Liverpool. Away.
Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:38AM Liverpool. Away. We never pick up all three points when on our travels to one of the Sky Sports Cartel. It's tedious. Mainly because losing has us return with tails between legs back to the repetitive status quo more times than Ian Beale begs his latest wife not to leave him. It's becoming tedious. I mean seriously, Ian is proper weasel. Why do these women allow themselves to get hitched to this wimp in the first place? He owns a fish and chip shop ffs. I guess it’s the facial hair that does the trick. Women do like a bit of facial hair.
Anyways, this game at Anfield is massive. It's got the 'biggest game of the season' trimmings all over it. Biggest game of our season thus far no doubt. Lose this and Liverpool catch-up. City and Villa will also be smiling. And everyone in the tabloids and at Sky Sports Towers will be buzzing high on glee as one of their dinosaurs sees off a great pretender and that status quo remains stable and comfortable. They don’t like change. And change never comes. It's almost like we hypnotically comply to their wishes. Much like Ian Beale hypnotises the ladies into taking a liking to him. The dirty dog.
It's a statement of intent to go there and leave with all three points. It will apply further pressure on Rafa and have people considering the realistic possibility that there is a decline at hand at Liverpool. Winning there would be a statement that we are not just great pretenders and that having past the half way stage, we can now seriously be looked upon as a team with ambitions to finish in the top 4. Now I know the irony is obvious to you and me. If Liverpool are playing poorly and if we beat them it's probably not something genuinely out of the ordinary because of our form and consistency and their constant disappointing performances. So pound-for-pound it might not quite be a David and Goliath moment or be a decisive defining juncture in our season. They're not flying. They're drowning. Well not quite, their arm floats are keeping them above water. So if we claimed a win, our players shouldn't spend the evening on an open-top bus getting smashed out of their heads.
But because it is Liverpool - this great institution of yesteryear, and because people still sort of quietly expect them to 'wake up' - beating them in their own backyard would still give us one of those sensationalist back page headlines that are usually kept for other Top 4 clubs. It would irk many for us to win and win well. Although I'm sure the headlines will be more about Liverpool losing than Spurs winning. The media agenda has never been stronger. But the three points and the gap extended between us and them would serve well for Harry and his troops and if he works it right, it will aid the self-belief in growing stronger. As long as feet remain firmly on the ground. Let the fans grow wings.
Regardless of other peoples perceptions, to us, this is akin to a cup semi-final. Sort of. At the very least it should be treated like a cup game. Go for the jugular. Take the game to them. Show absolute offensive intent and make them work hard to stop US from playing. Rather than go there and be content with sharing the points. Fuck it, this is football. It's meant to be passionate and forceful and players should be full of spirit and pride. Confidence, we know, plays a big part and our belief has lagged on occasions. Tactical naivety and lack of concentration has seen us drop points (Everton away) when we should have killed the game off. It's major test of Harry and the players.
Don't show respect. Forget about the stats and the past. Shrug off the expected. Prove it to yourselves and to us the fans that you want Top 4. It's the time for everyone in Lilywhite to became leaders. Backbone, bollocks and balls…in the back of the net.
We're in a good strong position. Liverpool are on the ropes, sluggish, but still fighting. Dig deep. Show class. Our away form has been good this season. History tells us we will choke. It's about sodding time we became masters of the Heimlich manoeuvre.
Reader Comments (57)
i love it mate COYSSSSSSSSSS!!
Agreed. Time for some players to make an impression (I'm thinking mainly about Bale). Also, Keane scored in this fixture last season although it was just a consolation. Maybe he still has memories of the Liverpool debacle and will actually do something in a game for a change...
No fear. Are the players capable? We came completely unstuck against Chelsea, Arsenal and Utd. Sometimes I think the occasion gets to our players.
Ian Beale, central midfield?
looking forward to the "we're still 1 point in front them" post on Monday....!!! this for me would be bigger than us finally beating Chelsea but I can't see it happening. I think both teams would settle for a draw now and Harry has shown in the past his tactics away to the "big 4" aren't all out attack.
With Bale at left back, getting out of position a lot, Dirk Kuyt will have a field day and that's where we'll lose the match by 2 clear goals.
Having said that, COYS.
amusingly, adam woodyatt who plays Ian Beale is a massive liverpool fan and twitters all day long about it. hes been talking about the spurs match.
do what you will with this information.
2-1 Spurs.
BELIEVE.
Lets take the game to them!!
What a shame Lenon is not around as Johnson is out, he would have a field day. So long as Wilson rides on the back of Gerrard and does not let him breathe, and Dawson and ledley take care of Torres i am sure we will be fine.
Very excited to see Modric and Niko battering there defensive guard all afternoon.
Come on you spurs, we will not get a better opportunity to beat them on there patch for a long, long time again!
COYS.
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddddddddoooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Ruthlessness in front of goal will be the deciding factor. We can't afford to miss chances like we did against Everton. Defore on fire and a goal out of nowhere from midfield will be vital.
Just hope the travelling conditions improve so we can actually get there to support them.
Jonhson out for them is a biggest blow than lennon for us. They lost defensive and offensive pace. I hope bale can cope with kuyt. It will be as decisiv as corluka against riera or benayoun. then if we block their wings. we have to keep gerrard and torres quiet and i i think we are able to do that. I fear palacios receiving a red card for a muscle tackle against "Sir" Gerrard. But have to say it is the first time for a while that i feel confident we can beat pool by more than 2 goals difference.
Should be 3 points in the bag, but something tells me we will not take the oppo. Need to keep torres and gerard at bay and the points should be ours.
COYS
Lets look at this game and be more positive... yes they're liverpool, and yes, they're a good side... We are too. It's that simple. They look shaky, and their frailties are much clearer this season than ours.
Can we keep Torres quiet?... if we do, then there's not an awful lot more to come from them... oh yeah, Stevie G... Just ask Stevie about the first day of the season, he'll tell you that he didn't see much of the game because he was too busy eating Wilsons dirt.
As for our full backs... they're missing Glen Johnson, and they aren't too solid in that area. It's a same we dont have Lennon available to run at them, however the Croationas are pretty handy and much scarier than Dirk Kuyt ever will be. Modric and Bale doubled up are more than capable of quietening him down, if it were someone pacy, then i might feel different.
If we play them with high pressure defending, and move the ball well and quickly, then I can see us walking away with points here...
Lots has been said about not talking up our chances of the top 4... i think we should be setting the bar there and considering anything less as an unsuccesful season, we have the quality to do it, and everyone (including us and our burnt little fingers) knows it. All the managers with successful teams set the bar high, and target their players to achieve the optimum, its a way of instilling a winning mentality and raising standards.... Wenger, Ancelloti, Ferguson have all said they will still win the league... Benitez has guaranteed the top four finish, with no reasonable backing to that statement in his squad, or their performances... Mancini has also told us he'll be getting top four football. Im glad Harry has seperated us from the 'hopefuls' and made us firm contenders.
COME ON YOOOOOOOO SPURS!!!
Massive game for Spurs in their quest for reaching the top four! I really hope we have a right go at them and don't sit back and respect them like we usually do away at the top four. We have to change this terrible record. I think the main problem is our mindset when we play the big teams away from home. Liverpool is there for the taking and if Spurs play like they did against Villa away the worst they will get is a point surely. We need our players to turn up and not go missing for this one...
Get at them from the off. When we lose the ball, give no quarter. Have we got the bottle?
Probably not.
Just read something like my thoughts on another site.
Following this fixture we've got an 'easier' run for a month and a half. I know there's villa at home etc, but we should (great word) be picking up a lot of points. Do we want to play this game now, or would you prefer the snow to kick in? We actually could be out of sight by the time we play any rearranged game, or should we get it out of the way now? What do you reckon guys?
Yep, the same performance is required like when we played Liverpool at Spurs this season. From the first whistle to the last we pressed them all over the park. Also this Liverpool team has now got worse and we have got better.I really hope we do show the bottle, if we don't then we won't win!
Think I read somewhere that Bassong can play left back. Would rather see him there than Bale for this match. Like someone said before, this is where we'll lose this game. Also think it would be a statement of intent to go there and leave with one point (four in total against top four rival).
would love to do the double over the scouse but liverpool have a habit of turning up in the games that really matter. They beat vila away and utd at home. We underestimate them at our peril. However, if there was ever a sky 4 side for the taking at home it's them. My only worry is that Harry tries to be too clever with tactics again. We mucked it up against chelea and arsenal away from home playing a system that was meant to adapt to the opposition. Fuck that! Play the way our players are comfortable with and let the pool adapt to us. No Johnson and no Mascherano who is suspended which means Hudd should have a little more time on the ball. Modric is going to tear them apart.
Crouchy to score the opener and Kranjcar to get the second. They are at home so will probably get a penalty. Then our top scoreer vs Liverpool Jamie Carragher should seal the win. 3-1? Yes please.
I found this article amazing.
Has Ian Beale really still got a fish and chip shop??!!
Gutted Azza is out for this one. He'd probably kill their full back. Agree with the comment that Liverpool always turn up when it matters. If they do, we'll have to match 'em. Don't think Liverpool on their day are any better than us on our day. Great match up this.
Score draw?
A repeat performance of our Ewood Park win please. Controlled passing, no panicking on the ball and complete concentration in defence. Then when the chance to score comes bury it and keep playing with the same determination. COYS!
Superb article. Your battle cry is one that I hope echos around Anfield when we leave with all three points.
Harry is spending an awful lot of time talking up Gareth Bale. We'll miss BAE's defensive qualities on Sunday. I'm not sure Bale will ever be outstanding at the back. Going forward, he strikes me as someone who is better suited for left midfield.
For me this game will be all about how Harry sets the team up. If we start with Defoe and Keane, expect Keane to drop deep (as he does) congesting the midfield and offering no support to Defoe. That would be us playing defensive and trying to contain them...aka, showing them too much respect. If we start with Defoe and Crouch it'll mean we are going on the attack and they'll have to deal with us and respect the fact we are one of the most lethal attacking teams in the prem. I hope we go with the latter because (aside from attack being the best form of defence) I genuinely don't think their defence can handle our attacking players...
LET THE SNOW KICK IN! WE WILL THEN HAVE AZZA BACK TO TORMENT THEM!!!
@N17 Kebab King - You ask whether the players are capable. I think the answer to that is most definitely yes. As you and a few others seem to have touched on, fixtures like this are about as much as what is upstairs, mentally and mentality as the players you put on the pitch. On paper I think you have both a better first eleven and better squad than Liverpool but they have winners - players who have been there, done it and know how to handle such occasions. Gomes aside, Spurs do not have any one player who has won anything of significance in their career or played regularly in the top competitions. The same applies to the manager who has rightly been questioned throughout his career about his lack of tactical nous. It is that factor which will see Liverpool win this fixture for me.
As for the bloke who not only knows Ian Beale's real name but also follows him on twitter, sort your life out you utter melt.
"History tells us we will choke. It's about sodding time we became masters of the Heimlich manoeuvre."
Love it, COME ON YOU SPURS!
What Chazza said. Its a catch 22. How do you became a winner? I'd say with winning games like this. If Spurs can fashion victories in these types of games, something we have failed to do miserably for a decade then we might start to push onwards - mentally.
We have beaten Chelsea I think 3 times in recent years which is no mean feat. Liverpool too at home. In fact we tend to pick up points at home against the Top 4 but always ruin it away (to Arsenal and Utd). We fair better up at Anfield when we're in the mood.
Statement of intent. I've heard many use that phrase. Good preview Spooky. No need to discuss tactics or selection. What we need to do transcends the basics. Redknapp has to get it right in the dressing room prematch and the players have to be 100% on it. Can't wait.
This is one opportunity we need to capitalise on. They are definitely not playing to their full potential and we should be confident enough to go and give them a proper 90 minute run... or as you call it Spooky, a go at their "jugular".
COYS!!!
Hello all.
Back from a short break. Been catching up.
So, Liverpool away?
I'm bricking it.
Reply to The Machine........ I believe Mr. Machine, I believe ( Holding one hand to my chest, the other to the stars )
Open game? It will be.
Goalmouth action? Guaranteed.
I've stuck £20 on Keane scoring. He'll play the game of his life.
I was at the fantastic '94 FA Cup quarter final at Anfield, and like that game its is not about ability, its about bottle. Robbie must play.
To Dare Is To Do.
3-0 Spurs..........forever hopeful . This IS our year...
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Liverpool-complete-signing-of-Maxi-Rodriguez-for-15million/4810/?#comments
I expect Bale and Modric to have a cracker of a game overlapping on the left. Bale's crosses could very well make the difference in the match. We need to boss the midfield and keep pressure on their backs who are susceptible to mistakes. We're in 4th, they are not. Let's take it to them. With a home win, they just get closer. Any result by Spurs is one more obstacle to them getting CL and repairing the battered ship. All the pressure is on them and the lads seem supremely confident. Spurs win and it should be a two team race for the CL between us and City. COYS - get it done.
Sorry, meant to post something with my last comment (4.35). Not sure bale will be doing a lot of overlapping peterballb!! have a read.
spurs spurs spurs !!! calm down, dont get overjoyed season is only halfway gone.we will overcome these bad times and finish in top 4 bcoz we r the liverpool football club.as i hate to see that tiny little clubs like man city getting into headlines through money of arabs and club like chelsea with help of russian fathers and spurs spending the same but in the most foolish way,at the end of day there will b always three real big clubs in england the greatest club liverpool ,arsenal and man u.
Chazza, you say "Gomes aside, Spurs do not have any one player who has won anything of significance in their career" by that I assume that you don't count Krancjar winning the FA Cup? I'd say that's a trophy of note myself mate.
I would rather we get this game played now than have it snowed off and replayed at an unknown date. Liverpool would possibly have the chance to strengthen their squad and replace the large hole left by Alonso then. Perhaps with Maxi Rodriguez for example (if he does get signed today then I doubt he'll drop straight into the side on Sunday).
fast.........at them........maintain the midfield....stop torres....unlock with modric....niko has a blinder.......we mean bussiness........dont give up till the 94th......cod and chips..........cmon u spurs!!
@Canada Yid - Apologies. I should of wrote that aside from Gomes, Spurs have just the one player who has won one trophy in a FA Cup that saw them play just one team in the top league in a game where they were very, very lucky.
I didn't include it as it was very much an anomaly.
3 - 1 SPURS. DEFOE 1 AND KEANE 2. ARRY TAKE THE CAPTAINCY OFF OF KEANE, AS HE PLAYS ALOT
BETTER WHEN HE HASNT BEEN CAPTAIN.HES GOING THREW A ROUGH PATCH AT THE MOMENT AND IT PISS"S
ME OFF HOW SOME OF OUR SO CALLED FANS CAN SHOUT ABUSE AT HIM INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING HIM.HOW MANY GOALS HAS HE SCORED FOR US,AND HE GETS TREATED LIKE THAT.ITS NO WONDER HE DIDNT CELEBRATE HIS GOAL ON SATURDAY LISTENING TO THE ABUSE HE WAS GETTING. THESE SAME MUPPETS ARE PROBABLEY THE SAME MUPPETS WHO GAVE PAV A STANDING OVATION.I KNOW WE ARE 4TH,
BUT I THINK THAT BEING SO HIGH UP HAS AFFECTED SOME FANS SENSES.THIS IS THE SAME PAV WHO SAID THAT HE THOUGHT ARRY WAS TAKING THE MICKY OUT OF HIM.AND THAT HE WAS PROMISED BY ARRY TO START THE GAME AT MAN U IN THE CUP,BUT DIDNT. SOUNDS LIKE PAV IS TRYING TO GET HIMSELF A MOVE! BY MAKING UP STORIES AS ARRY THEN WENT ON SKY TO TELL EVERYONE THE REASON PAV DIDNT PLAY IS BECAUSE HE SAID TO ARRY THAT HIS HEAD WASNT RIGHT.ID LOVE TO RING UP WORK AND TELL THEM,IM NOT COMING IN TODAY, AS MY HEADS NOT RIGHT. SO JUST REMEMBER THAT NEXT TIME YOU THINK OF GIVING HIM A STANDING OVATION! TAXI FOR PAV!
Why are Dawson and Bassong talking up how they can't wait to face Torres. I fear they have set them self's up for a big fall. Can't understand why players do that. Or is it just the media trying to F'''' it up for us again?
That's ok Chazza, just don't do it again. :)
How mang games have we won with Bale in the starting team???.....ahem....! Surely the lad has to come of age.
Thing is when I see him player he just does not look like a defender but more of a winger. Go on Bale go out there and have the game of your life!
Will be interesting to see if Bale or Bassong play at LB. I have never seen Bassong play there but it would be a real bonus if he is capable in that position.
Liverpool have put in some decent performances this season. Apart from beating Mau Utd and Aston Villa, they battered L'Arse in the first half of their game at Anfield in the first half a few weeks ago.
At the start of the second half, LArse scored a lucky goal (what a surprise) but after that Liverpools confidence vanished and their performance was really poor.
Not sure Liverpool supporters are in a position to accuse us of spending money foolishly, given Rafas revolving door transfer policy. Have his acquisitions in the transfer market been any better than ours ?
In many ways, both teams have had their share of turkeys during the past few years.
I fear that Liverpool will find a way to nick this one with a last minute grasp. Until we can develop the kind of self believe the ARSEs do have when playing the top teams, we will continuously drop points against teams like ManU and Liverpool that we should ordinarily not be doing.
In an ideal world we should win this match comfortable. Pool is a serious funky state and if we deploy a lineup this, we should have a good chance:
Gomes
Corluka * Dawson * King * Bassong
Kranjcar * Wilson * Hudd * Modric
Crouch * Defoe
A lineup like this will definitely give us a strong chance of winning. Our first priority has to be to prevent Pool from scoring and with Basson in place of Bale, we have a strong backline to hold out any threat from Pool's attackers. We know in Wilson we have an enforcer in the midfield to win balls and put in the crunch tackles that will scare the pants off Pool players. Hudd by his side means we have an AM who can set up the likes of Modric, Kranjcar, and Crouch to feed the ball to Defoe to score. If we can get up by 2 goals in the middle of the 2nd half, the game will be a wrap up as I am sure we will not suffer the same brain fart that we did against Pool's neighbor the last time around.
Are you stalking Adam Woodyatt now instead of Daniel Levy?
I'd f*cking love it if Beale posted on here. Love it.