LIVERPOOL CONTINUE TOP SIX BRILLIANT FORM

Liverpool FC continued their brilliant form against the top six in the Premier League with their 3-1 victory over Arsenal on Saturday.

Goals from Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino, Senegal international Sadio Mane and summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum ensured the Reds returned to the top four.

The win ensures Jurgen Klopp’s men did the double over Coach Arsene Wenger and his boys – considering that they humbled them at the start of the campaign. However, it also questions the level of inconsistency of the team, considering that the same team crumbled when they face Leicester City.

Wenger had to make difficult calls ahead and during the clash. He left out his best player Alexis Sanchez – and there have been reports of an altercation between both parties. He was clueless on how to manage Liverpool’s dominance in the first half of the game. When the Chile international joined in the second half, he brought the much-needed spark in the attack and he was obviously involved in the only goal the Gunners scored.

“It was one of the best games we have played so far because of the strength of our opponent. We did really well. We had hard words after the defeat at Leicester. We analyzed it and that wasn’t enjoyable. We had another opportunity and we took it today. It’s the rollercoaster of the Premier League,” Klopp said after the game. Continue reading LIVERPOOL CONTINUE TOP SIX BRILLIANT FORM

FIRMINO TO REPAY FANS SUPPORT WITH SILVERWARE

For the support the fans of the Merseyside club has shown him so far, Robert Firmino has said he would repay them by making sure he wins a silverware for them to celebrate, come next season.


Wednesday night saw the fans of the Liverpool club at the Riverside stadium echo the chant ‘Bobby Firmino’ and the former Hoffenheim man has given them thumbs up for that.

Firmino has been a major agent to Liverpool’s flight to the top of the table, and he has attributed this to the vocal support which the fans have given him, calling it a source of inspiration for him.

The Brazilian attacker says he loves it when the fans call his name. Speaking to the official Liverpool FC Magazine, Firmino said:

“I love hearing the fans calling my name and at the moment they are calling me Bobby Firmino.

“It is exciting when they are shouting your name and singing for you.

“That is a sign that we are doing something well and also a sign that they love what you are contributing for the team and an indicator of their overall support for the team.” Continue reading FIRMINO TO REPAY FANS SUPPORT WITH SILVERWARE

Liverpool’s first defeat had a major impact on the league table

Liverpool’s first defeat of 2015 had a major impact on the league table after it allowed Manchester United to build a five-point advantage in the top four race.

The 2-1 defeat puts Liverpool in a difficult position with regard to qualifying for the Champions League next season. There are only eight matches left in the season and United look to have regained their former strength. Even though the Red Devils have several tough matches between now and the end of the season, their comfortable advantage is likely to see them through to the finishing line.

Brendan Rodgers, however, believes that it is not the case and that Liverpool still remain in hunt for a Champions League spot. Liverpool cannot afford any more slipups between now and the end of the season, but there is a potential for the same when the Reds visit the Emirates stadium to take on Arsenal in a fortnight. This may have been Liverpool’s first defeat in this calendar year, but there have been warning signs in recent weeks. The club only barely managed to beat the likes of Swansea away from home. Rodgers will have to find a way – and fast – to get the players back on song. Continue reading Liverpool’s first defeat had a major impact on the league table

GERRARD RULED OUT

The captain of Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, will miss the last two games of his team in order to go through a shoulder surgery.

Earlier, the plan was that Gerrard would play till the end of the season and then, would go through the surgery. But, while, playing in the match against Everton, he looked in a lot of trouble and considering how important he is for the team, the Liverpool management doesn’t want to take any risk. So, they have asked their skipper to go through the surgery earlier.

Gerrard has been in the starting XI of Liverpool in all the 36 matches that they have played in the ongoing Premier League.

The last couple of games are not that important for Liverpool. They are likely to finish at the 7th position in the table.

Also, after this surgery, Gerrard will take almost a couple of months to get back to full fitness. So, if he goes through surgery now, it’s certain that he will be able to come back for Liverpool’s pre season tours.

On the other hand, if he goes through the operation at the end of the season, he will probably have to miss the pre season tours and he will go into the Premier League without enough match practice which will not be ideal.

So, keeping all these things in mind, the Liverpool management has taken this decision.

The Reds had done the same thing with the Welsh midfielder Joe Allen as well. Allen also had a shoulder problem, perhaps more severe than Gerrard, and, the Liverpool management asked him to go through the surgery in March this year so that he could get fit for the pre season tours.

After this surgery, Gerrard will not be able to play for England in the friendly matches against Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

FANS SHOULD RESPECT COLE

The England midfielder Steven Gerrard has said that the fans should show a lot of respect to the defender Ashley Cole, who will be making his 100th appearance for the national team when England take on Brazil in the friendly match. This friendly match is being organised as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the English FA. It will be taking place at the new Wembley stadium. It is one of the highly anticipated friendly matches in the calendar year. Ashley Cole, who has played for Arsenal and Chelsea, will be making his 100th appearance when he starts this match.

In doing so, he will become only the seventh player to have achieved this landmark. The Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard achieved this landmark only a few months ago. He has said that Cole is by far the best defender he has played with at both club and international level. Cole has been an England regular over the last 12 years, and Gerrard has recalled who he has been able to keep top players like Ronaldinho and Ronaldo quiet. Despite having won numerous trophies during this period, Cole is not especially popular among the fans. Despite this, Gerrard has said that fans should show respect to the player, who has been an instrumental part of the national team over the years.

“If the crowd take a moment to think about what he has given in an England shirt over the last 12 years, it’s been phenomenal. He has been probably the most consistent player I’ve played with during my time. It’s going to be Ashley’s night if he’s picked and the players are certainly going to show him a hell of a lot of support. Let’s hope the fans do as well. He deserves to be a 100-cap player, there’s no two ways about that,” said Gerrard.

BEST TO COME

The Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has said that he is getting close to his best after a few weeks of indifferent form. Despite coming into the twilight of his career, Gerrard is still regarded as the heartbeat of the Liverpool team in many ways. He was at his best goal scoring form a few years ago, but a number of injuries have taken the edge of his game in recent years. However, he seems to be slowly getting back to his best after an indifferent start to the new season. The Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised the midfielder at the start of the season, but he has so far scored less than five goals.

Gerrard has admitted that his performances have not been at the best this season, but it has been a mixed one because he has been able to have the experience of playing more than 600 matches for Liverpool and 100 matches for the national team. Liverpool are currently enjoying their best spell in the season and have managed to win four out of the last five matches. This has helped them get up to the eighth position in the table only a few points below the top four positions. They will be facing Manchester United during the weekend.

“I’ve had mixed experiences this season. I’ve passed some unbelievable landmarks for club and country, getting to the 600 games mark and winning my 100th cap for England. But with the slow start we made and being where we have in the league it’s been a bit mixed for me. There’s my form as well. I’ve played well in some games but I’ve been disappointed with myself in others and I’m not happy with my goal tally at the moment,” said the midfielder, who has made 21 appearances in all competitions.

DIOUF SLAMS GERRARD

The striker of Leeds United, El Hadji Diouf, has said that Steven Gerrard is an egotistical man and the senior players of Liverpool don’t like him at all.

Diouf is a former Liverpool player. He had signed for Liverpool in 2002 and then, took a transfer in 2004. His tenure at Liverpool wasn’t successful at all and the Senegalese striker was able to score only 3 goals in 80 matches that he played for The Reds.

The current captain of Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, had criticized Diouf in his autobiography which was published in 2006. Gerrard wrote, “Diouf was not my favourite player for sure. I didn’t like his approach towards the game. He was not friendly in nature and generally liked to be alone.”

“On the field also, his approach was pretty casual. I never saw him giving his 100% for the team. He was not attached to Liverpool by heart.”

When asked about those remarks of Steven Gerrard, Diouf said, “Everybody in this world is free to put forward his opinion. What Gerrard said was only his opinion. I don’t care about those remarks.”

“The Brazilian legend Pele has included me in his list of top 100 players of the century. Gerrard has not got a place in that list. If my approach had not been right towards the game, such a legend would never have included me in his list.”

“I have never met a person as egotistical as Gerrard. There are a number of players in the Liverpool squad who don’t like Gerrard at all. I don’t want to take the name of those players publicly.”

“Frankly speaking, I don’t care much about what other people are saying about me. I just want to focus on my game and contribute for my team.”

GERRARD NOT WORRIED

The Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has told Liverpool Football News that he is not worried about the poor start that they have made to the season. The 32-year-old midfielder has seen Liverpool not be at their in the opening three matches of the season. Apart from the 2-2 draw with Manchester city when they came extremely close to getting all three points, Liverpool had been extremely poor on various fronts this season.

The season started with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of West Brom, while they were recently defeated by Arsenal 2-0. As a result, they are still searching for the first win under the new manager Brendan Rodgers.

Even more worrying for Liverpool is the fact that they have let the striker Andy Carroll leave for West Ham on a season long loan deal. This leaves Brendan Rodgers with only two selections when it comes to strikers – Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini. This is unlikely to bode well with the rigours of a difficult Premier league season coupled with the Europa league adventures. Still, the captain and midfielder Steven Gerrard has expressed his confidence that the results will improve over the next few weeks. Liverpool will be facing Sunderland and Manchester United in the next two matches.

“When you’re not winning football matches it’s tough. But when you have my kind of experience, you don’t panic after three games. We were fantastic against Manchester City and should have won. Against Arsenal it was the opposite. It’s been a tough few weeks but it’s not the time to panic. We can still take the club forward,” said the Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard in a recent interview. Steven Gerrard was recently sent off in the World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine. He was given a second yellow card in the second half of the match.

GERRARD SHOULD STAY

The Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that Steven Gerrard should not think about leaving Liverpool if he is to win the Premier league title with his boyhood club. The 31-year-old Steven Gerrard is fast running out of time when it comes to completing his ambition of lifting the Premier league title. It is thought that the midfielder is now regretting having passed up the opportunity to join Chelsea back in 2005. Since then, Chelsea have managed to lift two Premier league titles and also in the Champions League title last season. However, the new manager Brendan Rodgers has said that the club will be able to be successful once again, but Steven Gerrard needs to be patient.

The former Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is trying to bring a different approach to the game at Anfield. He is already making a significant impact, which was quite clearly visible in the 2-2 draw with Manchester city. Liverpool could have easily won the match had it not been for the mistake made by the defender Martin Skrtel in the dying moments of the match. This has gone a long way into erasing the memories of the horrible 3-0 defeat on the opening day of the season.

“I think Steven, over the years, has had a number of chances to leave here. He has always felt this is the club where he could still win it and he has still got a number of years left in his career. We understand how difficult it is going to be but I think he will still feel the dream is here. I don’t think he needs to move anywhere. Of course we will go through difficult moments — but his dream is to win the Barclays Premier League with Liverpool,” said Brendan Rodgers ahead of this weekend’s match.

GERRARD BETTER UNDER ROY

England midfielder Steven Gerrard has said that the team are in a much better position than they were under Fabio Capello and also on the many previous regimes. England manager Roy Hodgson took charge of the team only a few weeks ago, but he has already instilled a great belief in the team according to Steven Gerrard, who was speaking at the launch of the New Liverpool Shirt.

It has seen England go to the brink of qualification to the quarter-finals of the Euro 2012 after a draw against France and a thrilling 3-2 win over Sweden. The final match of the group will be against Ukraine and England are going into the game knowing that they can seal the qualification to the quarter-finals comfortably.

Ahead of the match with Ukraine, Steven Gerrard has said that the matches against France and Sweden has demonstrated the fact that England have a lot of self belief within the squad that might take them all the way through this time around. It has been in the decades since England last won major trophy at the international level. However, due to the fact that Spain are experiencing a number of problems due to injuries, there is a slight chance for England to win the Euro 2012.

‘Credit needs to be given to the whole team. The work-rate has been tremendous and at times it feels like we’re unbreakable. This has been a great platform for us but we can’t get carried away. We needed to make good the points lost against France by beating Sweden. We showed a lot of character but the disappointing thing is that, after going a goal up and completely controlling the first half, I felt we shouldn’t have needed to,’ said Gerrard. Gerard also said that the tactics shown by Roy Hodgson has been the highlight of the tournament so far for England.