Fulham away 04/04/09....

[Paul]

Personally I would far rather keep up our momentum in the league than progress to the next round of the CL. I know it's not an either/or situation, but I would be more gutted about dropping points against Fulham than getting knocked out by Chelsea, and that's honestly how I feel. You might feel different, and you're entitled to of course.

I hear what you're saying but I think we're more than good enough to do both. We're certainly better than either side and also in better form. The only impediments - as ever under Rafa, it seems - lie within our own hands. Which head will we put on to play them? The confident, sweep all before us head or the play within ourselves and drop points one? That's not to dismiss the qualities of two dangerous sides, mind; it's just a statement of our own qualities.

[neremic]

clearly it's the business end of the season and we're in the mix for both, can't afford to prioritise - particularly as the league is dependent on the team above us dropping points, whereas we have a clear run at the CL. We could win all our remaining league games and still not win the league.

[Scooby Dudek]

Starting to get stomach cramps. It's good to be stressed this late into the season.

 

Mad swings from comfortable 3 0 win, to dire 0 1 loss.

 

Our latest BIGGEST game of the season so far.

[stevensr123]

Liverpool beating Fulham would help mind games with Manchester United

 

By Mark Lawrenson 4/04/2009

 

United were made to look stupid at Craven Cottage ..Benitez's boys could be next

 

Rafa Benitez can strike a massive psychological blow to Manchester United at Craven Cottage today.

 

It will be a huge test for Liverpool's title credentials and mental strength - and it could be that they come up just short.

 

History tells us that Liverpool always struggle coming off the back of a gruelling international period.

 

Benitez's players were away for a long time and that was bad news for Liverpool and probably a relief for Mr. Ferguson.

 

Liverpool had the momentum while United were faltering after back-to-back defeats.

 

But United's defeat at Fulham tells you that Craven Cottage is a tough place to go and Roy Hodgson has built a team which is challenging for Europe. They play high tempo, their fans get behind the team and the ground whips up a good atmosphere on the big occasion.

 

Liverpool have the opportunity to go top with a win I fancy a draw and it may be that they don't quite have enough to win the title.

 

In the long term, Benitez, having just signed a new deal, WIN 79 3rd can bring the title back to Anfield - especially if he is given the funds to buy top-quality players. Benitez must also change his outlook and go from being a defensive-minded coach first and foremost to one prepared to attack.

 

We all stood and admired Benitez for the way Liverpool destroyed Real Madrid and then Aston Villa.

 

They have the attacking power and threat in their team but so often the shackles are put on them. Yet when they are released then Liverpool can beat the very best.

 

That's what they will have to do for the rest of the season and, with the Champions League on their minds as well, it may just be that Benitez may revert to type.

 

Liverpool can still win the Champions League but the supporters really want the Premier

 

League this time. If you go through the Liverpool and Manchester United squads then there is a gulf in quality in terms of strength in depth.

 

Liverpool's players have taken on the mantle in recent weeks, people like Albert Riera playing their part alongside Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

 

But while United have Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic suspended, Fergie is able to bring in top quality replacements.

 

That's the main difference between the clubs - that and, of course, the fact that United have a game in hand.

 

Ferguson picked the wrong team at Fulham. It was designed to teach the players who lost to Liverpool a lesson and yet ended up backfiring.

 

But, let's be honest, Ferguson makes those sort of mistakes once in a blue moon. However, he will be smarting and determined to put things right -and there's no way that United will slip up again.

 

The long and short of it is that Benitez would rather be in United's position now. They can talk about momentum but United have the points and the experience to come through this big test.

 

Chelsea are the third team in the three-horse race for the title - and very much the outside bet. You could tell from their body language after the defeat at Tottenham that they knew they'd blown it.

 

They had an extra half an hour because of the late kick-off, knew United had lost at Fulham and that this was their big chance.

 

Then and only then did Chelsea start to play at their maximum, nearly scraping something back but couldn't deliver in the end. Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink willhave learnt a lot from his players thatdayabout drive and motivation. Without question, Chelsea need an overhaul and my guess is that Hiddink will take the job permanently at Stamford Bridge even if it means combining the role with takingRussiatotheWorldCup. Hiddinkisamanwho has Chelsea ownerRomanAbramovich's ear and they are quite clearly friendly and on good terms.

 

Abramovich is back going regularly to games and seems to have his love and affection back for Chelseaafterpeople were beginning to question whether he was losing interest. But with anything, Abramovich has rediscovered his love for Chelsea because the enjoyent has returned. It's his baby gain.

 

What will be fascinating to see will be if and when Hiddink gets to choose his own players, build his squad. Then we will see his Chelsea. Hiddink is clearly a fantastic manager, brilliantly talented and incredibly astute when it comes to building successful teams. The top four is returning to the normal status quo - but just maybe next season they will step up another level again from the rest of the Premier League.

[al daas]

"We'll Get Snotted"

[JohnnyH]

I'm getting proper nervous now. We really need to start well in the this game. If we get an early foothold we should actually coast it, however, the longer they keep it at 0-0 or if they score, the worse it could get for us. When you look at Fulhams home record, this could concievably be one of our toughest remaining games.

 

A lot of course also depends on the reaction from the mid week internationals. Hopefully we haven't lost that spring in our step.

[WhiskeyJar]

Big game no doubt about it.

 

But there is no reason why our lads cannot be confident and take the game to Fulham.

[the walsh]

big game we need a early goal i can see this been a real battle fulham have a good home record

[sir roger]

Liverpool beating Fulham would help mind games with Manchester United

 

By Mark Lawrenson 4/04/2009

 

United were made to look stupid at Craven Cottage ..Benitez's boys could be next

 

Rafa Benitez can strike a massive psychological blow to Manchester United at Craven Cottage today.

 

It will be a huge test for Liverpool's title credentials and mental strength - and it could be that they come up just short.

 

History tells us that Liverpool always struggle coming off the back of a gruelling international period.

 

Benitez's players were away for a long time and that was bad news for Liverpool and probably a relief for Mr. Ferguson.

 

Liverpool had the momentum while United were faltering after back-to-back defeats.

 

But United's defeat at Fulham tells you that Craven Cottage is a tough place to go and Roy Hodgson has built a team which is challenging for Europe. They play high tempo, their fans get behind the team and the ground whips up a good atmosphere on the big occasion.

 

Liverpool have the opportunity to go top with a win I fancy a draw and it may be that they don't quite have enough to win the title.

 

In the long term, Benitez, having just signed a new deal, WIN 79 3rd can bring the title back to Anfield - especially if he is given the funds to buy top-quality players. Benitez must also change his outlook and go from being a defensive-minded coach first and foremost to one prepared to attack.

 

We all stood and admired Benitez for the way Liverpool destroyed Real Madrid and then Aston Villa.

 

They have the attacking power and threat in their team but so often the shackles are put on them. Yet when they are released then Liverpool can beat the very best.

 

That's what they will have to do for the rest of the season and, with the Champions League on their minds as well, it may just be that Benitez may revert to type.

 

Liverpool can still win the Champions League but the supporters really want the Premier

 

League this time. If you go through the Liverpool and Manchester United squads then there is a gulf in quality in terms of strength in depth.

 

Liverpool's players have taken on the mantle in recent weeks, people like Albert Riera playing their part alongside Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

 

But while United have Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic suspended, Fergie is able to bring in top quality replacements.

 

That's the main difference between the clubs - that and, of course, the fact that United have a game in hand.

 

Ferguson picked the wrong team at Fulham. It was designed to teach the players who lost to Liverpool a lesson and yet ended up backfiring.

 

But, let's be honest, Ferguson makes those sort of mistakes once in a blue moon. However, he will be smarting and determined to put things right -and there's no way that United will slip up again.

 

The long and short of it is that Benitez would rather be in United's position now. They can talk about momentum but United have the points and the experience to come through this big test.

 

Chelsea are the third team in the three-horse race for the title - and very much the outside bet. You could tell from their body language after the defeat at Tottenham that they knew they'd blown it.

 

They had an extra half an hour because of the late kick-off, knew United had lost at Fulham and that this was their big chance.

 

Then and only then did Chelsea start to play at their maximum, nearly scraping something back but couldn't deliver in the end. Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink willhave learnt a lot from his players thatdayabout drive and motivation. Without question, Chelsea need an overhaul and my guess is that Hiddink will take the job permanently at Stamford Bridge even if it means combining the role with takingRussiatotheWorldCup. Hiddinkisamanwho has Chelsea ownerRomanAbramovich's ear and they are quite clearly friendly and on good terms.

 

Abramovich is back going regularly to games and seems to have his love and affection back for Chelseaafterpeople were beginning to question whether he was losing interest. But with anything, Abramovich has rediscovered his love for Chelsea because the enjoyent has returned. It's his baby gain.

 

What will be fascinating to see will be if and when Hiddink gets to choose his own players, build his squad. Then we will see his Chelsea. Hiddink is clearly a fantastic manager, brilliantly talented and incredibly astute when it comes to building successful teams. The top four is returning to the normal status quo - but just maybe next season they will step up another level again from the rest of the Premier League.

 

Can Lawrenson get any further up the arl bastards arse . Has he even noticed the 'goals for' column in the Prem & that's the draw out for me on the fixed-odds coupon.

[TE-23]

Didn't Masch play at stupid altitude in Bolivia? He's likely to be fooked but would play him first half and hope to bring him off at HT.

[Vincent Vega]

Huge game today, we simply have to win.

 

Come on lads, let's go for it from the off.

[Wor Horse]

So fucking nervous.

 

But from the off lads, let's fuck these lot.

[coop]

I think we will line up something like this.

 

Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres.

[marcus50bucks]

I think we will line up something like this.

 

Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres.

 

Where did you here this from mate?

[coop]

Where did you here this from mate?

 

Brother just text it mate.

 

Edit - he got it from RAWK.

[JohnnyH]

I'd be happy with that

[Ted]

Aurelio injured?

[Wor Horse]

Dossena starts on the wing.

[Wor Horse]

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Dossena, Torres, Gerrard. Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Ngog, Riera, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano

 

Aurelio must be crocked again,

[Ted]

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Dossena, Torres, Gerrard. Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Ngog, Riera, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano

 

Don't know about that.

[Jonte]

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Dossena, Torres, Gerrard. Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Ngog, Riera, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano.

[Original202]

Doss is boss.

[coop]

Dossena starts on the wing.

 

2 goals in 2 games from that position plus supplies a decent cross so not worried aobut him in that position.

[snez1]

Gutted. Really, really hope Fabio is okay for Chelsea.

 

This is going to be a difficult game.

[The Bugged Out]

did he just get back from international duty? he might be jet lagged