Is it over yet?

By the time I could access an online stream that worked, it was close to half time. However, it didn’t take me too long to realize that Liverpool have been quite pathetic this season and they seemed to continue to ebb away even in this game against Hull City!

This was further bolstered by the fact that 4th placed Tottenham had 2 goals in by 42 minutes in their match while Liverpool had probably their first chance, that too a dispirited effort by Agger that was hit into row Z from about 5 yards out. How the once mighty (Liverpool) have fallen.

Disgusting is one word that comes to min. I also am beginning to comprehend the reason for Torres’s petulance this season. I suddenly can empathize with him.

…And then my stream went down again.

Whence I got my live stream back I was treated to some more of Liverpool’s unimaginative game play with Hull posing more of a threat that they did in the first half. The only energy emanating from the Liverpool side was the gaffer, Rafael Benitez, traipsing about in the ‘strategic area’, that too with a somnambulant pace.

You know what, I don’t even want to write about Liverpool’s last game.

Liverpool v Fulham – European supremacy Part 1

The title shows an obvious lack of ideas for … er …titles. However, it is rather surprising that given their antecedents this season, Liverpool and Fulham are the only two English sides still in any European competition, a stark contrast of a situation as compared to the EPL’s supremacy in Europe.

Anywhooo, this isn’t about the Europa league. Or the Champions League. This is about the Premier League. It is about whether Liverpool would reclaim fourth place which has so often been their’s over the last couple of seasons.

Given that Fulham are in the lower middle half of the table, I have a sneaky suspicion that they may rest a few key players  so as to avoid injuries to key players which might hamper their European adventure. On the other hand, Liverpool should probably play a full strength squad with Ryan Babel, possibly, returning to the starting line up after sitting out Liverpool’s mauling of Benfica. Having said that, if you know Rafael Benitez then there’s a good chance you can’t quite predict the starting line-up for tomorrows clash at Anfield!

On a side note, would we see Lucas Leiva start again or would the gaffer prefer 20 mil. man, Alberto Aquilani?

Predictions, predictions, predictions… Liverpool can’t afford a sub-par performance like the one they demonstrated against Birmingham, so I would say it would, in all probability, be a Liverpool victory: 2-0 or 2-1. Please do note that the key phrase here is “in all probability” and everyone who has followed Liverpool’s dismal season would understand my lack of confidence!

Birmingham City v Liverpool: I am at a complete loss!

Set aside the glorious goal from Steven Gerrard to mark the beginning of the first half, Liverpool were mostly noncommittal, reminiscent of their match against Manchester Utd in particular.

I didn’t know what was surprising: my online stream dying or Rafael Benitez substituting Torres for Ngog much to the surprise and quizzical looks on Torres and Gerrard. Ngog would then go and miss two glaring chances  after his introduction and one in stoppage time that could have allowed Liverpool to regain the lead.

It is one thing that you get done in by bad refereeing (as seen most recently against Benfica) but this was ridiculous. Liverpool’s highly ineffectual play galvanized Birmingham City who just got ebullient as the match progressed. Suddenly, Liverpool were playing like a relegation threatened team trying to rescue a single point against a team that they would have put to the sword last year.

Benitez needs to get his priorities right: Is it Europa League glory that they are after or a Champions League place that would actually fit their status. If this choice isn’t clear, then we need a major overhaul of the coaching staff as soon as this season ends. But of course! Liverpool can’t financially afford it!

The case for Aqua and Babel – Liverpool v Sunderland Preview

As we get closer to the end of the season, Aston Villa and Manchester City have handed Liverpool FC a glimmer of a hope by drawing against Sunderland and losing to Everton, respectively, in midweek.

Carew's goal rescues point for 7th place Villa. http://www.bbc.co.uk

Now, Liverpool will need to take on Sunderland on Sunday, the 28th of March and MUST capitalize on this with a three point haul.

Cahil scores against Man City! http://www.bbc.co.uk

How are Liverpool to go about achieving that? By playing Aquilani in midfield and Babel on the wing. The time for a defensive mindset is long gone and Rafael Benitez has been reminded that time and again, the latest unsavory reminder coming against arch rivals, Manchester Utd last weekend. I hate retrospect but that was a match which flabbergasted me!

My starting eleven would be:

Reina, Jonhson, Carragher, Agger, Insua,Kuyt, Aquilani, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres.

Despite Liverpool’s rotten season, I don’t see Liverpool slipping up against Sunderland and in light of recent happenings in the Premier League, live in eternal hope of a fourth place finish!

Moyes and Mancini. http://www.soccernet.com

The race to fourth place

The race to fourth place is all but over for the red half of Liverpool. Some would say that the proverbial fat lady had actually left the building a week ago when we lost to Wigan. I was strongly of the opinion that a positive result today would have stoked the remaining dying embers that are Liverpool’s chances of a fourth place finish but Liverpool have probably thrown water on the said embers with a watered, somnolent display.

Unless we have a miracle, Liverpool would

Bawl!!!!!!

e plying their once attractive football in the Europa league, much to the chagrin of the Liverpool faithful. This would in turn affect their exchequer and, god forbid it, but it might lead to the exodus of players.

I think it is a given that Albert Riera is on his way out. Dirk Kuyt has failed to make an impression in the last couple of weeks or so and has looked a shadow of his former self. Gerrard has looked completely out of sorts as if he were in a foreign land and was asking for directions with disastrous results. Torres, despite being involved in a glut of goals, has looked a petulant child. As for Rafael Benitez, his days seem to be numbered and probably the only thing that will keep him at Anfield at the end of this season is the massive payoff that would need to be doled to him in case of a premature termination of his contract.

Liverpool will take on Sunderland this weekend. I would like to say that it looks like 3 points are for the taking but given Liverpool’s recidivist attitude this season, I would not like to make sensational predictions in their favor!

Liverpool are poor at Old Trafford

Can’t watch this anymore. Liverpool’s season has sucked balls, no pun intended. Just when I thought they were getting themselves out of a pit that they dug for themselves….

Is the thought that went through my mind with just about 2 minutes of stoppage time to go and Liverpool trailing by 2 goals to 1. Torres had a brilliant header in the beginning of the match to put Liverpool ahead but couldn’t do the same in the dying stages with an open goal mouth. Rooney had dragged Manchester Utd back into the game from a rebound goal from a saved penalty which was as a result of some theatrics from Valencia. Sun-Ji Park did do well to put Utd 2-1 up after the break when he caught the Liverpool defense being complacent about his presence. This lack of defensive stability has yet again resulted in a loss for the team from Merseyside, their tenth of the season.

I hate it when Liverpool lose but when the lose to Manchester Utd, it is simply the worst feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach.

Scum v Liverpool – Preview

It’s a huge showdown, the one on Sunday! And if you don’t know what I am talking about, you, sir/madam, are a twat! It’s Manchester Utd [Spit to get the bad taste out of your mouth] vs Liverpool FC at Old Trafford.

I think all ‘pool fans would remember the spanking (in a completely non-homosexual way) that the scum got at the hands of Liverpool with Fernando Torres and company running the United defense ragged. Sir Alex has promised that it won’t be a repeat of that night and even Liverpool supporters would probably subscribe to this fact which is kind of a truism.

However, it is an important match for both teams. If Liverpool win, they would be making a somewhat late case for themselves as far as the lucrative yet elusive fourth place goes. If Man Utd (gulp!) win [Spit to get bad taste out of your mouth], they would be making a strong push for the title. Whatever the outcome, this match is THE match of the remaining season. Never has it been low on hijinks, drama and humdinger-ishly noisy crowds!

As far as team selection goes, I hope Liverpool start with five in midfield with Aquilani and Lucas playing on either side of Gerrard who would push up behind Torres at opportune moments. I am hoping to see Babel and Kuyt at left and right flanks respectively while the back four should remain unchanged from Liverpool’s previous two superlative performances (superlative in terms of number and quality of goals scored, not necessarily the ENTIRE performance itself).

We all know what Manchester Utd are quite capable of (read Wayne Rooney) and won’t go into the details for two reasons: I don’t care about United and because I don’t care about United.

Predictions you say? I would say that Liverpool have it in them to inflict damage on the United contingent but would like to sit on the fence for this one. I would call this a 1-1 draw but the hopeless romantic in me would like a 2-0 to Liverpool! Heres looking forward to Sunday!