Minimum Qualifications to Make 2012/13 Liverpool FC Season Considered a Success

Posted by Alisha Weiss: Guest Writer on Friends of Liverpool

 As the 2011/2012 Premier League, FA Cup, and Carling Cup season comes to a close a lot of Reds fans will be looking to next season to see what's next.
We'll have a new kit sponsor in Warrior Sports, new signings, the Europa League, and best of all, hope for a better season.
  But with two Cup Finals this year, what are the expectations for next year?

 The main objective will definitely be a return to the Champions League, but what about the Premier League? The Premier League duel between Manchester United and Manchester City seem to have dominated the headlines. Is it realistic to see LFC challenging for the title for next season?

  I guess that depends on how you view the team...if we're a couple missing players short of being a contender or further off. I'm of the belief that the longer that this team plays together and gels and learns the system, the better we'll be. While all signings might not be long-term assets, each has a part to play.
The biggest thing that I'd like to see next year is a return to dominance at Anfield.

Losing points is one thing, but losing at home consistently is another.
 Anfield is supposed to be the the Bastion or Fortress of 'Invincibility' and that's what Liverpool football is all about.
 Anfield is a special place and having visited there and seen the ins/out's it's the spiritual center of the team.
 We need 3 points from every match at our home ground. Champions League football. Players dream about and the truth is that it attracts better footballers to CL teams.

  We've been out of the Champions League for too long, and as Stevie G once said, Liverpool belongs in the Champions League.
  So, in the end, I see only a couple targets to put the next season as a huge success:

My 2012/13 targets:
1. Dominance at Anfield
2. Return to Champions League Football
3. Contend for the 2012/13 Premier League Title

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VIDEO: SUPER SUAREZ HAT-TRICK DOWNS NORWICH

Luis Suarez produced a master-class in goal-scoring by getting all three goals in Liverpool's welcome victory at Carrow road over Norwich City.

With goals on 24, 28 and a spectacular shot from near the halfway line, the little Uraguayan sealed a great win away from home against Paul Lambert's promising side.




I don't want to show Jonjo Shelvey's unbelievable miss in front of goal or the number of back-passes to Pépe Reina.

Concentrate on the positives of a great hat-trick by Luis Suarez which brings his goals tally for the season to 17 in all competitions.
Bring on Fulham and Chelsea :)

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STEVIE G IN IRISH TV EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Liverpool's  Captain Steven Gerrard was in Ireland this weekend to promote, not the team, but a charity for Autism.

THE STEVEN GERRARD FOUNDATION

The Anfield legend appeared on Ireland's longest running chat show 'The Late late show' where he talked about his Liverpool career, how he was given his first-team start under Gerrard Houllier at the age of 18.
 "It blew me away, making me first team debut under Houllier in front of 40,000 screaming reds."

"I grew up watching John Barnes, John Aldridge and Robbie Fowler all playing for Liverpool."

On getting the captaincy of Liverpool FC, Stevie G said to RTE's Ryan Tubridy: "Sammi Hyppia was disappointed to lose the captaincy but there were no hard feelings, it gave me more responsibility and I came out of my shell more."

On Istanbul and the infamous winning of the Champion's League Final, Gerrard said: "I never get bored talking about it, it was a huge fulfillment, we did get a half-time dressing down,
 but it was the fans who drove us on to try and win the Final, they never stopped singing and supporting the team to win."

Finally, Steve Gerrard was asked about the upcoming FA Cup Final against Chelsea at Wembley:
"I am confident, I believe we are gonna win the FA Cup."


Steven Gerrard's Golf Tournament for Autism Ireland & the UK will be held at the Druid's Glen Golf-club on the 6/7th July this year in Wicklow.

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LIVERPOOL GO TO NORWICH BEFORE FA CUP FINAL

Liverpool travel to Carrow road for the first time in seven years to face Paul Lambert's Norwich team in the Premier League since 1995.
Liverpool were 2-1 winners on that day, 3rd January and the two sides have only met once since then with the Canaries gaining a point at Anfield in a 1-1 draw back in October.

In total, the meetings between the two sides have produced 29 wins for Liverpool, 14 wins for Norwich City & 14 draws, down the years.

So, history and statistics would suggest that Liverpool are favourites to win the game, however, with the season Liverpool are having, anything could happen away to Paul Lambert's side.

They are just behind us in the League table and its another 'must-win' game for Kenny Dalglish's side ahead of the FA Cup Final on Saturday week, May 5.

It maybe that Dalglish will rest some key players ahead of the Wembley Final and that more of the squad-players will get a run-out at Carrow road this Saturday evening.

Expect Jamie Carragher, Johnjo Shelvey, Maxi Rodriguez, Craig Bellamy and Jonjo Flanagan to all start as Kenny looks to give the full squad a start.


Some Norwich v Liverpool stats:

WINS	HOME	AWAY	CUP	TOTAL
NORWICH	7	4	3	14
LIVERPOOL	9	15	5	29
DRAWS	7	5	2	14
CITY GOALS	28	20	13	61
LIVERPOOL GOALS	31	54	20	105

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HOW ARE WE GOING TO BEAT CHELSEA AFTER THAT RESULT?

So Chelsea did the unthinkable at the Nou Camp, drawing 2-2 with the mighty Barcelona and they are now in the Champions League Final.

Despite playing with ten men for most of this enthralling fixture thanks to 'Mr. Nice-guy' John Terry kneeing Sanchez in the back,
Roberto Di Matteo's side withstood the homeside's domination of the game to emerge with a creditable draw meaning they won the semi-final 3-2 on aggregate.

Indeed some credit must go, begrudgingly, to Chelsea and Di Matteo for the improvement in their results since the sacking of Villas Boas.
They have lost only once in all competitions and as we face them in FA Cup Final on the 5th of May, you have to ask, just how will we beat them on the day.

Chelsea have improved markedly of late, defensively, they are very strong and they also have the knack of scoring vital goals throughout the team with Didier Drogba(when he stops diving), Frank Lampard, Sturridge and others.

Make no mistake, Liverpool will have to be at their very best on FA Cup Final day to win the coveted trophy.

Liverpool will hope that Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll are at their sharpest in front of goal while the midfield and defence will need total concentration to stop Chelsea from scoring.

Expect a very tough encounter at Wembley Stadium in a few weeks time, lets hope we win.

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Liverpool v WBA Head-to-Head

Head-to-head

• Liverpool have won all five previous Premier League meetings with West Brom at Anfield without conceding a goal.
• Albion's last victory at Anfield was exactly 45 years before the day of this fixture. They have since gone 24 league and cup visits without success (D6, L18).
• West Brom's only triumph in their last 21 league attempts against Liverpool came at The Hawthorns a year ago. They had previously gone 30 years without beating Liverpool.
• It is 26 years since West Brom last scored a league goal against Liverpool from open play - current Fleetwood Town assistant manager Craig Madden scored in their 2-1 home defeat on 19 April 1986.

Liverpool

• The Reds have only taken seven points from their last nine games. They could go three matches unbeaten for the first time in 2012.
• They have dropped points in 11 of their 16 home matches in the Premier League.
• Only the two Manchester clubs and Everton have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool (34) this season.
• Manager Kenny Dalglish is one short of his 250th top-flight win as a manager, according to Infostrada.
• Liverpool have not lost any of the last 10 matches that Andy Carroll has started - winning eight of them - and have not won the past eight without him in the side (D3, L5).
• Steven Gerrard is one shy of 150 club career goals.

West Brom

• The Baggies have taken just a single point from their last four away matches.
• They have earned more points from away matches (22) than at The Hawthorns (20) this season.
• Albion are two points better off than at the equivalent stage last season
• If Peter Odemwingie scores he will be the first West Brom player to reach 25 Premier League goals for the club.

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CHELSEA A TOUGH PROPOSITION AGAIN UNDER DI MATTEO

It looks like Chelsea are on the rise again, beating Barcelona 1-0 at the Bridge with diving Didier Drogba scoring the only goal of the game on 46mins.

Roberto Di Matteo, the Interim-Manager has galvanized the Chelsea team, reinstalling the established old guard of Drogba, Lampard, Terry & co.

It certainly seemed to have worked as Matteo's Chelsea have won 9 of their last 12 games under the new  Manager, accumulating 57 points, 2 behind Newcastle United & Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

But from a Liverpool point of view I want them to play badly against us in the FA Cup Final on 5th May, we will need to play at our very best to defeat them at Wembley as they are firing again.

Given a choice between beating them in the FA Cup Final and losing to them in the Premier League the following Tuesday, I would pick the FA Cup Final win, maybe we can beat them twice, that would be nice! 

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CARROLL'S GOAL PUTS LIVERPOOL INTO FA CUP FINAL

Liverpool showed great pride, commitment and dogged determination to win this FA Cup semi-final against Everton at the new Wembley Stadium yesterday.


Faced with David Moyes' pirihana's, Liverpool had it all to do.

But do it they did, after a mix-up in defence between Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger, Everton's Nicoli Jelavic pounced to score for Everton on 24 mins.

Everton were far from being the dominant team in the half, yet they gained an early advantage leading into half-time.

Liverpool obviously had a re-think at the interval and came out with all guns blazing, pressurising Everton at every ball.

Luis Suarez took advantage of a poor Distin back-pass and pounced on it to level the tie 1-1 on 62 mins.

Liverpool continued to dominate the game at the new Wembley and the pressure finally paid off when Andy Carroll headed home a great Bellamy free-kick on 87 mins to earn Liverpool a deserved place in the FA Cup Final on May 5 against  Chelsea. 



Want to place some football bets?

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TEN MAN LIVERPOOL FIGHTBACK TO WIN AT BLACKBURN

I suppose I better eat my words, at least for this game where Liverpool's ten men beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 thanks to an injury-time header from Andy Carroll.

Without further ado, Liverpool's second-string raced into a 2-0 lead after 15 mins thanks to two goals from prolific midfielder Maxi Rodrigues.

Then unlucky goal-keeper Alexander Doni got sent off for fouling a Blackburn player in the box, he now misses the FA Cup semi-final v Everton.

Inexperienced young full-back John Flanagan was hauled off as the sacrificial lamb, (yes it is still lambing season) to be replaced by Brad Jones who saved Yakubu's resultant penalty.

However, Yakubu made amends minutes later from a David Dunn free-kick as he headed a goal on 36 mins.

Then early in the second-half, Liverpool players were again guilty of passing the ball back to the keeper when in attacking positions and replacement goalie Brad Jones was very lucky not to also be sent-off when he fouled The Yak, he got a yellow and Yakubu levelled the game with his second penalty attempt of the night.

So Liverpool were looking down and out again at 2-2 having lost a two-goal lead and were a man short, it looked like another capitulation was on the cards.
But full credit to the team that played last night, they came out fighting and Andy Carroll scored Liverpool's winner with a headed goal in injury-time.

It was just rewards for a resilient Liverpool performance, despite being reduced to ten men for over an hour, they still found it within themselves to overcome a team fighting for their lives in Blackburn Rovers.

Special mention for Andy Carroll who worked tirelessly on his own upfront, defended well at set pieces and scored the all-important winner for Liverpool.
I have been his biggest critic all season, but well done against Blackburn Andy Carroll.

Man of the Match: Andy Carroll 

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KENNY'S REPORT TO TOM & JOHN: WHAT HE MIGHT SAY!

With Liverpool owner's John Henry and Tom Werner due in England later this week for the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Everton on Saturday, it is believed that there will be something of a show-down between the owners and Manager Kenny Dalglish.

An end-of-season report is required of the Anfield boss by FSG, who must be very concerned at Liverpool's dismal Premiership performances this Season.

Here is what Kenny may say in his defence of his reign:

1. I have engaged in a major re-building process, bringing in good young British players who will stand us in good stead in future years.
2. A lot of my key players have been injured for long parts of the Season; Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly and Charlie Adam.
3. We have had some very bad luck, hitting the wood-work 34 times this year.
4. Luis Suarez being harshly banned for eight games didn't help us.
5. If we win two cups, it will have been a sucessful Season.
6. I need more funds to buy new players to finish the rebuilding job here at Liverpool.

This may well be a convincing argument to keep the job at Anfield, however the owners of Boston Red Sox demanded 4th place as 'a minimum requirement' for this Season.

With Liverpool sitting joint 8th alongside Fulham and Norwich, which is totally unacceptable, Kenny may aswell just hold up his hands and say:
"Sorry John and Tom, I wasted £100 million on crap players."

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LIVERPOOL PLAYER-RATINGS VERSUS ASTON VILLA

Liverpool got a much-deserved draw with Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Indeed, the total dominance of the home-side should have ensured all three points, but at least Liverpool have stopped the rot and managed to draw against a very defensive Villa side.

Player Ratings:

• Doni: 6/10 Flapped at the cross for Herd's goal, did well thereafter
• Enrique: 5/10: Tried a few things going forward, not at his best
• Carragher: 6/10: Worked hard all day, had a mainly quiet day
• Skrtel: 7/10: Tenacious at the back again
• Flanagan: 7/10: Did well, the young lad
• Gerrard: 7/10: Captain still getting back to fitness, made the cross for the goal
• Shelvey: 6/10: The youngster drifted in & out of the game
• Downing: 7/10: Provided plenty of width & crosses for the team
• Henderson: 6/10: Tried his best but didn't have a great game
• Suarez: 7/10: Was lively throughout, capped it with a goal
• Kuyt: 6/10: Was wasteful in front of goal when he should have scored.

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LIVERPOOL'S SEASON GRAPH SO FAR

Liverpool's poor league form this season is easily illustrated in the graph below.
We were actually in 3rd place way back in August when hopes were high for the new season under Kenny Dalglish.

 But we soon drifted out to fifth and sixth places without our injured captain Steven Gerrard and the cruciate ligament injury to Lucas Leiva.

The loss of Luis Suarez for eight games thanks to the 'racism' ban also seriously disrupted our season.

However, losing six of our last seven games has seen us drop down below Everton to eighth, mid-table in the Premiership.

Lets hope for a strong finish to this season in the League and an FA Cup to bring back to Anfield.

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LIVERPOOL BAR-CHART SHOWING POOR RESULTS OF SEASON

I didn't truly realise things were this bad until I did the research and created this Bar-chart.

The results are appalling.

We have won eleven, lost eleven and drawn nine of our games in the Premier League this season.

Its simply not good enough.

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