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

[OffCutters]

Couple of good grabs there in the transfers, hope they do well in the big stage.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 22nd August 2009

​

Liverpool's great start to the new season under manager Jose Mourinho continued as they made light work of brushing aside Tottenham.

Fernando Torres slotted in from a precise low cross from Dirk Kuyt to put the visitors ahead. Jamie Carragher finished off a fine run with a powerful curling strike to add Liverpool's second after 23 minutes. Tottenham were more physical after the break but their efforts were too late and in vain as Wilson Palacios' blocked shot was their closest strike on goal.

Liverpool now are at the top of the table with two wins and some of the visitors' first-half play had lit up the White Hart Lane Stadium, with Dirk Kuyt a particularly bright spark for them.

Tottenham had shown early signs of being able to present a challenge as David Bentley shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. Jermaine Jenas forced a save out of Reds keeper Pepe Reina but Tottenham soon succumbed as Liverpool took the lead after 13 minutes.

Dutch international Dirk Kuyt curled a ball into the path of a trademark run into the box from striker Fernando Torres, who applied the finishing touch. To their credit Tottenham produced some nice football to try to prise the Reds defence open but found the task too much for them.

And Liverpool added a second when Carragher benefited from Dirk Kuyt managing to keep the ball in play before finding a path to goal open up for him as other players made decoy runs. The Englishman had time to look up and curled a 20-yard shot away from the despairing dive of keeper Heurelho Gomes for his first goal of the season.

Tottenham's fragile belief clearly waned as the game progressed as they showed as much sign of manufacturing an equaliser as their poor form during the pre-season suggested. But the home side started the second half with a renewed vigour and Jenas had a shot deflected wide.

Tottenham were a tougher proposition for Liverpool as they adopted a more physical approach and snapped at the heels of their opposition. Palacios almost earned some reward for the home side but had a shot from just outside the area blocked by defender Skrtel.

Alexis Sanchez the new signing from Udinese came one after 75 minutes for Ryan Babel, while Liverpool went on to close out the game.

____________________________________________________​

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "It was excellent from us in second half. We didn't have any real luck in box but obviously conceding two goals in first half was disappointing. One or two players slept in and did not do what we required and that cost us. We have to keep positive."

Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "We have started the new season brilliantly. We played well, especially in the first half. We scored two goals and had plenty of chances. Good game for us and a good win again. As long as we win and play attacking football that is good for me. We want to play good positive football."

____________________________________________________​

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King(Dawson 73), Assou-Ekotto(Naughton 60), Bentley, Palacios, Jenas(O'Hara 60), Modric, Keane(C), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, Lennon.

Booked: Jenas, Palacios, Keane.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson(Degen 80), Carragher, Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Mascherano(Camacho 80), Aquilani, Gerrard(C), Kuyt, Babel(Alexis Sanchez 76), Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Benayoun, N'Gog, Dossena.

Booked: Mascherano.

Goals: Torres 13, Carragher 23.

Att: 36,629.

Ref: S Attwell.

Man of the Match: Dirk Kuyt.​

 

[m_vaughan]

Spurs substitutions were weird but Liverpool had this game in the bag inside the first 23 minutes.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 27th August 2009

​

Liverpool drew fellow Premier league Stoke City today as he draw for the the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup was made. The game will be played at the Britannia Stadium on the 23rd of September.

Current holders Manchester United face and easy tie against Championship side Swansea at Old Trafford, while Arsene Wenger's young gunners face another Championship side in Q.P.R at the Emirates.

David Moyes' Everton will face Steve Bruce's Sunderland at Goodison, while newly promoted Burnley will face the huge spenders Manchester City at the Turf Moor.

Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea will play host to championship side Preston North End at Stamford Bridge and Tottenham Hotspur will host West Ham at White Hart Lane in the London derby.

____________________________________________________

Arsenal v Q.P.R
Everton v Sunderland
Man Utd v Swansea
Burnley v Man City
Bolton v Reading
Ipswich v Wolves
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Wigan v Cardiff
Hull v Scunthrope
Chelsea v Preston
Stoke v Liverpool
Leicester v Bristol City
Sheff Wed v West Brom
Tottenham v West Ham
Fulham v Portsmouth
Blackburn v Middlesbrough​

 

[hedger_14]

Wonder why Tottenham didn't use Pavlyuchenko. Best striker on the team for mine anyway.

 

[m_vaughan]

Villa-Newcastle and Hammers-Spurs should be good games. Oops forgot the Magpies were no longer Premier league material

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 29th August 2009

Liverpool are to face Juventus, while Arsenal are set to play German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage following the draw that took place in Monaco.

Last season's winners Barcelona have been handed the easiest group containing Dutch side AZ Alkamaar, French outfit AS Monaco, and Ukranian giants Dinamo Kiev. Liverpool will face Italian giants Juventus, German outfit Bayer Leverkusen and Turkish champions Fenerbahce in Group C.

Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea are drawn against Portuguese champions FC Porto in Group E along with Marseille and Belgium side Club Brugge. Last season's runner ups Manchester United will be confident of progressing after being drawn against Benfica, Hamburg SV and Dinamo Bucharest.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will entertain Bayern Munich, Zenit and Fiorentina in Group H while Lyon face the toughest opponent Real Madrid along with Ajax and UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donestk in Group A.

Scottish side Celtic are drawn in Group G along with Italian giants AC Milan, Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon and Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid. Finally in Group B, Sevilla will face Italian champions Inter Milan, Legia and Panathinaikos.

Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu will stage the final on the 22nd of May, 2010. The first matchday will take place on the 15-16 of September.

____________________________________________________

Group A
Lyon
R. Madrid
Ajax
Shakhtar

Group B
Sevilla
Inter
Panathinaikos
Legia

Group C
Liverpool
Juventus
Leverkusen
Fenerbahce

Group D
Man Utd
Benfica
Hamburg SV
Dinamo Buc.

Group E
Chelsea
Porto
Marseille
Club Brugge

Group F
Barcelona
AZ
AS Monaco
Dinamo Kiev

Group G
AC Milan
Sporting CP
Celtic
At. Madrid

Group H
Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Zenit
Fiorentina​

 

[m_vaughan]

Why do Fiorentina always find themselves in a Group of death?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 29th August 2009

The Reds welcome their city rivals Everton to Anfield on Sunday for the 181st Merseyside league derby, which will be Jose Mourinho's first Merseyside derby.

Form Guide
The hosts, Liverpool have started the new Premier League season under Jose Mourinho on a high with two wins out of the two against Manchester City(2-0) and Tottenham Hotspur(2-0).

On the other hand Everton have got of to a worst start ever to the new Premier League season with two defeats in their first two games against Champions Manchester United(1-2) and Arsenal(0-2).

Team News
Liverpool have received a injury boost as Albert Riera and Daniel Agger are both fully fit to the play this game after missing the game against Tottenham due to knee and ankle injury respectively. Lucas returns from international duty with Brazil and is available for selection.

Everton have some fitness problems to face as Steven Pienaar has been ruled out with a broken foot, and key player Tim Cahill will have a late fitness test to pass as he recovers from a hamstring.

Star Man
Fernandinho, the Brazilian who joined Everton in July from Shakhtar Donestsk for a fee of ?9million, is the man Toffees fans will look to for some creativity in midfield alongside Mikel Arteta, as Toffees aim to break the top four this season.

Rivals Watch
Manchester United play Wolves at Old Trafford, and Chelsea play Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge both on Saturday. Arsenal will entertain Hull City at the Emirates just before Liverpool kick off against Everton on Sunday.

Referee
Howard Webb will be the man in the middle. He has produced one red card and seventeen yellow cards in two Premier League games and six European games he has taken charge off this season.

Odds
Liverpool 4/5, Draw 7/2 and Everton 9/2.​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 30th August 2009

David Moyes awaits his first win of the new season after city rivals Liverpool came from behind to win in torrential rain at Anfield in the Merseyside Derby.

Pepe Reina's blunder gifted Fernandinho a goal for Everton before two quick goals goals by Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard put Liverpool on top. Babel equalised with a shot on the turn after a poorly cleared throw, before Gerrard's long-range effort deflected in off Brede Hangeland to put Liverpool ahead. Yakubu and Leon Osman went close but Liverpool did enough to survive.

Liverpool had the better of largely quiet opening period, notable only for its pouring rain, so it was a surprise when Everton went ahead - and it was even more so considering how the goal came.

Reina looked to have gathered Phil Neville's long throw safely, but as he went to throw it clear, it slithered out of his grasp and rebounded off Jamie Carragher's back straight to the feet of Fernandinho. The Brazilian marked his first Everton start with the simplest of finishes.

Ryan Babel marked his second home start of the season with a his second goal of the season when he stabbed home a poorly-cleared corner from close range, before another poor clearance gifted Liverpool the lead.

Yakubu conceded a free-kick near the right-hand flag and Marouane Fellaini's weakly cleared cross fell to Gerrard, whose optimistic long-range effort found the net courtesy of a huge deflection off Hangeland.

Fortunately the appalling weather improved after the break, making the game less of a lottery. Shortly after the restart, Reina made amends for his earlier error with a superb full-stretch save from Osman.

Yakubu also flashed a shot across the goalmouth and just wide of Reina's right-hand post as Everton took the initiative in the second half. But despite dominating chances, they rarely turned that into serious goalscoring threats.

Liverpool seemed to sense they had ridden the storm when they took off Kuyt and the creative Alberto Aquilani, sending on Alexis Sanchez and Ignacio Camacho, and Sanchez's speed and some physical presence gave them greater punch up front.

He wasted a great opportunity to settle the outcome when he failed to connect with a raking cross from close range. But fortunately for Liverpool they were not made to rue his error as they held on to win and continued their brilliant start to the season.

____________________________________________________​

Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho: "I am very happy to win my first ever Merseyside Derby. There is a lot of pressure on the manager and players in this derby and its nice to win it. We played really well and showed a lot of character after conceding the early goal. We have made a great start this season and we hope to keep continuing it."

Everton manager David Moyes: "You have always got to be prepared to work hard in football. I knew that as a player, as a coach and now I know it as a manager. In football, you don't always get what you deserve. But the pleasing thing was the players' application and work ethic. They adapted to the conditions."

____________________________________________________​

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena, Mascherano, Aquilani(Camacho 78), Gerrard(C), Kuyt(Alexis Sanchez 78), Babel(Reira 81), Torres.
Subs Not Used: Diego, Degen, Agger, Fabio Aurelio.

Goals: Babel 24, Gerrard 27.

Everton: Howard, Neville(C), Yobo, Hangeland, Lescott(Coleman 65), Arteta, Fernandinho, Fellaini, Baines, Osman(Rodwell 86), Yakubu(Jo 72).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Jagielka, Gosling, Duffy.

Booked: Yobo, Hangeland.

Goals: 12.

Att: 45,341.

Ref: H Webb.

Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard. ​

 

[m_vaughan]

Good win in crucial derby game. Coming back from a goal down as well.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Summer Transfers
1st September, 2009​

Arsenal
IN:
Antonin Kinsky - 3.0m (Saturn)

OUT:

Aston Villa
IN:
Fernando Gago - 8m (R. Madrid)

OUT:
Nathan Baker - Loan (Blackpool)
Harry Forrster - Loan (Coventry)

Birmingham
IN:
Jakub Blasczykowski - Ln Fee 1.6m (Dortmund)

OUT:
Maik Taylor - 1m (Schalke)

Blackburn
IN:

OUT:
Gavin Gunning - Loan (Crystal Palace)

Bolton
IN:
Glenn Whelan - 1.5m (Stoke)

OUT:

Burnley
IN:
Danny Swanson - 250k (Dundee Utd)
Derek Youn - 130k (Aberdeen)
Jason Byrne - 170k (Bohemains)

OUT:

Chelsea
IN:

OUT:

Everton
IN:
Fernandinho - 9m (Shakhtar)
Brede Hangeland - 10.75m (Fulham)

OUT:
Lukas Jutkiewicz - Loan (Peterborough)

Fulham
IN:
Nwankwo Kanu - 1.8m (Portsmouth)
Tim de Cler - 3.3m (Feyenoord)
Adreas Johansson - 1.1m (AaB)
Steven Defour - 4m (Standard Leige)
Chris Riggott - 3.4m (Middlesbrough)

OUT:
Brede Hangeland - 10.75m (Everton)

Hull City
IN:
Sean Dillion - 70k (Dundee)

OUT:

Liverpool
IN:
Davide Santon - 4.5m (Inter)
Ignacio Camacho - 6.5m (At. Madrid)
Stephen Appiah - Free
Alexis Sanchez - 5m (Udinese)

OUT:
Charles Itandje - 2.2m (Barcelona)
Andrey Voronin - 2.8m (Aston Villa)
Emiliano Insua - Loan (Sheff Utd)
Krisztian Nemeth - Loan (Accrington)

Manchester City
IN:
Marek Hamsik - 21m (Napoli/Inter)
Adrian Mutu - 17.75m (Fiorentina)

OUT:
Curtis Obeng - Loan (Bury)
Kelvin Etuhu - Loan (Middlesbrough)
Karl Moore - Loan (Chester)

Manchester United
IN:

OUT:
Darron Gibson - Loan (Antwerp)

Portsmouth
IN:
Gary O'Neil - 4m (Middlesbrough)

OUT:
Nwakwo Kanu - 1.8m (Fulham)

Stoke City
IN:
Lucas Neill - Free

OUT:
Glenn Whelan - 1.5m (Stoke)
Danny Pugh - 2.1m (Wolves)

Sunderland
IN:
Barry robson - 2.7m (Celtic)
Mark Wilson - 2m (Celtic)
Kevin Thompson - 4.1m (Rangers)

OUT:

Tottenham Hotspurs
IN:

OUT:
Kyle Walker - Loan (Leyton Orient)

West Ham
IN:
Ezequiel Lavezzi - 2.7m (Napoli)
Diego Buonanotte - 5m (River)
Luciano Galletti - 4.7m (Olympiakos)

OUT:

Wigan
IN:
Ferardo Torrado - 4.1m (Cruz Azul)
Dario Veron - 2.7m (Pumas)

OUT:

Wolves
IN:
Kenny Miller - Loan Fee 300k (Rangers)
Danny Pugh - 2.1m (Stoke)
Bradley Orr - 1.2m (Bristol City)

OUT:
Carl Ikeme - 1.1m (R. Zaragoza)​

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Last updated: 11th September, 2009

Liverpool's new manager Jose Mourinho has been named the Barclays Manager of the Month for August. Mourinho has been awarded for guiding his side to second in the league after three games.

Liverpool have beaten Manchester City(2-0) and city rivals Everton(2-1) at home and also have beaten Tottenham Hotspur(2-0) at White Hart Lane. Mourinho had been named the manager of the month thrice with Chelsea.

He said: "I feel it's a great honour, not just for me, but for everybody at the football club. It's an honour I very much accept on behalf of myself and my staff because everything that we have achieved so far has been a team effort.

"I think the award is reward for the hard work everybody here put in during July to prepare for the new season. We have a really united club here and everybody has pulled together, and in that I include the players as well. There's a great atmosphere around the club at the moment and around the town, and long may it continue."

​

 

[TheGreemSim]

Good to see Liverpool has gotten off to a decent start

 

[m_vaughan]

West Ham has made some interesting signings. Congrats to Jose on MotM.