Rodgers' Reds: Class is Permanent

Game, set and match ;)!

2015-07-09 21:25#216033 IWelshWizard : Wow, huge win, congratulations. Fantastic read.

Thanks, great to hear!

2015-07-09 22:26#216037 InfraRed : Monster win there Glenn! congratulations on another SotM win too!

Thanks TaT

2015-07-10 01:53#216052 Pauker : Game, set and match ;)!

Easiest FM game of my life

Liverpool played three games against Arsenal this month, in the Capital One Cup Final as well as two FA Cup matches after the Gunners forced a replay. Besides lifting the 20th cup of the Brendan Rodgers era, the Reds also extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to eleven points, with both Manchester clubs struggling to catch up. A 1-6 first leg win away against Zenit also all but confirms their entry into the Quarter Finals of the Champions League.

Liverpool February Player of the Month

Perhaps in response to critics that Liverpool should have cashed in on him in January, Mario Balotelli demonstrated exactly why he had ranked as the second best player in the world just three years ago, scoring 5 goals in 4 appearances this month. At the age of 30, the Kop legend has not stopped producing despite not being the first name on the team sheet anymore, and scored some important goals, including two in the Capital One Cup Final as Liverpool brought another cup home.

Injury Report

Lucas Romero - 5 days (facial injury)
Eder Alvarez Balanta - 2 weeks (groin strain)

Romero and Balanta were on the injury list this month, with the latter's groin strain keeping him out of appearing in the Capital One Cup Final.

Manager's Thoughts

Another day, another trophy. Arsenal were terrible but I'm just glad to be able to add another cup to the collection. We've had some good results in the league as well and the team's performance in the Champions League was also a joy to behold. If we can keep this up for the next few months our season is going to end on a spectacular note.

---

Liverpool will not be returning to Wembley this season after FA Cup Sixth Round opponents Manchester City pulled off a surprise 3-1 triumph.

Last season, the Reds were harshly defeated on penalties against Arsenal in the Semi Finals, but they won't be performing their FA Cup winning feats from 2015, 2016, and 2018 this time around either.

Eugene Konoplyanka opened the scoring for City and former Everton defender John Stones added to the lead with an early penalty, but Liverpool hit back through Raheem Sterling, who took advantage of center-back Shkodran Mustafi's concentration lapse to make it 2-1.

But City smashed all hopes of a late comeback as Sanjin Prcic's fantastic through ball allowed Stevan Jovetic to beat Jeronimo Rulli and kill the game off.


It keeps the Citizens' dreams of winning at least one cup this year alive. They are ten points behind first place in the Premier League, and have already been knocked out of the Capital One Cup and the Europa League. All this, despite Rafa Benitez splashing out £121 million on signings in both the summer and winter transfer windows.

The arrivals of world-class players like Kevin De Bruyne, Iker Muniain, and Jonathan Silva have undoubtedly boosted a City squad already full of big names such as Domenico Berardi, Roberto Firmino, Gaston Gil Romero, and Patrick Roberts.

And following their victory over Liverpool, another positive result against their Semi Final opponents will mean that this expensively-assembled team have yet another shot at their first trophy since the Community Shield in 2014.

Joe Hart has been enjoying one of the best seasons of his life and his form continued this afternoon as he pulled off a string of stunning saves to deny the relentless Liverpool attack. The 34-year-old could have kept a clean sheet too, and cannot be blamed for Sterling's goal.

Captaining his side in the absence of Berardi through injury, Hart led by example and was City's second-best player on the pitch after the brilliant Konoplyanka.


Meanwhile, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had chosen to start with a French defensive partnership in Samuel Umtiti and Yannis Aubry, but the duo were unable to make much use of their chemistry.

Liverpool captain James Ward-Prowse was, as always, the best player donning a red jersey but the performances of the charismatic Kop idol was not enough to inspire a fightback.

The defeat quashed Liverpool's astonishing run of 21 games unbeaten in all competitions, which started after a 1-0 loss to Newcastle back in early December.

"It's a fantastic win for us," former Liverpool man Lazar Markovic told reporters shortly after the full-time whistle. "Liverpool are a very good team. They're hard to beat so it's great that we've gotten a good result.

The 27-year-old, who left Merseyside to join City in a mega-money £60 million deal 4 years ago, also heaped praise on his goalkeeper.

"Everyone's going to be talking about the players outfield but a lot of credit has to go to Joe Hart. It felt magical just watching him, he was there every time the opponents had a go at our net. He's the best goalkeeper to ever play for Manchester City and he's proven that today."


In his post-match press conference, Rodgers questioned the decision to award City a penalty after Umtiti brought down attacking midfielder Roberts.

"The penalty? No, it definitely wasn't a good decision," said the Liverpool manager. "Samuel went for the ball and he had it too. It wasn't a penalty, not at all.

"It was very damaging for us to give away a penalty at that point in time. We looked good and we could have gotten ourselves back into the game, but it was made nearly impossible with that penalty."

However, Rodgers did not hesitate to condemn his players' defensive showings either. "Our attacking play cannot be faulted but defensively we looked bad, very bad.

"That's one cup out of the window for us and it's a massive disappointment because this is a team that has the quality to challenge for every honor available.

"It is a defeat that won't be easy to swallow, but for now it's important that we put this behind us and focus on what's ahead."

Liverpool started the month hosting Zenit at Anfield, and a 1-1 draw meant that they progressed to the Quarter Finals after winning 7-2 on aggregate. Manchester City knocked them out of the FA Cup, but payback was given promptly in the form of a 4-1 thrashing in the Premier League..

Liverpool March Player of the Month

James Ward-Prowse is the Player of the Month for March after a number of brilliant games. Starting with a Man of the Match performance against Zenit, the midfield enforcer proceeded to terrorize Manchester City in two games, picking up yet another Man of the Match award along the way against Norwich. Well and truly one of the greatest midfielders to ever play for Liverpool.

Manager's Thoughts

It's a pity to be out of the FA Cup, it's a trophy I would have liked to win especially since we missed out on it last season, but nevertheless, we have to look ahead. The Champions League is still ongoing for us and next month we are set to contest the Quarter Finals. We're also continuing our storming of the Premier League, and overconfidence is something I usually frown upon, but I think it's safe to say that we've secured the title by now.

Dammit Glenn .-.

2015-07-11 06:02#216099 Pauker : Dammit Glenn .-.

---

Liverpool attacking midfielder Ernie Sharp will be celebrating today after winning his first senior cap for the England national team.

The 21-year-old has made 19 league appearances for the Reds this season, scoring 5 goals, and is making full use of the first team opportunities given to him by manager Brendan Rodgers.

And a long-awaited call-up to the England squad happened last week, resulting in Sharp making his international debut in a 7-0 win over World Cup qualifying opponents Georgia.

Despite not standing out, he looked generally solid and was replaced by Manchester City striker Henry Charnock after half-time.


Sharp's humble journey began from Fulham's youth academy, and his performances in the Under-18s team of his boyhood club alerted Liverpool scouts searching for local talent.

In 2016, he transferred to Liverpool for a £2.5 million fee and played for three different clubs on loan, although it was the third club, Swindon Town, for which he scored 8 goals in 39 games, that propelled him into Rodgers' first-team thoughts.

A successful debut season in the Premier League followed and Sharp has not looked back, although he is still a long way from being able to call himself a key member of the squad.

"I'm made up," an excited Sharp told Liverpool's official club website on his return to Melwood. "It's been my dream to play for England ever since I was a little boy and I'm happy to say I've finally made it.

"I can't stop here though, what I would like to do now is to keep working hard so that the manager will pick me for his next squad again.

"Playing for your country is a very big thing and I'm glad I've achieved that. Hopefully I will also be playing at the World Cup next year."

Jordan Henderson, Sharp's teammate on both club and national level, has also took the time to congratulate the latest national team debutant.


The England vice-captain wore the armband in the Georgia game and said he was pleased to see his younger colleague being rewarded for his efforts.

The 30-year-old, partnered with another club teammate James Ward-Prowse in the center of the pitch, was one of his side's best players throughout the 7-0 thrashing.

"Everyone here at Liverpool knows how much Ernie has worked his socks off since coming into the team and I just want to say I'm buzzing for him.

"He's a good young player with his best years still ahead of him and I feel that he can be an important player for club and country in the years to come."

Sharp is soon expected to be joined in the ranks of the England team by fellow 21-year-old Conor Skinner, who has been impressive for Liverpool this season.

The central midfielder has registered 17 league games for the Reds this term, scoring 4 goals along the way.

Last year's Champions League ended with Arsenal finally winning their first European Cup, while Real Madrid suffered the ignominy of losing in the Final for the second time in a row. Who will be the champions this year? It's been an uneventful tournament so far, with the only surprise being Paris Saint-Germain edging out Juventus 4-3 to make the last eight. Football fans can look forward to the Quarter Finals though, as there promises to be some interesting games on display.

Teams

Roma
Chelsea
Arsenal
Barcelona
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Paris Saint-Germain
Manchester United


Real Madrid may just be one of the unluckiest Champions League sides in recent times. Los Merengues are the most successful club in the competition's history, but their tenth and last European Cup came seven years ago. Since then, Real have been unable to win it again, although they came fairly close in the past two years finishing as runners-up to Liverpool and then Arsenal. However, long-serving manager Andre Villas-Boas has an extremely talented squad at his disposal, and Real should not be underestimated. At the ripe age of 36, Cristiano Ronaldo is still very much one of the best players in the world. Aside from their legendary captain, Real's forward line will also be powered by fellow veterans Gareth Bale and Gonzalo Higuain while Toni Kroos pulls the strings in midfield.

Key Player: Toni Kroos

It's fitting for Real Madrid to be playing none other than Liverpool, with the Merseyside club just two European Cups shy of beating Real's record of ten. Currently one of the best teams in the world if not the best, Brendan Rodgers has assembled a powerful squad that will be eager to reclaim the Champions League title. The Reds steamrolled their way through Europe from 2017 to 2019 and were crowned European champions for three consecutive years before Arsenal's time came in 2020. The determination to make it back onto the big stage, the Champions League Final, may be a decisive factor in helping Liverpool to advance. James Ward-Prowse will look to captain his team into a winning battle, assisted by other key players like Raheem Sterling and Eder Alvarez Balanta.

Key Player: James Ward-Prowse


Since the departure of Roberto Martinez after winning the Champions League and the FA Cup, Arsenal have been on a downward spiral, with former Juventus and Italy manager Antonio Conte sacked after 6 miserable months in charge. In his place, Jurgen Klopp has been introduced and the newest man on the Emirates hot seat is keen on sparking a revival. Leading the Gunners to their second Champions League title in as many years would be a great start, but first they will have to get past their old rivals Manchester United. An all-rounded side, Arsenal's front line will be led by captain Lorenzo Insigne, and the presence of Aleksander Dragovic at the back represents a solid defense. In midfield, Aaron Ramsey and Douglas Costa are just two important names that can cause plenty of trouble for any sort of opposition.

Key Player: Lorenzo Insigne

It seems almost impossible for Manchester United to pick up a trophy from anywhere with their last competition win coming in 2016 where they lifted the Club World Cup. In spite of that, the Red Devils have not lost their consistency and their continuous appearances in Champions League Quarter Finals is proof enough. That alone will not satisfy United fans though, who are pining for their long-awaited fifth European Cup ever since the fourth was won five years ago. In-form Kevin Volland could be the man to make that happen, and along with Adnan Januzaj, forms part of a quality attacking force. Right behind them is midfield wonder Mateo Kovacic and of course, 33-year-old veteran Juan Mata, who is still United's best player on his day.

Key Player: Adnan Januzaj


Since his appointment exactly a year ago, Carlo Ancelotti has taken Roma to great heights. Currently, the Giallorossi are leading the chase for the Serie A title and they even won the Europa League last season. Winning the Champions League has been nothing more than a dream in the club's recent history unfortunately. Their last appearance beyond anything further than the Quarter Finals was in 1984, more than 30 years ago. Yet, they are never a team that can be ruled out, and with Ancelotti, famed for his Champions League exploits during his spells at Milan and Real Madrid, Roma are looking increasingly dangerous. Lethal striker Tony Sanabria has been netting goal after goal this season and is definitely the man opponents need to find a way to shackle, but Argentine playmaker Roberto Pereyra and winger Pione Sisto cannot be ignored either.

Key Player: Roberto Pereyra

Barcelona have been playing second fiddle to Real Madrid for a few years now, and a three-year trophy drought illustrates that. There is no better way to end their three-year search for a cup with the Champions League title, but it will be hard-pressed for Barca to do so against their European opponents, who have been improving by leaps and bounds since the Catalans last got their hands on the European Cup in 2015. However, they are certainly going to try. Armed with the firepower of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, all of whom share more than 60 goals between them this season, Barca are ready to start their assault on the Champions League starting with Italian adversaries Roma.

Key Player: Lionel Messi


The horror of being knocked out of last season's Champions League by bitter rivals and eventual winners Arsenal has not left the minds of those on the blue side of London. Chelsea were within touching distance of their first European Cup in eight years, but were instead reduced to watching their London rivals celebrating victory over Real Madrid. This year, the Blues want to be the ones celebrating, but the road to the Final is not going to be easy. Eden Hazard is going to be key to Chelsea's hopes, as well as his compatriot Romelu Lukaku, who has smashed in an amazing number of 40 goals this season since rejoining the club from Bayern Munich.

Key Player: Romelu Lukaku

Year after year, Paris Saint-Germain make an attempt to enter the glorious list of Champions League winners, and not once have they succeeded. Nevertheless, that is no reason to quickly discard them as losers. The French side are, arguably, the best team in their country at the moment, even though it remains to be seen if they can take their domestic form onto the continental stage. In their squad, PSG can boast of having one of Europe's most sought-after footballers in Ricardinho, who has been in the form of his life ever since being shifted to center-back from his usual holding midfield position. Up front, winger Memphis Depay will be the man relied upon for goals.

Key Player: Ricardinho

Good luck man, but JWP is such a baws

2015-07-12 08:32#216144 Pauker : Good luck man, but JWP is such a baws

A Liverpool legend <3

30 wins in 33 league games meant that Liverpool were able to wrap up the title after a 3-0 beating of Tottenham, with 5 games left to play. There was also success in Europe as the Reds smashed 9 goals in total past Real Madrid over 2 legs, kicking Los Merengues out of the competition while advancing to the Semi Finals themselves.

Liverpool April Player of the Month

This award, without a doubt, goes to Raheem Sterling after two hat tricks in two games against Real Madrid. Deployed in the number 9 role instead of his usual position out wide, he excelled and linked up well with compatriot Ernie Sharp, who assisted every single one of Sterling's goals against Real. All in all, the forward netted 7 goals in 5 appearances this month.

Manager's Thoughts

To be perfectly honest, I had zero doubts that we were a class above Real Madrid quality-wise, but I definitely didn't expect to be able to put 9 goals past a squad of that caliber. Nevertheless, I'm really pleased, at Sterling's efforts especially and of course, Sharp also deserves a special mention after completely outplaying the Real defense. Winning the league for a third successive time is brilliant as well of course, but I can't really say I'm excited about that since we were practically at the top of the table for the entire duration of the season.

Woah!!

Sell Sterling for the realism haha! I was hoping Cuello scored against RM

2015-07-13 19:25#216219 Ta31_a : Woah!!

2015-07-14 05:05#216249 Pauker : Sell Sterling for the realism haha! I was hoping Cuello scored against RM

He's a Liverpool legend in my save the fans would be pissed off Cuello's more of a defensive-ish kinda player, seldom scores goals but when he does they're usually really really good ones!