Todays starting lineup against Manchester City. Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, El Zhar, Aurelio, Riera, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has named his starting 11 to face Man City at Anfield today, with Glen Johnson not making the bench. There is however; a rare start for Ryan Babel. The team in full is : Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, El Zhar, Aurelio, Riera, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos. 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...

Can he do it on his own without Torres, Benayoun, and Riera?
Steven Gerrard looks set to start for Liverpool this weekend against Manchester City as his long road to recovery from a groin problem looks almost complete...
Gerrard has used the international break to step up his rehabilitation program - and the news will surely make Liverpool fans happy. Click to continue reading...

Four months into the season, and Liverpool still hasn't deployed the first-choice XI thanks to injuries. And last week we got word that both Benayoun and Riera could be out for a month. Awesome.
Injury problems have consistently troubled Liverpool this season, but with those two missing, the left flank is a massive concern. 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...

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...

The international break means that Rafael Benítez has ten days to work out what is going wrong for his underperforming team.
Eleven points behind Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League and facing elimination from the Champions League, the Liverpool manager has a lot on his plate. The Times has identified five things he must do to get their season back on track. Click to continue reading...

I probably filled my quota of Major League references with the one about Jobu a few weeks ago. I apologize to international readers and those who aren't connoisseurs of marvelously cheesy sports movies, but this is too apt. Plus, it's Major League 2.
Just like weak-hitting, voodoo apostate Pedro Cerrano, right now, Liverpool has no marbles. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool failed to close the gap on Chelsea tonight as they could only manage a two all draw against Birmingham at Anfield.
David Ngog opened the scoring for the Reds with a thunderous volley into the roof of the net on 12mins.
However Birmingham were soon level when Christian Benitez Headed a goal from a free kick on 28mins. Click to continue reading...

To recap:

* David Ngog opened the scoring with a stunning volley from six yards after some good Liverpool pressure.

* Liverpool concede the equalizer from a set-piece: Brum get three headers in the box, the last by Chucho Benitez past Pepe Reina.

* Albert Riera aggravated his hamstring injury (again) and had to come off.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has challenged Yossi Benayoun to fill the probable void left by the ongoing injury problems of Steven Gerrard.
The Reds are again expected to be without captain Gerrard for Monday's match with Birmingham at Anfield as the England ace continues to struggle with the groin problem sustained against Ukraine in October. 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...

There is a growing section of Liverpool fans who believe that sacking Rafa Benitez is the way forward at the moment. TAF MCDONALD disagrees, and explains why he believes there is no real possibility that this is going to happen.
Before Rafa's future can even realistically be called into question at least two of the following three things need to happen. Click to continue reading...

Peter Beardsley! The more I watch Benayoun the more I'm convinced that he is the current Liverpool team's version of Beardsley.
Beardsley was an absolutely superb player for Liverpool, and anyone who had the privilege of watching him play during the Dalgish era will know what I'm talking about. Click to continue reading...

Despite the doom and gloom of the last few weeks - and amid the continued misplaced vitriol towards the owners - there are plenty of reasons for Liverpool fans to be positive at the moment.
As many people who visit this regularly will know, I take a critical, realist approach to LFC. Within that approach, I always try and be fair, and there is plenty of evidence for that on the site. Click to continue reading...

Can I get an Amen?
This week's winner is: The Holy Babel.
I don't know if you guys have noticed this yet, but I really REALLY like name puns. And I think there is a serious lack of clever names in the official game. Too many teams are named some form of: FC My Town or Gunners Rule6969. Click to continue reading...

He had already memorized the team sheet, memorized the formations and counter formations in case Lyon went a goal up in the first twenty-five minutes, where he would slot Voronin in case the first Lyon goal came after the first half. But this, different: the sweat on his palms, the trouble he had gripping his pencil as he jotted notes in the tunnel while Lee said whatever it was he felt needed to be said to the dressing room. 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...

He ain't pretty, but he gets the job done as much as Gerrard does
Liverpool's season is on the line today as they travel to France to take on Lyon. Without their influential captain Steven Gerrard, and having already lost two straight in the Champions League, things don't look good for Rafa Benitez's club in crisis. Click to continue reading...

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...

Roughly a quarter of the way into the new season and the Big Four have experiences vastly contrasting fortunes. We have a look at them...

Chelsea

Won five from five, on a great run currently, Drogba firing, Lampard re-finding his goalscoring touch, defence shored up.

Click to continue reading...

With our injury crisis and our poor run of form, Lyon are favourites to win in France tonight.However, I am sticking my neck out and going for another famous win in Europe.Yes, we are missing loads of first team players, most notably Steven Gerrard.Yes, Fernando Torres isn't fully fit and yes we are in our worst run of form for decades. Click to continue reading...

The Clock Is Ticking on Rafa's Reign, here are ten ways he can buy himself more time.

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1. Put Yossi Benayoun in First Team Sheet EVEN if we have no injury problems!

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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...

Norweigan wants to stay in Serie A.

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Roma wide-man John Arne Riise has hit back at newspaper reports claiming the Norwegian had asked to return to former club Liverpool.

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Sorry its late this time. The Starting lineup from Liverpool's shocking game against Fulham. Reina, Insua, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Voronin, Torres. Subs: Gulacsi, Babel, Spearing, Plessis, Dossena, Eccleston, Ayala. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended substituting striker Fernando Torres in their 3-1 defeat by Fulham.
Torres has been nursing a groin injury and was taken off with the scores at 1-1 ahead of the crucial Champions League game at Lyon on Wednesday.
"It is a big risk if you keep a player playing if he has this problem so we wanted to protect Torres as we knew it could be worse for him," said Benitez. Click to continue reading...

Andriy Voronin partners Fernando Torres in attack, While Degen and Kyrgiakos start in defence.
Team:
Reina, Insua, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Voronin, Torres. 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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