FA Cup Final

[BootRoom]

Sorry mate, I've read that a couple of times now and it's not sinking in. I'll read it again tomorrow.

My point is that I'm worried that Kenny will start with Carragher. I'd be mortified if that happened.

Sorry, it was a bit stream-of-consciousness-esque

Edit: Read it again. Gotcha.

[Lee]

It's late, easily done.

[Bender]

next 2 games v chelsea ........... can see us losing both and badly ...........

[tsb]

next 2 games v chelsea ........... can see us losing both and badly ...........

We'll win one, but judging by this season I think it'll be the one we dont want as much!

[S-RED]

My Seat

[Lecter]

Kenny's Cup final injury update

2nd May 2012 - Latest News

Kenny Dalglish today reported a clean bill of health for Liverpool ahead of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday, apart from long-term absentees Lucas Leiva and Charlie Adam.





Having rotated his squad for the last two fixtures against Norwich City and Fulham, the boss expects to have a fully fit batch of players to select from at Wembley on Saturday.

And Dalglish insists Liverpool will head to London in confident mood despite Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to the Cottagers – though he admits the Reds hold a great deal of respect for Chelsea and the current form of the Champions League finalists.

The manager told his pre-match press conference at Anfield: "We've given everybody an opportunity to get themselves fit and I don't think we've got any injuries, apart from the long-term ones in Lucas and Charlie Adam.

"In a way, it's made it a little bit more difficult that everybody is fit – but every team you pick is always a difficult task.

"We go into Saturday's game with a full squad of players, apart from the two lads."

Dalglish continued: "We're quite happy with the mood round and about the football club. Everybody knows it's going to be a really difficult game and nobody will underestimate Chelsea with the run they're on.

"I wouldn't know if it's confidence or not, but it's certainly not arrogance. We've got a huge deal of respect for Chelsea Football Club and what they've done."

Saturday's showpiece represents Liverpool's second final of the season having won the Carling Cup against Cardiff City in February.

Nonetheless, Dalglish believes the experience the Reds gained from that occasion will have little bearing on the outcome of the FA Cup final.

He said: "Chelsea have also been to Wembley once and won (in the FA Cup semi-final), so I don't think it's that much of an advantage.

"We're delighted to get to Wembley and we were delighted to win the Carling Cup. We were really pleased with the result and performance against Everton in the semi-final and now we'll go back again.

"I don't know how us having been to Wembley twice before, and Chelsea having been there in the semi-final, gives anybody an advantage.

"We've already tasted a cup final this year in the Carling Cup. Getting to the FA Cup final is never to be undermined, overlooked or overestimated in anyway - it's a fantastic day out for everybody.

"It's great reward for the effort, commitment and respect we've paid to the competition with the teams we've fielded.

"We think we deserve to be there and we're happy to be there."

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher also faced the world's press at Anfield ahead of Saturday's clash as part the pre-match build-up.

The trip to Wembley will be the Scouse duo's third FA Cup final for Liverpool and their 10th major final overall for the club.

Reporters questioned Dalglish whether the duo's experience could assist the younger members of the squad in getting fully prepared for kick-off.

"Experience helps, but the boys have got to help themselves as well," he said. "They (Gerrard and Carragher) can't go babysitting everyone.

"They (the players) have played there twice before and won a cup competition and the semi-final. Some have also played there for there for their countries.

"They've just got to look after themselves – and they're big strong boys and can.

"I don't think it matters when you get into a cup final how many times you've played there and won before. Many, many people have won it the first time they've played in it.

"It'll be a help that Jamie and Steven are at this football club, but on the pitch the players have got to look after themselves as well as getting a bit of help from each other."

While Liverpool have endured an up-and-down league campaign, they've performed superbly in the cup competitions, eliminating Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea from either the Carling Cup or FA Cup this season.

On whether winning two trophies would represent a successful season, Dalglish replied: "We'll see what happens. We're in the Cup final – there's no guarantee we're going to win, but there is a guarantee we're going to give everything we've got to try and win.

"The season will be assessed when it's finished, not part way through it."

Liverpool recorded two victories over Chelsea at the tail end of 2011.

Both wins came at Stamford Bridge with Glen Johnson's late strike securing a 2-1 success in the Barclays Premier League, before Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly fired in a Carling Cup quarter-final triumph.

However, the Blues' campaign has been rejuvenated by the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as interim manager in March, and last week the Londoners secured a place in the Champions League final at the expense of Barcelona.

"Chelsea have had a fantastic achievement in getting to the Champions League final, especially with the two performances they put in against Barcelona," said Dalglish.

"They were two really good performances and two fantastic results to get themselves through.

"Like every other game you play, it doesn't matter how well you play or how committed you are, you need a little bit of good fortune – and the good fortune went their way as well as a fantastic performance.

"They've done very well. They beat Tottenham in the semi-final to get through to the final. They're on a good run at the moment."

On the influence Liverpool's two wins over Chelsea already this season could have on the Cup final, Dalglish added: "I don't think it will help or hinder us. Those games are gone and we got two positive results.

"But they've changed their manager since then and they're on a good run. There is a lot changed since those two games."

Meanwhile, journalists quizzed Dalglish on whether he felt there was an increasing fixation amongst teams with finishing in the top four of the Barclays Premier League rather than targeting success in the domestic cup competitions.

He replied: "In any competition you enter, you want to do the best you possibly can. In the league, it's 38 games and at the end of it you finish in a position and that tells you how successful you've been.

"In cup competitions, obviously there aren't as many games and if you get beat, you're out.

"There is an obsession with the Premier League simply because of what it holds for every club and the value to every club financially, and also the rewards you get for finishing in the top four and getting into the Champions League.

"But there is a satisfaction from winning a cup competition that you don't get from finishing fifth or sixth in the league."

[dom9]

I'm really struggling to think of a pub to watch the game in. I just can't think of any at all.

[Reece]

I can't remember the last time I went to the pub to watch a game. It'd be full of Chelsea fans down this way anyhow.

Much prefer getting a few mates round and watching it home.

[dom9]

I can't remember the last time I went to the pub to watch a game. It'd be full of Chelsea fans down this way anyhow.

Much prefer getting a few mates round and watching it home.

I'm veering towards that. Pub will prob be carnage.

[BigChief]

Lets hope Cisse twists Terry up so much that he injures himself before Saturday. Can't wait to see Bosingwa as CB next to Luiz. Coco and Bobo.

Or will Ivanovic play on Saturday?

[Chazza]

Lets hope Cisse twists Terry up so much that he injures himself before Saturday. Can't wait to see Bosingwa as CB next to Luiz. Coco and Bobo.

Or will Ivanovic play on Saturday?

Ivanovic is back, last game of the suspension tonight

[Danoner Forrest]

Does anyone know if the Premier Inn next to Wembley Park Station is a Liverpool pub as it was for the Semi Final??

Also, while Im at it, how about the Globe opposite Tussards near to Marylebone, someone said it was clased last week for re-furbishment, its a good pub with good access to Wembley.....

Just asking if anyone knows??

Thanks in Advance.

[Liverpool]

inn is liverpool end and I think Globe is Chelsea, although im making that up

[Bender]

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish says he would be more satisfied by winning two cups than being fifth in the league.
The Reds, who won the last of their 18 league titles in 1990 during Dalglish's first reign, are eighth in the Premier League, 34 points behind the leaders.
"There is an obsession with the Premier League," said Dalglish, whose team are seeking a League Cup and FA Cup double.

"But there's satisfaction from winning a cup that you don't get from finishing fifth or sixth in the league."
Liverpool won the then-Division One title seven times in 10 seasons during the 1980s but have failed qualify for the Champions League in the last two seasons, finishing seventh in 2010 and sixth last year.
Defeat against Fulham on Tuesday night was their fourth at home this season and took their total of points dropped at Anfield to 30 this season.

Dalglish, who replaced Roy Hodgson as manager in January last year, ended the club's six-year wait for silverware by securing the Carling Cup with victory over Cardiff on penalties in February. And they face Chelsea on Saturday in the FA Cup final.
"Any competition you enter you want to do the best you possibly can in," said the 61-year-old Scotsman.
"In the league it is 38 games and at the end you finish in a position which tells you how successful it has been.

"We have already tasted a cup final this year, albeit the Carling Cup, and getting to the FA Cup final should never be under-estimated in any way.
"It is a fantastic day out for everyone and is great reward for the efforts and commitment of the players and the respect we have paid to the competition.
"The season will be assessed when it's finished." bbc

[Phoenix07]

I read this earlier. A good appraisal and carefully worded too.