OK, no mercy tomorrow. Must show greater initiative on the attack and not be content to pass it around the perimeter of the area.
Various statistics, history and trivia on the matchup—from the official Web site: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N137381021101-1223.htm Steven Gerrard may be out for us, according to soccernet. http://www.soccernet.com/england/2002/20021102/reports/54529_pre.html While that would be a real blow, the article is very vague on this point—and with or without Stevie G., we are still the better side. I also think we will benefit from the absence of DiCanio and Kanoute from the Hammer’s lineup, especially DiCanio. I’ve only seen West Ham a couple of times this year (aside from highlights) but IMO, DiCanio has shown himself to be a dangerous, creative presence for West Ham—just the sort of player that might, through stunning individual effort, have produced a goal from nothing in this match, and denied us the full three points. We are fortunate that he will not be in the squad. At Anfield, and coming off the midweek loss to Valencia, we ought to be highly motivated. Crush them. ……………………Dudek ……Carragher—Hyypia—Traore—Riise Murphy—Diao—Hamann—Gerrard/Cheyrou ………………Owen—Heskey Subs: Kirkland Babbel Baros Smicer Cheyrou/Diouf -----
I think GH will start Baros. I haven't seen us doing squat down the left side recently so maybe, just maybe, he'll start Babbel, move Carragher to the left, and move Riise back to left wing.
I agree; the left side is a problem. And with each passing match, Riise seems to me to get weaker and weaker at left back; a couple of real scares against Spurs, for example. But I don't think Babbel is slated to return to the lineup until the Worthington Cup tie next Wednesday: http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/...fm?objectid=12321636&method=full&siteid=50061 so I don't think we're going to see any change until then at the earliest. Once Babbel gets back in the starting XI, I agree: Babbel to the right, Carragher to the left, and Riise to left wing. -----
Looks like this is wrong. Gerrard is interviewed on the Club Web site: the article strongly implies that he will be fit to play Saturday. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N137390021101-1646.htm And this: "Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey are both fit to face West Ham tomorrow after shaking off recent injury problems." http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N137387021101-1609.htm ----
Lanky will know that I'm not a big fan of Carra on the left. Riise should play wide on the left of midfield. My ideal backline is Babbel-Hyppia-Henchoz-Traore. The problem is fitting our six good midfielders into four slots. I like Hamann, Riise, Gerrard and Diao -- or Danny depending on the tactics. I'd give Baros a run against West Ham. But until Markus and Stephane are fully healthy, the team will need Riise at the back.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N137389021101-1714.htm Houllier thinks it will be the bounce back game. I say Liverpool 2 West Ham 0
Gotta go with the Lanky here. Must go forwards more than back, must score goals. It's nice of Danny to help out, but now and then a striker should score. Must senda Paolo backa to Italy...!!! Was that too racist...? Gosh I don't know if I'm being PC any more. It was actually a compliment, he's dangerous! Hope I didn't hurt his feelings..... I have to go out right at kick off time and I'll get back just after the end. Must lock TV cabinet or I'll end up watching a tape of figure skating...!!! LIVERPOOL…3 'Ammers 0
If you haven't seen the match yet and you want to be in suspense, read no further... But if you've watched it and want to comment, then of course join in. Anyway, you have been warned and should've stopped reading by now. Let's just say that The Mutts called it right, it was 2-0 for the good guys, with Owen getting them both. I'll watch the match after I get home from work, but the suspense was doing me in so I had to peek.
Reds hammer home title aspirations 02 November 2002 : by Mark Platt Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to seven points with a solid if unspectacular 2-0 win over West Ham at a rain soaked Anfield. Michael Owen was again the Reds hero, bagging a brace of goals either side of half-time to seal the points. The game began slowly with chances at either end few and far between but Liverpool gradually stepped up the pace and it was Owen who twice went closest to breaking the deadlock. First he curled a right-footed shot around the far post and was then denied by a fine one-handed save from former Reds keeper David James. In the 27th minute it was a case of third time lucky for the prolific number ten, who jinked his way through the Hammers defence before delightfully clipping the ball over the advancing James. It was a deserved lead for Liverpool but the goal stung West Ham into action and the visitors enjoyed their best period of the game either side of half time. Fortunately, they failed to capitalise, with skipper Steve Lomas guilty of squandering their two best opportunities, heading over from close-range at the Kop end then failing to beat Dudek from an even closer angle when a goal seemed inevitable. On 54 minutes the Hammers were punished for pushing too many players into attack as Liverpool broke swiftly to extend their advantage. Smicer brought the ball out of defence and his incisive forward pass sent Owen scampering through on goal again. James promptly rushed off his line to narrow the angle but Owen was first to the ball and, after rounding his former team mate, slowly rolled the ball into the gaping net. It takes his goal tally for the season to eleven but more importantly keeps the Reds way ahead of the pack in the Premiership title race. Teams Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Riise, Hyypia (captain), Traore, Hamann, Diao, Murphy, Smicer, Owen, Heskey. Subs - Kirkland, Diouf, Baros, Cheyrou, Gerrard. West Ham United: James, Repka, Carrick, Dailly, Sinclair, Defoe, Lomas (captain), Pearce, Minto, Cisse, Cole. Subs - Van Der Gouw, Winterburn, Breen, Garcia, Camara. Referee: E Wolstenholme Conditions: Drizzly rain Attendance: 44,048 Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Michael Owen http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N137404021102-1650.htm -----
GH certainly had them motivated today, even in crap weather! Full match report at: www.LFC365.com Check out the forums too.
Weather befitting the opposition. . . Stat LFC West Ham Goals 2 0 Shots On Target 6 2 Shots Off Target 4 3 Corners Won 6 0 Offside 2 2 Fouls Conceded 6 9 Bookings 0 0 Sent Off 0 0
I'll take it. Smicer made the difference, I think, between today and the past few league matches. His pace and creativity kept West Ham guessing all day. Owen's first goal was pure class. Lovely ball from Danny, a couple of missed tackles, one of which he could 've fallen over for a penalty, and a sweet chip over James. Second one was a laugher. He hit it with the back part of his foot, and it just got under James and rolled toward the net. Dailly slid to stop it, but couldn't. Carragher came very close to scoring toward the end of the first half with a lovely buildup similar, as Martin Tyler noted, to Carlos Alberto's goal in the 1970 World Cup. That's probably the only time those two players have ever been mentioned in the same sentence. Diao is incredible. Despite Owen's two goals, he was my MOTM.
Yeah...Diao was my MOTM as well besides Owen. He was constantly all over the pitch working his arse off. I'm glad to see him earning his place in the team.
All the guys worked incredibly hard, face it though the opposition just wasn’t that great. And if it wasn’t for Mikeys pair we could have been struggling for a draw. When we had just one goal I felt this could be a one pointer. Danny and Carra both put in shots Diao pushed them forward but it still wasn’t a convincing win. But I’ll take it…!!! Fun to see Mikey and Calamity foolin’ around and Stevie G looked pretty good.
A good performance last night by Liverpool... we controlled the game from start to finish and never really looked threatened by West Ham apart from one chance which Dudek saved. I thought our passing and ball control was great at times during the game, especially in the wet and slippery conditions. It was a very even performance I thought with most players making a contribution during the game. Michael Owen was great along with Diao, Hamman, Smicer and Murphy in midfield, while the defence was hardly tested by West Ham all day. Special mention to Jerzey Dudek for his great save and keeping yet another clean sheet in the Premier League. Go Reds!! SeinDude
Well, it wasn't particularly pretty to watch, but it did the job. Owen's first goal was outstanding. Everyone played well and did what they had to do. The Owen/James joking was pretty fun to watch, although if I was a West Ham fan I wouldn't have been to happy that my keeper was in good spirits while the clock is running and they're losing. These are the kind of results you have to grind out if you want to win the league. Just like the Spurs match. Things are looking up.
Finally got to see the match last night, and even knowing the result, it was worth watching. To follow up on Lanky's point, I'll have to remember that first goal next time some knucklehead says Owen always dives. He could easily have gone down and been awarded the PK, but I'm glad he stayed up for the finish. It was great. That second one... I'd read on soccernet that he mishit it, but man, that was hilarious, unless of course you are Dailly or the guy who overslid the ball... I doubt if they found it all that funny. Well, the 3 points are 3 points, and the +2 for the GD is nice too. Given the conditions, the game was about as good as you could expect. And personally, for me the surprise of the match was only 15 fouls being called.
Caught the match later in the evening as well. A pretty workmanlike effort on our part, shutting down West Ham and doing just exactly what needed to be done to take the full points. I agree with those who’ve singled out Diao for MotM—but I’d give an “honorable mention” to Djimi Traore, who I thought was exceptional, especially in the first twenty or thirty minutes. When Henchoz returns, and Babbel gets up to full fitness, there will be tough decisions to make. Riise had a better game at left back than I had seen in recent weeks—and he got up into the attack more than he had recently, as well. -----
I too was very impressed by Diao, he has amazing stamina as he was very busy at both ends of the pitch. Very relieved at Dudek's save, he looked like he punched the air when he got up. I think we might see a reserve team against Southampton in the Worthington Cup, and if not, certainly Owen will be rested. Diouf and Baros should start. Tough match against Boro away next weekend.
A good point (as with the rest of your comments). But I've got to confess that as I read the comment above, my knee-jerk reaction was to think: "Yeah, stamina's probably the right way to put it!" What channel have I been watching all weekend?? -----
One more observation from the West Ham match: Did anybody else think that the sight of GH wearing a baseball cap was a bit incongruous?