I HAD A DREAM

I turned 46 on the 7th of October and what a year it has been..so far! I met the entire Liverpool team on their Asia Tour in July and we finally have the King at the helm again.
To top thing off, My three mates and I are making a 10700 Kilometers from Kuala Lumpur to Liverpool to catch the game I have been dreaming to see since I was 7!
Liverpool vs Manchester United...at Anfield!

It feels like a pilgrimage and I have been counting the days since I found out 12 weeks ago that tickets were available thanks to a mad RED - Sheldon

So Adam, Laveen, Mark and I are making the trip of our lives..quite ironic as I was just re-watching a speech from Steve Job's 2005 Stanford Address.

My lovely wife who is a mad RED too git the ball rolling with 
some lovely LFC gifts including this  stunner..awesome right!

Followed by a cake which sent a tear to my eye!

The devils were creamed in Anfield the last time with a Kuyt hattrick and I am confident that we will get the 3 points especially as Gerro is rumored to start

Its gonna be epic.....these are the days......!

YNWA!

OH CARROLL

 Carroll FINALLY NOTCHED HIS PREMIERSHIP GOAL finishing flawlessly after a disappointing performance in the first half  for an hour and a bit. 

Of course the talking point of the match was the sending off of youngster Jack Rodwell after he lunged at Suarez with his studs showing

Kenny Dalglish: "Until they lost a man it was even. Cahill had a header and Pepe made a great save. There wasn't much between the teams. Sometimes the numerical advantage works in your favour, sometimes it goes against you. It was hot out there, and we kept moving the ball and kept our patience.Adams rattled the woodwork in the first half and although Everton displayed a fine performance overall, they were outplayed by sheer class of the REDMEN who now meet SCUM on the 15th.

Kuyt missed his fits penalty for the Reds and although he struck a decent penalty, Howard was - in the right place at the right time..BTW that could have been his 50th goal in a Liverpool shirt!

WAS IT A RED? who cares...we have been at the wrong end of several bad decisions this season that I would take it again and again...

Things started happening after the double substitution where Gerard and Bellamy were unleashed in the 66th minute

71 min GOAL! Everton 0-1 Liverpool (Carroll)
 Kuyt launches one to  Bellamy' and he fires in a low cross first-time and it flies on to Carroll, who makes no mistake with a lashed left-footed finish from 10 yards or so.


SUAREZ IS A WIZARD!

82 min GOAL! Everton 0-2 Liverpool (Suarez) Kuyt launches one to Suarez,who dazzles with some sheer wizardry and his never die attitude proved fruitful when he made Distin and Baines look like school boys and he notched in a really cool cool 2nd!

we moved temporarily into 4th but with Newcastle's win we moved backed into 5th...and now for the Devils on the 15th!

FELT LIKE A WIN.BUT....

WE TOOK ON STOKE AND JUDGING FROM PREVIOUS HISTORY, IT WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH BUT WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE NEXT 90 MINUTES LEFT ME A BIT BEWILDERED.

Confirmed: 

Reina Skrtel Carra Agger Enrique Lucas Adam Henderson Downing Suarez Kuyt 

Subs:
Doni Johnson Coates Spearing Bellamy Maxi Carroll


WE STARTED OFF VERY STRONGLY HAD HAD NUMEROUS GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITIES BUT STOKE HAD PARKED A BUS IN FRONT OF GOAL AND SHAWNCROSS WAS OUTSTANDING MAKING SEVERAL CRITICAL SAVES




IN THE 21ST MINUTE THE  DECIDER OF THE GAME WAS WRAPPED IN A GIFT BASKET THANKS TO   Carragher AS HE GOT ON THE wrong side of Jonathan Walters before holding the player a AND GIVING AWAY A PENALTY. HE MADE NO MISTAKE FROM THE SPOT AND THIS BEGS THE QUESTION TO BE ASKED " TWO GOALS FROM TWO CARRA MISTAKES IN TWO GAMES...IS HIS EXPIRY LOOMING?" I CERTAINLY THING SO AND HE SHOULD BE USED AS A UTILITY AS THIS STALWART HAS LOST HIS PACE AND FLEXIBILITY


CRAIG BELLAMY LOOKED REALLY COMFORTABLE ON THE LEFT FLANK (replacing Henderson)   
2 HANDBALLS FROM STOKE WERE WAVED AWAY BY THE REF WHO WENT AMAZINGLY BLIND
AND SUAREZ MISSED A GIFT WRAPPED OPPORTUNITY IN THE LAST MINUTE
ALL SAID AND DONE, THERE WAS MUCH PROMISE BUT WE NEED TO BE MORE CLINICAL IN FRONT OF GOAL AND TAKE OUR CHANCES
SUAREZ WAS MY MAN OF THE MATCH WITH DOWNING A CLOSE SECOND
FLOP OF THE DAY WAS DEFINITELY HENDERSON WHO COULD HAVE SEALED A POINT WITH A SITTER. I STILL HAVE FAITH IN CARROLL( AND I THINK THAT THE PONU TAIL DO HAS A BAD OMEN ON ALL LIVERPOOL PLAYERS)
WE HEAD AWAY TO SPURS NEXT WEEK AND ALTHOUGH WE LOST, I FEEL WE ARE AT A BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR AND PREDICT A WIN NEXT WEEK.
WE MIGHT HAVE LOST THE GAME BUT SOMEHOW, IT WAS INEVITABLE WITH STOKE PLAYING WITH 10 DEFENDERS!
TH
HERE IS WHAT KENNY DALGLISH AND TONY HAD TO SAY FOR THEIR POST MATCH INTERVIEWIS IS WHAT THE KING HAD TO SAY

transfer deadline - how did we do?

I THINK THE BIGGEST SHOCK WAS MEIRELESS TO CHELSEA RIGHT?

WELL WE DID GRAB BELLAMY FROM CITY!

ANYWAY HERE IS THE FULL LIST PLUS HOW WE DID IN THE TRANSFERS AND IF YU LOOK AT THE END, I THINK JOHN HENRY IS AN AWESOME BUSINESSMAN AS WE GOT RID OF DEADWOOD WHICH MEANS A HUGE SAVING ON WAGES.

Players IN

Jordan Henderson (Sunderland) £16,000,000
Charlie Adam (Blackpool) £6,500,000
Alexander Doni (AS Roma) £FREE
Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) £18,000,000
Jose Enrique (Newcastle Utd) £5,500,000
Sebastian Coates (Nacional) £7,000,000
Craig Bellamy (Man City) Free

Players OUT

Paul Konchesky (Leicester City) £1,500,000
Gerardo Bruna (Blackpool) Undisclosed
Chris Mavinga (Rennes) £1,000,000
Milan Jovanovic (Anderlecht) Free
Thomas Ince (Blackpool) Undisclosed
Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Wolfsburg) Free
Daniel Ayala (Norwich) £800,000
Nabil El Zhar - Released
Emiliano Insua (Sporting Lisbon) Free
Christian Poulsen (Evian) Undisclosed
David Ngog (Bolton) £4M
Raul Meireles (Chelsea) £13M
Philipp Degen - Released

Loans In - 

Loans Out

Stephen Darby (Rochdale Town till end of 2011/12)
Peter Gulacsi (Hull City till 30/6/2012)
Martin Hansen (Bradford City as 28-day emergency move)
Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan till end of June 2012)
Joe Cole (Lille OSC till end of June 2012)

Youth Players released

Jason Banton
Deale Chamberlain
Douglas Cooper
Sean Highdale
Steven Irwin
Nikola Saric -> new deal with HNK Hadjuk Split

Spent: £53,000,000
Received: £20,300,000

Net: £32.7 Million
BYE BYE MEIRELESS- 
WE LOVED YOU BUT WE KNOW 
THE KOP CURSE WILL STRIKE, 
ASK TORRES AND BENAYOUN


btw - HERE'S MY YOUNGEST QALILA
6 YEARS OLD AND BEING GROOMED~
GOTTA START EM YOUNG

COATES

WE'VE FINDLY DONE IT AFTER ALL THE DELAYS WITH MISSED FLIGHTS AND WORK PERMITS!
A 6 FEET 6 INCH DEFENDER HAS JOINED LIVERPOOL AND THE URUGUYAN SENSATION  IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO UNSETTLE A FEW REGULARS IN THE TEAM NAMELY CARRAGHER( WHO HAS BEEN SHOWING HIS AGE LATELY)
COATES IS A GOOD MATE OF SUAREZ AND THAT PARTNERSHIP IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BLOSSOM

AND ACCORDING TO FOOTBALLBUNKER.COM:
"Liverpool FC have had an initial bid of £9.5m for Lazio forward Mauro Zarate accepted and the 24 year old is expected at Melwood on Wednesday for a medical.

The forward, who was a rumoured target of Arsenal earlier in August, was expecting to stay in Italy for a further season after Lazio refused to allow the Argentine a move on loan. However enquiries by the Liverpool early this week have proved beneficial with the Serie A side now accepting a bid."

WHO IS MAURA ZARATE?

ID 

JOE COLE IS CLOSING IN ON A LOAN TO LILLE AND NGOG COULD ALSO LEAVE TO BOLTON.
ALL SAID AND DONE, WE ARE IN MUCH A BETTER PLACE THAT THE SAME THIME THIS YEAR
ID MUBARAK KAREEM TO ALL MOSLEM REDS
THIS IS OUR YEAR AND LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT MAKING IT TO THE CL..LET'S THINK POSITIVE AND WIN THE DAMN LEAGUE!

RED RAMPAGE! LIVERPOOL VS BOLTON FULL MATCH REPORT

THE BUOYANT REDS TOOK ON BOLTON AT ANFIELD AND THE LINEUP REMAINED THE SAME WITH EXCEPTION TO A STRAIGHT SWAP BETWEEN CARROLL AND KUYT AND THE DUTCH STARTED WITH CARROLL ON THE BENCH

MARTIN KELLY WAS SUBSTITUTED IN THE 20TH MINUTE WITH A HAMSTRING INJURY AND WAS SUBSTITUED BY SKRTEL 

THE REDS COULD HAVE BEEN UP  BY AT LEAST 3 AT HALF TIME WITH DOWNING AND SUAREZ EACH MISSING CHANCES BUT HENDERSON NOTCHED IN WITH HIS FIRST GOAL FOR THE REDS.

COATES WAS WATCHING FROM THE BENCH AND THE 6 FEET 6 URUGUYAN DEFENDER SEEMS MOST LIKELY TO SIGN NEXT WEEK.

AT HALF TIME, LUCAS WHO HAD A STELLAR PERFORMANCE, LOOKED INJURED 

THE SECOND HALF STARTED PROMISINGLY WITH SOME CHANCES AND IN THE 50TH MINUTE SKRTEL NOTCHED IN THE SECOND OFF  A CHARLIE ADAM CORNER!
AND DESERVINGLY IN LESS  THAN 2 MINUTES BEFORE THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE SECOND GOAL HAD DIED DOWN, ADAMS GOT HIS FIRST FOR THE TEAM OFF A BRILLIANT STRIKE! 3- 0!
THE BIYS WERE IN AWESOME FOR AND PROVED THAT THE NEW BUYS WERE FINALLY CLICKING!

some excellent tweets AND FB UPDATES

SUAREZ LOOKED MENACING ALL SECOND HALF WITH TOTAL RED POSSESSION. CARROLL AND MAXI REPLACED HENDERSON AND SUAREZ AND ALTHOUGH HE TRIED TO MAKE IT 4 IN 4, HIS OVERALL CONTRIBUTION WAS JUST PRICELESS!
WE HVE SILENCED THE CRITICS WITH THIS PERFORMANCE AND IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT US BREAKING THE TOP 4, IT WILL BE LAID TO REST TONIGHT.
KLASNIC TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A CARRAGHER MISTAKE AND DEEP INTO STOPPAGE TIME TO MAKE IT 3-1. SAD TO GIVEAWAY A CLEAN SHEET BUT WE MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE
YNWA
ANYWAY HERE ARE THE CARLING CUP FIXTURES

we're top of the table :)

Liverpool scored their first victory over Arsenal in the Emirates ever and did it in a hard fought game where although the exclusion of Suarez in the first half left many a Scouser bewildered, proved a crucial tactic by the King!

In fact the last time we taste victory was in 2000 at Highbury when Titi Camara notched in the winner. It was really an awesome display by the redmen with an own goal in by Aaron Ramsey and Suarez piled on more woes to the Gunners with a second. 2 goals in 2 games - I bet Torres would have turned green with envy!
Dalglish made two changes from the 1-1 draw with Sunderland on the opening day as Martin Kelly and Dirk Kuyt replaced Jon Flanagan and Suarez
.Looked like the gunners were cursed further with another Red card( one from their previous game where Gervinho was the proud recipient) when Frimpong picked up a second Red which led to the sending off.

Kelly was definitely my man of the match with his awesome defending and stunning runs in the right. The whole game played well but I still fill Henderson was clearly out of his league. I was wondering why Henderson was not on the bench especially after a disappointing performance against Sunderland (who BTW lost to Newcastle today)

I think Arsene is headed to the Loony bin now

Arsenal: Szczesny, Koscielny (Miquel 15), Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Sagna, Frimpong, Ramsey, Nasri, Arshavin (Lansbury 71), Walcott (Bendtner 80), Van Persie. Not used: Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Miyaichi.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Kuyt (Meireles 71), Carroll (Suarez 71). Not used: Doni, Maxi, Spearing, Skrtel, Flanagan.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

This puts on on top of the table( although momentarily) but hey..I'll take it!

Let's go LIV VS SUNDERLAND (match highlights)

40 minutes before the kickoff of the 11/12 is on!
Liverpool vs Sunderland!

Suarez and Enrique start

Here is the lineup and boy oh boy it looks GREAT!

Liverpool: Reina, Flanagan, Enrique, Agger, Carragher, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Meireles, Kuyt, Spearing, Ngog, Kelly, Robinson.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Richardson, Brown, Ferdinand, Larsson, Elmohamady, Cattermole, Colback, Sessegnon, Gyan. Subs: Gardner, Wickham, Vaughan, Dong-won, Bramble, Westwood, Laing.

Even the bench looks terribly mouth watering and the absence of Aquilani could mean a possible transfer to Italy
For Sunderland, John O'shea( former scum) is injured...damn!

The surprise is Suarez is back after a stunning Copa Cup and our latest signing, Jose Enriquez starts too

Match Fact

Sunderland have managed to beat Liverpool only twice in 20 Premier League meetings, although the second of those wins came as near as October 2009 when Darren Bent's shot deflected in off a beach ball, to hand Sunderland a 1-0 win. Interestingly, Sunderland has scored only three goals against Liverpool in their last 10 Premier League encounters, all of which were scored by Bent, who is now an Aston Villa player.

Stay tuned for Full match reports later YNWA!

LET'S HOPE THERE ARE NO BEACH BALLS IN THE 

STADIUM! 

First half highlight

OK first half and it's lookin really promising although Suarez missed a penalty after he was brought down in the box in the 5th

He redeemed himself with a 12 minute strike and it has been awesome with a couple of massive tries namely a Downing superstrike that hit the woodwork! Carroll has one disallowed and even Adam had a 'Gerard' like shot that was saved!

It's really looking like a team that could put us into the Champion's league next season and I have to say Enriquez . could possibly the buy of the season for the Reds. A wonderstrike By Larson put Sunderland level with the Reds and it seemd like a Sunderland revival and the Reds were let down by a lethargic seconde half performance. Henderson has lots to prove and thank god he was replaced by Kuyt and Suarez was also replaced by Meireless.
All in all, if we can display a spirited first half performance, we need to work on fitness and really build on our draw here. Enriquez was my man of the match with his no frills defensive play and Suarez was stunning. 
Midfield needs an able general in the mould of Alonso and we pray Gerro will be back sooner.
YNWA

LIVERPOOL VS VALENCIA FULL MATCH REPORT

FIRST IF YOU STILL DO NOT KNOW THE LYRICS...>

LAST FRIENDLY BEFORE THE SEASON BEGIN
AND IT WAS VERY MUCH ANTICIPATED AT ANFIELD
LIVERPOOL STARTED OFF WITH :
Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Henderson, Spearing, Adam, Aquilani, Downing, Carroll
Subs
Jones, Doni, Cole, Maxi, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Ngog, 
Kelly, Flanagan, Robinson



DOWNING ,HENDERSON AND ADAMS ALL MADE THEIR ANFIELD DEBUT AND THERE WORKED THE MIDFIELD WELL AND EVEN AURELIO WHO CAME IN FOR JOHNSON( WHO LIMPED OUT INJURED) AND KELLY WERE IMPRESSIVE
IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE QUALITY IN THE BENCH (WITH SUAREZ, LUCAS AND GERARD STILL ABSENT)
IT STARTED OFF PROMISINGLY WITH A ANDY CARROLL POUNCING ON A 7TH MINUTE MISTAKE BY THE VISITORS TO MAKE IT 1-0!
RAFA WAS IN THE STANDS AND THE CROWD WAS SINGING HIS NAME( WHY?) AS HE HAD COACHED BOTH TEAMS
IT WAS GOOD TO SEE DOWNING AND AQUILANI IN THEIR ELEMENT
CARROLL WAS GIVING THE VISITORS A BIT OF TROUBLE WITH HIS PHYSICAL GAME AND WAS HAULED UP FOR A CRUNCHING TACKLE WHERE THE REF WHIPPED OUT A YELLOW
IN THE SECOND HALF LUCAS CAME ON FOR SPEARING 
AND ROBINSON FOR AURELIO AND YOU COULD SEE THAT HE WAS DEFINITELY MISSED IN THE TEAM WITH THE CROWD SHOWING THEIR APPRECIATION WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE BALL. LIVERPOOL STARTED THE 2ND HALF WITH SOME PROMISING MOVES AND YOU COULD SENSE A SECOND ON THE WAY. AQUILANI LOOKS PROMISING AND IF HE DECIDES TO STAY, HE IS GOING TO HAVE A 
SPECTACULAR SEASON ! 
IN THE 59TH MINUTE KUYT,NGOG,RODRIQUEZ AND COLE  CAME IN FOR CARROLL,AQUILANI, HENDERSON AND DOWNING AND THIS ALMOST CREATED A SECOND WITH NGOG ON TARGET BUT SAVED BY THE KEEPER. BTW NEWS FROM THE SECOND HALF WAS AYALA HAS BEEN SOLD TO HULL...OH WELL.
IN THE 62ND MINUTE DANIEL AGGER SHOWED SOME VERY SUAREZ LIKE SKILLS AND ALMOST NUDGED ON IN BUT IT WENT OER THE BAR..HIS NEW HAIRCUT COULD BE A SIGN OF BETTER THINGS T COME( HOPEFULLY AN INJURY FREE SEASON). THE CHANGES HAD GIVEN THE TEAM SOME PACE AND YOU COULD ALMOST SEE A GRIN ON THE CONSTANT SULLEN LOOK OF THE ENGLAND COACH(CAPELLO) IN THE STANDS. I THINK THE ONLY LIVERPOOL PLAYER WHO WAS UNEVENTFUL WAS COLE. REALLY THIS ONCE PROMISING PLAYER WAS JUST A SHADOW OF HIS IMPRESSIVE FORM.
YOU COULD SEE THAT CARRAGHER WAS TAKING THIS GAME SERIOUSLY WITH HIS CONSTANT SHRIEKING SCREAMS OF DIRECTIONS TO HIS TEAM! IN THE 73RD MINUTE, ADAMS WAS REPLACED WITH FLANNO AND WE REALLY ANTICIPATE SOME FINE DEADBALL STRIKES THIS YEAR FROM THE SCOTSMAN. THE BIG GREEK KRYGIAKOS CAME IN FOR AGGER IN THE 77TH MINUTE. AND A MINUTE AFTER THAT JOE COLE ALMOST LITERALLY TACKLED THE GOAL KEEPER FOR A SECOND HAHA.OK HE FINALLY TOUCHED THE BALL.
VALENCIA WAS ENJOYING SOME POSSESSION IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES BUT THE STURDY DEFENSE WAS DOING ITS WORK
VALENCIA ALMOST HAD A BREAKTHROUGH AFTER A MISJUDGE BY REINA BUT THE SPANIARD MADE AMENDS AND THIS LOOKED PROMISING AS WE HAD CONCEDED 15 GOALS IN THE LAST 5 MATCHES AND A CLEAN SHEET WAS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT FLAVOR WE NEEDED HEADING INO THE START OF THE SEASON! 
IN HE LAST MINUTE KRYGIAKOS PUT IN A SECOND AFTER A MELLE INTHE BOX (ALTHOUGH KUYT WAS CREDITED WITH THE GOAL)
SO LIVERPOOL 2 VALENCIA 0 AND WE HEAD INTO THE SEASON WITH A VERY IMPRESSIVE WIN!
YNWA

LIVERPOOL VS VALERANGA

LIVERPOOL WENT TO NORWAY TO PLAY THEIR SECOND LAST FRIENDLY WITH VALERANGA AND IN 20 MINUTES WE WERE TRAILING 2-0. ONE FROM  ADFENSIVE ERROR AND ANOTHER FROM A CARRAGHER ERROR IN THE BOX WHICH RESULTED IN A PENALTY
JOHNSON AND REINA STARTED BUT SOMEHOW, THE TEAM WAS NOT CLICKING.
CARROLL,AGGER, DOWNING, ADAM,KUYT, HENDERSON, AND ROBINSON ALL STARTED BUT THE LIVERPOOL FLUIDITY WAS NO WHERE IN SIGHT. 
LINE UP


Subs: Doni, Ngog, Sama, Sterling, Flanagan, Aquilani, Shelvey, Kelly.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Robinson, Henderson, Downing, Adam, Spearing, Kuyt, Carroll.

YOU COULD SEE THE FRUSTRATION ON THE KING AND CLARKE'S FACES. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT WE LACKED A STURDY DEFENSE AND A HOLDING MIDFIELDER IN THE LKES OF LUCAS WAS DEFINITELY MISSED.
LOTS OF POSSESSION FOLLOWED AND A FEW TRIES AND IN THE 42ND MINUTE CARROLL HEADED IN A DOWNING PASS FOR LIVERPOOL'S 1ST GOAL! TWO MINUTES OF EXTRA TIME FOLLOWED.


I WOULD REPLACE ADAMS IN THE 2ND HALF TO BRING IN AQUILANI AND PERHAPS GIVE RAHIM STERLING AND NGOG A RUN TOO.
THE SECOND HALF STARTED PROMISINGLY BUT STILL IT LACKED FOCUS. JONJO AND KELLY CAME IN IN THE 60TH MINUTE.
CARROLL ALMOST CONTRIBUTED WITH ANOTHER GOAL BUT WAS SAVED BY THE KEEPER WHICH JONJO COULD NOT CONVERT

NGOG, STERLING AND AQUILANI WERE BROUGHT IN AND AQUI HAD A SHORT IN THE 82ND MINUTE WHICH RESULTED IN  A CORNER WITH AGGER CONVERTED! 2-2!
I HAVE THIS FEELING THAT AQUILANI COULD STAY IF HENRY WAS IN THE STANDS, HE LAUNCHED A SUPER STRIKE WHICH WAS PALMED AWAY FOR A CORNER BY THE KEEPER AND AGGER SCORED AGAIN! 3-2 LIVERPOOL!
AQUILANI WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE AND EVEN NGOG AND STERLING WERE IMPRESSIVE. THIS IS THE LIVERPOOL THE FANS WERE RARING TO SEE! 5 MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME FOLLOWED!

SHELVEY LAUNCHED AN IMPRESSIVE STRIKE AND WAS SAVED BY THE VALERANGA SUBSTITUTE KEEPER.
VALERANGA EQUALIZED WITH A STUNNER IN THE 93RD MINUTE 3- 3!
FINAL SCORE 3-3 ! EVIDENT THAT WE NEED A GOOD RIGHT BACK AND LUCAS BACK. SUAREZ WAS SORELY MISSED!
NEXT WEEK- VALENCIA!

Gee Stevie! and other transfer news

Stevie has been ruled out in August and is most likely only to make his much awaited appearance in September. Apart from the nagging groin injury, he has contracted some infection and is on antibiotics and definitely needs some R&R.
Is it just me or Stevie has been getting into on slump after another- bar fights, constant injuries etc. I think Captain Marvel needs some divine intervention!
On a brighter note, Pepe is fit and raring to go after the double hernia operation and could feature against Valeranga tomorrow. We have missed him dearly!
I think Charlie Adam will fill Stevie's void and Lucas will be back to devastate the opponents in midfield!
Here are our next 5 games  first 2 are Friendlies)

Transfer gossip from the LFC website

Liverpool look to have moved into pole position for South Korean striker Park Chu-Young after the player set his heart on moving to the English Premier League giants.

Park has attracted interest from Liverpool, with Reds' Director of Football Damien Comolli an admirer of the Korean star, who found the back of the net 12 times in Ligue 1 last season despite Monaco's relegation.Germans Schalke have also run the rule over Park though and are hoping to tempt the player to the Bundesliga.But Park, who joined Monaco in 2008 from FC Seoul, is thought to have set his heart on a switch to Anfield.

Park is currently under contract to AS Monaco, but does not want to drop down to Ligue 2 with the relegated French side. 

Fresh reports linking Liverpool with a move for Scott Dann have emerged this morning, speculating that Kenny Dalglish could steal the Birmingham City defender away because of his current employers' dire financial situation.

Indeed, just today Arsene Wenger has made a £15 million bid for the Everton centre-back.Dann is a lifelong Liverpool fan and would understandably jump at the chance of a move to Anfield to work under Kop legend Dalglish, who is a known admirer of him.

24 year-old Dann has been an alleged target for Liverpool and Arsenal throughout this summer, though Arsenal are thought to be far more interested in the potential acquisition of Phil Jagielka.

Liverpool have stepped up their interest in Jose Enrique after Kenny Dalglish was left unhappy with his side's defensive frailties in their pre-season friendlies.

Newcastle said last night they had received no bids for the wantaway Spanish left- back but sources on Merseyside claim Dalglish is ready to wait until the transfer window is nearly closed in a bid to pick up Enrique in a cut-price deal.Enrique has hardly endeared himself to the Newcastle hierarchy this week, criticizing them for a lack of ambition. The outburst earned him a £100,000 fine.Toon boss Alan Pardew has already identified Enrique's replacement - the experienced Wayne Bridge at Manchester City.

City insist they have not received any offer from Newcastle for Bridge and they acknowledge that his £90,000-a-week wages will prove a problem.

Liverpool are watching James McCarthy's contract talks at Wigan with a keen interest.

There is a long-term Anfield interest in the Glasgow-born youngster, who they tried to sign him from his first club, Hamilton, in 2009.And the Reds are ready to pounce if they sense the Latics are prepared to cash in on the Ireland international rather than risk losing him at a reduced fee.McCarthy opted for the regular-first team opportunities Wigan were offering but now, at the age of 20, he feels he is approaching the time when he should move on.Liverpool were content to maintain a mere watching brief on the midfielder, then make a more concrete move in future seasons.But McCarthy has been in talks with Wigan for more than a month over a new contract, after being promised an improvement on the deal he agreed when he joined the club.

Liverpool and Tottenham are set to go head-to-head for the signature of Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas, according to reports in Brazil.

And that has reportedly led to both Premier League clubs declaring an interest in him, although AC and Inter Milan are also said to be keen.The 18-year-old, whose full name is Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva, broke into the Sao Paulo team last year and has made four appearances for the Brazilian national side.But Lucas insists he is in no rush to move to Europe and says he has not yet decided on his future."I read that I have decided to go to Italy, but that isn't true," he told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo."At the moment my thinking is to continue and improve at Sao Paulo because I am young and need more experience before making the leap to Europe, but I haven't yet decided where I will go."

IS IT TIME YET?

What was supposed to be a glorious return to the City we captured our 5th CL cup was made a disaster by an ex Red!
I mean I was already cursing the fact that Malaysia were held to a 1-1 draw by Singapore( and that kicks out of the WC qualifiers) and the fact that the Galatasaray game was not on live and so.... I awoke to discover that we had slumped to second friendly( First to Hull) and now to the Turks ( 3-0)
Baros scored a brace( why did we sell him?) and Elmander( ex Bolton) notched the other.
I know that we played with 25% of the regulars and with the absence of Suarez, Gerard, Reina, Johnson, Lucas etc. The help that we started with Cole, Jonjo,Poulsen etc did not help either.( Even Degen was brought in) From what I read, Aquilani had a decent game but we missed Lucas ( I cannot believe I said that as I had been his hardest critic last year). All said and done, Lucas was critical in breaking up the game in midfield and that was sorely missed.

One thing that is apparent is our leaky defense and it was clear we were outclasses by the Turks. The introduction of Kuyt at half time was promising but really, it was a reserve squad on the pitch with hardly any first team players( excuses?)

Now before we start calling for the dethroning of the King (which is really really premature), I think we need to consider that this is a mix and match team but we do need a new defender and another striker in case Carroll has a bad hair day.
On the radar- Scott Dann and also Shane Long...
Oh well YNWA

WE WENT TO HULL

WE SLUMPED TO AN UNEVENTFUL DEFEAT TO HULL LAST NIGHT AND I AM TRYING TO MAKE SOME EXCUSE FOR THE LACK LUSTRE PERFORMANCE BY THE TEAM BUT THIS HIGHLY PAID INDIVIDUALS HAVE NO EXCUSE. YES YOU CAN SAY JET LAG, TIREDNESS, FATIGUE FROM THE ASIA TOUR ETC BUT C'MON GUYS, YOU'RE WEARING OUR CREST AND WE DO NOT CARE IF IT'S A FRIENDLY OR NOT. WE HATE LOSING. PERIOD


HERE ARE THE GOALS

ON A BRIGHT NOTE, DOWNING LOOKED PROMISING AS HE CROSSED SOME NICE LONG BALLS FOR CARROLL IN THE SECOND HALF BUT THE LETDOWN'S WERE REALLY AQUILANI, NGOG AND COLE. SEEING COLE HAVING HIS HANDS ON HIS HIPS AFTER 10 MINUTES INTO THE GAME WAS WORRYING- MATCH FITNESS? NADA!


WHAT WE REALLY MISSED WAS SOME DEFENCE FROM MIDFIELD AND ALSO THE BACK,. THE LIKES OF LUCAS, SKRTEL AND MAYBE EVEN GERRAD WAS MISSED. OF COURSE SUAREZ WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ICING ON THE CAKE BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF SOME FRINGE PLAYERS LIKE POULSEN AND COLE


TO HULL'S CREDIT, ALL THREE GOALS WERE FROM WELL CRAFTED MOVES BUT THE ISSUES WERE APPARENT, OUR MIDFIELD LOSES POSSESSION TOO EASILY


THERE IS RUMOR THAT WE COULD POACH ALLY CISSOKHO FROM LYON AND THAT COULD HELP.
CHARLIE ADAMS HAD A DECENT GAME AND KUYT AS USUAL WAS PUTTING IN 120% BUT HENDERSON TO ME WAS A MYSTERY. OH WELL ....WE STILL HAVE SOME FRIENDLIES AHEAD


HERE'S WHAT THE KING HAD TO SAY AFTER THE GAME
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has refused to guarantee new signings Jordan Henderson,Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam starting places this season, and ugred the trio to prove themselves.

The Scot watched Henderson and Downing make their Reds debuts during a disappointing 3-0 friendly defeat at Hull City, and wants to see more from his team.

"If they're going to stake a claim for a first-team place, they've got to earn it. We've given them every opportunity to get themselves fit and try and earn that right to play in the first-team, but they'll need to do better than that if they want it," he told Liverpool's official website.

"The lads are at various degrees of fitness for the matches. Someone like Jordan has only trained for a week, so it's a bit too much to ask him to start the game.

"But we've got a couple of matches in the space of a few days at the end of next week and we'll make sure as many people as we can get more minutes than they did today.

"They're very comfortable. It's an easy place to come and settle, it's very welcoming, but they'll not be too satisfied getting back on the bus after that."

Goals from Robbie Brady, Robert Koren and Jay Simpson wrapped up a shock win for the newly relegated Championship side and Dalglish admitted there was still plenty of work to be done before the season starts.


HERE ARE OUR NEXT 3 FRIENDLIES BEFORE THE LEAGUE KICKS OFF

28 Jul 2011		Galatasaray	A	19:00
August 2011
1 Aug 2011		Valerenga	A	18:00
6 Aug 2011		Valencia	H	17:30

AT THIS RATE, EVEN SUNDERLAND LOOK LIKE AN UPHILL TASK.