Preview: Liverpool v Fulham

V

Liverpool goes into today's match against the in-form Fulham as joint leaders of the Premier League.

Rafa Benitez has finally moulded a team which can challenge for the league title since 1990. With seven victories out of eight league matches, has shown that Liverpool can secure crucial victories even when not at their best.

Today's match also commemorate Steven Gerrard's 10-year anniversary of his debut for the club. But Rafa Benitez must do without Gerrard for the visit of the Cottagers.

Benitez confirmed: "Gerrard is not fit - he cannot play tomorrow(today).

The Liverpool skipper trained on his own at Melwood today as he battles to overcome a groin injury in time to be fit for the Champions League fixture with Marseille next week.

Meanwhile, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is delighted Andrew Johnson is starting to live up to the expectation surrounding him as one of the club's most expensive buys.

Dickson Etuhu is in the squad for the first time since his move from Sunderland after recovering from a knee injury and Hodgson has no other injury concerns other than long-term absentee Diomansy Kamara.

And that has prompted Hodgson to make favourable comparisons with Fernando Torres ahead of the trip to Anfield, which is expected to mark the Spain international's return from injury.

Hodgson said: "It's not a gamble to sign a player with such a proven track record. Fernando Torres was coveted for several years by teams playing all over Europe before Liverpool agreed to pay the enormous transfer fee that Atletico Madrid wanted.

Torres and Keane are expected to start for Liverpool tomorrow, with the Reds also boosted by the return of Alvaro Arbeloa from suspension.

Daniel Agger will continue to partner Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence, with Martin Skrtel still sidelined.

Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano should start in the centre of midfield with Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel vying for starting berths.

Kick-off time: 3pm (UK time)

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YNWA,
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Liverpool midfielder could be leaving Anfield soon

I can felt the players’ frustration when they are not selected for the first eleven but when you’re playing for Liverpool FC, that’s mean you must understand it will be difficult if the team are playing well at the moment.

Yossi Benayoun has vented his frustration by indicating he’ll walk out of Anfield if he still warming the bench in the coming months.

"Even if it’s Liverpool, if I don’t get to play in the next few months I will not want to be here.

“I enjoy my time in England but maybe it is time to learn a new language - maybe Italian, French or Russian.

“When I came here it wasn’t so I could tell everyone ‘Hey, I play for Liverpool’.

“My purpose was to prove myself and, in the first year, I think I did with 11 goals and 10 assists.

“I understand that I am at one of the biggest clubs in the world and that this year there are better players.

“After our win over Manchester United I lost my place. Everyone wants to play and it is no fun sitting on the bench or playing just a few minutes.

“I’m part of the rotation but I hope in the next few months it will change.” – Benayoun, Setanta Sports

I don’t know what other people think of this but for me, I’ll tells Rafa to sell him or put him in the Gareth Barry’s deal this January. The bad news are Aston Villa prepared to hold on to Barry until his contract expire.

Why hold on to a player that doesn’t have the mentality for team success?

Till then.

YNWA,
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Reds keen to keep Arbeloa

 

Liverpool fullback, Alvaro Arbeloa was linked to Atletico Madrid as his contract with Liverpool run out in 2010.

Rafa wouldn’t want to wait until the “speculation” becomes a reality when Atletico Madrid came forward with a bid in the January transfer window. With Philipp Degen sidelined yet again after the Swiss right-back, fractured his metatarsal against Tottenham in the Carling cup match.

But Rafa Benitez’s contract talk has been stalled, any player’s contract negotiation will not be materialised.

“I have a contract with Liverpool for another year," Arbeloa told AS. "We haven’t spoken about an extension. It is necessary to know first if Benitez will stay…

"It seems to be a little too soon to speak about that.” - Alvaro Arbeloa, Setanta Sports.

The match against Bolton last weekend sees Liverpool need to make changes to the back four as Arbeloa was suspended and Degen out injured. The Spanish defender almost left Anfield in the summer with reports said that he need to return to Spain on personal reason.

It’s very unwise to loose a good fullback in the middle of the season. I hope the Americans can sort out their differences and let everyone on the playing field focus on playing football.

 

Till then.

 

YNWA,

Red's Fury™

 

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Page 3 babe engaged to Pennant

English glamour model and Page 3 Girl Amii Grove is engaged to Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant.

The Liverpool winger has an on and off relationship, broken up in 2007 over a "cheating" scandal. It might not be the most traditional of venues to pop the question. But Liverpool FC star Jermaine Pennant, chose an unusual place to ask his girlfriend Amii Grove, to marry him – her beloved brother Lee Marley’s graveside.

“We went to visit Lee’s grave and I was kneeling down laying some flowers when Jermaine bent down next to me and asked, ‘Do you want to get married to me?’.

“It’s been a tough year for the family. Getting engaged to Jermaine is probably a bit of good news that we needed. Lee would have been so happy for us. I never stopped thinking about Jermaine after we split up - and he feels the same way.”

While, Pennant kops a 32D babe, his playing days are numbered at Anfield. Report over his potential move away from Liverpool were fuelled in the summer with Blackburn Rovers interested in signing him.

And recently, during an Liverpoolfc.tv interview, Rafa has mentioned that Jermaine Pennant could be packing his bags in January.

Rafa will be looking for funds to bolster the current Liverpool squad in the coming transfer window, especially the right-side of midfield.

International friendlies coming this Wednesday, all eyes are at Hampden Park in Glasgow, where Scotland v Argentina, Diego Maradona first match in-charge as Argentine’s coach.

Till then.

YNWA,
Red's Fury™

Posted using Windows Live Writer Beta

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Bolton 0-2 Liverpool

English Premier League

15th November 2008

The Reebok Stadium (A)

BOLTON 0-2 LIVERPOOL

Liverpool heading back to winning way after losing twice to Tottenham Hotspurs in the league and Carling cup. Two headed goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard ensured Liverpool came away with all three points at the Reebok Stadium last Saturday.

A fine cross from Fabio Aurelio in the 28 minutes setup Dirk Kuyt's goal. Earlier, Kuyt unleashed a thunderous shot against the Bolton's woodwork as the Reds plied on the pressure in the first half.

Bolton has a goal disallowed before the half-time whistle. Cahill headed in a corner but referee Rob Styles claimed Reina has been fouled seconds earlier.

Rafa brought on Torres for Keane on the hour mark as Bolton seized control in the second half. Gardner almost equalised for Bolton after broke clear on the left and shoot the side-netting.

And after 73 minutes Torres created a superb second goal for Liverpool, clipping in a cross with the outside of his foot for Gerrard to send past Jaaskelainen with a diving header.

Torres could have added a goal to Liverpool's lead as he struck the post in the 88 minutes.

Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League only for a couple of hours as Chelsea's late kick-off.

YNWA,
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Liverpool 1-0 Portsmouth

English Premier League

29th October 2008

Anfield (H)

LIVERPOOL 1-0 PORTSMOUTH

Steven Gerrard’s second-half penalty was enough to maintain Liverpool’s hold on the Barclays Premier League top spot - but how Tony Adams’ Portsmouth made them fight.

The former Arsenal man’s fist game in command after Harry Redknapp’s departure ended with nervy Liverpool clinging on to their three points.

Gerrard’s penalty after Papa Bouba Diop’s handling offence after 75 minutes also extended Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the campaign to 16 matches.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez made four changes from the side which claimed top spot in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday for the visit of Portsmouth.

Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano, Robbie Keane and Albert Riera were all dropped to the bench, with Sami Hyypia, Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Babel and Lucas coming into the side as Liverpool looked to extend their 16-match unbeaten run.


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Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Babel, Alonso, Leiva, Pennant, Gerrard (c), Kuyt.
Subs - Agger, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Dossena, Keane, Mascherano, Riera

Portsmouth: James, Traore, Distin (c), Kaboul, Pamarot, Belhadj, Davis, Diop, Diarra, Crouch, Utaka.
Subs - Ashdown, Defoe, Hreidarsson, Hughes, Kranjcar, Mvuemba

Referee: S Tanner

YNWA,
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Skrtel out till Christmas

Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Martin Skrtel does not need surgery on his right knee and should return to action by Christmas.

The Slovakia centre-back damaged his posterior cruciate ligament in Sunday's 3-2 win at Manchester City and had a scan on Tuesday afternoon.

Reds spokesman Ian Cotton said: "Martin was examined by a specialist today, who confirmed the player does not require surgery and is expected to be back playing by Christmas."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will undoubtedly be buoyed by the news although he is confident the likes of Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger can fill the breach adequately.

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English Premier League5th October 2008The City of Manchester Stadium (A)MANCHESTER CITY 2-3 LIVERPOOL

Dirk Kuyt scored his first Premier League goal since November as Liverpool came from two goals down to win 3-2 away to 10-man Manchester City.

The Holland striker rattled the ball home in stoppage time at Eastlands on Sunday to preserve the Reds' unbeaten start to the season.

The home side had raced into a two-goal lead in the first half through Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido.

Fernando Torres pulled a goal back before City's Pablo Zabaleta was sent off.

The momentum was then with Liverpool with Torres adding a second before Kuyt, who was guilty of a shocking earlier miss, having the final word.

Liverpool almost went ahead as early as the fourth minute when Albert Riera got a good touch and goalkeeper Joe Hart had to look alert to turn his effort around the post.

The visitors kept up the pressure and launched a swift counter-attack in the 15th minute. Javier Mascherano, who was preferred to Robbie Keane tried to send Steven Gerrard clear.

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Teams:
Manchester City: Hart, Garrido, Dunne (c), Richards, Zabaleta, Blumer, Ireland, Kompany, Wright-Phillips

Subs - Ben-Haim, Evans, Fernandes, Hamann, Petrov, Schmeichel, Sturridge

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (c), Torres.

Subs - Agger, Babel, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Dossena, Keane, Leiva

Referee: Phil Walton

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Carling Cup: Liverpool 2-1 Crewe

With no live telecast over here and the internet connection sucks. I had to relied on updates for the Carling Cup match between Liverpool and Crewe from Palringo's member. Liverpool won that match unconvincingly 2-1 at Anfield as usual Rafa handed the youngsters and reserves a run out.




The Reds needed a header from Lucas to seal the 3rd Round victory after The Railwaymen cancelled out Daniel Aggers's 15th minute strike.

The teams:
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Hyypia(captain), Agger, Degen, El Zhar, Plessis, Leiva, Pennant, Babel, Ngog.
Subs - Carragher, Gulacsi, Keane, Dossena, Torres, Skrtel, Alonso

Crewe Alexandra: Collis, Jones, Baudet (captain), O'Donnell, Woodards, Moore, O'Connor, Bailey, Carrington, Pope, Zola.
Subs - Elding, Grant, Rix, Schumacher, Tomlinson, Miller, Abbey

Referee: M Oliver

Conditions: Autumnal

Attendance: 28,391

YNWA,
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