Build up for the theatre of prawns

[Shaggy]

"I've never been personal," said Fergie. "You should examine him [Benitez] not me. I've always enjoyed a good relationship with Liverpool's managers.

**** off Ferguson you hypocritical cunt.

I suppose plotting with Sam Allardyce to gang up on Rafa over an absolute nothing issue wasn't personal at all, eh? ****ing piece of ****.

[Baracus]

Has the ITK started to sms the teamsheet yet?

Probably soon after the last training session today

[Arn]

The only fair way to compare the squads is to compare how much the squads cost to buy.

Their squad cost more £100m more to buy than our squad. If you use net spend during a period of time then you don't get the full picture.

If you compare how much the squads cost then you get the full picture because you don't limit it to a period of time.

[Baracus]

The only fair way to compare the squads is to compare how much the squads cost to buy.

Their squad cost more £100m more to buy than our squad. If you use net spend during a period of time then you don't get the full picture.

If you compare how much the squads cost then you get the full picture because you don't limit it to a period of time.

But that does not take into consideration the inflated transfer market of recent times. IIRC Rio and Roo where both snapped up way before Chelsea came on to the market and at 30m each or so, they blew every premier team out the water at that time.

[Arn]

But that does not take into consideration the inflated transfer market of recent times. IIRC Rio and Roo where both snapped up way before Chelsea came on to the market and at 30m each or so, they blew every premier team out the water at that time.

It takes that into consideration because we signed and sold players in the same transfer market so the inflated market affected us and much as them.

[Arn]

Hodgson aims to avoid Manchester meltdown

Liverpool visited Manchester a month ago and received a “kick in the teeth” from Roberto Mancini’s City side, so manager Roy Hodgson is hoping to avoid a similar outcome against United tomorrow.

The fixture list has not been kind to the Reds as they have already faced Arsenal at home and City and Birmingham away – games which have brought just two points.

Their only Barclays Premier League victory so far has come against West Brom at Anfield, but Hodgson knows a win at Old Trafford would do wonders for morale.

However, he stressed that win, lose or draw against their arch rivals, the result will not be the pivotal moment in their season.

“You might get the shots in the arm which you help you or the kicks in the backside which bring you down, but the health of a football club should be judged by what goes on on a daily basis,” said the 62-year-old.

“We all know that you get your shots in the arm – like we did beating Steaua Bucharest 4-1 on Thursday in the Europa League – but we will also get our kicks in the teeth, like we did when we went to Manchester City (3-0 defeat).

“It is a part of football life and players need to be aware of that.

“If you have had the kick in the teeth, and it might be deserved, that is the reminder you have to do better.

“But when you get the shot in the arm that is the little reminder you have to be careful to keep your feet on the ground because around the corner disaster awaits.

“Having said that, we have had a really difficult start in the league and that does not get any easier, us having to go to Manchester United.

“But I see very positive signs and I’m very confident that the longer we work together, come May hopefully we will have a decent season behind us.

“This match has come a little bit early. Five games into the season is a poor time for barometer readings – they need to come at least a third of the way through the season.

“I would be very surprised if the intelligent people out there who understand the season is a marathon not a sprint will start reading too much into a defeat for one or the other teams.”

Barring last season’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, Liverpool’s recent results against United have been good, with three wins in four matches.

Hodgson’s side may be a long way short of their best form but, having rested the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in midweek, he is confident they can get another result against their north-west rivals.

Key to that, however, will be keeping a clean sheet – something they have done twice in four Premier League matches.

In the Champions League on Wednesday, Rangers showed what could be achieved against United with a determined defensive display.

And although Hodgson admits defence has to form the solid base for their performance, his side cannot go to Old Trafford and play like the Scottish champions did.

“We are going to put a team out which will defend well and attack well - something which we have tried to do in every game we’ve played so far,” he said.

“Sometimes we will succeed better than others but that is football.

“The first thing to do when you go to Old Trafford is to defend well because there are some very good attackers.

“They are very dangerous offensively so if your defensive set-up is wanting then they will punish you.

“But we won’t change our system from the way we played on Thursday.

“The things we tried to do against Steaua were exactly the same things we tried to do against West Brom and Birmingham with less success.

“Nothing changes. We know what we have to do, we know what principles we work under and we will keep working at it and keep trying to produce it on the field.

“It is important for us to give a good performance because our last one (the goalless draw at Birmingham) was below par.

“We weren’t as good as we can be and I hope we will at least be as good as we can be on Sunday – whether it is good enough to get us a result against Manchester United, that is another matter.

“Torres, Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson, Christian Poulsen, Martin Skrtel – there were a lot of players who have been able to rest in the week and they will be raring to go.”

CLICKY

[red g]

Hodgson aims to avoid Manchester meltdown

Liverpool visited Manchester a month ago and received a “kick in the teeth” from Roberto Mancini’s City side, so manager Roy Hodgson is hoping to avoid a similar outcome against United tomorrow.

The fixture list has not been kind to the Reds as they have already faced Arsenal at home and City and Birmingham away – games which have brought just two points.

Their only Barclays Premier League victory so far has come against West Brom at Anfield, but Hodgson knows a win at Old Trafford would do wonders for morale.

However, he stressed that win, lose or draw against their arch rivals, the result will not be the pivotal moment in their season.

“You might get the shots in the arm which you help you or the kicks in the backside which bring you down, but the health of a football club should be judged by what goes on on a daily basis,” said the 62-year-old.

“We all know that you get your shots in the arm – like we did beating Steaua Bucharest 4-1 on Thursday in the Europa League – but we will also get our kicks in the teeth, like we did when we went to Manchester City (3-0 defeat).

“It is a part of football life and players need to be aware of that.

“If you have had the kick in the teeth, and it might be deserved, that is the reminder you have to do better.

“But when you get the shot in the arm that is the little reminder you have to be careful to keep your feet on the ground because around the corner disaster awaits.

“Having said that, we have had a really difficult start in the league and that does not get any easier, us having to go to Manchester United.

“But I see very positive signs and I’m very confident that the longer we work together, come May hopefully we will have a decent season behind us.

“This match has come a little bit early. Five games into the season is a poor time for barometer readings – they need to come at least a third of the way through the season.

“I would be very surprised if the intelligent people out there who understand the season is a marathon not a sprint will start reading too much into a defeat for one or the other teams.”

Barring last season’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, Liverpool’s recent results against United have been good, with three wins in four matches.

Hodgson’s side may be a long way short of their best form but, having rested the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in midweek, he is confident they can get another result against their north-west rivals.

Key to that, however, will be keeping a clean sheet – something they have done twice in four Premier League matches.

In the Champions League on Wednesday, Rangers showed what could be achieved against United with a determined defensive display.

And although Hodgson admits defence has to form the solid base for their performance, his side cannot go to Old Trafford and play like the Scottish champions did.

“We are going to put a team out which will defend well and attack well - something which we have tried to do in every game we’ve played so far,” he said.

“Sometimes we will succeed better than others but that is football.

“The first thing to do when you go to Old Trafford is to defend well because there are some very good attackers.

“They are very dangerous offensively so if your defensive set-up is wanting then they will punish you.

“But we won’t change our system from the way we played on Thursday.

“The things we tried to do against Steaua were exactly the same things we tried to do against West Brom and Birmingham with less success.

“Nothing changes. We know what we have to do, we know what principles we work under and we will keep working at it and keep trying to produce it on the field.

“It is important for us to give a good performance because our last one (the goalless draw at Birmingham) was below par.

“We weren’t as good as we can be and I hope we will at least be as good as we can be on Sunday – whether it is good enough to get us a result against Manchester United, that is another matter.

“Torres, Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson, Christian Poulsen, Martin Skrtel – there were a lot of players who have been able to rest in the week and they will be raring to go.”

CLICKY

[DannyMan2006]

Craig H may be happy tomorrow:

With Liverpool needing all their big guns firing if they are going to win at Old Trafford, boss Roy Hodgson is considering playing Meireles, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Fernando Torres in the same line-up for the first time.

But if he had any concerns about pitching Meireles into the heat of battle at Old Trafford, they will have been quickly assuaged by the fact the 27-year-old has reported himself to be fit and ready to be involved from the first whistle.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz0ztJEVjyh

I wonder where he'd play them all? Joe Cole on the left? Or Joe in the hole and Gerrard and Meireles pairing at DM?

[Fernandinho]

No way they would both play deap lying. Cole on the left must be what he is looking at.

[little dave hedgehog]

No way they would both play deap lying. Cole on the left must be what he is looking at.

this. and i hope to **** he does it. about time we went somewhere and really had a go.

[Lee]

I'd like to see

Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Konchesky
Lucas Meireles
Babel Gerrard Cole
Torres


But it looks as though Skrtel will start, given Hodgson's comments above

[Rudo]

I'd like to see

Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Konchesky
Lucas Meireles
Babel Gerrard Cole
Torres


But it looks as though Skrtel will start, given Hodgson's comments above

That would probably be my team as well. Coming around to the idea of Lucas starting now tbh, not because of his goal the other night but he does seem to raise his game for the Scum games so he gets the nod for me ahead of Poulsen.
Meireles simply has to start as far as i'm concerned.

Also i'd love to see Babel start and take on Neville, criminal if we don't use him against the slowing and aging Neville.

Another thing, wtf is up with Aurelio now? Injured again i take it? ffs
He'd be a starter if he was fit but he's not in the squad .

[Lee]

That would probably be my team as well. Coming around to the idea of Lucas starting now tbh, not because of his goal the other night but he does seem to raise his game for the Scum games so he gets the nod for me ahead of Poulsen.
Meireles simply has to start as far as i'm concerned.

Also i'd love to see Babel start and take on Neville, criminal if we don't use him against the slowing and aging Neville.

Another thing, wtf is up with Aurelio now? Injured again i take it? ffs
He'd be a starter if he was fit but he's not in the squad .

Yeah, I've never had a problem with Lucas really. Not a great player but he's steady and I think he's got more in his locker than an ageing Poulsen.

Babel needs a run. I don't think he's productive on the left - I still think his best game for us was the one against West Ham (last year or the year before?) when he came on and played RM.

Aurelio has an achilles injury I think

[Rudo]

Yeah, I've never had a problem with Lucas really. Not a great player but he's steady and I think he's got more in his locker than an ageing Poulsen.

Babel needs a run. I don't think he's productive on the left - I still think his best game for us was the one against West Ham (last year or the year before?) when he came on and played RM.

Aurelio has an achilles injury I think

I'm not a fan of Babel on the left either, i'm really not but since he'd be playing up against Neville on that side i'd like to see start there and run at him at every opportunity, Rio will need to cover Neville leaving gaps in the United defence for Torres, Gerrard, Cole etc to exploit.

Just thinking, pity Kuyt's not available. Maxi will no doubt start in his place.

[Lee]

I'm not a fan of Babel on the left either, i'm really not but since he'd be playing up against Neville on that side i'd like to see start there and run at him at every opportunity, Rio will need to cover Neville leaving gaps in the United defence for Torres, Gerrard, Cole etc to exploit.

Just thinking, pity Kuyt's not available. Maxi will no doubt start in his place.

Ah fair point about Neville - Babel would murder him for pace. Checked a few United forums though and they reckon Ferguson will go with O'Shea at left back?!

Is Ferdinand injured still? I'm sure Carrick is out for them too.

I think you're right - can see Maxi and / or Jovanovic starting. If they both start I'll pull my hair out.