Liverpool vs West Brom (Monday)

Kick off 20:00

- A stunning strike from Steven Gerrard was not enough to earn his Liverpool side a victory as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Manchester City last weekend.

- Steven Gerrard will be looking to build on his striking performance against Brazil this weekend, hopefully adding to his huge total of 755 passes completed in the opponent’s half this season. You’ll find Gerrard at an industry-best 15/8 to build on his goal for Liverpool on Sunday and score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

- Brendan Rogers will no doubt have been delighted with the recent form of Daniel Agger in the Reds defence. The Danish international has made a positive defensive contribution once every 12.2 minutes this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

- Jose Enrique is another who looks to be hitting top defensive form, establishing the best tackle success rate in the Liverpool squad at 81% from 32 challenges.

- Expect to see Luis Suarez at the centre of Liverpool’s play this weekend as usual. The Uruguayan striker has either dribbled with the ball or completed a pass in the opponent’s half once every 3.9 minutes this season.

- West Brom fell victim to the talents of Gareth Bale last weekend as they went down 1-0 at home to Tottenham.

- Rumours are circulating that Romelu Lukaku might be extending his loan stay at West Brom beyond the end of this season and it’s not difficult to see why the Baggies would be keen to secure his services for a little while longer. He’s been on target in front of goal 37 times this season, bagging 9 goals along the way.

- Gareth McAuley continues to be one of Steve Clarke’s defensive rocks this season, racking up 236 positive defensive contributions this season at a rate of one every 9.9 minutes.

- Much of the Baggies’ best play moving forward often centres on Chris Brunt, the midfielder leading the West Brom squad for crosses with 43, collecting 5 assists along the way.

- Despite throwing himself into his defensive duties with enthusiasm, Youssouf Mulumbu would do well to curb some of his slightly more rash attempts at winning the ball. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he leads the West Brom squad for attempted tackles with 78, yet has only won 47.4% of them.

Charity Bike Ride in aid of the HFSG & 23 Foundation

I received the following letter, please help out Paul Robinson for this create cause.

Goodbye Jamie

The word legend is one that is constantly overused by many in the footballing world, and never in the correct context.

But at Liverpool we have a true footballing legend in the form of Jamie Carragher a colossus, inspiring player who has served this great club with honour and dignity throughout his time at Anfield.

Carragher is everything a young hopeful would want to become, only players like Ryan Giggs and Steven Gerrard have shown the same kind of devotion to a club like Jamie Carragher has for Liverpool, which will make it even more harder to say farewell to the great one when he hangs up his boots at the end of this season.

The simply fact is we don’t have anyone who can fill his shoes now in terms of leadership or game reading. Agger and Skrtel are both great defenders, but neither have the leadership skills in terms of vocal presence and defence organisation that Carragher holds, Carra shouts orders like a lion and organises the defence like a military operation.

Jamie Carragher has been a key part of the Liverpool defence and Brendan Rodgers has the hardest job in the world to find or mould a player to fill the gap.

Over the past two years Carragher has lost a little pace and mistakes starting to creep into his game, but these are things which are down to age and loss of that extra yard.

We have to remember that Carra has been around a long time and there’s no way week in week out he will be able to keep up with players like Aguero, Bale or Walcott in a sprint for the ball.

But what role can Carragher play until the end of the season? Well one answer is to use Carragher as a sub and come on if we need a degree of calm or organisation on the field, starting Jamie every week may not be the solution, even if we would all love to see that happen, but its important to realise what Jamie Carragher has done for the club, and how hard he works to keep up a high level of fitness.

Personally, I want Carragher involved for as much as possible, when your chasing a top four spot you need big players and no one fits the bill more than Carra, he will shed blood for Liverpool and that’s what you need in the run up towards the end of a hard season.

We have young and some very experienced defenders but not ones with the leadership or organisational skills that Jamie Carragher brings, and now that he has decided to hang up his boots, it will be one of the hardest goodbyes in Liverpool history, to a true footballing legend that is Jamie Carragher.

Brian Reece

twitter @oldfattoad

Respect For Munich

Respect For Munich

Liverpool and Manchester United are the biggest rivalry in English football, not just for footballing reasons but also for their great city’s historical reasons. But these two great clubs share so much in common, great success in domestic competition and also in Europe, with so many brilliant players throughout their history, but unfortunately both United and Liverpool have suffered pain and tragedy too, with lives lost but never to be forgotten by the clubs.

Liverpool suffered at the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters and United tragically lost most of their great young team in 1958 in that tragic air disaster in Munich. Unfortunately because of the great rivalry between the two teams the supporters do show much hatred towards one another, and unfortunately some supporters target the other’s disaster to inflict emotional pain on the other.

This will never stop as there is an element of idiots in every support around the country who think this type of “banter” is “clever”. But the vast majority of United and Liverpool supporters are sensible enough and do show respect to each other, and especially to these tragedies that make up such important parts of both clubs’ history.

Today is a sad day for Manchester United on the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, where 23 people lost their lives, 8 of them players of one of the greatest young footballing sides never allowed to reach their potential because of fate.

The young team that manager Matt Busby had put his faith in was remarkable as they won the League the two years prior to the disaster which earned them the position of becoming the first English team to venture into European competition.

United were returning from Belgrade after drawing with Red Star Belgrade 3-3 in the European Cup quarter-final, which was enough to take them through to the semi-final. But unfortunately they never made it home after stopping to re-fuel at Munich.

Who knows what this talented young team could have achieved ?

Like the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters, the Munich Air Disaster will never be forgotten. Manchester United showed great respect for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster before this season’s league fixture between the two sides at Anfield, and although there is a great rivalry there is also a great respect between the two clubs and between the true supporters of both clubs. The rivalry will continue and so will the respect, so from the supporters of Liverpool I would just like to say our thoughts are with you as we all pay our respects on the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Philippe Coutinho

by Tom Morrison (http://coordinatedsports.blogspot.co.uk/)

The promising Brazil youngster began his career at Vasco de Gama and
was quick to impress top European clubs at the age of just sixteen.
His superb dribbling ability and outstanding vision, coupled with an
array of deft passing and tactical awareness, displaying maturity
beyond his years, earned him a €4 million move to Serie A side Inter
Milan. After two years struggling with injuries and a lack of first
team football Brendan Rodgers brought Coutinho to Liverpool for a fee
reported to be worth £8·5 million.

Despite a history of injury problems at such a young age, it should
not be a worry for Liverpool fans as the majority of his injuries were
muscle strains, caused by a rigorous strength and conditioning
programme in order to add muscle to his slight frame. Perhaps with a
more sensible muscle building programme employed by Liverpool staff,
Coutinho will be able to make a swift transition to the physicality of
the Premier League. Addressing his lack of first team football,
Coutinho was a regular starter under the unsuccessful reign of former
Reds boss Rafael Benitez, and after two seasons riddled with injuries,
spent an impressive 6 months at Espanyol under the current Southampton
manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was battling to retain Coutinho’s
services at his new club.  Despite his successful 6 month loan deal,
Coutinho will need regular playing time in order fulfil his maximum
potential and Reds fans will hope he can flourish under Brendan
Rodgers’ regime. “I’m really looking forward to developing him and
seeing him work. I got a good insight into him last year when he was
at Espanyol, he’s a real talent and a good, young, exciting player -
but also a real good professional and that’s key as well.”

In his first interview with LFC, Coutinho spoke confidently about what
he believes he can bring to the team : “I’m a player who likes to make
moves and to play along with the attack, passing as well as scoring. I
like dribbling and playing near to the box – that is a strength I
have. ” These are assets Liverpool have been short of this season with
much of the chance creation dependent on Luis Suarez’s broad
shoulders, especially with Steven Gerrard adapting his game slightly
to drop into the role of a central defensive midfielder. Liverpool’s
new signing is comfortable with both feet,  has strong tactical
awareness and discipline and has been likened to his Brazilian
counterpart Oscar. When Rodgers was quizzed regarding Coutinho’s
ability he responded: “He’s a wonderful talent and a great technician,
he’s got pace, strength and power. He’s flexible – he can play in
midfield or off the sides. He’s a really exciting player and another
great product to come into the league.”

The 20 year old’s prospective weaknesses are few and far between but
weighing in  at just 71kg supported by a 171cm frame will do him no
favours as he attempts to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.
In addition, he favours himself as an attacking midfielder and is
likely to lend no assistance whatsoever to the defensive side of the
game. Liverpool fans should not expect a Dirk Kuyt type of work ethic
either.

Philippe Coutinho also reflects FSG’s transfer policy as they
consistently invest in young players with great potential, the
philosophy being that even if they don’t reach the heights they
promise, their value will still be reasonable. Conversely to the
disputed success of Liverpool’s recent signings, Coutinho will hope to
make an immediate impact. With his array of abilities, the Brazilian
will hope to contribute to the final third of Liverpool’s play and
kickstart the club’s efforts to reach Champions League qualification.

Redmen TV : Man City 2-2 Liverpool: Gerrard Strike Cancelled Out by Reina Blunder

Liverpool came away from the Etihad with a point as Man City’s Sergio Aguero capitalised on Reina’s rush of blood to the head to snatch a draw. Liverpool, who largely dominated the game went behind against the run of play to an Edin Dzeko finish before City old boy Daniel Sturridge levelled with a powerful drive from outside the box. Steven Gerrard gave the reds a deserved lead with a long ranger of his own, before Aguero broke Scouse hearts, rounding a stranded Reina to lob home. Post match The Redmen TV bring you uncensored analysis and the reactions of LFC fans worldwide…
- VOTE HERE: http://www.shortyawards.com/?category=webshow&screen_name=theredmentv