Manchester City, 9/28/02 thread: First things first--bad news to plug into our "lineup prediction computers" . . . Henchoz doubtful for City clash Stephane Henchoz is a major doubt for Liverpool's Premiership clash at Manchester City tomorrow. The Reds' defender is struggling with a slight hamstring strain and manager Gerard Houllier has confirmed he won't be taking any chances with the Swiss star's fitness. Houllier said: "Stephane is doubtful at this moment in time. If he's not completely right then he won't play. We won't be taking any risks. "Vladimir Smicer is also still out with a broken toe and Markus Babbel is suffering with the flu. Abel Xavier won't be involved either as he has an illness which we are trying to identify." http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N136819020927-1432.htm
This leaves us with Sami, Carragher, Riise, Traore and Vignal as defenders. God forbid Diao from playing defense! I suspect Traore will play at centre half with Sami and Jon and Jamie will be the fullbacks. Didi back with Stevie in the middle! Danny and Emile still the wings. Mikie and Milan. Gotta go to Maine Road and score some goals as they will attack at home!
This should be a really interesting matchup. On one hand you have Anelka who would like nothing more than to show Houllier that he f*#ked up by not signing. Obviously, on the other hand you have Owen desperately wanting to put this slump behind him. I can hardly wait. And it's on US TV, even if it is tape-delayed.
Vignal got injured in the reserve match against Boro yesterday. Somebody please tell me that Babbel is ready to come back... Dave
I read that the Vignal injury was minor--turned an ankle or something. Nothing long-term, at least. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2002/sep/26/N136803020926-2133.html Babbel has the flu (see article above). I hope the club is earning a really good rate of return on the £3 million or so we got for Steven Wright. .
Heskey is a Maine Road doubt By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo Sep 27 2002 EMILE HESKEY may miss Liverpool's reunion with Nicolas Anelka tomorrow with a groin strain. Heskey (left) picked up the knock against FC Basle in midweek and a decision will be taken today on whether he's fit to face Manchester City. Continued at: http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/...fm?objectid=12235127&method=full&siteid=50061 If Heskey can't play, I’d have to go with this lineup: ………………Dudek Carragher—Traore—Hyppia—Riise Murphy—Hamann—Gerrard—Cheyrou …………Owen—Baros SUBS: Kirkland Diao Biscan Berger Diouf If Heskey is declared fit, I'd start him in place of Cheyrou, and have Cheyrou on the bench in place of Biscan. .
TEAMSHEET Dudek Carragher Hyypia Traore Riise Murphy Hamann Gerrard Heskey Owen Baros Subs: Kirkland Berger Diouf Cheyrou Diao ..
Live audio commentary from Man City's website. From the main page, http://www.mcfc.co.uk/index.asp, you should see top article naming the match and saying "Full text report and live match commentary". Click on the small "More..." to the right of this. On the next page click "Match Commentary".
Owen gets a second. 2-0 Liverpool. 64th minute. A pin-point thru-ball from Stevie Gerrard found Owen who beat the City off-side trap and sprinted clear to fire home low to the left of Schmeichel..
OWEN HATTRICK!!!!! HE'S BACK! 3-0 Liverpool Owen get's a third in the 89th minute. Owen ran onto a long ball and burst clear as defenders paniked and fired a shot which went in off the upright past Schmeichel.
Let's see, where's that post from last weekend where I predicted Owen would have four Premiership goals in the next month...?
It's the weekend and that can only mean one thing - the return of the little twat. I'm surprised he's not already here with another sockpuppet.
From Soccernet's match recap (speaking of one Mr. Owen): "Form is temporary, class is permanent." That needs to be somebody's sig line.
Well now that was an emphatic statement! Full match report at by yours truly (A Yank's View) www.LFC365.com Take a look at our forums as well.
Well, that was exactly what we needed! Three terrific goals from Owen—especially the third (isn’t it amazing how one of our shots hit the post and went IN this time???) Baros worked hard and played well although he seemed to disappear for long stretches in the second half (I wonder if he can really go the full ninety right now?). The midfield were solid, although Heskey seemed to drift into and out of the play today. And although Murphy seemed to have a quiet first half, he really helped out in the defense at some critical points in the second half. Gerrard: unbelievable work rate, vision, and passing—and he’s played in every match this year! Hamann was Hamann; the little things he does are just so crucial to this team. The defense was actually the most interesting part of this match for me. I think Traore was simply outstanding filling in for Henchoz. He has had a couple of off games recently, but this was really encouraging improvement on his part. Hyypia had a good match, and as usual, you seldom heard Carragher’s name called (except for that rather interesting “head trap” he executed late in the game), which is a good thing. Dudek was never severely challenged. The only negative, and it’s a small one, is that I’d say Riise had his worst match of the year—some really out-of-character passes from the back, and one or two miscues that could have let Manchester City back into the match. But his off-form didn’t cost us anything. A terrific effort, an away win—and it looks as though Owen is back in business! .
I think Riise had a weak game because Heskey kept drifting inside, leaving him exposed. I'll take the points. Glad to see we kept pace with Arse (hate to say it, but wow, did they look good). Dave
That's a perk of premium membership. It's $30 a year. Sadly, I haven't been able to come up with the $70 for the LFC E-Season ticket yet, and that's one higher on the radar screen than BS . . .
E-Season ticket gets charged monthly to my credit card. I don't even notice it, which probably says ore about my credit card bill than anything else. Updated my sig... Dave