Done deal subject to a medical, announced on the official site last night.
Downing has been consistently good in the league for more than five years, whether as the big fish,
small pond focal point of UEFA Cup runners-up Boro or outshining the more-hyped Ashley Young as
Villa's Player of the Season last campaign.
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.
"Wherever I go, it'll be a footballing decision. I want to play in a more central
position and I want a manager who has faith in me. And I'm talking about club football here."
- Joe Cole, June 27, 2010
There are certainly signs for optimism in the signing of Joe Cole, which is still subject to a
medical.
Webb's been a bad luck charm against the Arse of late, but he was in charge of the 2-1 victory in
September ‘08 when Liverpool finally beat United in the league.
Glen Johnson makes his first start in ages for Liverpool while Ryan Babel is also in the first team
for today's game in Lille.The team in full: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano,
Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, El Zhar,
Kelly.
Rafael Benitez today tried to rally his dejected troops after that deeply disapointing defeat at
Wigan.
This season has seen one poor performance after another.
We are down in sixth and likely to remain there with an appalling nine defeats in the League
already, this season. Rafa under pressureThe future of the Manager is again under the spotlight as he
tries to salvage something from the season by attempting to win the Europa League.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but: Why take Lucas off??
We could see the goal coming. Rosicky tore down the right sight while our defense struggled to
get back into position. His cross was going nowhere but to Diaby's head which had no one marking
it. Diaby knocked the ball past Pepe and the Gunners were up.
Rafa Benitez has named his starting line up to face Everton at Anfield today; with N'Gog starting
upfront in the absence of Torres. The team in full is: Reina, Carragher, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos,
Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Rodriguez, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Aurelio,
Babel, Degen, Skrtel.
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.
Another false dawn after beating Spurs or the due result from playing poorly against a resilient
side, one that didn't concede at Anfield until going a man down when Liverpool had a far stronger
line-up?
This is a big one and not just because both sides could do with a win, after achieving
disappointing results on Saturday.
A win for Liverpool will firmly put us in our place and give them the psychological advantage in
the race for a Champions League spot. A win for us would open up a gap of 7 points and possibly
cost their manager his job.
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.
Two typical Stoke goals, but one on each end. For 90 minutes, you could have switched the teams'
kits and would have fooled me. And for 90 minutes, it worked.
You thought I'd stop doing this after infamously predicting Liverpool would finally win the title,
only to see them slump to their lowest finish in more than a decade and have Benitez, who I've
knelt at the altar of for years, sacked? You underestimate my shamelessness.
1) Chelsea
2) United
3) City
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool
6) Spurs
7) Everton
8) Birmingham
9) Sunderland
10) Villa
11) Blackburn
12) Stoke
13) Wolves
14) West Ham
15) Fulham
16) Newcastle
17) Bolton
18) West Brom
19) Wigan
20) Blackpool
Maxi Rodriguez make his first start in a Liverpool jersey as Steven Gerrard returns to the side
while unlucky Auilaini drops to the bench. Team:Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua,
Rodriguez, Lucas, Mascherano, Riera, Gerrard, Kuyt.
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.
It appears that all is going well with Hodgson's removal plans as Albert Riera is set to join
Olympiakos in a £4.2 million deal.
The player who denigrated our club last season with remarks such as 'Liverpool are a sinking ship'
etc, might have been somewhat correct at the time after our dour last season under Benitez, has
also found himself surplus to requirements under new boss Roy Hodgson.
COS contributor Reds Lewis has some helpful advice to give Rafa ahead of summer transfer
window.
Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!
With summer fast approaching, talk of transfers is ripe at Caught Offside, however with the lack
of "free" (by free I mean not generated from player sales) money available in the Anfield coffers,
there are some players at LFC who should maybe start to worry about their future.
Great news today. With the effective takeover of the club's debt by Barclay's bank and the
postponement of the July repayment of £100 by RBS to allow time for our club to be sold by the
hated Hicks and Gillette there is also likely to be an announcement that funds will be made
available in the summer - potentially up to £50million - as Barclay's Capital, one of the biggest
and most respected investment banks in the world offer an interim refinancing package to stabilise
the club in the period they need to find new owners.
Spartak Moscow coach Valery Karpin claims Alberto Riera's proposed £5 million switch from
Liverpool fell through because the winger demanded too much money.
Riera found himself in the Anfield doghouse after describing Liverpool as a "sinking ship",
comments the Spaniard has since backtracked on, and was eager to secure a move to the Russian
league before their transfer window shut on April 8.
After last night's disappointing performance against Wolves, the question must be asked. Why wasn't Aquilani playing?
The little Italian had begun to find his feet in a Liverpool shirt, using the ball well, making
things happen in the middle of the pitch, showing lots of neat touches and he set up the goal by
Kuyt after 5 minutes against Spurs.
Rafa Benitez has given Maxi Rodriguez his first start for Liverpool tonight as he lines up
alongside Steven Gerrard to face Wolves. The team in full is Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Insua,
Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Riera, Maxi, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel,
Ngog, Degen, Darby, Pacheco.
Even with this season's horrors, Liverpool hasn't done too badly in ‘statement games.'
Admittedly, basically every game's a statement game with the shape the side's in, but 2-0 wins over
United, Everton, and now Spurs (and a 1-0 win at Villa) are nothing to sneeze at.
Del Bosque mostró al fin sus cartas. Se decantó por jugar con extremos. Navas en su sitio y
Villa tirado a la izquierda. Buscó un fútbol más directo. Eso sÃ, mantuvo a su doble pivote
Alonso-Busquets, para la mayorÃa más defensivo que el formado por Senna-Xavi en la Euro 2008.
Del Bosque mostró al fin sus cartas. Se decantó por jugar con extremos. Navas en su sitio y
Villa tirado a la izquierda. Buscó un fútbol más directo. Eso sÃ, mantuvo a su doble pivote
Alonso-Busquets, para la mayorÃa más defensivo que el formado por Senna-Xavi en la Euro 2008.
Well, obviously not a favorable result for us yesterday. Sure, we aren't exactly desperate for
points right now (though they would help since Aris is only three behind us) but it's still painful
to see us drop two points at home to this Panionios team.
To be honest, this wasn't our worst performance yet.
Rafael Benitez has spent so much time on the defensive lately that perhaps it's no surprise his
team seem intent on following suit.
Those unfortunate enough to be present at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night will no doubt be
nodding in agreement after a turgid encounter in which Liverpool's attacking shortcomings were at
their most painfully evident.
