Liverpool FC Forum

by **hello_red** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:36 pm

Reg wrote:If we want to be serious title contenders we HAVE to take all 3 points tomorrow.

At the end of the days its just another game against a mediocre team.

Forza Red Boys.

A

Men

by **Sabre** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:54 pm

Important game.

Apparently we don't win the first three games of the season since 1994-1995 campaign, that would be the best start in more than a decade.

Then it's important aswell because the absence of Gerrard.

I remember that two years ago a member -- not sure exactly who -- said that should Gerrard didn't play for us, we'd be 7th or 8th .

I wouldn't go as far as that but Gerrard has been too crucial for us.

What do I mean? I mean that a good sign of being a league champion is to be able to get 3 points even if a Gerrard or a Torres, or a Mascherano is missing from a game. We have to be able to win even without our best player in the pitch against Aston Villa. If we do, it will give the rest of the squad a lot of morale. So far, we've coped with the absence of Mascherano. Struggling yes, but getting the points. I'd love to show we're able to do the same without Gerrard.

Come on red men!

by **Effes** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:34 am

In The Telegraph:

Keane needs confidence
Robbie Keane has not yet settled at Liverpool and he looks anxious when receiving the ball. This has resulted in him failing to control the ball and looking weak when challenged.

There is no questioning his technical ability, cleverness and vision, but to produce his best form he needs confidence. A sign of his uncertainty is his readiness to drift into wide areas to find more time to assess situations. Unfortunately when he does that, the potential for exchanging quick passes with Fernando Torres is drastically reduced.

Midfield dilemma
Liverpool finished last season with some consistent results because Rafael Benitez decided to stick with a settled formation in midfield and attack. Xavi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in central midfield, Dirk Kuyt on the right, Ryan Babel on the left and Steven Gerrard behind Torres proved successful. Yet in all their competitive games so far, the introduction of Keane has forced Gerrard to drop deeper to take the place of the absent Mascherano, which has made Liverpool look less potent.

Although Liverpool have won their first two league games, their performances have been far from convincing. Therefore, once Gerrard recovers from his operation, how long will it be before Benitez reverts back to last year's strategy? If he does, Keane's place in the team will be in jeopardy.

Coping with Young and Carew
Against Middlesbrough, Stewart Downing tested Alvaro Arbeloa's defensive qualities by attacking his outside line. Today, against Aston Villa's Ashley Young, Arbeloa will need to stop him stepping back on to his right foot to deliver inswinging crosses.

Villa are dangerous from these situations because John Carew has the height and touch to glance headers towards goal. Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Pepe Reina must be strong, determined and well positioned to nullify Carew. Without Sami Hyypia they look vulnerable in the air. Martin O'Neill has also strengthened his attacking options with the £12 million signing of James Milner from Newcastle.

Earning the right to play
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all found asserting their authority on last week's Premier League games difficult because their opponents closed them down so quickly.

Liverpool can expect more of the same from Villa, so will need to bypass Villa's midfield by passing quickly to their front players.

If the front players keep hold of the ball and cause problems, Villa's midfield will then retreat to protect their back four. As a result Liverpool's midfield players will enjoy more space to control possession and territory. However, to be successful, Keane and Torres will need to play a lot better than they have so far.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport....ll.html

by **SupitsJonF** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:57 am

Barry Raring To Face Reds

Fri 29 Aug, 04:09 PM

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry insisted he is "strong enough mentally" to cope with the disappointment of a collapsed move to Liverpool ahead of Sunday's clash between the two sides at Villa Park.

And the England player is adamant he will now give "100 per cent" to Villa and that there is no ill feeling between himself and manager Martin O'Neill whose £18million valuation of the 27-year-old could not be met by the Reds.

Now Barry is concentrating on regaining full sharpness and fitness after missing a sizeable chunk of Villa's pre-season programme while the on-off transfer saga dragged on.

Barry, speaking for the first time since the move to Anfield fell through, said: "Will Sunday be strange? I am 100 per cent for Villa. That's all I'll be doing. That won't be strange at all.

"I've spoken to the manager and I've no problem giving 100 per cent for Aston Villa - and that will be starting against Liverpool on Sunday.

"Will the fans all be behind me? All I can do is give 100 per cent for the club. That is all the fans will want to see anyway. I am sure that will be enough."

Barry, who has two years left of his current Villa contract, admitted: "It has been a long summer. There was continuous speculation but I feel I am strong enough mentally and I'll be fine with it all now.

"Am I here for the long haul? I always take things a season at a time. This speculation happened at the end of last season and it has been decided I'll be staying at Villa.

"I'll take this season now, concentrate on that and hopefully we can improve on last season.

"Do I feel hung out to dry over what has happened? That is what the football business is all about. I am contracted to Villa. They set a fee and it wasn't matched. Rules are rules."

O'Neill disciplined Barry after he launched an attack on him in a Sunday newspaper article but the player is adamant there is no bad feeling between the pair.

He said: "Is there any ill feeling with Martin O'Neill? Not at all. The manager knows I will be giving 100 per cent for himself and the club and that will be fine for everyone.

"It's also nice hearing your team-mates wanting you to stay. We have got a great dressing room. You want everyone to stay really but I would have been disappointed if they wanted me to leave!"

Barry's desire to leave looks to have cost him the Villa captaincy, with Martin Laursen leading the side in the opening two league games with Manchester City and Stoke.

Barry said: "The manager has decided to change the captaincy and I've got no problem with that. Nigel Reo-Coker has done it and Martin Laursen has done it.

"I enjoyed being captain but it won't affect my performances."

Barry played 90 minutes at left-back against Icelandic part-timers FH Hafnarfjordur to help bolster his fitness before facing Rafael Benitez's side.

He said: "I feel I am getting back to my best. It is going to take a while. It wasn't the ideal pre-season for me so I guess the games are always the best thing.

"It was a nice run-out even if it was at left-back.

"How far am I away from my peak? I don't know. I suppose everyone will wait for top performances and then say I'm fit so I suppose I'll have to start producing some of those."

link

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:57 am

Well it will be interesting to see how we cope without Gerrard in midfield today and it will be a stark contrast playing Mascha and Alonso in the center. With Kuyt out wide and possibly Babel on the left the midfield is going to be lacking any sort of attacking threat IMO. Thats my foresight on the issue, hopefully I'm wrong but with Kuyt, Mascha and Alonso I think we're going to be pretty toothless come the final third when relying on service and creativity from the midfield. I think its going to be a game where we're going to have to rely on a bit of magic from either Torres or Keane, the strikers I think will be feeding off scraps and will have to make something happen themselves.

Martin O'Neil will have Villa fired up for this especially as they lost to Stoke last week, and add to that the debacle that surrounded Barry this summer, I think will make for a pretty intense affair.

I think we'll get a draw here, hopefully we'll win but I just cannot see our midfield pushing on in the final third and making their mark on the game. Defensively they'll be fine I reckon (the midfield), and we'll pressure Villa when their in possesion in that respect.

I just hope Torres is up for this, as I can only really see him producing the magic that can grab us three points, well possibly Keane too. But we're gonna miss Gerrard I fear.

by **Ciggy** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:28 am

Its been 14 years since we won our first three opening games of the season :shifty

by **Number 9** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:43 am

Why does everyone think we will get a draw??
Because Rafa and O'Neill are'nt best buds?
Because Gerrards out?
Personally I think we will benefit more from Mascherano being back than we will miss Gerrard today!
Apart from the goal he scored Gerrad has been no where near his best.
Mascherano will do the donkey work in the middle and hopefully Alonso can find a bit of freedom from it and get into the game and makes things happen.
Yeah Ok Gerrard wont play and as important as he is we are not a one man team and should have enough quality to beat Aston Villa.
IF we play the way we have been of course we will probably loose but I just cant see us playing so poorly 5 games on the trot,i think we will be a lot better today.

They lost against STOKE last week,its not as if we are going away to an inform Chelsea side or UTD!
I think we will win in fact we should and if we dont i will be dissapointed!
Bout time Robbie Keane broke his duck as well no more excuses,get the ball in the net and more will follow!

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:26 am

Why does everyone think we will get a draw??
Because Rafa and O'Neill are'nt best buds?
Because Gerrards out?

Probably because our performances have been s.*i*e, and it looks as though we're gonna lose anytime soon IMO (hope I'm wrong). Oh yes and of course because Gerrards out, we're unfortunately the shadow of the side we are when hes not playing.

Yes they lost to Stoke, so they'll be looking to make that right.

So I personally dont feel over confident that we're going to win this today, like I said just my opinion.

by **NANNY RED** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:40 am

Im on my own keyboard now :laugh:

i have not seen a game for 4 weeks how have we been playin, whats been goin on an who have we signed or are gonna sign.

by **Ciggy** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:52 am

NANNY RED wrote:Im on my own keyboard now i have not seen a game for 4 weeks how have we been playin, whats been goin on an who have we signed or are gonna sign.

You havent missed much weve been playing sh!te

but won thats the most important thing.

by **puroresu** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:56 am

if we dont step it up hugely we will get beat today. Gotta pass the ball far better than we have been doing.

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:02 am

NANNY RED wrote:Im on my own keyboard now i have not seen a game for 4 weeks how have we been playin, whats been goin on an who have we signed or are gonna sign.

Dont they have tv's in Cyprus Nan ?

by **NANNY RED** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:09 am

Bamaga man wrote:
NANNY RED wrote:Im on my own keyboard now i have not seen a game for 4 weeks how have we been playin, whats been goin on an who have we signed or are gonna sign.

Dont they have tv's in Cyprus Nan ?

Im sick of watching Galatasaray and hearing how brilliant Kewell is ive argued with everyone sayin how rubbish he is and yet hes been brilliant for them money grabbing Ba.stard.
The only thing ive seen regarding Liverpool is Baros they kepy showing him playing for us before he signed for Galatasaray

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:10 am

NANNY RED wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
NANNY RED wrote:Im on my own keyboard now i have not seen a game for 4 weeks how have we been playin, whats been goin on an who have we signed or are gonna sign.

Dont they have tv's in Cyprus Nan ?

Im sick of watching Galatasaray and hearing how brilliant Kewell is ive argued with everyone sayin how rubbish he is and yet hes been brilliant for them money grabbing Ba.stard.
The only thing ive seen regarding Liverpool is Baros they kepy showing him playing for us before he signed for Galatasaray

I wouldnt be going back there then the bias b@stards.

by **Number 9** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:15 am

Bamaga man wrote:
Why does everyone think we will get a draw??
Because Rafa and O'Neill are'nt best buds?
Because Gerrards out?

Probably because our performances have been s.*i*e, and it looks as though we're gonna lose anytime soon IMO (hope I'm wrong). Oh yes and of course because Gerrards out, we're unfortunately the shadow of the side we are when hes not playing.

Yes they lost to Stoke, so they'll be looking to make that right.

So I personally dont feel over confident that we're going to win this today, like I said just my opinion.

Yeah I agree we have been shi'te,but I dont think we can be as poor as the last 4 games a 5th time.
As for Gerrard he has been well below par,obviously that injury has been hampering him and the sooner its sorted the better so its not as if we are loosing an in the form of his life Gerrard.
Anyway if we loose to Villa having no Gerrard will be no excuse,its up to the rest of the team to start playing and giving 100%.If they all give it everything we will win.
Its up to them to go out and take the 3 points and lets face it if we cant take all 3 in games like this we may as well settle for 3rd or 4th now!

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