That game this weekend

[Vermilion]

We will not bend over for Chelsea make no mistake about that but they way Chelsea are playing at the minute and after that result last weekend i don't think we will beat them anyway.

2-1 to Chelsea

Agree, and hope it turns out as you say, but i have this nasty feeling that however bad we play, and however well they play....we'll still end up ****in winning. Pepe will probably save everything, and Lucas and Babel will get a brace each.

[Bender]

Go and find those "quotes".

look yeah your saying Alonso said that am saying show me them quotes ......either he said it or he didn't

[Leyton388]

We will know if we are going to throw the game tomorrow if we put Sammy Lee in goal LOL

[Vermilion]

look yeah your saying Alonso said that am saying show me them quotes ......either he said it or he didn't

I don't believe i've said Alonso said anything, as i think you've just found out by looking at my post, just gave my opinion on what i think was the reality, which is...if he wanted to stay he would have, and if he didn't want to join madrid he wouldn't have. "No quotes".

Look, i'm done with this, as with most of the Rafa debate it's gets us nowhere, and just causes animosity.

Fin.

[cannotmakeit]

****ing hell, why does every single post has to be about selling Alonso, Rafa ****ing out or Rafa ****ing stay ****.

We won't lose on purpose but we will lose as our form is ****e, we just play a hard game on Thursday and Chelsea has had a full weeks rest and their form is better.

See! there is no need to keep talking the same ****e over and over and on every single thread.

[Bender]

I don't believe i've said Alonso said anything, as i think you've just found out by looking at my post, just gave my opinion on what i think was the reality, which is...if he wanted to stay he would have, and if he didn't want to join madrid he wouldn't have. "No quotes".

Look, i'm done with this, as with most of the Rafa debate it's gets us nowhere, and just causes animosity.

Fin.

Fair enough

[red g]

have we lost yet?

[mick the click]

er...not today...

[Shanks]

[kingfunk]

By Chris Bascombe, News of the World

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has broken the dressing-room silence on the ownership debacle to claim the boardroom struggles are no excuse for a wretched season.



He said the reign of Tom Hicks and George Gillett has had no impact on players' performances and insisted big changes are now required at Anfield if the club is challenge at the top.

The Dane said: "The ownership has nothing to do with us. You can't use that as an excuse. The problem is on the pitch. A lot of things have to change. It is not up to me to change them so I won't bore you with what I think those changes should be, but we just have to realise it has not been good enough and we need to do a lot better if we want to win trophies.

"We've tried to put things right every day in training. This is part of football. Sometimes form goes up and sometimes it goes down. The fans certainly deserve a better season next time."

Chelsea will be hoping to pile on the agony on a pivotal afternoon in the title race. But Agger delivered a stark warning to Londoners, insisting the Kop stars will be fired up because they're playing for their futures.

Agger said: "It surprises me people doubt we'll give our all against Chelsea because when you wear the red shirt and play for a club like this, you have to give everything, every time.

"We will definitely do everything we can to beat them. It should be the case we are playing for our future. If you don't perform, you shouldn't play."

[RedSince1964]

hey for what it's worth am hoping we win , city and spurs and vill draw all there games and we win and get 4th

A lot of luck needed there mate but, you never know eh

[Will]

Give it to Chelsea. Win lose or draw we are still finishing 7th. Or finish 6th ans hand the title to Utd or finish 7th and hand the title to Chelsea? Chelsea everytime. Yids made our minds up on Saturday when they beat Bolton, thats it, forget it. **** Garry Neville, Wayne Rooney and Fergi. Liverpool have a proud history and wouldnt thow that away says FERGI. The same bloke that said along the lines "everytime i visit this place i want to vomit". Meaning Anfield when Kenny had a go at him and took his daughter in his arms Kelly Dalglish into the radio station where Fergi was and said "you'll get more sense out of her". **** em. 6th and give the title to Man Utd(big if becouse its in Villa's hands) or 7th and give it to Chelsea? 7th. **** them arse lickers, hated us for the last 20year and now want a favour

[Kinell]

Rafa's last match at Anfield with us?

[MrMichael]

****ing hell, why does every single post has to be about selling Alonso, Rafa ****ing out or Rafa ****ing stay ****.

We won't lose on purpose but we will lose as our form is ****e, we just play a hard game on Thursday and Chelsea has had a full weeks rest and their form is better.

See! there is no need to keep talking the same ****e over and over and on every single thread.

Well said

[SB]

Midfielder Maxi Rodriguez is likely to return to Liverpool's starting line-up for Sunday's visit of Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.

The Argentina international was ineligible for Thursday's Europa League semi-final exit to Atletico Madrid and so will be a welcome addition of fresh legs to an injury-hit squad.

Striker Dirk Kuyt recovered from a calf injury to face Atletico but his fitness and that of a number of players - including midfielder Javier Mascherano who was substituted late on against the Spaniards - will be assessed.

Forward David Ngog's hamstring injury meant he never left the bench on Thursday and doubts remain about his fitness.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned the club's current - and prospective future - owners that without major investment they cannot continue to survive on their reputation alone.

While the likes of Manchester City, in particular, Aston Villa and Tottenham are likely to spend heavily in the coming months the Reds face another summer of uncertainty.

They are the outsiders in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot and without money to bolster a squad lacking in quality in numbers Liverpool are at risk of falling further off the pace and losing their manager and the few world-class players they do have.

Benitez has argued throughout the campaign that their second-place finish behind Manchester United last season was a result of the squad performing at their absolute maximum with no margin for error.

Without significant reinforcements the Spaniard believes it makes it almost impossible for them to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title never mind end a 20-year championship drought.

"At this moment the club has a big name and a big history and everyone is expecting us to be at the top,'' said Benitez.

"But in reality we don't have enough money so we have to manage the expectation.''

Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett officially put Liverpool up for sale a fortnight ago having admitted they had taken the club as far as they could.

The problem is, with £237million of debt, a new stadium to build and Benitez wanting a summer transfer budget of £70million, any new owner will have to have find something in the region of £600million just to even get things back on track.

And with the American owners holding out for the best possible price, although the £800million suggested by Hicks is a long way from a realistic valuation, the danger is Liverpool will by hamstrung by inertia while their rivals are making big plans.

"Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres were talking about needing between three and five players and I agree with them,'' said Benitez, who continues to be linked with an end-of-season exit to Juventus.

"We will need those to have a stronger team.

"When I was asked about this I didn't say how much but a top-class player is around £15million so you can do the numbers - but it depends on the investors.''

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has no fresh injury worries.

Captain John Terry will return to the side after missing the 7-0 victory over Stoke through suspension.

Midfielder John Obi Mikel has recovered from the ankle injury that forced him to miss that game.

Long-term absentees remain the same with midfielder Michael Essien (knee), right-back Jose Bosingwa (knee) and defender Ricardo Carvalho (ankle) still out.

Ancelotti did not look like a man ready to crack under the intense pressure of this season's title run-in as he shrugged off suggestions that the "old pals act'' could provide one more twist in the tale.

Chelsea face Liverpool knowing nothing but victory will keep their title hopes on track.

Manchester United then kick-off at 4pm at Sunderland, a club managed by former Old Trafford captain Steve Bruce.

The two games have thrown up a number of tantalising issues for the conspiracy theorists, but Ancelotti is mindful not to get drawn into them.

He dismissed suggestions that Liverpool would not try hard enough to beat his side because doing so would open the door for rivals United to surpass their total of 18 titles.

Ancelotti was also non-plussed by the possibility that Bruce would do his old mentor Sir Alex Ferguson a favour at the Stadium of Light.

"I don't think about this,'' said Ancelotti. "I think that Sunderland will do their best to beat United and Liverpool will do the same against us.

"Every team has respect for this Premier League and every team has to do their best until the end of the matches.

"We have to pay attention because Liverpool are a strong team and it's very difficult to win at Anfield, but we have to try. We need to have three more points after Sunday.''