The 212th derby between Liverpool and Everton had quite an eventful first half. Notably, Gerrard was back and appeared to be fully fit. The half was all about losing possession as both teams were quite quick in doing so as the ball shifted hands or rather feet quite regularly.

The breakthrough did come, against the general run of play, of a deflected goal from a Mascherano shot! It was 1-0 in Liverpool’s favor with about 20 minutes of the first half gone. It was quite a relief for Liverpool, but given their recent misdemeanors in front of their own goal by their defense, it was no reason to get all bubbly. Everton had two goals disallowed in the half as a result of blatant offsides. Gerrard had little or no part to play in the first half of the match while the Liverpool defense still had the general frailty that has been on display all season long!

The second half saw the balance of power swing from one side to another. Louis Saha was brought on by the blue half of Liverpool on 65 minutes to inject some freshness up-front. Liverpool had 3 corners in quick succession but lacked the tooth to have a further impact on the score sheet. Reina was a real Liverpool hero on the 70th minute as he thwarted a double shot at goal by Everton which almost opened up Liverpool’s uncertain defense yet again.

On 75 minutes Benayoun was introduced for an ineffectual David Ngog. Aquilani is yet to make an appearance on the field for Liverpool. And by appearance, I don’t mean one that lasts a minute like in midweek!

And here goes. Its 75 minutes gone and thats cue for Benitez to make further substitutions as Albert Riera made his entrance for Fabio Aurelio after a really long lay off. David Moyes was matching substitution-for-substitiution at this point. You might have realized that the game had set itself into such subdued lethargy that the only notable moments in the game were that of players coming on and players going off.

The match was again stirred into action through a goal (at long last!) from Dirk Kuyt (at long last!) by a combination scrappy attack orchestrated by Gerrard and Riera to be clinically finished by Dirk Kuyt for whom a goal was wayyyyy overdue!

At 2-0 to Liverpool the score was more or less written in stone as it proved to be a happy derby day for the red half of Liverpool. Plus, they kept a clean sheet after a real long time in the Premier League! It was a highly subdued match punctuated only quite infrequently with the ardor that is associated with a derby clash but Liverpool will be happy to take all three points from this match to aid them in their quest for 3rd/4th spot.

Amidst rumors of lack of camaraderie in the Liverpool dressing room and noises of Everton and Liverpool having a stadium share in the future, Liverpool are being presented yet another opportunity to get their season back on the proverbial track with this fiercely contested Merseyside derby, this weekend.

The reds have been offered this opportunity only too often this season and they have blown it because of a combination of plain bad luck, lack of the dynamic duo, Gerrard and Torres and general featherbrained behavior when faced by dead ball situations.

Liverpool need to win the usually boisterous derby at Goodison park by a 2 or 3 goal margin if they are to allay any fears among the fans of slipping away the Leeds Utd way (exaggeration!).

Anyway, here is what the team may look like:

Reina (GK), Johnson (RB), Carragher (CB), Agger (CB), Insua (LB), Benayoun (RM/SR), Mascheranho (CDM), Leiva (CDM)/Aquilani(CDM/CM), Babel (LM), Gerrard(AMC/CF), Kuyt (SC).

Key: GK: Goalie, RB: Right Back, CB: center back, LB: Left back, RM: Right midfield, SR: Striker-Right, CDM: Central defensive midfield, LM: Left midfield, AMC: Attacking mid field, CF: center forward, SC: Striker-central.

Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League last night despite winning their match against Debrecen in the Hungarian capital.French international David Ngog’s first half strike put the Reds ahead of Debrecen in the must-win group-stage match. Liverpool, who won the Champions League in 2005 and were runners-up two years ago, needed to not only win their match but also needed Lyon to beat Fiorentina order to reach the Final 16 for the knock-out stages of the competition.

Unfortunately for the Reds, Fiorentina beat Lyon 1-0 in their match in Tuscany, ensuring that Fiorentina progressed at Liverpool’s expense. This is the first time in six years that Liverpool has failed to make it past the group stages of the European competition. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was left ruing the late goals conceded by his team against Lyon. They had been beaten 2-1 by the French champions at Anfield before drawing 1-1 at the Stade Gerland.

“It was our own fault in the end, the late goals we have conceded along the way have cost us,” said Benitez. “We have been so good in the last few years that maybe people think it is easy to qualify in all competitions. You have to be disappointed. We knew we had to win and we did. We can’t change what happened in the other match, but at least we did our job. If you look at the games, two late goals made a massive difference.”

Liverpool is expected to suffer a budgetary shortfall of about £2.4m for this season as a consequence of their group exit and this could be made worse if they continue their run of bad form in the Premier League and  fail to finish in the top four, adding another £10m loss. This would have a significant impact on the asking price of £100m for a 25% stake in Liverpool, which the owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are looking to sell.

Rafael Benitez, however, played down the financial aspect of failing to progress to the knock-out stage.”

“You have a budget at the beginning of the season and it assumes that we have qualified for the group stages of the Champions League. We did this. Two or three more games maybe, in terms of money, won’t make such a big difference. The main thing for us is to finish in the top four and to be in the Champions League group stages again next year”, said the Liverpool manager.

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow, insisted that Liverpool could withstand the financial impact of the early elimiation and added that Rafael Benitez’s position as Liverpool manager will not be undermined by Champions League exit.

Christian Purslow said, “This will have no bearing on Rafa whatsoever. He signed a new five-year deal four months ago and in those terms he is four months into a five-year journey. You don’t deviate from long‑term plans for people and the way to take the club to the next level because of two late goals against Lyon, and that’s what it boils down to.”

Liverpool will now be playing in the newly formed Europa League with the likes of Valencia, Benfica and neighbours Everton.

Liverpool plays crucial Merseyside derby match at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Sunday.

This man has been under the cosh more than too many times this season hasn’t he?

To anyone who thinks that Rafa has gone nuts more than erred, then he better think twice because whatever Rafa has been doing, he’s been methodically and systematically done them right.

From youth policies to first team selections, there isn’t really much fault, but it isn’t to say that it’s flawless all the way.

No matter the topic, no matter the occasion, no matter the result, there will never be a better, calmer, wiser tactician, manager and leader than Rafa at Liverpool.

Liverpool just opened the scoring over arch rivals Manchester United and Rafa barely bats an eyelid as he soaks it all in.

Liverpool goes 3 goals down in the first 30 minutes of a game and Rafa simply frowns, as he contemplate the changes.

The hungry press snips and bites at his managerial ability and he merely smiles and swats their criticisms  away like pesky houseflies, who know it all too well that the’ve overstayed their welcome.

Barely flinching at the slightest setback and rarely excitable, Rafa is a sea of perfect calm amidst the madness, infecting staffs and players, bringing about assurance and a sense of assertive confidence.

The perfect anecdote to an unnecessary chaotic scenario.

To the neutrals and his detractors, Rafa may be a forlorn nut case, a sacrificial lamb to the woeful run of results in recent weeks.

But to the ones who sits intently watching the Reds trot onto the field, to the ones who savour every inch perfect pass from the captain, Steven Gerrard, and to the ones who sings the club’s anthem and personifying its lyrics, we truly know what Rafa is all about.

Oh yes we do.

We know that he’s not a bad manager overnight, that he’s suddenly not a poor tactician, andthat he’s got a grand plan that will unveil itself, when the opportunity to do so presents itself.

Yes, we know it all.

It’s a red thing.

———-

AUTHOR BIO: Mar is a passionate, understanding and tolerable Reds fan through and through. Until he gets to visit Anfield and experience the KOP end, he’s not quite the perfect Kopites as yet, but he’s getting there, nevertheless. Catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and say hi.

“Sorry old boy, washing my hair that night”. Am I talking here about Fiorentina’s fans not being bothered to travel to Anfield for a meaningless game with Liverpool but saving their cash for a more cheerful Christmas? No, not really.

What a difference two months can make. When UEFA Champions League group stage caravan was ready to go, at the end of september, there were inevitable mass-media comments based on false assumptions that the “predictability of outcomes” and “the same sense of inertia enveloping the bloated early rounds” will generate a lack of interest and subsequently empty seats around the grounds, “as there is no obvious reason to desert the shampoo anywhere on the continent” in these autumn evenings apart from some big old clashes such as Juventus – Bayern, AC Milan – Real Madrid or Barcelona – Inter. I’ve cited from an oppinion going on the lines of Michel Platini’s alleged misjudgement to mix Europe’s finest, the cream of the elite, with some no-hopers.

Never mind the sarcasm which peppered the comment, “You can imagine the look on Jose Mourinho’s face when Inter were drawn in the same group as Rubin Kazan”, but some might argue that the chance itself for lesser clubs to face giants of the game is a step up on the ladder. The minnows can improve only by playing against the best in the trade.

And others might not be so imaginative yet they’ve noticed Pep Guardiola’s face when the current UEFA Champions League holders were defeated on Camp Nou by Gokdeniz Karadeniz 73rd minute strike. It was 2-1 for Rubin in Barcelona. Actually, not that much of a shock, after a 0-0 draw in Kazan, when the Russian champion was already sprinting towards back to back domestic titles.

It’s well documented the fact that Russian clubs take advantage on their day from the unusual spring-autumn format of the season. Only on this basis and the champions of the EURO 2008 semifinalist shouldn’t have been taken for granted. Not to mention their clubs resurgence in UEFA Cup, which was won by CSKA Moscow and Zenit Sankt Petersburg in 2005 and 2008 respectivelly. That’s a harvest double the amount of England’s, triumphant in UEFA Cup in the last 25 years only through Liverpool, in 2001, but this record can be adjusted in may, in Hamburg, with The Reds derailed from glamorous  UEFA Champions League to its poorer renamed cousin, UEFA Europa League. 

The shampoo will be deserted on wednesday the 9th of december in favour of a journey to San Siro for an exciting Inter – Rubin Kazan decider, with Jose Mourinho’s men and Karadeniz et co equal on points. What can you ask for more? Goliath hosting David and not the other way round, another inconvenience for Europe’s finest, through the eyes of western commentators, to have to pull their alike extraterestrial buses in some “Eastern European backwater”. Although there are human beings living and buying football tickets even there, apparently it seems a stage not glitzy enough for the uber-entities.

It was often the case – and a repeat scenario won’t be any surprise - that the bigger clubs prevailed despite a stuttering start or a poor form altogether in the group stage. The smart money will be on Jose Mourinho’s coat and hairstyle to be admired on the glamorous stage as well in spring but it has to be pointed out that no team is by any means qualified yet from this supposedly inbalanced group. And that says a lot about minnows’ progress. A 2-2 draw as Inter made in Milano against Dinamo Kiyv will do though for the Italian champions.   

 And who would have imagined that Fiorentina Firenze will go through the group stage for the first time in its history at the expense of a seasoned Liverpool side? Or who would have thought that unknown Unirea Urziceni will shatter Glasgow Rangers on Ibrox Park with a 4-1 which contributed to the elimination of Scotland’s champions before the last group games were played?

These are some questions to ponder about. The shampoo will be in use in Glasgow when Gers will travel to Seville for an academic outing against the top of the group Andalucians. Full credit to Dan Petrescu, once a versatile player not only for Chelsea, now a capable manager providing an answer in his own way to another ironic arrow targeting Michel Platini. The commentator was asking if the name of Urziceni is the acceptable contraction…

Well, it’s just a name and nothing else, no better or worse than Stuttgart. Urzica is a plant, a stinging nettle, and has therapeutic values. While Platini’s ideals, to evolve the game on the virtues of solidarity and universality, mentioned when he took helm of UEFA in january 2007, seem already to bear fruit. Or may be some observers discomfort is coming from the president’s suggestion that 4 representatives for England or Spain might be a bit too much and that indebted clubs might end one day thrown out of the competition.

Some might say that I’m very harsh and punitive on some wrong predictions. But I’ll argue that it’s not about some wild results that unexpectedly occured, say AC Milan – Zurich 0-1, Atletico Madrid – Apoel Nicosia 0-0, Bayern Munich – Bordeaux 0-2 or even Manchester United – CSKA Moscow 3-3, given that just an owngoal in the 93rd minute have undone the 2005 UEFA Cup winners at Old Trafford, where Besiktas has won as well, but it’s about the concept of rightly mixing in the group stage the mighty and powerful with some new faces.

Enough knock-out stages will then follow for the big clubs to grace the loftier stratospheres of the competition. But as New Zealand, Honduras or North Korea sneaked through in the group stages of 2010 World Cup final, so UEFA Champions League can do with a few underdogs. No harm but – as it was proved – some excitement.

And isn’t it ironic that it went full circle, if it is to quote again the commentary: “[...] another fixture to get hearts pumping; Unirea Urziceni, of Romania, versus, VFB Stuttgart”. You bet it is. Nothing else than a win will do for Die Schwaben to go through. And by the way, the club’s name is correctly spelled with f and not F. Verein fur Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e.V.

Some minnows proved that Platini’s competition format has its merits and it’s just fair to point out that a former European champion both at club and national level, with Juventus Torino and France, who won as well both domestic competitions in Italy and his native country, winning Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Supercup and Intercontinental Cup among other trophees, might be more of a visionary with the game’s best interests at heart than some pundits can imagine.

Will Jose Mourinho succeed against Rubin? Or will he find the going as tough as Rafael Benitez did with Liverpool?

While being here and casting an eye on the backwater of Eastern Europe, just one more point to make. It’s surprising to say and admit that for all their travel, some football writers must lack some geography knowledge.  Why I’m saying this? The same error is repeated for decades, mistakingly including footballing nations as say Czech Republic or Hungary, you name them, in… Eastern Europe.

Well, it’s a well known fact even at kindergarten in mainland Europe that the continent’s eastern border consists of Ural Mountains, at meridian 60 E, which splits the Russian Federation into two: the European Russia and the Asian Russia. Take any map and you’ll notice that European Russian Federation is extremely wide, occupying the whole eastern front of the continent. That’s Eastern Europe…

Which leaves the lot, Czech Republic et all, nowhere else but in Central Europe. The meridians are giving an even more accurate view of what’s what in terms of positioning on our continent’s map, be it a footballing one or not. The 60 degrees E meridian is roughly where Urals are stretching from north to south, while the 30 degrees E meridian cuts across eastern Finland, Belarus and Ukraine. Meridian O passes Greenwich.

So how comes that Slavia or Sparta Prague, bang on the western side of 15 degrees E meridian, so much closer to London than to Moscow, are… eastern European clubs? It defies everything: maps, geography, logic, truth…

To emphasise the aforementioned point about the imbalance of power in the elitist Champions League, the columnist choose poor Unirea Urziceni as a perfect “example”, comparing David with mighty Real Madrid. Well, geographically wise, the same error… Urziceni, the town surprisingly holding the current domestic national title in Romania, even being in eastern Romania, is actually bang in central Europe, whichever way you want to study the map of real Europe, known at kindergarten. Somewhere at mid distance between the western points of say Ireland and Portugal and the Urals.

Unirea Urziceni, this unknown quantity with an unpronouncable name, was deemed as an unworthy opponent for the big and powerful, with the stroke of a keyboard. It took decades for minor Romanian outfits to break the horrendous state controlled hijacking of national football, with Steaua and Dinamo the big bullies on the scene. CFR Cluj made history last year by winning the title, despite all the machinations of Steaua. Cluj-Napoca, a provincial city from Transylvania, have defied the structures of power.

Unirea Urziceni followed the trend and, from nowhere, finished on top, due to Dan Petrescu’s managerial knowhow. His skills honed in Poland, at Wisla Krakow, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea London full back hit the jackpot by bringing the title in a place the size of Slough. Actually, I’m exaggerating, as Slough is quite big.

Instead of recognizing the amazing shift of power in Romanian football, where it seems that truth starts to prevail and Steaua and Dinamo find it harder and harder to control through corruption, sleaze and influence, some are questioning, placing in imaginary boxes and taking the mickey out of the newborn stars. And I say stars but they might be only comets, shining just for a while. It’s their moment, so why to pick them as “examples” in this infinite talk about the Champions League format moulded by Platini!? Because it’s convenient for some…

The simple truth is that Urziceni is not in eastern Europe, whateversome Western Europeans want to believe, and that Unirea did a wonderful job in following the footsteps of another minnow, CFR Cluj Napoca. A few more like them and we’ll escape the plague of associating Romanian football with the names of Steaua and Dinamo. 

I just assume that if Steaua would have won the title and represent Romania in Champions League, it wouldn’t have been picked as an “example” in the explanation about the imbalance of power in the group stages of the European elite.  Just because Steaua won the old European Cup in ‘86 with players cherrypicked from various minnows, some are assuming that it must be a powerful enough entity to be worthy of a home and away double with Real Madrid. Well, Olympique Lyonnais visited Bucharest recently and showed the real difference in power.

And if one day Steaua will pay even without interest the unpaid transfer sums for players… recruited in those days in the Army, then the mighty and powerful of the Iron Curtain block will be bankrupt and buried, while the “minnows” derided now will empower themselves at least for the merit of bringing talents to the footballing world.

And please don’t show to anybody at Steaua or Dinamo the UEFA Champions League group table with Urziceni in second place, with 8 points. Spare them of blushing for the 5 points gathered all together, with 3 goals scored and 12 conceded, in the eight games played in UEFA Europa League groups, scratching the bottom…

Click on the thumbnails to see full size (Bấm vào hình nhỏ để xem hình lớn):

Liverpool er i krise. Fullstendig krise. Klubben som fulgte Man Utd til døra i kampen om Premier League i fjor. Så var klubben dumme nok til å selge en av de beste midtbanespillerne i ligaen, Alonso, og dermed er krisen et faktum. Liverpool FC er en legendarisk klubb med et middelmådig mannskap. I hvertfall hvis klubben har som mål å vinne trofeer. Det er kun Torres, Gerrard og Pepe Reina som holder høy internasjonal klasse.

Som City-supporter fryder jeg meg når andre klubber gjør det dårlig, ikke fordi jeg håper at den konkrete klubben skal gjøre det dårlig, men fordi det blir bedre plass til de fremadstårmende blaa fra Manchester. Men vi City-supportere er vant til det meste, og klager mer enn vi har godt av. Derfor er det litt forfriskende å se at Benitez ikke umiddelbart få¨r sparken. Men at det satses på kontiunitet. Det er viktig i enhver klubb.

Men det er flere av kjøpene og salgene til Benitez som har vært så dårlige, at man kan begynne å lure. Robbie Keane, Degen, Han grekern, Alonso +++ Hadde jeg vært LFC-fan, så ville jeg byttet ut hele ledelsen i klubben, fra de sjarmerende eierne til manager.

E plictisitor, plictisitor de moarte, fiind deci cazul s-o luam din loc. A fost concluzia lui Roy Keane despre reactia unei intregi Irlande, mai putin a sa, of course, la hentul lui Henry, parere exprimata la nici doua zile dupa jocul de la Paris.

Sunt perfect de-acord cu Keane c-ar fi timpul sa scriem si de-altceva. Dar, intr-o ultima radiografiere a tonelor de hartie consumate in Albion pe marginea meciului intre vecinii de peste Canalul Manecii si Marea Irlandei, m-am izbit de editorialul unuia dintre cele mai reputate peneluri din Regatul Unit, al carui comentariu m-a facut sa pricem ca, in ciuda deceniilor petrecute de la distanta ori de la fata locului cu ochii pe fotbalul insular, nu deprinsesem o piatra de temelie a etosului jocului inventatorilor sai.

Intr-o stranie coincidenta in privinta nationalitatii eroilor fazei aduse in discutie de jurnalist, se intampla cu doar 9 zile inaintea henturilor de pe Stade de France ca un mulatru atacant francez sa obtina un penalty nemeritat, plonjand in careu ca in bazin, in preajma unui mijlocas irlandez ce se lansase intr-o deposedare prin alunecare, fara insa a-l fi atins. Faza s-a derulat in ultimul joc al etapei dinaintea meciurilor intertari, mai exact Liverpool – Birmingham City, intr-o luni seara.

David Ngog a patruns pe flancul stang, a cazut neobstructionat in careu, arbitrul a acordat penalty iar irlandezul Lee Carsley s-a facut foc si para pe francez si oficial. Acest incident, si nu mult discutatul dublu hent de la Paris, a fost subiectul randurilor ce mi-au dezvaluit un fapt esential despre crezul iubitorilor de fotbal din Regat.

Am aflat astfel ca, la conferinta de presa dinaintea recentei partide Liverpool – Manchester City, un alt 2-2, ca si cu City din Birmingham, Rafael Benitez s-ar fi exprimat ca plonjonul lui Ngog s-a constituit intr-o mai mica ofensa la adresa fotbalului decat un tackling periculos. La care, atragandu-i-se atentia ca auditoriul englez are o perceptie inversata in aceasta privinta, spanionul a solicitat presarilor sa incerce furnizarea unei ordini mai umane a prioritatilor.

E posibil ca, influentat de numarul accidentatilor din lot in cursul acestei toamne, incluzand piese cheie ca Gerrard si Torres, antrenorul Benitez sa fi incercat diminuarea oprobiului iscat la adresa oportunismului tanarului sau atacant prin a-i aseza plonjonul in lumina unor “rele” pe care le considera mai mari, exemplificand tacklingurile ce pun in pericol ori chiar accidenteaza adversari.

Benitez nu si-a gasit insa cu acest punct de vedere aliati intre ziaristi. Dintre care, editorialistul a dezvaluit consensul sincer al breslei ca, amintind de-un plonjon similar din vara al lui Eduardo, in jocul Arsenal – Celtic, gestul brazilianului-croat a fost mai grav decat incidentul in care ii era rupt piciorul, intr-un tackling considerat accidental, comis acum 20 de luni, coincidenta, de un fundas de la… Birmingham City, Martin Taylor. Faultul de maidan din preajma centrului terenului, in primele minute ale acelei partide, e probabil inca intiparit pe retina multor telespectatori, cu tibia lui Eduardo franta ca o grisina si cu Wenger explodand imediat dupa fluierul final, cum ca Taylor ar trebui suspendat pe viata din fotbal. Sentinta pe care si-a renegat-o in aceeasi seara.

Ei bine, dintotdeauna am admirat fair-playul britanic si, mai mult, am detestat copios trucurile de tot felul ale fotbalului in general de sorginte latina, contrast care m-a determinat cu si mai mare usurinta sa simpatizez abordarea insularilor. Dar n-am intuit ca britanicilor le repugna intr-asemenea masura teatralitatea ori micile farse ale jocului latin incat sa imbratiseze ca pe un mai mic rau o incercare de deposedare generand oase rupte. In fiecare zi invatam cate ceva si abia acum am priceput ordinea lucrurilor, pe un subiect de principiu mai mult decat important in privinta fotbalului insular.

Benitez, dupa 6 ani in Albion, de o parte a faliei, iar presarii de cealalta, cand vine vorba de merele stricate ale fotbalului. Plonjonul in speranta unui penalty ori tacklingul primejdios. Falia e probabil extinsa in aceasta privinta, existand in general intre jocul din Marea Britanie si cel continental ori macar latin.

Iar pentru a-si fortifica argumentul, comentatorul a exemplificat atacul lui Guthrie, in primavara inca in elita cu Newcastle, care a sprintat la tinta, scotandu-l din joc pe Fagan, de la Hull City, dar nu pentru restul partidei, ci pe cateva luni de zile, considerand ca faultul sau, desi in mod evident premeditat, ar atrage mai putine critici decat plonjonul teatral al lui Ngog.

Aici consider ca este o fortare a notei, o exagerare, ori  – din contra – tocmai dovada absoluta a spiritului de lupta al bulldogului britanic, “fibra” esentiala a jocului in insula. Jos palaria daca determinarea respectivilor jucatori, oricat de amenintator ar parea tacklingul, ar rezulta intr-o deposedare curata prin alunecare, mingea si nu adversarul. Insa in cazul in care atacurile s-au lasat, in cazurile amintite, cu fracturi si multe luni prin sali de recuperare si pe tusa, imi cer iertare, dar n-ar putea avea mai multa trecere in fata incercarii unui Ngog de a obtine pe nedrept penalty.

In motricitatea lui Ngog nu s-a deslusit ca ar cauta penaltyul cu lumanarea, doar “saniuta” lui Carsley determinandu-l sa incerce in ultima clipa marea cu sarea, pe cand acel hei-rup al lui Guthrie, lansat la rupere, a fost cu premeditare. Acestea au fost exemplele alese de ziarist pentru a-si reliefa punctul de vedere, creand implicit o falie intre perceptia sa si probabil nu doar a lui Benitez, ci a destulor exponenti ai fotbalului non-insular.

Articolul mi-a pus in alta lumina marja acceptabilitatii deposedarii in fotbalul insular, placandu-mi mult tacklingurile desavarsite dar gasindu-le uneori mai mult decat la limita chiar si pe cele ale lui Paul Scholes, altfel deloc un jucator “murdar”.  

Mai jos, faultul asupra lui Eduardo si plonjonul sau contra lui Celtic, unii presari considerand a doua infractiune ca fiind mai grava. Va las pe Dumneavoastra sa decideti. Gusturile nu se discuta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qryjPi4KEek

E pe ritmuri sud-americane. Si zau ca mi s-ar face inima cat un purice, sa-mi mai sara cineva la picioare, dupa atacul de mai sus. Dar de-aceea nu-s fotbalist si scrijelesc in lumea virtuala.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL5G6eAsfgY  

Liverpool certainly started the game with a lot of promise, what with Steven Gerrard in the starting eleven, although (spoiler alert!) he was kept quite all game long. What was quite surprising and could be touted a “medical miracle” that Benayoun and Riera were on the bench after receiving what could only be described a massage with a happy ending as they were massaged back to health with horse placenta of all therapeutic er… fluids?

After quite a positive quarter of an hour for Liverpool, their injury troubles boiled over on the field within the space of 3 or 4 minutes as Agger, on his return match, was taken out on the stretcher as a result of a concussion and similar fate awaited Ryan “rare starter” Babel as he picked up a rather nasty knock on the ankle (bring in the horse placenta!). Kyrgiakos and Benayoun replaced respectively, the injury prone defender, Daniel Agger, and the stay-on-bench prone Ryan Babel. From then on, barring a few weak corners from Liverpool a pot shot at goal by Mascherano and Lucas (what??!??) the half ended in a disappointingly drab note for the Red contingent.

Skrtel Scores but Liverpool draw. www.soccernet.com

The second half looked to begin with the same kind of verve or lack of, as the first half, at least as far as Liverpool were concerned. But of all people, Skrtel had different ideas. A free kick duly taken by Steven Gerrard resulted in a goal by a leg stuck out by none other than Martin Skrtel as the Slovakian defender celebrated his world cup qualification with a goal and a vital one for Liverpool. Liverpool’s first of the game. Skrtel’s first for Liverpool! But the job was far from done as there were 40 more minutes to go.

The heavy shadows that Liverpool had been casting for a good part of the previous two months looked spry again. And Rafa Benitez looked…. as stoic as ever! Turn that frown upside down Rafa!

Manchester City had different ideas as the game progressed and as if to prove Liverpool’s continuing inefficacy from set piece situations, Adebayor had to go and score of a corner in the 69th minute. This squared the match at 1-1 and all Rafa could do was wipe his classes down on his designer purple tie. Liverpool, I am sure, did recognize that a draw was not an option.

With 20 minutes to go, I was having an increasing feeling of deja vu. A feeling that isn’t really nice when associated with Liverpool’s current season given their poor form. This foreboding Deja vu turned to reality with a Stephen Ireland goal with Skrtel switching off for the second time in less than 10 minutes. This did not bode well for Liverpool as they have increasingly found themselves staring down the wrong end of a gun!

Having said that, in a matter of seconds, Placenta boy Benayoun slide-scored a goal to put Liverpool back in the fray. 2-2! The pitch was on fire, figuratively of course. The sort of fire that Liverpool would like to turn into a regular conflagration ala “Premier League season 2008-2009″, to zing Manchester City.

And minute 81. Whats this??? Cometh the hour, cometh the man??!??! Movement on the bench! Aquilani stirs!!!! Oh, he stirs to move into the tunnel to take a wee. It’s Fabio Aurelio, the other Placenta boy who would be coming on, ostensibly at least. At least, he was stripping down to his strip. With five minutes of regular time to go, Aurelio did come on for Benayoun as the latter had to recharge his placenta cream treatment quota!

The final cast of the die, which has been biased against Liverpool this season, did’t result in any jubilation for either side. Liverpool dropped a further two points. Two points that will prove to be crucial as I think it is quite safe to write Liverpool off now.

Liverpulio vadovas Rafael Benitez džiaugiasi Glen`o Johnson`o forma, jo manymu, tai vienas geriausių žaidėjų Europos futbolo arenoje. Šį sezoną žaidėjas buvo nupirktas už 18 milijonų svarų sterlingų.

“Jis dar turi kur tobulėti, tačiau vertinant balansą tarp žaidėjo gebėjimo atakuoti ir gintis – jis vienas geriausių”, – teigia Liverpulio vadovas.

La fatidica data di overture del mercato di riparazione si avvicina inesorabile e la dirigenza bianconera corre ai ripari

I had rather hoped that I would be updating this blog more regularly but alas this has not been the case so I apologise to my many readers (all five of them!) and promise only that I wil try to do better.

It’s been pretty quiet of late. I’ve been getting the head down, trying to get on top of this dissertation although last night I got a welcome reprieve from an evening with the books when I was offered the chance to be part of Click Liverpool’s live coverage of Liverpool’s hosting of Birmingham, a game that disappointingly finished 2-2.

It was my first foray into the press box at Anfield and indeed into the inner bowels of the stadium. The plush carpets and the warm and welcoming press room where soup, sandwiches, tea and coffee were aplenty. Unfortunately I’d been the chippy beforehand.

As the journos were busy tapping away on their laptops and Mark Lawrenson was shooting the breeze with the BBC folk, joking about Andriy Voronin’s nickname being Bon Jovi I took it all in and learned a bit about how Click is covering each Liverpool home game with exclusive minute by minute reports.

I was charged with the task of collating the stats as the game progressed, not as easy as you would think especially when temperatures felt like they were below zero and every so often I had to wiggle my toes just to ensure they weren’t frozen.

Fortunately I had gloves for my hands, my colleague Richard Buxton wasn’t so lucky as he rubbed his hands together for heat whilst incessantly and impressively typing out the game’s action.

In some ways the atmosphere was so much better in the press box as you could take it all in, the view was fantastic and you could hear Alex McLeish go mental on the touchline as well as witness at close hand Birmingham’s new owner, Carson Yeung, sit comfortably in his ridiculous dead animal coat.

But then again there are draw backs like not being able to jump for joy when David Ngog opened the scoring or swear continually when Cameron Jerome put the visitors in front.

Afterwards I took in the press conferences of McLeish and Rafael Benitez, both good football men, both disappointed. The former by David Ngog’s dive for the penalty and the latter by the result which makes it one win in nine games for the Reds.

These are dark times at Anfield but yet there is a togetherness about the place and you can sense it just as much in the press room and the inner depths of the great stadium as you can in its famous stands.

Geçen sene, “geldikleri gibi giderler” türünden söylemlerle Premier Lig’e merhaba diyen Stoke City, debut sezonda istikrarlı bir görüntü çizince ikinci ve herkesin yorumladığı üzere en zor senede Hull City ile birlikte mercek altına alındı. Hull City kadar flaş bir ilk sezon geçirmeyen Pullis ve öğrencileri bunun verdiği rahatlıkla ikinci sezonda şu ana kadar son derece başarılı bir görüntü çiziyorlar. Görüntüyü netleştiren isimlerin belki de en başında Ferguson‘un yetiştirdiği Ryan Shawcross var.

Sezon başında Benitez stoper ararken ısrarla Ryan Shawcross‘u isteyince İspanyol‘un yine boş bir stopere tonla para vereceğini düşünmüş, sinirlenmiştim. 8 milyonluk teklifin Pullis tarafından reddedildiğini öğrenmem sinirime tuz biber olmuştu. O tarihten itibaren ön yargılı bir biçimde tek gözümü Shawcross‘a yönelttim ve bu süreç bana ne kadar yanıldığımı gösterdi. Başta Ferdinand olmak üzere neredeyse tüm İngiliz stoperlerin yerlerde süründüğü şu dönemde Shawcross kalitesini herkese gösteriyor.

Utd altyapısından yetişmesine rağmen tek bir resmi maçta bile kırmızı formayı giyemeyen Ryan kiralık olarak Antwerp ve Stoke‘da 1,5 yıl geçirdikten sonra 2 milyon karşılığı, tapusuyla Stoke‘un oyuncusu oldu. Stoper oynamasına ve genç yaşına rağmen inanılmaz bir istikrarla, giydiği formayı geri vermemeyi kendine huy edinmiş, 3,5 yıllık profesyonel futbol hayatında 15 gol atmış bir devden söz ediyorum.

Bir haftadır Stoke‘la yeni sözleşme imzalayacak, spekülasyonları bitirecek haberleri çıkıyordu. Pek inanmıyordum ama bugün resmen 4.5 yıllığına anlaşıldığı açıklandı. Pullis ve tüm camia derin bir oh çekmiştir. Benitez‘le birlikte hayal kırıklığı paydasının en büyüğü Ferguson‘un diyebilirim. 2 sene önce gönderdiği oyuncuyu geri almaya çalıştığını görmemiştim, hem de sattığının 7-8 katına ama o rakamlara bile başaramadı. Ocak ayı için ciddi ciddi Shawcross‘la ilgilenen Ferguson dev stoperi Stoke‘a satarken sözleşmesine “ilk transfer hakkı Utd‘ındır” maddesi koydurmasına rağmen Ryan‘ın Stoke‘a olan sevgisi ve İngiltere‘nin Dünya kupası kadrosunda yer almak için sürekli oynama gerekliliği yüzünden amacına ulaşamadı. Çıldırtacak derecede formsuz olan Vidic ve Ferdinand‘ı son maçta yedek bırakan İskoç hoca kime yönelecek merak ediyorum.

Bu imza ile birlikte şunu söyleyebilirim ki, her ne kadar bu hafta kaybedilen Hull City maçında Tuncay‘a yapılan tavır sebebiyle kızgın olsam da, Stoke kalıcı bir Premier Lig kulübü olma yolunda sağlam bir adım attı.

Après l’exploit réalisé à Anfield 2 semaines auparavant, les Lyonnais recevaient les Reds à Gerland dans l’optique de se qualifier pour les huitièmes de finale de la Ligue des Champions dès leur 4^ème match de poule. Les Anglais de Liverpool, eux, venaient en France en quête de 3 points primordiaux afin de rester dans la course à la qualification pour la suite de la compétition. Les Reds, pourtant si habitués de ce rendez-vous européen, n’avaient pas encore montré leur vrai visage. Espérant un nouveau départ grâce au match retour contre l’OL, les Anglais allaient vite déchanter. Une habitude cette année.

Le film du match :

Les Lyonnais ont réalisé, hier, leur match de ligue des champions 2009/2010 le plus ennuyeux pour leurs supporters. Témoins de cela, les chants des supporters lyonnais qui ont résonné dans toute la ville pendant 80 minutes. Le plus ennuyeux mais aussi le match le plus prolifique au niveau des blessures. En effet, en 40 minutes, Claude Puel avait déjà utilisé deux changements sur les trois possibles à cause des sorties sur blessure de Réveillère à la 18^ème et de Pjanic à la 40^ème, remplacés respectivement par Gassama et Ederson. Pendant ce temps, les Anglais dominaient les débats. Plusieurs occasions de buts s’offraient à eux mais par un souci de réalisme et de réussite, ni Torres à la 12^ème, ni Kuyt à la 17^ème ou encore Voronin à la 28^ème n’arrivaient à trouver la clé pour battre un Hugo Lloris impérial. Côté lyonnais, Lisandro Lopez, insatisfait de son placement à gauche de l’attaque, ne montrait pas l’étendu de ses talents. L’OL n’arrivait pas à reprendre le contrôle du ballon … et quittait le terrain à la mi temps dans cette situation. Heureusement, la causerie du coach, Claude Puel, sembla payer car les coéquipiers de Cris revenaient de la pause avec de meilleures ambitions. A la 48^ème et à la 57^ème, Ederson et Bastos s’essayaient au tir, l’un du pied, l’autre de la tête, mais les occasions n’étaient pas cadrées. Sur coup franc, Kallström n’avait pas la même réussite que Wendel un jour avant . C’est alors que Babel, éternel espoir, rentra en lieu et place de Voronin. S’en suivit la plus nette occasion anglaise. Lloris réalisa un arrêt Omeyerien sur une frappe de Leiva et Cissokho dégagea, sur sa ligne, un retourné de Kuyt dans la foulée. Les cages du portier français chauffaient. Et malgré un temps fort lyonnais dû au replacement de Lopez dans l’axe de l’attaque lyonnaise, les filets des Gones explosaient sous un coup de pétard signé de l’Hollandais Babel des vingt mètres. L’OL semblait abattu par ce coup du sort et se résignait alors à une défaite. C’était sans compter sur Lisandro qui voulait renouer avec le chemin des filets. L’Argentin se retrouva face à Reina et sa frappe termina au fond des cages anglaises. Joie, larmes, éclats de voix, le public lyonnais appréciait ce retournement de situation digne des plus grandes équipes. Le coup de sifflet final retentissait, Aulas pouvait sourire : ce Lyon là ira loin !

L’analyse :

Qu’on se le dise, Claude Puel, tacticien lyonnais, cherche désespérément son équipe type en Ligue des Champions depuis le début de cette année. Des essais, l’association de Gomis avec Lisandro Lopez, la seule titularisation de l’un ou l’autre comme avant centre. Bilan : pas de réelle découverte et pas de déclic montrant la fin de cette recherche. Hier soir, l’ancien entraineur Lillois a opté pour les titularisations de la « Panthère » et de l’Argentin. Seul problème, l’un des deux, Lisandro en l’occurrence, est voué à jouer sur le flanc de l’attaque. Pour le reste de la formation lyonnaise, un 4-3-3 habituel.

Sur l’autre banc, Rafael Benítez, handicapé par l’absence pesante de son moteur, j’ai nommé Steven Gerrard, avait composé un 4-2-3-1. En défense, le gros changement était le placement de Carragher sur l’aile droite. Ajoutés à ça, deux milieux récupérateur, Lucas et Mascherano et 3 milieux à Vocation offensive, Kuyt, Voronin et Benayoun. Et enfin, en attaque, El Nino, diminué par une blessure.

A Liverpool, si Torres et Insua ont intéressé, Voronin et Carragher ont déçu. Seul attaquant en pointe des Reds, hier soir, El Nino a essayé à chaque moment de créer le danger. Diminué par sa blessure, il n’a pas pu être à 100% dans ses duels. A seulement 20 ans, Emiliano Insua, formé au Boca Juniors, se fait sa place en tant qu’arrière gauche de Liverpool. Ne lâchant rien et fort de bons centres adressés à Voronin et Torres, le petit Insua deviendra grand. Parmi les déceptions anglaises, l’attaquant Ukrainien, Andriy Voronin. Toujours en quête de but, celui-ci abordait le match à Lyon avec beaucoup d’espoirs. Malgré sa titularisation et son occasion en un contre un avec le portier lyonnais, l’Ukrainien n’a pas su saisir sa chance, dommage. On finit dans les déceptions avec le match de Carragher. Déplacé à droite, l’Anglais n’a pas semblé à l’aise. Dans le collimateur de l’arbitre très rapidement, le défenseur s’est retenu durant la suite du match.

Du côté lyonnais, la panthère n’était pas au rendez-vous. Gomis, trop lent dans ses déplacements, n’a pas convaincu. Souvent trop esseulé en attaque, Gomis a souffert. Pendant que certains rendaient une pâle copie de leur match, d’autres confirmaient leur bonne forme. C’est le cas d’Hugo Lloris, le gardien de l’équipe de France, qui a réalisé 4 parades de très grande classe. Que ça soit dans ses détentes ou ses réflexes, il est au top. Assommé et sorti sur civière à l’aller, Cris avait permis la découverte de Maxime Gonalons. Hier soir, costaud et parfait dans ses duels, notamment avec Torres, « Cris le policier » est de retour. Pour finir, Michel Bastos, le technicien brésilien, a réalisé un bon match. Il a montré plusieurs fois son talent technique par ses dribbles mais a manqué d’un petit quelque chose en finition.

Grâce à leur match nul arraché sur le fil, les Lyonnais se sont qualifiés pour les huitièmes de finale, une habitude pour eux depuis plusieurs saisons. Cependant, cette année, l’équipe semble à un niveau plus élevé que celui des dernières saisons. Un gardien au top, un défenseur central retrouvé et un attaquant de qualité, l’OL a tout pour aller le plus loin dans la compétition. A Liverpool, la qualification pour le reste de la compétition est très compromise. En effet, les joueurs de Rafael Benitez n’ont plus leur destin entre leurs mains et devront espérer des faux pas de la Fiorentina. Ces dernières saisons, on n’a pas connu une Ligue des Champions sans Liverpool mais ça ne saurait tarder.

A last gasp strike at the Stade De Gerland left a lot of Kop hearts broken all over the world. Liverpool now have to win their remaining 2 matches convincingly and hope that Lyon beat the Viola to enable them to qualify through the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

All Liverpool fans will however take heart from a battling performance in Lyon. True, that it was not the most fluent performances from a side which has struggled in recent times, but the Reds showed a lot of character and were willing to fight it out. They completely dominated the first half and had it not been a series of amazing saves from the Lyon keeper, Hugo Lloris, Liverpool would have been 3 ahead at the break; the attempts coming from Insua, Kuyt, Voronin and Torres.

This was, however, not the case and both teams went in at halftime at par. The Lyon coach has surprisingly put up a squad quite different from the one he fielded at Anfield. Two injuries caused a couple of substitutions within the first half for Lyon. Liverpool were already without a lot of players from the starting lineup out injured. The squad though, included a half fit Fernando Torres and captain Jamie Carragher as right back. As usual, the Reds captain did complete justice to the position he was put into.

Neither team could get a foothold into the game until the 83rd minute. It took a wonder strike from the boy who showed a lot of promise, but never fulfilled it – Ryan Babel – to break the deadlock. It should have been that way till the end, but a late strike from Lisandro broke Liverpool hearts leaving everything to chance for the Merseysiders to qualify through the group stages.

With only meagre resources with which to architect a win, I feel Rafa did a fabulous job of getting the result that we got in Lyon. Any other manager would have given up all hopes of a win. Rafa had said before the game that, when we walk through a storm and emerge on the other side, we should hold our heads high. We are walking through a catastrophic storm right now, and yes, we are emerging with our heads held high. Go for it Liverpool.

YNWA!!!

David Albelda (izquierda) y Rubén Baraja (derecha) alzan el trofeo que acredita al Valencia CF como campeón de la Copa de la UEFA tras derrotar en Göteborg al Olympique de Marsella. Foto: AP Photo / Dusan Vranic.

El Valencia Club de Fútbol de la mano del técnico Rafa Benítez logró en la temporada 2003/2004 un ‘doblete’ histórico al adjudicarse la Liga y la Copa de la UEFA. Los valencianistas conseguían que el trofeo regresase a España dieciocho años después del último triunfo de un club hispano, el Real Madrid. El Valencia, que ya había conquistado dos trofeos de esta competición con su anterior denominación ‘Copa de Ferias’, lograba además retornar a lo más alto del fútbol europeo casi un cuarto de siglo después de su anterior entorchado continental.

El otro equipo finalista fue el Olympique de Marsella que regresaba a una final de esta competición cinco temporadas después de conocer la derrota en Moscú ante el Parma italiano. El club galo buscaba un título continental con el que paliar la sequía de éxitos que sucedieron a su regreso a la máxima categoría del fútbol francés en 1996 tras sufrir un descenso administrativo.

El Valencia CF arrancó la campaña europea con una cómoda victoria sobre el AIK de Estocolmo al que derrota en ambos partidos por idéntico marcador (1-0). En Suecia, un gol del brasileño Ricardo Oliveira da la tranquilidad suficiente para encarrilar la eliminatoria en Mestalla con un tanto de Mista. En la segunda ronda queda emparejado con el Maccabi Haifa con el que sólo logra un empate sin goles en el partido de ida celebrado en Mestalla. El partido de vuelta debe disputarse en la localidad turca de Izmir, debido al conflicto bélico palestino-israelí, pero una cadena de atentados terrorístas en Estambul obliga a posponer el partido y trasladarlo a Rotterdam dos semanas más tarde. En el coqueto estadio Het Kasteel el cuadro ché encarrila la eliminatoria durante los primeros minutos gracias a los goles de Mista y Baraja y finalmente, en los instantes finales Albelda y Angulo dejan el marcador con un contundente 0-4. En la tercera ronda el Valencia sufre otra eliminatoria ‘trampa’ que supera con dosis de calidad y experiencia ante los turcos del Besiktas JK. Mestalla acoge el primer encuentro que ve cómo por dos ocasiones el club otomano se pone por delante en el marcador gracias a los goles del delantero rumano Pancu. Los goles de Sissoko y Canobbio parece que van a dejar la resolución de la eliminatoria en Estambul pero un tanto del defensa David Navarro en el último minuto permite a los ‘chés’ viajar a Turquía con un mínimo margen. El partido de vuelta se pone muy favorable en los primeros minutos cuando Angulo perfora la meta rival en el minuto 12. La velocidad de los puntas valencianistas desbordan a la defensa del Besiktas y es el veterano Juan Sánchez el que certifica el pase a la siguiente ronda al conseguir un segundo gol en el minuto 57.

Jugadores del Valencia y del Genclerbirligi portan una pancarta antes de guardar un minuto de silencio en memoria de los fallecidos en los atentados con bomba horas en Madrid antes del inicio del partido. Foto: AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici.

En la cuarta ronda el Valencia queda emparejado con otro equipo turco, el Gençlerbirliği SK, con el que pierde por la mínima en el encuentro de ida disputado en la capital de Turquía y marcado por el elevado número de víctimas mortales que causan los atentados islamistas que sufre Madrid durante la mañana del partido. Un gol marcado desde el punto de penalti por el belga Filip Daems va a resultar muy difícil de superar. En Mestalla el equipo turco aguanta las acometidas valencianistas hasta que Mista marca en el minuto 63. En los minutos restantes no hay más goles por lo que el partido se va a decidir en la prórroga. A los cuatro minutos Vicente marca un ‘gol de plata’ que es suficiente para eliminar a un Gençlerbirliği que no marca en los restantes once minutos del primer tiempo de la prórroga. El Valencia llega a los cuartos de final como principal favorito al título tras la eliminación del FC Barcelona en la ronda anterior ante el Celtic de Glasgow y lo demuestra con creces al dejar en la cuneta al Girondins de Burdeos. En la localidad aquitana, el Valencia se impone (1-2) a pesar de que el equipo galo se adelanta en el marcador con un gol de Albert Riera en el minuto 18, sin embargo, la reacción final de los valencianistas con tantos de Baraja y Rufete deja a los de Benítez con pie y medio en las semifinales. En el partido de vuelta el Valencia se impone con idéntico tanteador (2-1) con goles de Pellegrino y Rufete mientras que el brasileño Eduardo logra el tanto del honor para el Girondins. Las semifinales deparan un enfrentamiento frente al Villarreal, un club ‘vecino’, que se va a decidir en una sóla jugada. El estadio El Madrigal acoge la ida que concluye con un empate sin goles pero la eliminatoria se decanta a favor del Valencia en el minuto 16 del partido de Mestalla. El brasileño Belleti carga en un salto sobre Mista y el árbitro noruego Hauge señala penalti que es transformado por Mista con un disparo ajustado al palo izquierdo de la portería de Pepe Reina. En el parejo duelo valenciano por un puesto en la final el Valencia resultó ser el agraciado.

El jugador del Liverpool Michael Owen (izquierda) pugna por un balón con el delantero de Olympique de Marseille Didier Drogba durante el partido de ida de la cuarta ronda de la Copa de la UEFA. Foto: Reuter/Howard Walker.

Por su parte, el otro club finalista, el Olympique de Marsella inició su andadura en la competición en los dieciseisavos de final (tercera ronda) tras concluir en el tercer puesto del grupo F de la Liga de Campeones siendo superado por el Real Madrid CF y el FC Porto, y concluyendo por delante del Partizán de Belgrado. Su primer rival dentro de la Copa de la UEFA fue el conjunto ruso del FK Dnipro Dnipropetrovs’k al que eliminó gracias a un solitario gol logrado por el delantero marfileño Didier Drogba desde el punto del penalti en el partido de ida dispuntado en Marsella. Esa exhigua renta fue mantenida en la vuelta ya que el partido concluyó con un empate sin goles. En la siguiente ronda logra superar los numerosos obstáculos que le pone el Liverpool FC con el que empata (1-1) el partido de ida celebrado en Anfield gracias a un gol de Drogba en el minuto 79 que neutralizaba el inicial del checo Baroš para el club inglés. Dos semanas después el Liverpool vuelve a adelantarse en el marcador en el Vélodrome marsellés con un tanto de Heskey pero Drogba vuelve a igualar la eliminatoria antes del descanso. La eliminatoria se resuelve en la segunda mitad gracias a un gol del defensa Méïté.

En los cuartos de final el Olympique debe medirse a otro rival de entidad, el Internazinale FC milanés, al que supera con idéntico marcador en ambos partidos (1-0). En la ida celebrada en Marsella un gol de Drogba tras reanudarse el partido tras el descanso permite a los galos acudir con una mínima ventaja que saben administrar en el vuelta. La eliminatoria queda resuelta a favor de los franceses gracias a un tanto de Meriem en el minuto 74. El último escollo antes de llegar a la gran final es el Newcastle United al que logran maniatar su ataque en el partido de ida disputado en terreno inglés, concluyendo el encuentro con un empate sin goles. La eliminatoria se decide en un Vélodrome lleno que lleva en volandas a su club hacia la final. Dos tantos de Drogba, uno en cada periodo, certifican el acceso a una nueva final de la UEFA para el equipo marsellés.

La jugada clave de la final: el guardameta marsellés Fabien Barthez, izquierda, derriba dentro del área al delantero del Valencia CF Mista. Barthez es expulsado con roja directa y el penalti es transformado por Vicente. Foto: AP Photo/Jon Super

Olympique de Marsella y Valencia se midieron en una final cuyos primeros 45 minutos fueron para olvidar. Ambos equipos se dedicaron a destruir el juego ofensivo del rival, se olvidaron de buscar la meta contraria y ni siquiera crearon ocasiones de gol. Ambas defensas se emplearon a fondo de cortar el abastecimiento de balones a los peligrosos delanteros rivales, Drogba y Mista. Durante la primera mitad merodeó más el balón por el área de Cañizares, sin embargo, la única parada de este periodo la hizo Barthez (minuto 6) tras un remate lejano de Albelda. El Olympique puso agresividad y lucha con una agobiante presión sobre la línea de creación valencianista. Sin embargo, el rumbo del partido cambió y de qué manera en el minuto 44 de la primera parte. En un saque de banda a la altura del área marsellesa, Curro Torres recuperó el balón y, sin dudarlo, envió un pase largo sobre Mista, que buscaba la espalda de Bèye. El central senegalés del Olympique falló estrepitosamente y permitió que el delantero del Valencia hiciese un control orientado que le permitió encarar a Barthez. La salida desesperada del meta galo, con los dos pies por delante, no pudo ser más negativa para su equipo: penalti claro y expulsión. Vicente fue el encargado de lanzar la pena máxima y de colocar el 1-0 en el marcador justo antes de que Collina señalara el final de la primera parte. Pese a que no había hecho demasiados méritos para ello, el Valencia se iba a los vestuarios con ventaja en el marcador y con superioridad numérica.

En la segunda parte, el Valencia se adueñó absolutamente del balón y con ello de la situación táctica. Pasó a jugar el balón lejos de su portería y no tardó en llegar el segundo tanto en una precioso y certero contragolpe. Vicente entró como una bala por su banda izquierda y cedió el balón a Mista, que hizo un excelente control y batió al portero suplente Gavanon con un disparo seco ajustado al poste izquierdo. Quedaba aún media hora de partido, pero no llegó reacción alguna de un Olympique que estaba totalmente destrozado desde la última jugada del primer tiempo. El Valencia se dedicó a contemporizar el partido y a tener la posesión del balón gracias a la entrada del argentino Aimar.  El Valencia se proclamaba brillantemente doble campeón, en España y en Europa.

Valencia CF – Olympique de Marseille (2-0)
Miércoles, 19/05/2004 (20:45 h).
Nya Ullevi (Göteborg),  40.000 espectadores.
Árbitro: Pierluigi Collina (ITA). Amonestó a Vicente (27’) y Carboni (34’) por el Valencia CF; y a Marlet (10’) y Drogba (60’) por el Olympique de Marseille. Expulsó a Barthez con roja directa(min. 45).
Goles: 1-0 Vicente [pen.] 45+’; 2-0 Mista 58’.

Valencia CF: Santiago Cañizares; Cristóbal ‘Curro’ Torres, Roberto Ayala, Carlos Marchena (Mauricio Pellegrino 86’), Amedeo Carboni; Francisco Rufete (Pablo Aimar 64’), David Albelda (capitán), Rubén Baraja, Vicente Rodríguez; Miguel Ángel Angulo (Mohamed Sissoko 82’), Miguel Ángel Ferrer ‘Mista’. Entrenador: Rafa Benítez.

Olympique de Marseille: Fabien Barthez; Demétrius Ferreira, Habib Bèye, Brahim Hemdani (capitán), Abdoulaye Méïté, Manuel dos Santos; Matthieu Flamini (Laurent Batlles 71’), Camel Meriem (Jérémy Gavanon 45+’), Sylvain N’Diaye (Fabio Celestini 84’); Steve Marlet, Didier Drogba. Entrenador: José Anigo.

El capitán Sergej Ignashevich levanta el trofeo de campeón de la Copa de la UEFA rodeado de los jugadores del CSKA de Moscú. El club ruso logró llevar por primera vez un trofeo continental hasta Rusia. Foto: AP Photo.

En la temporada 2004/2005 la Copa de la UEFA varió su formato con el propósito de dotar a esta competición de mayores ingresos y más seguimiento del público. 145 clubes tomarían parte en una competición que se iniciaría con dos rondas previas en las que estarían presentes los equipos de las asociaciones con menor ranking y seguiría una ronda eliminatoria cuyos cuarenta equipos supervivientes quedarían repartidos en ocho grupos de cinco equipos cada uno. Estos grupos se jugarían a cuatro partidos a una sola vuelta (dos como local y otros dos como visitante) y pasarían a las rondas eliminatorias los tres primeros clasificados de cada grupo junto a los ocho terceros clasificados en las liguillas de la Liga de Campeones.

Un club procedente de la mayor competición continental llegaría a la gran final dejando en la cuneta a diversos clubes que habían disputado el innovador sistema de juego de esta nueva Copa de la UEFA: el CSKA de Moscú liderado por dos jugadores brasileños Vágner Love y el joven Daniel Carvalho, que ya en 2003 fue considerado como el mejor jugador del Mundial Sub-20, pero enfrente iba a toparse con el club propietario del estadio en el que se iba a disputarse la final, el Sporting Clube. Los lisboetas partían a priori con la ventaja del factor campo y público a su favor, pero finalmente no pudieron superar la presión de ser considerado favorito en casi todas las apuestas. De ese modo, el club moscovita se convirtió en el primer equipo ruso en conquistar un torneo continental.

El delantero chileno del Sporting de Lisboa, Mauricio Pinilla pugna por un balón aéreo con el jugador del Newcastle Aaron Hughes durante el partido correspondiente a la quinta jornada de la fase de grupo de la Copa de la UEFA. Foto: AP Photo/Scott Heppell

El equipo portugués ausente de la gran competición continental y sabedor de la disputa de la final en su estadio realizó una excepcional campaña eliminado al Rapid SK vienés en la primera ronda gracias al favorable marcador logrado en la ida (2-0) con goles de Tinga y Liédson en la segunda parte. El partido de vuelta celebrado en la capital austríaca deparó un empate sin goles que permitió al club lisboeta acceder a la fase de grupos. El sorteo ubicó al Sporting en el grupo D junto al Newcastle United inglés, el FC Sochaux-Montbeliard francés, el Néos Paniónios PAE griego y con el SK Dinamo Tbilisi georgiano. Su debut se produjo en la segunda jornada recibiendo en el estadio José Alvalade al Paniónios de Grecia al que bate con un contundente (4-1). El temprano gol de Custódio en el minuto 5 facilitó la victoria de los lusos a pesar del tanto griego de Marcora (min.35). El resultado tardó en moverse tres minutos cuando Douala trajo la tranquilidad a un Sporting que en los minutos finales del partido sentenció el choque con los goles de Liédson y Hugo Viana. En la siguiente jornada, los lisboetas visitan la capital georgiana ofreciendo un nuevo espectáculo goleador derrotando al Dinamo Tbilisi por 0 goles a 4 gracias a las tres dianas conseguidas por Liédson y al cuarto tanto obra de Hugo Viana. Con pie y medio en la siguiente ronda gracias a las dos victorias, el Sporting ve cómo los galos del FC Sochaux-Montbéliard le infringen la primera derrota en su estadio gracias a un temprano gol de Lonfat en el minuto 2 del encuentro. En la quinta y última jornada, acuden al terreno del Newcastle United donde logran un empate (1-1) que les ubica en la tercera plaza del grupo por detrás del club inglés y los franceses del Sochaux. El gol de Craig Bellamy nada más arrancar el choque es neutralizado antes del descanso con un tanto de Custódio.

En los dieciseisavos de final y ya con el clásico formato de eliminatoria con partidos de ida y vuelta, el Sporting se deshace de un histórico, el Feyenoord SC holandés, que concluyó como líder la anterior fase de grupos. En Lisboa, se produce una victoria por la mínima (2-1) después de que Goor adelantase al Feyenoord en el minuto 11. Antes del descanso, Custódio y Liédson logran dar la vuelta al marcador y acudir al segundo partido con una mínima ventaja. Sin embargo, en Rotterdam los lisboetas sentencian la eliminatoria en la segunda mitad con los tantos de Liédson y Rochemback. Aunque Hofs reduce distancias en los instantes finales, el partido concluye con el idéntico marcador de la ida (1-2). En los octavos de final eliminan al Middlesbrough FC inglés al que vencen en la ida (2-3) con unos 20 minutos de juego magistrales tras el descanso. Los goles de Douala, Liédson y Pedro Barbosa dejan eliminado al club inglés que a base de casta logra recortar el marcador adverso con los goles de Job y Riggott (2-3). El partido de vuelta en Lisboa es un mero trámite que los verdiblancos controlan en todo momento y es Pedro Barbosa quien marca el único tanto en el minuto 89 para dar la victoria al Sporting. El sorteo para los cuartos de final ofrece la repetición de un partido de la fase de grupo al quedar emparejados con un Newcastle que le puso las cosas mucho más difíciles.

Los jugadores del AZ se lamentan de encajar el segundo gol mientras los jugadores del Sporting celebran su pase a la final. Foto: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

El encuentro de ida se disputa en Saint James’ Park y concluye con un triunfo por la mínima (1-0) para los locales gracias al acierto de Alan Shearer en el minuto 37. Siete días después en Lisboa el club inglés logra adquirir mayor ventaja al marcar en el minuto 20 gracias a Kyeron Dyer pero antes del descanso el rumano Niculae acorta distancias. El Newcastle logran mantener la eliminatoria a su favor hasta los últimos 20 minutos del partido, espacio en el que el Sporting logra tres tantos gracias al veterano Sá Pinto, Beto y Rochemback, éste último en el tiempo de descuento. Los lisboetas accedían a la semifinal sufriendo pero no iba a ser tampoco nada fácil el acceso a la final ya que enfrente iban a tener al conjunto revelación de la competición el AZ Alkmaar holandés. El estadio José Alvalade acogería la ida en la que quedó buena parte de la eliminatoria abierta gracias al triunfo (2-1) del Sporting. El AZ se adelantaba en el minuto 36 gracias a un tanto de Landzaat pero un minuto más tarde el delantero camerunés Douala conseguía un empate que se rompería en los últimos minutos cuando Pinilla perforaba la meta holandesa. El partido de vuelta iba a ser dramático para ambos equipos ya que el encuentro arrancó con un gol para el AZ del delantero danés Kenneth Pérez en el minuto 6. La alegría de tener el pase a la final en sus manos vió cómo se marchaba con el tanto que Liédson lograba para el Sporting antes del descanso. El AZ regresó en el segundo tiempo a poner cerco a la meta del portugués Ricardo. El Sporting se veía en la final, pero cuando restaban 10 minutos para el final Huysegems obtenía un gol que daba paso a la prórroga. El tiempo extra fue dramático. Al comenzar su segundo periodo, el defensa del AZ Jaliens conseguía el gol que daba al club holandés el pase a la final pero cuando el tiempo expiraba el defensa Miguel Garcia lograba el gol que cambiaba el billete de la final de manos, e iba a parar para el club poseedor del estadio: el Sporting.

El guardameta del FK Partizan, Ivica Kralj (izquierda) choca contra el delantero del CSKA de Moscú Daniel Carvalho (derecha). Foto: AFP

El CSKA de Moscú llegó a esta edición de la Copa de la UEFA tras concluir en el tercer puesto en el grupo H de la Liga de Campeones siendo superado por el Chelsea y el FC Porto y por delante del París Saint Germain. Paradójicamente, los rusos iniciaron y concluyeron la competición midiéndose a dos equipos portugueses. Su primer rival fue el Benfica de Lisboa. El partido de ida se disputó lejos de las duras condiciones del invierno moscovita, en el estadio Kuban de Krassnodar (a orillas del Mar Negro), donde el CSKA comenzó a despuntar las virtudes de su juego y venció por 2 a 0 con goles del defensa Vasilij Berezutskij  y de Vágner Love. Una semana después, el equipo ruso logra un empate (1-1) en Lisboa que es suficiente para acceder a la siguiente ronda. Otro defensa, Ignashevich, logra el gol del CSKA pero posterior tanto del benfiquista Karadas deshace la ventaja rusa. En los octavos de final supera al Partizan de Belgrado. En la capital serbia, el centrocampista Aldonin adelanta al CSKA pero un gol de Tomic desde el punto de penalti en los minutos finales hacen concluir el choque con un empate (1-1). Una semana después, y nuevamente en Krassnodar, el CSKA decide una eliminatoria favorable al sentenciar el partido (2-0) en la segunda mitad con los goles de Carvalho y Vágner Love, de penalti.

En los cuartos de final el CSKA queda emparejado con el AJ Auxerre galo en una eliminatoria que queda decidida en el partido de ida disputado en Moscú (4-0). Tras el gol del defensa nigeriano Chidi Odiah en la primera parte, la ofensiva rusa llega en los segundos 45 minutos con los tantos de Ignashevich de penalti, Vágner Love y Gusev. La eliminatoria durante el partido de vuelta nunca estaría en peligro pero el Auxerre quiso poner las cosas difíciles primero con un gol temprano de Lachuer pero el segundo gol llega en el minuto 78 gracias a un penalti convertido por Kalou. El Parma italiano sería el rival a batir en unas semifinales que estuvieron siempre bajo el control del cuadro ruso. En el primer partido celebrado en el Ennio Tardini, el CSKA logra llevarse a Moscú un resultado muy positivo (0-0) para sentenciar en el encuentro de vuelta gracias a los goles de Carvalho, por partida doble, y Vasilij Berezutskij.

El jugador del CSKA Moscú Yurij Zhirkov, izquierda, bate tras un contragolpe al portero del Sporting CP Ricardo Martins, derecha. Foto: Reuters.

La inmensa mayoría de los 50.000 espectadores que abarrotaban las gradas del José Alvalade eran seguidores del Sporting, que esperaban una victoria de su equipo al amparo de su afición. Su técnico, Peseiro, había recibido críticas antes de la final por su excesivo conservadurismo pero decidió buscar la victoria desde el principio. Optó por poner desde el comienzo en el centro del campo a Rogério en lugar de Custódio, y en defensa dejó fuera a los habituales Rui Jorge y Ânderson Polga. Los minutos fueron transcurriendo y el CSKA echaba en falta una mayor aportación de su mejor referencia atacante, el brasileño Vágner Love, quien no encontraba su sitio sobre el terreno de juego. El planteamiento de Peseiro funcionó perfectamente en la primera mitad, ante un conjunto ruso romo en ataque, aunque tras el descanso tardó demasiado en introducir los cambios necesarios para frenar la recuperación del equipo ruso.

Cuando el partido alcanzaba la media hora de juego, Rogério lograba batir de un gran chut la meta rusa. La final llegaba al descanso con un Sporting que se las prometía muy felices especialmente porque el CSKA estaba desaparecido en ataque. Con el apoyo de la hinchada lisboeta parecía únicamente cuestión de tiempo conseguir el segundo tanto que sentenciara la final. Sin embargo, el Sporting cometió el pecado imperdonable de volcarse en ataque dejando huérfana la defensa. A los diez minutos de la reanudación, uno de los gemelos Berezutskij, Aleksej, se encargó de empatar el encuentro con un cabezazo tras una falta lanzada por el propio Carvalho.

Pocos minutos después fue Zhirkov el que culminaba un contragolpe ruso, aprovechando una asistencia del brasileño Carvalho, para darle la vuelta al marcador. En la recta final del partido el Sporting pudo empatar, pero le faltó suerte y precisión. Pero fue el gol de Vágner Love, a falta de un cuarto de hora para el final, el que supuso un importante golpe moral a las aspiraciones lisboetas, ya que se produjo en el contragolpe posterior a una clarísima ocasión del Sporting, en la que Liédson, a puerta vacía, remató al poste, después de que el balón tropezara en su compañero Rogério. En una final a partido único, se volvió a demostrar que no siempre gana quien más ataca, sino quien mejor defiende y descubre antes los defectos en la táctica del adversario. Y éste fue precisamente el CSKA, que supo contener las oleadas lusas y esperar su oportunidad en ataques aislados y contragolpes.

CSKA Moskva – Sporting CP (3-1)
Miércoles, 18/05/2005 (19:45 h).
José Alvalade XXI (Lisboa): 48.000 espectadores.
Árbitro: Graham Poll (ENG). Amonestó a Pedro Barbosa (14’).
Goles: 0-1 Rogério 29’; 1-1 A. Berezutskij 56’; 2-1 Zhirkov 65’; 3-1 Vágner Love 75’.

CSKA Moskva: Igor’ Akinfeev; Vasilij Berezutskij, Sergej Ignashevich (capitán), Aleksej Berezutskij; Yurij Zhirkov, Elvir Rahimić, Evgenij Aldonin (Rolan Gusev 86’), Chidi Odiah, Daniel Carvalho (Deividas Šemberas 82’); Ivica Olić (Miloš Krasić 67’), Vágner de Souza ‘Vágner Love’. Entrenador: Valerij Gazzaev.

Sporting CP: Ricardo Martins; Miguel Garcia, Roberto de Deus ‘Beto’, Joseph Enakarhire, Rodrigo Tello; Rogério Fidélis (Roudolphe Douala 80’), Fábio Rochemback, João Moutinho (Hugo Viana 88’), Pedro Barbosa (capitán); Ricardo Sá Pinto (Marius Niculae 73’), Liédson da Silva. Entrenador: José Peseiro.

You'll Never Walk Alone, The Spirit of the Club, Kopites, Scouser

Why Reds? There are so many clubs out there. So, why Reds? Their history perhaps? They are one of the most successful football clubs in England and Europe afterall. Or the crest? Well, the crest is ‘attractive’. Elaborated Shankly’s gate, liverbird, the wisely chosen motto and the spirited flame of the torches. Or maybe their star players?! Torres and Gerrard. Who’s to blame? Both of them are not only amongst the best in their position in the footballing world, but also the vital member of the world-renowned national set-ups – Spain and England. Yes, this football club does have everything. Well, pretty much everything. The supporters are fabulous and beautiful. The stadium is one of the best. Structurally, old but majestic, just like a medieval fortress, if you know what I mean. The manager is one of the best, if not the best. Don’t blame me, Real Madrid tried to lure him. What do you think? Okay, they offered Carlos Queroz the job too. And now the run of 7 defeats in 8 games. Maybe I’m just thinking too much. Yeah, maybe.

So, why Reds? Of all the great clubs in the world, why Reds? What so special being a kopites? Simple. It’s the spirit of the club. The Kop Spirit. More interestingly, it was well summed up in the club’s anthem – You’ll Never Walk Alone. So many occasions and yet the club, the players and the supporters never failed to show this spirit. Being the victor or even in defeat and sorrow.

The great Bill Shankly used to say, “it’s (football) more important than that (a matter of life or death). Why did he said this? Again, it’s the spirit of the club. From the birth of this wonderful club, to the Heysel and Hillsborough Tragedy, or the greatest comeback at Istanbul, or even for all the most wonderful Kopites, such as Liam and Michael to name a few. The spirit of the club never fails. So, for the spirit of this club, I am a Reds. I’m glad to be a Reds. For I know I’ll never walk alone, even in defeat and sorrow.

Yes, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this club is suffering its worst run of form in recent years, but, lest we forget, we are Liverpool FC, we are Kopites, and we are the supporters, even in defeat and sorrow. We must support each other till the moment they denounce their association with our club. Having said so, I’d say Rafael Benitez is included.

“Any defeat hurts someone with ambition and someone who is hungry for titles. But it doesn’t matter how many times you fall down – what matters is how many times you get up and keep trying to be the best.”

“That’s what we have to do now. We have to go back to our principles, sort out the problems we’re having and go back to being the Liverpool everyone wants.” That is what Pepe said and I am in full agreement with him.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Kopites, The Spirit of the Club, You'll Never Walk Alone

I write this post much aggrieved at the state of affairs at Anfield, one of the premier footballing destinations in the world. Last weekend’s game at Craven Cottage has again proven the fickle nature of Liverpool’s manager, Rafael Benitez. A game which was there to be won at the hour mark was lost when two of the most influential players in the form of Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun were taken off.

Not only that; everyone was surprised at the starting lineup which was put up for this game. A second string side barring Torres, Benayoun, Carragher and Kuyt was definitely not going to be good enough to win a game at Craven Cottage that the Merseysiders had almost given away last season. And it proved to be true. A mediocre Liverpool side conceded all three points at Craven Cottage and aided in bringing Fulham’s faltering Premier League campaign back on track.

A team which had lost only 2 games in the entire last season have managed to lose 5 in 11 games this season. How is such a turnaround possible, one would ask? Well, I would suggest the team which wants to achieve such incredible results, to sign Rafa Benitez as their manager. Sarcasm aside, most Reds opine that whatever Rafa is thinking or doing is incorrect. Add to that statements such as “Liverpool does not need trophies to prove they are a successful team”. May I ask, in which universe is a team with no silverware regarded as successful?

It is understandable to an extent that Rafa wanted to preserve most of his lineup for the Champions League away fixture to Lyon. However, it is an away fixture and in all likelihood it will result in a draw or a loss (looking at Lyon’s form). In such a scenario, how does Rafa expect to make it through the group stages? Even if he does make it through the group stages, it will be at the cost of missing out on even an Europa league spot, forget the Champions league. This is sure to affect the club in the long term. For one, a moderate stadium with not quite so high entry prices already are adding to owners woes regarding income generated from home games. Add to that missing out on Champions league or even Europa cup ticket sales and the participation money that comes with it.

The European competitions carry with them a significant financial benefit and I am sure the owners are not willing to forego that income. If Liverpool do not make it past the group stages this season and end up losing out on a Champions league spot for next season, they are doomed. There will be no second thoughts and the manager is sure to face the axe. I think, though, that the owners will wait until before the January transfer window to make a decision.

As of now, there could not be a bleaker picture that the Kop could be looking at. The squad is almost the same as last season. If the same squad lost only 2 games all of last season and 5 of 11 this season, it is nothing to do with the squad, but the manager. Honestly, if I were the owner, I would have already fired Rafa for the mindless decisions being made and try and preserve this campaign while it still can be done. One can only hope it is not too late before things work out for the Red part of Merseyside.

Signed,

A disconsolate Red

Pelatih Liverpool Rafael Benitez mengisyaratkan menyerah dari ajang perburuan gelar Premier League dan Liga Champions. Arsitek asal Spanyol tersebut menegaskan gelar juara bukanlah segala-galanya.

Benitez menegaskan tidak harus membawa trofi juara ke Anfield. Membangun tim menjadi lebih baik jauh lebih penting. Dia juga mengklaim The Reds sebagai runner-up Premier League musim lalu adalah prestasi besar.

Pada pekan 11 ini, Steven Gerrard dkk kembali terperosok dua tangga ke peringkat enam klasemen sementara. Meski sangat sulit, peluang Liverpool merebut kedua gelar bergengsi tersebut tetap terbuka. Hanya saja, Liverpool sudah terdepak dari Carling Cup setelah ditundukkan Arsenal 1-2.

“Saya tidak setuju ketika orang mengatakan Anda harus memenangkan gelar. Saya selalu mengatakan Anda harus berada di sana, Anda harus berada dekat, Anda harus menciptakan sekelompok pemain yang berjuang untuk meraih tropi,” kata Benitez seperti dilansir reuters, Senin (2/11/2009).

“Kami mengantongi 86 poin musim lalu. Namun beberapa orang mengatakan tetap tidak baik karena kami mengakhiri liga sebagai runner-up. Saya menilai hasil tersebut sebagai pencapaian besar,” lanjut pelatih asal Spanyol tersebut.

Benitez tetap mengakui bila rekornya di di Liverpool sangat baik sejak resmi bergabung pada 2004. Trofi sangat berarti bagi semua orang. Tapi yang paling penting melihat perkembangan dan bukti bahwa Anda memperbaiki dan mampu berjuang untuk meraih gelar,” paparnya.

“Ini bukan hanya sekira satu tahun. Ini adalah tentang apa yang dapat kami capai di masa depan. Orang mengatakan bahwa saya sekarang sudah di sini lima tahun. Saya berkata, lihatlah perbedaan di sini sekarang,” kilahnya.

Apakah pernyataan Benitez menjadi sinyal menyerah bertarung di Premier League dan Liga Champions? Anda lebih tahu jawabannya.

Fetra Hariandja – Okezone

By Benjamin Zand

Arsenal fought through an enticing battle against a weakened Liverpool side to win an intriguing 4th-round Carling Cup tie at the Emirates.

Merida Celebrates wonder strike (Courtesy of SkySports)

Arsenal youngster, Fran Merida, broke the dead-lock with a cannonball from 18-yards out past second-string Cavalieri.

The scoreline was only to be levelled with Liverpool’s Emiliano Insua firing a phenominal 25-yard dipping strike past Fabianski to secure his first goal for Liverpool. Liverpool then fell victim to a 50th minute power house into the roof of net by Nicklas Bendtner which proved to be the winner.

Arsenal, known for repeatedly fielding youth-sides  in the Carling Cup, went for an unusually more experienced approach against a side which didn’t feature Gerrard, Carragher or Torres. With Wenger deciding to include several first team players in his side who he deemed to be in need of match practise.

The weakened Liverpool side almost took its chance early on though, with a cheeky back-heel from Liverpool’s Ngog finding the feet of Phillipe Degen, with the full-back only managing to pull his attempt wide.

Despite Liverpool’s early dominance, Arsenal’s swift play and crisp passing, which seems to feature in every Wenger team in spite of who’s playing, brought about a fantastic opener. With Fran Merida powering a left footed screamer in off Liverpool’s left-hand post. This came after some great determination from 18-year old Arsenal debutant Craig Eastmond, who put in a great display, and managed to win the ball on the edge of the Red’s box.

Celebrations were cut short though when a cleverly placed nod down from Babel led to an equally wonderful strike by Liverpool full-back Insua, leaving Arsenal keeper Fabianski hopeless.

Arsenal’s winner came through a powerful strike from one of their more experienced members, Bendter, who shrugged off pressure from Martin Skrtel to fire a shot into the roof of the nest past Cavalieri. Cavalieri, who was not the best on the night, had a couple of nervous moments. With one being a huge escape from embarrassment, after he missed a cross and then ran around the box cluelessly trying to obtain the ball creating a goalmouth melee with players coming in from every angle, but in relief gathered Bendter’s close range shot on the turn.

Both teams had weakened defences, and that combined with both of their desires to attack, led to a captivating game.

Liverpool had their chances to equalize, with Vorinin firing wide from close-range, and Babel missing a fantastic oppurtunity after failing to latch onto a cross from Kuyt, who captained the side in the absence of Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, but they just couldn’t get the breakthrough.

Although Liverpool slumped to their 7th defeat of this campaign, which is nearly double that of last season, there are still positives to take out the game. Like great displays by many of their fringe players, with Jay Spearing having a particularly promising game, and with the appearance of 20-million pound signing Alberto Aquilani who made his debut, and finally returned after months of recovery. Aquilani also impressed, making a cameo late in the 2nd half and

Aquilani makes debut (Courtesy of the BBC)

showing some decent touches and energy, and nearly awarding his team with a penalty when his overhead shot hit the arms of Senderos, only for Alan Wiley to dismiss the claims.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said of the game, when talking to the BBC, “The worst thing was the result, but the players showed passion, character and quality – Aquilani was one of these players. You can see he can pass the ball and make a difference in the final third. He is getting closer every day, but he needs games to improve his match fitness. It’s a question of time.”

Arsenal though, once again triumphed in the Carling Cup with a team mainly of youth players, continuing their impressive home record against Liverpool, who have failed to win at Arsenal since 2000.

Speaking of the match, Arsene Wenger said when asked by the BBC, “Overall it was a game of top quality with two teams who really went for it, played at a high pace. We gave people what they paid for – top quality. The experienced players played well, so did the young players. Liverpool came back to 1-1, and we still managed to win, that shows we have also mental resources.”

Rafael Benitez’s six seasons at Anfield have been marked by one consistent trend: when his team’s fortunes appear bleakest, the Reds have the ability to summon their finest efforts. On Sunday the concept of “Rafaball” was once more on display.

The last time LFC lost four straight, Margaret Thatcher was enjoying high tea with Ronald Reagan. With captain Steven Gerrard in the stands and star striker Fernando Torres returning from injury, there was reason for apprehension as the three-time defending league champions arrived in Liverpool. But as if to borrow a line from the team’s anthem, Rafa believes that at the end of the storm is a golden sky. And again that golden sky came in the form of an inspired Liverpool performance and a deserved 2-0 win that re-ignites their title chase.

We’ve seen this act before under Benitez. The signature Rafaball victory came in his first season in charge. Down 3-0 at halftime in the Champions League Final against AC Milan, Liverpool rallied to tie the match and won in a shootout. And Liverpool would never have reached that Final without a furious three-goal outburst in their final group stage match against Olympiakos that secured passage to the knockout round.

Since 2005 there have been many more Rafaball moments. From 2-0 down against West Ham, the Reds tied the 2006 FA Cup Final on the brink of stoppage time before winning in a shootout. There was a 2-1 win at Barcelona in the knockout stages of the 2007 Champions League, won on goals by Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise after the former had attacked the latter with a golf club in the team hotel. Passage to the 2008 Champions League group stages seemed unlikely after an 0-1-2 start, but the Reds won their next three by a combined total of 16-1 and advanced to the semis.

Manchester United were familiar with Sunday’s performance. Last September LFC won at home 2-1 without the services of Gerrard or Torres. In March, just as the team’s obituary was being penned, the Reds shocked the Old Trafford faithful with a 4-1 victory. In both matches, ManU scored first before the Reds rallied.

The frustrating flip side to Rafaball is that legendary wins are often followed by flat performances. Every Liverpool fan should be on guard heading into Saturday’s fixture at Fulham. But if the Reds can continue to play Rafaball, this campaign will have plenty more pleasant surprises.

Originally posted at The Soccer Haus

From the brilliant superlambanana to the Magic Roundabout, Britain’s cities are stuffed with weird and wonderful creations. Click here to take a peak as I have a look at some of the most iconic sculptures in the UK.

What do you reckon of the superlambanana? Is the Angel of the North a cultural wonder, or just a great towering piece of rubbish? I love it. But what’s your take? Read on and let me know.

The piece was originally intended for Substance magazine. Substance is a current affairs title for young people that I helped produce.  But we couldn’t fit any more copy in the issue.

So readers of this blog get to see it first in another blog exclusive.