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Geoff's Footie Page
19/5/01 Charlton 0 Liverpool 4 With the three cups already in the bag, it would have been very easy to sit back, relax and think that the season was over and was a total success. Unfortunately the most important goal - a Champions League place - was still one match away and we had to play at our very best to secure it. For the first half, the Liverpool players looked like they still had a cup hangover from their midweek exploits. Charlton ran amok and we should have been at least three down at half time. Charlton hit the post, had a blatant penalty appeal turned down and missed a couple of sitters. We were fortunate to say the very least. Luckily, the second half was a different story. We came out confident that the three points were going to be ours. A great overhead 'lob' shot from Fowler gave us the lead which was soon added to by a hopeful shot from Murphy. Fowler then blasted in another from inside the box and Owen finished with his usual style to wrap it all up. BRILLIANT! 16/5/01 Liverpool 5 Alaves 4 What a match!!! For a match like this, mere words are not enough. It was amazing entertainment of the highest order. I doubt that there had never been a final like it ever. It was just incredible. Basically the scoring went like this...but it really doesn't tell the whole story. Liverpool went two goals up fairly early on. Babbel's close range header started the scoring and Gerrard added soon after. Alaves looked sheepish and very, very poor. But...(and there's always a but) they did not cave in like they looked as if they would, instead, Liverpool defended deeper and deeper inviting pressure. Obligingly, Alaves got one back with a good header. Then, just before half time McAllister scored from the penalty spot and it looked all over once again. Within minutes of the second half kick-off, the game turned on its head. Not only did Alaves half the deficit, they completely wiped it out. A close range header and a free kick did the business for the Spaniards. They proved that they hadn't got to the final by luck, they looked a good side. But...instead of caving in like Liverpool looked like they would, they began to push forward again and looked the better team. Fowler, having come on as a substitute, scored a blinder which looked like it would be the winner. With only minutes remaining, Jordi (ex-Man U) headed in from close range. GUTTING!!! We had the treble in our hands and it was viciously snatched away. It was then a question of whether that kind of shattering blow would knock us out of the match - far from it. To cut a very long story slightly shorter, extra-time started, they got two players sent off and we were all over them, but time was running out. Penalties loomed. In the last minute or so, McAllister crossed the ball into the six-yard-box and a defender glanced the ball past the helpless keeper and it was all over. We won. FANTASTIC! 12/5/01 FA Cup Final Arsenal 1 Liverpool 2 Daylight robbery is the only way to describe the result. If I were an Arsenal fan then I would be absolutely distraught. I mean, for seventy odd minutes Arsenal were by far the better team and by all rights they should have had it wrapped up no trouble. They had a good case for a penalty in the first half when Henry had a shot cleared off the line courtesy of Henchoz's elbow, but it looked at the time like the ball had hit the post and nothing was given. Had the penalty been awarded then Henchoz would have seen red and the match would taken another direction. In the second half Liverpool had one good header from Heskey then clung on for dear life as Hyypia desperately cleared a number of shots off the line. Henry was guilty for missing a hatful of chances and boy did he live to regret them later. Ljungberg gave Arsenal a deserved lead with a well taken goal and with only ten minutes left, it looked like that was it really. Well...that's what you'd think but Michael Owen had other ideas. After not even having a sniff of a goal all match, Owen took charge in a crowded penalty box, swivelled on the proverbial sixpence and blasted in a great volley. As the Liverpool players celebrated, the Arsenal players were looked devastated. It was no surprise really when, following a brilliant Berger through ball, Owen raced through the tired defence to calmly place a perfect shot past Seaman. GAME OVER We didn't deserve it, but such is life really. 8/5/01 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 2 Frustratingly close to the home win we desperately needed and deserved but it just wasn't to be. We took the lead early on through another good goal from Owen but shoreline was soon level after a combination of good shooting from Hasselbaink and poor goalkeeping by Westerveld. The rest of the first half was very close with plenty of shots raining in from both sides. We came out after the break with much more purpose and dominated the game. Owen gave us the lead once more with a composed volley in the six yard box but again, Hasselbaink ruined the night by blasting in a low shot inside our box. Looks like it will be another tense match away at Charlton on the last day of the season. (I think I'll be hoping that both Leeds and Ipswich slip up because I know that Charlton are capable of anything!) Next match : FA Cup Final 5/5/01 Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0 Another great day for Liverpool. Not only did
we win convincingly at home but Leeds lost away at Arsenal. We now only need one
win from our last two games to secure the vital third place in the league. Roll on Chelsea. 1/5/01 Bradford 0 Liverpool 2 Yet another much needed win. Goals from Owen and McAllister secured all three points from an already relegated Bradford. With Ipswich losing as well, this was a good night for us. 28/4/01 Coventry 0 Liverpool 2 It was a match which both teams desperately needed to win - Liverpool for success, Coventry for survival. It should have been a corking tie but as it turned out, the pressure ruined the game as a spectacle. Both sides were nervy and edgy and therefore quality passing moves were few and far between. We had chances, they had chances but a combination of poor finishing and good 'keeping kept the score line goalless for most of the match. We won the game late on with a header from Hyypia and yet another freekick from McAllister. The result didn't tell the whole story and we were lucky to get all three points, but I don't really care. We won and they didn't. It is a shame that they are likely to be relegated because I quite like Coventry but there you go really. In terms of positions in the Premiership, we're fifth, Ipswich and Leeds are both six points ahead but we've got two games in hand. I'm assuming that our goal difference is better because if we keep on winning, third place would be ours. COME ON NOW! 22/4/01 Liverpool 3 Spurs 1 Ok, it would be very easy for me to gloat and rub Paul's face
in it but I won't. Heskey gave us the lead on 5 mins and Liverpool were
dominant in the early stages. Owen then had a perfectly good goal disallowed for
offside and while we were still reeling, Spurs counterattacked and, after
walking through our invisible defense, Korsten put the ball past a
helpless Westerveld. Things then got a bit tense. From a Spurs point of view, I honestly hope that the youngsters who played today can build on their chance in the first team and 'out' some of the older members of their squad. I would like to see Hoddle get in some fresh faces and put a bit of life back into their team. 19/4/01 UEFA Cup Semi-final second leg
Liverpool 1 Barcelona 0 In a word: MAGNIFICENT In two words: ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT Who would've believed that Liverpool would have
been able to beat one of the best teams on the continent? I have to admit that I
had my doubts. After the ultra cautious approach that we adopted in Spain, I did
not believe that we could both attack them whilst being able to defend against
the likes of Renaldo at the same time. I wasn't being pessimistic, simply
realistic. On paper we were the under dogs and it needed a super human effort to
get through to the final. Just like the first leg, Barca hardly had a chance of a shot let alone a goal and Liverpool were far more assured and confident. The goal, which was scored late in the first half, came courtesy of a McAllister penalty. A big hand goes out to Patrik Klaivert (I have NO idea of the correct spelling!) for his outstanding goalie impression in his own box. Liverpool played in the second half with defense in mind and, just like the first leg, they managed to hold on until the final whistle. So we won the Worthington Cup, we're in the final of the FA Cup and now we're in the final of the UEFA Cup. What a season! 16/4/01 Everton 2 Liverpool 3 On 90 minutes, I had this report written in my mind and it was not going to be kind. I was going to say how, in a fairly drab first half, Heskey gave Liverpool the lead with a clinical strike and Duncan (I'm too stupid to realise that if I take my shirt off when celebrating a goal then I'll automatically get booked) Ferguson equalised near half time. I would then have said that Babbel deservedly gave us the lead again before the referee, Jeff Winter, went a bit insane. He gave us a really dodgy penalty for a 'foul' on Fowler. Robbie did the honorable thing and missed it!!!! The ref then gave Biscan a second yellow card for a nothing challenge which had everyone seeing red. (That's three players sent off in three consecutive league matches!!) The ref proceeded to book most of the other players on the pitch before giving Everton a dubious penalty. They scored and boy was I angry. And that was that really. I was furious at the ref for ruining the match, I was furious at the ref for ruining our chances of getting anywhere near third place, I was furious at the ref for giving the name Jeff a bad name (even if it is a different spelling). But then a miracle happened and his name was McAllister. In, what was quite literally, the final seconds, we got a free kick about forty yards out. All our big defenders came up and began preparing runs at the far post and Super Mac shaped to float a ball up to one of them. But he didn't want to pick out one of our players, he wanted to notice that their keeper had got himself ready to collect the cross and he wanted to smash the ball so it crept inside the near post. We were very, very, very fortunate, but justice was done in the end. Hopefully this match has put us in good stead for the Barca match on Thursday. 13/4/01 Liverpool 1 Leeds 2 I'm not going to say too much about this match as I will get either very depressed or angry. I don't want to admit it but we were beaten by a good side, not a fantastic side, but a team which came to Anfield and played well. We, however, were clearly not ready for the early kick off time and spent most of the first half chasing the ball rather than passing it. In a reverse of the fixture at Elland Road, it was Leeds who took a two goal lead. Unfortunately, we were unable to fight back like they did. We made a spirited go of it in the second half and pulled a goal through back through Gerrard. He then ruined it all by getting sent off for a second bookable offence. If we had kept our 11 men on the pitch then we would have stood a good chance of pulling things back but as it was we struggled to keep the score at only two-one. FRUSTRATING! 11/4/01 Ipswich 1 Liverpool 1 I don't wish to make any excuses but the fixture pile-up which we are in the middle of is simply unbelievable! I have tried not to mention it too much but things are getting stupid. After two vital semi-finals we were straight back into action in an equally vital league match at Ipswich. And of Friday we face league rivals Leeds and on Monday we face bitter rivals Everton and then we face Barcelona on Thursday! We'll be lucky if we're not totally drained after the Leeds match! We went into this match needing a victory to try and cement the third place but we had to spread out resources to last the coming week. Heskey scored a good goal at the start of the second half but we were unable to hold on to the lead. By all accounts we were fairly defensive and were fortunate to get a point but I don't really care. Having said that, Ipswich are proving to be a hard side to beat as their high league position would prove. We must beat Dirty Leeds on Friday! 8/4/01 FA Cup Semi-final Liverpool 2 Wycombe 1 Wycombe went into this match with one aim: (Sounds familiar does it???) Just like the midweek European match a less able team stopped a greater team in their tracks by putting 11 men behind the ball and keeping them there. Unfortunately, this made for another dull game. Liverpool were completely neutralized and for seventy odd minutes, Wycombe defended like demons. Their players were everywhere and playing well above their current second division status. Credit must go to Laurie Sanchez for sending out an extremely well-organised side. It took Liverpool until the last ten minutes to finally put the ball past the Man of the match keeper Taylor - a bullet header from the substitute Emile Heskey. The game was then over as a tie because as soon as the Wycombe players attacked, they left spaces all over the pitch for the Liverpool strikers to exploit. It was a few minutes later when Wycombe conceded a free kick on the edge of their area and up stepped Fowler to beautifully curl the ball into the top corner. The shoreline was given a slightly flattering look when Wycombe pulled one back in the dying minutes (as it was one of their first shots on target). It was Liverpool while never looking great, did just enough to scrape through into yet another cup final. WELL DONE LADS!!! 5/4/01
UEFA Cup Barcelona 0 Liverpool 0 Liverpool went to Spain with one aim: The game was duller than dull but the job was done. Liverpool defended solidly for ninety - odd minutes and Barca hardly had a sniff of a chance. In fact, by the time the final whistle went, the Spanish team had only one shot on target. Liverpool hardly ever had a player in their opposition's half for the entire match and it must have been as frustrating for the Barca fans as it was for the Liverpool fans. The match became like a game of chess - only less interesting and with less action. This was the set up for, what should be, a cracking team at Anfield in two weeks. We know that if we score more than them, we win. If it's a score draw (or worse) then we lose. COME ON!!! 31/3/01 Liverpool 2 Man Utd 0 Since the Premiership was created only two teams had ever completed the double over Manchester United. Now there are three. Before I start my review I will point out that although Man U have practically won the championship already and could have afforded to lose this match, they did not come to Anfield to lose. Instead of saving their best player for their European mid-week tie they put out a team full of internationals. Unlike the match at Old Trafford where Liverpool played defensively, snatched a goal and held on for the win, they took this match to the Champions elect. The football they played in the opening hour was some of the best I had seen all season. We were confident and looked like a quality side. In the first half Gerrard scored with a stunning thirty yarder and Fowler blasted one in from inside the box. Heskey had a close range shot which was brilliantly saved and the score line flattered Man U. The second half was more equal but Liverpool held on and still managed to create a few chances. The key moments were around the seventy minute mark. Yorke had a goal disallowed for offside and soon after Murphy was sent off for a second bookable challenge. This could have been the point where the champions turned on the style and asserted their authority, but it all seemed to work in our favour. We packed the midfield and looked as solid as an extremely hard rock. The minutes disappeared and the victory was ours. FANTASTIC! And now we play Barcelona...could we do? 18/3/01 Liverpool 1 Derby 1 Looks like a poor result but Derby are on a good run at the moment and Liverpool were forced to rest a number of their best player. Derby opened the scoring after a mess in the box early on but we managed to scrape a draw with a goal in the second half. On the plus side, Owen played out of his skin - scoring one goal and having number of blinding shots brilliantly saved. He has almost guaranteed a starting place in the England team next week. Rather worryingly, there are a number of teams creeping up the Premiership table. Leeds and Sunderland are both threatening to take the third place spot and if we don't start performing. Having said that, obtaining Semi-final places in the two remaining cup competitions is going to affect something. Let's hope that it all ends well. 15/3/01
UEFA Cup second leg Tense beyond belief but Liverpool played well. A scuffed shot by Murphy miraculously ended up in the back of the net. It should have been easily cleared by the defender on the line but, for some reason he didn't want to kick it with his right foot, and by the time he had swung his leg at it - it was already in. Ho Hum!!! Owen then scored with a downward header. It wasn't exactly text book stuff because it bounced on the edge of the six yard box and looped up into the top corner. Needless to say that I wasn't complaining. I don't wish to criticise any aspects of this game but if we had sorted their passing out in the second half we should have wrapped this up comfortably. As it was we were never really able to relax until the final whistle. We now face a semi-final tie against Barcelona. I don't know whether to cheer or cry!! 11/3/01
FA Cup Quarter Final Realistically, Liverpool should never have been in any danger at all. Tranmere are rooted to the foot of the first division and Liverpool are flying high in the Premiership. But the FA Cup has always been known as a great leveller. If second division Wycombe Wanderers could beat Premiership Leicester, then anything could happen in this tie. The game was almost over before it began. Liverpool took the lead early on with a close-range header by Murphy, and they extended the score line with well worked goal slotted in by Owen. Tranmere looked out of their depth and Liverpool were in a comfort zone. But if was far from finished. Tranmere came out from the half time break with
more purpose and direction and they had reduced the deficit within seconds of
the restart. Liverpool could have folded but they showed more composure that in
previous years. Gerrard took the score to 3-1 with the game's third close range
header. Now things were all over??? Fowler, defending in his own half, passed the ball back to Westerveld but Babbel somehow managed to accidentally divert the ball into the path of a waiting striker who gobbled up the chance. And again, instead of panicking, Liverpool were calm and collected and won a penalty which was coolly converted by Fowler. Then it was over! We can now look forward to a nice semi-final tie against the wonders of the second division - Wycombe. 8/3/01
UEFA Cup Quarter Final Unlike the last round against Roma, there was
to be no stunning away victory in this tie. Instead this was a fairly uneventful
match which has set up a great second leg at Anfield. I'm sure that the second leg will be a cracker. 3/3/01 Leicester 2 Liverpool 0 Well it had to happen, didn't it? After the
fantastic couple of weeks that Liverpool have had, it was inevitable that a
defeat was on the cards. COME ON NOW! 25/2/01
Worthington Cup Final
WINNERS!!! All I shall say is that Liverpool were second best and
Birmingham were extremely unlucky, but to be perfectly frank, I don't really
care. 22/2/01
UEFA Cup second leg We're through and that's all that matters. We're into the
quarter finals and Roma aren't. I shall quickly mention that it was a terrible
performance by Liverpool and they were very fortunate on the night but I think
their performance in Italy deserved to win the tie outright. ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! The ref then proceeded to book loads of arguing Italians (some of them more than once it seemed!) and the rest of the match descended into farce. One of the Roma players was later sent off and it was all a bit of a shame really - but hey, I didn't care! I was just thankful that we won the tie with all our players intact. So, we're now off to Cardiff to try and beat the Brummies. 18/2/01
FA CUP 5th Round To put it bluntly, Man City were totally out
classed and Liverpool never had to get out of third gear. Smicer won a couple of
penalties - one dodgy and the other blatant (converted by Litmanen and Smicer
respectively). Heskey coolly hammered one in from the edge of the box and the
final goal was a neat glancing header by Babbel. For City, Kanchelskis curled in
a low shot from the edge of the area and Goater scored a consolation in the
dying minutes. The gulf between the two teams was enormous! City will be going down and Liverpool will be going from strength to strength. Roll on ROMA! 15/2/01
UEFA Cup First leg I did not have high hopes for this match. (now there's a surprise!) I wasn't being overly pessimistic, simply realistic. For a start, Liverpool were away to the leaders of the Italian league and had a fixture list containing the second leg of this UEFA cup tie, the next round of the FA cup and the final of the Worthington cup - all in the space of two weeks!!! At best I thought we'd get beat by the odd goal. To come away with a two-goal lead was simply incredible! I
just don't know how they did it. Hopefully the trend has been set. 10/2/01 Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1 Football is often a game of swings and
roundabouts. Sometimes decisions go for you and sometimes they go against you.
The only hope is that, over the course of the season, you get more decisions
going your way (whether you deserve them or not). All in all...a good match with a fair result. 3/2/01 Liverpool 3 West Ham 0 What can I say? Liverpool put in another master
performance and, by all accounts, out fought the Hammers as well as out-foxed
them. It is looking as though Anfield is becoming the fortress it once was. Answers on a postcard to the usual address. 31/1/01 Man City 1 Liverpool 1 Hmmmmm, not good. It's the same, tired old story
time and time again. You know the one by now, after a great win away to quality
team we put in another disappointing performance against a team we should have
beaten comfortably. I'm sorely tempted to delve into my big bag of excuses to explain away this particular
match, and you know what, I think I will. Let's see what I can find... Liverpool must be able to raise their game against the strugglers of the division because they are proving that a strong desire to win is more important than having the best players! Let's hope that we can sort it out and overcome the in-form Hammers on Saturday. They'd better, or I'm afraid Smicer will come in for another slating! (Sorry about that Vlad.) 27/1/01 FA Cup 4th Round Oh Yes! I have to be honest and say that my
pessimistic nature expected us to lose this one. Everything seemed set up for
another Leeds win (what with Liverpool playing so well in recent weeks!!). Onwards and upwards. 24/1/01 Worthington Cup What a difference a goal makes! (before you think I've
resorted to simply stating the obvious, I'll explain.) It was a great match and hopefully showed a glimpse of the future. If Liverpool continue to play to their current potential, they should be one of the best teams in the country if not THE best. I know that I have said that before, but against Palace they were quite magnificent. Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be will be, 20/1/01 Liverpool 0 Middlesbrough 0 Some friends of mine went up to Anfield to see this match. The
wished they'd stayed at home. 13/1/01 Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 3 Well what can I say about this game? When I eventually heard the result, I was amazed. I wasn't holding my breath on getting more than a point but to come away with all three, given Villa's great home record, was fantastic. Apparently Gerrard scored one and Murphy scored a brace but apart from that I can't tell you anything else about the match. What I can tell you is that you all have to make an effort to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - It's great! 10/1/01
Worthington Cup The result would suggest that this match was
the upset of all upsets - Premiership high flyers beaten by lowly first
divisioners - but that wasn't really the case. 6/1/01 FA Cup 3rd round Not a great game but obviously a good result. The third round of the FA Cup always springs a couple of upsets on the footballing world and when it was nil-nil at half time I was getting seriously worried. With some great goals from Heskey and Hamaan it would seem that Liverpool coasted into the next round, but with Biscan getting himself sent off on 62 minutes, things didn't go exactly to plan. Ho Hum! As an aside I really don't know what to make of
the continuing Robbie Fowler saga. Part of me wants him to stay at the club and
regain the form which has deserted him, but the other part of me wants rid of
him as, at the moment, he is nothing but a problem. With the arrival of new
signing Litmanen, it seems that Fowler's future is with another club but I would
like to think that we need him if we are to rival Man U's strength in depth. 1/1/01 Liverpool 2 Southampton 1 Happy New Year! Whether the win was lucky or not, Gerrard's
strike was good enough to win any game - Rotherham in the FA cup? We should stuff 'em out of sight but you never know with this team!!! 30/12/00 Ipswich 3 Spurs 0 As the Liverpool match away at Bradford was cancelled, I thought I'd review the match on TV (and how my day was brightened up!!!). Quite honestly, Spurs were atrocious. They were awful! They
were worse than when they lost to Southampton. On a day when both Man U and Arsenal drew, perhaps the title isn't as clear cut as was once thought - especially when the next round of European matches start again shortly. You never know, if Liverpool can string a run together, there is still a chance..... 26/12/00 Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 0 Ok, so was I being pessimistic or realistic
when I said that Liverpool would probably lose to Middlesbrough? 23/12/00 Liverpool 4 (FOUR!) Arsenal 0 (NIL!) WOW 2 The revenge of WOW! Ok, so when you've beaten the leaders at their
ground, the prospect of playing the second team in the division at home isn't
nearly as daunting!!! Hmmmm, perhaps not. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Alright, the match was much, much closer than the score line suggests and Arsenal dominated for a large percentage of the match and when the whistle blew for full time, Liverpool were never four goals better, but who cares? The simple fact of the matter is that the Liverpool players defended solidly (two words that weren't ever mentioned even on the same page at the start of the season let alone in the same sentence) and the they scored at vital times in the game. Early on, Gerrard (who had yet another stormer in midfield) smashed in the first from outside the box. The second was created by Heskey who bludgeoned his way past Keown, had a vicious shot that was well-saved leaving Owen to tap in the rebound from close range. The third was coolly slotted in by Barmby after a brilliant defense-splitting ball from Smicer (WOW! The words SMICER and BRILLIANT appear in the same sentence for about the second time this season!) and finally the fourth was also coolly slotted in by Fowler in a similar fashion to Barmby's goal. Liverpool have, in the space of two games, looked capable of being the best in the league but to be the best they must be consistent, and that's been their downfall for the past decade. If they continue to show the same self-belief and work ethic for the rest of the season - second place is within their grasp. Knowing what their live they'll probably go and lose now to Bradford and Middlesbrough, Just you wait. 17/12/00 Manchester United 0 Liverpool 1 WOW! Apart from Man U fans, I am sure that every football supporter
in the country will be celebrating Liverpool's victory because they all
know that Manchester United are no longer an invincible team - THEY CAN BE BEATEN!
(and if Liverpool beat them, why can't any other team!!!) 13/12/00
Worthington Cup Quarter Final Ignore the score line because it really doesn't give an accurate representation of the game itself. For 110 minutes, this was an extremely cagey affair. Fulham came to pass the ball around their back four in their own half and Liverpool's game plan was to do as little running around as possible. The end result was a match where very little occurred - although the stats showed that Liverpool had a massive shot count even if most were off target. Fowler hardly had a sniff of a chance but he worked hard for 90 mins and played for the team. Heskey had one good chance which was well saved. In extra time, Owen scored at the second
attempt after having a header cleared off the line and then something amazing
happened. It was something so special that I was left speechless! Fulham were good and looked like they could
easily survive in the Premiership, but on the night, they weren't good enough to
beat another sub-standard Liverpool team. 11/12/00 Gerard Houllier: An apology Ok, I feel that an apology is in order so here goes. When the final whistle blew on Sunday and Liverpool slumped to sixth and Ipswich climbed to third in the Premiership, I was not in the best of moods. And the easiest thing at the time was to criticise someone. Someone had to be to blame! It just so happened that the Manager of any team should really be the one to take the flak and I felt that his decision to leave Heskey out was wrong. However, after hearing Houllier justify his decision I am now inclined to agree with him. When you've played a number of tricky games on the trot and your upcoming fixtures are Fulham (in the cup) and Man U, you would want to have your best player at his best. And if you're going to rest your best player, the rest of the squad should be good enough to beat IPSWICH. As it turned out, the rest of the squad weren't good enough to beat an egg - and it wasn't either Heskey's or Houllier's fault. I just hope that this defeat was worth it. We must beat Fulham and we must get at least a draw against Man U. Perhaps squad rotation is good, but only if you've got the strength in depth to cope with the big matches. If they carry on, Owen and Fowler likely to be replaced in attack by Vladimir Smicer - YES THEY ARE THAT BAD! 10/12/00 Liverpool 0 Ipswich 1 The question I would like to pose is this... Up to this point Liverpool Football Club have never adopted a squad rotation system. Their belief has always been quite simple - you always play your best players. In recent weeks, however, Gerard Houllier has been in the habit of 'doing a Vialli' and has been quick to drop any player who he feels 'needs a bit of a rest'. Now put yourself in the manager's position for
a moment. Your team play well midweek, you've got one of the most in-form
strikers in the country, you got a visiting team who are there for the taking.
What do you do? It came as no surprise to me that the commentators on the radio kept on saying how disjointed Liverpool were and how they weren't playing like a team - instead they were dreadful. It also came as no surprise that Owen and Fowler missed a number of sitters and looked completely out of sorts. It also came of no surprise that Liverpool lost when they should have won by a mile. Houllier take note: PLAY OUR BEST PLAYERS - THEY GET PAID TO SCORE GOALS NOT KEEP THE BENCH WARM! (The one positive point of note was the new £5.5 million signing Igor Biscan - by all accounts he looked quite good when he came on - maybe he'll replace Smicer! Well, I can only hope, can't I?) 7/12/00
Liverpool 2 Olympiakos 0 WOW! Not only did Liverpool keep yet another clean sheet but they also managed to hold on to a lead! What is going on? After the shocking conclusion to the first leg match when Smicer missed a hatful of great chances and the Greek side equalised in the dying seconds, this was a match Liverpool had to win. The game itself was not a great example of stunning free-flowing football but the boys had a job to do and they did it. Heskey (Goal Machine), was put clean through on goal and managed to nutmeg the approaching keeper. That was 1-0. In the second half, after soaking up a bit of pressure, Barmby scored a great goal by rounding the keeper and whacking the ball in off the near post. The match then petered out. However, there was one
move of note. Picture the scene -it was the last minute - Barmby was released down the right and
nipped to the byline - the keeper came out to close him down - Barmby managed to
pass the ball across the six-yard-box - all the approaching player had to do was
tap it in for an easy goal (the kind that your blind granny could score!) - the approaching player was Smicer................
moments later
the fan in row Z was throwing the ball back into play. Roll on Ipswich. (And fingers crossed for the Arsenal and Man U matches.) 2/12/00 Liverpool 3 Charlton 0 Away from home, Liverpool's form has been random in the extremes - capable of producing performances of quality and hilarity in equal measure. At home it is a different story - their form has been superb - winning 7 out of their 8 fixtures at Anfield. So the visit of newly-promoted Charlton didn't send too many shivers down Liverpudlian spines. With goals from Fish (that was nice of him wasn't it to give us a bit of a head start after 5 mins!), Heskey and Babbel, it turned out to be a comfortable yet less than convincing performance. Oh well, a less than convincing 3-0 win is a damn sight better than a less than convincing heavy defeat. You won't hear me complaining. Eleven goals in two games can't be bad. (Today was also a very strange day because, for
the first time this season, I was actually CHEERING ON SPURS! It was a shame
that they couldn't pull a draw out of their fixture at Old Trafford.
29/11/00 Stoke 0 Liverpool 8 (EIGHT) By all accounts Liverpool's start to the game
was less than convincing. When they should have been 2-0 down, they did, in
fact, go 3-0 up. Ho-hum, you know I almost felt sorry for them, shame eh?
The thing is that in the hard business world that is football there is only one
currency - GOALS! And Liverpool were, on the night, Billionaires! I mean, eight
- nil. It's almost a cricket score. Now I know that I shouldn't get too excited because they are a team from the lower divisions, and the score line didn't really reflect the game but I DON'T CARE! EIGHT-NIL - Roll on Fulham in the next round! They are probably quaking in their little Harrods' booties at this very moment. 26/11/00 Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1 Oh I just don't want to talk about it. I heard the match summary which said that Newcastle had two chances and scored both of them. TYPICAL! My mood was not improved when Paul phoned me and described to me, with great glee, how Robbie Fowler missed two open goals. Three matches in the league - three defeats. I can't quite work out what is going wrong - well, obviously its the defense but WHY? I mean, they were so good last season and they're pretty much the same players! WHYWHYWHY? I'm going to play Fifa 2001 for a while
so I can help Liverpool to win something. It may only be a computer cup competition
but it's better than nothing. I think I'll go and trounce Spurs. 23/11/00 Olympiakos 2 Liverpool 2 How this match managed to end as a draw is completely beyond me. In the last ten minutes, with the score at 2-1 to Liverpool, Smicer alone should have scored a hat-trick but it was Smicer and let's be honest - a good player he most certainly is not. On the plus side at least we scored two away goals and Heskey played yet another blinder but what is the story with our defence?? SORT IT OUT DEFENDERS!!!!!!!!! 19/11/00 Spurs 2 Liverpool 1 Oh dear, oh dear. Not a good match - not by any stretch of the imagination. Two poor teams totally devoid of ideas. It ended up that Spurs were slightly less poor than Liverpool. If Spurs lose Carr, as is predicted, then they will be lucky to stay in the division. 12/11/00 Liverpool 4 Coventry 1 Well, It's about time. After a number of fairly dodgy performances, it's nice to see the team getting down to business. With Super Mac scoring on his return to his old team and a couple of late goals from the Heskeymeister, it seems that perhaps they are beginning to sort themselves out. It is clear that Man U and Arsenal are still streaks ahead of all the other teams in the Premiership but I believe that Liverpool are now beginning to stake a claim to at least third place and perhaps with a bit of luck, they might strive for even more. I hope that the six Liverpool players in the England squad do themselves justice on Wednesday night against Italy. (Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention Tottenham's disgraceful display at Villa park losing two-nil. Shame eh?) 9/11/00 Slovan Liberec (or something like that) 2
Liverpool 3 Ok, so it wasn't exactly a classic but who
cares? The main thing was that we went through to the next round. It was also
great when Owen scored about a minute into his come-back. Onwards to Coventry on Sunday. 4/11/00 Dirty Leeds 4 Liverpool 3 The final whistle blew and I was absolutely
gutted! Oh well, no use complaining I suppose. I've just got to get on with my life. There's always next week and there's the little matter of Europe on Thursday. Sort it out boys!!! (And Spurs would have to go and win wouldn't they. What a sad day for football.)
1/11/00 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1 What a win! I just can't believe that it was the same Liverpool team that put on such a pathetic display in Europe last week. They were great. It wasn't their passing or their team work on and off the ball that impressed me the most, it was the fact that they really fought for the win. I haven't seen that kind of fight from a Liverpool team since McMahon finished playing. A couple of seasons back with the likes of McManamanamanamanamanamanamanaman the Liverpool team tried to dazzle the opposition with flashy skill and ended up getting nowhere fast. Against Chelsea, the Liverpool players really got stuck in. It was great to watch. Hamaan was continually snapping at Wise's heels, Berger was putting himself about a bit and Henchoz was tackling like a demon (and fouling like one too). Alright, I have to admit that Heskey went a bit over the top (in more ways than one) but the Chelsea players weren't exactly being angelic. And didn't Fowler do well. God is back. Stoke had better be quaking in their little, lower league, booties. They're gonna get it. (It really was a shame that Spurs were beaten by First Division Birmingham, but these thing happen. Well I say that but, in truth, these things happen to teams on a downward, slippery slope to relegation hell. Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee.) 29/10/00 Liverpool 3 Everton 1 It was the most important match in the Premiership so far for Liverpool and most fans would have taken a one-nil win. They would have been quite satisfied with a two-one win as well, but to win three-one was just brilliant. They are really doing themselves proud at the moment. Everything negative I've ever said about the manager and the players I take back right this very instant.
26/10/00 Liverpool 1 Dodgy Unheard-Of Czech Side 0 Before the match, Patrik Berger labeled Czech
side Slovan Liberec 'an average team.' I wonder if he has changed his mind.
21/10/00 I have to admit that, once again, I
wasn't expecting a win. Leicester are what I would label a bogey team;
they have a cunning ability to win against all odds and have proved it
by beating most of the top teams. In previous seasons they always seem
to win against Liverpool. the more I think about it, though, It's clear
that Liverpool have loads of bogey teams in the Premiership. so many, in
fact, that they're soon going to need a giant sized hanky to deal with
them all. Right roll on some dodgy Czech side for the midweek UEFA tie. Surely it has to be a convincing win??? 15/10/00 Well, after a couple of shocking England
performances I wasn't holding my breath for the next Liverpool match - away at
Derby. The fact that my levels of expectation were at an all time low made
Liverpool's 4-0 victory all the sweeter. Next weekend Leicester had better watch out - that plummet from the top of the table has already started and it will be a very long one. 1/10/00 WHAT A SHOCKING GAME 2 - THE SEQUEL!!! 27/9/00 WHAT A SHOCKING GAME!!! The plus point, I suppose, was the fact that Berger, Fowler and Hyypia all played ninety minutes. I forget about the fact that they were all rubbish on the night!!! I can only hope that things improve for Sunday's Chelsea tie. (At least we're still in Europe, that's more than the Blues can say! Tee Hee.) 24/9/00 Well, I suppose that fourth in the table is a fairly good start to the season, but it's not great. After a number of years where Liverpool have been 'out of sorts,' shall I say - this is one of the first seasons where the level of expectation is extremely high. Not only is it expected that 'pool will do well in the league but there is also the thought that the League and FA cups should be on their way to Anfield. AND not forgetting the UEFA cup. So, a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland isn't great but it could have been much worse. Lets just hope that the team were saving themselves for the mid week European tie. 23/9/00 I'll add some more interesting comments when I get some more time, but for now:
COME ON THE 'POOL and OWEN IS GOD!!!
(and Spurs are rubbish!)
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