Prediction: Wolverhampton v Liverpool

 

PREDICTION: WOLVES 0 LIVERPOOL 4

The dust has hardly settled at Anfied and another big game approaches. Tomorrow night we travel to the midlands to play Wolves in the League.

As awesome as it was to knock out both Manchester clubs from the domestic cup competitions we will need to regain focus, without losing the excitement and form from the last 7 days. Wolves are playing for their footballing lives and currently sit second from bottom in the league. Do we remember what happened the last time we traveled to a team in the bottom 3? we got thumped! (3-1 Bolton), I would like to see the same level of performance for tomorrows game as the lads showed  against the Manchester's

I Think we can break this hoodoo of struggling against relegation threatened teams and bring home 3 points

Man U And the 5th Round Draw

Firstly i must say how proud i am of the performance against Man U on the weekend. We showed real courage, determination and class to over turn the Manics.

I haven't done my usual Reaction post because i couldn't see the game. I did listen to it though via LFCTV.

The 5th of the FA Cup draw has been made with our mighty reds getting Brighton at home! Having meet them already once this year in the League Cup the Brighton Boys will be no easy beats!
here's the draw in full

Games to be played weekend of February 18

Liverpool	v	Brighton & Hove Albion
Everton	v	Blackpool or Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea	v	Birmingham City
Crawley Town	v	Stoke City
Stevenage	v	Tottenham Hotspur
Norwich City	v	Leicester City
Sunderland or Middlesbrough	v	Arsenal
Millwall or Southampton	v	Bolton Wanderer

Prediction Liverpool v Manchester United (FA Cup)

 PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL 2 MANCHESTER UTD 1

After the massive result of beating City on aggregate to get into the final of the League Cup we taken on the other Manchester team in the FA Cup 4th round tie at Anfield.

If any time is a good time to beat the manics it's now. With their team dealing with plenty of injuries to their 1st team regulars. I'm hoping that we can use the momentum gained from beating City on Wednesday  to help us play again at our best.  The games got goals in it, and i have predicted a 2-1 win to Liverpool, Gerrard and Kuyt the scorers for us.

COME ON YOU REDS!!

Reaction: Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2 (3-2agg)

THE REDS MARCH ON TO WEMBLEY!!!

Who ever says that there no such thing as a trophy not worth winning needs to take a long hard look at themselves. The League Cup is often described as this and tonight Liverpool and Manchester City showed us that EVERY trophy matters!

Liverpool started brightly and it was only a terrific Hart save from an Enrique shot that kept the game level after 3 minutes. This set the tone of the game as Liverpool continued to dominate the game with Bellamy, Gerrard and Adam being particularly good.

For all our domination, possession and attacking play it was City that took the lead on 35 minutes. A hopeful ball forward found Silva who weaved is way through 4 Liverpool players to pass the ball square to De Jong who had time and space from at least 25 yards out to hit a bullet shot that curled past Reina and kissed the top right hand corner of the net. 1-0 City.

De Jong makes it 1-0 to City with a superb strike!

Liverpool heads didn't drop though and we continued to impose our game on City. With 4 minutes to go in the 1st half we had won a penalty when it was judged that Richards had hand balled in the box. At first i though it was stonewall, on second viewing i thought we were very lucky to have the penalty as it looked like the shot from Adam hit Richards foot before hitting his out stretched hand. A penalty was given and with the whole world of Liverpool fans behind him Stevie G stepped up and drilled the ball into the bottom left corner giving Hart no chance. 1-1!

Stevie Mr Reliable from the spot

Stevie and Co celebrate going level on the night

With half time looming we settled on the ball and saw it through to 1-1, 2-1 on aggregate. City had a penalty shout of their own turned down earlier on which i didn't think much of, but again after 2-3 looks at it i could see why it might of been given as Adam clattered the back of Dzeko's ankle. Referee's don't get 2-3 looks at it and no penalty was given

The second half was played in the same tone as the first. Lots of Liverpool ball, often out playing City in all areas. Bellamy was being a nuisance, Gerrard was bossing the midfield and Johnson/Enrique were getting wide to drill in crosses. Everything good about Liverpool's play was happening tonight. However for all our great play it was City who again showed how much it pays to be clinical in front of goal. A fantastic cross was drilled flat along the box at about the 7 yard line for an unmarked Dzeko to saunter in and score. 2 Goals from City from 2 shots. 2-1 with 30 minutes to play.

This seemed to have little effect on our reds as we continued to play as we were.  With that galvanizing attitude and passion to get into the final it wasn't long before we were level again on the night. An intricate passing move in the city box saw Bellamy find a little bit of space and with one quick touch and a calmly place shot he had beaten Joe Hart and sent us 3-2 ahead on aggregate. Bellamy had been sensational all game and to score what would be the winning goal is just reward for him, and a testament to how far passion, commitment and enthusiasm can go in professional football.

Bellamy celebrates sending pool level on the night, and ahead on aggregate

With 15 minutes left City finally looked beaten. They lack ideas, energy and that clinical touch that has served them so well so far this season. Liverpool were able to comfortably see out the game and book their tickets to the Carling Cup final!!

When the final whistle blew there was a simultaneous explosion of pure happiness and realization that We were heading to Wembley for the first time since 1996! Anfield erupted in joy which was a pleasure to see, WE ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY!! 

FTK MoM: Craig Bellamy

Craig again delivered an outstanding performance tonight. He was a constant threat to the city defenders especially Savic who ended up being subbed at half time. He lead from the front causing City problems where ever he went. His levels of commitment, passion and skill led the line for us and the players fed off that. Topped of with a goal that sends us to the final it was really icing on the cake. Well done Craig!




pics: liverpoolfc.tv, mcfc.co.uk, soccernet.com

Prediction: Liverpool v Manchester City (League Cup Semi-Final) 2nd leg

PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL 1 MANCHESTER CITY 1 (ON THE DAY) LIVERPOOL WIN 2-1 ON AGG.

Tomorrow night our boys have the chance to go through to the league cup final. Already holding a 1-0 advantage from the 1st leg from a fortnight ago. After our woeful performance in the league Kenny and the lads will want to put things right. If a chance to play in a major cup final doesn't motivate you as a professional footballer then you are in the wrong career.

I expect a tight game, cagey with few chances and with our home form of late i can't see us scoring more than once. The whole squad need to lift their game and show us how good we know they can be and what better stage to do this than a 2nd leg of a semi final!

I predict 1-1 on the day with Carroll to be our scorer

Come on you reds!! Anfield is behind you!!

The Kopinion: 31+6=35,000,000?

DO THE MATH, DOES 31 APPS + 6 GOALS = 35 MILLION POUNDS? 


Stats Don't lie. Andy Carroll's big money move from Newcastle last January had many a football pundit scratching their heads and rubbing their chins in amazement and rightly so. When I first heard we had signed Andy for 35mill i nearly fell over. Deep down i knew it was too much for a player that hadn't truly proven to be a world class striker at all. Too young and to inexperienced is what i thought and for that kind of money we should be buying a Villa, Messi or Ronaldo.

We as Liverpool fans are a patient bunch, we know to give our new players time to settle in and get use to how we run things, and get into the way we play. A year has passed now and i for one am getting tired of Andy's poor performances. OK people are saying that he's not getting the service. he's not getting any games but one has to earn the right to be in the 1st team regardless of your price tag.

Looking at the above stats from Wikipedia Carroll has played 31 times for us only netting 6 goals.  that's a goal every 465 minutes of football while in a red shirt. simply put not good enough!

Then we need to pose the question why? is it Tactical? psychological or is Andy just not fitting in at the club socially?

Tactical?
English football is built around the tall man and the little man up front package. The tall man wins balls in the air, opens up space for his team mates and is lethal in the air from all parts of the final third. The short man is pacey, energetic, hassling defenders and running into the spaces created by the tall man, he also looks for flick on's and scraps from players in and around the box. Andy fits the description of the tall man to a tea. Does he fit into Kenny's system? does Kenny even have a system? the last 4-6 games would suggest he doesn't and this unsettles players big time. The way Kenny has us playing at the moment it's hard to see where Carroll fits in our team without another striker to play off.

Andy Clarifying with the Kop to which way the goal is

Psychological?
Football is a confidence game. Carroll must be feeling a little stressed out about the growing pressure on his poor performances.  We as a club need to make sure that when he takes the field non of that stuff gets in his head during the game, easier said than done. Player are people so we can't really blame Andy for his lack of confidence instead we should help him get out of his rut as Liverpool fans this is the best way to start getting the best out of Andy.

For the time being Andy is a Liverpool player and as rubbish as he is getting on his back week in and week out will not help him improve his on field performances. Like many Liverpool fans i am so fed up with his total lack of form and involvement in the game that i am about ready to call for his head. He's not the 35 million pound player we bought a year ago, he wasn't the 35 million pound player at Newcastle so as a club we have to put our hand up and say yes he was a panic buy to replace Torres and we totally over paid for him. Is that Andy's fault? No.  Not everything you buy in every day life is good value for money, and in a footballing sense Andy is the same.

I hope we see the best of him for the rest of this season but i feel he'll be moving on in the summer should his form continue.

Reaction: Bolton 3 Liverpool 1

BASEMENT DWELLERS RUN RINGS AROUND 'POOL

Saturday saw us visit Bolton in the premier league game that i think most of us that wear red would rather had not witnessed. This was single handily the worst Liverpool performance since our 4-0 thumping at Tottenham.

We didn't have to wait long for a goal as after just 3 minutes mark Davies strolled through the centre of the park un challenged to slot the ball low past Reina. 1-0 Bolton. Our defending was shocking and that was only a small slice of what was to come.

Davies makes it 1-0 Bolton

Our defensive woes continued on seven minutes when Enrique was caught deep in his own half with the ball. Eagles snatched and from almost an imposable angle at the byline nearly made it 2. At this stage we offered nothing attacking wise and this was to be the theme of the game. Henderson did have a pot shot at the Bolton goal on 12 mins but it was easily saved by Bogdan.


A confused and horrible Liverpool defence was exposed yet again on the 28 minute mark as Eagles was allowed to run with the ball, his cross box run and clever chip found Reo-Coker unmarked 7 yards out and he made no mistake. 2-0 Bolton, and deservedly so.

2-0 Bolton as Reo-Coker slots home

At that stage we already looked beaten, switched off and not interested at all. Our attitude, and respect for this game was very unprofessional and we truly deserved everything that we got in this game.

It's 2-0 Kenny, show em how you feel!

The only player in a red shirt that seemed to have any fight in them was Craig Bellamy and it wasn't a surprise to me that he ended up on the score sheet after 38mins. Bolton had pushed high up, with a Reina long ball being flicked on by Carroll Bellamy had all the time and space in the world to finish and he did so. 2-1 Bolton.  What was special about this goal was that Carroll wasn't getting involved at all until he started dropping in deeper. Put of necessity more than anything else most of his plays where in the middle 1/3 and sometimes even in his own half. not somewhere your only center forward should be playing if you need to win a game. 

The last action of the half was in added time where Bolton had a free kick and nearly a 3rd goal as Petrov rifled the ball at the Liverpool goal from 20 yards out only for Pepe to make a tremendous save to keep the deficit to 1. Half time.

The second half was much the same as the 1st. a Sombre Liverpool playing a buoyant Bolton and it didn't take long for Bolton to capitalize on this and extend their lead. Only 3 mins into the 2nd half Bolton won a corner that was delightfully curled to the 6 yard box by Petrov Bolton won the 1st header, they found space while all the Liverpool defenders stood their watching Steinsson thump the ball in from about 10 yards out. Liverpool's weakness from corners yet again exposed.

Bellamy see's Bolton pull away, i know how he feels.

We as a team offered nothing  for the rest of the game. Agger had a shot from distance hit the crossbar on 70 minutes and Carroll fluffed a chance in the box on 72' but that was it, The game petered out and we deserved to be beat by the team in the league with the worst home form
 
Every Liverpool player should be held accountable for this poor performance and i back Kenny's post match comments that he will swing the axe if they approach and play like that again. It's simply not good enough. I always try to back the positives and see the best side of things but this game showed us everything that is wrong with our squad at the moment and improvements must be made.

Next up we play Man City in the League Cup Semi Final second leg, then Man U in the FA Cup Quarter final. i surely hope everyone can get behind the lads and help them lift and produce performances that i know they are capable of.

FTK MoM: Chris Eagles

Eagles had a great game, he was constantly testing our defenders, making lots of defense splitting runs, passes and overall really made our back for look like amateurs. By far the best player on the pitch for me.






pics:bwfc.co.uk, liverpoolfc.tv, soccernet.com

Prediction: Bolton v Liverpool

PREDICTION: BOLTON 0 LIVERPOOL 1

On Saturday we go to the Reebok stadium to play Bolton Wanderers. On any other day in any other season i would put this down as an emphatic Liverpool win, not today. Bolton have been flirting with relegation all season and won't be in any mood to be charitable to our misfiring reds. 


I think this will be a slow game, and if Bolton have taken any notes from Stoke we will struggle to really dominate the game in the final 3rd. If Maxi plays he'll score the goal, if not i see the goal coming from midfield.

I think we'll play well, but i think there's only 1 goal in the game so a 1-0 score is what i have gone with.

Follow my blog, and reaction to the Bolton game at the end of the weekend!

FTK

The Kopinion: King Kenny's Kingdom A Year On.

KING KENNY A YEAR ON. 

We all fell in love with Dalglish as a player and manager being the last manager to win us our last league title in 1989-90. With much romance and optimism  he took over officially as Liverpool's manager again in January of 2011 with Kopite's world wide rejoicing at the appointment.

Do we still feel the same a year on?


There's no doubting Kenny's credentials as a footballing mastermind  but has he done enough to ensure Liverpool are moving forward, i think so. Let's look at what he has and hasn't done as King of our great club to date.

We as fans often forget about how bad it got for our great club with Hicks and Gillette owning the club. With out a strong level of support, courage and business sense we were able to turn it around. When Kenny took over we were relegation fodder with all the problems off the pitch effecting every aspect of the club and i think that any other club in the same circumstances would of folded, we didn't a testament to our strength, passion and desire for our club.

Once the horror of Gillette and Hicks had gone the mood had shifted in the camp. It takes allot of balls to take over a once successful powerhouse of a club with no money but Kenny stepped up.

So how has Kenny done now that the dust has settled and we are all concentrating on football again. If i had to grade him i would give him a C- and here's why:

Signings: Kenny has been hit and miss with transfers in the last 12 months. Hits being Suarez, Enrique, Adam and Bellamy. Only Suarez being considered as world class from that group. 

The misses being Carroll, Coates and Downing. There's no secret that the when we spent 35 million pounds on Andy Carroll there was much frowning and rubbing of chins. But us Liverpool fans are a patient lot so we would always back our managers choices, and support the lads, but in this case time is running out for Andy. More on that in another Kopinion.

On the pitch Liverpool have improved. Our first season for some time with out European football has been a double edged sword. On the one hand, we can concentrate on rebuilding the squad and getting back into the top 4 for champions league and on the other we can't attract a higher quality of player to help us achieve greater things.

Kenny's team sheets and tactics have been pretty good for the most part with a couple of howlers recently to add to the pressure of playing at home. That's one place i think Kenny needs to improve as a manager, at home. For the most part over the last 12 months we have been awful at home and i think our patience is wearing thin.Our Cup form has been pleasing too. I am a big fan of the domestic competitions. Having one foot in the league cup final and a 4th round FA Cup tie against Man Utd on the horizon there's nothing like beating them and winning trophies! a great bonus.

This January he will need to bring in some fresh faces. Without Suarez we are as blunt as a badgers ass going forward so an attacking creative midfielder and striker are needed. let's hope we can bring the right players in.

So overall i think that considering the resources Kenny has he has done a pretty good job at slowly turning our club around. This season for me was never about winning the league, trophies of champions league qualification but to play winning football week in week out, if we do that the above will happen. The old add-age goes that Rome wasn't built in a day, and so a football club isn't built in a year. Those calling for Kenny's head already aren't seeing the bigger picture and sacking him now would be disastrous.

Here's to many successes and triumphs for Liverpool FC and Kenny Dalglish over the next 12 month's and beyond!

YNWA
Stu - FTK

Reaction: Liverpool 0 Stoke City 0

POTTERS EARN A POINT AT LIFELESS ANFIELD

Kuyt reflects on missing the best chance of the game

Saturday's game saw us host Stoke City in the English Premier League. i had high hopes that we would push on with the momentum and energy gained from beating City in the League Cup 3 days earlier but it wasn't to be. Liverpool have put out far to many lifeless performances at home this season and you can add this to the list.

First i have to question Kenny's side and tactics for the game, He did so brilliantly to beat City, why turn around and put out a completely random team for this EPL game? No Bellamy from the Start? or Carroll? Kuyt up front? with Henderson, Gerrard, Adam and Downing in the midfield is it any wonder that our most attacking threat through out the whole of the game was from our left (Enrique) and right (Johnson) backs? At home?? i was genuinely dumbfounded at the whole thing.

Adam battles to win the ball

This game mirrored the pattern of many games at Anfield this season, lots of Liverpool possession with no product. Stoke had come here looking to be hard to be, and they did just that.

With all our possession the first chance of the game went to Stoke, with an incisive counter attack that had Etherington one on one with Reina but couldn't finish. The only Liverpool action of any note came from Stuart Downing 32 minutes in when he show a bit of skill with a nice turn and dribble from the half way line only to see his shot sail over the Stoke bar.  The only other thing worth mentioning is Charlie Adam's range of passing. It was exceptional he play allot of precise and direct balls up to kuyt, Henderson and downing but because of our lack of numbers going forward these passes amounted to nothing.

The second half had a bit more tempo to it, with Liverpool again dominating possession without any end product. countless times we would get the ball into the final 3rd or cross the ball into the box to only find 1, or at a stretch 2 Liverpool players in the box. From this point on our play was predictable. Get the ball out wide down the left 80% of the time and let Enrique cross it into no mans land called the Stoke penalty area.

On the hour mark Kenny finally tried to change the game bringing Carroll on for Downing. This change had little effect on our impotent attacking play as the same old sweep it out to the left and bang it into the box continued to fail.  Even bring Bellamy on for Henderson after 73 mins failed to provide any real threat. At this point though Stoke were doing to us what we did to City on Wednesday. Stoke had no intention of risking anything more than getting a draw and too their credit they trumps us, parked the bus and had a pressure free final 10 minutes of the game as ours reds aimlessly passed the ball around the middle of the park. Our best chance of the game came when Kuyt finally found enough space to be free in the box to get on the end of an Enrique cross only to have his header sail dreadfully wide. Sorry but any Liverpool player that is unmarked and 7 yards out in front of goal should be scoring, or at the very least testing the keeper, Kuyt failed at both.

After that the game petered out into the draw Stoke came here for.  Another 2 points dropped in a game when should be winning comfortably.

Liverpool v Stoke Match Stats courtesy of Liverpoolfc.tv

Overall this was a flat, uninspiring performance against a stoke team that didn't have to play well to get what they wanted. As the stats dictate our predictable wide play was bread and butter for Stoke. I had a massive headache picking a man of the match for this game too.

Future games need to improve, i don't want to sound like a broken record but if we continue to play like that at home we will not qualify for Europe without winning the League, or FA Cup.

FTK: MoM  None

This is the first time ever i haven't been able to pick a player out of the 22 on the field that deserved to be man of the match, so this time. none is chosen.

Pics: liverpoolfc.tv

Prediction: Liverpool v Stoke

Today we take on the Potters at Anfield. With out form steadily improving and with a Stoke team that have enjoyed playing away this will be a tough game. Stoke have only lost 2 of their last 5 away games those games being against Manchester City and Besiktas they will be in no mood to be charitable today.

This kind of game is the perfect chance for us to turn around our home form and start turning draws into wins. With the momentum of beating city mid week in the League Cup with us i can't see why the lads can't push on and clam all 3 points.

Prediction: Liverpool 2 Stoke City 1

Reaction: Manchester City 0 Liverpool 1 - League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg

Which way to Wembley Steven?

STEVIE G SPOT ON AS REDS BLUNT CITY

Liverpool put in a fantastic workman like performance tonight to beat City 1-0 in the League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg.

The game started much the same as the premier league game a week ago with Liverpool dominating the ball and playing the game entirely in the Man City half. The Sky Blues hardly had a touch of the ball when they failed to clear a Liverpool corner, and after 12mins City defender Savic fouled Skrtel in the box and a penalty was awarded.

Savic in for suspended Kompany fouls Skrtel giving the ref no option Penalty!

Stevie G stepped up and drilled the ball into the bottom left hand corner giving Joe Hart no chance. 1-0 pool!

Johnny on the Spot, Stevie scores from 12 yards out, his 2nd in 2 games!

Once 1-0 up i thought that we continued to dominate the game, not giving City any time on the ball as they rarely threatened our goal. Spearing came off injured mid way through the 1st half and was replaced by Adam. Adams impact was almost immediate as he drilled a cross field ball about 70 yards finding Bellamy on the right wing. It was a site to be hold.

At half time you could say that Liverpool were the better team and we were good value for our lead. City hadn't really trouble us. Ballotelli in particular having a poor game, which was pleasing to see through these red eyes.

The second half was a more even affair, you could tell that Kenny had told the lads that they had a job to do. We offered very little threat going forward in the 1st 15mins of the second half, without City really troubling us at the back.

Evidence that Kenny was happy with the 1-0 when the very quiet Stuart Downing was subbed off for Enrique who slotted in at left back with Johnson sitting the the centre of defense with Skrtel and Agger. This wasn't kenny parking the bus by any stretch of the imagination but he was certainly pulling it in to the stadium. With 5 at the back now and Adam, Stevie and Henderson sitting in midfield we became even harder to break down and City didn't know how to respond other than long range efforts that rarely trouble our Pepe in goal.

If Kenny hadn't of parked the bus with bring Enrique on he sure did with his next change. Bellamy came on for Carragher with 10 or so minutes to go and that 5 turned into 6 at the back. For the remainder of the game we just sat back and let City shoot from range and pass the ball around out side out 18 yard box.

At full time Liverpool secured what was in the end a comfortable victory. It wasn't our prettiest game of football but it was a job well done and taking a 1 goal lead into the 2nd leg give us confidence to push on and finish City off at Anfield.

Carroll had another quiet game, and for me really needs to start adding more to his arsenal of attacking plays if he wants to be in the 1st team long term. I thought that with Stevie G being in the team Carroll would have more service that he needs to be effective but with the way Kenny set the team out i can't fault him for being as ineffective as he was tonight. By the same token i thought that Downing and Bellamy had quiet games too, once the goal went in, they faded out of the game.

City looked to really miss the Toure brothers, Kompany and Silva. They were flat and predictable. A sign that even teams like Man City can't steam roll every competition but Mancini has money and i am sure he will "strengthen" the squad before February 1.

FTK MoM: Glen Johnson

Being played out of position is never easy and i though Glen did a tremendous job for us tonight at left back, then in the center. He didn't bomb forward much tonight but show how versatile and how much quality he posses as a defender.






pics: liverpoolfc.tv

Prediction: Manchester City v Liverpool

Tomorrow we visit the City of Manchester Stadium again. This time in the 1st leg of the League Cup Semi Final. We'll want to quickly forget about our last performance at the City ground losing 3-0 in the league.

I'm looking forward to seeing a positive response from the reds, we have it all to play for and i hope the players show the commitment and passion needed to get the edge over Man City. With City losing on the weekend to United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup they won't be in any mood to be charitable. So it looks to be a great game. look our for my review/reaction to it tomorrow!

PREDICTION: Manchester City 1 Liverpool 1

FA cup 4th Round Draw

Our mighty reds will have to beat Manchester United in the 4th round of the FA Cup if we want to progress to the 5th round. This is a perfect fixture for us as i think theres only 1 thing better than beating United, and that's beating them in the cup!  BRING ON JAN 28th.







Here's the full draw

Brighton & Hove Albion or Wrexham	v	Newcastle United
Sunderland	v	Middlesbrough
Dagenham & Redbridge or Millwall	v	Southampton
Hull City	v	Crawley Town
Milton Keynes Dons or QPR	v	Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion	v	Norwich City
Blackpool	v	Sheffield Wednesday
Arsenal or Leeds United	v	Aston Villa
Stevenage	v	Notts County
Watford	v	Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool	v	Manchester United
Derby County	v	Stoke City
Everton	v	Fulham
Macclesfield Town or Bolton Wanderers	v	Swansea City
Sheffield United	v	Birmingham City or Wolves
Nottingham Forest or Leicester City	v	Swindon Town

Result: Liverpool 5 Oldham 1 - FA Cup 3rd Rnd

I am pleased to see the lads saunter thier way into the 4th round of the FA Cup. A 5-1 win is a good way to go about it to. as i didn't see the game thanks to shitty tv rights i am unable to give my opinion on how we played.

5-1 is great though. and i look forward to the Man City game mid week.

Prediction: Liverpool v Oldham

This Saturday Liverpool host League One side Oldham Athletic in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Oldham currently sit 14th in the league with 1 win and 4 draws from their last 5 away games. No disrespect meant to League One but i can't see Oldham getting anything out the game.

I'm cinfident even our second string side can see them off without any trouble. This game is the prefect chance to give fringe players like Shelvey, Kelly and Doni a run out as well as a chance for the out of form regular first team players such as Kuyt, Carroll and Downing.

I think that Kenny will still field a very strong team as this is an important competition for us. It won't matter to much who plays on saturday as all i can see is a one sided score line and anything less than a thumping should be seen as a failure.

Prediction: Liverpool 5 Oldham 0

Also as the game is not being televised i won't be writing a review of the game. 

Review: Manchester City 3 Liverpool 0

EFFICIENT CITY BREEZE PAST 'POOL

Tonight's game against City was a chance to test ourselves against the leagues top team, a test we failed. It just goes to show that at the highest level of the game simple mistakes can cost you, sadly Pepe learned this the hard way tonight. I learned as kick off approached that Luis Suarez would not appeal his 8 match ban and issued a statement via the clubs website:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/statement-from-luis-suarez

The game was open and attacking from the first whistle a testament to both teams wanting to get the 3 points. Liverpool's first chance and arguably our best chance of the game came after 6 mins when Downing found himself through on goal with only Hart to beat but he couldn't slide the ball under the keeper and Hart saved comfortably. With what seemed to be City's next attack they had the ball near our box and with our defenders backing off Aguero who hit a hopeful shot that deceived Pepe making him dive over the ball and it was 1-0 city. On any other day that's bread and butter for our number 25, not tonight.

For all our domination of possession we failed to test the City defense throughout the entire game, besides being the better side in the first 45mins we found ourselves 2-0 down at the break. 

Predictably our weaknesses defending corners was exploited by city as they floated the ball to the near post at the 6 yard area for Yaya Toure to head the ball above and past Reina. Another goal i thought Pepe could of done better with seeing as it was right at him inches above his head.

Toure heads City 2 up as Liverpool are left wanting from corners again

The second half was much the same as the first, lots of Liverpool possession with no end product, Carroll was ordinary again but in his defense so was the service to him, often he had to come deep to receive the ball which isn't really the forte of a target man like Andy. We were given a man advantage  mid way through the second half when Gareth Barry was sent off for a second bookable offense, both of which i thought were soft.

Early bath for Barry in the driving rain in Manchester

Within minutes of the sending off we were 3-0 down. City took advantage of a tiring Liverpool defense with a great run by Toure wining City a penalty when a clumsy but soft challenge from Skrtel saw Toure hit the deck. A soft decision again but a penalty was given which was easily converted by James Milner.

Milner and Co celebrate a 3rd goal and 3 points in the bag

With a 3 goal deficit to over turn and a 1 man advantage we seemed to panic a bit, rushing our passes, crosses and generally trying to play through the City defense who were strong and handled everything we could throw at them. We dominated the rest of the game, with the odd City counter attack but never really tested Joe Hart and the City back 4. They saw the game out comfortably and left us disappointed and frustrated. A game i thought we didn't deserve to win, and kudos to City for playing the way they did.

If Kenny and Co needed any more proof of how far off we are from being a top 4 team again this game was it. Carroll was awful, Downing made some good runs but had a poor night at crossing the ball. Kuyt looked lost and confused, and overall we just weren't that good.  We play City in the League Cup semi finals next week a set of games where we really need to improve and play allot better than we did tonight if we want to get into the final.

FTK MoM: Yaya Toure

Yaya was at the center of everything good about Man City tonight. He was their puppet master and we really struggled to handle him. With a goal in his pocket he and his fans should be happy with his performance and was easily my MoM





pics: liverpoolfc.tv, mcfc.co.uk

Prediction: Manchester City v Liverpool

With Man City losing to Sunderland over the weekend they will be out for blood in the 1st of 3 games against us in the coming month.

With Suarez back in the side, Bellamy on form and Gerrard gaining fitness and confidence i think this is going to be a close game to call. There will be goals in it that's for sure.

If we are a little more clinical in front of goal we'll win

Prediction
Manchester City 2 Liverpool 3