Aquilani - Most popular for 2010
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Hello readers.
I refrained from writing about the title race until it was done and dusted and there's plenty to
talk about, from pre-season predictions to key battles where the title was won and of course, what
the future holds for the 'big' teams.
Pre-season Predictions
What a joke!
How does Rafa Benitez's transfer spending during his entire reign (2004- 2010) compare to Alex
Ferguson's spending at Manchester United over the same period?
I recently posted an article focusing on Benitez's transfer spending stats, and predictably (and
amusingly) the Pro-Benitez Net Spend Cult triumphantly focused only on net spend as an indicator of
his transfer market success.
Liverpool will play host to Everton this weekend in the 213th edition of one of football's great
fixtures: the Merseyside derby.
Unlike last season, when the Reds were right in the hunt for a maiden Premier League title and
the Blues were knocking on the door of the top four, this time around the Scouse rivals are both
looking to make up ground after a fairly dismal first half of the 2009-10 campaign.
Reina
Johnson Carragher Ayala Agger
Gerrard Mascherano
Maxi Aquilani Babel
Kuyt
Goals:
Gerrard 52' 59'
Maxi 74'
Babel 90+4'
Liverpool made hard work of it for far too long, but it ends 4-0, just like in the reverse fixture.
Are we sure there's no way for Burnley to avoid relegation?
2.45pm ET. Not on live TV in the US. As usual with these games, check myp2p or LFC Globe for
streams tomorrow.
Guess at a line-up
Cavalieri
Kelly Skrtel Kyrgiakos Agger
Amoo Lucas Spearing Jovanovic
Aquilani
Ngog
"Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
Despite only just completing his first season in the red shirt of Liverpool, Alberto Aquilani
has never been short of speculation surrounding him about a move back to Italy.
Napoli are the latest side to be linked with a loan move for the player, who has taken time to
overcome the ankle injury he arrived with as well as suffering from a number of viruses once his
fitness had returned.
3pm. Delayed in the US at 4:45pm on Setanta.
If the Carling Cup semi goes long, the delayed showing won't start on time. If I can find a
reasonable stream, I'll have a review up soon after the match like usual. And if not, it'll be up
after the delayed showing.
Last 4 head-to-head:
1-2 Spurs (a) 08.
Liverpool have beaten Spurs 2-0 at Anfield, thanks to two goals from Dutchman Dirk Kuyt.
The Reds faced a tough game against Harry Rednapp's team who are ahead of Liverpool in fourth
place, so a home win was imperative.
So a fifth minute goal involving Aquilani and Kuyt was just the start that Rafa and his team
needed.
Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Mascherano, Aquilani, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt, Ngog. Subs:
Cavalieri, Agger, Rodriguez, Babel, Lucas, Darby, Pacheco.
Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Maxi, Gerrard, Babel. Subs:
Cavalieri, Torres, Benayoun, Aquilani, Riera, Aurelio, Kelly.
Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez has welcomed the return to form of Steven Gerrard but told his
captain not to get too comfortable in his favoured central midfield role.
The Liverpool FC captain was dropped back to a more orthodox position against Sunderland on Sunday
and responded with an improved personal display in the Reds' 3-0 win.
10am ET, live in the US on espn2 (HD!)
Last 4 head-to-head:
1-3 Fulham (a) 10.31.09
1-0 Liverpool (a) 04.04.09
0-0 (h) 11.22.08
2-0 Liverpool (a) 04.19.08
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 4-1 Benfica (h); 1-1 Brum (a); 1-2 Benfica (a)
Fulham: 1-0 Wolfsburg (a); 2-1 Wigan (h); 2-1 Wolfsburg (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 18; Kuyt 9; Gerrard 7; Benayoun 5; Ngog 4; Babel, Johnson 3; Aquilani,
Kyrgiakos, Skrtel 1
Fulham: Zamora 8; Dempsey, Duff 6; Murphy 5; Gera, Nevland 2; Elm, Greening, Hangeland,
Konchesky, Okaka 1
Referee: Andre Marriner
Guess at a squad:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Insua
Mascherano
Maxi Gerrard Aquilani Babel
Torres
Had you told me this would be a match-up of the last two English teams in European competition, I'd
have laughed right in your face.
Tonights Liverpool team to lineup against West Ham United at Anfield: Reina, Johnson, Carragher,
Kyrgiakos, Agger, Benayoun, Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi, Aquilani, Kuyt. Subs: Follow the Liverpool VS
West Ham match LIVE using our BRAND NEW, Live Match Centre.
I was such a big fan of the 4-2-3-1 with Gerrard as a second striker/in a free role because it
seemed to get the best of out Gerrard and Torres. That and it led to Liverpool nearly winning the
league. But after how this season's gone, we rightfully have to wonder if that's consistently
possible without Alonso.
11am ET, not on TV in the US. Don't even think it's delayed anywhere, which doesn't bode well for
streams tomorrow. RAWK and Twitter are usually helpful, but your best bets are probably MyP2P.eu
and Empire of the Kop
Last 4 head-to-head:
6-1 Liverpool (h) 09.26.09
3-1 Liverpool (a) 04.
Okay, seriously this time Liverpool are playing their first friendly.
Streams:
MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net
Liverpool:
Cavalieri
Degen Ayala Kelly Darby
Lucas Spearing
Amoo Aquilani Eccleston
Ngog
Bench: Gulacsi, Irwin, Palsson, Robinson, Shelvey, Ince, Dalla Valle, Riera
Grasshopper:
Team sheet when it's released.
Cavalieri
Degen Kelly Ayala Darby
Amoo Lucas Spearing Eccleston
Aquilani
Ngog
Subs:
Gulasci for Cavalieri 46'
Shelvey for Lucas 62'
Ince for Aquilani 62'
Dalla Valle for Ngog 62'
Palsson for Kelly 70'
Irwin for Degen 70'
Robinson for Amoo 82'
Thankfully, I'm more interested in the formation and fringe players than the actual performance or
result when watching preseason friendlies.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Kelly, Jovanovic, Lucas, Spearing, Amoo, Aquilani,
Ngog. Subs: Gulacsi, Darby, Shelvey, Dalla Valle, Eccleston, Ayala, Ince.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Johnson, Insua, Ayala, Carragher, Gerrard, Shelvey, Ince, Eccleston, Cole,
Dalla Valle. Subs: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Wilson, Darby, Irwin, Spearing, Aquilani, Jovanovic, Amoo,
Suso, Sterling.
As the transfer window heads towards a close, Liverpool FC finds itself as one of the leading
names in the press for both players departing and arriving at the club. In recent days the club
has seen deals concluded that have taken Alberto Aquilani to Juventus in a season long loan deal
with the option of a permanent move at the end of the season.
Juventus are a club with plenty of history and trophies, and while the chairman Andrea Agnelli
is trying to return to the golden days of winning, it will take some time.
The project of the bianconeri was beginning to take shape: Luigi Delneri as the coach along with
Beppe Marotta as the sporting director, some smart signings and qualification into the Europa
League.
Is...Is That The Sack?
Liverpool are, quite frankly, terrible. 7 games into the season, they have played exactly two
halves of Champions League caliber football. 10 men against Arsenal was riveting, and the comeback
against Manchester United raised some hopes, although in retrospect that is probably made to look
better than it was by the score sheet.
How much money has Liverpool and Arsenal spent on transfers between 1990 and the present day? For
the first time ever - either online or offline - here is a comparison between the two clubs for
that entire period (using official figures).
NOTES
* The figures include all transfers up to and including Roy Hodgson's activity in the transfer
market.
What a difference a year makes in football. This time last season, Chelsea were looking to kick on
from the stability Guus Hiddink provided under new manager Carlo Ancelotti and we could only hope
for an instant reaction to his appointment and to do well in the coming season.
Liverpool on the other hand were being tipped as potential title challengers after a strong second
place finish in the 2008/2009 season.
Cavalieri, Degen, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs:
Aurelio, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel, Gulacsi, Pacheco.
7:45am, live in the US on espn2
Last 4 head-to-head:
4-0 Liverpool (a) 08.19.09
0-0 (a) 01.10.09
0-0 (h) 09.20.08
8-0 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 11.29.2000
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 Reading aet (h); 1-1 Reading (a); 1-0 Villa (a)
Stoke: 3-2 Fulham (h); 3-1 York (h); 0-1 Brum (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 12; Benayoun, Gerrard, Kuyt 5; Ngog 4; Babel, Johnson 2; Skrtel 1
Stoke: Beattie 3; Etherington, Faye, Kitson, Shawcross, Tuncay 2; Fuller, Huth, Sidibe,
Whelan 1
Referee: Lee Mason
That would be the same Lee Mason who sent off Carragher and Degen at Fulham and Masch at Pompey in
his only two Liverpool matches this season.
The Liverpool team to face Soke City at the Britannia Stadium. Maxi Rodriguez starts on the bench:
Reina Aurelio Kyrgiakos Insua Carragher 27 Degen Skrtel Mascherano Lucas Kuyt Ngog Substitutes
Cavaliery Darby Aquilani Riera Maxi Spearing Pacheco
Rafa Benitez has made 6 changes to the side that faced Reading in the FA Cup this week, with new
signing Maxi Rodriguez on the bench in the early kick off game. The team in full is: Reina,
Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Degen, Aurelio, Kuyt, Ngog. Subs:
Cavalieri, Pacheco, Darby, Spearing, Riera, Rodriguez, Aquilani.
The line up to face Spurs at Anfield tonight has been announced with Dirk Kuyt starting upfront.
The line ups for both teams are: Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen,
Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Aquilani, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Maxi, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby,
Pacheco. Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, King, Bale, Modric, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Crouch,
Defoe.
Reina, Carragher, Insua, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Degen, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Aquilani, Kuyt. Subs:
Cavalieri, Maxi, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Pacheco.
2:45pm, live in the US on Setanta.
Last 4 head-to-head:
2-0 Wolves (h) 12.26.09
1-0 Liverpool (h) 03.20.04
1-1 (a) 01.21.04
0-1 Wolves (h) 01.14.84
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-0 Spurs (h); 1-1 Stoke (a); 1-2 Reading aet (h)
Wolves: 2-2 Palace (h); 0-2 Wigan (h); 1-0 Tranmere (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 12; Kuyt 7; Benayoun, Gerrard 5; Ngog 4; Babel, Johnson 2; Kyrgiakos,
Skrtel 1
Wolves: Doyle 5; Craddock 4; Milijas 2; Ebanks-Blake, Edwards, Keogh, Maierhofer, Stearman
1
Referee: Peter Walton
Guess at a squad:
Reina
Carragher Skrtel Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Mascherano Lucas
Rodriguez Aquilani Riera
Kuyt
If it ain't (that) broke, don't fix it.
Having played with such determination and passion in his absence, Steven Gerrard's return should
have boosted Liverpool to build on last week's win over Tottenham. Instead, it had the opposite
effect. Whatever momentum had been built was lost and the rhtym of the side thrown off key. That is
not to say that the team no longer needs Gerrard but, rather, that his inclusion from the first
minute when he was coming back from an injury is simply sending out the (wrong) message that the
team is reliant exclusively on him to do well.
Alberto Aquliani has returned to the starting line up against Bolton today at Anfield, with Lucas
going onto the bench. N'Gog starts upfront; with Kuyt, Gerrard and Riera behind him. The team in
full is: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Mascherano, Aquilani, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt,
Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Rodriguez, Babel, Lucas, Darby, Pacheco.
Liverpool face Arsenal at the Emirates tonight, knowing a win could put us within just two points
of 3rd place in the League; but who do you think should be in the starting line up? Liverpool are
still with Torres, Benayoun, and Johnson while Aquilani is ill and has not travelled with the rest
of the [.
Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio, Kuyt, Aquilani, Mascherano, Riera, Gerrard, Ngog. Subs:
Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Lucas, Insua, Degen, Pacheco.
Liverpool could only manage a draw with Manchester City this afternoon at the City of Manchester
Stadium and Rafael Benitez said he thought it was a fair result.
"Both teams were working hard in defence trying to beat the team in attack and we couldn't so I
think in the end it was fair," he told Sky Sports.
Liverpool take on Portsmouth at Anfield tonight, this is the Liverpool Starting Lineup: Reina,
Insua, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Aquilani, Gerrard, Babel, Rodriguez, Torres. Subs:
Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Benayoun, Kuyt, Lucas, Kelly.
Arvi's Note : 15th of March, one Roman emperor was fallen eons ago and another Roman
prince arises to see Liverpool celebrate it's 118th birthday in glorious fashion.
Before making it sound like a riposte of a certain sort of dish best served cold, I shall make
it clear that there is no need yet to jump the gun yet.
Todays team to face Sunderland at Anfield: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano,
Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel, Rodriguez, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, El Zhar, Ngog, Benayoun, Lucas, Aquilani,
Kyrgiakos.
Tonights lineup against Benfica in the Europa League: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kygriakos, Agger,
Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Degen, Ayala, Aquilani,
Pacheco, El Zhar, Ngog.
