Liverpool clash with Manchester City this weekend and Rafael Benitez will be hoping the international break will have given his side the opportunity to turn their recent shoddy form around.
Roaming right-back Glen Johnson, according to Benitez, has received the experimental placenta massage that Arsenal striker Robin van Persie elected to try following the injury he sustained while representing Netherlands. Click to continue reading...

7:45am, live in the US on espn2
Last 4 head-to-head:
1-1 (h) 02.22.09
3-2 Liverpool (a) 10.05.08
1-0 Liverpool (h) 05.04.08
0-0 (a) 12.30.07
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-2 Brum (h); 1-1 Lyon (a); 1-3 Fulham (a)
City: 3-3 Burnley (h); 0-0 Brum (a); 5-1 Scunthorpe (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 10; Gerrard 4; Benayoun, Kuyt, Ngog 3; Babel, Johnson 2
City: Bellamy 5; Adebayor 4; Petrov 3; Tevez, Wright-Phillips 2; Barry, Ireland, Lescott, Richards, Toure 1
Referee: Phil Dowd
Guess at a squad:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Insua
Lucas Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Aurelio
Ngog
Okay, so what's going on with this Serbian horse placenta lady? Click to continue reading...

We are in the midst of the final International Break (thankfully) so things are pretty quiet at Anfield.This particular break came at just the right time for Liverpool, who have a catalogue of injuries, as we all know.With Torres, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Riera, Benayoun and Aurelio all in the treatment-room, its been a difficult time for the Reds. Click to continue reading...

If only those scarves were bandages
Fresh news out of Anfield is reporting that Albert Riera and the Israeli Landon Donovan (Yossi Benayoun) are going to be out for a month with muscle injuries.
It's been a rough season for the Merseyside Reds, with most of their stars having sat out for at least a few games. Click to continue reading...

Define Irony : A bunch of football players missing Internationals for an injury they got introduced in the previous Internationals.

So finally we get to watch some International action. And boy, don't I love it. England versus Brazil yeah. Does it get better than this.

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As we saw once again against Birmingham on Monday, Glen Johnson's best work this season continues to come when he's playing higher up the field. Should Liverpool capitalise on this and convert him into a permanent right-winger?
In my view, the Birmingham game illustrated once again the occasional defensive lapses to which Johnson is prone; his failure to push out quick enough meant Christian Benitez was onside when he scored the equalising goal. Click to continue reading...

While I normally hate the dreaded 'International Break',for once, I am glad it is upon us.Liverpool have an injury list as long as your arm and this break of almost two weeks has come at just the right time for us.Obviously, Fernando Torres is the main concern with that Hernia problem as there seems to be no quick fix with that type of complaint. Click to continue reading...

We lack the squad depth to cope with injuries to several key players at the same time. So it looks like the international break has arrived at the right time to allow some of them to recover.
Riera & Benayoun both picked up hamstring injuries against Birmingham. Agger & Johnson both pulled out of their international squads so they can get treatment on minor injuries. Click to continue reading...

When David N'Gog scored so early on, the game opened itself perfectly for Liverpool: this was the ideal starting point, the launching pad that could lead to a much needed win. Then came the inevitable defensive lapse that resulted in a conceeded goal which was followed up by the sucker punch of Cameron Jerome's splendid but somewhat fortiuitous goal and suddenly it was a repeat of so many games this season. Click to continue reading...

Yes, I am aware Daniel Agger is not even a left-back but it just shows how badly Insua has been playing. The Reds had their share of problems this season but one of the biggest reasons behind the disappointing results is the fact defence is leaking too many goals. Johnson, Carragher and Skrtel are doing really well when they are fully fit, thus I am positive the back line would be much more stable with Agger replacing completely unconvincing Insua.

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OK, so we dropped two points against lowly Birmingham at home in the Premier League to leave us 11 points behind table-toppers Chelsea but, its not the end of the world.
That's because we put our best performance of the season and we could have and should have won this match.
Liverpool played some really good positive football, mounting wave after wave of attack for the full ninety minutes. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has named his starting 11 to face Birmingham City at Anfield this evening, with David N'Gog replacing Fernando Torres upfront. The team in full is full is: Reina, Johnson, Insua, Skrtel, Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Benayoun, Riera, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Gerrard, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Spreaing, Darby. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are looking to ge their Premier League season back on track (again) against Birmingham City. Will we field a strong enough team? Tonights lineup against Birmingham City at Anfield: Reina, Johnson, Insua, Skrtel, Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Benayoun, Riera, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Gerrard, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Spreaing, Darby. Click to continue reading...

Early team news from the "Make Us Dream" website suggest that there is no place for Fernando Torres who, as widely-reported, has hernia trouble.
Instead, Tom suggests David Ngog will partner Dirk Kuyt upfront.
Steven Gerrard may be on the bench, that would be welcome news for the Reds.
Possible Team News:
Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Insua, Reira, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Ngog. Click to continue reading...

3pm, live in the US on espn2
Sorry this is late, but I wanted to wait given the injuries and the game being on Monday. Posting on Friday morning like usual would have meant even more baseless speculation over who's available.
Last 4 head-to-head:
2-2 (a) 04.26.08
0-0 (h) 09. Click to continue reading...

No matter what happens from now until the end of the season, and whether we finish in the top 4 or not, there are a number of recent transfer deals that bother me greatly - signings, sales or missed opportunities that could've improved our squad and afforded us more depth than we currently have.
The deals relevant to last season may even have turned some of those nagging draws in wins, maybe giving us enough points to have snatched the title from Man Ure. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Carragher Kyrgiakos Agger Insua
Kuyt Lucas Mascherano Benayoun
Voronin
Torres
Goals:
Babel 83'
Lisandro 90'
This season in a nutshell, except it's the first draw in 17 games. Ecstasy and optimism followed by a kick in the teeth. A brilliant Babel opener off the bench, but a sloppy Lopez equalizer in the 90th after Liverpool couldn't completely clear late pressure, ending with a Bastos flick-on to Lisandro, who out-muscled Kyrgiakos to beat Reina. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has decided to start with Fernando Torres against Lyon.
The full team for Lyon is:
--------- Reina
Carragher --- Agger -- Kyrgiakos -- Insua
Kuyt -- Lucas -- Mascherano -- Benayoun
Voronin -- Torres
Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala. Click to continue reading...

The lineup for liverpools must win Champions League game against Lyon in France tonight: Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Ayala. Click to continue reading...

In my NyQuil haze, I screwed up the math. Through some combination of the time change (which happens earlier in England than in the States) and me sleeping through my usual routine of checking multiple sites to figure out the kickoff, I was an hour off. As I slumped into the pub, sucking on a cough drop, I still thought I was early enough to grab a seat and some pre-match breakfast, but I found a room full of sullen Liverpool supporters and a match well underway.

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Liverpool face Lyon in the Champion's League tonight, but given the fact that Rafa has an injury list longer than his arm; who do you think should play? The squad is as follows: Reina, Cavalieri, Carragher, Ayala, Darby, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Spearing, Plessis, Ngog, Voronin, Torres. Click to continue reading...

2:45pm, live in the US on FSC
Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 1-3 Fulham (a); 1-2 Arsenal (a); 2-0 United (h)
Lyon: 1-0 St Etienne (a); 1-4 Nice (a); 2-1 Liverpool (a)
Group Stage:
Liverpool: 1-2 Lyon (h); 0-2 Fiorentina (a); 1-0 Debrecen (h)
Lyon: 2-1 Liverpool (a); 4-0 Debrecen (a); 1-0 Fiorentina (h)
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)
De Bleeckere was the man in the middle for wins over Inter and Real in the last two seasons. Click to continue reading...

After today's bizarre defeat to Fulham which defies description, I have to take a look at the Liverpool's injury list to explain things away.
We were missing Danny Agger, Martin Skrtel, Alberto Aquilani and David Ngog to a virus, not the swine-flu, but a virus nonetheless.
We were also missing Captain Steven Gerrard to a groin injury, Glen Johnson to a calf injury and Fernando Torres wasn't fully fit. Click to continue reading...

There's no option to italicize,bold and increase the font to 15 of the word "Bad" there. But I think you got the message already so I leave it to you. Listen, this whole global warming thing is sickening. There's also widespread poverty and a lot of kids with AK47 guns. Added to that are extra problems like say the rising Fuel prices, water problem and traffic through the city.

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...Liverpool beat Fulham today. Yes, the team is suffering from injuries but there is still enough quality in the squad to get a result.
Javier Mascherano summed it up perfectly during the week:
"The win [against United] is important, but it's only three points. We have to keep going. Click to continue reading...

I was going to open by stating with a certain level of confidence that should Arsenal and Tottenham draw, Liverpool would leapfrog both in the table with a win today at Fulham. Then Arsenal scored two goals in two minutes. So let's focus on Liverpool, shall we?

The Steven Gerrard groin injury saga spirals further and further down the rabbit hole, with worries now that he'll need surgery to repair his injured man zone.

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3:45pm. As with the last round, it looks like it's only available on ESPN360.com, even though United at Barnsley is on Setanta today. So, most of us will be stuck with streams. Check the usual places; my first stop will be MyP2P.eu.
Last 4 head-to-head:
4-4 (h) 04.21.09
1-1 (a) 12. Click to continue reading...

Apart from a nervy 20 odd minutes towards the end of the match, Liverpool were awesome against Man Utd, there can be no doubting we deserved to win. The following were the real stand performers :-
Carragher was immense and showed us the Carra of old with a domineering performance and never gave United a chance (although he got lucky with avoiding a red card for his challenge on Owen). Click to continue reading...

It's been a week of hell for the players and supporters of Liverpool Football Club, but a much deserved 2-0 win against their arch-enemy Manchester United Sunday will remove the gloom and doom on Merseyside and offer Rafael Benitez vindication as a football manager.

Simply put, Liverpool were deserved winners in this game.

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Liverpool:

-Reina
Johnson-Carragher-Agger-Insua
Mascherano Lucas -
Benayoun Aurelio
-Kuyt -
Torres -

Bench: Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, Skrtel

Manchester United:

Van der Sar
O'Shea Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Giggs
Berbatov Rooney

Bench: Foster, Neville, Owen, Anderson, Nani, Fabio Da Silva, Jonathan Evans

Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has named his team to face Man Utd at Anfield today, with Stevie Gerrard not even making the bench! The team in full is : Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, Skrtel. Click to continue reading...

Todays Liverpool team to face Manchester United at Anfield! Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Degen, Skrtel. Click to continue reading...

Well we were sweating over the fitness of our two key men, obviously one has recovered quicker than Rafa thought and the doubful Gerrard isn't fit enough to start today. I've been told the team is as follows: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Kuyt, Benayoun, Lucas, Mascherano, Aurelio, Torres. Click to continue reading...

Defeat against Man United on Sunday is unthinkable, and the decisions Rafa Benitez makes for that game could literally make or break Liverpool's season. Despite the doom and gloom hovering over the club at the moment, if Rafa keeps it simple and goes with aces in their places, I fully expect Liverpool to beat United. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Kelly Carragher Agger Insua
Lucas Mascherano
Kuyt Gerrard Benayoun
Ngog
Goals:
Benayoun 41'
Gonalons 72'
Delgado 90+1'
And you thought Saturday was a low. Ha. It got worse. It can always get worse.
In addition to Torres, Johnson, and Riera, it seems Gerrard should have been ruled out as well. Click to continue reading...