Wow, even after a frustrating game against Manchester United and Berbatov proving that he is as opportunistic as strikers come, nothing brought me more pleasure than seeing Kenny Dalglish back in the dug-out once more. After some 20 years, it is a surreal experience even if it was on television.
Though Liverpool could do nothing but damage limitation after Gerrard's red card, at least I and all other Liverpool fans need not have to endure yet more media-friendly dribble from Roy Hodgson! For that, I am extremely thankful for Hodgson's departure.
Liverpool have had a mixed month of football prior to their Europa League Round of 16 match against French Ligue 1 side Lille. In between beating Unirea Urziceni, Liverpool have displayed their best (against Blackburn), their worst (against Wigan) and their most boring (against Man City) performances. They are probably the most underperforming team in the English Premier League. Having a "safety-first" and pragmatic manager like Rafael Benitez does not help the situation, of course. The pressure is growing on Rafa and his band of players to make it to fourth place in the League and consequently secure that final Champions League spot for next season. If anything, a Europa League match at this stage might shake off any lingering after-effects from that terrible Wigan match.
Here are 10 things about Lille OSC that could help Liverpool's quest for potential European glory.
Lille OSC is the highest scoring (50 goals) team with the best goal difference in the French Ligue 1.
Among the best talented teenaged footballers in the world today, Eden Hazard is the star playmaker of Rudi Garcia's Lille side. He has six assists and four goals in all competitions.
Goalkeeper Mikael Landreau has 8 clean sheets this season from 17 starts and is an extremely good shot stopper.
Lille have players who are very competent and comfortable on the ball. In terms of possession, Lille retains the ball 54% in their matches. Technically gifted players like Hazard, Balmont, Cabaye, Adil Ramli and Frau move the ball quickly and with dangerous intent.
Suffering the embarassment of playing in the Europa League for the first time since winning the UEFA Cup, Liverpool went to Romania to face Unirea Urziceni for a place in the last 16. The Reds duly beat the Romanian champions 3-1 but not without an early goal scare by Unirea. Steven Gerrard scored a goalpoacher type goal and became the highest scoring Englishman in Europe since Alan Shearer. Shearer's record of 32 goals in Europe now belongs to Liverpool's great captain, Steven Gerrard who now has 33 goals to date.
Here's a look back at some of the crucial Gerrard goals over his European adventure with Liverpool.
There were a lot of matches being played from January 18th to January 31st, just to catch up with the Premiership schedule and to make up for that snow-stopped weekend.
It was also a period where the Premier League leadership changed hands a few times. The week started with Chelsea at the top, and when Arsenal beat Bolton 4-2 (another great Fabregas display) in the Emirates, Arsenal became top for the first time this season. However, that did not last long as January 23rd, Manchester United, aided by a Rooney quadruple, wrested top spot from Arsenal.
Chelsea had something to say about that, as they took on an in-form Birmingham on Wednesday January 27th. A Frank Lampard double helped the Blues surge past Birmingham City and back as leaders of the Barclays Premier League.
The Premier League kicked on in proper fashion on Week 24 and clearly the highlight of the week has got to be the Arsenal v. Manchester United match at the Emirates.
Liverpool have not been in the best of form lately and two days back, Tottenham Hotspur were relishing their visit to Anfield in search of what was to be their first win in a very very long time. Well, as it turned out, Spurs would have to wait a lot longer if the incredible fanatical support of Wednesday night continue to drive Liverpool Football Club on throughout the rest of the season.
Liverpool fans were determined to show that the 12th man effect was very much alive that evening and the atmosphere was so electric that it led Harry Redknapp to declare,
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp hailed the Kop as “the most amazing sight in football” after seeing his side beaten 2-0 by Liverpool last night. The Spurs manager believes the Reds were inspired by the red-hot atmosphere generated all around Anfield by a vociferous capacity crowd. “You have to give credit where it’s due, Liverpool worked their socks off. They closed us down and pressed us,” Redknapp said. "I have said before you never get an easy game here. "You stand out there and hear the crowd sing - it's the most amazing sight in football, and it lifts the players.
Sammy Lee added this after a fabulous night in which Liverpool caught up to the clubs in the race for fourth place.
An underachieving Liverpool team will face super-confident Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield this Wednesday. A match that should see Maxi Rodriquez and Alberto Aquilani in the starting lineup. But then again, who can read Rafa's mind?
After a great last season, Liverpool were looking to go one better than second and finally be Premiership champions. Spurs brought Liverpool crashing back to reality, beating the Rafa's men 2-1 in London. This setback pretty much set the stage for a turbulent season so far for Liverpool.
After a slew of cancelled matches due to snow in Week 19, Week 20 had much to make up for the disappointment. And as always, the English Premier League never fails to live up to expectation!
Chelsea showed that there is life even without Didier Drogba...in fact seven goals were the proof. Arsenal and Manchester United continued in hot pursuit of the Blues by posting comfortable wins of their own as well. While Fran Merida may have scored his first Premier League goal, it could also be his last as the Spaniard looks for first-team opportunities outside of England. Manchester United gave Brian Laws work to do as Burnley continue to slip worryingly down the Premiership league table.
But the focus of this week's review shifts towards two teams who in the weekend employed the same tactical gameplan but with differing reaction to the results. These two teams are Liverpool and West Ham United.
Liverpool fans by now are waiting with bated breath on the confirmation of Argentinian international, Maxi Rodriquez transfer to Liverpool. Not only Liverpool fans, I might add but also Fernando Torres. It has been well printed that of all the players he would like to have in Liverpool, Torres would recommend Maxi.
Mention the name Maxi Rodriguez and World Cup fans would be reminded of that amazing volley against Mexico in 2006. A goal that was rightfully voted as the goal of the tournament that year.
To Atletico Madrid fans, Maxi is adored and respected as a player who helped them forget about Fernando Torres.
As the standout match of the weekend looms, I am taken back on memory lane yet again. This time, I was reminded of the heartwrencher at Anfield on 26th May 1989. On that day, Liverpool were three points ahead of closest challenger, George Graham's Arsenal. The Reds needed to avoid defeat by a two-goal margin to be crowned champions.
On one of the most dramatic ending to a football season ever, Arsenal's Michael Thomas scored the second goal with the last attack of the match!
Similarly, last season's 4-4 thriller was also hard to stomach as Arsenal virtually ended Liverpool's title challenge. What can be expected this season at Anfield?
Rafa Benitez have a full strength squad to choose from. Aquilani and Torres came through the Wednesday's Champions League match with a great workout. Another perfect game for Aquilani to start as he will have time on the ball to display his passing range and vision.
Arsenal's lack of height and physical power will help Liverpool as they will not succumb to even more set piece goals. Having said that, the Reds will find it tough to mark shadows as the Arsenal players are great with their movement and passing. Javier Mascherano and Lucas must be at their best to disrupt the rhythm and fluidity of the Arsenal players.
Rafa Benitez stated that he intends to focus on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League now that Liverpool is out of the Champions League tournament. Let's hope his tactics and team line-up reflects his statements.
Great news, all Liverpool fans! Injury treatment in Serbia has reaped handsome rewards and the injured are now fighting fit!
Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio, Steven Gerrard, David Ngog and Glen Johnson are all declared fit and ready to take on draw specialists, Manchester City. Liverpool is most dangerous when they are wounded - hurt by public criticisms and poor performances. One win in nine matches, out of which six were defeats have hurt the Red's title ambitions. Premier League leaders, Chelsea are now 11 points ahead of Liverpool, which can be overhauled considering that Chelsea will lose players due to January's African Nations Cup.
Manchester City are not to be underestimated but they have yet to show consistency this season. Nothing new about this, considering that this City team is virtually a new one bought with ₤118million. City's lack of fluidity and defensive frailties are the main reasons that they are not higher up the table, since they have only lost once this season. Hmmm...isn't that a carbon copy of Liverpool last season??
This is a match where everyone seemed to be writing off Liverpool. At Anfield, Liverpool has scored 15 goals and only let in six thus far. However, apart from Torres (who is about 2-3 weeks away from full fitness), one wonders where the goals could come from. David Ngog, in recent weeks, have stepped up with great performances and Rafa may turn to him again.
Head To Head At Anfield
Date
Competition
Home team
Score/Time
Away team
22-02-2009
Premier League
Liverpool
1 - 1
Manchester City
04-05-2008
Premier League
Liverpool
1 - 0
Manchester City
25-11-2006
Premier League
Liverpool
1 - 0
Manchester City
26-02-2006
Premier League
Liverpool
1 - 0
Manchester City
21-08-2004
Premier League
Liverpool
2 - 1
Manchester City
Liverpool have an unbeaten home record against Manchester City though the matches have been tight affairs. The Kop will be a factor in this match for sure. Furthermore, Liverpool under Benitez, are at their best when treated as underdogs. If the Reds can keep Adebayor quiet (he has a tendency to raise his game for the big one) then Liverpool will win this contest.
This is THE match of the weekend. There will be goals in this one for sure, though personally I am more excited by the prospect of seeing Aquilani actually making his Premiership home debut at some point in the match on Saturday.
Any Liverpool fan would remember the skills and talent of Danish turned honorary Scouser, Jan Molby. Voted in at no. 16 on the list of 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, he was a player with as immense a talent as was his waistline. Before the elegant Xabi Alonso, Liverpool fans marvel at the sublime passing skills and long range shooting of Jan Molby. He is currently a TV pundit with Viasat, appraising Liverpool's performances.
Finally the video footage of Jan Molby scoring possibly his best goal at Anfield against Manchester United in the 1985 Milk Cup 4th round tie has been released to LFC TV to be shared with every Liverpool fan. I picked this up from 101 Great Goals website, a highly recommended site (videos and blog) for football fans.
This was the Liverpool lineup on that day. Starting line-up
1
Bruce Grobbelaar
2
Steve Nicol
3
Jim Beglin
4
Mark Lawrenson
5
Ronnie Whelan
6
Alan Hansen
7
Paul Walsh
8
Craig Johnston
9
Ian Rush
10
Jan Mølby
11
Steve McMahon
Subs
12
Phil Neal
Liverpool hold the record for the most League Cup (now Carling Cup) titles. They have won the competition seven times, including four consecutive titles from 1981 to 1984. They have also appeared ten times in the final overall, which is also a record. Winning the League Cup competition allowed Liverpool to complete two trebles of trophy wins, in 1984 and 2001.
Some of the records held by Liverpool and Liverpool players in League Cup history are, * Most tournament wins (team): 7 wins, Liverpool * Most final appearances (team): 10, Liverpool * Most tournament wins (individual): 5, Ian Rush for Liverpool * Most final appearances: (individual): 5, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish, both for Liverpool * Highest goalscorer (career): Geoff Hurst, Ian Rush 49 goals * Biggest win: Liverpool 10–0 Fulham, second round first leg, 23 September 1983 (shared with West Ham)
Just something to put the shocking loss to Fulham into perspective. Liverpool - a great club with a great history....but what's to look forward to for the future? I am one of those joining the ever-growing bandwagon asking for Rafa's resignation. And I can't shake off the feeling that Jose Mourinho would have won the Premiership title last season with the squad that Rafa had.
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