What the hell, I'll get this started. Live on FSW at 3:00PM Wednesday, so no work from me that day. 'Pool is still mired in their slump, but as the game is at Anfield, I suppose a draw is an acceptable result here. Of course, 'Pool will have to actually SCORE to get a draw, so "One-Nil to the Arsenal", perhaps? On another note: A show of hands on who thinks the switch for the manUre match isn't the last switch to be made. Methinks the EPL would dearly LOVE that match to mean something late in the season. How many times was last year's fixture moved? Point is, the ratings will be sky high if the match goes off late in the schedule. Methinks that the closer we get to that date, the more the EPL will want to move it.
Liverpool have recently beaten Man City away, Southampton away and Sheffield United at home. I know these aren't the three best teams ever, but winning of any kind breeds confidence. We'll be without Keown who's suspended and if Cygan plays like he did against Farnborough, the strikers will have to be on their toes to counteract the goals that Michael Owen and company are going to score. Steven Gerrard seems to be coming into a bit of form in the midfield, but I'll be glad if Hamman is still out. Good to see Vieira back yesterday, we'll need him for this kind of game. He'll need to get stuck into Gerrard from the first whistle. I expect it to be a pretty even game, so Henry and Bergkamp will need to take their chances, this is where the season starts to get really interesting. The team (probable): Seaman Lauren-Campbell-Cygan-Cole Wiltord-Vieira-Gilberto-Pires Bergkamp-Henry Score prediction: Liverpool 1, Arsenal 2
I was "devastated" that they brought the Man. Ure. game forward! It was bad enough on the 21st which is the day I fly back from Florida to the UK so would have missed it anyway. Hearing it was coming forward made it worse! (Other than perhaps seeing it Stateside, rather than missing it at 40,000 feet!). However as already mentioned, you would have thought that the EPL would have wanted towards the back of the season;..."just in case"? Or does that mean, that everyone accepts it won't be a "showdown" as Arsenal would have retained the Championship long before then!!??. Let's hope so! JEFF.
I can't believe there hasn't been more conversation here. The game is tomorrow folks! Even though Liverpool isn't at the top of the table, they should still be considered a dangerous team after recent results and you know they'll come out strong against the leage leaders. A very important game for us because Manure is playing Southampton on Saturday. If we lose tomorrow they'll have a game in hand also.
My big concern about the game is that Dudek will come back into the lineup and turn in a heroic performance, kind of like David James did only better. I'd love a win, and I think it can happen, but I'll take a point. By the way, I'm planning on doing the PBP for all you deskbound fans. If anyone else out there is tracking the game, feel free to jump in - the more the merrier!
heh dwinkler i'd help out, but my two tv's aren't near my computer. but i will be sitting in my couch, watching this match since it's the first one i've been able to catch 'live' or even semi-delayed in ages [thanks work]
Some preview stuff: Form guide: http://www.4thegame.com/previews/form120955/lfcafc.html A preview and Wenger's committed to Gunners despite Barca opening: http://www.4thegame.com/club/afc/news/120997/.html Stephane "'Andball" Henchoz returns from suspension, and other tidbits from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2684737.stm And yet something else from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2698063.stm
... They call me a realist one week. An optimist the next. But this week, i'm afraid, a pessimist. I actually think 'Pool are going to turn us over 2-0 or 2-1. I think Dudek is set for a clinker, LFC have started to turn the corner.... If we do lose, i dont think we will suffer that badly. Manure will slip up more times than us. If we win.....then crack open the champaigne boys, nothing is gonna stop us.
Re: ... I have a feeling that this one's a loss too . . . just can't figure out why - I don't feel too good about it . . . maybe it's the 5th round draw in the FA Cup with Man Ure. Too much pressure on Arsene's boys perhaps? I'll say 2-1 Liverpooh. Of course, Arsenal could just turn it up and blow Liverpooh out with a refreshed Henry burning up the pitch . . .
"Oh Ye Of Little Faith"! If you believe something won't happen; it won't. If you believe that something can happen; it will! I'll be bold and stick my neck out for a 2 - 0 win to the Gunners! (Remember 26th May 1989)!!!!
I'm going to be cautiously optimistic and predict a 1-0 squeaker for the Gunners. 'Pool are toughening up a bit, and Arsenal haven't really been as focused and formidable as they should be. (The blowout against Birmingham City should be the RULE, not the EXCEPTION. )
Liverpool, hot or not recently, are still Liverpool. No doubt we'll have to be a bit more clinical in front of goal to win this one. I'll miss seeing Keown muscle Owen out of the match. Let's hope Cygan is not as rusty as he looked against FT. Also, look at who has gotten a rest recently: Cole, Henry, Vieria (...others?). I'm going to say the glass is half full to the tune of 2-1.
Houllier bemoans Arsenal "luck" Yeah, it's luck that accounts for the 14 point difference. http://www.sport.telegraph.co.uk/sp...v29.xml&sSheet=/sport/2003/01/29/ixfooty.html
dwinkler is the PBP going to be posted in here or in a new thread? Much thanks to you from all of us stuck at work today.
Liverpool come off a goalless affair with Crystal Palace. Its Palace for Christ Sake! We only need one to win. I bet we get it late and win 1-0.
Not sure how this is going to go down. I think we've only won at Anfield twice since '92? As Jesse Jackson would say, "Keep hope alive!" Arsenal 2:1 Scousers
I think that cold I've been fighting all week just took a turn for the worse. I guess the only cure is some couch rest and a win from Arsenal, so I'm cutting out of work early! I'm going out on a limb for 2-0 Gunners!
It was a "moral victory". The referee broke the "unwritten rule" of if in doubt, give the decision to the defending team. The reasoning: if you get the decision wrong against the attacking team, the game re-starts about 100 yards from their goal, therefore the chance of them conceding a goal from your "wrong decision" is minimal. Give it to the attacking team, and the defending team can either lose, or lose a victory through your "wrong decision". i.e. "a la Arsenal" tonight. The ref wouldn't even talk to AW as he came off the pitch. Hope his wife videoed it for him for when he gets home.