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Noel White Resigns From Liverpool Board

Former club chairman and director of 21 years Noel White has resigned from his position at Liverpool Football Club after it was revealed that he was the unnamed director behind that attack on Rafa Benitez last week after the loss at Old Trafford.

Speaking to the club’s website earlier White said

In view of the controversy caused by comments in a national newspaper, attributed to an anonymous director, and the effect this has had on the chairman, my fellow directors, the manager and many supporters, I feel the honourable course is to resign. It was never my intention to cause such controversy, nor did I envisage that my remarks would receive such widespread coverage.

In fairness, as a director of Liverpool he should have great knowledge of the power and damage that tabloid newspapers can do around a club.

Even though he has resigned from his post, he still feels exactly the same about Benitez as he did when he made the report to the media.

Normally, by the time you get to October, you’d expect the manager to know his best team and stick with it but there are no signs of that happening. I don’t think he could tell you what his best team is

Me, I’m behind the rotation policy. I think that its essential for a club who is competing in the best football league in the world, the best club tournament in the world and also faces two further domestic trophy races as well as losing key team members to international appearances during the season. Without rotation in force at Liverpool or any other major club for that matter we could be looking at a very raggedy team indeed come midseason. Gives the players a chance, give the manager a chance and let him look after HIS team HIS way.

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Preview: Liverpool vs Bordeaux

I know its Hallowe’en and all but lets hope there’s no scares in store for Liverpool as the Reds host Bordeaux in the fourth game of the Champions League group stages.

Point of note, should Benitez change the first team for tonight’s game it will in fact become the 100th straight game that the boss has made changes to the squad for.

There are a few injury worries ahead of tonight with Stevie G carrying a knock along with Momo Sissoko while Craig Bellamy is unlikely to play again having missed the game against Villa at the weekend.

While Liverpool have their injury worries there’s a chance that injury as well may keep Vlad Smicer from making his return to Anfield. Hardly a goal in it for the man who helped Liverpool lift the Champions League trophy in Istanbul if he makes an appearane?
Anyway, kick off is at 7:45pm, don’t think its on RTE but you’ll get live audio coverage on the LiverpoolFC.tv website and BBC through Radio Five Live.

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Result: Liverpool 3 - 1 Aston Villa

Liverpool can today put behind them the misery of last week after sealing a most comfortable victory yesterday against Aston Villa, Liverpool going in to the break with a 3-0 lead.

The lineup was certainly strong and Craig Bellamy’s absence through injury was barely noticed as the team gave it 110% and then some to secure a 3-1 win against a previously unbeaten Aston Villa.

Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring after an opening half hour that Liverpool clearly dominated. Jamie Carragher lofted a high pass to the right edge of the box for Sami Hyypia to rise and head down into the path of Kuyt who calmly collected the ball on his chest before turning and firing to Sorensen’s right hand side, low into the corner of the net. Fantastic volley by the Dutchman.

Ten minutes later, Peter Crouch made it 2-0 after some great build play between Garcia, Alonso and Kuyt out on the right, the ball ended up with Steve Finnan who crossed in to the centre of the box for Peter Crouch to turn almost ballerina-like, stricking out his right leg to volley the ball past Sorensen on his left. Looked more like miskick, the ball bouncing off Crouch’s shin but defensively for the second goal Aston Villa looked a pure mess.

Just before the break then Liverpool made it 3-0, Stevie G tearing up the centre before flicking the ball off his heel for Dirk Kut outside the box, Kuyt teeing up Crouch who set Garcia free inside the right of the box to sidefoot past Sorensen. Brilliant display of teamwork to form the goal, Garcia slotting the ball home on his left foot just inside the post.

Aston Villa did manage to get one goal back after a half-time substitution by Martin O’Neill, Milan Baros and Juan Pablo Angel both removed at the break.Ten minutes into the second half Villa got their only goal of the game, Chris Sutton teeing up Agbonlahor to fire past Reina from 10 yards. Hats off to them, was a great goal.

Liverpool looked a threat in the early stages of the second half, Kuyt, Crouch and Gerrard all coming close, Gerrard rattling the post just before Villa grabbed their goal but at the end of the day it was Liverpool who ran out more than deserving winners after a fine confidence-boosting performance, I think, at Anfield.

Fair play lads.

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Live: Liverpool vs Aston Villa (Team)

Not long to go until kick off in today’s game (no live blogging today) and Rafa Benitez has announced the squad for today, thankfully I see Robbie Fowler’s name is on the teamsheet - at least on the bench. Here’s the team in full.

Pepe Reina, Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypia, Jame Carragher, John Arne Riise, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Momo Sissoko and Luis Garcia while Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt spearhead the attack.

On the bench we’ve got David Martin (Jerzy Dudek still suspended), Danny Agger, Robbie Fowler, Bolo Zenden and Jermaine Pennant.

An introduction in the second half for Robbie? A goal in front of the Kop maybe? I surely hope so!

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Preview: Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Been a while since I did a preview post, used to rattle them out the whole time while reporting on this year’s World Cup. Anyway, we’re hosting Aston Villa at Anfield today - Aston Villa who are unbeaten in the league at home, and unbeaten in the league away. Can Liverpool be the first team to beat them? I think so….

I think we can beat them and that we should beat them but we need to plug up the defence. Fire out Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy, let them get that little spark they showed in preseason back out on the pitch. Let the midfield build around Stevie G, let him through and get him his first goal of the league campaign. Let the defence work together in harmony people, harmony! There is no more room for defensive errors, there is no more time for mistakes - either heads will roll or we’ll just keep rolling further down the table.

Of course, Villa are a changed side. New fortunes lie ahead of them, new chairman and owner of the club, new manager for the season in the form of Martin O’Neill who seems to be able to do a loaves and fishes job with whoever he works with. Villa also ground out a draw on the road against Chelsea and Arsenal so they’re well up for the scrap and are finally starting to look like the team of old. Liverpool, for lack of optimism, still look nothing like the teams of old.

I’ve got no doubt that the lads are going to turn out a cracking performance today. I wouldn’t care if we have to get scrappy and start grinding out results - seemed to work for Chelsea and piss everyone off - so long as we get the results. When you’re lying midtable and struggling defensively and offensively in the league Anfield looks more like a kitten’s den than a fortress. Time for the lads to stand up and be counted and get a consistent flow of wins on the board.

Villa to score, Liverpool to win 2-1.

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Kirkland Finally Departs Anfield

He’s been gone in mind, body and spirit for the last season or so, including this one where he’s been on loan at Wigan since the summer but Paul Jewell got Chris Kirkland’s signature on a three year deal until the close of 2009 to finally bring the goalkeeper’s Anfield career to an end.

In fairness, with the arrival of Pepe Reina and Scott Carson, Kirkland’s Liverpool career was over a long time ago. The six-million-pound man was signed from Coventry back in 2001 at the same time Jerzy Dudek arrived at the club but never exactly developed with the club following injury after injury after injury.

He was always expected to sign a full time deal at Wigan when his loan ran out. No mention of the fee but you can be certain it was nowhere near the six million spent by Gerard Houllier on the lad.

Speaking of the deal, Paul Jewell said earlier

Chris is a world class keeper and a smashing pro. It was always our intention to make the deal permanent. It’s great news that we’ve got it all sorted so quickly. He’s been brilliant for us since he arrived.

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Live: Liverpool 4 - 3 Reading

Can you see this scoreline? For the love of Jesus whats after happening? Three goals in ten minutes for Reading? Bwaaagh! Defenders just leaving the ball off for Reina? Inexperience and defensive lapses have just crippled Liverpool and ruined a perfectly good scoreline in the final few minutes of the game. This is absolutely ridiculous for Liverpool to finish the game like this who actually look like they could finish at 4-4.

Shane Long was the scorer by the way, heading down at the far post.

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Live: Liverpool 4 - 2 Reading

Ah lads! Reading grab their second in only a few minutes as Leroy Lita has bagged a goal for Reading, Liverpool failing to clear the ball after Reading ran straight at them, Lita drilling the ball into the far corner. 9 minutes remaining.

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Live: Liverpool 4 - 1 Reading

Peter Crouch has put Liverpool 4-1 ahead, bit of confusion as to whether Robbie was going to score or Crouch could finish the job after Robbie set him up so well. 77 minutes gone, Crouch dancing around Graham Stack to slot home. Fowler fully aware that he could have slotted home his second but its Crouch for his 7th of the season and Liverpool’s 4th of the game.

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Live: Liverpool 3 - 1 Reading

Another goal goes in from a set piece against Liverpool as Reading have claimed a goal back as we roll into the last 15 minutes of the game at Anfield. Andre Bikey broke off Riise to head home. Game not over yet but last thing Liverpool want to do is give Bikey any more room.

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