Liverpool play host to Manchester City at Anfield this afternoon, needing a win to keep their title challenge going. Leaders Manchester United are eight points in front, but have played one game more.
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes may be feeling some pressure as boss of the so-called richest club, but his history as a player for both Everton and Manchester United suggest he’ll be putting even more effort into planning this one.
Rafa Benitez has picked Fernando Torres to start up front. With Steven Gerrard injured and Xabi Alonso suspended, he had limited choice in midfield – Javier Mascherano and Lucas start. Dirk Kuyt, Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun will be looking to get amongst the goals
Fabio Aurelio is on the bench, with Benitez perhaps considering introducing him as a midfielder as the match goes on. His normal left-back role is filled by Andrea Dossena. Captain for the day Carragher will partner Skrtel in defence.
City keeper Shay Given will be hoping for a better day than the last time he faced Liverpool. He was in goal for Newcastle when they were on the wrong end of a 5-1 demolition by the Reds in December. Last time City met Liverpool was in October, with two goals from Torres and a third from Kuyt giving Liverpool three points after being 2-0 down.
Liverpool: 25 Reina, 17 Arbeloa, 23 Carragher, 37 Skrtel, 2 Dossena, 15 Benayoun, 20 Mascherano, 21 Lucas, 11 Riera, 9 Torres, 18 Kuyt
Subs: 1 Cavalieri, 4 Hyypia, 12 Aurelio, 19 Babel, 24 Ngog, 26 Spearing, 31 El Zhar
Manchester City: 37 Given, 2 Richards, 22 Dunne, 4 Onuoha, 25 Bridge, 5 Zabaleta, 34 De Jong, 33 Kompany, 7 Ireland, 39 Bellamy, 10 Robinho
Subs: 1 Hart, 15 Garrido, 12 Vassell, 24 Evans, 11 Elano, 40 Weiss, 20 Caicedo
Referee: Phil Dowd
Kick-off: 3pm
What an awful performance again. – “Arse and Elbow” comes to mind.
Premiership Title ? – No Chance
Second Place ? – At this rate we’ll be very lucky to finish in top four !
Went today.
Cant think of a single good thing to say. Benitez has had five years and spent an outrageous amount of money on our team. And yet with Gerrard missing and Alonso suspended our midfield looked empty.
Our bench also looked so, so weak for a team fighting(or was fighting i should say)for the title.
What has he spent our money on??? How does Lucas get a red shirt, again today he did nothing and offered nothing for the full 90 minutes. I find it insulting that he gets a start for us. It makes Benitez look like a fool.
I think the league is now gone. Man utd are too far in front. Is it now ten draws at home??? Why havent we gambled a little at home, mixed things up a bit, more attacking options, not sold our strikers as part of a political power struggle which is now backfiring on Rafa.
Even if we had lost 5 and won 5 we would still be out in front.
And again today Rafa is in the papers bitching about the fact that he cant have total control, well thank god he cant.
He has dragged us into the myre. After a fantastic start the politics and sheer egotistical attitude of the man has dragged the fans and now the players down. He should never air these issues in public and should concentrate on the job in hand. Go now Benitez.
On the brighter side the talk amongst the fans was the runour that the yanks and Mr Parry were lining up Kenny Dalglish as the new manager, with phil thompson as his number two. And as if by magic they turn up at the game and sit together.
WHAT A DREAM COM TRUE THIS WOULD BE. DALGLISH AND TOMO ARE LIVERPOOL THROUGH AND THROUGH AND WOULD DO THE JOB FOR NOTHING. THEY WOULDNT BE AS STUBBORN OR ARROGANT AS BENITEZ AND THEY WOULD PLAY THE BEST 11 PLAYERS WEEK IN WEEK OUT. THEY WOULD BIN THE LIKES OF LUCAS AND DOSSENNA AND GET SOME DECENT PLAYERS COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
Dreams can come true, although my dreams of winning the league this season have been dashed yet again by the ever cautious boss.
Well at least he can concentrate on the only thing he is really bothered about and thats winning the champions league again and grabbing that real madrid job..
Come back Kenny.
@ Cantos I tolf you weeks ago that king kenny is back remember, but not as a manager hehe, he is taking ricks place
I do remember mate yeah, you were right. So you reckon he’s lined up for Chief ececutive then…interesting.
Would rather see him in the heart attack seat though, with Tommo as no 2 and Sammy Lee as coach. Too good to be true.
Hi Guys,
Been reading the blog but not managed to post for some time.
@ Cantos
I’m from the West Midlands, close to Walsall. There’s a mixture of supporters where I’m from: Wolves, Walsall, Liverpool, Man United, Tamworth etc.
@ LFC Malta/Cantos
Talk about coincidence! Having never been to Malta before and following our conversation of a week or so ago, guess where my next conference is……….yes, you’ve guessed it, Malta!! It’s to be held at Westin Draganora Resort, St Julian’s. Is it any good?? I’m due over in May/June.
Yesterday’s result
Not great but I’m actually more worried about us hanging onto 2nd. I hope we can deliver in the games to come.
Interesting idea about Kenny et al coming back. Not sure back to the future advances the team much. In any case Rafa’s recent record aint’ bad. 2nd in the premiership and in contention in March is about what we could have hoped for at the start of the season. Our bench yesterday told a story about investment required.
Jim
Sad to hear about his ME. Hope he manages it carefully and gets back to good health asap.
@ mid well St julians is great for of the night life and close to the beachs get your swiming costum hehe great timing to come to malta tempriture would start goinging up in th region of 24 to 26 and english learning students from all over europe will start flocking in i i live and work 5 mins away from the westin, you should have some excellent seaviews from your room.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=35.92539,14.489676&z=15&t=h&hl=en
let me know whan your coming we will meet for a drink.
The Madridistas are being as arrogant as usual……
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1153843/High-Real-Madrid-chief-Boluda-forecasts-hammering-Liverpool.html
The Reds will get through this one. I’m with Cantos on the Lucas front……….what does he add to the team?
He needs to be loaned out or sold and some quality added to our subs bench that can really change a game.
Its going to hurt if the Mancs make it 18….but looking forward to the Reds bouncing back tomorrow.
The return tie at Anfield will be a treat…….cant wait for that one!
Come on Inter…!!!!!
The Champions League now represents their best hope of silverware this season and while they are out of form – Liverpool have recorded just five wins from their past 13 league games – Real Madrid warmed up for Wednesday’s meeting by scoring six first-half goals on Saturday night. These are dispiriting times at Anfield and Rafa Benitez’s refusal to either sign a new contract or clarify the situation is only adding to the sense of decline. A season that promised so much is now turning ugly
From football365
Lucas – What can one say, the Manager keeps picking him, he continues to show no real value to the team.
Babel – Came on too late again for him to have any real period of time to contribute. – Again he tries to do too much himself instead of bringing in other players but, I still feel sorry for him, the Manager simply does not give him any real time on the pitch.
LFC have 11 or 12 good players after that we have also rans, there is no real quality in depth. Regret to have to admit it but, ManU can take off 3 players of quality and bring on 3 players of quality. This season is running out of steam for LFC and as much as it would be best for the Americans conmen to go, as they have brought nothing but turmoil to the club, certainly no money or common sense, only petty ego spats, the Manager is not helping himself or the Club by taking all of his disagreements to the media, either stay quiet or go, in the end it wold be best for LFC.
I don’t beleive the rumour but, I would vote for Dagleish and Thompon to return as Managing team.