away game but we need to break Owen's dream once more.
11/28 Porto (h) Another must win game if we still want to qualify.

God returned, but we have a Savior

2-1 and once again Stevie G is our saviour. It's really good to see Fowler back to Anfield once again as a player, and it was a pity he didn't score. Nevertheless we are now through to last 8 and the youngsters will have another chance to shine.

Players Rating:
Itandje: 6.5 Another good start.
Arbeloa: 6.5 A good run on the right.
Hobbs: 7 Did well on his first start of the season.
Carragher: 7.5 Leading the defense well.
Aurelio: 6.5 Committed a serious guilt in denying God a goal.
El Zhar: 7 Grabbed his chance well with a nice taken goal.
Gerrard: 8 A goal and an assist and has now scored 3 matches in a row.
Lucas: 7 Did well.
Leto: 6.5 A good game.
Babel: 6.5 A bit disappointed.
Crouch: 6.5 Need to start scoring soon.

Substitutions:
Benayoun: 7 Come up to provide assist to the winning goal.
Kewell: 6.5 A nice run after injury.
Mascherano: 6.5 Glad to see him back so soon.

Rafa: 6.5 A job well done. He would be happy to see the young lads did well.

Cardiff City: 6.5 A nice game and provided a bit scare to us. To bad Fowler didn't score.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. Back to his best.

God returns

Finally it's the day. It's probably the second time I don't want Liverpool to win, the first time being the final match vs Blackburn when they were fighting for the League title. This is just a League Cup game, and we have lots of injuries, so we won't be able to field a strong squad. Chance for God to score a hat trick.

My Team Prediction:

Itandje
Arbeloa
Carragher
Hobbs
Aurelio
Leiva
Sissoko
Leto
Kewell
Babel
Crouch

Result 2-4

Match Report 071028 vs Arsenal: No complaints on the result

1-1 and we should not have too many complaints on the result. Given that they were a better team to us on this occasion and have hit the post twice, and if we don't take the chance and make it 2-0, there is always a danger that they will score.

We also suffered from the triple injuries, and wish they are not so serious, but then we will visit Blackburn next week and it will not be an easy game at all.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Did well although he can do nothing about that fabulous goal.
Finnan: 6.5 Did better than the midweek game.
Carragher: 8 Played with determination.
Hyypia: 7 Good display.
Riise: 6 Poor crossing all the game.
Alonso: 7 Did very well until he was injured.
Mascherano: 7.5 Another nice display.
Kuyt: 6.5 Not too effective on the wing
Gerrard: 8 Scored another beauty.
Voronin: 6.5 Too rush at times.
Torres: 6 Clearly not yet ready for this match.

Substitutions:
Crouch: 7 Had a couple of chances but just can't score.
Benayoun 6.5 Not much impact.
Arbeloa: 6.5 Midfield is not his strength.

Rafa: 7 A good formation. It may not work against Arsenal, but for weaker teams this is certainly the way to go.

Arsenal: 7.5 Serious title contender. I won't be surprise if they win it.

Man of the Match: Carragher/Gerrard. Captains led by examples.

Rebound

After a poor result in midfield we are now back to the League and will play the leader. We have a few injuries and some players are very tired, but still we need to get something from the game or otherwise we will be left behind to far away.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Mascherano
Babel
Kuyt
Torres

Result 2-0

Match Report 071024 at Besiktas: Tough but not impossible

1-2 and now it will be tough, if not possible to go through the Group Stage. 3 wins should get us through and with a little help from results of the other games, 2 wins and 1 draw may do as well.

We have lots of possessions and chances but somehow can't score until it's too late. Hyypia is unlucky to have scored another own goal, and whole team in general is ineffective. Rafa needs to find way to sort it out before the big game on Sunday.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Can't do much to prevent both goals.
Finnan: 6 Blocked Carra's clearance and lead to the Sami own goal.
Carragher: 6 Ineffective as a group.
Hyypia: 5.5 He does not deserve this.
Riise: 6 Not much contribution.
Pennant: 5.5 Ineffective.
Gerrard: 7 Scored a header but it's too little, too late.
Mascherano: 6 Performed his role quietly.
Babel: 5.5 Hardly seen on the pitch.
Kuyt: 6 Ineffective.
Voronin: 6 Ineffective.

Substitutions:
Benayoun: 6
Lucas/Crouch: 6 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 6 Need to sort out the mess in defense and the lack of goals immediately.

Besiktas: 6.5 They would be happy to win this game.

Man of the Match: Gerrard. If only he can score the goal earlier...

Must-not-lose game

As Rush said this is not a must-win game but it is a must-not-lose game. We have 1 points from 2 games and a win tonight will bring us closers to the top 2 teams, depending on result in the other game. We still have no Torres, and the atmosphere will be hostile, but still we need to somehow win this game.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Pennant
Gerrard
Mascherano
Riise
Kuyt
Crouch

Result 2:0

Match Report 071020 at Everton: Great Escape

2-1 and this is really a big boast and a great escape for the team. We still played poorly and were a bit lucky to get 3 points. Rafa made some bold decision by "resting" Gerrard and if we don't win, he will be in big trouble. Anyway this is another 3 points and let's hope it will be a springboard for the team to rebound.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Not much to do and can't do anything with such a brilliant own goal.
Finnan: 6.5 Found it difficult to contain Lescott.
Carragher: 6.5 Played with passion.
Hyypia: 6 Would be grateful his own goal is not costing us 3 points.
Riise: 6.5 Defense as a unit simply is not good enough.
Gerrard: 7 Ineffective in 1H, but played better when switched to left side. It was his brilliant pass that lead to the 1st penalty. Unfortunately he played with too much passion and not enough brain and was substituted by Rafa.
Mascherano: 6.5 Effective display.
Sissoko: 5 Way too many mispasses.
Benayoun: 6 A flat display.
Voronin: 7 A lively display and should have his name on the scoresheet.
Kuyt: 7.5 Had the last laugh by scoring two cool penalties.

Substitutions:
Babel: 6 Not much contribution.
Lucas: 7 Cruelly denied a winning goal by Neville's handball.
Pennant: 6 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 6.5 His gamble paid off, but it was close.

Everton: 6.5 Played with passion but no brain. Were a bit unlucky to lose the game, but so were we last season.

Man of the Match: Kuyt. Although he felt a bit lucky to have stayed on the pitch, but at the end he had the last laugh.