News that Paul Scholes faces up to eight weeks out as a result of medial knee ligament damage sustained in last night's 3-0 victory over Aalborg couldn't have come at a worse time for Manchester United. Had Michael Carrick been fit, Scholes's pending absence may not have caused as many anxious thoughts amongst the United faithful, and that's because of the similarities that the two players share - a huge credit to the way Carrick has performed since his move from Tottenham two seasons ago. Click to continue reading...

WHISPER it softly, but Liverpool are showing signs of putting together a genuine title challenge.

And it may be that manager Rafael Benitez is prepared to gamble more on Premier League success this year than in the past.

He is putting out his most attacking teams since arriving perhaps in the realisation that it is no use drawing games if you want to finish as champions. Click to continue reading...

2:45pm, live in the US on espn2

Group stage so far:
Liverpool: 2-1 Marseille (a)
PSV: 0-3 Atlético (h)

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 2-0 Everton (a); 2-1 Crewe (h); 0-0 Stoke (h)
PSV: 1-0 Volendam (h); 3-0 Jong PSV (a); 0-1 AZ Alkmaar (a)

Referee: Felix Brych (GER)

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Aurelio
Mascherano Alonso
Kuyt Gerrard Babel
Torres

Does Benitez have a Champions League squad and a Premier League squad? Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool must reproduce their derby display on a weekly basis if they are to be crowned Barclays Premier League champions.

The inspirational midfielder admits his side have failed to hit top gear in the opening weeks of the 2008-09 campaign but feels the second-half performance in the 2-0 victory at Goodison Park has seen them edge closer to their best form. Click to continue reading...

I think I'll contradict my post yesterday where I stated that it doesn't really matter who scores, only that we win (link). The essence of it is still very much true, in that we just want the team to win, any way we can.

But there's serious positive effects for a player when he scores (not including OG's). Click to continue reading...

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Dossena
Kuyt Alonso Gerrard Riera
Torres Keane

Goals:
Torres 59' 63'

Just as promised: hands up, I was wrong. Liverpool deployed the 4-4-2, with Alonso for Mascherano because of injury the only deviation from my guess at a squad, and Liverpool leave Goodison two-nil winners thanks to the genius of Fernando Torres. Click to continue reading...

He doesn't like it.

Doesn't like it at all.

"I won't tolerate people abusing me, absolutely none whatsoever," Keane said. "Some people were targeting me and that's something I've not come into the job to accept again.

Won't tolerate it? What's he gonna do?

Cry? Click to continue reading...

Apart from when we beat United, our form this season has been terrible, thankfully the results have been pretty good. The thing with derby days though, is that form generally goes out the window. The possibility of beautiful football is non-existant, and we expect physical battles.

Even though Torres & Keane have both been off form this season, it's Keane that bears the brunt of the criticism by the media. Click to continue reading...

7:45am Eastern Time, live in the US on Setanta

Last four head-to-head:
1-0 Liverpool (h) 03.30.08
2-1 Liverpool (a) 10.20.07
0-0 (h) 02.03.07
0-3 Everton (a) 09.09.06

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-1 Crewe (h); 0-0 Stoke (h); 2-1 Marseille (a)
Everton: 0-1 Blackburn (a); 2-2 Hull (a); 2-2 Standard Liege (h)

Referee: Mike Riley


He's no Mark Clattenburg, that's for sure. Click to continue reading...

Hey kids, it's your often drunken, seldom sober, pal Chris here to tell you about this little thing we have going on this weekend called the Merseyside Derby. If you're not familiar with this extremely important contest, then do yourself a favor and jump off of something no less than 3 stories high to prevent the breeding of any offspring that would be as ignorant as you.

Click to continue reading...

Cavalieri
Degen Agger Hyypia Insua
Pennant Lucas Plessis El Zhar
Ngog Babel

Subs:
Torres for Ngog 66'
Carragher for Degen 73'
Keane for El Zhar 87'

Goals:
Agger 15'
O'Conner 25'
Lucas 58'

This is a placeholder; for the first time in recent memory, there weren't even any streams, just radio commentary. Click to continue reading...

This could be a double edged sword for Keane, if he scores, it should give him the confidence to relax and perform in subsequent games. On the other hand if he doesn't score against a team of Crewes calibre, that's bound to shatter his confidence even more than it already is.

This isn't the first and no doubt the last time that he has experienced goal scoring droughts. Click to continue reading...

3pm Eastern Time, not on TV in the US

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 0-0 Stoke (h); 2-1 Marseille (a); 2-1 United (h)
Crewe: 3-4 Southend (h); 2-0 Colchester (h); 2-5 Leeds (a)

Referee: Michael Oliver

Guess at a squad:
Cavalieri
Degen Agger Hyypia Insua
El Zhar Plessis Lucas Benayoun
Ngog Keane

I'd be very surprised to see many first-team regulars. Click to continue reading...

Gerrard scored his 100th goal, only for the referee to disallow it for some unknown reason. It's one thing for the crowd to be labelled the 12th man, but when the referee is the 12th man, it's a bit of a sucker punch. Can't really blame the referee for 2 points lost though.

The harsh reality is we lacked the creativity required to carve open a stubborn Stoke City who were determined to defend for 90 minutes. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez conceded last night that star striker Fernando Torres is suffering a hangover from the incredible 12 months which catapulted him to world fame.

Torres is now a major candidate to become World Footballer of the Year after scoring a staggering 34 goals in his first season at Liverpool. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Riera
Torres Keane

It was exactly what was feared. When the best you can say was at least Liverpool didn't lose, against a team many tip for relegation, it's not a good day at the office.

It's bad, bad déjà vu reminiscent of the draw against Birmingham early last season, except the strike force was Torres and Keane instead of Kuyt and Voronin. Click to continue reading...

10am Eastern Time, live in the US on Setanta.

Last 4 head-to-head:
8-0 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 11.29.2000
2-1 Liverpool (h; League Cup) 10.25.1994
3-2 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 10.09.1991
2-2 (h; League Cup) 09.25.1991

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 2-1 Marseille (a); 2-1 United (h); 0-0 Villa (a)
Stoke: 2-3 Everton (h); 1-2 Boro (a); 3-2 Cheltenham (a)

Referee: Andre Marriner. Click to continue reading...

Ramos was the pick of the Premiership managers last season.

But this season at Spurs is not going swimmingly well. Spurs lost to Aston Villa, 1-2 and now lie at the bottom of the table. Their worst start in 34 years. The good news is that the Premiership season is just a month old.

Click to continue reading...

2:45pm, live in the US on Setanta

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 2-1 United (h); 0-0 Villa (a); 1-0 Liege (h)
Marseille: 1-1 Bordeaux (a); 2-1 Sochaux (h); 1-0 Le Havre (a)

Referee: Konrad Plautz (AUS)

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Riera
Torres Keane

In my guess at a squad, I'm assuming Gerrard and Torres are fit enough to start, although, like over the weekend, it'll be a late decision. Click to continue reading...

The greatest thing about beating [finally] Manchester United, is that the lads performed very well in doing so, and this without Torres and before Gerrard even got on the pitch. Very attack minded, excellent possession, and dominant for the majority of the match.

How can I even begin to choose a man of the match, there was so many stand out performances. Click to continue reading...

I'm so damned happy and drunk right now that I don't know where to start. It's not even 9am yet... crap. The best thing that could have happened was the early goal by Tevez. I think that slapped the entire Liverpool squad in the face and said, "You better wake the hell up." And they did.

This was the first match of the season that I can say that the Reds played the way they should.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool v Manchester United Preview, Kick-off: September 13th, 1245 BST

You can't help thinking that Fergie is relieved that the International break is over as he will be no doubt be dying to try out his brand spanking new signing, Dimitar Berbatov, who has been burning a hole in his pocket (in more ways than one) since the end of the transfer window.

Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has lined up against Sir Alex Ferguson five times at Anfield since becoming manager of Liverpool and the two sides have played out a 0-0 and four 1-0s - three of them going United's way in the Premier League and one going to the Merseysiders in the FA Cup.

But it's not just head-to-head history that points to a lack of goals on Saturday. Click to continue reading...

7:45am Eastern Time, live in the US on Setanta

Last 4 head-to-head:
3-0 United (a) 3.23.08
1-0 United (h) 12.16.07
1-0 United (h) 03.03.07
2-0 United (a) 10.22.06

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 0-0 Villa (a); 1-0 Liege (h); 2-1 Boro (h)
United: 1-2 Zenit (neutral); 1-0 Pompey (a); 1-1 Newcastle (h)

Referee: Howard Webb

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Alonso Mascherano
Kuyt Benayoun Riera
Keane

I hate this fixture. Click to continue reading...

Thank you, Mr Keane, for expressing how many football fans feel about Warner in a direct, succinct manner. Back story: Warner sends a letter to Keane saying: "Your callous disregard for the rights of 'small' countries to have their players represent them as enshrined in Fifa regulations reveals a mean streak in your character. Click to continue reading...

While I still believe Keane and Torres will likely make our best strikeforce since Rush and Dalglish, Keane has yet to make much of an impact with us. It's called a bedding in period, it's perfectly normal.

LFC have confirmed that Torres hamstring injury will keep him out for at least a few weeks, which means no Torres for the match against Manchester United. Click to continue reading...

What do we think? I haven't see much of him if I'm honest, watching Hull wasn't high on my agenda last season.

I've had a look through some highlights and he has scored a number of good goals. I know he started for Utd against Newcastle and was involved in their pre season games so Ferguson must have rated him. Click to continue reading...

Underperforming Liverpool were lucky to escape the second city with a point on Sunday.  Gerrard is out recovering from surgery, likely back in a week or more.  Torres pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first third of the match.  Rafa crowded the midfield, neutralized the service to Carew and Agbonlahor, allowing the Reds to escape with a point. Click to continue reading...

Some would agree that this was an absolute borefest while others would not. Martin O'Neil and Rafa didn't get into a scrap and Barry didn't cry so it was definitely not the grudge match we were hoping for. For me, the game pretty much ended when Torres came out with a pulled hamstring because at that point the attack threat was gone.

Click to continue reading...

Watching Liverpool set up stall for a draw against Aston Villa was very disappointing. With the quality we've got in the squad (should be enough to cover the loss of Torres & Gerrard), I had hoped for a lot more ambition from Rafa and the lads.

Playing a 4-1-4-1 formation with Keane as a left winger didn't seem like a smart move, and the problem was compounded by bringing on Ngog to play the lone striker role. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Dossena
Alonso
Kuyt Mascherano Lucas Keane
Torres

I am not used to Liverpool setting up shop to come away with a point on the road, and I'm not happy about it. Without Gerrard and with Torres going off after 26 minutes thanks to an injury, Liverpool were without invention and rarely looking like getting a goal. Click to continue reading...

11am eastern, live on FSC.

Last 4 head-to-head:
2-2 (h) 01.21.08
2-1 Liverpool (a) 06.11.07
0-0 (a) 03.18.07
3-1 Liverpool (h) 10.28.06

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 1-0 Standard (h); 2-1 Boro (h); 1-0 Sunderland (a)
Villa: 1-1 FH Hafnarfjordur (h); 2-3 Stoke (a); 4-2 City (h)

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Kuyt Mascherano Alonso Benayoun
Torres Keane

Naturally, as soon as the players who starred at the Olympics were ready to return, there's news that Gerrard's out for the next 10 days at best. Click to continue reading...

Dirk Kuyt was the reason Liverpool won 1-0 against Standard Liege tonight. Liverpool have many good players. Alonso, Gerrard, Torres, Carragher and Reina are top class players any team would love to have. With players like this fans should expect to destroy hard working teams like Standard Liege. At Liverpool though, shocking players like Dirk Kuyt mean that instead of winning 4-0, Liverpool scrape to 1-0. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Aurelio
Kuyt Alonso Gerrard Benayoun
Torres Keane

Goals:
Kuyt 118'

These games are not doing my heart any good. Four games into the season, and the earliest goal Liverpool's scored has come in the 83rd minute. And Kuyt striking the winner after suffering a ton of stick makes it even sweeter. Click to continue reading...

Güney Amerika forvet cenneti. En verimli takımların başında da Boca ve River geliyor. Eğer Beşiktaş gibi 'çakma' Higuain almazsanız başarı oranınız çok büyük olur. Totthenam ManU'ya gidicem diye tutturan Berbatov'u hatırı sayılır bir paraya satmaya çalışıyor. Diğer yandan da River'ın son mahsüllerinden Radamel Falcoa'yu almaya çalışıyor. Click to continue reading...