Sport Liverpool Football Club

[Graham S]

[SnoopZakaDaVe]

i think that moment is more important than just the little exchange, for our goal they both hesitated like they didn't want to make the same error twice, both leaving it to one another and then BANG

1-0

[Oh Danny Boy]

just imagine if we pipped Chelski to fourth, most likely wouldn't happen, but just if we did, in the words of Keegan 'i'd love it'

I have to give it to Daglish i was skeptical of his appointment but thankfully he's proved me wrong. He's stopped the rot and things are looking bright again. It just begs the question what was Hodgson doing wrong to have the side under perform so badly?

Hopefully this result will be a big fuck you to the media that slagged the team off so badly earlier on in the season, they once again proved their quality and that football pundits know jack. i always thought this team was top material still and better than spurs who have been punching above their weight now for 2 seasons (despite all the money redknapp has thrown on the team they still have a poor defense and lack a top quality striker). And after the media had for most of this season been saying that spurs have a better team than us my goal for liverpool this season is to finish above them.

[BeeJay]

The main thing that Kenny has done is sort out our defence. Agger is one of the best central defenders in the premiership but was being played at full back or left out under Hodgson in favour of Kyri and Koncheski. Neither of those players are Liverpool standard and Kenny understands that. Other than that, he got good timing in that Maxi and Raul are eventually started to bed in. I don't think that is his doing but more down to timing and the change in ownership.

Still, the defensive changes are more than enough to have won me over because I wasn't convinced that bringing him back was the right move. In hindsight, it was the right thing to do.

[AbZorba]

The main thing that Steve Clarke has done is sort out our defence.

Corrected for you.

[FATEone]

3-5-2 apparently, Johnson and Kelly as wingbacks. I'm guessing that would push gerrard up as a striker, but probably playing deeper than Kuyt and Lucas/Mereiles/Aurelio across the middle? Thats what I get from the bbc website anyway. Sounds adventurous.

3-5-2 with wingbacks... what a ridiculous idea!

[christaylor]

On MotD the formation laid out on screen looked like a Christmas tree!

[The Fox]

The wing backs really worked to nullify Chelsea's full backs, and ensure they were totally starved of width. Ancelotti didn't really seem to have an answer to that.

I wonder if the message to start with Torres came from above his head, because surely all logic would have had him on the bench for this game. He'd only trained with Chelsea for a couple of days, he looked pretty uncomfortable with the pressure, and they had to change their formation to accommodate him. Terrible decision.

[earlymodernsteve]

The main thing that Kenny has done is sort out our defence. Agger is one of the best central defenders in the premiership but was being played at full back or left out under Hodgson in favour of Kyri and Koncheski. Neither of those players are Liverpool standard and Kenny understands that. Other than that, he got good timing in that Maxi and Raul are eventually started to bed in. I don't think that is his doing but more down to timing and the change in ownership.

Still, the defensive changes are more than enough to have won me over because I wasn't convinced that bringing him back was the right move. In hindsight, it was the right thing to do.

Don't knock Kyri; he's a good squad player for us but I agree that he shouldn't have pushed Agger out of the team. That's my main worry with this formation. It requires us to have strength in depth at centre-back - and aside from Kyri we don't have much cover for injury. Having said that, I don't think we'll always play this way, particularly as it doesn't really suit Suarez. I feel for Dirk though, as he seems to be on borrowed time despite his sterling work alone up front. I'm still surprised by Johnson on the left. That was a stroke of genius, ensuring that Kelly can continue his impressive development and Glen doesn't get pissed off. In a season or two, Kelly can get pushed in to take over from Carragher and Johnson can go back to his England position.

[earlymodernsteve]

The wing backs really worked to nullify Chelsea's full backs, and ensure they were totally starved of width. Ancelotti didn't really seem to have an answer to that.

I wonder if the message to start with Torres came from above his head, because surely all logic would have had him on the bench for this game. He'd only trained with Chelsea for a couple of days, he looked pretty uncomfortable with the pressure, and they had to change their formation to accommodate him. Terrible decision.

I hope that this doesn't sound like I'm gloating, because it really isn't meant to, but the decision to play him was eerily reminiscent of Shevchenko getting crowbarred into the team a few years back. Now, Torres is in a very different stage of his career, but there are parallels regarding the Abramovich involvement.

[dizogg]

Playing the team they did almost seemed to arrogantly rely on Drogba, Torres and Anelka being too much for us.

[The Fox]

Anelka looked quite good in the trequartista position the other night, but they were obviously playing that way with a view to Sunday's game with Torres in the team. Three at the back with Lucas sitting deep robbed Anelka of space in the hole, while simultaneously pegging back Cole and Bosingwa and ensuring the front two didn't have a lot of space either (a problem exacerbated by the unfamiliarity with each other's runs and what have you).

[Takizawa]

Don't knock Kyri; he's a good squad player for us but I agree that he shouldn't have pushed Agger out of the team. That's my main worry with this formation. It requires us to have strength in depth at centre-back - and aside from Kyri we don't have much cover for injury.

Do you not think? Don't forget Kelly is a centre back, and we have Danny Wilson also.

[Guest]

Reina also hinting he may need to move on...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/08/pepe-reina-fernando-torres-liverpool

Also interestingly there's a Torres piece in there which I hand't seen before:

"This was an important season for me – to forget about injuries and a World Cup that was not great on a personal level," Torres said. "I had real hope. The club seemed to be on the verge of a sale and I was optimistic but then came a moment when everything went dark. At that moment you see that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You can see that there are six hard months ahead of you of rowing against the current. And then suddenly at that moment an incredible door opens up before you.

"These have not been my best six months at Liverpool and for a club like Chelsea to come in with a real bid and a big one, it gives you the chance to fight for what you have always wanted to fight for. At that moment, there are not two options, there is only one," Torres added. "Two years ago we were very close to winning the league; we were practically touching heaven. We were second in the league, quarter-final, semi-final in the Champions League and then two years later is the complete opposite.

"As for the Liverpool fans, I can't ask for anything from them except that they understand me. I am a football fan too. What fans should do is value what you have done for them. Right now, I know it's hard and with time they will feel differently. I hope so anyway. All I have got is good memories and good things to say about Liverpool. I am very grateful to Liverpool, to the city, to the fans."

So he's now saying it was just the six months of obviously heart rending pain that no man could endure. Six whole months. Yes Liverpool were dead on for the UCL this season too, it was just those horrible 6 months. He is actually more full of shit than Tevez, and that takes some doing.

[christaylor]

Reina also hinting he may need to move on...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/08/pepe-reina-fernando-torres-liverpool

Also interestingly there's a Torres piece in there which I hand't seen before:

So he's now saying it was just the six months of obviously heart rending pain that no man could endure. Six whole months. Yes Liverpool were dead on for the UCL this season too, it was just those horrible 6 months. He is actually more full of shit than Tevez, and that takes some doing.

Fucking hell give it a rest will ya, you're acting like a jilted lover!

Ignoring the fact that English isn't even his first language so there could be meaning/intent issues, he's made a lot of valid understandable points (from his pov) over the last couple of weeks, despite obvious baiting/contortion from the media.

[The Fox]

As I said, I'm pretty sure Arsenal won't go back in for him again this summer. Wenger clearly thinks Szczesny is going to be the real deal and now that he's having a run in the team I think he'll stay there, unless it all goes tits up for him.

[Guest]

It's a vald point to make. Wed before said he'd had a bad year and a half - now he's making it sound like it was just 6 months.

I'm glad were rid of him now, he may have been causing some problems within the squad.

Kenny gets another thing right, mans a genius!

Much like how Tevez has come out and now said he's more commited than anyone, ever, at Man City. Not long after he tried to leave. Which was not long after he said he was fully commited to Man City.

What a lot of players seem to say is "I'm committed to the club." I noticed that Torres said the same thing, even about Liverpool.

Yet at the same time they see the club and the supporters as entirely separate entities. When they play for "The Club" it's just an organisation to them and nothing more. Which somehow sidesteps the fact that the fans occasionally give the club a bit of money. And time.

It's a big cliche to say "the fans are the club" yet isn't it true? If every fan all over the world decided to never put a penny into the club again it would be disastrous for them.

Of course this won't happen; outrage doesn't really do much if owners want to stick their heels in. For alll the Manchester united green and yellow anger they still turn up to the games and help pay off the interest.

So it's the way of the world, yet I won't especially like it.

I will, however, not say another thing on it!

What slightly rankles at the moment is the timing of Reinas interview. I'm 100% sure he didn't mean it to come out quite like that, we know how journalists will find the thin edge of a story, yet why comment at all when the who team seems to be together and hitting a real feel good vibe?

It may be time to start looking for a replacement, at least we'd have some warning. Selling him in the summer would surely get a premium fee at least.

[Kelthink]

It'd be a shame to see Reina go, but it might be tough for him to stay with Torres leaving, I dunno. No point hating him for it. Unless he trots off to Manchester, like...

[dogsout]

As I said, I'm pretty sure Arsenal won't go back in for him again this summer. Wenger clearly thinks Szczesny is going to be the real deal and now that he's having a run in the team I think he'll stay there, unless it all goes tits up for him.

I agree.

There's no need for us to panic about Pepe. He's tied down to a long contract and we have ambitious owners that will continue to invest in the team. The only way he'll leave is if we get a completely ridiculous bid for him. And where's that going to come from? City have Joe Hart, Arsenal wouldn't do it and are bringing somebody through, Chelsea have Cech, and the Mancs would be told where to go.

[Takizawa]

Let's bring De Gea in, just incase

[SMD]

Let's bring De Gea in, just incase

No thanks, he's young and error prone.

Bring me Lloris, 24 and just about to enter his prime.

[squirtle]

Isn't shay given available?

[Graham S]

I agree.

There's no need for us to panic about Pepe. He's tied down to a long contract and we have ambitious owners that will continue to invest in the team. The only way he'll leave is if we get a completely ridiculous bid for him. .

He's supposedly got a buy out clause in his contract.

[SMD]

Isn't shay given available?

Yes but I don't think he swings that way.

[Takizawa]

No thanks, he's young and error prone.

Much like Pepe at times, then. He's extremely talented, and one heck of a shot stopper.

Guiata has been in good form recently, too.

[dogsout]

He's supposedly got a buy out clause in his contract.

How much is this supposed buy out clause? If it exists, it'll be an extortionate amount.

[DeNeo]

How much is this supposed buy out clause? If it exists, it'll be an extortionate amount.

Supposedly £20m.

[dogsout]

Supposedly £20m.

What's the source for this? We'd have been fucking stupid to allow that to be put into his contract. Particularly without adding any other conditions to be met, other than the price. Also: they were saying the same thing about Torres for a long time, were they not?

[edit] After reading about a bit, it seems his stance has been misrepresented a touch in this article. What a surprise.

[DeNeo]

What's the source for this? We'd have been fucking stupid to allow that to be put into his contract. Particularly without adding any other conditions to be met, other than the price. Also: they were saying the same thing about Torres for a long time, were they not?

From the same journalists who said Torres had a £50m clause in his. Since that's what he went for, and how crazy everything went in the summer, I'm inclined to believe the Reina clause.

Saying that, unless we lose the next 12 games and the owners don't invest a penny in the summer, I can't see him going anywhere.

[dogsout]

From the same journalists who said Torres had a £50m clause in his. Since that's what he went for, and how crazy everything went in the summer, I'm inclined to believe the Reina clause.

Those journalists were wrong about Torres. There was no clause; only a verbal agreement with Purslow. If there was a clause in his contract, how were Liverpool able to accept their bid on the condition that the club could find a replacement? That's what happened, and that is why Torres was scared that the deal wouldn't go through.

I wouldn't put it past Purslow to have done something this stupid, but I highly doubt that Reina would have asked for a buy-out clause to be inserted into his contract. And even if he did, that he would be successful at a time when Torres had been unsuccessful in his attempt to do the same thing.

These journos were also saying Torres had a buy-out clause in his contract when City were supposedly interested in him, as well as in the summer when Chelsea wanted him.