#TTmatchday - Spurs v Liverpool

Follow Sunday's football via TEAMtalk's Live Centre, as Tottenham tackle Liverpool at White Hart Lane in the Premier League.

Follow the minute-by-minute updates from White Hart Lane on our Live Centre and have Your Say.

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MIGNOLET goal keeper pengharapan LFC YNWA kplm -HuNY-

MIGNOLET goal keeper pengharapan LFC



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Get ready uollz.... KPLM - M. Enrique

Get ready uollz....

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Luis Suarez bakal menjadi kapten Liverpool pada perlawanan malam ini. Adakah...

Luis Suarez bakal menjadi kapten Liverpool pada perlawanan malam ini.



Adakah beliau akan membuat kejutan dengan lilitan kapten disisinya?



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LFC Line-up vs Spurs: Luis Suarez captains as Lucas comes in for Gerrard

Luis Suarez captains Liverpool today as the Reds take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the Premier League from 4pm.

The Uruguayan striker is given the captain’s armband in the absence of Steven Gerrard (hamstring), whilst vice-captain Daniel Agger returns to the squad, but only as far as the bench.

Lucas Leiva replaces Gerrard in midfield, whilst Mamadou Sakho keep shis place alongside Martin Skrtel in central defence.

Philippe Coutinho supports Suarez up front, with Raheem Sterling providing width on the right side.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Flanagan, Sakho, Skrtel, Johnson, Allen, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez.

Substitutes: Jones, Kelly, Agger, Toure, Moses, Aspas, Alberto.

Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Capoue, Dawson, Naughton; Paulinho, Sandro; Lennon, Dembele, Chadli; Soldado.

Substitutes: Friedel, Fryers, Holtby, Lamela, Townsend, Sigurdsson, Defoe.

Tottenham vs Liverpool gets underway at 4pm. It’s live on Sky Sports in the UK.

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Measuring Progress — Defining Liverpool’s Seasons And Their Ambitions

Craig Rimmer looks at the remarkable progress of Liverpool as they prepare to enter a “mini-season” over the festive period.

It is mid-December and Liverpool are just 5 points off the Premier League summit; Liverpool are firmly in the race for Champions League qualification; Liverpool are, also, just 6 points above 8th position.

There has been undeniable progress, but Liverpool’s season still seems to remain undefined, it’s final ambitions unclear. So, just how far will the Christmas period go towards defining Liverpool’s ambitions for the remainder of the season?

With so few points separating the top half of the league table and so many points available during a hectic festive fixture list, the obvious conclusion would suggest that this is a key period. But just how important and, more specifically, how many points do Liverpool need to take from those game in order to keep their ambitions on track?

If Champions League qualification is the most realistic aim then 2 points per game – or 76-points if extrapolated over an entire season – seems to be the yardstick. In a similar manner to that which 40-points is the clichéd benchmark for survival, then two-points per game should be enough to secure a top-four finish.

In fact, there is no shortage of factual evidence to support either case. Only 1 team in Premier League history has failed to survive with more than 40 points. Similarly, no team in Premier League history has ever failed to achieve a top-four finish with a record of two points per game or better.

In fact, during the late 90’s, 76 points would have sufficed for a genuine title challenge. Since then the gap between the best teams in the division and the rest has widened. Yet, 76 points would still have been enough to secure a minimum of third position in 8 of the past 10 Premier League seasons.

In 07/08 Liverpool finished in fourth place on 76 points to secure qualification to the Champions League – the highest total for a fourth place finish in the Premier League era (although, on that occasion, they were a full 11 points ahead of fifth placed Everton).

The 10 year average is 68 points. Admittedly, that does include two successive seasons in 03/04 and 04/05 when Liverpool and Everton achieved Champions League qualification with just 60 and 61 points respectively. Yet, all of the evidence suggests that two-points per game should more than suffice for a top-four finish.

So how does this translate to the ambitions of the current Liverpool team?

Liverpool are currently progressing at 76-point pace – 30 points from the first 15 matches at a rate two-points per game. In order to maintain their current pace through to the midway point of the league season, Liverpool would need to take eight points from an available 12 against Spurs (away), Cardiff (home), Man City (away) and Chelsea (away). That translates as two wins and two draws; or alternatively, three wins.

No small task, particularly with injuries beginning to take their toll on the squad for the first time this season, and taking into account Liverpool’s recent record against the other top seven teams (just two wins from 15 games since Brendan assumed control and a measly 5 points from 8 matches away from home).

Of course, three points from the home fixture against Cardiff City are a must; similarly the home game against Hull on New Years day. But, when it comes to beating the lesser teams at home, there are few who are more astute than the current Liverpool.

Even a more conservative and eminently achievable target, say five or six points from those four games, would still leave Liverpool close to two-point per game pace with the majority of their most challenging away fixtures out of the way and home fixtures against the top sides to come in the second half of the season.

In other words Liverpool should – in theory at least – stand a chance of bettering their points-to-games record in the second half of the season – all the more so if cash is spent on the playing squad during the January transfer window.

With this is mind, plus injuries to key personnel and a number of games within a relatively short period of time likely to test the resilience of the manager and his squad, could there be a temptation to approach the games over the festive period within that context?

There is a valid argument to treat these games as a mini-season within a season; to target certain points from certain games and to judge team selections and squad rotation accordingly.

One or two games may even end in defeat but, within the broader context, the overall ambition can remain on course.

The counter-argument dictates that a win away from home against another top-four contender could provide a massive psychological boost.

But, by taking a pragmatic and measured approach, Liverpool may actually give themselves a greater chance of achieving just that.

Three wins against Spurs, Man City and Chelsea is probably unrealistic. One win from those fixtures, for a team with genuine ambition, should not be; and that may be sufficient to keep Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions well on course heading into the new year.

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Progress measured. Why Liverpool FC are not the finished article (yet)

As Liverpool FC enter a decisive Christmas period, Aaron Cutler reflects on the team’s progress and what may be holding them back.

The modern manager is loath to place too much emphasis on any one game. That said, Brendan Rodgers is all too aware that the next two weeks will define Liverpool’s season.

When the fixture list was announced staff and fans alike identified an inviting start, one promising points and momentum.

At the same time, we all shuddered at the prospect of a brutal Christmas schedule. Santa hardly comes bearing gifts with Spurs, City and Chelsea on the horizon – all away from home.

Nevertheless Liverpool’s start has set them up for a New Year tilt. Just how we fare during this an intriguing period will determine where the team and club stand going into 2014.

There is reason for optimism but that should be tempered by realism also. Yes, the reds have by and large enjoyed a good start to the campaign.

30 points from 15 games is Champions League form, particularly given the unpredictability engulfing our rivals. We have also showcased some fine football, scoring nine goals in the last week alone.

But question marks still remain. It is as if Liverpool stand at a crossroads.

They are approaching a level of excellence but still teeter on the point of mediocrity. Progress is being made but the rate of such will only be born out in the next fortnight.

Off Days

For all the positives (and there are a great many) a number of issues still handicap this squad. One is off days like we saw at Hull. Granted a huge facet of Rodgers reign to this point has been a greater consistency against lower sides.

Throughout the course of his 18 months in charge, Liverpool have tended to outclass inferior opponents.

Take this season as a case in point – we have dismissed Crystal Palace, West Brom, Fulham, Norwich and West Ham with the ease befitting a Liverpool side.

Indeed at times we have barely broken a sweat. But capitulations such as that at the KC Stadium mean we are far from the finished article.

Defeats like that happen but the manner of the performance was the alarming thing. No sharpness, inventiveness or fight was evident as we surrendered to a poor, poor side without so much as a whimper.

For all our exquisite football you always feel we have a stinker like that in our locker. Further examples can be found from last season to prove the point– think West Brom at home and Southampton away amongst others.

We have no divine right to win football matches and trips to Hull and the like test your mettle. Liverpool must iron out such wretched showings if they are to reach the next level.

Beating The Big Boys

Similarly we need to start winning games against our so called rivals. The fact Spurs were the only team we managed to beat from those in and around the top four was a big talking point last term.

The statistics themselves hardly told the whole story. We were competitive in a number of those games and some big decisions went against us (Shelvey’s infamous red card comes to mind).

This season we have already beaten United at home but it is away from Anfield that Rodgers needs to pinch points.

Under Brendan we have faced the six teams who finished above us last term a combined nine times away from home. We have not won a single game.

Moreover, excluding cup matches, we have taken five points from a possible 24. However you dress it up, that record is not good enough.

We need resilience on our travels as well as the confidence to replicate our home form. Our meek showing at The Emirates hardly inspires confidence but a top team will go to White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge with no fear.

Neither Tottenham nor Chelsea have pulled up any trees this season. If we harbour serous hopes of a top four finish we will go there on the offensive.

Away Form

Away victories themselves are proving hard to come by for most sides this season. Tottenham are leading the way with five wins.

If we supplement our superb home form with points on the road we will be well on course for a haul of 70 points. Liverpool must show greater courage on away days.

So superior are our displays against the bottom 13 clubs at home, we should be aiming for league doubles over each. Great sides such as Ferguson’s United and even the current Arsenal team go away expecting to win and play with that mentality.

It is only when we adopt a similar mindset that we will improve on our seven away victories from last term.

Squad Depth

Our squad depth – or rather lack of it – will also be exposed during this testing time. Injuries to Jose Enrique, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard have led to a reshuffling of the pack.

Unlike those who will ultimately challenge for the Championship, we are unable to call upon great quality in reserve. With Aly Cissokho unfancied John Flanagan has deputised at left-back.

Flanno conducted himself brilliantly in the Merseyside Derby and has done just fine since. Nevertheless he is a limited player, particularly when asked to gallop forward on his less favoured flank.

We need cover at full-back and up-top where Iago Aspas appears to be on a hiding to nothing.

Midfield

But it is in midfield we appear painfully thin. Even with Gerrard in the side our engine room has been found wanting when pressed high.

When teams such as Arsenal and Southampton swarm the Gerrard-Lucas pairing they are gazumped due to a lack of mobility.

When put under pressure they were slow to react and made to look very sluggish in pursuit of possession. They have no answer to that direct pace and guile. Moreover, they visibly tire when run ragged in this way.

On the flipside when faced with inferior opponents who sit deep they are given the freedom of the park and look like world beaters.

Gerrard appeared to roll back the years at home to Fulham, given time and space to spray passes and roam forward at will. He was exceptional.

This came one week after being made to look heavy legged and ineffective by Arsenal. Neither have the stamina to quell a team of that calibre and then influence play further forward in the same motion.

As a duo they can boss two thirds of Premier League games but they and we need quality reinforcements for the acid tests. The manager could also be bold and substitute one of the two when we are being overwhelmed.

Alongside this pair are Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson. Both are decent players but neither are top drawer. Indeed, when comparing our midfield to those of the traditional top five we are worryingly weak.

Between them the owners, manager and transfer committee must identify and secure not one but two quality midfielders. Only then will we become title contenders as opposed to flat track bullies.

Leadership

Gerrard’s very presence will be a huge miss over Christmas. Always a tremendous player he has matured into a brilliant captain in recent times.

Having let his football do the talking for the best part of a decade, he now fulfils other responsibilities the armband entails.

He is far more vocal on the field, encouraging and berating teammates in equal measure. In addition, he is in the official’s ear more than ever, utilising his status in the game to good effect.

Without him we lack leadership. Only Kolo Toure cajoles in the same vain and minus Gerrard and Jamie Carragher you do worry about our youthful squad when travelling to the likes of White Hart Lane and The Etihad.

The likes of Lucas, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson need to assume responsibility. Gerrard will not be around forever and this team needs leadership if it is to navigate a challenging fortnight.

Management

The manager himself is also learning on the job. People forget that Rodgers is 40, a baby in management terms. He is doing a fine job at Liverpool and slowly but surely restoring us back amidst the upper echelons.

Nevertheless his inexperience occasionally tells. His in-game management is not always decisive enough. He was wrong to line-up with four centre backs at home to Saints, slow to change from a 3-5-2 against 10 man Newcastle, slow to withdraw an obviously shattered Victor Moses at Swansea, wrong to start with another 3-5-2 (minus Glen Johnson) at Arsenal, arguably ill-judged to leave Sturridge in reserve at Everton … With greater experience comes greater instinct and Brendan has proven before he can learn from his own errors. He will mature with his team and no doubt spot situations earlier. The quicker he does so, the faster Liverpool will develop.

Set Pieces

Our defending of set-pieces is a longstanding issue yet to be addressed. We have already conceded six goals from deliveries into the box this term.

That accounts for 31% of the goals we give away. Last season that figure was 28%. Likewise 26% of the goals we have conceded this term have been headers, up from 21% last year. We are regressing in this regard.

Even with additional aerial physicality (Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho) we are shipping goals too easily in this manner.

Almost all successful teams are founded on a solid rearguard, ours has been anything but. We have kept one clean sheet in our last 13 games. That is appalling.

Against lesser teams we may score our way out of trouble but papering over such cracks will be far harder against stiffer opposition.

Whether a switch back to zonal marking is required or simply extra work on the training ground, change must commence as this is an Achilles heel likely to hold us back.

Goal Getting

At the other end our impressive goals tally is coming from a familiar source. Luis Suarez has scored 15 of our 34 league goals this season – an astonishing 44%.

Admittedly, he’s our star striker and paid to do just that but he needs help. To be fair Daniel Sturrdige has been on his game also – 9 goals accountable for 26% of our overall tally.

That means between them they have scored 70% of our goals thus far. Next on our list is Steven Gerrard with three, two of which were penalties. That is both startling and concerning.

Others need to chip in if we are to believe Liverpool are going places. What – if seems possible – Suarez leaves at the end of the season? What – as has happened – Sturridge faces a lengthy injury lay-off?

This is why Liverpool stand at the crux of greatness and mediocrity. With Suarez we seem to be going places but do we rely too heavily on him?

Withdraw the Uruguayan from this side and our position would surely be far more precarious.

The likes of Henderson, Moses, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling must offer more of an attacking threat, not only to support Suarez but increase our all round potency. We will achieve nothing without goals from midfield.

So there you have it. Believe it or not this article is not the work of a doom monger. Liverpool are progressing nicely but the aforementioned frailties are slowing that rate of improvement somewhat.

Should Brendan Rodgers iron out such weaknesses and maintain the core of this squad (then add to it) he has every chance or restoring Liverpool to greatness … eventually.

We have the makings of a very good team and should not let our own complacency hold us back.

The next two weeks will be an interesting barometer as to where we stand. Are we ahead of schedule or still some way short? We should know the answer come January.

Merry Christmas

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APA KATA ANDA? Sanji_KPLM

APA KATA ANDA?



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Report: Liverpool set to make £12m move for ‘Egyptian Messi’ Mohamed Salah

Liverpool are weighing up a £12 million offer for Basel winger Mohamed Salah, according to a report on Saturday.

As we reported earlier this week, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was spotted in Germany watching Schalke’s Champions League clash with Basel on Wednesday night.

Reports at the time suggested Rodgers was eyeing up German international midfielder Julian Draxler, but the Daily Mail reports this weekend that he was indeed scouting Basel’s Salah.

Simon Jones writes in Saturday morning’s paper:

Basel are now ready to sell their prized asset and want around £15m for a player who has been dubbed ‘the Egyptian Messi’ following his goals return of 17 in 26 internationals.

According to Squawka, Salah has scored twice and created seven chances in his six Champions League appearances for the Swiss side this season.

Liverpool could, however, face stiff competition for the signature of the 21-year-old Egyptian international. Jones adds:

Tottenham have also monitored Salah’s progress, notably watching him score against Chelsea in the Champions League home and away.

Rodgers is keen on improving his first-team come January, but a move for an attacking midfielder such as Salah may come as a surprise to fans.

Liverpool have struggled with depth in both full-back positions, and have only Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are recognised, experienced strikers up front.

Liverpool have also been linked with moves for Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore this week.

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Daniel Agger: A victim of the Liverpool FC pairing crisis?

Rebecca Parry looks at the decline in action of Liverpool’s Daniel Agger this season.

Although having rumoured niggling injuries and fitness test stumbling blocks, Vice Captain Daniel Agger hasn’t seen much action for Liverpool this season.

This is surprising after he was only given the nod to take the honour in the Summer.

The centre back, who we all know likes to express his love for Liverpool, has seemingly gone under the radar after there was the odd report that he was out due to injury in the last couple of months.

What was surprising was the lack of involvement since he was back in the squad, but was most of the time sat on the bench. For a defender who has been so prominent for Liverpool since his arrival in 2006, the Summer buys to rival his position left him the victim.

It has been proven on the pitch that Brendan Rodgers just can’t seem to settle with the ideal centre back pairing. The defence which seems to have more combinations than a Rubiks cube, has just not seemed to have naturally found the two that will star in the best XI.

Although there has to be time to experiment, the time has come where a crucial set of Christmas fixtures can make or break our season.

For a player who has given so much for the club over the years, I think it’s time he deserves the minutes. It won’t take long for Agger to bed back into the side, and using his experience in doing so.

He and Skrtel you would think would be the more obvious choices considering the next away fixtures are Spurs, Man City and Chelsea, as they know what their coming up against.

After Agger recently tweeted that he “won’t be going anywhere” and he’ll be “back in the team soon”, you’d think that it’s not necessarily a preference from Rodgers, but more of a chance to experiment with the new additions he’s brought into the squad.

Of course, different teams will mean a different opposition strike force, and so it will be challenging to find a pairing that can suit the majority.

However, it’s the reason why Rodgers was so keen to add to the defence in the Summer – options is not what we’ve been used to in the last few seasons.

Although he doesn’t have the best track record of injuries, we haven’t seen the Dane is the team as much as we would like.

But with Steven Gerrard now out for the Christmas period, you would expect him to feature, and take the team forward with his leadership qualities.

This is especially significant in terms of players keeping their heads in fierce battles against the likes of Chelsea, where things have got heated in the past.

Can the Vice captain stand up and show why he was chosen to lead the team in Gerrard’s absence? Even though he hasn’t featured much this season, you would expect his experience to shine through in these next crucial fixtures.

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Bakal berentap ayuh BR tewaskan AVB malam ini Admin -FF-

Bakal berentap ayuh BR tewaskan AVB malam ini



Admin -FF-







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LIVERPOOL vs Spurs tanpa kelibat Kapten malam ini bagaimana anda melihat peluang...

LIVERPOOL vs Spurs tanpa kelibat Kapten malam ini bagaimana anda melihat peluang Liverpool untuk membawa 3 mata berharga dan seterusnya menamatkan BADI kekalahan Liverpool di White Hart Lane



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Happy 29th birthday to Martin Skrtel...malam ni main elok2 tau..lawan Spurs lagi...

Happy 29th birthday to Martin Skrtel...malam ni main elok2 tau..lawan Spurs lagi tu yeaa Cik Skrtel



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#TTmatchday - live updates

Follow Sunday's football via TEAMtalk's Live Centre, as Aston Villa face Man Utd, Norwich face Swansea before Tottenham tackle Liverpool.

Follow the minute-by-minute updates from around the country on our Live Centre and have Your Say.

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Selamat Menyambut Ulang Tahun utk Martin Skrtel Yang ke 29 buat yg terbaik utk...

Selamat Menyambut Ulang Tahun utk Martin Skrtel Yang ke 29



buat yg terbaik utk mlm ini !!



You&039;ll Never Walk Alone



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Keratan akbar Berita Harian hari ini... "Hugo Lloris bimbang nasib buruk Spurs...

Keratan akbar Berita Harian hari ini...



"Hugo Lloris bimbang nasib buruk Spurs berulang jika Suarez tidak dikekang."



hafiz







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Liverpool dikaitkan dengan pemain tengah Juventus, Claudio Marchisio. KPLM -ez-

Liverpool dikaitkan dengan pemain tengah Juventus, Claudio Marchisio.



KPLM

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LFC News,Transfers & Gossip&039;s post | Latest updates on Sulia

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Liverpool Linked With Exciting Juventus Midfielder Swoop as Serie A Side Look to Balance the Books Liverpool have been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio are the Serie A ...



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Progress measured. Why Liverpool FC are not the finished article (yet)

As Liverpool FC enter a decisive Christmas period, Aaron Cutler reflects on the team’s progress and what may be holding them back.

The modern manager is loath to place too much emphasis on any one game. That said, Brendan Rodgers is all too aware that the next two weeks will define Liverpool’s season.

When the fixture list was announced staff and fans alike identified an inviting start, one promising points and momentum.

At the same time, we all shuddered at the prospect of a brutal Christmas schedule. Santa hardly comes bearing gifts with Spurs, City and Chelsea on the horizon – all away from home.

Nevertheless Liverpool’s start has set them up for a New Year tilt. Just how we fare during this an intriguing period will determine where the team and club stand going into 2014.

There is reason for optimism but that should be tempered by realism also. Yes, the reds have by and large enjoyed a good start to the campaign.

30 points from 15 games is Champions League form, particularly given the unpredictability engulfing our rivals. We have also showcased some fine football, scoring nine goals in the last week alone.

But question marks still remain. It is as if Liverpool stand at a crossroads.

They are approaching a level of excellence but still teeter on the point of mediocrity. Progress is being made but the rate of such will only be born out in the next fortnight.

Off Days

For all the positives (and there are a great many) a number of issues still handicap this squad. One is off days like we saw at Hull. Granted a huge facet of Rodgers reign to this point has been a greater consistency against lower sides.

Throughout the course of his 18 months in charge, Liverpool have tended to outclass inferior opponents.

Take this season as a case in point – we have dismissed Crystal Palace, West Brom, Fulham, Norwich and West Ham with the ease befitting a Liverpool side.

Indeed at times we have barely broken a sweat. But capitulations such as that at the KC Stadium mean we are far from the finished article.

Defeats like that happen but the manner of the performance was the alarming thing. No sharpness, inventiveness or fight was evident as we surrendered to a poor, poor side without so much as a whimper.

For all our exquisite football you always feel we have a stinker like that in our locker. Further examples can be found from last season to prove the point– think West Brom at home and Southampton away amongst others.

We have no divine right to win football matches and trips to Hull and the like test your mettle. Liverpool must iron out such wretched showings if they are to reach the next level.

Beating The Big Boys

Similarly we need to start winning games against our so called rivals. The fact Spurs were the only team we managed to beat from those in and around the top four was a big talking point last term.

The statistics themselves hardly told the whole story. We were competitive in a number of those games and some big decisions went against us (Shelvey’s infamous red card comes to mind).

This season we have already beaten United at home but it is away from Anfield that Rodgers needs to pinch points.

Under Brendan we have faced the six teams who finished above us last term a combined nine times away from home. We have not won a single game.

Moreover, excluding cup matches, we have taken five points from a possible 24. However you dress it up, that record is not good enough.

We need resilience on our travels as well as the confidence to replicate our home form. Our meek showing at The Emirates hardly inspires confidence but a top team will go to White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge with no fear.

Neither Tottenham nor Chelsea have pulled up any trees this season. If we harbour serous hopes of a top four finish we will go there on the offensive.

Away Form

Away victories themselves are proving hard to come by for most sides this season. Tottenham are leading the way with five wins.

If we supplement our superb home form with points on the road we will be well on course for a haul of 70 points. Liverpool must show greater courage on away days.

So superior are our displays against the bottom 13 clubs at home, we should be aiming for league doubles over each. Great sides such as Ferguson’s United and even the current Arsenal team go away expecting to win and play with that mentality.

It is only when we adopt a similar mindset that we will improve on our seven away victories from last term.

Squad Depth

Our squad depth – or rather lack of it – will also be exposed during this testing time. Injuries to Jose Enrique, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard have led to a reshuffling of the pack.

Unlike those who will ultimately challenge for the Championship, we are unable to call upon great quality in reserve. With Aly Cissokho unfancied John Flanagan has deputised at left-back.

Flanno conducted himself brilliantly in the Merseyside Derby and has done just fine since. Nevertheless he is a limited player, particularly when asked to gallop forward on his less favoured flank.

We need cover at full-back and up-top where Iago Aspas appears to be on a hiding to nothing.

Midfield

But it is in midfield we appear painfully thin. Even with Gerrard in the side our engine room has been found wanting when pressed high.

When teams such as Arsenal and Southampton swarm the Gerrard-Lucas pairing they are gazumped due to a lack of mobility.

When put under pressure they were slow to react and made to look very sluggish in pursuit of possession. They have no answer to that direct pace and guile. Moreover, they visibly tire when run ragged in this way.

On the flipside when faced with inferior opponents who sit deep they are given the freedom of the park and look like world beaters.

Gerrard appeared to roll back the years at home to Fulham, given time and space to spray passes and roam forward at will. He was exceptional.

This came one week after being made to look heavy legged and ineffective by Arsenal. Neither have the stamina to quell a team of that calibre and then influence play further forward in the same motion.

As a duo they can boss two thirds of Premier League games but they and we need quality reinforcements for the acid tests. The manager could also be bold and substitute one of the two when we are being overwhelmed.

Alongside this pair are Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson. Both are decent players but neither are top drawer. Indeed, when comparing our midfield to those of the traditional top five we are worryingly weak.

Between them the owners, manager and transfer committee must identify and secure not one but two quality midfielders. Only then will we become title contenders as opposed to flat track bullies.

Leadership

Gerrard’s very presence will be a huge miss over Christmas. Always a tremendous player he has matured into a brilliant captain in recent times.

Having let his football do the talking for the best part of a decade, he now fulfils other responsibilities the armband entails.

He is far more vocal on the field, encouraging and berating teammates in equal measure. In addition, he is in the official’s ear more than ever, utilising his status in the game to good effect.

Without him we lack leadership. Only Kolo Toure cajoles in the same vain and minus Gerrard and Jamie Carragher you do worry about our youthful squad when travelling to the likes of White Hart Lane and The Etihad.

The likes of Lucas, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson need to assume responsibility. Gerrard will not be around forever and this team needs leadership if it is to navigate a challenging fortnight.

Management

The manager himself is also learning on the job. People forget that Rodgers is 40, a baby in management terms. He is doing a fine job at Liverpool and slowly but surely restoring us back amidst the upper echelons.

Nevertheless his inexperience occasionally tells. His in-game management is not always decisive enough. He was wrong to line-up with four centre backs at home to Saints, slow to change from a 3-5-2 against 10 man Newcastle, slow to withdraw an obviously shattered Victor Moses at Swansea, wrong to start with another 3-5-2 (minus Glen Johnson) at Arsenal, arguably ill-judged to leave Sturridge in reserve at Everton … With greater experience comes greater instinct and Brendan has proven before he can learn from his own errors. He will mature with his team and no doubt spot situations earlier. The quicker he does so, the faster Liverpool will develop.

Set Pieces

Our defending of set-pieces is a longstanding issue yet to be addressed. We have already conceded six goals from deliveries into the box this term.

That accounts for 31% of the goals we give away. Last season that figure was 28%. Likewise 26% of the goals we have conceded this term have been headers, up from 21% last year. We are regressing in this regard.

Even with additional aerial physicality (Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho) we are shipping goals too easily in this manner.

Almost all successful teams are founded on a solid rearguard, ours has been anything but. We have kept one clean sheet in our last 13 games. That is appalling.

Against lesser teams we may score our way out of trouble but papering over such cracks will be far harder against stiffer opposition.

Whether a switch back to zonal marking is required or simply extra work on the training ground, change must commence as this is an Achilles heel likely to hold us back.

Goal Getting

At the other end our impressive goals tally is coming from a familiar source. Luis Suarez has scored 15 of our 34 league goals this season – an astonishing 44%.

Admittedly, he’s our star striker and paid to do just that but he needs help. To be fair Daniel Sturrdige has been on his game also – 9 goals accountable for 26% of our overall tally.

That means between them they have scored 70% of our goals thus far. Next on our list is Steven Gerrard with three, two of which were penalties. That is both startling and concerning.

Others need to chip in if we are to believe Liverpool are going places. What – if seems possible – Suarez leaves at the end of the season? What – as has happened – Sturridge faces a lengthy injury lay-off?

This is why Liverpool stand at the crux of greatness and mediocrity. With Suarez we seem to be going places but do we rely too heavily on him?

Withdraw the Uruguayan from this side and our position would surely be far more precarious.

The likes of Henderson, Moses, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling must offer more of an attacking threat, not only to support Suarez but increase our all round potency. We will achieve nothing without goals from midfield.

So there you have it. Believe it or not this article is not the work of a doom monger. Liverpool are progressing nicely but the aforementioned frailties are slowing that rate of improvement somewhat.

Should Brendan Rodgers iron out such weaknesses and maintain the core of this squad (then add to it) he has every chance or restoring Liverpool to greatness … eventually.

We have the makings of a very good team and should not let our own complacency hold us back.

The next two weeks will be an interesting barometer as to where we stand. Are we ahead of schedule or still some way short? We should know the answer come January.

Merry Christmas

petikan dari Liverpool FC, This is Anfield, Teamtalk

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Pepe Reina menerusi laman twitternya menulis : "Lihatlah siapa yang melawat say...

Pepe Reina menerusi laman twitternya menulis :



"Lihatlah siapa yang melawat saya di Napoli... Lagenda Liverpool Fc, Dirk Kuyt ... Gembira dapat bertemu kamu lagi sahabat."



hafiz







petikan dari Laman Web/FB Kelab/Penyokong LFC Malaysia

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Adakah dia akan meledak malam ni? YES - LIKE MAYBE - KOMEN NO - IGNORE LuisSu...

Adakah dia akan meledak malam ni?



YES - LIKE

MAYBE - KOMEN

NO - IGNORE



LuisSuarez ElPistolero



kplm Nur







petikan dari Laman Web/FB Kelab/Penyokong LFC Malaysia

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Kedudukan terkini BPL setakat ini : Nak komen pape tak? kplm Nur

Kedudukan terkini BPL setakat ini :



Nak komen pape tak?



kplm Nur







petikan dari Laman Web/FB Kelab/Penyokong LFC Malaysia

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Penjaga gol tottenham hotspur Hugo Lloris akui beliau gerun dengan "faktor suare...

Penjaga gol tottenham hotspur Hugo Lloris akui beliau gerun dengan "faktor suarez" kerana beliau adalah penyerang & pemain terbaik BPL ketika ini KPLM



OTAI - YNWA







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Admin harap pihak FA tak terlepas pandang. Wilshere perlu dihukum seperti mereka...

Admin harap pihak FA tak terlepas pandang. Wilshere perlu dihukum seperti mereka menghukum Suarez dulu.



Gambar: Wilshere menunjukkan &039;jari tengah&039; kepada penyokong Man City semalam.



Faizal







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Full Time match 16 : Sabtu : Kedudukan terkini BPL, Liverpool ditangga ke 5 dib...

Full Time match 16 : Sabtu :



Kedudukan terkini BPL, Liverpool ditangga ke 5 dibelakang Everton. Esok kita harus menang. InsyaAllah.



Admin nak tidur dah. Selamat malam kops! :)



kplm Nur







petikan dari Laman Web/FB Kelab/Penyokong LFC Malaysia

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Jangan mimpi. Sekian. Terima Kasih :P Cer korang komen sikit :3 kplm Nur

Jangan mimpi. Sekian. Terima Kasih :P



Cer korang komen sikit :3



kplm Nur







petikan dari Laman Web/FB Kelab/Penyokong LFC Malaysia

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