My Liverpool Experience

One of the things on my bucket list that I have always wanted to do was to go and see a Liverpool match at Anfield. Ever since I can remember I have watched Liverpool FC on the television but have never actually been to a game live. In December last year I decided to fulfil this dream and get Liverpool tickets for the game against Cardiff. Tickets for this game were the cheapest for the season and therefore I decided this was going to be the game. I made the trip from London to Liverpool the night before so I would get the full weekend in the city. This is my experience in Liverpool for the weekend. 

Liverpool Nightlife
Liverpool has a fantastic nightlife especially at weekends and has been voted ‘the best city night to go out in’ for many years on the row. Concert Square is a great place to go out and is always extremely busy and has a very large concentration of bars and clubs all located next to each other. Even though I don’t drink alcohol I decided to go into a few of these bars to see what it was like and I fully enjoyed myself and the atmosphere was great. I fully recommend that anybody not from Liverpool go to the city for an evening, as it is great.
 
The Beatle Story
Aside from Liverpool FC, the city of Liverpool is famous for The Beatles. No trip to the city would be complete without a visit to famous museum. The Beatles Story tells the journey of how 4 local lads from Liverpool joined together and became the biggest band in the world. Fans from all 4 corners of the planet visit this museum and often in the summer queues can be big but for my visit there was no major crowd. Once again, this is a must visit place in Liverpool.

 
The Game
A life long dream was to always sit in the famous Kop Stand and be with all the big Liverpool flags and banners. My ticket was exactly in this stand and the game was great in which we eventually won 3-1 with Suarez scoring 2 and Sterling scoring 1 respectively. This season we have played our best football in a long time and you can feel that in the atmosphere, from the first minute until the last everyone was singing. This truly was an experience I will not forget and so much so I plan on taking my close friend to the Liverpool v Arsenal match in a couple of weeks. 


Written by Adam, a travel blogger and lifelong Liverpool fan from London.

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Goal Highlights: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City

Luis Suarez celebrated committing his long-term future to Liverpool by firing two more goals and sending the Reds to the Barclays Premier League summit with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City.

Fresh from signing a new contract on Friday, the stand-in captain fired a brace of sublime first-half efforts which sandwiched a goal from Raheem Sterling that the Uruguayan created selflessly when played behind in acres of space.

Jordon Mutch headed home a consolation for the side from Wales in the second half, but Brendan Rodgers' team took the points and now top the Premier League standings; they will enjoy first place on Christmas Day if early pace-setters Arsenal cannot overcome fellow challengers Chelsea on Monday evening.

The pre-match team news was straightforward; Suarez retained the captain's armband he wore with distinction against Tottenham Hotspur and the boss kept faith with the same starting XI which notched five at White Hart Lane.

Sterling raced in behind the visiting defence in just the second minute from an incisive Glen Johnson through ball and, when his cross was cleared high into the crisp Merseyside air, Suarez directed a volley wide at the near post.

Suarez then had an effort from a promising central position blocked by Andrew Taylor after being teed up by Sterling, who had streaked onto a lofted Jordan Henderson pass; Philippe Coutinho subsequently slashed wide with his left foot.

In response, Mutch whipped a low attempt comfortably wide from the right corner of the Liverpool penalty area, before Simon Mignolet was required to spring to his right and expertly palm away a Craig Noone curler on 15 minutes.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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Preview: Liverpool v Cardiff City

Things get started bright and early on Saturday with a match of great consequence when Liverpool hosts Cardiff City at Anfield.

Liverpool could go top of the table if they manage to overcome Cardiff at Anfield tomorrow lunchtime as they look for their fourth consecutive league victory – and build on the 14 goals they have scored in their previous three games. Luis Suarez is to thank for over half of them. You should be placing your bets on Suarez scoring a few goals in this match on betfair.com or Liverpool winning on a big margin again.

Liverpool are still without captain Steven Gerrard, who will not be fit to return to the new year because of his hamstring injury.

Brendan Rodgers is also missing striker Daniel Sturridge and defender Jose Enrique.

Cardiff await news on whether ex-Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy will be fit to face his former club.

Aside from that, Bluebirds manager Malky Mackay has a fully fit squad to select from.

Cardiff enter the match on the back of a much-needed victory over West Bromwich, with Peter Whittingham's header ending their five-match winless run in the top flight.

That result saw the end of another managerial reign in the Premier League, with Steve Clarke sacked at West Bromwich following the loss.

Cardiff sit 15th in the table, four points above the relegation zone, but the strained relationship between chairman Vincent Tan and manager Mackay has hit the headlines again this week.

Mackay had previously spoken about his desire to sign players in January but Tan hit back in a strongly worded statement, saying that "not a penny" would be spent in the upcoming transfer window and that the manager had had more than enough funding.

Rodgers shared his sympathies with Mackay, saying: "He has had great results this season and is going to go on and be a great manager at a big club and I find it absolutely astonishing there is talk about him leaving there."

So far this season Liverpool’s home form has been very good, with the loss to Southampton in September the only blot on their Anfield copybook so far this season, and they come up against a Cardiff side that has only won the one game on the road this term.

The two club’s last met in the final of the Capital One Cup in the 2012 when won 3-2 on penalties after it finished 2-2 in normal time.

The last league meeting between the two sides came during the 1959/1960 season in the old second division when Cardiff won 4-0 at Anfield, a similar result this time round would send shockwaves throughout the Premier League.

Fancy Suarez scoring a hat-trick?

 

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Cardiff wants Reds striker

As reported in yesterday’s Echo, the 32-year old Wales international, Craig Bellamy is being again linked with a return to his home-town club where he spent a season on loan back in 2010 when at Manchester City. Cardiff are considering a bid for the Liverpool striker, who spent the 2010-2011 season on loan with the Bluebirds.

Bellamy, began his career with Norwich City and established professionals Mackay and Roberts were among his Carrow Road team-mates.

Cardiff are understood to be working out the finances to re-sign Bellamy, who was captain during his season long loan spell.

Bellamy re-joined Liverpool on a two-year deal from Manchester City in August 2011.

The Championship club hope to discuss a proposed deal with Liverpool before any talks take place with the former Wales captain.

A loan move back to Cardiff could be an option, but appears unlikely.

But with former Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers in charge at Anfield now, Bellamy is set for talks to determine just what his role on Merseyside might be next campaign.

The striker was dissatisfied under former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish. He made 37 appearances for the Reds, but only 12 Premier League starts.

As Rodgers looks to improve on Liverpool’s eighth place finish last term what role Bellamy might have in his plans remains unclear.

The Welsh club's Malaysian owners recently announced a £100million investment plan as Cardiff, who have suffered three successive play-off disappointments, bid for Premier League promotion.

Cardiff’s rumour may appear to be true and will bid in the region of £2million for Bellamy when the players are back from their summer holidays.

Will Bellamy leave Anfield for Cardiff City?

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Carling Cup Final: Liverpool won on penalties

Liverpool ended their six-year wait for silverware with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

After the game had finished 2-2 following extra-time, the Reds prevailed 3-2 on penalties with Anthony Gerrard missing the decisive kick for the Welsh side.

It meant Kenny Dalglish has led Liverpool to a trophy in his first full season back at the helm, and he'll be hoping it proves the catalyst for further success in the remainder of 2011-12.

Joe Mason had given the Bluebirds a 19^th minute lead against the run of play when he crept into space inside the box and struck through the legs of Pepe Reina.

Liverpool controlled the contest, but had to wait until the hour mark to equalise when Martin Skrtel pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire home after Luis Suarez's header had hit the post.

With no further goals in the 90 minutes, the teams contested half an hour of extra-time - and Dirk Kuyt fired the Reds into the lead when he found the net at the second attempt from the edge of the box on 108 minutes.

However, Ben Turner netted from a goal-mouth scramble following a Cardiff corner at the death to force penalties.

Read more: Liverpool FC Official

 

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Video: Kenny Dalglish on Carling Cup Final

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish says victory in Sunday's Carling Cup final against Cardiff would mean a great deal to both himself and supporters after six years without a trophy.

The Reds have not won anything since their FA Cup win at Cardiff in 2006.

   “It means a lot to me. More importantly it means a lot to a lot of people who have had to endure a few years when we've not been [to Wembley],”

“It is just reward for the loyalty and support they have shown.”

Championship side Cardiff stand between Dalglish and what would be his first ever League Cup win as a manager.

It is the one domestic honour missing from his managerial career, although he won it four times as a player.

A 3-2 aggregate win over Manchester City in the semi-final ensured Liverpool's first trip to the new Wembley, where they will bid for an eighth League Cup title.

   “I think we've treated the competition with respect but the other teams that have are few and far between,”

“We have treated it very seriously. We've used 20-odd players to get there so every member of the squad bar a couple has made a contribution,”

“We are grateful to all of them, to the owners and supporters and everyone who has stood by us.” added the veteran Scot.

The Reds go into the match on the back of a 6-1 win over Brighton in the FA Cup, which has set up a quarter-final clash with Stoke City at Anfield.

   “We have moved on from where we were last year, progressing in the FA Cup and the final of this cup and are four points behind fourth in seventh place - this time last year we were nowhere near that,”

“There is progress being made. For the players it is an indication of how well they have done so everyone is looking forward to it,”

“We have a chance so we will do as well as we possibly can and we will try to progress the club and move forward.” added Dalglish.

Source: BBC Sport

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