ITS A LONG WAIT TIL BURNLEY

Saturday 12th of September.

We have to wait until then until Liverpool play their next game in the Premier League.

Yes its the dreaded International break again. A time when teams all over Europe and beyond compete in their groups to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next summer.

While I love watching major International Championship Finals, I hate the disruption it causes to the Premier League and in particular to Liverpool.

We have not got off to the ideal start, as everybody knows, so for the bulk of the squad to be jetting off all over the place is hardly ideal.

The problems in defence need to be worked on big time, we have conceded far too many goals from corners and free-kicks.

Some in the press have been saying that Jamie Carragher is to blame and that he is past it. I would be Jamie's biggest fan but he does need to recover his best form, which he will.

Also Lucas in midfield is no Xabi Alonso who is being sorely missed at Anfield.

The great man wanted to leave so we did well to get £30 million for him, where has that money gone Hicks and Gillette?

The team has got off to a slow start this season, nothing more than that, I am sure of it, so I can't wait until we get back in action on the 12th of September.

COMEBACK KINGS DOWN TEN-MAN BOLTON

Liverpool twice came from behind to defeat plucky Bolton at the Reebok by three goals to two today.

Despite conceding two goals to Kevin Nolan from a corner and Tamir Cohen, son of former Red Avi, from a free kick, Liverpool with goals by great signing Glen Johnson and an out of touch Fernando Torres drew us level.

With the sending off of Sean Davis at that point, the game changed in Liverpool's favour as they dominated possession and had chance after chance to win the game until Captain Steven Gerrard finally won it for Liverpool round about ten minutes from time.

It was another rusty display by the Reds, Rafa Benitez said afterwards that the players are still not fully match-fit, hard to disagree with that observation.

Despite the ring-rustiness, the effort was clearly there and while we keep letting in far too many goals at the moment, this will surely improve as the season goes on.

Lets just be grateful for a win and three points

KYRGIAKOS DEBUT AGAINST BOLTON

Sotirios Kyrgiakos makes his League debut for Liverpool this afternoon at the Reebok stadium against Bolton Wanderers.
Signed from AEK Athens for £1.5 million, the defensive hard man will be looking to shore up a Liverpool defence which has leaked too many goals early on in the season.
Albert Riera comes back into the side in place of Yossi Benayoun on the left with Benitez sticking with Lucas and Mascherano in the middle.
Lets hope Torres and Gerrard can get the goals up front.
Team in full: Reina, Johnson, Carrgher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Gerrard, Torres.
I'm going for a 3-1 win or us.

LIVERPOOL LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST BOLTON

Liverpool will want to get back to winning ways tomorrow afternoon against Bolton away.
With two defeats already this season, we will be looking to put in the kind of performance that saw us put four past...Stoke!
Benitez singled out Steven Gerrard for mention today saying he had been below par to date, keep that in-house Rafa.
Kyrgiakos is looking to stake a claim after putting in a stint for the reserves against Blackburn last night.
The Reds will have another look At Skertel's jaw before they decide who partners Jamie Carragher in defence.
Rafa hinted at changes in midfield after our defeat by Aston Villa last Monday, with Lucas, hopefully being dropped and Gerrard being restored to central midfield where he is badly needed since the departure of Alonso.
Okay I am hoping for the best tomorrow and I am going for a three-nil win,
com'on ye Reds.
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LIVERPOOL GET LYON & FIORENTINA IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Liverpool as top seeds in Group E of the Champions League have drawn: French League runner-up Lyon, Italy's Fiorentina and new boys Hungary's Debreceni.
First impressions are that its not a bad group all in all, Kenny Dalgleish is there watching for Liverpool FC.
Matches start next month, lets hope for more European glory this season.
We open our campaign with a home tie against debutants Debreceni on the 16th of September.

WHY ALL THE DOOM & GLOOM?

God, You would think we had just been relegated the way the media and some around Liverpool have reacted to last night's strange defeat to Aston Villa.
We caused our own downfall last evening thanks to errors by Lucas and Steve Gerrard.
But we had 21 shots with 11 on target compared to Villa's 6 strikes on goal, we didn't play badly and did not deserve to get beaten.
It was just one of those nights sadly.
We had a poor pre-season, followed by an opening-day defeat by Spurs where we might have snatched a draw.
Then we went and hammered Stoke to show a return to our best form and everybody was ecstatic, myself included.
So its important not to get too down after last night's result.
Yes, we are missing Xabi Alonso's class and skill badly in midfield and Lucas is no replacement.
I would drop him and put Stevie G back in there to push and drive the team forward.
This Aquilani fellow should be ready for action in 6 weeks or less and we are all hoping for great things from him.
What we need to do now is concentrate fully on the next game on Saturday against Bolton, give it a hundred per cent on the day and then we should be fine.

LIVERPOOL LOSE AT HOME TO VILLA

Liverpool surprisingly lost 3-1 to Aston Villa at Anfield to end a run of 31 matches unbeaten at home and leaving them with two defeats out of three so far this season.
Things started to go wrong when Lucas headed into his own goal after 30 minutes and they were made worse on half-time when Davies headed in from a Villa corner.
Liverpool got back into the game midway through the second-half when Torres volleyed home an Insua cross.
However, this was immediately undone when Steve Gerrard gave away a penalty which Young put away for Aston Villa's first win against Liverpool in eight games.
So a poor result but we didn't play all that badly and had absolutely no luck in front of goal.
Next up Bolton on Saturday.

KYRGIAKOS A GOOD SIGNING BY RAFA

Ah! The critics already. Kyrgiatos is a clever signing by Rafa, he is ideal cover for Skertel and Agger both out injured, he is defensively sound and weighs in with a few goals from corners and frees so I am told.
A great signing by Rafa.

KYRGIAKOS DONS THE RED SHIRT AT ANFIELD

Greek defender Sortios Kyrgiakos was paraded in front of the media today having completed his signing at Melwood in a two-year deal with Liverpool who have a third year option on the player.
With the Reds very short on cover in defence, his arrival will give Rafael Benitez a welcome option at the back.
With Sami Hyppia having left for Bayern Munich, Agger needing surgery on his troublesome back and Skertel nursing a fractured jaw, Jamie Carragher was the only recognised centre-back left.
So a timely addition to the squad and while I haven't seen him play, by all accounts, he is a strong, uncompromising player who is very good in the air.
He may even make his debut against Aston Villa on Monday night should Skertel fail a fitness test on his jawbone.
Interesting times at Anfield.
I see one Michael Owen scored today....For Man Utd....Booo!

TIME TO BE OPTIMISTIC AT LIVERPOOL

Well after losing to Spurs, which I predicted reluctantly, we bounced back in style to hammer Stoke on Wednesday night.
We face struggling Aston Villa at Anfield on Monday evening who have lost their opening two matches off the season.
Even though they have lost Barry to Man City and Martin Laurson has retired they still remain a formidable outfit.
However, I have complete faith in Rafa and the team to win on Monday, wish it was sooner.
We were brilliant against Stoke and I fully expect the same kind of performance against Villa, who knows, new guy Kirgiatos might make his debut and hopefully snuff out Heskey, Carew and company.
Liverpool to win 3-1.

BASKING IN THE GLORY OF A 4-0 WIN

Ah bliss! Great result last night wasn't it? Back to winning ways and how!

Four goals scored and none conceded a great nights work by all concerned.

Everyone played really well, Gerrard and Johnson in particular.

After the lows of the defeat, again, by Spurs its back to the highs of an exhilarating victory against Stoke, the team we could only draw twice against last season which probably cost us the title, revenge is sweet.

We now have a few extra days to prepare for the visit of Martin O' Neill's Aston Villa, a team we thrashed 5-0 last season.

I don't wanna get to carried away, it will be a tough game but if we play like we did last night then we should be in for another good night at Anfield.

SEASON BACK ON TRACK

After last night's demolition of Stoke City the optimism has returned to Anfield.
Steve Gerrard played as an orthodox inside-right midfielder and his constant surging runs caused havoc amongst the Stoke defenders, whipping in cross after cross, it was Gerrard who propelled us to victory.
Rafa obviously has a few tactical changes up his sleeve so we need not worry, we are title contenders again, thank God

LIVERPOOL LOOKING GOOD

Great display by Rafa's Reds tonight.
Slick passing, great movement, class and quality by Gerrard and new boy Johnson as the Reds ran out 4-nil winners against Stoke, the team that cost us the League last season.
It could have been six but I am not complaining because we played so well throughout the team, I am delighted.
Next up: Aston Villa next Monday night when I am sure we will rollover Martin O' Neill's side.
Keep the faith Liverpool fans, we can do it.

LIVERPOOL SIGN KYRGIAKOS

As I reported last night, Liverpool have now signed Greek International Sotiris Kyrgiakos from AEK Athens for roughly £2 million. Good news as we are short on cover in defence at the moment.
Great night so all in all with a thumping 4-nil defeat of Stoke, Man Utd losing to Burnley and Rafa tonight saying he is going nowhere

LIVERPOOL LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST STOKE

Liverpool will be looking for a victory against Stoke at Anfield tonight.
Following the defeat to Spurs on Sunday, the Reds know this is a must-win game in the bid for the Title.
Of course, the two nil-nils against Stoke last season may have cost Liverpool the League, so we will be gunning for revenge tonight.
Stoke are a tough team to play against, strong, physical and dangerous from throw-ins and other set plays so we will need to deliver a top performance to overcome Tony Pullis's side.
It remains to be seen if Lucas will remain in midfield or if Steve Gerrard will drop back into the engine room to shore up the middle as we looked poor there against Tottenham.
Team news to follow later...

LIVERPOOL SWOOP FOR GREEK DEFENDER

Liverpool have made a swift and surprising move for AEK Athens defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos.
Its understood that the 6 foot 5'' man is on his way to England to have a medical.
It is believed that the two clubs have agreed a £2.5 million fee for the former Glasgow Rangers player.
Despite all the speculation today, Rafa does have some money to spend in the transfer market and we can expect one more signing in attack before the window closes.

ITS JUST A SLOW START TO THE SEASON

Sunday's defeat at Spurs hurts especially with all the hype in the media about this being Liverpool's year to finally lift the Premier League trophy.

We played in the first half as we have all pre-season, sluggish, aimless and generally poor.

However, the second half saw a big improvement with a big step up in the standard of our game.

From being outplayed in the first 45 minutes, we took control of things thereafter, keeping possession, passing and moving well and making chances.

We were only denied a draw by a bad refereeing decision.

So while there is plenty of room for improvement, its not all doom and gloom here at Friends of Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL LOSE TO SPURS, AGAIN!

Liverpool lost their opening game of the new season to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane today.

Playing without Xabi Alonso for the first time since his move to Madrid, the Reds looked lethargic in the first half, with only one shot towards goal by Captain Steve Gerrard.

Spurs took the lead close to the break when defender Assou-Ekotto scored a screamer from outside the box.

Liverpool looked much better in the second half and a goal came when a great run by Glen Johnson into the box resulted in a penalty for Gerrard to hammer home.

This should have been the boost Liverpool needed to push on and win the game but Jamie Carragher gave away a free-kick from which, new-boy Bassong headed Tottenham back into the lead again.

Liverpool drove forward time and again trying to find a deserved equaliser and they should have had a second penalty when sub Voronin was bundled over in the box by that Ekotto fella.

The penalty was harshly not given and though the Reds pushed and pushed, Spurs held on for the win.

ATLETICO DEFEAT SENDS OUT SHIVER AT ANFIELD

Liverpool lost another pre-season match at home to Athletico Madrid 2-0.
Jamie Carragher limped off after 13 minutes with an ankle injury and with an inexperienced back four, we soon conceeded two goals by Aguerro and Diego Forlan.
Without Alonso, now at Madrid, we looked shapeless and rudderless.
Despite this Liverpool got more into the game in the second half and a goal by much-maligned Lucas Lieva gave the Reds a glimmer of hope, but it was not to be as the Spanish gained the win.
I have watched all our pre-season games on LFC TV and apart from the 5-0 win against Singapore, we have looked pretty average.
We have a tough opener against Spurs at White Hart Lane next Sunday and I am worried that we might find the opening weeks of the season tough going, I really hope that I am proved wrong.

LIVERPOOL WIN IN OSLO AS AQUILANI SET TO JOIN REDS

Liverpool had a comfortable 2-0 win in Norway against FC Lynn.

Goals from Andrei Voronin with a header before half-time and a David Ngog shot in the 53rd minute meant Liverpool's squad players deservedly won the game.

Albert Riera injured his ankle or achilles tendon late on which will be a concern as the new season approaches.

Elsewhere, Roma midfielder Aquilani is set for a swift move to Liverpool, depending on passing a medical, the skillful Italian will join us for £20 million.

Nice to see Rafa moving swiftly on this one to attempt to replace Alonso.

Maybe a move for Stefan Defour from Standard Liege could also happen to further bolster the midfield.