After a big start this season, Aston Villa has been humbled yet again in their final match of the calendar year. Pepe Reina worked hard to keep a clean sheet today and Fernando Torres delivered his most important goal of the season in stoppage time. highlights coming soon…
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A home win against Wolverhampton would have been easy for the Liverpool of 4 months ago, but after a decisive loss to bottom-ranked Portsmouth, we weren’t about to jump to conclusions for today’s match.
Alberto Aquilani had his first start since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in a gazillion dollar transfer deal. He got a standing ovation when he subbed in the final minutes, though he had little (if anything) to do with the win. The clapping was more of a “welcome to Anfield” toast.
Liverpool started strong with crisp passing and a few graceful attempts on goal. Twenty minutes in, the tables turned. Wolverhampton started taking shots and, immediately, Liverpool’s confidence was deflated. Liverpool rallied in the 60th minute when Steven Gerrard took a beautiful cross out of the air, beating three Wolves defenders and their American goalie (Hahnemann), with a perfect header.
Soon after Gerrard’s goal, Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun came up with a CR9-esque goal from just inside the 18. It was 2-0 at the final whistle.
Check out video from yesterday’s match…
It wasn’t a special day for Liverpool, but nice to see Arsenal back in killing form. Fabregas was not his usual self. Arshavin, on the other hand…beastly.
Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin is one of the most entertaining goal scorers on earth and today’s game-winner against Liverpool competes for goal of the week.
Arsene Wenger’s boys are going to be OK, but change is imminent at Liverpool. The Reds started strong (Kuyt had moments of brilliance) and then, with the own goal, they imploded.
And WHY was Xabi Alonso back to watch his old team suffer? (Why did he leave in the first place?) Mascherano wasn’t bringing much to the game and Aquilani was even less effective. Reflecting on the game as a whole, there doesn’t seem to be a dialogue between Torres and his supporting crew. As for Benitez, we’ve respectfully decided not to join the angry mob. The best we can say for him is NOTHING AT ALL.
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At a Liverpool Press conference, the Spanish striker expressed a bit of frustration with Spain’s loss to the US this past summer.
“They beat us in the Confederations Cup and it was, I think, not the real thing…we had 27 shots on target but we couldn’t score.”
NOT THE REAL THING!? Them’s fightin words.
Wait a second. When a Spanish striker (possibly the best in the world) can’t get over a loss, something is up. We got under their skin. If we make it out of our group in South Africa, there’s a good chance that we’ll have an early shot at Spain. We’ll be ready.
photo credit: Getty Images/linked from Yahoo Soccer
Liverpool faces Carling Cup semi-finalists Blackburn on Saturday. If Fernando Torres is fit to play (we’re being told that he is) he will be playing alongside Gerrard for the first time in 10 matches. It’s not too late in the season for the Reds to make a comeback.
One thing to keep in mind… Torres may look like a chick, but he is a scrapper. If he overdoes it too soon, there is risk of more injury. Either way, it’s always great to have a star back in the game. Liverpool needs it and so does the EPL.
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Liverpool face Man City at Anfield in a matter of hours. It’s been years since City nabbed a win at Liverpool and it’s looking like they are finally in a position to compete. Adebayor and Bellamy are fit. Robinho has returned, though he is expected to start on the bench, and Fernando Torres is out with a hernia. Rafa Benitez will have to rely on the timely returns of skipper Steven Gerrard and defender Jamie Carragher to strengthen defenses and create opportunities for David Ngog up front.
Four other Liverpool players have joined the healthy ranks, thanks to the workings of the now famous Dr. Kovacevic in Belgrade. The doctor’s horse placenta-based muscle ointment is said to have cured Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Glen Johnson of otherwise debilitating injuries. While Rafa’s popularity at Liverpool continues to dwindle, he still has one of the best teams on earth. They probably won’t progress in the Champions League, but they can’t be ruled out of the Premiership just yet.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez, shown above, has proclaimed that Fernando Torres can win matches at 80%. That gamble might have payed off against Fulham if the Spaniard hadn’t been spared the agony of a full 90, but it’ll be a much different story against Champions League group leaders Lyon on Wednesday night. As Liverpool’s fate rests on tomorrow’s result, Benitez will have to deal not only with a herniated Torres, but also with a long list of absentees including Steven Gerrard. (more…)
