Alonso

Good quotes from him on the Official Site Adam Hammill believes his loan move to Dunfermline has changed him as a player ? and hopes Rafa Benitez will like what he sees when he returns to Melwood in the summer. The winger, who has just been named in the England under-19 squad to face Turkey in March, reckons he has matured as a footballer since heading north in January. "At Liverpool I was seen as a maverick player," said the 19-year-old. "I would do something good, then something bad. But since coming up here I have worked on my effort for the team, rather than just myself. "I have become a team player. I am not surprised, because I knew I had that in me. But at Liverpool you were perhaps aware of having to do that bit extra just to get noticed." Hammill - part of last season's FA Youth Cup winning side - has already made his mark at the SPL strugglers. He earned a penalty which secured a point against Kilmarnock last weekend, while in the Scottish Cup he set up a goal which knocked Hearts out of the competition. The youngster, who started training with Liverpool at the age of seven, admits he has been surprised how much he's enjoyed his time in Scotland. "I knew since the start of the season that Dunfermline were interested. I was playing well for the reserves at Liverpool but needed to go somewhere to get first-team experience. The coaches at Liverpool agreed on Dunfermline being the best option. "I didn't expect to enjoy it this much. I have never really played in front of a lot of fans, so that has been special. The manager Stephen Kenny has been great, too. I am looking forward to playing my football here for the rest of the season. "I try not to think about what they are saying about me down there. If you have a big-headed attitude then you are likely to fail. Liverpool are a massive club. You have to respect that on and off the pitch, 24/7. "You are always in the limelight, whether that means behaving when you go out at night or eating the right things. They want you to be the best you can be, physically and mentally. You have to be top-notch to play for Liverpool." Despite relishing his chance to shine, the Scouse starlet remains driven by just one ambition ? establishing himself in the Reds' first team. "I grew up on Liverpool," he said. "It was installed in me from watching endless tapes of past matches. My dad would say, watch this, he was a great player. John Barnes was a first hero. But there's also been Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Fowler and now Steven Gerrard. "It was strange walking out for my first training session with the first-team, and seeing Gerrard and Jamie Carragher there. But I just had to get on with it. They are colleagues now, and they help you out. They have grown up in the Academy too, and it's nice to know they are looking out for you."

Must mean he's a sure starter then for the Mancs game?

Diaby is apparently out for 2 weeks after injuring his ankle in kicking Terry in the head. Shows 'ow 'ard "JT" must be.....

Baptista's already celebrating by doing an Irish jig!!

Fowler: I'd Love to Stay EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo ROBBIE FOWLER feels he?s still got plenty of time left at the top level of English football after celebrating his return with a penalty double on Saturday. The Kop legend knows his Anfield future will remain uncertain until the end of the season. But Fowler says he?ll play for as long as possible whether he earns a longer stay at Liverpool or not, and hasn?t given up hope of securing another extension for the Reds. ?I know it?s all a bit up in the air at the moment,? said the striker. ?I?ve not spoken to anyone about the future and to be honest I?m still just focusing on enjoying every minute I?m at Liverpool. ?I?ll sit down with people and think about next season when the time?s right, but although I?m not the youngest player at the club, I?m not that old either. I still feel I?ve a few years left in me yet and I?ll be carrying on for longer. ?Some people have mentioned moving into coaching and I even saw a move to the USA mentioned, but I honestly haven?t even thought about anything like that yet. ?I still think I?ve a lot to contribute as a player and I?m just focused on playing as much as I can between now and the end of this season. There?s a lot to play for.? Fowler was both player and provider in the comfortable 4-0 win, with his penalty tally for the Reds now an impressive 20 in 26 attempts. ?I wasn?t aware of that record,? he said. ?I know I?ve missed some pens, but the key is always to make up your mind and stick to it.? He added: ?Obviously it?s not easy to come back into the team when you?ve not played for a while, and I think that showed in some parts of my game. ?I?d prefer to score goals from open play rather than penalties, but I?m not complaining. I?ll take any opportunity which comes along to score. ?It was pleasing to play a part in the goal for Stevie at the end too. He?d made the penalties for me, so it was good to repay the compliment.? With Manchester United on the immediate horizon, there?s nothing Fowler would love more than to inflict a title wound on the enemy. Even the striker?s presence on the bench would wind up the opposition, but he?s realistic about his prospects of keeping his place. ?I?m not going to be kidding myself,? he said. ?I wouldn?t expect to be starting that game next weekend, but obviously to be involved in any way would be great. ?That?s up to the manager, but I?m not under any illusions about the situation and know there are other players who?ll come back.? Liverpool will be monitoring the fitness of Peter Crouch who suffered a broken nose on Saturday.

Wonder if Rafa will consider Darren Bent? Another good finish on the weekend and already got 9 in 22 this season to go with his 18 last season in a p1$$ poor Charlton side. Not saying we should sign him but if the likes of Eto'o, Villa etc prove difficult to sign he could well be worth considering.

I can see Arbeloa coming in at LB with Riise going to LW to provide some solidity against Ronaldo. Agger will probably come back in to replace Hyypia to offer a bit more pace against Rooney, Saha/Larsson plus Utd like to play it more on the deck than in the air. I'd imagine Gerrard will play on the right to help keep Giggs quiet. That would mean 2 from Alonso, Mascherano and Sissoko in the middle with Sissoko likely to start if fit as he'd scare the s*** outta Carrick. Up front I'd say Bellamy will be recalled and given Crouch's broken nose I'd imagine Kuyt will start alongside him.

I would say that Xabi is more of a play maker with a better range of passing with Mascherano better at breaking up play in front of the back 4 but keeping things simple a la Didi/Makelele. Both could complement each other especially if we get attacking wingers with Mascherano covering and Alonso finding them with his range of passing.

He has very quick accelration coming off his line which is a very good asset to have as a keeper, especially a sweeper keepr which Pepe is.

He certainly seems to have the lot. Good balance being able to ride challenges, is a bag of tricks and knows when to use them, unselfish, gets his goals and can play both left and right. As people have mentioned before I wonder whether a deal involving Cisse could be struck altho I dunno whether Cisse would be too complimentary about Rafa. We'd almost certainly face competition from Arsenal too which would be difficult what with the French contingent there.

These are his goals he's scored throughout his career. He certainly seems to have a nack of getting on the end of things with good movement. Clicky

That's the one on one hand On the other

We've got a game against the Mancs to think about before that mind!

Not me tho!!

Vicente = Kewell!!

Nice article on him from HERE Part Man Part Machine-The Making of a Legend - Mohamed Sissoko.. When Mohamed Sissoko signed for Liverpool, the reaction of many fans was one of glee.......... mixed with a small measure of cynicism. Glee because we'd just snatched him from under the noses of Everton, and cynicism because of the bold comparisons made by Benitez to arguably the best defensive midfielder to play in the premiership - Patrick Viera. To quote Benitez : "No, he is not as good as Viera..... He is better than Viera was at that age" Usually such bold claims provoke excitement from fans. Not Liverpool's. For years under Houllier we had been well and truly trained out of the art of expectation, by a manager who told us every season we'd just signed the new Zidane, Henry, Platini, and Viera. Unfortunately for us, Cheryou never quite materialsed into the next Zinadine, Cisse didn't quite live up to his "New Henry" billing, Le Tallec's performances almost saw us embroiled in a law suit with platini for slander...... and Diao?.... well......he was black, I'll give Houllier that. But The similarities with Viera started and ended just about there. Benitez is no Houllier, and whilst he was given the benefit of the doubt about his claims, it was pretty much impossible for Liverpool fans to shake the feeling that our Gaffa was just preparing himself for an almighty Houllier-style belly flop by making public his lofty expectations of the young Malian. That was before he made his debut...... Sissoko spent his first 90 minutes in a Liverpool jersey single handedly dismantling the entire Middlesbrough midfield. No sooner had the final whistle blown on the premiership curtain raiser, than all fears of Benitez being another Mystic Houllier, and Sissoko ever being a flop, were well and truly put to bed. His first season at Anfield saw him earn man of the match award after man of the match award. His energy Boundless, His consistency frightening. To say he was a hit with the fans would be like saying the Beatles went down o.k in the states. His omission from the young player of the year competition drew gasps of disbelief from Benitez and the Liverpool faithful alike. Maybe nobody within the FA thought he was eligible, such were the maturity of his displays. Besides, Liverpool fans have never been ones to take much notice of the same national awards which have failed consistently to award Jamie Carragher with any sort of acclaim over the years, and who's recognition of Steven gerrard as a better player than Fw*** - Thuper Goals- Lampard only came after the rest of the world had long since realised. His signing was hailed as a masterstroke by Benitez. His status amongst the Anfield faithful solidified. Then came that shocking night in Portugal. Collapsing under a challenge from a Benfica player in Liverpool's champions league game, Sissoko was stretchered from the field. Reports emanating from the touchline suggested he had a nasty cut round his eye. As his condition became more and more apparent, the news leaked to the Liverpool fans that Mohamed Sissoko might suffer permanent sight loss in one eye, and never play football again. The impact this had on Liverpool's fans underlined the esteem in which he was held. The fact Liverpool's loss as a football club was very much secondary was testament to the place in their hearts his gut busting selfless performances had won. His condition became of paramount importance. Every waking hour was spent trying to find out what the latest news was, with every eye expert's analysis scrutinized to see what the chances of a full recovery where. What happened next cemented Mohamed's place in Liverpool folklore, and assured him cult hero status amongst the fans. Staging a recovery on a par with that seen in Istanbul, Sissoko returned to action against Birmingham City in the FA cup just weeks later. Equipped with a pair of glasses to protect his eye, many fans wondered what psychological impact the injury he had admitted "terrified" him, would have. Minutes into the game he gave an insight into his character, the like of which no 90 minutes worth of running could provide. He took the glasses from his head, threw them to the touchline, and proceeded to recieve rapturous applause by throwing himself fearlessly into every challenge that presented itself. As if he'd never been away. Earlier this season he suffered another serious injury. Nowhere near as severe as the one which threatened to partially blind him, and thus end his career, but serious enough to keep him out for months. His return to the spotlight couldn't have found a bigger stage - Barcelona in the Nou Camp. The question marks where different this time. Now we were not wondering whether he would be able to play again, or whether he would be suffering psychologically, but whether he could come into such a massive game after such a lengthy lay off, having had just a single warm up against the likes of Nicky Butt and Nobby Solano, and be ready to engage in battle with Ronaldinho, Xavi, Deco, and Messi. Every time, it seems, such questions are asked of him, he responds in his usual manner - By demonstrating he is the very epitome of the term "enforcer". Quite what this lad has for breakfast of a morning I don't know. Whether he has mechanically operated body parts is another mystery. But whatever the hell makes him able to come back from a serious injury, a four month lay off, and run a full marathon around the Nou Camp shutting down such a world class midfield, I'm glad he's got it, and I, like every right minded red out there, am incredibly grateful we've got him. At a club which has produced so many Legends, Mohamed Sissoko is on his way to securing his status amongst them. If anyone deserves a run without injury it's this lad, yet he picked up another tonight. Hopefully it's not too serious, because his presence is of paramount importance if Liverpool are to progress into the later stages of the Champions league. In Liverpool's biggest game of the season so far, he was, for me, Man of the Match.. It isn't the first time I've said that, and it won't be the last.

Albelda = Mascherano Baraja = Alonso

I'll never forget the Vieira one at Anfield when we he'd already been booked falling over on the blindside of the ref making it look like Hamann (?) tripped him. He realised the ref wasn't gonna give anything and got worried that he was gonna get a 2nd yellow so started appolgising.

If you zoomed in on any other player let alone rest of the stadium there would have been shell shocked faces everywhere with Riise scoring so brilliantly with his right!!

Yep. Especially with Insua meant to be looking like a decent prospect so he'll need games in the first team next season to make a proper judgement on whether we make his loan deal permanent.

Anyone know what time?

Reina Finnan Carragher Hyypia Arbeloa Gerrard Javi Xabi Riise Crouch Bellamy Subs: Dudek Agger Pennant Gonzalez Kuyt

He's no Woodgate tho is he......

There was a point in the first half last night when Riise was cutting inside and had an opportunity to shoot with his right and I said to my mates some sarcy comment about no right foot.......!

I'm sure Andy Gray referred to Arbeloa as Albelda when anaylsing (if you can use that word) Barca's goal. You've got the f***ing team sheet in front of you, you blind bitter c***.