Month: December 2010

Absolutely no surprise at all to find that Fernando Torres makes a swift return to the side after missing Monday’s 3-0 win against Gerard Houllier’s lacklustre Aston Villa side. Nando was on paternity leave, his wife about to give birth to their son Leo.

The player who replaced him for that fixture makes way tonight, Ryan Babel dropping down to the bench. Other than that the team is unchanged. Pepe Reina is in goal and captains the side tonight, Raul Meireles and Lucas continue their impressive partnership in central midfield.

Newcastle fans staged a protest before kick-off, showing their outrage at owner Mike Ashley’s complete disregard for their feelings with his decision to sack Chris Hughton. Alan Pardew takes charge for the first time and names former Liverpool youth midfielder Danny Guthrie amongst his subs. Scouser Kevin Nolan makes a return from injury for the Geordies.

The referee tonight is Lee Mason, the man who sent two of Liverpool’s players off, including Jamie Carragher, when an already depleted Liverpool side lost 3-1 away to Roy Hodgson’s Fulham last season. Whether he plans to make himself the star of the show tonight remains to be seen, but with the sideshow put on by Mike Ashley he may have his work cut out if he does.

Pardew may be under pressure tonight due to his unpopularity with supporters, but Roy Hodgson will be too if he fails to win. His record of 13 just away wins in the Premier League in his entire management career means a victory would be a rarity for the former Blackburn manager, himself an extremely unpopular appointment with fans.

A win however, and a win achieved through positive football, would be a boost to Liverpool as the festive fixture list looms large.

Continue reading Torres back for Reds v Newcastle

Liverpool travel to a turbulent St James’s Park for tonight’s Premier League match against Newcastle. The game is being televised live so it’s a 5.30 kick-off.

In association with Paddy Power we have a look forward to the game – and there’s an offer of a free £20 bet if you use one of the links below.

Newcastle United v Liverpool

***Click HERE for a FREE £20 Bet for New Customers***

One story will undoubtedly dominate in the run up to this game which will prove handy for Roy Hodgson, who’ll welcome the distraction from his side’s terrible away record this season. He’s unlikely to escape the questions altogether but with Alan Pardew taking up more of the column inches, Hodgson can focus more on repeating the level of performance which saw his side cruise past Aston Villa at Anfield on Monday. Something which he’s struggled to do so far this season. And pretty much every other season he’s managed in the Premier League.

If positives can be found in Liverpool’s away record it comes from their last four games. Other than the disappointing showing against Stoke, they looked good for 45 minutes at White Hart Lane, handed Bolton their only home defeat of the season and picked up a point against Wigan.

The big question for this weekend’s game is just what effect the senseless sacking of Chris Hughton followed by seemingly equally senseless appointment of Alan Pardew will be on the players. If, as expected, recent events cause turmoil in the St James’ dressing room, Liverpool could continue their recent good record over Newcastle and secure just their second away win of the season at evens.

Strangely it was without Gerrard, Torres and Carragher that the Reds put in one of their more impressive displays of the season, albeit against a Villa side with a similarly poor away record.
Continue reading Newcastle v Liverpool – betting preview

Fernando Torres is missing from tonight’s match after his wife went into labour. Best wishes to Mr and Mrs Torres of course, not just from us but from Liverpool fans the world over.

Pepe Reina captains the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, and will need to keep his defence organised in the absence of the injured Jamie Carragher.

Joe Cole is on the bench, one of a number of players from Thursday’s draw in Europe to lose his place for tonight’s game although in Cole’s case there is a suggestion he’s still getting his fitness back after his recent lay-off.

Babel, Ngog and Reina are the only survivors from that match in Bucharest, Hodgson bringing back the likes of Kuyt, Maxi, Lucas and Meireles for this one.

Former Liverpool boss Gerrard Houllier makes a return to Anfield tonight in his new role as manager of Aston Villa. He expects a warm welcome, chances are he’ll get one from the fans if not from the sub-zero temperatures pitch-side. Someone certain to get a warm welcome is Gary McAllister, now part of Houllier’s Villa staff.

The Villa starting line-up includes a couple more Liverpool old boys, Brad Friedel and Stephen Warnock.

Liverpool: 25 Reina, 2 G Johnson, 16 Kyrgiakos, 37 Skrtel, 3 Konchesky, 17 Maxi, 21 Lucas, 4 Raul Meireles, 19 Babel, 18 Kuyt, 24 Ngog
Subs: 1 Jones, 6 Aurelio, 34 Kelly, 10 Cole, 28 C Poulsen, 33 Shelvey, 14 Jovanovic

Aston Villa: 1 Friedel, 2 L Young, 3 Warnock, 5 Dunne, 21 Clark, 29 Collins, 6 Downing, 9 Ireland, 12 Albrighton, 28 Hogg, 11 Agbonlahor
Subs: 22 Guzan, 24 Cuellar, 30 Lichaj, 8 Pires, 31 Herd, 10 Carew, 14 Delfouneso

Kick-off: 8:00pm GMT

Betting preview courtesy of Paddy Power (written before tonight’s teams were announced):

***Click HERE for a FREE £20 Bet for New Customers***

Liverpool v Aston Villa

With several first-teamers being left at home and a Monday night kick-off there can be no nodding towards the Europa League trip to Bucharest if the players don’t perform for the return of Gerard Houllier with Aston Villa. Though few of the players were at the club during the Frenchman’s reign, the fans will remember the far more attacking style with which his sides played, especially before he fell ill. His current side share Liverpool’s away day struggles managing just four points from twenty-eight on the road. So with just a little confidence and some creativity going forward, there should be no danger in backing a home win at 8/13.
Continue reading Liverpool v Villa – Torres busy so Babel steps in

An important match for Liverpool tonight with the return of a couple of familiar faces in the opponent’s dugout, with Liverpool desperately in need of the points to avoid being stuck in the bottom half of the table.

The match is live on Sky Sports, but tickets are still available (and will be on sale before kick-off).

Here’s a preview courtesy of Paddy Power:

***Click HERE for a FREE £20 Bet for New Customers***

Liverpool v Aston Villa

With several first-teamers being left at home and a Monday night kick-off there can be no nodding towards the Europa League trip to Bucharest if the players don’t perform for the return of Gerard Houllier with Aston Villa. Though few of the players were at the club during the Frenchman’s reign, the fans will remember the far more attacking style with which his sides played, especially before he fell ill. His current side share Liverpool’s away day struggles managing just four points from twenty-eight on the road. So with just a little confidence and some creativity going forward, there should be no danger in backing a home win at 8/13.

The return of Joe Cole will certainly aid the attacking end of things and he may be worth a small punt at 9/1 to open the scoring or 16/5 to score anytime. He’s only scored against Villa once before and is yet to score in the league for his new team.

Fernando Torres scored in both fixtures against the midlanders last season and though he hasn’t been at his sharpest or most enthusiastic so far this season, he’s a player who doesn’t need to be playing well to score. He’s the clear favourite to score first at 7/2 and even money to score anytime.
Continue reading LFC v Villa betting preview

Europa League: Steaua Bucharest v Liverpool

Whatever happens here tonight, the hot topic on tomorrow’s back pages will be the failure of the England bid for the 2018 World Cup, a bid that would have seen Anfield – or the new stadium should it ever be built – host games in FIFA’s big tournament in 8 years’ time.

Tonight’s Liverpool line-up features a number of players who should still be in their prime when that tournament kicks off in Russia – manager Roy Hodgson has made 10 changes to the side that played in his latest away defeat, against Spurs on Sunday.

Dani Pacheco is brought back from out of the cold and gets to start for the first time since Hodgson oversaw Liverpool’s early exit to “formidable” Northampton in the Carling Cup. Not that he’s literally out of the cold for tonight’s game, Liverpool considered the weather conditions to be extreme enough to put out an official warning to supporters.

Danny Wilson also gets to start tonight, with Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Kelly getting another opportunity to show their worth. Soto Kyrgiakos starts in the centre of defence, but Pepe Reina gets the captain’s armband in the absence of both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

Fabio Aurelio comes in at left-back in place of Konchesky, but Poulsen returns in place of Lucas. Joe Cole is back from injury and still looking to make a decent impression in a Red shirt, as is Milan Jovanovich, another starter. Ryan Babel starts, it remains to be seen if that’s in the centre-forward position he prefers to his usual wide role.

The bench also has a youthful look with Nathan Eccleston, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson amongst the seven subs.

Kick-off is early – 6pm UK time. Continue reading Europa League: Pacheco and Wilson start for Reds