Indeed , annoying having the two mixed up. together.
Firmino being linked, not terribly convincingly but interesting to see if anything develops, I can't believe the club will sign him, Shaqiri and Lallana, so could be just a way to spook Soton into accepting a bid of less than 30 million!
Think the boys in the England squad are giving a good account of themselves tonight.
Even Glen.
Johnson had a really good game and shut up a few doubters tonight.
Im a Liverpool fan 1st and foremost, not really fussed about England except Liverpool players.
Gerrard was abit rubbish tonight though, but I blame Hodgson for holding him back. He should be allowed to dictate and playmake but Hodgson wants them 10-20 yards further back. I know heat was a factor but I reckon its how they would have set up in a normal heat.
Look how we got to Arsenal on the halfway line and got in their face. Hodgson wanted that 15 yards back. Gerrard suffered as a consequence.
Gerrard wasn't great, but I don't think he has the necessary help in the England team. With the diamond at LFC he has two midfield runners like Hendo and Allen running box-to-box and he can just sit and dictate play, like Pirlo last night with De Rossi and Verratti either side of him; on every occasion Sterling went past him he didn't even bother chasing because he's Pirlo, they have other midfielders assigned to do that.
Sterling though... I can't say enough about him. Sturridge played well. Henderson did alright but again it's a different role to the one he has at LFC - the shackles are very much on. Johnson was just lucky Italy tried attacking down his side about once and that it was Chiellini trying to take him on.
Gerrard was poor last night - he's not in the same class as Xavi, Pirlo and Alonso at dictating the tempo of the game. Too many times he tried to switch the play when easy one two's would have been better.
Johnson was the same as he has been for Liverpool, some good play followed by some really poor play.
Hendo was okay - they're slagging him off in the main thread but I thought he did okay.
Sturridge was a menace, gave their defence a torrid time.
Sterling was immense, man of the match for England, tired but so did the rest of them.
As for the Italians- thought they were quite brilliant in midfield and up front. When I saw Palleta on the team sheet I thought I recoginsed him, thought he was Argentinian but they then mentioned his got dual nationality now. I only remember the one game he played for us though - the 6-3 pasting from Arsenal where Baptista scored 4.
Some nice words from Daniele De Rossi after last night's game:
'It is never normal for me to play against Gerrard,' De Rossi said after the game. 'It always gets me emotional, I won’t deny it.
'Of course, on the field you’ve got to get stuck in there, but it is always a pleasure and an honour. He’s also a very nice guy, always very approachable.
'I cheered on Liverpool until the end, but they lost the Premier League title in an incredible way.
'Players like Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard, Xavi or Iniesta never go past the apex of their careers.'
If Vermaelen leaves Arsenal for Man Utd, I think that'll put them (Arsenal) right back in the chase for Lovren. I always saw him as a Wenger type of player and Arsenal can outspend us if Southampton start getting silly with the price.
Arsenal are interested in Spurs Jan Vertonghen are they not?
Speaking of full backs, impressed with Sakho last night, one error in the second half but he worked hard to stop it giving Honduras a clean shot at goal.
What did everyone think of Shaqiri yesterday? I didn't watch the whole game, only bits here and there. Clark Carlisle commentating said he either does something brilliant or awful, doesn't keep the ball moving by keeping possession and playing a simple ball, however from the little I saw, that's exactly what he was doing. His crossing was poor though.
As for other players we could go in for, I know it's wishful thinking on most occasions but the Italian RB looked miles better than Johnson. Daley Blind of Holland at LB is another decent looking player.
Shaqiri was hit and miss. Took up some good positions inbetween the lines but I didn't feel he used the ball very well when he had it. I look forward to seeing more of him.
Two right backs have impressed me so far. Darmian (Italy) and Aurier (Ivory Coast). Both looked better than Johnson.
Shaqiri is in a difficult position, a bit part player for Bayern who is then asked to be Switzerlands main creator, also he spent too much of the game marooned on the right wing. He's a No 10 really.
Swiss left back was very good. As was the Italian right winger against England, maybe predictably LFC has been linked but it's nonsense I'm sure, Dele Alli bid is true though.
Fairly happy with the fixtures, tough start but most of the rest of the fixtures are nicely spread out. Oct/Nov is decent and Dec/Jan is brilliant. February will be difficult though.
Obviously dates will be changed for TV, but our cup run including CL group matches will look like this around the league fixtures. A few tricky ones that Rodgers will have to balance well... September/October are quite congested!
September 13: Aston Villa (H)
September 16/17: CL Match 1
September 20: West Ham (A)
September 23/24: League Cup R3
September 27: Everton (H)
October 1/2: CL Match 2
October 4: West Brom (H)
October 18: QPR (A)
October 21/22: CL Match 3
October 25: Hull (H)
October 28/29: League Cup R4
November 1: Newcastle (A)
November 4/5: CL Match 4
November 8: Chelsea (H)
November 22: Crystal Palace (A)
November 25/26: CL Match 5
November 29: Stoke (H)
December 6: Sunderland (H)
December 9/10: CL Match 6
December 13: Man Utd (A)
Not a bad start to the season - Southampton and Tottenham both have new managers, hopefully we can take advantage of that. February looks a killer month and we're playing Chelsea 3rd game from last again, only this time its at Stamford Bridge.
Not a bad start to the season - Southampton and Tottenham both have new managers, hopefully we can take advantage of that. February looks a killer month and we're playing Chelsea 3rd game from last again, only this time its at Stamford Bridge.
And Crystal Palace 2nd game from last again, but this time at Anfield.
In relation to the CL games, it hasn't turned out that badly really. Of the six post CL matches only two are away from home ( WH in September and MU in December) . If we can catch a break and have that CL match 6 at home prior to going to Old Trafford, then everything will have worked out as well as we could have hoped for. Knowing our luck though, that game will be a vital one away in Moscow, or Madrid, or Rome...
Comments
Firmino being linked, not terribly convincingly but interesting to see if anything develops, I can't believe the club will sign him, Shaqiri and Lallana, so could be just a way to spook Soton into accepting a bid of less than 30 million!
Even Glen.
Johnson had a really good game and shut up a few doubters tonight.
Im a Liverpool fan 1st and foremost, not really fussed about England except Liverpool players.
Gerrard was abit rubbish tonight though, but I blame Hodgson for holding him back. He should be allowed to dictate and playmake but Hodgson wants them 10-20 yards further back. I know heat was a factor but I reckon its how they would have set up in a normal heat.
Look how we got to Arsenal on the halfway line and got in their face. Hodgson wanted that 15 yards back. Gerrard suffered as a consequence.
Sterling though... I can't say enough about him. Sturridge played well. Henderson did alright but again it's a different role to the one he has at LFC - the shackles are very much on. Johnson was just lucky Italy tried attacking down his side about once and that it was Chiellini trying to take him on.
Johnson was the same as he has been for Liverpool, some good play followed by some really poor play.
Hendo was okay - they're slagging him off in the main thread but I thought he did okay.
Sturridge was a menace, gave their defence a torrid time.
Sterling was immense, man of the match for England, tired but so did the rest of them.
As for the Italians- thought they were quite brilliant in midfield and up front. When I saw Palleta on the team sheet I thought I recoginsed him, thought he was Argentinian but they then mentioned his got dual nationality now. I only remember the one game he played for us though - the 6-3 pasting from Arsenal where Baptista scored 4.
I didn't know til last night that he had dual nationality.
Speaking of full backs, impressed with Sakho last night, one error in the second half but he worked hard to stop it giving Honduras a clean shot at goal.
As for other players we could go in for, I know it's wishful thinking on most occasions but the Italian RB looked miles better than Johnson. Daley Blind of Holland at LB is another decent looking player.
Two right backs have impressed me so far. Darmian (Italy) and Aurier (Ivory Coast). Both looked better than Johnson.
Swiss left back was very good. As was the Italian right winger against England, maybe predictably LFC has been linked but it's nonsense I'm sure, Dele Alli bid is true though.
2014-15 LFC fixture list
August
16 - Southampton (H)
23 - Manchester City (A)
30 - Tottenham Hotspur (A)
September
13 - Aston Villa (H)
20 - West Ham United (A)
24 - Capital One Cup third round
27 - Everton (H)
October
4 - West Bromwich Albion (H)
18 - Queens Park Rangers (A)
25 - Hull City (H)
November
1 - Newcastle United (A)
8 - Chelsea (H)
22 - Crystal Palace (A)
29 - Stoke City (H)
December
2 - Leicester City (A)
6 - Sunderland (H)
13 - Manchester United (A)
20 - Arsenal (H)
26 - Burnley (A)
28 - Swansea City (H)
January
1 - Leicester City (H)
3 - FA Cup third round
10 - Sunderland (A)
17 - Aston Villa (A)
31 - West Ham United (H)
February
7 - Everton (A)
10 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)
21 - Southampton (A)
28 - Manchester City (H)
March
3 - Burnley (H)
14 - Swansea City (A)
21 - Manchester United (H)
April
4 - Arsenal (A)
11 - Newcastle United (H)
18 - Hull City (A)
25 - West Bromwich Albion (A)
May
2 - Queens Park Rangers (H)
9 - Chelsea (A)
16 - Crystal Palace (H)
24 - Stoke City (A)
16.08.14 SOUTHAMPTON (H)
23.08.14 MANCHESTER CITY (A)
30.08.14 TOTTENHAM (A)
13.09.14 ASTON VILLA (H)
20.09.14 WEST HAM (A)
27.09.14 EVERTON (H)
04.10.14 WEST BROM (H)
18.10.14 QPR (A)
25.10.14 HULL (H)
01.11.14 NEWCASTLE (A)
08.11.14 CHELSEA (H)
22.11.14 CRYSTAL PALACE (A)
29.11.14 STOKE (H)
02.12.14 LEICESTER (A)
06.12.14 SUNDERLAND (H)
13.12.14 MANCHESTER UNITED (A)
20.12.14 ARSENAL (H)
26.12.14 BURNLEY (A)
28.12.14 SWANSEA (H)
01.01.15 LEICESTER (H)
10.01.15 SUNDERLAND (A)
17.01.15 ASTON VILLA (A)
31.01.15 WEST HAM (H)
07.02.15 EVERTON (A)
10.02.15 TOTTENHAM (H)
21.02.15 SOUTHAMPTON (A)
28.02.15 MANCHESTER CITY (H)
03.03.15 BURNLEY (H)
14.03.15 SWANSEA (A)
21.03.15 MANCHESTER UNITED (H)
04.04.15 ARSENAL (A)
11.04.15 NEWCASTLE (H)
18.04.15 HULL (A)
25.04.15 WEST BROM (A)
02.05.15 QPR (H)
09.05.15 CHELSEA (A)
16.05.15 CRYSTAL PALACE (H)
24.05.15 STOKE (A)
September 13: Aston Villa (H)
September 16/17: CL Match 1
September 20: West Ham (A)
September 23/24: League Cup R3
September 27: Everton (H)
October 1/2: CL Match 2
October 4: West Brom (H)
October 18: QPR (A)
October 21/22: CL Match 3
October 25: Hull (H)
October 28/29: League Cup R4
November 1: Newcastle (A)
November 4/5: CL Match 4
November 8: Chelsea (H)
November 22: Crystal Palace (A)
November 25/26: CL Match 5
November 29: Stoke (H)
December 6: Sunderland (H)
December 9/10: CL Match 6
December 13: Man Utd (A)