Image: National Geographic.
Believe or not, every so often, footballers get randy. Shocking, but true.
When a professional footballer makes a choice/is given an ultimatum/is too intoxicated to fix
himself a prophylactic, he and his mate engage in adult, under-the-covers action and make a
baby.
Every season without fail, fans seem to target one or two players for incessant criticism and
continual scapegoating that defies reality, reason and any sense of fairness. Last season it was
Lucas Leiva; this season it is Christian Poulsen. Baseless, unfounded fan criticism of players is
something that really irritates me, and as I will illustrate, the the constant criticism of Poulsen
once again highlights the depressing ignorance of some fans.
After yet another defeat away from home Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has come out fighting,
stating his firm belief that no-one else could do better given the circumstances surrounding the
Merseyside club.
Despite pre-season expectations of a top four spot the Reds currently lie ninth in the Premier
League - nine points off the Champions League places - and have won just one game away from home,
the fourth worst record in the division.
Fernando Torres is set to be rested from Liverpool's Europa League clash with Steaua Bucharest
after Roy Hodgson revealed he would not be travelling with the squad.
The Reds boss also made it known Scottish youngster Danny Wilson will replace the injured Jamie
Carragher for the trip to Romania.
Torres is being rested with the Anfield club's match against Aston Villa in mind while Wilson gets
his opportunity after Carragher was ruled out for three months following surgery on his shoulder.
1pm ET, live in the US on GolTV
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 Spurs (a); 3-0 West Ham (h); 0-2 Stoke (a)
Steaua: 2-2 Cluj (h); 1-0 Târgu Mureş (a); 0-1 Gaz Metan Mediaş (h)
Group Stage so far:
Liverpool: 3-1 Napoli (h); 0-0 Napoli (a); 0-0 Utrecht (a); 4-1 Steaua (h)
Steaua: 3-1 Utrecht (h); 1-1 Utrecht (a); 3-3 Napoli (h); 1-4 Liverpool (a)
Goalscorers (Europe):
Liverpool: Ngog 5; Gerrard 4; Babel, Cole, Kuyt, Lucas 1
Steaua: Stancu 3; Kapetanos, Tanase 2; Gardos 1
Referee: Bülent Yıldırım (TUR)
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Kelly Kyrgiakos Wilson Aurelio
Shelvey Poulsen
Babel Cole Jovanovic
Ngog
As has become commonplace in the Europa League, Hodgson's basically announced the line-up in
advance and will rely heavily on the 'B-Team.
Milan Jovanovic's first-half header seals progression for Liverpool.
And outside of that nice interplay between he and Ryan Babel, you're lying to yourself if you
thought this was enjoyable.
Boring and passive for much of the 94-odd minutes played, this was the Liverpool we've come to
despise.
Milan Jovanovic's first-half header seals progression for Liverpool.
And outside of that nice interplay between he and Ryan Babel, you're lying to yourself if you
thought this was enjoyable.
Boring and passive for much of the 94-odd minutes played, this was the Liverpool we've come to
despise.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes some of his players are trying too hard to impress him and
win a first team place, and actually harming their chances.
Hodgson made 10 changes for last night's disappointing goalless Europa League draw at home to
Utrecht, giving opportunities to Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Christian Poulsen, Ryan Babel and Fabio
Aurelio.
Liverpool may have given children free tickets for the Europa League tie against Utrecht at Anfield
but even they will have felt short-changed by the disappointing goalless draw against Utrecht at
Anfield.
Manager Roy Hodgson had pledged to play his one fit star name, Fernando Torres, but had a
last-minute change of heart after being persuaded otherwise by his medical staff.
At times this season, and at the end of the last Premier League campaign, it seemed for all the
world that Liverpool's form was suffering as a result of more than a few names who didn't appear to
want to wear the shirt.
With Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel receiving the majority of the criticism in this respect, even
established first team players weren't spared from accusations from those regularly placing a free
sports bet of not trying hard enough to win crucial games or do the job efficiently against lesser
opposition.
Roy Hodgson feels the Liverpool side he inherited from Rafael Benítez is starting to feel like his
own with every passing game, but admits it would take an influx of players akin to that overseen by
Harry Redknapp at Tottenham before he can make his own mark on the club.
After a turbulent opening six months at Anfield — a period in which the 63 year-old acknowledges
he struggled to transmit his beliefs to his new squad, suggesting he "could not identify with a lot
of things that happened on the pitch" — Hodgson appears to have settled on both system and
personnel.
By Chris Wright
"I wonder if Jonathan Greening's back on the market yet?"
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that he will be allowed access to
NESV's coinpurse come the turn of the year, and that he is looking to mirror Harry
Redknapp's 'gung-ho' approach to squad assembly by making several January signings to help
mould the Reds in his image.
Mount up, buttercup, it's time to see what's in the news.
In case you missed the news that Ed mentioned in passing yesterday, the Blackpool match on
Boxing Day looks likely to be postponed. Adjust your travel plans accordingly.
And remember, for every person who looks for a silver lining by saying it could mean Hodgson
will be gone by the time the rescheduled game rolls around, its equally easy to find a charred and
smoldering lining in that every postponed match makes it more likely Hodgson will have a hand in at
least a couple of January transfers.
West Ham will make a January move for Liverpool flop Christian Poulsen if Avram Grant hangs on to
his job at Upton Park, Goal.com UK can reveal.
The Hammers have made the Danish midfielder a target as they look to toughen up a squad that sits
rock bottom in the Premier League at the halfway point of the season.
Roy Hodgson believes Jonjo Shelvey is showing promise at Liverpool, but feels the teenager will
have to wait to become an established Premier League player.
Shelvey joined Liverpool at the end of last season from Charlton Athletic and has been involved in
the first-team squad this term.
He has gained experience in the Europa League and has also appeared four times as a substitute in
the league under Hodgson.
So, they woke up and got rid of Rafa Benitez, they rode the storm and came through the worst of it,
and are now hopeful of making their way back up the league table to their rightful place among the
big boys; and they're going to make sure of that by making wholesale changes to a largely inherited
squad come January.
