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Cisse Returns For Marseille

Looks like the fiery Frenchman himself is back in action for Marseille, Djibril Cisse having returned to Ligue 1 football yesterday, setting up L’OM’s gamewinning goal. Nice to see the chap making a recovery after his second broken leg.

Cisse came on for the second half and according to reports finished with a standing ovation from everyone there.

Full report on BBC.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Liverpool 4 - 0 Fulham

Well, I was hoping for more of the same after last season’s fixture (where Liverpool destroyed Fulham 5-1) and the lads surely delivered today against the Cottagers again, running out 4-0 winners. What I didn’t see coming was that all goals were in the second half, with the first half a relatively even contest.

Both keepers were tested in the first half and Liverpool had their chances, including a penalty appeal for handball denied but it was the second half that proved an absolute gem for the Reds.

Ian Pearce had been at the centre of the trouble in the first half and started Fulham’s undoing in the second when he surely must have thought he was the goalkeeper, arms outstretched in the box to deny Dirk Kuyt an attempt on goal. Stevie G missed the penalty, Lastuvka (filling in for Anti Niemi) saving low, but the rebound proved too easy, Gerrard placing the second attempt in the back of the net. That would prove to be the opening of the flood gates.

Unlikeliest of goal suspects, Jamie Carragher found the back of the net for Liverpool’s second and Carra’s first goal in 7 seasons. McBride was caught ball watching at the far post while defending a corner and strayed enough to allow Carragher to slide in at the back post and latch onto Agger’s flick-on header.

Luis Garcia added a third for Liverpool with a high, looping header that sailed over Lastuvka and rattled the underside of the crossbar and dropped into the back of the goal before Mark Gonzalez (came on as a sub) floated in a gorgeous freekick bang on 90 minutes after Robbie Fowler (came on for Garcia in the second half) was taken down outside the area after a mazy run.

4-0 the final score from Anfield, the club with 10 goals in three games in a week, 8 of which were in the league. Nice omen in the run up to Christmas and delighted to see no complacency at all after the victory at Wigan last weekend. Lets keep it up…

Popularity: 7% [?]

Game Day: Bring On Fulham

So we finally got an away win last week after hammering Wigan 4-0. This, Liverpool, does not mean that you can now afford to slip up at home! We’ve done well to go unbeaten at Anfield in almost 14 months and in the corresponding fixture last season we hammered Fulham off the pitch, even Steve Warnock managing to get on the scoresheet (as we won 5-1).

More of the same today please!

As far as the game goes, it should be a good one. Robbie Fowler showed midweek that he’s in the mood for scoring, grabbing a brace against Galatasary. Craig Bellamy also showed that he’s found his league-scoring feet after grabbing a brace for himself against Wigan last Saturday. The trip to Turkey was a chance for Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina to recharge their batteries so expect them back in action without a doubt, along with Steve Finnan at right back.

Injury reports suggest Peter Crouch may well take a seat on the bench but with Fowler having scored in the fixture last year, and twice in midweek, as well as Dirk Kuyt having scored against Wigan, I wouldn’t be surprised if Crouch didn’t make the bench at all - either Fowler or Kuyt taking a spot with Bellamy to start up front.

Credit to Liverpool, we’ve kept four clean sheets in a row now in the league while Fulham have one of the leakiest defences at the moment so whatever the outcome I’ll be expecting a Liverpool goal or two.

If you can’t get near the TV but can get to the radio, Today FM (100-102FM) have the Liverpool v Fulham clash as their featured game of the day with full radio commentary from Anfield. You can also catch the game on Liverpoolfc.tv through the e-season ticket.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Alonso Doesn’t Want Barcelona

Xabi Alonso has come out speaking after last night’s Champions League group-stage wrap-up with the Spaniard revealing that he doesn’t really want to face Barcelona, or other Spanish opposition for that matter (with Real Madrid also a possibility in the draw tomorrow).

Now, I would prefer to avoid Barcelona. Maybe it would be great to meet them in the semi-final or the final. We know whoever we get in the next round will be really tough but it will also be exciting.

Who can blame him though.

Personally I don’t want to see Barcelona at this stage of the competition, I don’t know how ready we are for them. We can’t play Chelsea, Arsenal or United but with the two Spaniards (Barca and Madrid) available so too are Roma and Inter along with Porto, Lille and Celtic.

Liverpool and Celtic? Yes please. Liverpool and Lille? Sure why not! Everyone will be hoping for a slightly easier path through to the last sixteen.

They cannot play PSV Eindhoven from their own group, but Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Roma are potential opponents from Tuesday’s final group games, while Celtic, Porto and Lille were added to the list of possibilities after Wednesday night’s matches.

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Result: Galatasary 3 - 2 Liverpool

So that didn’t go exactly as I had planned. Blinked and all of a sudden it was 3-1 to Galatasary before Robbie found the net at the end of the game. Nice to see him score twice though, at least scoring at all!

So Liverpool traveled to Galatasary last night and came away with a 3-2 loss, Robbie Fowler scoring in the opening 20 minutes or so of the game to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead before the Turkish side clawed their way up to 3-1 with goals coming through Necate Ates and Okan Buruk in quick succession midway through the first half before Sasa Ilic added a third in the second half. No sign of a big comeback from Liverpool this time around.

Fowler’s first goal came after 22 minutes, finding himself on the end of a low ball from Bellamy, turning the ball in almost on his back over the line past Mondragon in the Galatasary goal.

That would be all from Liverpool for a while as only two minutes later, Necate Ates took a loose ball from Alonso and ran to Dudek, slotting past the Pole with ease. Four minutes later Liverpool heads were spinning as Okan Buruk make it 2-1 with a sublime finish, firing home from all of 40 yards with a huge volley giving Dudek no chance.

Sasa Ilic fired Galatasary a further goal ahead during the second half before Fowler stepped up almost on the stroke of full time with a good header courtesy of a Jermaine Pennant cross.

Not the ideal way to finish the campaign - PSV struggling too last night as they lost to Bordeaux having already qualified - but we’re there on top of the table and we can concentrate on the league until Spring.

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Live: Galatasaray vs Liverpool (Team)

Here’s the team for tonights game, just kicking off….

Dudek, Peltier, Carragher, Agger, Paletta, Riise, Pennant, Alonso, Guthrie, Fowler, Bellamy.

On the bench are David Martin, Paul Anderson, Roque, Dirk Kuyt, Darby (up from the youths), Crouch and Luis Garcia.

Not exactly the weakened side I expected, its still quite strong with Carragh and Alonso to anchor the defence and midfield respectively, Fowler and Bellamy spearheading the attack.

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Game Day: Off To Galatasary We Go

So we get to the end of the group stage in time for the Christmas break once again, this time in the comfort of knowing that we’ve already finished top of the group and have been there for a little while. PSV were disposed of and while the game this evening is relatively meaningless in terms of competition progress, it does give the younger members of the squad a chance to shine on the European stage.

Stevens Gerrard and Finnan will remain at Anfield along with Sami Hyypia and likely Pepe Reina, leaving Jerzy Dudek to start in Turkey, hopefully to turn in a performance on a par with the last time he played out in Turkey with Liverpool. Barring the fact that we’ve still qualified, it would be good to finish on winning ways don’t you think? No doubt too that Galatasary will be out to stop Liverpool, even with qualification beyond them (one point in five games) they’ve still got home pride to play for and a relatively hostile atmosphere to back them.

Tonight also offers Liverpool a chance to score their 250th goal in European competition, something Craig Bellamy might not mind doing given his good display against Wigan at the weekend. Hopefully all the talk and media coverage around the proposed takeover won’t have any adverse effects on the pitch.

Kick-off is 7:45pm in Turkey.

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Dubai Creating A New Era For Liverpool?

It happened at Chelsea, its starting to happen at West Ham, Man United are looking more on form than they ever have and now it looks like the Gillett family are out of the running for Liverpool with Dubai International Capital being awarded a period of due dilligence to analyse the Liverpool accounts and prepare the final motions of a takeover for the club.

Should we be getting our expectations up?

Said Ricky Parry of DIC

DIC is a potential investor with the resources and philosophy that we believe could make them an ideal partner. Already they have demonstrated a full understanding of, and respect for, the club’s heritage and values.

We also believe they share our passion for success. In particular, DIC believes in investing in the businesses it acquires. This is very important in terms of the proposed new stadium, which is key to plans for the regeneration of the local community.

To be honest, I’d rather see Steve Morgan up there or a local investor if the club is going to go for a price. People with money can do bad things as well as good so should we be worried about powerful foreign investors who seem more about money than team spirit (are you reading Roman Abromovich) or should we welcome the takeover with open arms - a sign that Liverpool are progressing once again as a leader in footballing terms, a chance for the team to seriously compete for top honours in the English league, something we haven’t been able to achieve in far too many years.

We’ve got big bills coming up, a new stadium in particular. There’s bound to be changes next season - if not even starting in January - with Jerzy Dudek, Sami Hyypia and Harry Kewell top of my chopping block list (oh there’s others as well, have no fear of that), but of course with changes you need to reinvest in the team, always making things better.

So, are the Dubai government creating a new era for Liverpool? They can have seven-star hotels, can they help produce a seven-star team? Is there someone at DIC who knowns anything about Liverpool, about the passion of the fans and their (our) hunger for the club or is it merely an investment in another foreign business for business sake?

Sure, its doing things for Chelsea but the revolving door at Stamford Bridge hasn’t stopped since the Russians arrived, that better not happen at Anfield.

Any thoughts on the matter?

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Liverpool Draw Arsenal Again

With Wenger expected to tell Thierry Henry today that he won’t play again until January we should have one less problem to worry about when Liverpool face Arsenal in the League Cup on December 19th. However, given that Henry will be back for Arsenal in January (if not before) then we’ll have to plan a bit extra as Liverpool and Arsenal have been paired together in the third round of the FA Cup, Liverpool entertaining The Gunners at home on both occasions.

At least we know there’ll be one major Premier League casulty when the competition takes full swing in the new year.

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Result: Wigan 0 - 4 Liverpool

I get back from Canada just in time to see that we’ve got our first away win of the season, beating Wigan 4-0 on the road. Nice way to return home, even if the weather here is desperate.

Craig Bellamy opened the scoring for the Reds after just 9 minutes and struck again 10 minutes later to add his and Liverpool’s second. Bellamy continued a strong performance in the first half, setting up Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool’s third before Lee McCulloch added a fourth with an own goal before half time, thus completing the rout in under 45 minutes.

Liverpool looked well and played well, Bellamy turning in a fantastic performance which should set him up nicely for a bit of a rest midweek as the clash against Galatasaray is already fairly meaningless.

Kudos to the team, hope it continues.

Popularity: 3% [?]

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