Gerrard Issues Rallying Call to Faltering Reds

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has called on his team to raise their game as his club pursue victory in their League Cup campaign and continue to cling on to their fast fading hopes of Champions League qualification. Gerrard's side have struggled in recent games in spite of heavy investment in the squad by manager Kenny Dalglish at the start of the current campaign - and even a recent return to fitness and form of the talismanic Gerrard has not been enough to stop the club sliding to 7th in the Premier League table.  

Liverpool face title favorites and league leaders Manchester City in tonight's League Cup semi final clash - a team they already trail by 19 points in the league - and Gerrard has demanded an improved performance from the whole squad if they are to overcome Mancini's Blues at Anfield this evening. The 3 - 1 defeat at Premier League strugglers Bolton in their last game saw the reds slump to what Dalglish referred to as poorest performance since his return to the helm of the club to which he has contributed so much during a magnificent career, but Gerrard has commanded his club pick themselves up and move on from such a bad result to reach a Wembley Cup Final.

Suarez Hand Gesture to be Investigated by FA

The on field conduct of controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is once again set to be scrutinised by the FA following an incident involving the player during Monday night's Premier League match against Fulham. The Uruguayan striker appeared to "flip the bird" at the home fans following his side's lackluster 1 - 0 defeat at Craven Cottage - a match in which 10 man Liverpool failed to extend their excellent away run in the league.

Suarez is already in hot water with the FA having been charged for allegedly making racist remarks towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra (a charge the player and his club denies) but the FA have confirmed they are now looking into last nights incedent in more detail but are waiting to receive the referees match report before taking stronger actions.

Blackpool Heap More Misery on Liverpool

The latest chapter in the ongoing terrifying saga of humiliation and mediocrity for Liverpool football club unfolded last night in front of a jubilant crowd at Bloomfield Road. The Seasiders – enjoying the first taste of top flight football in their history – completed an improbable double over their North Western counterparts to pile further misery on Kenny Dalglish and his beleaguered side, winning 2 – 1 in front of their home fans.

     The match had started well for the visitors when Fernando Torres showed Liverpool fans what they had been missing in recent weeks – clinically smashing the ball home after being put in the clear by one of Liverpool’s hopes for the future; Martin Kelly. The full back has showed promise in recent games having stepped in for England international Glenn Johnson who’s form has seemingly deserted him in recent weeks and with the opening goal coming inside 3 minutes it looked as though Liverpool had perhaps started to turn a corner under new boss Kenny Dalglish.

     However, after such a promising start, things went rapidly downhill for Liverpool. Shabby defending allowed Gary Taylor-Fletcher to level matters for the home side. Liverpool looked shell shocked and as the match wore on the confidence and self belief that had been instilled in their players from their early lead soon evaporated as they descended into the kind of abject performance they have subjected their fans to on numerous occasions away from Anfield this season.

     Liverpool’s misery was complete when more abysmal defending allowed DJ Campbell to head hoe from close range in the 69^th minute, with the result condemning the Merseysiders to a 5^th successive away defeat – unthinkable for a club of such stature in English football. Even with an Anfield legend at the helm having replaced Roy Hodgson, it seems on the evidence of recent displays against Blackpool and Manchester United there is little to suggest that Liverpool will improve significantly on their lowly 13^th position in the Premier League.

Hatters Highlight Holes in Liverpool Squad as the Future Looks Bleak at Anfield

Although following another devastating blow for the club, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was humble and decent enough to unreservedly apologise for his side’s latest shambolic cup exit to lower league opposition at the once “fortress” of Anfield, this defeat was merely the tip of a significantly greater iceberg when the true and harsh realities of Liverpool Football Club’s plight is continued to be further scrutinised under the ever present microscope of English football’s fans and media. Hodgson himself will no doubt have known that the task that lay before him once he took over the reigns from Rafa Benitez at the Merseyside club was sure to be no picnic, but after watching the latest chapter in the football horror show that has been played out over the past few seasons, even Roy himself must have been left scratching his head and delving deep for inspiration.

Liverpool die hards would argue that the 11 players Hodgson selected for their the League Cup encounter with Northampton Town (a club who at the time lay in 17th position in League 2) was one that bore no resemblance to the side that had in itself looked largely laboured during the previous match against a determined Manchester United side, there was surely little doubt that a team that included several multimillion pound signings, blended with supposedly promising prospects from the clubs academy and also numerous players who had represented their countries at full international level would be sufficiently strong to professionally dispose of what would surely have been fully expected to be a fired up, but nonetheless inferior opposition - particularly in front of their own fans.

But it wasn’t to be - and this time there could be no excuses. Taking nothing away from the Hatters, who had themselves put in fine and energetic display that defied their lowly league position, scoring twice at Anfield before battling through extra time to give themselves a fair shot at beating one of English football’s big hitters in a penalty shoot out, surely Hodgson’s men would still have found the courage and composure to bury their spot kicks in front of the world renowned cop end? However, the Merseysiders again fell short of the mark, and as a cool headed Abdul Osman fired the winner for Northampton, sending the team and their already jubilant fans into dreamland, the damp weather and gathering storm clouds circling above Anfield seemed to some up the club’s current position and mood of their suffering fans.

With well documented off the field problems in the boardroom, ongoing financial strife and a playing squad that looks alarmingly short of depth, Hodgson - as talented and experienced football manager as he is - will know he has his work cut out if he is to avoid a season of total humiliation for Liverpool. Qualification for the Champions League has become a minimum requirement for the reds in recent years - but even achieving a Europa League spot may yet be beyond a club who currently lie 16th in the Premier League with just 5 points from their first 5 matches. Managing the fans and shareholders expectations now becomes as much a priority for Hodgson as motivating his team to perform on the pitch - and the ongoing rumors surrounding the departure of star striker Fernando Torres will surely not help his side to settle. Unless Hodgson can string some wins together soon and make progress back up the Premier League table, with the new football season barely underway, it already looks like it may be all but over for Liverpool Football club.

English Premier League Set for Big Kick Off in 2010/2011 Season Opener

This afternoon the 20 English Premier League clubs across the length and breadth of the country are in the process of making their final preparations for the opening day fixtures of the 2010/2011 English Premier League season. The first round of Premier League fixtures are set to take place this weekend, and it seems that 2 of the newly promoted teams are set for a baptism of fire with tough away games on the cards.

Last years Championship winners Newcastle United travel to Old Trafford for a testing opener against Manchester United (set to take place Monday night), while current Premier League Champions Chelsea will welcome West Brom to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. However, arguably the most exciting fixture of the Premier League’s first round is Arsenals visit to Anfield to take on Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool side. Both teams will be looking for a serious title challenge this season after both finished last year without a trophy in spite of multi million pounds squads.

Liverpool Suffer Gerrard Injury Blow

Liverpool's challenge for silverware this season has been hit by a second major blow in a week. After the embarrassing mauling at home by Chelsea in the Champions league quarter final first leg a few days ago, it has now emerged that the Kop hero Steven Gerrard has suffered a recurrence of a niggling groin injury which will limit his appearances in Liverpool's title run in. It has emerged in the UK tabloids today that he is unlikely to start in Saturdays premier league game against Blackburn, and may also miss the return leg against Chelsea at the bridge - a game in which Liverpool must score at least 3 times. This news must be a huge blow to morale of the Liverpool team following the crushing defeat at Anfield earlier in the week and leaves a young squad to whom every game is now crucial without their inspirational figurehead in midfield. While Liverpool need all but a miracle in the champions league, their recent Premiership form and poor results for title rivals United have reignited their slim hopes of snatching the biggest prize in English football away from the holders. However, this news may all but extinguish their realistic hopes of silverware this season.

Liverpool Shock United to Re-ignite Title Hopes

Liverpool re-ignited their slim title hopes with a thumping victory against the Premier League leaders at Old Trafford. United had taken the lead inside 20 minutes when Liverpool keeper Jose Reina had rashly rushed out from his line to meet the advancing Ji Sung Park - but only succeeded in felling the South Korean inside the area. United's Christiano Ronaldo smashed home the resulting spot kick and the title race was beginning to look dead and buried. But the visitors bounced back later in the first half when the lively Fernando Torres seized on a dreadful error from the usually solid Nemanja Vidic, before calmly placing the ball into the corner of the net beyond Van Der Sar. Torres was then involved in Liverpool's second just before half time. The Spanish striker slid the ball behind the united backline looking for Steven Gerrard but as the Liverpool captain bombed forward he was clearly taken down by United's Patrice Evra. Gerrard then dispatched the penalty to give the visitors a shock lead. Alex Ferguson tried to shake things up after the break, unleashing Berbatov, Scholes and Giggs with around 20 minutes to go but not long after their arrival Liverpool scored their third. Nemanja Vidic dragged down Gerrard on the edge of the box and being the last line of defense was duly shown a straight red card. Fabio Aurelio curled in the resulting free kick to send the traveling fans into raptures. United continued to chase the game but looked shell shocked - particularly when substitute Andrea Dossena lifted in Liverpool's 4th late in the game.

English Clubs Enjoy A Great Week in Champions League

After another great week of champions league action, all 4 English clubs involved in Europe's top club competition enjoyed a successful week. The best result undoubtedly belonged to Liverool, who without injured talisman Steven Gerrard still managed to claim an excellent 1-0 win in Madrid - including the all important away goal. Elsewhere, in spite of a dominant performance away from home, Manchester United had to settle for a creditable goalless draw against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan side - but should still be favourites to progress with the second leg of the tie still to follow at Old Trafford. New Chelsea manager Guss Hiddink was delighted to claim a 1-0 victory at home against Italian giants Juventus through Drogba's early scuffed volley - but with the blues' solid defense you would expect them to hold firm in the away leg to go through. Arsenal's position is perhaps the most fragile of all the English clubs, in spite of a 1-0 win through Robin Van Persie's penalty. There away form and unpredictability this season may yet prove to be their downfall.

Robbie Keane's "Loan" to Liverpool Costs the Scousers £4.5 million per goal!

So another English Transfer window has come and gone - with deadline day once again proving as dramatic as ever. Even the intervention of a British economy in turmoil and some extreme snowy weather has seemingly proved a help rather than hindrance to English football's January sales, with many big moves across the country occurring within the FA's officially sanctioned extension of the transfer deadline. Arsenal's announcement of their final hour "extra time" transfer of £15 million Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin will no doubt dominate tomorrow's headlines, but please spare a thought for another deadline day move that will surely incense those suffering in the financial crisis gripping the UK even more: Robbie Keane's outrageous return to Tottenham. Now I'm no wall street banker, but selling a player that cost the club £20.3 million 6 months previously for £12 million (plus the small matter of a weekly wage reputed to be as high as £90,000 per week) does not seem to be a great financial move in today's troubled climate. After making just 19 appearances and netting just 5 times for Liverpool, I would conservatively estimate that each of those goals will have cost the Reds in the region of £4.5 million PER GOAL! Rafa has spoken out this evening on his apparent justification for such a waste of transfer kitty. However, it seems that this is just another step towards the Liverpool boss finally losing his marbles.

Liverpool Frustrated by Defiant Hammers

Monday night's English Football action saw The Hammers visit fortress Anfield for a Premiership fixture that would see The Reds pull away from title rivals Chelsea at the Premier league summit if they could claim victory against Zola's East Londoners. After Chelsea's defeat at the hands of Arsenal the day before, Rafa's Reds must have been fancying their chances against a West Ham side in a poor run of league form. However, the East Enders were boosted by the return of key players from injury. After a frankly dire 90 minutes of football, and for the third time this season, Gerrard and co found it hard to break down a visiting side that had arrived at Anfield setting their stall out to simply defend and stem the flow of the red tide. After a dismal 0 - 0 draw against Stoke earlier in the season, the reds once again found that £20 million striker Robbie Keane struggled against a stalwart Hammers defensive display. Indeed, the latest football banter coming from Anfield suggests that Rafa may already be seeking a replacement in the January transfer window for the misfiring Irishman, with Wigan's Emile Heskey and Newcastle's Michael Owen supposedly in the frame. So what do you think? Is Benitez set to strengthen in January? Is Robbie Keen feeling the inevitable weight of expectation associated with playing for a big four club? Please share your thoughts on the latest football banter here.

Big Boys Crash Out Of League Cup

Last night saw a fantastic night of giant killing in the league cup, with 2 of the so called English "big 4" clubs crashing out of the competition. A second string Liverpool side were unceremoniously dumped out of the cup by an in form Tottenham side at Anfield, with some shocking goalkeeping from both sides resulting in a high scoring 4 - 2 win in favor of the visiting North Londoners. However, the major shock of the evening occurred at Stamford Bridge, where a strong eleven featuring international superstars Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba put out by the Premier League favorites Chelsea were knocked out by Championship side Burnley on penalties after a 1 - 1 draw. Both these sides suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of Barnsley in last seasons FA cup and must now face up to the prospect of an early exit from another major domestic cup competition. such results may now open the door for Arsenal and Manchester United's young guns to show their experienced managers that they have the ability to break into their regular first choice 11.