(Liverpool - Gerrard) > Manchester United

The game kicked off with both sides looking strong. Liverpool was trying to avoid fifth consecutive defeat. It looked difficult on paper but not in the field. In fact Liverpool won both home and away against Manchester United last season and this was a consecutive third win against them in the Premiership.

Benitez was not even sure that Torres would start. It was in the bus towards Anfield that he gained confidence over his fitness and decided to let him play, Benitez later said in the press conference after the game where he looked very happy. Torres was not 100% fit but sometimes 80% of Torres is enough to make the difference, he further added.

Gerrard was not playing a part as he was injured. It seemed almost impossible for Liverpool to make it without Gerrard. But the game was important for every player and all the fans of Liverpool.

There was no genuine attack from United in the first half while Liverpool had already threatened Van Der Saar with Aurelio's free kick and Kuyt's effort. United were always second best in the game but they were attacking time and again. Liverpool's loose defense which has always been criticized this season looked unbreakable this time. The game got more and more interesting as the first half ended 0-0.

The heat didn't slide down as the second half started. Both defense were hard to break but in the 65th minute, a brilliant pass from Benayoun took Torres into the six yard box with Ferdinand chasing him in vain. The final touch was so brilliant that it left Van Der Saar looking at the ball swish past him into the back of the net. With one goal lead, Liverpool looked stronger than ever attacking the ball. United tried to prove that they were as much in the game when the kick from Valencia struck the cross bar and went out of play for a throw in. Vidic was sent off third time in a row against Liverpool with a second yellow card when he obstructed Kuyt which otherwise would have been a wonderful chance for Liverpool to double the tally. Towards the end of the game Torres was replaced by nGog as Torres was to be saved from being futher injured. Liverpool were successful in defending the one goal lead perfectly frustrating the United players. In the extra time Mascherano was also sent off for a challenge against Van Der Saar outside the D-box. In the end of the five minutes extra time nGog scored doubling the tally through a brilliant counter attack to seal the victory.

It was a perfect Sunday match to celebrate a victory for the Reds fans. Benitez's job was believed to be on the rocks with the poorest form in years. But he proved that his team is capable of doing anything at any amount of pressure.

It was a great victory indicating Red's return in the season. They will prove themselves well ahead.

Should he be sacked?

Liverpool are in the poorest form in 22 years. Four successive defeats, two in Champions League and two in the Premiership. They are in the eighth position with 15 points from possible 27 and in the Champions League Group E, they are in the third position with three points from possible nine. This is the worst position that I have seen since I supported Liverpool.

20 years since the Premiership title was won and last season Liverpool were closest in years. Everyone was hoping high about this season. But they gave a bad start with two early losses. Hopes were still alive when Liverpool bounced back, but now the losing streak doesn't seem come to an end. With Gerrard and Torres injured, the games seemed nothing like Liverpool. The loss of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid during transfers seem to have struck hard on Liverpool this time. Though the void was filled by signing Aquilani from Roma, he hasn't debuted yet with knee injury that seems to have taken quite longer time to change Liverpool's fate.

Besides that, there are tactical problems I see. Analysing the games, whenever Rafa has played Gerrard upfront depending on Lucas for the midfield, Liverpool has lost games. Gerrard is such player who can manipulate the ball from his own D-Box to the back of the net of the opponent. He has the ability to drive the whole team if he is played in the midfield. He can support Carragher in defense and Torres up front. But when he is played at the front, he has little role in manipulating the game. Most of the time he is idle waiting for the ball to reach him which never happens. Benayoun is one impressive player who has given 100% in all games that he plays. But Rafa has other options and keeps him on bench. Riera is very witty with the ball. He can fool three defenders at a time, but he is kept on the bench. Lucas should be the last option in the midfield but he always starts and keeps losing possession.

Keeping these things in mind and if Rafa does not change his tactics, in my opinion, he should leave Liverpool alone.

The Transfer Zone

Seems like the transfer market this time is on fire. Real Madrid is the biggest player in the market with Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Albiol already costing them more than 200 million pounds. They've targeted even more big names with the likes of Ribery whose arrival is not very likely however. With these big signings, speculations are that La Liga will be the most popular league in the coming season putting BPL behind.

In England, not much big signings have yet been seen.

Liverpool have signed Glen Johnson from Pompey for 17 million pound. Largely Glen seems worth the spending as he will cover the right back position as Arbeloa's exit is very likely. Alonso is on the radar of Real Madrid and they are close to landing him. Barcelona have always been tempted by one of the best holding midfielders in the world - Mascherano. However the deal has not yet been a success and is not likely. However, this will leave Liverpool to worry about signing a midfielder. Bayern were believed to receive a huge offer from Liverpool for their star player Ribery. But it also doesn't seem likely. Now Rafa is eying Valencia's Silva who could be a good signing if either of the two left Anfield.

Manchester City have been on the limelight as far as signing big players is concerned. They've already got hold of Gareth Barry, Tevez and Santa Cruz and are close to signing Adebayour and they're lining a mega bid for John Terry. However Man City lost out Kaka to Real Madrid and there were many other rumors.

Manchester United let go Ronaldo and Tevez already, while they have only been able to sign Valencia from Wigan and Owen from Newcastle. Sir Alex Ferguson is finding the transfer market crazy because whoever they target are either overpriced (everyone knows about the 80 million pound that ManU possesses)or sold to other clubs (Benzema being an example). Sir Alex has now given up on signing players this season.

Chelsea had just one significant signing - Zhirkov, while they seem to be on the verge of letting go Mr. Chelsea - John Terry. However it is still a doubt that JT will be allowed to leave Chelsea. Ancelotti, the new Chelsea boss has largely remained silent in the transfer market.

Arsenal are also on the verge of losing Adebayour to Manchester City. Their January signing Arshavin has been largely a hit while they've signed another deal with Van Persie. There has not been big sale as well as big signing yet.

The transfer zone has been merely a place to watch for English clubs this season.

Let's see what happens next in the world of club football.

Waiting for the league to start.

Till then.

Ciao.

08/09 best in years

Though today Man Utd clinched the title for the third time in a row, I was very happy with Liverpool's performance this season, even when they do not have a single award in hand. The improvement they've made this season is really appreciable. What all Liverpool fans around the world wanted was consistency and that's what they have shown. Lost only two games in Premier League this season, they have proved that they're one of the best in England and deserved a better reward. However, they are in for some real challenge and that will happen the next season for sure. With either Gerrard or Torres remaining unfit throughout the season was one of the reasons why Liverpool did not win this season. All the "big four" teams are great and every team has the potential to win the league.

For this time around, 80 points with two games still to play is a very good result. Liverpool hopes to end the season with 86 points as that is the best they can do this season. The next season will be a blast with a number of new faces in the squad and definitely the improved quality.

Shattered C Leage hopes

Chelsea visited Anfield on the first leg of the quarter finals of Champions League. The game started all well for Liverpool. They looked like the same team with the same level of confidence with Torres opening the score as early as six minutes into play. It looked as though Liverpool were going to score a couple more. However, Chelsea started to put pressure. The game was close with both the teams taking chances and attacking all the time. In the 39th minute Chelsea broke the deadlock when Ivanovic headed the ball following a corner kick into the back of the net.

The second half was more miserable for Liverpool. Chelsea capitalized another corner kick when Ivanovic again put the header into the net. Chelsea weren't going to stop as soon after the second goal, Drogba scored to make the scoreline 1-3. Benayoun replaced Riera, Dossena replaced Aurelio and Babel replaced Lucas but nothing could be changed.

Liverpool are to visit Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for the second leg. Something very special should happen for Liverpool to reach the semis.

Good Luck.

THE PERFECT ANSWER

First and foremost, it is the perfect answer to those who believe that ManU is the only club that plays football and others go to Old Trafford to eat grass. This is the perfect answer to those who believed that the season was over. This is the perfect answer to what Rooney had said earlier before match. This is the perfect answer to Alex Ferguson who believed that their 18th title is certainly on his way.

I don't think I can write about the details of the match, thanks to Nepal Electricity Authority, I couldn't watch first 67 minutes of the match. But as I turned the TV on at 8:00, I knew that Liverpool were going to win. The scoreline was 1-2 Liverpool's way. I could clearly see that ManU were fighting back, but still Liverpool were able to defend easily. Soon, Vidic was sent off for a challenge against Gerrard and Aurelio increased the lead through that free kick. They were never going to stop because just like he did in the midweek C League match against Real Madrid, Dossena scored a perfect chip through a counter attack created by Reina.

The score was ManU 1-4 Liverpool. The score speaks it all. Now Liverpool are 4 points behind ManU however ManU has 1 game in hand. Still lot more to do but it was indeed a perfect answer.

Inspired to write

I had lost hopes, frustrated, annoyed and arrogant on how Liverpool slipped their top position. I had stopped writing because there was no use of writing. It is what has happened every season. They've put some hopes and then slipped points at home all the time. Frustrated I was that I stopped commenting on how they lose points because that is what I have been doing for that last three seasons. But suddenly I am inspired to write again. I had never seen Liverpool play like last night before. They looked stronger than ever to me.

Liverpool's success at Champions League has been something to consider, something to talk about. Last night they were defending their away lead at home. Everyone must have expected Liverpool to be reluctant to attack. But 5 minutes into the play was the answer. They attacked like they were going to score 4 goals and that is what they did. The first 10 minutes were as though Real Madrid were kids trying to find out what was going on and it took them 90 minutes to know what was happening if they ever did. 16 minutes and Torres scored through a pass from Kuyt which was a perfect counter attack created by Reina and capitalized by Torres himself. Second goal was through a penalty in 28th minute which was entirely wrong decision taken by the linesman awarding penalty for a handball against Heinze who was further yellow carded.

The first half ended 2-0 with an aggregate of 3-0. 2 minutes into the play in the second half, Gerrard doubled his score through a brilliant pass from Babel. This looked like the game was concluded but Liverpool were never going to stop as Dossena who replaced Torres in 80th minute scored in 88th minute making the tally 4-0.

Not much to talk about Real Madrid's play as they looked outnumbered all the time.

Great Victory. YNWA.