Utter rubbish!

I can't believe I stayed up all night only to be served with an utterly rubbish display by Liverpool last night.

If only I knew it was going to be that bad, I would have continued with my much needed sleep.

But expecting something good and a worth-watching display, especially after heartening displays against Man City and Arsenal, I requested Syafiq to wake me up for the game. And came 4.00 am, my son duly obliged.

So here I am feeling groggy and sleepy but wide awake on a public holiday.

Really spoils the holiday.

Wembley, here we come (again!)

Liverpool beat neighbours Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final last night.

Although we have not won the cup just yet, the significance of this win over Everton is a cause to celebrate in itself. Everton is our local bitter rivals. Drubbing them on the way to another cup finals at Wembley makes it that much more sweeter.

We have been getting much flak lately. But as usual, Liverpool the team and the fans, stick together under pressure and under attack from misguided souls who do not understand the history and the very tradition of this one big family.

No doubt Liverpool's league form leaves much to be desired. But it is, after all, a work in progress. Patience is the key word here. What's important is that the foundations are set in place for us to progress further.

And two cup finals in a season surely says something about our progress.

League performance notwithstanding, I bet many teams would just love to be in our position right now. A cup double beckons.

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Reality check for Liverpool FC

Stewart Downing (L) was outstanding

Didn't do too well last night Liverpool. We lost 1 - 0 to a resilient Stoke City.

With that, we have now dropped a total of 4 points from games thus far. And to make things difficult, the two Manchester teams are firing on all cylinders - it's full steam ahead for them!

To be fair, the team did control the game throughout. After all, we had 60% of  possession.

But what we clearly lacked was the killer instinct to finish games off. That, and of course the big smile from lady luck. An array of chances thus all came to nought.

But there were positives to take away.

For one, the team played their hearts out right to the end. I couldn't believe my eyes as I saw the Liverpool machine harangued Stoke with wave after wave of  attacks. In fact, practically the whole of second-half was played only in Stoke's half.

Secondly, two of our new boys played commandingly well. Downing and Enrique. Enrique was ever reliable at left back. And as for Downing, his incisive runs and crosses were a headache for the otherwise solid Stoke defence walls.

After a reality check such as this, let's hope King Kenny will do some soul searching and improve further on our game strategies.

It is still early days into the season. There's ample room to catch up yet.

All the best boys. YNWA

Thank you Liverpool FC

Full house

Bukit Jalil National Stadium filled to the brim

Outside the stadium, it's like a huge pasar malam

Match in full flow. This pic is during second half when 7 goals were scored!!

Charlie Adam being introduced to the roaring approval of fans

Three Kopites from Cheras

Two Kopites from Cheras

Game over. Syafiq and Anas showing their appreciation and saying their goodbyes to the Reds

It is not often that the mighty Liverpool FC juggernaut reach our shores.
So when they did, it was a rare opportunity that I just couldn't afford to
miss.

I'd been in Singapore for work since last Wednesday. I was supposed to fly
back home Saturday afternoon, which would mean that I couldn't be at Bukit
Jalil in time for the match.

But I was determined to be there with my two die-hard Liverpool sons,
Syafiq and Anas.

So a change in flight schedule was duly made, and I managed to reach home at
12.45pm. After solat and a quick lunch, by 2.45pm, we were well on our way
to the stadium, donning our Liverpool jerseys.

The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable. Everywhere you look you'd
see RED, literally.

Over 80,000 Kopites descended upon Bukit Jalil (that's the population of a medium-sized town - sorry, can't help the comparison, I am a TOWN PLANNER after all).

Thank you Liverpool FC for a hugely entertaining game. But many thanks also to
Harimau Malaya who didn't go down tamely and provided a good fight.

Nine goals scored over 94 minutes. Now that's value for money!

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Dream debut for Luis Suarez

It's been a hectic week at Anfield as the Reds welcomed Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll to the club.

Not to forget, the Reds also booted out want-away Torres for a record fee of £50m to Chelsea. That’s more than a 100% profit out of what we paid for him in the first place.

Thank you very much Abramovic for the big ang pow!!

And it seems that all the hardwork in the January  transfer market has started to pay early dividends too.

Suarez required just 16 minutes after entering the action as a second-half substitute in the match against resilient Stoke last night to find the back of the net on his Reds bow. Talk about a dream debut.

Afterwards, Dalglish revealed the 24-year-old has not even had the opportunity to train with his new teammates as Liverpool awaited the completion of paperwork on his transfer from Ajax on Monday. But already he seemed to have adapted seamlessly into the team.

Once Suarez gets into training with his fellow Reds, I’m sure he will go from strength to strength as he settles into Anfield life.

Welcome Suarez.

And who needs Torres?

Good bye and good riddance

The Kops never took to liking the Yankees, ever

The jokers. Well, they do remind you of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, don't they?





The original Laurel & Hardy, which I'd much prefer, anytime

 



At long last the saga of the Liverpool takeover is concluded. And with that, hopefully, we've seen the last of the two Yankees who were intent in their desire to make tons of money at the expense of an English football institution that is Liverpool Football Club.

In hindsight, and to be honest, we should never have trusted and taken these two jokers on board in the first place.

They know nothing about football. And they just fail to embrace the history and tradition of this club, revered by fans not just in Merseyside, but millions around the world. They just do not understand that Liverpool FC is a passion, and a way of life which affects ordinary folks week in, week out

Even up until yesterday, Hicks was still making statements like this concerning his defeat in trying to hold on to the club:  "It has hurt my family tremendously. This is a very valuable asset that was swindled away from me".

Says a lot doesn't it?

Good bye and good riddance you ignorant, greedy Yanks .

My only regret is that, in your three years escapade in Merseyside, you've almost destroyed Liverpool FC and taken it to the backwaters of English football like never before.

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My new EPL team

Bloomfield Road Stadium, the home of Blackpool FC


Blackpool are in the Premier League! Their promotion came following a hard fought and stunning 3-2 Championship Play-off final victory over Cardiff City at Wembley yesterday.

Finally, I have two teams in the EPL to support: Blackpool and Liverpool.

Which is just as well. With Liverpool looking highly unlikely to be able to kick out the American owners in time for the start of next season, no new owners can be expected. And with that, there goes any hope for meaningful and situation-changing purchase of new players.

My endearment to Blackpool is by way of my two year stay at this lovely seaside resort town in the North West of England from 1979 to 1981. For this is where I did my GCE A-Levels all those years ago as a teenager

I must admit to – due to financial constraints – having not set foot inside Blackpool FC’s stadium at the Bloomfield Road. But my friends and I did make it a point to check out the team’s results from time to time on match days.

Blackpool FC dates back to 1877. The team have eight Football League and fourteen cup honours to their name. The most notable achievement of course is winning the FA Cup Final in 1953 when they beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3.

Come next season of the EPL they’ll be slugging it out with the big names of English football. That in itself is already a big achievement for the Tangerines. With a home ground capacity of just 13,500 (all seated) it has got to be the smallest ground of any Premiere League team.

Come on you Seasiders!!!

Blackpool FC Info
Ground Name: Bloomfield Road
Capacity: 13,500 (all seated)
Address: Seasiders Way, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 6JJ
Pitch Size: 112 x 74 yards
Team Nicknames: The Seasiders or Tangerines
Year Ground Opened: 1899
Shirt Sponsors: Carbrini Sportswear
Home Kit Colours: Tangerine & White
Away Kit Colours: All White With Tangerine Trim
Kit Manufacturers: Carbrini
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Liverpool in dire straits

Two balls? The freak goal which cost Liverpool the game against Sunderland last night

Liverpool lost their fourth game for this season. That's already double the number of games lost the whole of last season.

If things continue the way it is, then we can kiss the title goodbye well before the busy Christmas period. Heck, some even say we could have kissed it goodbye last month!

This is not good. Unless Liverpool improve, I shall have to find some other things to muse with over the weekends.

Its a depressing thought.

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Liverpool off to a bad start

Liverpool’s new season hasn’t been off to a good start. I wouldn’t use the word crisis yet. After all, we are only three games into the season.

But, to put things into perspective, Benitez's side have lost as many league games in a fortnight as they did all last season.

And of all people, it is our talismanic captain who has to shoulder most of the blame.

Now, before Liverpool fans out there bombard me with hateful comments, let me be clear that I didn’t say it. Benitez did.

But we all trust Benitez enough to know what needs to be done. So I guess this was it. A kick in the backside for our Gerrard to wake him up.

I hope it does the trick – sooner, rather than later.

No doubt we have three key players to return – Aurelio, Agger and Aquilani. And I bet you that they could make a whole lot of difference. But my only fear is that it would be a case of a bit too late.

If Liverpool misses the title again this year – and that’s a big IF – then I hope Chelsea or Arsenal would win it. Heck, I wouldn’t even mind if Burnley goes all the way.

Anyone, except Man United.

Sorry la Man United fans (5)

Things were rather quite at office today. I guess many were mourning Man United's loss to beautiful Barca.

But to me the defeat was only to be expected. After all, if Liverpool (which only reached the quarter-finals of CL) could thrash Man United 4 - 1 (at Old Trafford, some more ma...) then surely Barca could finish the job off far more easily.

The blank stare on Ferguson's face says it all. Man United just lost the plot this time.

Sorry la Man United fans (4)

Hahaha.

Pulverized. Thrashed. Ripped apart. Take your pick, any which one will do just nicely to describe Man United’s 4 - 1 humiliation at the hands of classy Liverpool.

For all of Rooney’s bragging and hateful remarks against Liverpool in the run up to this big game, Man United’s response (or rather, lack of it) to Liverpool’s sublime performance was so, so disappointing.

Rooney was anonymous. Ronaldo’s free-kicks were ineffective. And Van der Sar? Well, what can I say? The giant goalkeeper was left stunned after letting in four goals. Just look at his pure exasperation after letting in the fourth one.

Who would have dared guess a score line that big against Man United at home ground? For the record, United haven't suffered a home defeat like this since New Year's Day of 1992 when they were soundly beaten 4-1 by QPR.

When the final score “4 – 1” was splashed on the TV screen, I thought, “Eh? Betul ke kita lawan Man United nih?” Macam lawan West Bromwhich Albion je”.

Within the space of four days Liverpool has beaten two of the biggest football clubs in the world by scoring four goals against each. First against Real Madrid, and now Man United. This calls for a double celebration.

Well done lads. More of the same please.

Real Madrid 0 - 1 Liverpool

Liverpool beat Real Madrid 0 -1 in the Champions League after an unmarked Benayoun nodded past the helpless Real keeper Casillas. As always, the Champions League brought out the best of Liverpool under manager Rafael Benitez.

Now to get back to winning ways in the English Premier League and overhaul Man United’s seven point lead. Impossible? Don’t bet on it (not yet, anyway).

What do you think, Syafiq? Can we do it?

Liverpool should stay cool

I usually look forward to my Sunday morning papers. On most weekends, I would be out and about well before 7.00 am to buy breakfast, fill up the petrol tank and then pick up the customary New Sunday Times and Berita Minggu from the local store.

But today was different. I wasn't that eager to get into my car and drive out for the papers. If not for the fact that Emak wanted her roti canai for breakfast, I could have just continued dozing.

The reason? Upon completing my solat suboh, a quick check on my PDA showed that Man United had scored a last gasp of a goal (in the 90th minute) against Bolton last night. And with that, they are now top of the table in the EPL. Ahead of Liverpool by a point.

With Liverpool not playing until Tuesday morning (Malaysia time) that will be reason enough for Man U fanatics to gloat and brag.

But not to worry. What Liverpool have to do now is just stay cool and stay focused on the coming match against another arch rival Everton in the local derby this Tuesday.

Forget Fergie's mind games. Just keep plodding along nicely and this might just be our year.

Sorry la Man United fans (3)

Albert Riera did well on his debut

Hahaha. I’m having a good laugh right now. For Liverpool beat Manchester United 2 – 1 in the clash at Anfield.

Prior to the game, all and sundry were writing Liverpool off. The TV pundits, the sports writers in the major local newspapers, and of course the many Man United fans amongst my friends. Nobody gave us a chance, especially with Gerrard and Torres not expected to be fit.

But we did it! And it was achieved even without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the starting line-up.

Well done Liverpool FC.

Now, if we can get rid of those greedy American owners for good then we might be on to a really fantastic season.

Liverpool to beat Man United

Tonight is the night of clash of the titans in English football. Yes, it’s the clash between the greatest English team ever, Liverpool, against the greatest team wannabe, Man United.

It’s always an overwhelming and emotional occasion when these two giants meet. And the rivalry is not restricted to the wet and windswept England northwest region only. It reverberates half way across the world.

As early as 9.00am this morning already the sms started streaming in to my hand phone from a few die-hard (ill-informed?) Man United fans taunting and teasing me for the game that (they say) we are sure to lose tonight.

Hah! I can only smile at their ignorance and foolhardiness.

Sure, Gerrard and Torres are not fit to play. Even if the are in the squad, they can’t be expected to be 100% because of their serious injuries.

But remember we also have Keane and Riera.

Tonight, witness these two to stand up and deliver.

So, when the fulltime is up, expect Man United (and their fans) to hit the highway which will take them home to Manchester scratching their heads and wondering “just what went wrong?”.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Agger, Dossena, Benayoun, Babel, Riera, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Plessis, Kuyt, Keane, Torres, Ngog, Cavalieri, El Zhar.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, Brown, R Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, F Da Silva, Fletcher, O'Shea, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Scholes, Nani, Possebon, Gibson, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Welbeck.

The Reds sitting pretty at the top

Gerrard scoring the winning goal

I watched the Liverpool versus Middlesbrough match last night with my sons Syafiq (the hard core supporter ) and Anas (the newly-converted Liverpool fan).

A hard fought match it was, and Liverpool were not at their best. But what matters is that -despite under-performing - we won and secured the full three points.

This morning, after buying nasi lemak for breakfast, I stopped by at the local Petronas petrol station to get my usual supply of Sunday morning papers. What a nice read it was. And what a pleasant viewing it was to my eyes too, as there on the sports page was splashed the EPL table which clearly showed Liverpool right on top of the pile followed by Blackburn, Hull and Newcastle.

The usual top contenders were no where to be seen. Chelsea came in at fifth place and Arsenal thirteenth. And Man United? Oh! there they are at fifteenth spot. Forgive me for not noticing you down there.

Yes. I know its still early days. But its just too nice to let it pass by and not brag about it.

Fernando Torres: the making of a legend

Congratulations to Spain for winning the Euro 2008.

But what really interests me is the player who scored their winning goal, Fernando Torres, the Liverpool striker.

Spain striker Fernando Torres set a record for the highest league tally by a foreign player in his Premier League debut season for Liverpool, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy's mark of 23 league goals in the final game of the 2007-2008 campaign against Tottenham to reach the milestone of 24.

Then on Sunday the 24-year-old capped his incredible year by scoring the winner in his nation's 1-0 victory over Germany in the final of Euro 2008.

Read more about the making of this legend in this BBC news article.

Hard luck, Liverpool

It’s a public holiday, and my son Syafiq shall return from his boarding school. Moreover, tomorrow, Anas shall come back too. Ordinarily, that would have been enough to make me wake up bright and sprightly this morning.

However, this is no ordinary day. Liverpool was booted out of the Champions League competition early this morning. I feel down and lethargic. A much looked forward to ride on my mountain bike seemed like a ‘mountainous’ effort and an unappealing prospect. So, it was cancelled.

Liverpool did well enough. In terms of ball possession, we were up there. But we had to pay for a few missed chances. To compound matters further, Torres – the ayam tambatan – had to be taken off for a problem with his hamstring.

Still, to go out on a 3 – 2 score line isn’t that bad. Scoring two goals in the fortress that is Stamford Bridge is a feat even Man United finds hard to achieve.

To be sure, Chelsea flies to Moscow with a ‘blessing’ from Liverpool, so to speak. If not, then how do you explain John Arne Riise’s last gasp own goal in the first leg?

But in the end, it has to be said that Liverpool just ran out of luck. Thus the own goal. Plus, the penalty denied from Liverpool when John Terry handled the ball in their penalty area, and denied again when Hyypia was brought down during extra time.

I hope Lady Luck continues to smile on Chelsea during the final match in Moscow come May 21st.

Go on, make my day, and beat Man United! That’ll be a perfect birthday gift for yours truly.

Yankees go home!

Un-popular owners

The BBC has reported that Liverpool's owners have been given a £400m take-it-or-leave-it offer from Dubai International Capital to buy the club.

Despite denials, the truth is the Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks have all along been in talks with DIC, the Government-run Dubai investment fund, to sell the club.

An offer of £400m has been made by DIC.

Yet, the greedy Americans are still holding out in the hope that more would be put on the table for them. Talk about being greedy capitalists!

This has prompted the DIC big guns to comment that it's not easy to make a deal with the Americans because “they are in dreamland about valuations."

Gillett and Hicks have owned Liverpool for barely a year and they have done enough damages already. They undermined the manager’s position by openly talking to a possible replacement manager. This has no doubt affected the club's performance on field. And they have saddled the club with more debts after their refinancing package in January.

Yet, even in retreat, they are still trying to milk the most out of their one year’s plundering of the club.

Take your money and go you greedy Americans.

Your coming to Anfield has been a black period in the history of this special club.

Alex Ferguson talks some sense, finally

In his predicament with Liverpool FC’s current owners, Rafa Benitez has gained sympathy and support from the most unlikely of source – Alex Ferguson.

The Manchester United boss was reported to have criticized Liverpool's American owners for the way they have undermined Benitez.

Ferguson was quoted by the BBC to have said, “You should let a manager get on with his job.

"At big clubs, it's absolutely paramount that the board show their class.

"Arsene Wenger has had great support at Arsenal and I've had great support, too, ever since I came here. So there's a certain type of unity there," said Ferguson.

I never thought I would ever say this but, ermm… Ferguson, thank you.

We owe you one.

But only on this one, though. As for the rest…all is not forgiven, nor forgotten.

What, kiss and make up? YEUCHH, don't even THINK about it!!