October 31, 2009

The Fire in the Borgo , Giulio Romano
“Rafael Benitez grimaced on the touchline as nine-man Liverpool were given a mauling in a humiliating defeat at Craven Cottage. Liverpool defenders Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were sent off for reckless fouls and by the end the Fulham crowd were chanting ”Easy, easy” as Liverpool resembled a shambles. Goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey gave Roy Hodgson’s side a deserved victory with Fernando Torres grabbing the one consolation for Liverpool.” (ESPN)
Premier League: Liverpool crash at Fulham
“Liverpool’s hopes of a revived push at the Premier League title collapsed in spectacular fashion at Craven Cottage where a 3-1 Fulham win made it five league defeats from just eleven games played.” (ESPN)
Clint Dempsey crowns a fine win for Fulham after nine-man Liverpool implode
“Rafael Benítez grimaced on the touchline as nine-man Liverpool were given a mauling in a humiliating defeat at Craven Cottage. Liverpool defenders Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were sent off for reckless fouls and by the end the Fulham crowd were chanting “Easy, easy” as Liverpool resembled a shambles. Goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey gave Roy Hodgson’s side a deserved victory, with Fernando Torres grabbing the one consolation for Liverpool.” (Guardian)
Lucas: ‘The boos at Anfield were my worst moment’
“Lucas Leiva cannot suppress a smile when he is reminded of the moment, 18 minutes into the game against Manchester United on Sunday, when he clattered into Paul Scholes, won the ball and played in Dirk Kuyt who almost scored. It was the moment that said Lucas was not going to be pushed around.” (Independent)
Fulham 3 Liverpool 1: match report
“Liverpool suffered their sixth defeat in seven outings in embarrassing fashion, finishing with nine men after both Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were sent off against Fulham. After the jubilation of the 2-0 win over Manchester United, Liverpool stumbled to another loss ahead of next week’s crucial Champions League trip to Lyon.” (Telegraph)
Nine-man Liverpool return to losing ways
“Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez endured another day to forget after his side were beaten 3-1 at Fulham and had two men sent-off at Craven Cottage here on Saturday. Defenders Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were both shown straight red cards in the space of two second half minutes as the good work the Reds achieved in reviving their Premier League title challenge during last week’s win over Manchester United was undone.” (TimesOnline)
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October 31, 2009
“A new version of Football Manager is released today, which makes this, in my house at least, a time of hushed reflection. The old era is passing away, the new era is rising up before us. Everything we knew and loved is sliding into the sea, while before us, like a mountainous country, is thrust a terrifying and exhilarating possibility. Just like every day, really, but the arrival of a new FM makes it that much clearer. Here is the past, there is the future. Eurogamer gave it a 9, but wished more had been done to fix the press conferences.” (Run of Play)
Pro Vercelli – Brian Phillips
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October 27, 2009

Iraq, Sept. 18, 2008
” ‘If you come to Bruges,’ said the Belgian doctor, ‘I have something to show you that will make your spine run cold.’ In Bruges, he handed over a video that he, the senior medical officer for a game played by 260 million people around the world, has put together. It is a catalogue of fouls of such ferocity, such crude intent to harm, that do indeed numb the senses. Dr. Michel d’Hooghe said nothing. He watched his visitor as the video ran. A foul in the Newell’s Old Boys versus Rosario Central derby in Argentina, in which the boot was raised deliberately into the head of an opponent at fearsome speed. A foul by a Glasgow Celtic player who landed one boot on the neck of a fallen opponent, and at the same time the other boot on his victim’s ankle.” (NYT)
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October 26, 2009
“Due to popular demand, SFS posts the ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC free kick goal from yesterdays FC Bareclona 6-1 win over Real Zaragoza. The Swede has already 7 goals in the Spanish Liga.” (Spanish Football Sports)
Xavi: All is well at Barca
“Barcelona midfielder Xavi hopes his side’s 6-1 demolition of Real Zaragoza is more than enough proof that all is well at the European champions.” (ESPN)
Keita hat-trick as Barca hit Zaragoza for six
“Seydou Keita hit a hat-trick and Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted twice to lead Barcelona to a 6-1 thrashing of Real Zaragoza and send the La Liga champions three points clear of Real Madrid on Sunday.” (ESPN)
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October 25, 2009

“Fernando Torres and substitute David Ngog left Manchester United reeling as Liverpool brilliantly halted their four-game losing streak. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had said prior to the game that one win would change everything, and what a result his team delivered to ease the pressure on the Spaniard. The champions were eventually beaten after a stunning performance of defiance that followed days of the worst crisis Liverpool have suffered in decades.” (ESPN)
Liverpool show signs of life with victory over Manchester United
“Liverpool’s season may not yet be over after all. After thousands of supporters had protested against the club’s owners, George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, prior to kick-off, the team produced a display that Manchester United simply could not cope with. Technically, both sides were lacking but that is always the case in one of the most fiery derbies in the sporting calendar. But United had no answer to Liverpool’s spirit as Fernando Torres and David Ngog scored the goals to reignite their faltering Premier League campaign.” (TimesOnline)
Liverpool halt slump as second-half goals sink Manchester United
“An occasion that had begun with angry Liverpool fans staging a protest march against their clubs owners ended with a precious victory for Liverpool, as Fernando Torres and David Ngog scored the second-half goals that brought an end to a run of four consecutive defeats.” (Guardian)
Liverpool end losing streak with win over United
“Fernando Torres and substitute David Ngog left Manchester United reeling as Liverpool brilliantly halted their four-game losing streak. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had said prior to the game that one win would change everything, and what a result his team delivered to ease the pressure on the Spaniard. The champions were eventually beaten after a stunning performance of defiance that followed days of the worst crisis Liverpool have suffered in decades.” (Independent)
The Last Word: The good Kop will tell Benitez when time is up
“It’s not much of a debate when one side is making all the arguments and the other is simply shaking their head and saying, over and over, ‘In Rafa We Trust’. But that is Liverpool Football Club, for you. And the game should not want it any other way.” (Independent)
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0: match report
“Fernando Torres sparked the end of Liverpool’s four-game losing streak in a stormy Anfield clash that saw Nemanja Vidic and Javier Mascherano sent off. Second-half goals from Torres and an injury-time David Ngog strike moved Liverpool to within four points of champions Manchester United.” (Telegraph)
(Guardian – The best images from Liverpool versus Manchester United at Anfield)
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October 24, 2009
“You simply walk in off the street. Football’s best youth academy is housed in an old brick farmhouse in downtown Barcelona. Inside you are given a coffee and a friendly welcome at the bar. The Masía – FC Barcelona’s academy, named for the Catalan word for farmhouse – recalls AC Milan’s legendary training ground, Milanello. Both places feel like neighbourhood canteens, simple clubhouses where men gather for fellowship and coffee. Yet the Masía is unique. It has produced half the world’s best team, Barcelona, which plays next door in the Nou Camp stadium. Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol come from this farmhouse. So do Liverpool’s Pep Reina, Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Everton’s Mikel Arteta. Together they would be a competitive World XI. Luckily, three of the academy’s staff – Albert Capellas, Ruben Bonastre and chief scout Pep Boade – are happy to gather around a little table and divulge the Masía’s secrets.” (FT – Simon Kuper)
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October 23, 2009

“With those at the top of the table experiencing an autumnal crisis at the moment and Middlesbrough taking dramatic steps to offset this earlier today, it was my chance to assess the progress of one of the pretenders last night. Queen’s Park Rangers’ start to the season had been sluggish, with too many stalemates peppering their progress, but a notable win at Cardiff and hefty hammerings of Barnsley and Preston have followed – and the Super Hoops are now looking dangerous.” (thetwounfortunates)
The Gate Closes – Southgate Sacked!
“After a bad night’s sleep, I was stunned to finally wake up, switch on the computer to trawl the usual websites and come across early stories about Gareth being sacked by Sir Steve. This was my first exposure to the news, a sympathetic and regretful article by Rob Nichols – who was probably as close to the manager as any supporter was likely to get – that compared his departure with that of Lennie Lawrence.” (Smog-Blog)
Championship Chow: Abu Zaad
“An inexpensive rundown of dish promised much, and so it proved. Tempted as we were by a full range of hot and cold starters (another visit might see me take the meze route), my dining companion and I opted for Farrouj Abu Zaad, a dish of lightly spiced baby chicken and the Kastaleta, dainty lamb cutlets.” (thetwounfortunates)
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October 22, 2009

Giulio Romano, 1526-1534
“This summer’s transfer strategy. Rafael Benítez has purposely avoided conflict with Liverpool’s owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, this season but there are signs diplomacy over their budget restrictions is beginning to wane as pressure mounts. “We signed three players and we wanted four,” he said before Lyon. The fourth, it is safe to assume, was a forward. Not signing quality cover for Fernando Torres, and being so short of strikers that David Ngog started the critical game against the French and Andriy Voronin was reluctantly brought back from loan at Hertha Berlin, is proving catastrophic.” (Guardian)
Liverpool could be counting the cost of European failure for years to come
“It is never a happy prospect to be staring at a possible Champions League exit and bonfire of title hopes even before 5 November but for Liverpool this autumn’s struggle for form is particularly ill-timed. Pride, history and the nagging sense of unfulfilled promise soak Anfield with highly-strung, permanent expectation, but at a time like this, to put it bluntly, they cannot afford to fail.” (Guardian – David Conn)
James Lawton: Rafa show is ready for the final curtain
“If there was any mystery to the question now being asked in open panic on Merseyside, the situation might not seem quite so hopeless. Unfortunately there isn’t. We know well enough, and have done so for some time, the answer to ‘What’s it all about, Rafa?’ It is almost entirely about Rafa, and no team has prospered long term under such egocentric control.” (Independent)
Red for danger: Liverpool empire could be one defeat from crumbling
“Four consecutive losses have left Liverpool seemingly at the risk of implosion. After defeat by Lyons in the Champions League on Tuesday, their next opponents are Manchester United and Rafael Benítez’s side will take to the pitch at Anfield on Sunday in the knowledge that another loss would all but end their Barclays Premier League title hopes with seven months of the campaign remaining.” (TimesOnline)
Liverpool v Manchester United: top 10 video moments
“Watch YouTube clips of classic matches between Liverpool and Manchester United as English football’s fiercest rivalry is renewed in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday.” (Telegraph)
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October 21, 2009

“Liverpool conceded an injury-time goal which puts their Champions League future in grave doubt. An injury-ravaged home side had produced a display of spirit and effort which did not deserve to see them finish as losers. But they have now lost four games in succession for the first time since 1987 as their season plunges into despair.” (ESPN)
Liverpool staring at European exit after latest injury blow for Steven Gerrard
“The Champions League has been a scene of spectacle for Liverpool on many occasions, but now they must achieve the highly improbable if they are simply to survive the group stage. They were defeated here as Lyon capped a comeback with the winner in the 90th minute, as César Delgado tuned in a perfect low cross from Sidney Govou.” (Guardian)
Delgado turns up heat as Benitez fights for survival
“From his seat in the Anfield directors’ box last night Gerard Houllier will have recognised the problems that are closing in on Rafael Benitez: a threadbare squad, injuries to key players, a terrible run of results and the daunting prospect of facing Manchester United on Sunday.” (Independent)
Liverpool 1 Lyon 2: match report
“Liverpool are running on empty, running out of players, energy and ideas. It is too soon to claim that Rafa Benítez is running out of time but this was a horror show, a hammer blow to their European ambitions and a brutal reminder of how poor Liverpool are without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. No Gerrard, no Torres, no leadership, no cutting edge, no chance.” (Telegraph)
Liverpool left reeling by Lyons knockout blow
“Sailing close to the wind has been a feature of Liverpool’s European adventures under the stewardship of Rafael Benítez. A defeat at home to Lyons last night meant they were all but blown off course altogether. As in 2007, only a trio of victories from their final three group games will give the Merseyside club a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League, and having lost their past four matches — Liverpool’s worst run in 22 years — hopes will not be high that an upturn in fortunes is just around the corner.” (TimesOnline)
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