EPL: I give up

I give up. I can't stand this kind of topsy-turvy form, I can't stand the tension of Champion's League semi-final football being tempered by another week of under-achieving in the EPL.

Carragher, you're the brightest spark in the team. Keep walking (and running!), and most of all, keep defending.
Xabi Alonso, get fitter soon. The team needs you now more than ever
Luis Garcia, score more, give ball away less, ok?
Morientes, Cisse, get used to the EPL quick. We need your goals
Baros, quit your whining and start scoring soon, or you WILL be surplus to requirements
Diouf, will you stop scoring for Bolton already?
Gerrard, go already. You seem to be doing the team more harm than good these days.

Benitez, don't give up on Liverpool. You've done more good than bad in this first season, and we need you to soldier on (and maybe raid Valencia for Aimar or Vicente!)

EPL: Liverpool's Towering Number 23

I've always been a fan of Jamie Carragher. Everyone else can have your Gerrards or Owens, I went for the number 23 on the field, the forgotten guy who seemed to be playing everywhere on the pitch.

Heck, I associated 23 with Carragher so much that his name was the first name I thought of, (not Jordan), when Beckham chose the number 23 during his first year in Real Madrid.

Carra has been collosal this season, and against Juventus the other night, he was singled out as the best player on the pitch by many. Throughout the season, he has been quietly solid in defence, no matter whether his partner is Hyypia or Pellegrino.

It's good to see his good form is finally recognised on Soccernet HERE, and though he didn't make it to the shortlist for the best English players, he gets MY vote for Liverpool Player of the Year.

Champion's League: We're in the Semis!

As if I wouldn't blog about THIS result. :-) I mean, beating Juventus 2-1 on aggregate and drawing 0-0 in Turin? We're in the semi-finals, for god's sake! And where's Manure??? Complaining about the 'best teams' not getting in. HAH!

To tell the truth, I didn't watch the match, because I was expecting either 1) a really boring defensive match, or b) Liverpool to lose; and I didn't want to either one.

Anyway, I think the best teams bring out the best in Liverpool. How else can you explain beating Juventus but losing to bloody Man City?

By all accounts, Carragher was solid in defence as ever, with Hyypia, Finnan and (sigh) Traore.
And looks like Xabi Alonso has not missed a beat despite being out for so long. Gerrard? Didn't play, didn't miss him.

Bring on Chelsea!

Champion's League: Liverpool 2-1 Juventus, A Tale of Two Halves

Yes yes, I know the title is a big cliche, but it's what described the game last night (or rather, this morning) best.

Liverpool were absolutely BRILLIANT in the first half, getting two GREAT goals, and the defence was rock solid. Young Scott Carson also had a good half, making a great save.

Luis Garcia and Jamie Carragher get my vote for Men-of-the-Match, with Finnan and Gerrard coming close too.

LG's goal was beautiful, and he was also central to most of Liverpool's attacking moves last night. Carragher never put a foot or head wrong either, keeping Nedved nicely in his pocket. Gerrard was his usual aggresive self, and Finnan's game was pretty fluid on the night as well, attacking and defending well. Hyypia was also solid, and the goal was just great.

Too bad about the away goal, but although it was an obvious mistake by Carson, it IS his first European game, and he IS only nineteen. He's got the potential though. Just look at that brilliant save he made from Del Piero.

Traore and Biscan were good in patches, and Le Tallec was quite lively. Baros was dissapointing though, and I'm beginning to think he really should go in the summer.

Juventus controlled the second half, and if this is a sign of what Liverpool will face in Turin, then next week's game is gonna be a real test of my nerves. I think I won't be watching that one....

But for now, all in all, a great win. Pity about the away goal though.

EPL: One Point! One Point! One Point!

Gee, I think I should just rename this blog the Eye on Liverpool instead, since I haven't been updating it anyway. :-)

Anyway, Liverpool are now ONE POINT behind Everton in the chase for fourth place after their loss at WBA, and Liverpool's win at home against Bolton. Now that the Blues' momentum is slowing down (Four straight defeats already), fourth place looks very attainable, actually.

And all this after starting without a single out-and-out striker.

Liverpool started with Luis Garcia up front, who looked incredibly out of place. It was only when Le Tallec came on that Garcia dropped back behind the striker and played much better. There was one fabulous move in which he showed off some really cool tricks, and almost led to a goal.

But the goal came from an unlikely source indeed. Sure, it was a Gerrard corner, but he took it short, played a one two with Traore, who lifted a fantastic cross to Biscan who had an open header to score.

Two of Liverpool's most unglamourous players, Traore and Biscan, combining to score the winner. How about that eh?

Biscan HAS been playing well under Benitez, and as much as I hate to admit it, so has Traore (although he still loses concentration a lot).

Now, on to the game with Juventus, and hopefully Baros won't do anything stupid in THAT game.