LFC: A Quiet Incredible Man

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin On the 23rd of January 1919 in a little known town called Hetton-le-Hole in County Durham, was born a baby who was to grow up to be the most successful manager in Liverpool Football Club’s history. His name of course was Bob Paisley. Paisley started his long road to success at non-league Bishop Auckland before signing for Liverpool in May 1939, but due to war breaking out Paisley had to wait until 5th of January...

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Match Report: Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin A big match for both teams with Spurs still in the hunt for the league title and Liverpool are in the chase for a top four spot. Spurs humbled Liverpool earlier in the season, when they won 4-0, with Liverpool finishing the match with only nine players. But Liverpool has been on a good run of form recently and they would be looking to gain revenge at Anfield. Liverpool supporters were buoyed with anticipation of the return of Luis Suarez after serving his ban. The Team The big team news of the night was that...

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LFC: A Week Is A Long Time In Football

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin What a week in Liverpool’s season. Liverpool’s season could have been over if results went against them in the last week, but instead the week just past has been a memorable one, with wins in the Carling Cup against Manchester City, followed by knocking out Manchester United in the FA Cup. All this after Liverpool suffering one of their worst performances and results since Kenny Dalglish’s return to Liverpool the previous weekend away to Bolton, where Dalglish came out and made it publicly clear that he was not...

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Match Report: Wolves 0-3 Liverpool

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin After a very exciting week of cup football for Liverpool, it was back to league business as they travelled to Wolves in their chase for a top four place. Going into the match Liverpool had only won one of their last six league games , so a win was vital for Liverpool. Wolves are struggling at the foot of the league table, but they earned a good away point at Spurs recently and they would be hoping to upset Liverpool with home field advantage. The Team Dalglish made five changes from the side that knocked out...

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Match Report: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin Liverpool went into this Carling Cup second leg tie with a slender one goal advantage after their gritty performance in Manchester a fortnight ago. Liverpool would be hoping to finish of the job at a packed Anfield, as they hoped to return to Wembley for the first time since 1996, and get to their first major final since 2007. Dalglish would be hoping for a response from his team after publicly criticising his players after their poor performance against Bolton at the weekend. The Team Dalglish made two changes...

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Match Report: Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin After the tremendous result in Manchester midweek in the Carling Cup, it was back to league business at Anfield against Stoke City. Stoke City would be a difficult team to beat, and on a four match unbeaten run. Liverpool has found it tough this season at home drawing six matches at home. So a win was very important if Liverpool were to keep in the race for a top four place. THE TEAM Liverpool made five changes to the team that faced Manchester City in the Carling Cup last Wednesday, with Carragher and Coates...

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Match Report: Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin Liverpool returned to Manchester little more than a week after being humbled by the League leaders for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at the Etihad Stadium. Since the defeat last week Liverpool despatched Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup, while City lost at home to neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup. Liverpool knew that a similar 3-0 score line would be disastrous in their quest to reach the new Wembley for the first time. The Team Dalglish brought Agger, Johnson, Skrtel, Henderson, Downing and Andy...

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Match Report: Liverpool 5-1 Oldham Athletic

Liverpool started their quest for a return to the new Wembley in the FA Cup with a home draw against Oldham Athletic. The fixture was shifted to the Friday night because Everton were also playing at home on the Saturday this weekend. A minute’s applause was held before the match in memory for former Liverpool player Gary Ablett who sadly passed away on New Year’s night after a long illness. THE TEAM As expected Dalglish made a few changes to the side that lost to Manchester City last Tuesday. The major team news was that Gerrard was making his...

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LFC: Striker Needed

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin I watched the Liverpool match the other night against Manchester City and although I think they played well enough, they were seriously lacking as an attacking force. The ban on Suarez is going to be a real problem, and you could see that there was a lack of movement or options with Carroll playing a lone striking role. I am not having a go at Andy Carroll, but if Liverpool want to play the big man up front I believe he needs a playing partner alongside him. Carroll doesn’t have the pace or movement to terrify...

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LFC: Accepting the Wrong Decision

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin Through gritted teeth, and with no admission to guilt Liverpool have now accepted the decision by the FA to ban Luis Suarez for 8 matches. Both Liverpool and Suarez issued statements of resignation to the fact that they have to accept the ban, although in their statements there is no admission of being guilty to the charge. But deep down they know that it is pointless and a waste of time to challenge the FA in a case involving a Manchester United player whose manager is the “Godfather” of the FA and Suarez was...

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Match Report: Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin With the games coming thick and fast at this busy time of the year Liverpool were next to face a Newcastle side at Anfield who have had a great start to the season, but have started to struggle a bit in recent times. Liverpool went into the match trying to sort out their home form having drawn far too many for Dalglish’s liken. An added interest in this fixture is former Newcastle favourites’ Enrique and Andy Carroll facing their old team. THE TEAM Kenny made two changes to the side that drew with Blackburn...

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Match Report: Wigan 0-0 Liverpool

By guest writer: Jamie McLaughlin With a busy festive period starting Liverpool travelled to the DW Stadium to face a Wigan side at the wrong end of the League table. Wigan has a good recent record against Liverpool with two draws in the last couple years at the DW. But Liverpool has good form away from home this season and played well on Sunday away at Aston Villa. Wigan’s last game was a great performance in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend. But with the news of Suarez facing a fine and an 8 match ban for the long running saga with the...

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Suarez Saga: Hung Drawn and Quartered

At long last the FA made a decision on Suarez and his alleged racist comments towards Evra, it really is so amazing how long it has taken to come to a conclusion. I obviously feared he would be found guilty but the harshness of the punishment is unbelievable, obviously the FA are making a strong statement to UEFA on their stand against racism in this country and they were determined to make an example of someone, and unluckily for Suarez he was the man they were looking for. Suarez has been treated harshly since his arrival in this country, constantly...

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Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool Match Report

After getting back to winning ways last weekend in a 1-0 win over QPR, Liverpool were hoping to build on the win away to Aston Villa. Aston Villa had been struggling recently but they earned a good away win at Bolton last week and would go into the match with confidence. Adding spice to the fixture would be the return of former Villa favourite Downing to his old stomping ground. THE TEAM Kenny made a couple of changes to his side with Craig Bellamy coming back into the side and a big surprise with the selection of newly returned Shelvey to the...

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Liverpool 1-0 QPR Match Report

With Liverpool’s unbeaten run ending last Monday at Fulham they were hoping to bounce back quickly in their return to Anfield. But Liverpool have not found it easy at Anfield this season, having drawn five matches and especially struggling to beat newly promoted teams, with draws against Norwich and Swansea already this season. QPR have started pretty well this season and Liverpool would have to be at their best to overcome Neil Warnock’s side. THE TEAM Dalglish brought Maxi and Kuyt back into the team for this match. With Jay Spearing suspended...

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Anfield News: Views for Today

Starting to get over the frustration of the Fulham match. Still simmering over that referee who gave us nothing all night, and it is not the first time this season that I have felt that a referee has not acted impartially. It is not just sour grapes about us losing another match against a team we should be beating. The amount of big decisions that could have gone either way, all went against us on Monday night. But regardless of the referee he did not put the ball in the net against us to defeat us, an unusual mistake from our reliable Pepe Reina...

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Fulham 1-0 Liverpool Match Report

Liverpool was hoping to keep their good run of form going in this testing trip to Craven Cottage. Liverpool had good memories of their last visit to Fulham when they had a convincing win with Maxi netting a hat-trick. Fulham have been unlucky with a couple of defeats in their last two games and with former Reds’ players Riise and Danny Murphy in their side the home side would be well up for the contest. THE TEAM Dalglish brought Suarez and Spearing into the side, Spearing making his first league start of the season for Liverpool to replace...

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Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City Match Report

The fixtures don’t come any tougher than playing against pace setters Manchester City. City remain unbeaten so far this season going into this match and have been scoring goals for fun in the league. But Liverpool was on a decent run of form too, remaining unbeaten in nine games, and with a superb victory last time out last Sunday at Chelsea. THE TEAM Kenny made two changes from the team that won at Chelsea last Sunday with Downing and Henderson...

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Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool Match Report

With Liverpool stuttering with draws at home and Chelsea’s recent poor form, this match was vital for both teams to get a positive result so they keep in touch with the leading group. Liverpool have had good results against Chelsea in recent years and they managed to do the double over them last season. Dalglish is unbeaten as manager against Chelsea so confidence was good going into the match. THE TEAM Kenny made three changes to his side with...

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Suarez Being Victimised

Luis Suarez has been a terrific signing for Liverpool, what an impact he’s had. The supporters love him, Torres and the absent Gerrard have been virtually forgotten about. I remember the great sense of loss and despair I felt when the news broke of Torres leaving us, although I knew Suarez was coming to us I was so gutted to think that no player could replace Torres. How wrong I was, Suarez has lit up Anfield so many times with his mesmerising skills and his never stop running work ethic. OK so far he has not been as clinical in front of goal...

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