What Happen Liverpool, Rafa?

While serving National Service and spending most of my time in camp, I will try my best to get updates and watch Liverpool matches whenever I can. Unfortunately, the current status of the Reds camp seemed to be one of the worst during Rafa's reign.

Just a hour ago, Liverpool had just lost their 4th game in the season, having played 9 so far, against Sunderland. Title contenders? I'm seriously doubting this fact. Defensively unstable, lack of creativity and to me, the squad is not GOOD enough. Simple as it is.

With star duo Stevie and Fernando both ruled out injured, I simply have no idea how Liverpool will handle it. Expectedly, they played poorly and with the players Rafa chosen for his starting 11, it really puzzled me on how on earth he came to those decisions. By putting a inexperienced Jay Spearing and highly criticised Lucas Levia in the middle of the park against Sunderland in the Stadium of Light, is something which I thought was suicidal.



I do wonder, has Rafa lost it? What happen to our master tactician? Are our poor form due to Rafa's decisions or lack of squad depth or even luck?

Of course, you can argue about the ball in the middle of the field which assisted the winner. But, Liverpool had enough time to recover and change the game. Sadly, with the players now, I couldn't see anyone who can really do that. Luck plays a part and it's so unlucky whereby players come back injured from international break and you could do nothing about it. Having said that, the players coming into the team has to cherish the chance to prove themselves, fight for the place in the starting 11. Apparently, I couldn't see the guys doing that.

Against Chelsea at the Bridge, I thought Liverpool was losing out on quality and creativity. While Gerrard and Torres were both being heavily marked, the rest of the team did not rise to the occasion and hence, Drogba & Co got the upper hand. No one to dictate play, no one to distribute the defence breaking balls like what Xabi Alonso used to do.

So what happens now? 4 losses in the league with only 9 games played. 1 lost 2 played in the Champions League and meanwhile, the American owners are owning tones and tones of money to the banks. A very rough or I should say bad patch for Liverpool Football Club.

Definitely, we need to improve on the pitch. Forget about the title. Just keep going on every game and push as high as up on the table as possible. Players need to step up and resume responsibility to fight hard for the team while the fans like us can only pray hard, finger crossed and keeping the faith like we always have.

You'll Never Walk Alone..

New Contracts

Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso has all renewed their contracts. It's great to see all these players signing their contracts with us, dismissing any rumors and speculation of them linking or even leaving the club.

The best player in the club, Steven Gerrard will definitely be here for the next few years. We need him around to lift more trophies. Jamie Carragher will still be here commanding the defence, blocking the shots like it's against his life. Both of them are the backbone of the team. We need them to be in team, no doubts about it.



Pepe Reina has also extended his contract. I'm happy to see this news. I like him as our number one goalkeeper. Really hopes he can maintain his good form and keep more clean sheets for us. I'm really looking forward to see him becoming one of our best goalkeepers in Liverpool history.

Xabi Alonso is the fourth player to pen down his signature. There were doubts in his future after Mascherano arrival. However, it's feel great to see the Spanish playmaker pledged his future with us. I love his range of passing and vision. That's an valuable asset for us. Xabi is an unique player who is hard to find. It's important to keep him here and he can provide more which no much players can do. I'm just pleased to see him signed his contract.

With key members of the team assuring their future in the club, what about the new signings? I hope to see some soon.

You'll Never Walk Alone..

Move Over Blues, The Reds Are The Masters of Efficiency

I got this from uneditedmara's blog and I find it pretty true. What do you guys think?


Being Liverpool fans we are all privileged to be part of a club with such a prestigious history in football, and one that won over the hearts as well as captured the imagination of fans all around the world.

It is unfortunate, then, that only three seasons ago Liverpool’s reputation as a fluid footballing team were destroyed by the man who believed that defence was everything - Gerard Houllier.

The man who had a five-year plan that failed got himself sacked in the sixth, to be replaced by a Spaniard, Rafa Benitez, whose appointment led to both optimism and skepticism - especially in the light of ex-Porto, now-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.


The Special One claimed that Liverpool had tried to appoint him, but he had snubbed them - effectively downplaying Rafa’s reputation as a master tactician in Spain.

So the Portugese peacock set out a grand plan to play boring football with geniuses like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard - and got himself two Premiership titles in the process. The team spirit was magnificent, but it didn’t exactly translate to crackling football on the pitch.

Rafa, in the meantime, had himself a mediocre introductory season in the Premiership, while he significantly improved the eye-catchiness of football on Merseyside in the first season. Djibril Cisse, part of the legacy left behind by Houllier, was one of the key players who might have scored more. Steven Gerrard, undoubtedly, was the engine.

In his second season, Liverpool finished strongly and with intent for the Premiership title; however, a slow start means that we are now chasing for third place at best, while our footballing style is evolving.

Against Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven, we managed to eke out seven goals and only conceded one - and only with the smaller share of possession in both games.

Instead of shooting like headless chickens a la the Houllier era, where Heskey and Baros took turns to see who could miss more often, the Rafalutionary boys only take their aim towards goal sparingly and effectively.

The crosses no longer look aimless - Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa’s combined backheel was concluded by a supreme cross which Peter Crouch slid in like a world-class striker.

In the meantime, Chelsea struggled to beat Watford, even though they more than knocked at goal with the number of opportunities as well as the possession they had. In the end, they had to wait for genius to take over, and a cross from Shevchenko was converted by Salomon Kalou to steal a victory.

The new-look Liverpool team is one that knows when to pass, when to cross, and when to shoot. Even Stevie G, the rampaging midfield general commanding the field, knows when to attack and when to track back.


We don’t just play prettier football - I don’t say pretty because the word is used to describe Arsenal’s play - but we play intelligent football, one that talks about timing and efficiency. It is not just about working hard; Benitez believes in smart, strategic football, and has worked so hard to instill these values into his team.

It may well be that Chelsea will finish above Liverpool this season - but judging from how Rafa’s boys are improving in footballing efficiency every season, Mourinho might well be looking behind his shoulder next season to see how far we’ll catch up. Needless to say, he might just need to look in front as well.

You'll Never Walk Alone..

WEST HAM 1 LIVERPOOL 2

Team of the day..
Reina, Riise, Agger, Carragher, Hyypia, Finnan, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard MBE (c), Bellamy, Crouch.
Subs - Dudek, Fowler, Gonzalez, Pennant, Zenden

liverpoolfc.tv reports..

Spectacular strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch earned Liverpool a priceless Premiership victory at Upton Park on Tuesday night as West Ham were beaten 2-1.

They netted during a frantic seven-minute spell early in the second half and, although Hammers debutant Kepa Blanco later pulled a goal back, the Reds held on to move within two points of second-placed Chelsea.

They've now won nine of their last ten in the Premiership and this latest result will send out an ominous warning to the top two as the title race begins to hot up.

Rafael Benitez made two changes to the side that had defeated champions Chelsea ten days previous and opted for the attacking 3-4-3 formation that worked so effectively in the recent away win at Watford.

In their all-yellow change strip, Liverpool took the game to the hosts from the first whistle but it was not until Jamie Carragher fired over with a rare left-footed effort on goal in the 9th minute that they threatened the West Ham goal.

The early passing was slick and four minutes later referee Martin Atkinson harshly waved away a legitimate-looking penalty appeal when John Arne Riise was felled in the box by Jonathon Spector.

The Hammers were struggling to get out of their own half and when they did finally manage to break free, Pepe Reina was quick off his line to sweep up a finely threaded through ball and deny Marlon Harewood a goalscoring opportunity.

As the half wore on the standard of play dipped and the game degenerated into a scrappy affair, fought out largely in and around the centre circle.

West Ham gradually grew in confidence during this lacklustre spell and almost snatched the lead on the half hour mark through Harewood, the big striker rifling in a low shot from distance that flew narrowly wide of the far post.

With the home crowd becoming more and more vociferous, Reina then had to be at his best to tip a stinging free-kick from Luis Boa Morte over the bar. Yossi Benayoun also forced the Reds keeper into a vital save as the interval approached and the travelling Liverpudlians behind that goal were no doubt relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

But within 14-seconds of the restart their concerns had turned to delight as Kuyt spectacularly broke the deadlock with a dipping shot from 25-yards out that sailed over the head of Roy Carroll and into the roof of the net.



It was a sensational start to the second period and the visiting fans were still celebrating when Crouch doubled the advantage seven minutes later, emphatically finishing a flowing move with a powerful side-footed strike from the edge of the box that nestled sweetly into the top corner.

West Ham were visibly reeling from the shock of conceding two goals in quick succession and a rampant Liverpool threatened to run riot, with all three strikers revelling in their misfortune and desperate to punish them further.

Somehow, the Eastenders weathered the storm and following an inspired double substitution Alan Curbishley's strugglers were suddenly back in the game.

Twelve minutes remained when Bobby Zamora crossed for Blanco to turn the ball home from close-range. It set up a tense finale but, thankfully, Liverpool survived this late scare to claim the win their scintillating early second half showing deserved.



Rafa's comments..

It was a great win for us. We've maintained our winning momentum and need to keep going. We scored two great goals and the second was really good play.

"It was important that we scored first because when they scored we were a little bit nervous.

"We cannot think about the title. We must just keep on winning and if we do that then in three or four weeks we might be able to start talking about possibilities. We are on a good run and enjoying it."

Louis' Comments..

It's a good win. Most importantly, we have 3 points in the bag. We are playing well now and it pleases me to see us performing at this good level of football.

Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch both scored and the goals are awesome. Dirk Kuyt just had a shot in just 12 seconds after the restart. He was assisted by Peter Crouch and his number of goals per season have reached double figures.

The second goal was one of the best goals I've seen this season. The build-up play was superb. Tidy work done by Alonso and Gerrard in the middle of the park and Gerrard played a low and long ball down to Bellamy, who then, cut it through to Riise. With space on the left, Riise plays Crouch on and he didn't make any mistakes by shooting into the top corner of the net. I jumped upon seeing the ball flew into the net.





Liverpool was cruising into the second half when I believed complacency crept into our play. The players was playing as though they have won the game. Mis-passes, losing possession was everywhere. That's mainly why West Ham managed to get one back.

Fortunately, after conceeding the goal, Liverpool woke up a little and began to play the way they started the match, managed to hang on and won th game.





Next, it's our derby. Everton. A game which always never fails to excite and disappoints me as well. A 3-0 loss earlier this season was still fresh in my mind. As our gaffer and skipper has said during the week, we can't lose any points anymore.

Come on reds..


you'll never walk alone..


cheers.

CARLING CUP: LIVERPOOL 3 ARSENAL 6

Team of the day..
Dudek, Warnock, Hyypia, Paletta, Peltier, Aurelio, Gerrard MBE (c), Guthrie, Gonzalez, Bellamy, Fowler.
Subs - Alonso, Carragher, Crouch, Garcia, Reina

liverpoolfc.tv reports..

Liverpool are out of the Carling Cup after four goals from Julio Baptista and goals from Jeremie Aliadiere and Alexandre Song gave Arsenal a 6-3 victory in the Quarter Final at Anfield on Tuesday.

The Reds looked dead and buried after two goals from Baptista and one each from Aliadiere and Song cancelled out a Robbie Fowler strike to give Arsenal a 4-1 half time lead. But they produced a sterling second half fight back that saw Jerzy Dudek save a penalty and Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia score to reduce the deficit after Baptista had completed his hat-trick and made it 5-1.

And although Steven Gerrard came close to making it 5-4 when he hit the crossbar and Jamie Carragher forced a fine save from Almunia, Baptista killed off any hope of a famous comeback when he scored his fourth and Arsenal's sixth in the 84th minute.

Liverpool of course were looking to avenge FA Cup defeat to the Gunners here on Saturday, but it was two vastly different teams that took to the field with both Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger making numerous changes from the sides that started that game.

The Reds weren't helped by an early injury to Mark Gonzalez forcing a change after he'd injured himself tackling Walcott. We had a long stoppage as the clearly stricken Chilean received treatment on the pitch and the match was forgotten while thoughts were with switched to his welfare.

Gonzalez was eventually replaced by Luis Garcia and he almost had an immediate impact when his through pass almost gave Fowler a chance. And Fowler was on the sniff again just a minute later when he almost got on the end of Gerrard's header after Bellamy had done well on the right.

Like in the FA Cup, Liverpool were on top, but just like in that game, Arsenal took the lead against the run of play through Jeremie Aliadiere in the 27th minute. It came when Toure played a long ball over the top and Aliadiere latched onto it and beat Dudek at the second attempt.

The Reds weren't behind for long though because they scored an excellent 32nd minute equalizer through Robbie Fowler. We've already seen how good Fabio Aurelio's left foot is; and Fowler scored with a flick of his left boot after Almunia could only parry Aurelio's free kick and Garcia had pulled the ball back.

It was a deserved equalizer and the Reds then briefly threatened to take the lead, but Arsenal would go on to score three further first half goals to put themselves and this tie out of sight by half time.

They were back in front in the 40th minute when Julio Baptista beat Dudek with a free kick from 25 yards. And Baptista scored again to make it 4-1 from close range in first half stoppage time after Alexandre Song had made it 3-1 just moments earlier when the ball had bounced favourably for him in the area..

Liverpool were reeling and the Kop tried to lift them at half time with a passionate burst of You'll Never Walk Alone, but it was to no avail because Baptista claimed his hat-trick and made it 5-1 in the 60th minute.

A fine penalty save by Jerzy Dudek from Baptista and a brilliant goals from Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia restored hope for the Reds, but it served to be no more than a consolation. Baptista capped a fine individual display when he grabbed his fourth to make it 6-3 and Liverpool must now look to Saturday's trip to Watford to get their cup hangover out of their system.

Rafa comments..

"It's a bad night for us and all we can say is sorry to the supporters.

"Now isn't the time to point the finger or look to blame people. We win together and we lose together.

"The problem was conceding four goals in the first half. When you are faced with a scoreline like that it is very difficult to manage the game.

"We needed an early goal in the second half but couldn't find it. When we did score Arsenal had the quality to keep the ball and make it difficult for us.

"We need to forget about tonight as soon as possible and look ahead to Watford in the Premiership on Saturday and also the Champions League."

louis' comments..

Gutted, disappointed. I've nothing much to say about this match. We lost and let's move on..

you'll never walk alone..

cheers.

BLACKBURN 1 LIVERPOOL O

Match Highlights

Team of the day:
Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Agger, Finnan, Gonzalez, Carragher, Alonso, Gerrard (captain), Bellamy, Crouch.
Subs - Dudek, Kuyt, Aurelio, Pennant, Garcia

liverpoolfc.tv reports..

Liverpool have lost for the first time in eight Premiership matches after a second half goal from Benni McCarthy gave Blackburn Rovers an unlikely 1-0 win in a game that the Reds dominated at Ewood Park on Boxing Day.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool after they created chance after chance to score, but found former goalkeeper Brad Friedel in superb form. And they crashed to defeat when Blackburn capitalised on their only period of superiority in the game to score through McCarthy at the start of the second half.

Rafa Benitez made three changes to his side for this the second of four games in just nine days over a busy festive period and one of those changes, Peter Crouch, almost had an instant impact when forcing Brad Friedel into a first minute save with a header.

Friedel was to be a busy goalkeeper, but Blackburn threatened briefly when Savage headed wide in the 12th minute and Pedersen's 25 yard shot needed to be saved by Reina. But the Reds were soon back on top and Friedel had to save another Crouch header in the 18th minute after Finnan's deep cross had found him unmarked.

The Reds came into this unbeaten in seven Premiership fixtures and they were playing with confidence and creating a lot of chances. Craig Bellamy, returning to his former club, was looking sharp and he was giving the Rovers defence a torrid time.

Bellamy has already scored against his ex-employers this season and he came within inches of doing so again when his 34th minute shot flew inches wide. And he'd earlier seen his 16th minute shot saved by Friedel after Carragher had won the ball in the area.

Friedel made it a hat-trick of saves from Crouch headers in the 35th minute and it was the best of the three, but Liverpool were punished for not taking their chances when Blackburn took the lead against the run of play at the start of the second half.

It came when Tugay found Pedersen in the left channel and his low cross was converted from close range by Benni McCarthy, the scorer of Blackburn's goal at Anfield earlier this season.

It was the first goal the Reds had conceded in eight Premiership games, but after dominating the first half, it was a goal that would change the game because they would now have to chase an equalizer. It was an unlikely scenario after the first 45 minutes we'd had.

Rafa Benitez responded by replacing Peter Crouch with Dirk Kuyt in the 57th minute and the Dutchman had a great chance to level the scores in the 75th minute, but Friedel was there again spread himself brilliantly and block Kuyt's point close range effort. The Reds were now back on top and Xabi Alonso hit the outside of the post with a 76 minute shot, but they couldn't find a way passed man of the match Friedel.

Luis Garcia brought another brilliant save out of Friedel as Blackburn's defending became increasing desperate and then Friedel made his best save of the match and made the points safe for Blackburn when he flung himself to his left to make a brilliant one handed save to deprive Alonso.

Rafa's thoughts..

"We have seen this many times this season when we have created a lot of clear chances, but haven't scored," said Benitez.

"Their goalkeeper was fantastic, but I have to be disappointed that we have got nothing from a game where we created so many clear chances.

"Crouch had three clear chances in the first half, but maybe it was down to bad luck and good goalkeeping that we didn't score.

"We made a mistake for the goal Blackburn scored and we now must look to the next game against Tottenham and take our chances there."

louis' comments..

a frustrating game for me. we should have won as what our manager had said. in football, it's very simple. if you don't put the ball into the net, you don't win.

we dominated the first half. every single player knew what their job was and kept to it. blackburn didn't have much on the ball. alonso was passing the ball well, gerrard was keeping the shape of the team. however, i was wondering whether peter crouch know how to score with his head? he's such a tall player and heading is his best assest. crosses from the wing from bellamy and finnan, what did he do? headed straight to the keeper.

peter, you are in the starting eleven after so many games. and yet, you are putting such a performance. i could see his frustration when he's being subbed out. bellamy was good at his runs and kept blackburn defenders on the toes, however, his hard work was not converted into goals.

alonso tried hard, steve finnan was running his legs out. but we just lost everything in the second half. blackburn was up on the tempo and they scored one. we were scrabbling outside our penalty area and none of the players could hold onto the situation and clear the ball. *wish that dietmar hamann was there though.* after that, they scored. what the f**k? poor goal to concede. away from home, once you concede a goal, it's hard to get back to the game. aurelio, kuyt and garcia came in but left little impact. kuyt was as hardworking as ever, but his efforts were in vain.

blackburn had just lost 6-2 last weekend and now, beaten us. simply disappointing and frustating. the unbeaten run had stopped. it's a poor performance as we can't score and yet lost the game. bolton and portsmouth are climbing up. chelsea had just lost 2 points and we can't capitalised on it. i wonder if it's tired legs or what, there's no excuses for us such a big club to be giving the fans such performances. i'm upset by this defeat. truly is.

white hart lane is next. it's going to be hard. martin jol's men will be determined to pull one back after we beaten them 3-0 at anfield. nevertheless, rafa benitez should know what it takes to play so many matches during the christmas period. it's his third year in charge now. there's no more room for mistakes. no more.

you'll never walk alone.

cheers.