You'll Never Walk Alone -- The End...

[Dutch]

Now I have to swallow my words! Looks like Liverpool are on for a brilliant finale to the season. good win against the blues and I have lost me money!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 8th March, 2010

Liverpool will take on their city rivals Everton in the Merseyside Derby while Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester City face Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Everton were 3-1 victors against Middlesbrough this weekend and now tackle their fierce-rivals Liverpool, who are seeking a historical treble. The tie will be a repeat of the 1986 final in which the Reds recorded a 3-1 win over the Toffees.

Tottenham overcame Derby in the fifth round of the competition and drew 0-0 against Manchester City in the quarter finals, with Chelsea awaiting the winners in the last four.

A clash for the Blues with London rivals Tottenham would be a repeat of the 1967 final, which the Spurs won 2-1. Tottenham must first dispose of Mancetser City at White Hart Lane in a game which will be played on 17th or 18th March.

The semi-finals will be played on 19th and 20th April at Wembley.

Liverpool v Everton
Tottenham or Man City v Chelsea​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

First Round Knockout - 9 March 2010 20:15 GMT - Anfield - Liverpool - England​

Lyon sunk by Lucas strike

Lucas celebrates his goal which takes Liverpool to the quarter finals​

For 36 minutes, Liverpool FC's UEFA Champions League dream was in peril but second-half goals from Ryan Babel and Lucas sent Jose Mourinho's side into the quarter-finals at the expense French club.

When Lisandro Lopez scored early on for Lyon, it was only the second goal in this competition that Liverpool had conceded at home this season. They are used to having things their own way here, but Ryan Babel got them back on track immediately after the interval and Lucas played the trump card with a close-range volley with nine minutes remaining.

Fernando Torres sent an angled drive fizzing over the top with barely a minute gone, then Lucas stooped to apply a header to Steven Gerrard's corner. Despite the encouraging start, Liverpool were not at their vintage best, with a number of passes going astray. Lyon, meanwhile, demonstrated that they could make significant inroads into the Liverpool half.

Even so, it was still a surprise when the visitors broke through to score a stunning goal and shatter Liverpool's proud defensive record at Anfield in this season. Their counterattack began with Cris who found Nihat Kahveci, and when Kim Kallstrom joined in the midfielder laid a superb pass into the path of Lisandro Lopez, who had broken clear of the red shirts with a straight run on goal. With only Pepe Reina to beat, the former FC Porto striker remained composed and finished coolly beneath the goalkeeper.

This was potentially a far more serious blow to Liverpool as the French giants now had a crucial away goal. The Premiership leaders poured forward in response, with Fabio Aurelio taking every opportunity to surge deep into Lyon territory. From one cross Torres missed his kick and Dirk Kuyt scooped the ball over. From another, Lloris got his decision-making all wrong but Lucas was unable to take advantage. Glen Johnson charged forward down the other flank and when he was impeded, the stage was set for Fabio Aurelio to curl in a teasing centre. Unfortunately for the hosts, his delivery flew over the heads of both Torres and Daniel Agger.

At the interval Mourinho took off Javier Mascherano in favour of Ignacio Camacho. The young substitute had been on the field for only five minutes before he was joining in the celebrations that followed Babel's timely equaliser. The winger's low shot should have demanded no more than a routine stop from Lloris but the goalkeeper allowed the ball to spin off his body and drop over the line.

It was just what Liverpool needed before any serious doubts began to infect their play, although Lyon had not come close to threatening a second goal as they were forced to soak up a lot of pressure. They became careless in possession and the tide was definitely with Liverpool, though their rhythm was not helped as first Torres then Lucas required treatment. The pair recovered, though, to combine for Lucas to score the late winner and take the Merseysiders into Friday's draw.

__________________________________________________​

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger(Skrtel 77), Aurelio, Mascherano(Camacho 46), Gerrard(C), Lucas, Babel, Kuyt, Torres(Destro 90).
Subs Not Used: Diego, Alexis Sanchez, Dossena, Riera.

Booked: Agger, Mascherano.

Lyon: Lloris, Clerc, Cris, Bodmer, Grosso, Makoun, Santos(Mensah 76), Govou, Nihat(Pjanic 50), Kallstrom(C)(Juninho 73), Lopez.
Subs Not Used: Leandri, Delgado, Gomis, Grenier.

Booked: Kallstrom.

Att: 45,331.

Ref: V Hrinak.

Man of the Match: Lucas.​

 

[Dutch]

So how many trophies can Liverpool win this season? Looks like all of them! What happened in the League Cup!?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 12th March, 2010

Liverpool and Chelsea will again renew their UEFA Champions League rivalry at the quarter-final stage, while Manchester United will face Bayern Munich and AC Milan will meet their arch rivals Inter Milan.

The three Premier League clubs have been kept apart in the early stages of the competition but at least one is certain to exit Europe after Liverpool were pitted against Chelsea for a sixth successive year.

Jose Mourinho's Reds, who defeated Lyon 2-1 on aggregate in the last 16, will travel to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of their clash with Chelsea. The Blues beat Liverpool in the quarter finals last season and have been in fine form since the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as manager.

Last season's losing finalist Manchester United will not take their chances of making it through to the last four for granted after being paired against German giants underdogs Bayern Munich, with the first leg to be played at Old Trafford.

AC Milan, fresh from hammering Hamburg SV comfortably, will face their city rivals Inter Milan at the San Siro with first leg being their home on. In the fourth quarter-final, defending champions Barcelona will fancy their chances of making the last four as they face the Italian underdogs Fiorentina that defeated favourites Real Madrid 1-0 on aggregate in the last round.

__________________________________________________

AC Milan v Inter Milan
Barcelona v Fiorentina
Man Utd v Bayern Munich
Chelsea v Liverpool​

 

[m_vaughan]

Can't believe Fiorentina beat Real. Ofcourse I am really happy for their achievement but it means the end of the road for Los Merengues. I hope the Viola go all the way now.

Chelsea vs Liverpool again?? And Bayern are certainly not underdogs, no matter whom they are playing.

 

[treva]

What a set of ties there. AC Milan vs Inter will be great. Basically two home games for both sides, although I know for the away goals to work there are set home and away legs.

Chelsea vs Liverpool will also be a cracker. I expect you to win it though, you've ahd the egde on everyone so far this season.

 

[King Pietersen]

That's a solid last 8 right there. Chelsea-Liverpool was obviously going to come up, it's the law. If they're in the draw together, they have to get drawn together. Cracking to see a Milan derby as well. No easy draw there at all.

 

[mattfb]

Imagine if Real Madrid beat Fiorentina too, it would of been Barca vs Real!

You've got a massive match against Chelsea. I think you'll probably scrape through but it'll be close. What are the boards minimum expectations in the Champions League?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 14th March, 2010

Johan Elmander's second-half header took Bolton Wanderers in the top half of the table but also reduced Liverpool's lead at the top to ten points.

Jamie Carragher flicked Kevin Davies' cross into Elmander's path and the Sweden international headed past the helpless Pepe Reina. Liverpool's best chance came through Mattia Destro who forced Jussi Jaaskelainen into a fine save, but they created little. Davies should have doubled Bolton's lead but he failed to convert Geremi's delightful pass.

This was Bolton's eleventh victory in the Premier League and takes the Trotterers effectively in the eight position, three points ahead of tenth placed Blackburn Rovers. Gary Megson's men deserved the win and the smiles on his players' faces when the final whistle blew illustrated how important this win was for them.

Bolton started brightly, with Geremi, Gary Whelan and Davies prominent in midfield. Indeed, Kevin Davies who created Bolton's best chance of a poor first half with his cross creating space for Elmander, whose toe-poked volley whistled past Reina's left-hand post.

When Ryan Babel limped off injured after 15 minutes Bolton sensed that this could be their day. Albert Riera replaced the Netherlands international, and consequently the visitors posed little threat in attack.

Facing the strong wind, Jose Mourinho' men struggled and only in the final minutes of the first half did they force Jaaskelainen into action. Destro was allowed time and space to turn inside the box and his shot forced the Bolton goalkeeper to dive low to his left.

Both teams started the second half with greater attacking intent. Ricardo Gardner's pace posed the Merseysiders problems and his jinking run on the hour forced the visitors to concede a corner, from which the Jamaican should have done better, but the midfielder's header was way off target.

Gardner's miss would not prove costly, however, as Davies and Elmander combined for a deserved goal, the striker's fifth of an injury-plagued season. Carragher unintentionally flicked Davies's cross into Elmander's path and the Swedish's downward header into the corner gave Reina no chance.

The defender had a chance to make amends minutes later but he wastefully headed wide when unchallenged in the box.

In the closing stages, Davies - standing inside the box - had a great opportunity to put the game to bed but the skipper failed to do justice to the industrious Geremi's magnificent pass.

When referee Steve Attwell brought the game to an end however Bolton did not give one jot about their profligacy as Elmander's solitary strike was enough to give them all the point at the expense of leaders Liverpool.

__________________________________________________​

Bolton boss Gary Megson: "It was a very good performance. We can look forward to the last ten games with optimism. We started extremely brightly but Liverpool know how to defend and grind out results. The goal was vital. For us the difference between one and three points in the match was everything."

Liverpool boss Jose Mourinho: "We didn't make many chances all day and that was the most disappointing thing. We did not play well at all. We have never been very good at the Reebok and this was the same. I know we rested our players for the next big match against United, but that cant be used as a excuse, Bolton played well for their win."

__________________________________________________​

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Cahiil, O'Brien, Robinson, Davies, Davies(C), Whelan, Geremi, Gardner, Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Puygrenier, Steinsson, Muamba, Smolarek, Ricketts, Hunt.

Booked: O'Brien.

Goals: Elmander 69.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher(C), Skrtel(Agger 60), Dossena, Mascherano, Lucas, Camacho, Alexis Sanchez(Kuyt 75), Babel(Riera 16), Destro.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Gerrard, Torres, Appiah.

Att: 27,563.

Ref: S Attwell.

Man of the Match: Johan Elmander. ​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 16th March, 2010

Jamie out to end rival's hopes

Jamie Carragher during Liverpool training session​

Jamie Carragher is determined to put an end to Manchester United's title hopes and hault their English domination when they visit Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds boast a ten point lead over their rivals in fifth place having played the same amount of games and anything other than a win for Sir Alex Ferguson's defending champions would surely spell the end of their title charge, a theory the 31-year-old goes along with.

With both sides coming off the back of unimpressive Premier League performances the clash at the Merseyside promises to be a keenly contested affair.

The former England international is in determined mood ahead of the match as he bids to claim what would be his first ever Premier League winners' medal with the club. "They've had a decent week, getting a good result against Celtic and then drawing with Arsenal," he said. "We're in for a tough game with a great atmosphere, a different entity altogether (compared to Lyon), and one we can't wait for.

"Could it end their title chances? Possibly yeah. But we still have games after that to win. It's the same at this stage of the season all the time. People say 'if you win this game, you win the league,' but it just continues until it's really over and one team wins it, and this time hopefully that will be us.

"If we win, it will obviously make it very hard for them but I couldn't care what happens to Manchester United as long as we beat them. If we do that and that leads to people thinking they're out of it, then so be it. We're out there to win games, we're at home and people will be expecting us to get the three points. Hopefully we can go back home with smiles on our faces." ​

 

[mattfb]

Disappointing loss for Liverpool, and losing Babel to injury is the last thing they would of wanted, Hopefully Man U feel the full force of Liverpools rebound

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 17th March, 2010

Fowler backs Reds for title

Robbie Fowler during north Queensland Fury training sessioon​

Robbie Fowler has backed his former club Liverpool to go on and win the Premier League for the first ever time this season and the league after almost eighteen years.

The 34-year-old played for the Red Devils from 1993 to 2001 before moving to Leeds United for ?11million and then again returning for a one year stint in 2006. In total the former England striker made 276 appearances for the Merseysiders and he believes they have what it takes to win the league crown for the first ever time in eighteen seasons.

Liverpool host Manchester United on Sunday afternoon with the Red Devils needing to win to keep their title hopes alive with Sir Alex Ferguson's side ten points behind their bitter rivals having played the same amount of games.

The striker has played in derbies in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds but it is the clashes with Manchester United which evoke special memories.. "As a Liverpool fan to beat Manchester United it's something special," Fowler told Sky Sports News.

"I was lucky to be on the good end of a team that went to Old Trafford and beat them there and at Anfield. Manchester United are playing well but Liverpool are playing incredibly well under Jose Mourinho and have a great squad, they have some of the best players in the world.

"So for me, as a fan, Liverpool will win the league this season. Obviously it's not over yet but the way they're playing, with the players and manager they have, it's incredible."​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 21st March, 2010

Liverpool are ten points clear of Manchester United and a win at Anfield would not virtually but surely eliminate the defending champions from the title race...

Form Guide
Liverpool faced only their second defeat this season in the Premier League away to Bolton, but Jose Mourinho's men have been in good form of late winning eight of the last ten matches and drawing or losing just two.

On the other hand, reigning champions Manchester United are in the midst of an indifferent run in the league. In the last eight games they have won only three(Burnley, Sunderland and Birmingham), drawn on two occasions and lost three times.

Team News
Alberto Aquilani and Ryan Babel both are doubtful due to an ankle injury, while Dirk Kuyt is expected to be fit to make the bench as he recovers from an hip injury which he picked up during training.

Manchester United will be without their young right back Rafael due to a broken leg, while left back Patrice Evra is doubtful with a twisted ankle and will have to pass a late fitness test.

Star Man
Steven Gerrard has scored 21 goals and created 17 goals in the 37 matches he has played this season so far, while Rio Ferdinand has conceded only 20 goals in the 34 games he has featured in for the Red Devils this season.

Possible Starting XIs
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard(C), Riera, Alexis Sanchez, Torres.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.

Odds
Liverpool 1/1, Draw 9/4, Man Utd 9/4.

Referee
Stuart Attwell will officiate the game. He has taken in charge of 29 games this season handling out 34 yellow cards and 4 red cards.​

 

[m_vaughan]

I sense an anticlimax here. A 1-1 draw.