Liverpool FC: Time for change

October- Another Good Month

October was the next month on the calendar. On was a bit easier for us as we avoided any of the top 4 sides playing our second Champions League matches against SLB of Portugal and Gyor of Hungary. Our league fixtures consisted of Sunderland Southampton and Watford with a final match against Blackpool in the Capitol one Cup.

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]Managers Notes;
This was a very good month for us as we went unbeaten and only conceded once! Although we didn't play any of the top sides I was still very happy.

My player of the month again will be Rakitic as he has continued asissting well and managed to bag a hat-trick in the Champions League.

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November not a good month.

November saw us having to endure a tough month fixture wise playing the following games; Swansea (H), Gyor (H), Fulham (H), Chelsea (H), Everton (A), Man City (A). And the fixture list would only be getting harder.

The first match we played was against an out of form Swansea side so I was hoping for a good result. We managed to get the 3 points thanks to a 6-0 hammering with the goals being scored by; Sakho (2), Honda, Rangel og (2), Suarez.

Our next match was against Gyor in the CL. They were still without a win and had only managed 1 point against SLB so far so I was confident we would get a result to send us into the knock out stages. Shaqiri found the net first on the 40th minute with Allen scoring a fine volley on the 53rd minute and Pedro rounded off the scoring in the 69th minute ending the match 3-0 and cementing our place in the knockout stages.

The third match we played was at home to Fulham who had been playing well this season sitting just 4 points behind us in fifth place. We got off to a good start with Pastore converting a penalty just under the half hour mark and we proceeded to dominate for the rest of the game. However with just 3 minutes left in the game Fulham pulled one back through a Honda own goal which meant the game ended 1-1.

The fourth match we played this month was against Chelsea and my bitter rival Mourinho so I was hoping to get another win over him this season after the shield win in August. Pastore got us off to a flier when he sent one home in just 10 minutes however Chelsea were kick to reply through Mikel who scored just 10 minutes after. Chelsea were dominating and then in the 36th minute Pastore was brought down in the box for a penalty which Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard smashed into the top corner making the score 2-1. No sooner had we scored our penalty had Chelsea been awarded one with Skrtel fouling Hazard. Lampard stepped up to take the spot kick but it was saved by Valdes. In the second half Chelsea were still dominating despite being behind and the efforts were awarded with another penalty on the 77th minute which Lampard did manage to score and ensured both teams got a point. The match ended at 2-2.

The fifth match the team would endure this month was against bitter rivals Everton. The team were all fired up after the draw against Chelsea and this was shown when Suarez scored a lovely chip just under the 20 minute mark it looked set to end that way going into the second half until Leighton Baines managed to get free outside the area and out a curling shot into the top corner on the 45th minute. The match remained even until the 55th minute when Everton were awarded a very dubious penalty which Baines managed to score and won them the match with the game ended 2-1.

Our final game of the month would see us play the team above us Manchester City away from home not an easy challenge. They dominated throughout the game however we held tight and it looked like we might have got an undeserved point however substitute James Milner scored with just 2 minutes to go sending City 5 points above us.

Managers Notes;
The month started of well with the win against Swansea and qualifying for the next round of the Champions League. However the remaining matches were not good I can't blame the boys for the Everton result as it was clearly not a penalty as the FA remained quiet over my criticism but it is clear we need a natural CDM as the players we have simply do not suit the role.

My player of the month goes to Pastore who was scored some important goals and grabbed a few assists.

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December- ‘Tis the season to be jolly

Liverpools tough fixture list continued into to December with the playing the following matches; Inter (A), Arsenal (H), SLB (H), Aston Villa (H), Blackburn (A), Newcastle (A), Hull (A).

Our first fixture for December was against Inter in the champions league we knew we had qualified for the next round but wanted to get at least a point to ensure we topped the group where Inter needed a win to ensure they booked the seat for the next round. The Lads put up a valiant effort with Suarez scoring in the first minute, then Rodrigo Palacio equalised on the 26th minute. The next goal came in the second half for Inter when Gaurin scored a magnificent goal from the edge of the box to put them ahead however we were then awarded a penalty on the 75th minute which Rakitic managed to score. We looked set to hold onto the draw but Milito crushed our hopes when he scored in the 90th minute ending the game 3-2 and making it all level at the top of our group with one game to go.

Next we had a home fixture against Arsenal who were struggling so far sat down in 17th place having lost both Wilshire and Ozil in the summer. I wasn’t anticipating an easy game so its fair to say I was delighted with the end result. Suarez for a second time in 2 matches managed to score in the first minute of play then he set up Coutinho who put us up 2-0 inside 10 minutes. Sakho was next to score when he headed in from a Rakitic corner. Shaqiri then managed to score what turned out to be the goal of the month with his fine goal on the 3nd minute making it 4-0. There was then more misery for Arsenal when defender Sagna put the ball in his own net leaving the match at 5-0 at half time. Liverpool continued to pile on pressure and substitute Leandro Damiao managed to get a goal after being out with an injury for 2 months. Loan star Pedro put the final nail in Wengers coffin when he scored to end the match 7-0 and ultimately resulting in Wengers sacking.

After the big result against Arsenal we would be playing SLB in our final group match of the Champions League and we needed a win as both us and Inter were tied on 12 points but we were top on goal difference. A lot of the regular starters were still tired from the Arsenal gameso we had to play some reserve players but none the less we got what we needed with Damiao scoring and Kelly also scoring which made sure we ended up top of our group on Goal difference. However after the draw of the next leg was announced I wish we could of been second as we were drawn against German giants Bayern Munich.

The fourth game of the month saw us take on Aston Villa who had taken points from some of the better sides such as United and Chelsea. Winger Pedro got us off to a good start when he found the net on the 3rd minute. The game was a quiet one until the 87th minute when Yacouba Sylla scored an own goal. The match ended 2-0.

The next match we had was the Capitol One Cup quarter finals against Championship side Blackburn. The first 90 minutes were slow with nothing happening meaning we went into extra time. It was Blackburn who scored first when John O’sullivan scored on the 93rd minute, but an own goal by Scott Dann leveled the game. Many were expecting penalties until Uruguayan Luis Suarez scored on the 114th minute to give Liverpool the win and a semi final show down against Newcastle.

Coincidentally our next league game was against Newcastle and our main striker Suarez was in fine form again with him being involved in all our goals. Suarez managed to find Pastore free in a crowded box to which Pastore headed us into a 1-0 lead. Suarez then got one himself so he made it 2-0. Out of form Coutinho then sent us 3-0 up, however Cabaye did pull one back for Newcastle but Suarez was not done yet as he scored another to end his tally at 2 goals and 2 assists and to end the game at 4-1.

Our sixth game of the month was against Hull and again we managed to score early on thanks to Sakho who grabbed a goal in the 5th minute but it took Hull just 6 minutes to score when striker Jelavic intercepted a terrible back pass by Skrtel making the game 1-1. Hull then went down to 10 men with Joe Dudgeon being sent off for a second yellow. We managed to use the extra player to our advantage when Pastore scored the winner on the 76th minute.

The final match we would be playing this month was against Stoke the game in truth was boring but we got another 3 points with the only goal coming in the 90th minute when Right Back Gregory van Der Weil smashed his strike into the top corner.

Managers notes;
A much better month for us even though we did lose to Inter but we smashed Arsenal and had qualified for the next round of the champions league and were in the semi's of the League Cup.We were still sitting in fourth in the league only 2 points of City in 3rd. And its the opening of the window next month so we can still strengthen in certain areas.

My player of the month is without a doubt Suarez who has been in fine form this month.

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