Arbeloa - Most popular for September 2008
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Apologies for the lack of posting but I came down with a case of bird flu and when you've got
the bird flu you have to adhere to a strict diet of no cigarettes or alcohol which means no blog
posts. But I'm back and slightly intoxicated and here to tell you about this little match we have
coming up on Saturday.
Alvaro Arbeloa has poured cold water on reports that he is looking to engineer a move away from
Liverpool.
Rumours that the 25-year-old Spanish defender is unsettled at Anfield surface intermittently,
despite both he and the cub continuously insisting that such concerns are completely unfounded.
After the week Liverpool had, it was almost inevitable that something like this would happen to end
it on a sour note. Last week it was suggested that in beating Manchester United, Liverpool had
finally overcome the problem that had held them back in the past. To an extent that is true yet
Liverpool must also win these games to have a realistic chance.
Alvaro Arbeloa insists Liverpool will not buckle under the weight of their 'favourites' tag against
Everton in the Merseyside derby.
The Reds make the short trip to Goodison Park on Saturday to take on their arch rivals.
And Arbeloa is confident he and his team-mates can get their Premier League title challenge back on
track with three points.
As with the game against Manchester United, I felt awful before this game. And, as with the game
with Manchester United, I shouldn't have bothered. Rarely have Liverpool dominated with such ease
at Goodison Park (61% of possession, the stats showed at the end) and really it was a game that
could have been won by a bigger margin.
I have a confession to make: I didn't feel too good before this game. We've been playing too poorly
to be in any condition to face United especially without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
I shouldn't have troubled myself because it was pride and determination rather than form that
decided this game.
Olympique Marseille vs Liverpool Stade Velodrome Kickoff is 8:45 pm CET, 19:45 pm GMT, 2:45 pm US
Eastern Marseille 0-0 Liverpool Big team news is that Gerrard and Torres are starting for
Liverpool. Marseille: 4-2-3-1: Mandanda; Bonnart, Taiwo, Hilton, Zubar; Cheyrou, Kana; Kone,
M'Bami, Ben Arfa; Niang Liverpool: 4-3-3: Reina; Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel; Gerrard,
Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Torres, Babel
Rafael Benitez, previously renowned for his rotation policy, has indicated that Fernando Torres
will remain one of his "untouchables" despite the goals drying up for the Spain striker.
The Liverpool manager, who was left frustrated by Saturday's goalless draw against Stoke City at
Anfield, argued that the 24-year-old will be better off playing his way back to full sharpness
rather than resting.
On the face of it, a 0-0 draw away at a side with genuine top four ambitions isn't such a bad deal
especially if your best two players are out injured. Such justifications may be easy to find yet it
is wrong to find comfort in them for the truth is that Liverpool could have won at Villa Park. For
all the hype surrounding them, with their hyped up wide players being kept quite Aston Villa didn't
show anything special.
Rafa Benitez is looking forward to concentrating on football after a hectic transfer window.
The Anfield boss added six names to his first-team squad during the summer, including the deadline
day capture of Albert Riera.
That deal saw Steve Finnan go the other way to Espanyol, while Andriy Voronin left for a year on
loan at Hertha Berlin.
Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia has today admitted he will consider his future after been left out
Rafa Benitez' plans for the Champions League. The Finland international has been omitted from the
club's 25-man panel for the Champions League group stages, weeks after the club rejected an offer
from Stoke City for the player.
Alvaro Arbeloa insists Liverpool can still beat Manchester United without Steven Gerrard or
Fernando Torres.
The key duo faces a race against time to prove their fitness ahead of Saturday's Premier League
showdown.
Club captain Gerrard is recovering from groin surgery, while striker Torres is struggling with a
hamstring strain.
Liverpool FC have named both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in their squad to face Manchester
United at Anfield tomorrow.
The duo have been forced out in recent weeks with hamstring and groin problems respectively.
Boss Rafa Benitez is hopeful both may feature at some stage.
Steven Gerrard played a captain's role by taking his Liverpool goals tally to 99 as the
Merseysiders opened their Champions League group campaign with a crucial win.
The Stade Velodrome had been the venue for Liverpool's European salvation last season, and Gerrard
made sure it was a welcome return to the south of France.
