Race for the Title

[Barnett's Right Foot]

Going to move this to Current game so I am able to actually finish a season :P Thanks everyone who commented

[Barnett's Right Foot]

Change of plan. I have started a new game as Liverpool on the new update from Forbsie so I can keep this SOMs alive, albeit with less frequent updates

[Barnett's Right Foot]

By Nigel Jackson Last updated: 9th December 2008

Merseyside giants Liverpool have today announced that 4 of their current crop of players will leave in the January transfer window, including Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Alonso made his Premiership debut for the Merseysiders against Bolton Wanderers at The Reebok Stadium on 29 August 2004. Liverpool lost the fixture 1–0 but Alonso was already receiving praise for his passing skills from the press. A Premier League tie against Fulham displayed more of Alonso's talents. Liverpool were losing 2–0 at half-time and Benítez brought on Alonso as a substitute after the break. His arrival revived a deflated Liverpool and the game finished 4–2 to the Merseyside team.Furthermore, Alonso scored from a free kick to bring Liverpool ahead of the opposition — his first goal for the team.

Alonso continued to provide important goals for the club, scoring his first goal at Anfield against Arsenal in a 2–1 victory. Alonso was elated at the achievement and felt he was settling in well in England. The Arsenal game marked the return of Steven Gerrard from injury but Alonso's midfield partnership with the team captain came to a halt when Alonso suffered his first setback at Liverpool. Alonso's ankle was broken following a tackle from Frank Lampard in Liverpool's 1-0 defeat against Chelsea on New Year's Day 2005. Xabi was able to come back from the injury to score the equalising goal in the Champions League final which Liverpool won on penalties. The season after Liverpool and Alonso once again triumphed on penalties. This time in the FA Cup. Since then however, Liverpool have been trophyless and summer Xabi has gone on record saying he wants to move. He will finally get his wish in the new year as he joins Sevilla for 12.25 million pounds.

Alvaro Arbeloa will also be on the move in January as he joins Aston Villa for 5 million pounds. On 31 January 2007, Arbeloa signed for a fee of around 4 million euros, with Real Madrid receiving 50% of the fee. He made his Premiership debut on 10 February against Newcastle United, coming as a substitute for Jermaine Pennant. He made his full debut against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp, where he was employed as a left-back. This was done by coach Rafael Benítez for tactical reasons, as his stronger right foot could stop Lionel Messi, because Messi has a tendency to cut his runs towards the center of the field. His part in keeping Messi quiet helped Liverpool to a 2–1 win over the defending champions. He scored his first goal for Liverpool against Reading on 7 April 2007, becoming both the first Liverpool number 2 to score in a competitive match since Mike Marsh scored in a League Cup 4th Round replay against Crystal Palace on 16 December 1992 and the first Liverpool number 2 to score in the Premier League since Mike Marsh scored against Crystal Palace on 28 November 1992. He helped Liverpool to the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, and came on as a susbtitute as they went down 2–1 to AC Milan.

Arbeloa's squad number changed from 2 to 17 as a personal preference for the 2007–08 season. Continuing his good form from the latter stages of the 2007–2008 season, Arbeloa cemented a first team place in the Liverpool team following good performances during Liverpool's victories over fierce rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.

On May 18 2009, in a match against West Bromwich Albion, Arbeloa was involved in an on-field clash with Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher, and the two had to be separated by Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger and Emiliano Insúa. Carragher later explained that he clashed with Arbeloa as a moment of poor defending from the latter threatened the clean sheet Liverpool were maintaining during the match, which would have been the 23rd of the season for Liverpool. The Liverpool vice-captain explained, "we want to keep a clean sheet and we want Pepe to have a chance of the Golden Glove for the fourth season running." Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez refused to comment about the incident.

The other 2 players leaving Liverpool are Phillip Degen who will join Sunderland for an undisclosed fee and Fabio Aurellio, who joins Wesh Ham for 5 million pounds.

[Barnett's Right Foot]

LILLE NO MATCH FOR IMPRESSIVE REDS

LIVERPOOL 2-0 LILLE

N'Gog 39
Mascherano 90+2

10th December 2008

Liverpool rounded off their Champions League group stage campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over French side Lille at Anfield, a result which confirms their position at the top of Group E.

The hosts, fresh off the back off a 4-0 victory over Fulham, started the game as the much better side as spanish fan favourite Fernando Torress forced a save from Landreau in the Lille goal. Torres then repeated the feat seconds later as the kop fans sounded their appreciation of the efforts of the Liverpool team. Lille mounted their first attack in the 8th minute when Salibur picked up the ball on the left and crossed in for Baseya. Baseya somehow got to the ball before vice captain Jamie Carragher and steered the ball goalwards, only to see the ball crash into the right hand post with Pepe Reina rooted to the spot.

The French visitors continued to put pressure on the Liverpool backline and could have taken the lead but Gervinho's shot was deflected over the bar by Daniel Agger. Disaster then struck for Lille as Gervinho was stretchered off with what turned out to be a broken leg after a vicious Dossena tackle. Without their star man Lille looked a different side and Liverpool once again went onto the offensive. Brazilian midfielder Lucas fired over on 32 minutes before seeing his shot palmed over 6 minutes later. From the resulting corner the hosts took the lead. Adam Hamill whipped in superb ball for Jamie Carragher, who's header hit the bar. Luckily for Liverpool the ball fell to David N'Gog who couldn't miss from 4 yards out.

In the second half the hosts continued their complete domination of the French visitors. Goalscorer from the first half David N'Gog shot over before Dirk Kuyt fired wide of the target ,not once but twice. With 75 minutes gone Glen Johnson almost added a second for Liverpool but his shot was well tipped over by Landreau in the Lille goal. From the corner Javier Mascherano could only fire the ball over the bar.

Mascherano, the Argentian substitute was looking lively and 2 minutes later he found space to shoot but once again could only find the Liverpool fans in the Kop stand. Mascherano repeated the feat soon after before Dirk Kuyt fired a shot wide of the target. With the game looking to be a 1-0 win to Liverpool, they manged to grab the second. Javier Mascherano picked up the ball 20 yards out and hit a thunderbolt into the top right hand corner, a goal he richly deserved after his wonderul performance.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Hamill (Kuyt 59), Lucas (Mascherano 59), Alonso (Benayoun 68), Torres, N'Gog.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Degen, Voronin.

LILLE: Landreau, Noel, Pierrat, Souvre, Breant (Lyng 77), Benzerga, Hazard, Salibur, Gervinho (Barbosa 28), Makiese (Arnal 67), Baseya.
Subs Not Used: Oukidja, Gueye, Goetz, Tomasi.

Ref: H Fleischer

Att: 43,687

MOTM: Mascherano 7.4

[Barnett's Right Foot]

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was left fuming as his side were reduced to 9 men, after Bolton had injured 5 of his players.

It took Bolton a mere 2 minutes to injure the first player when Ricardo Gardner went straight through the back of Steven Gerrard which resulted in the Liverpool captain being stretchered off. He will now miss the England match next week. On 14 minutes Liverpool had the first shot on target. Adam Hamill picked up the ball on the left and crossed for N'Gog, who's goalbound header was cleared of the line by Andy O'Brien, much to the relief of Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

Liverpool continued to pressure Bolton and had a number at chances to open the scoring. First Dirk Kuyt shot the ball across goal but noone was there to meet it before Fernando Torres saw a 20 yard shot saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Adam Hamill then went close moments later but he could only find the side netting. It didn't matter though as 3 minutes later the men from Merseyside took the lead. Xabi Alonso, soon to be on his way to Sevilla, layed the ball off for Fernando Torres who hit a stunning 25 yard belter into the top right hand corner.

Their lead didn't last long however. Fabrice Muemba managed to nick the ball of Xabi Alonso in the middle of midfield and sprayed the ball out to Joey O'Brien on the right. O'Brien then produced a brilliant cross which was met by the other O'Brien (Andy). Andy's header smashed into the post as Reina dived desperately to stop it. The ball then landed at the feet of Kevin Davies, who couldn't miss from 4 yards. 2 minutes later Bolton forced Liverpool into another subsitution when Kevin Davies sycthed down Xabi Alonso.

Regardless of this, Liverpool continued to mount the pressure on Bolton, determined to restore their lead. Fernando Torres saw a shot saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal and David N'Gog could only fire wide of the target. Bolton did manage to sneak a shot at goal before the first half interval but Johan Elmander's shot was straight at Pepe Reina.

Bolton began the second half of the game on the offensive, obviously bouyed by the crowd who were trying to act as their twelfth man in order to get Bolton to take the lead. They almost did on 50 minutes but Joey O'Brien's shot went wide of Pepe Reina's left hand post. Soon after Kevin Davies went close to getting his second goal but his shot flew inches over the bar, much to the relief of Daniel Agger who was turned far too easy. On 55 minutes Liverpool were yet again forced into a change. Young left midfielder Adam Hamill jumped for the ball with Joey O'Brien, only a recieve a blatent elbow to the head. Somehow the official's missed it and O'Brien got away scott free, leaving Rafa Benitez in a frenzy.

Soon after Liverpool managed to restore their lead thanks to that spanish wonderboy yet again. Pepe Reina punted a long free kick down the centre of the pitch and Fernando Torres used his pace to get to the ball just beore Jussi Jaaskelainen could, to prod the ball into the net. Bolton could have been back in the game straight away as Johan Elmander rattled Reina's crossbar from just inside the penalty area. 2 minutes later Liverpool were reduced to ten men as Kevin Davies once again went through the back of one of the Liverpool players, this time it was Javier Mascherano.

With Liverpool deperately trying to reshuffle the pack Bolton took advantage and levelled the scores. Johan Elmander hit a 20 yard shot at goal which was parried away by Pepe Reina but unfortunately for Reina the ball went straight to Whelan who lashed in the rebound. With 11 minutes to go Liverpool were reduced to 9 men when Daniel Agger was taken down by guess who? Kevin Davies yet again! Luckily Liverpool managed to hang on to draw the game thanks to some resolute defending by Jamie Carragher and Lucas.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, J O'Brien (Hunt 89), Robinson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Davis (Matejovsky 84), Gardner, Whelan, Muamba (Steinsson 76), Elmander, Davies
Subs Not Used: Bogban, Larsson, ****tu, Samuel.[/COLOR]

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Alonso (Lucas 28), Gerrard (Kuyt 2), Hamill (Dossena 55), N'Gog, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Benayoun, Voronin.

Ref: M Clattenburg

Att: 27,683

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BBC Sport Player Rater Man of the Match: Liverpool's Fernando Torres (8.43 on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

[Barnett's Right Foot]

By James Riley Last updated: 20th December 2008

Liverpool left the first Merseyside derby of the season with a smile on thier faces after a single Jamie Carragher goal gave them win infront of a sold out Anfield.

Liverpool got off to a sluggish start and Everton worked to unsettle the Liverpool defence at times and created the best chance of the first half. On loan signing Jo collected Mikel Arteta's pass and sneaked between Glen Johnson and Alvaro Arbeloa before out-sprinting Martin Skrtel and firing high and wide from an awkward angle. The home side struggled to get going and Glen Johnson, twice had to move across from right-back to superbly tackle Jsames Vaughan as he was about to shoot.

Liverpool's first opening of the first half came when Jamie Carragher headed Hamill's free-kick towards Dirk Kuyt, who stretched to poke the ball into the side netting. The dutchman had another opportunity to open the scoring but shot wide of the near post from the edge of the six-yard box after latching onto Gerrard's pass. Kuyt then returned the compliment by picking out Gerrard, whose tame shot was comfortably held by Howard. Lucas also forced Howard into action with a 20-yard snap-shot, though Xabi Alonso forced the finest save of them all with a firm half-volley from the edge of the area that was tipped over.

Early in the seond half Jamie Carragher was the man to break the deadlock, heading in Steven Gerrard's cross at the back-post with Tim Howard stranded after Glen Johnson had fed Gerrard down the right. Lucas should have made it two moments later when he stroked Arbeloa's pinpoint pass onto the post from 12 yards out before Steven Gerrard lashed a shot over the bar as a Everton struggled to keep their opponents out.

All seemed to be going Liverpool's way but they suffered a blow when Fernando Torres limped off injured. It signalled a change in fortunes for Everton and they began to create a few chances - a Tim Cahill shot was deflected wide and Joseph Yobo headed over. James Vaughan went agonisingly close with a fierce drive that flew just past the post and Phil Neville wasted a great chance when he volleyed wide from 12 yards. Everton were once again in the ascendancy, but first Cahill headed wide unmarked 10 yards out from Tony Hibbert's delicious cross, and then Jo fired straight at Reina after being put through by Phil Jagielka, with Rodwell blazing the rebound well over.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard, Hamill, Kuyt, Alonso, Torres (N'Gog 56), Lucas.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Benayoun, Agger, Mascherano, Voronin.

EVERTON: Howard, Anyukov, Baines, Yobo, Lescott (Rodwell 61), Jagielka, Neville (De Mul 84), Arteta, Cahill, Vaughan, Jo (Yakubu 61)
Subs Not Used: Turner, Taylor, Hibbert, Ledley.

Ref: L Mason

Att: 45,345

MOTM: Carragher 7.8

[Barnett's Right Foot]

REDS TOO GOOD FOR SPURS AT ANFIELD

23rd December 2008



LIVERPOOL: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Hamill, Kuyt, Gerrard, N;Gog, Lucas.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Alonso, Degen, Voronin, Johnson, Skrtel, Benayoun.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Chimbonda, Bale, Woodgate, King, Bentley (O'Hara 55), Modric (Dawson 55), Palacios, Jenas, Keane (Assou-Ekotto 67), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, Naughton.

Ref: M Clattenburg

Att: 45,345

MOTM: Hamill 7.7

[Jack F]

Superb detail, great reports. Bolton injuring 5 of your players is bloody ridiculous!

[Barnett's Right Foot]

Can't stand Bolton they are so dirty its untrue Thanks for the comment

[Rooneyetmanu]

i hate teams like that, pissess me off when you are forced to play with 2 men down or whatever

[Barnett's Right Foot]

LUCAS GOAL SEES LIVERPOOL SHARE THE SPOILS

26th December 2008



MAN UTD: Van Der Sar, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Valencia, Giggs (Anderson 90), Fletcher, Carrick (Tosic 87), Rooney, Berbatov (Hargreaves 60).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Owen, Brown, Obertan.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Lucas, Dossena, Kuyt, Gerrard, N'Gog (Torres 81).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Alonso, Voronin, Degen, Agger, Benayoun.

Ref: S Attwell

Att: 76,192

MOTM: Lucas 7.6

[Barnett's Right Foot]

January Signings

Howdes - 10m
Saivet - 9.25m
Mattock - 2.7m
Sakho - 22m
Crouch - 15m





2 GOAL CROUCH SENDS LIVERPOOL THROUGH

3rd January 2009



BRISTOL CITY: Gerken, Carey, Nayatanga (Ribeiro 71), McCombe, Fontaine, Williams, McIndoe (Wilson 60), Elliot, Johnson (Skuse 39), Hartley, Clarkson.
Subs Not Used: Rolfe, Haynes, Wilson, Gamble.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Sakho, Carragher, Howedes, Kuyt, Saivet, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres, Crouch (N'Gog 73).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Lucas, Mattock, Agger, Benayoun.

Ref: M Clattenburg

Att: 19,467

MOTM: Crouch 8.5