Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by rahl

And we know (if we didn't already) who is the manager we really want at Anfield:
"It wasn't a fantastic performance from us but we scored four goals, could have had a lot more and we must be pleased," enthused Benitez.

Yes, we all know by now ... some willingly, soe not so willing.

I'm also waiting to see if what Rafa has been stoutly (stubbornly to others) defending is right ... that his rotation policy will ensure his team runs & jumps half a pace higher & faster than the other teams, when the league proceed into 2008.
& when he's proven right, let's see what praises the press will be unashamedly & unabashedly singing of him then ...

[KingEros]

REDS 4-0 BOLTON: THE REPORT

Jamie Carragher claimed prior to kick-off that the pass and move football Sammy Lee tried to introduce at Bolton was alien to the players. Well, if it was when the little Scouser was sacked last month, it isn't anymore.

Gary Megson's men were taken apart at Anfield on Sunday by a side in championship form. They were dispatched by goals from Fernando Torres, Sami Hyypia, Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard - and it could easily have been more.

The win took Liverpool to third in the Premier League table, and it's worth noting that only twice in their 18 title-winning seasons did they have more points at this stage of the season.

The only sour note was the sight of Carragher leaving the field early in the second half. Rafa Benitez will be keeping his fingers firmly crossed that his defensive stalwart is not due a spell on the sidelines as the season enters a crucial stage.

His side, purring throughout here, should have gone in front after five minutes when Harry Kewell fed Yossi Benayoun through on goal. The Israeli evaded Jussi Jaaskelainen's lunge brilliantly before cutting back to Peter Crouch, who with almost the whole net gaping managed to find the outstretched leg of Lubomir Michalik.

Two minutes later Benayoun was again the provider when Torres burst into the box. Unfortunately, the angle was too acute for the Spaniard to bag his 11th goal of the season.

The dramatic start continued when El Hadji Diouf incurred the wrath of the people he used to 'entertain' with an ugly challenge that could have broken Alvaro Arbeloa's ankle. Ref Steve Bennett flashed a yellow card but it might have been more.

Jaaskelainen was again called into action when Crouch turned and shot from the edge of the box. It was comfortable enough for the Finn, but the Reds were at least showing the kind of thrust missing in previous home games against the likes of Birmingham and Marseille.

Then came the opener. With 17 minutes showing on the Anfield scoreboard the skipper swung in an almost unplayable free-kick. Megson will be furious at the space afforded to Hyypia in the box but the defender still had to finish the job. He gave his countryman no chance with a towering header.

It could have been 2-0 on 28 minutes when Crouch connected with a Gerrard corner but the big man's header flew narrowly over. Kewell, who aside from an unnecessary kick on Ivan Campo was excellent, then came close with a nice touch and half volley from the edge of the box.

Liverpool were firmly in command, with the visitors restricted to the odd chance from set pieces.

Next up for a crack at goal was Torres, who shot through the Bolton defence with ease after latching on to a loose ball. Again he found himself just a little too wide to convert. Shame.

One moment of danger came on 37 minutes when Nicolas Anelka drove a fierce ball across the face of goal. Thankfully Arbeloa got there before the onrushing Diouf.

Seconds later Bolton again nearly snatched an unlikely equaliser when a mix up between Carragher and Pepe Reina left Anelka with an open goal from 12 yards. His subsequent miss might have made Ronny Rosenthal blush.

Bolton were starting to get into it, and Benitez would doubtless have been the happier of the managers to hear the half-time whistle had Torres not doubled his side's lead with a minute to go.

The number nine dinked a delicate shot past the despairing Jaaskelainen after a fabulous throughball from, you've guessed it, Gerrard.

With just two points away from home all season, and an Anfield record which has seen them fail to win since 1954, it looked like job done.

The second half began in the same way as the first, with Crouch missing when he might have done better. The England striker's close-range header from a John Arne Riise cross was just inches wide but it really should have been 3-0.

It definitely should have been three on 50 minutes when Gerrard sliced through Bolton's defence before being denied by the legs of Jaaskelainen.

If the misses weren't yet worrying the home faithful, the sight Carragher being taken off for 20-year-old Jack Hobbs definitely did. Kopites will be keeping their fingers crossed their vice-captain stays in fine health ahead of season-defining games against Marseille and Man Utd.

The substitution was still the talk of the stands when, on 56 minutes, Gerrard made it game over with his eighth goal in nine games. Like his midweek strike against Porto it came from the penalty spot after Crouch was tripped in the box; and like his strike against Porto it was unstoppable.

All that was left was a world-class dribble and shot from Torres and a tap-in from Babel on 85 minutes after the hapless Jaaskelainen parried Dirk Kuyt's low drive.

[rahl]

Originally Posted by KingEros

It is exactly this spirit I have, that's why I could never forgive & foget ... on how Houllier conspired with Thompson to get Fowler out of the club, all becoz they think Owen was doing a better job!!!

Originally Posted by Exciter101

Bro, it is not nice to say about someone who at certain point of time serve Liverpool well.
Even though they did not score as much as God, we should give them credit when credit is due.
Torres is not exactly a fox-in-the-box like Fowler and Owen.
At least, "shortie" score more goals than Cisse.

King, I go with Exciter on this one. heheh. Mickey would have surely hit 20 if he had stayed fit. Oh well, he did leave us for Real but if it was GH who got Fowler out of the team, then it's surely not Mickey's fault.

Originally Posted by KingEros

1) That Lucas gets the nod over Mascherano ... I think Rafa is really fearing the possibility of losing Mascherano this summer - no doing of Mascherano but his own agents/owners of course.

I thought young Leiva was again magnificent in the centre of midfield and let's hope he can grow into that Fabregas role over the course of the season.

[KingEros]

RAFA: WE CAN GET EVEN BETTER
Steve Hunter 02 December 2007

Rafael Benitez claims there is a lot more to come from his team despite seeing Liverpool thrash Bolton Wanderers 4-0 at Anfield.

The Reds climbed to third place in the Barclays Premier League table this weekend and Benitez is confident his team can keep up the pressure on Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Liverpool manager also revealed Jamie Carragher was substituted as a precaution because of bruised ribs, and added the Reds defender will be okay for next Saturday's trip to Reading.

"It wasn't a fantastic performance from us but we scored four goals, could have had a lot more and we must be pleased," enthused Benitez.

"To score four goals against a tough team is really good and in Fernando Torres we have a player who keeps defenders very busy throughout the game.

"We are much closer now to the top of the table than we have been in recent years and we have a much better squad. We are scoring a lot of goals and I think we can still improve and get even better. We still have the likes of Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger, Jermaine Pennant, Fabio Aurelio and Steve Finnan to come back and they are all important players for us.

"We have a lot of confidence and we need to keep our form going and see if the other teams will make mistakes and drop points.

"December and January are important months because we have to play a lot of games, but I have confidence in my team and I think we will be stronger in the second half of the season."

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by rahl

King, I go with Exciter on this one. heheh. Mickey would have surely hit 20 if he had stayed fit. Oh well, he did leave us for Real but if it was GH who got Fowler out of the team, then it's surely not Mickey's fault.

Ok, ok ... I wun push, since you already took the mickey out of him.

Originally Posted by rahl

I thought young Leiva was again magnificent in the centre of midfield and let's hope he can grow into that Fabregas role over the course of the season.

Yes, yes ... he is, for me, the capture of the season!!

[lls8]

LIVERPOOL FC IS "THE REDS"

Without being condescending it is DIFFICULT for MOST fans to appreciate the full value of the KEY MIDFIELD role fulfilled by a MASCHERANO, HAMANN or MAKELELE - what chance a couple of guys involved in less subtle 'Blood & Thunder' sports like Ice Hockey, Baseball etc?

Real Madrid had ALL the Galacticos, Zidane, Figo, Carlos, Raul, et al. So why did they go 3 years(almost 4 years apart from last game of the 4th season)from winning ANYTHING?

The manager at the time said it was the Directors taking the cash and NOT appreciating Makelele's unsung workhorse activities in allowing the 'flair' players to do what comes naturally.

Makelele left. Real Madrid reortedly got £17m. Chelsea got 2 Premier League Titles. Did Makelele REALLY make such a difference at both these clubs ... YES!!! He was the missing cog in both machines.Ranieri got Chelsea into 2nd place and almost the Champions League final. Real Madrid thought the Galacticos could do 'anything'.

What Mascherano brings is what Makelele did at his peak a few years ago in what the ex Evertonian Andy Gray Christened as 'The HAMANN Role'.

Liverpool have the BEST defence in the League and are UNBEATEN - unlike Man U. Hargreaves reportedly cost £17m to be a shadow of a player the Graet Maradona calls 'A Monster'. LFC's current position is not a coincidence.

If Hicks & Gillet are REALLY smart they will give Benitez the freedom to optimise the transfer opportunities that Rafa's network of scouts have unearthed - starting with tying down the ROCK on which Liverpool's future success will be built - Mascherano.

If H & G 'learn about SOCCER' and more importantly 'The Liverpool Way' they will appreciate that Rafa can put Liverpool TOP of the Premiership AND Europe ...... Imagine the Marketing possibilities then, Messrs H & G ???

[lls8]

Comments A

Rafa should have handled this more quietly. We do not wash our dirty linen in public and that will not have endear him to the Board or the new owners. The fact remains that we Liverpool are getting better under Rafa, we have spent a lot less than Manu or Chelsea and rightly the fans are behind Rafa - all our rivals are desperate to emulate his European success, no matter what happens this year.

Plus, Rafa is right, Masch and a centre back are needed if we are to compete for the Premiership. Last year Jose did not get his centre half and Chelsea did not win the league. I despair the Americans not understanding the game!


Comments B

Incompetent journalism. Torres did not cost liverpool £26.5M. Liverpool are challenging for the title. Win the game in hand, they are in second place. Or are Manchester United and Chelsea also not challenging?

Wondering why a £26.5m player only managed to score twice?? That's as many as £40m Shevchenko has managed all season. Remember, this was against a very successful European club, which has won as many European Cups as Manchester United, or Barcelona ie not very many. Although they have won it far more recently than United.

Typical incompetent journalism based on prejudice. They hate Liverpool because they know that when they win the premier league, it won't stop. Another 18 titles in the trots again for Liverpool FC next wave of English Premier League Champions !!!


Comments C

The owners did not spend any of their own money in financing the summer signings. It was money generated by the club and was about £20m net, Liverpool's normal spend. The Americans reluctance to finance much need and sensible signings, has turned them into ignorant looking fools. They are the ones who have bridges to build, and they'd better get on with it. By the way, Torres cost £18m, with add ons, £20.5m. torres did not cost 26.5million. Rafa actually referred to this in his press conference this week; and he did not spend anything like 100million US dollars this summer either. that would infer 50million pounds sterling.

taking sales of players such as cisse, bellamy garcia etc into account he spent around 20 million pounds. or 40 million US. or about 5 million more than we usually spend in a summer. other than the sensationalist bits its not a bad piece.

[hotdick69]

REDs has everything it takes to be at the top..... the only problem.... is Consistency

thats the only thing lacking..... u look at the other big clubs..... when they not playing well they still can get a 1-0 win..... i hope this season Reds will be better... so far so good.... ..... pls dont break my heart like hwta you have did for the past few years

[rahl]

Originally Posted by lls8

LIVERPOOL FC IS "THE REDS"

Without being condescending it is DIFFICULT for MOST fans to appreciate the full value of the KEY MIDFIELD role fulfilled by a MASCHERANO, HAMANN or MAKELELE [/U][/B]then, Messrs H & G ???

Actually all this talk about the so called Makelele Factor only conceals the fact that football has gotten much more defensive in the last 10-15 years. Teams when playing opponents of similar or higher level seldom defend with the 'four' defenders of the 4-4-2 but require a fifth, who is nominally a midfielder but in fact a fifth defender who plays in the forward point of defence.

[sex crusader]

Originally Posted by KingEros

You sure you know what you are saying?
Did you not see Babel miss that other sitter from 6 yards?
To me, his only instinct is to whack the ball as hard as he can, not unlike a certain Mr Cisse ... on the other hand, Torres would have the instinct to place the ball to where the lobang is, so much like a certain Mr Fowler.

Right now, it is not exactly the number of goals from Torres that turns me on ... but the type of goals he can score - left foot, right foot, headers, venomous shots, deft touches ... totally unpredictable, how to defend??

One more thing from the commentators last night that turned me on ... finally they mentioned something truly in honour of God: "LFC need a 20-league-goals-a-season striker for the longest time ... the last time they had one was Folwer, not even Owen has manged to achieve that!!!"
Precisely so, for all the hype about Owen being better than Fowler blah blah blah, that shortie has never managed to score more than 20 league goals in any single season.

Can't you read?

[sex crusader]

Originally Posted by Exciter101

Bro, it is not nice to say about someone who at certain point of time serve Liverpool well.
Even though they did not score as much as God, we should give them credit when credit is due.
Torres is not exactly a fox-in-the-box like Fowler and Owen.
At least, "shortie" score more goals than Cisse.

Agreed! I 'm suprised that someone talk so much about Liverpool has turned on a blind eye whenever torres misses.

[beck7777]

Just wanna add, Torres is indeed showing off his skills and finishing but at times, it seems that he need plenty of chances to score.. (Think Newcastle game)

Last night, he was giving Bolton's defenders nightmare with all the running and dribbling but he only managed to shoot on target once which is the goal he scored( Unless there is more, I cant recall..)

Lets just say he is still not the finished article, which really makes me excitied to see him grow further!

[lls8]

GERRARD STRIKE WINS NOVEMBER AWARD
Steve Hunter 03 December 2007

Steven Gerrard's net breaking free-kick against Newcastle United has been voted Liverpool's Goal of the Month for November by fans on the official voting.

There was a good selection of goals in our vote as Liverpool's first team put the ball into the back of the opposition's net 17 times during November.

Gerrard's strike picked up more than 54 per cent of vote, finishing ahead of Fernando Torres' second goal against Porto (15 per cent) and Ryan Babel's goal during the 3-0 win at Newcastle (9 per cent).



Liverpool's Goal of the Month so far 2007/2008

August: Steven Gerrard v Aston Villa.

September: Ryan Babel v Derby County.

October: Steven Gerrard v Arsenal.

November: Steven Gerrard v Newcastle United.

December: Steven Gerard again ??????

[hawksbay]

Originally Posted by KingEros

You sure you know what you are saying?
Did you not see Babel miss that other sitter from 6 yards?
To me, his only instinct is to whack the ball as hard as he can, not unlike a certain Mr Cisse ... on the other hand, Torres would have the instinct to place the ball to where the lobang is, so much like a certain Mr Fowler.

Right now, it is not exactly the number of goals from Torres that turns me on ... but the type of goals he can score - left foot, right foot, headers, venomous shots, deft touches ... totally unpredictable, how to defend??

One more thing from the commentators last night that turned me on ... finally they mentioned something truly in honour of God: "LFC need a 20-league-goals-a-season striker for the longest time ... the last time they had one was Folwer, not even Owen has manged to achieve that!!!"
Precisely so, for all the hype about Owen being better than Fowler blah blah blah, that shortie has never managed to score more than 20 league goals in any single season.

mo better than god,god will still put him his side pocket now.long live fowler.don t care much for mo now,he left us when we needed him.

[ANDYSIAO14]

i just like the way stevie takes his penalty nowadays...



and torres sublime chip...