[Liverweb] Spurs Match Preview

Liverweb Match Preview

Opponents : Tottenham Hotspur
Date : Saturday January 14
Venue : Anfield
TV Coverage : RTE2, ART Sport 4, Supersport 3SA, Prime Sport, TPS
Foot, TV8 Turkey, C+ Deporte 1, Premiere Sport Portal, Galaxie
Sport, Sport TV, Sport 1 Hungary, Sky Sport 1 (Italia), Sky Calcio 1

Head to Head - Premiership Head to Head
The Reds take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon. The Reds
are unikely to play new signing Dan Agger but Jan Kromkamp will be
hoping to make his league debut for the Reds.

Ledley King is hoping to be fit for Tottenham having missed out
through injury since Boxing day. Also available again is Edgar
Davids, Andy Reiad and Lee Young-Pyo

The Reds beat Luton 5-3 in a hugely entertaining FA Cup affair last
Saturday evening. One day later and Spurs lost out 3-2 to Leicester
City having been 2-0 up in the game.

In the league Spurs have been playing well and lie one point behind
the Reds in 4th place. They have lost just once in the last nine
league games. Their away form however shows they have lost two of
the last five league games. Last time out in the league they cruised
to an easy 2-0 win over Man City away from home.

Leading scorer Mido is available before travelling to the African
Cup of Nations. Next highest scorer is Robbie Keane who is playing
regularly at the moment and scoring goals. Five of his seven this
season have come away from home and he's far more lethal come the
second half of a game.

Squads :

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Warnock,
Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Alonso, Sissoko, Kewell,
Cisse, Morientes, Sinama Pongolle, Crouch, Kromkamp, Agger, Carson.

Spurs : Cerny, Robinson, Stalteri, Lee, Tainio, Gardner, King,
Dawson, Carrick, Jenas, Davids, Brown, Kelly, Defoe, Keane, Mido,
Rasiak, Lennon, Routledge, Reid.

Team Stats : In the thirteen premiership games so far at Anfield the
Reds have won 8 and lost just the once - way back in 1993-94 season.

The Reds average just over two goals a game at Anfield whilst Spurs
average one.

The Reds have failed to win in 5 Premiership games against Spurs
after taking a lead against them. Two of those 5 games were
subsequently lost. On the positive side they have won three games
having gone behind at some point.

A win for the Reds would be their 40th of all time over Spurs in the
league at Anfield. Spurs have just five wins at Anfield in the
League as well as two cup wins.

Four of the last five league games have ended in draws including the
reverse fixture earlier this season.

The Reds need two goals in this game to record their 200th against
Spurs in league football. This match is the Reds' 4050th in league
football.

Player Stats : Stephen Warnock will hope to play his 50th game for
the Reds in this one.

Should Jamie Carragher play he will be making his 75th consecutive
league appearance for the Reds.

Jose Reina will hope to play his 20th league game for the Reds in
this one.

Florent Sinama Pongolle and Fernando Morientes needs one goal to
reach double figures for the Reds. Both players have also been
subbed 9 times in the league for the Reds.

Of the players still at each club Robbie Keane has most goals in the
fixture with 2. Five Reds have scored one goal each against Spurs in
the League including Sami Hyypia.

A point for the Reds today will take manager Rafael Benitez past the
100 point marker in the league as manager of the Reds.

Referee : Rob Styles - fifteen games so far this season for Rob
Styles and he's had the yellow card out 48 times and the Red card
twice already.

For the two sides this season he has taken charge once each. For the
Reds it was a 0-0 home draw with Man United where he booked two
players from either side.

For Spurs he too charge of their home game with Chelsea and showed 5
yellow cards and sent Mido off the pitch.

Betting : Liverpool 8/13, Spurs 4/1, Draw : 23/10

Liverweb Prediction : Liverpool 2 Spurs 0

Email your comments to andy@liverweb.org.uk

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[Liverweb] News and Tickets

The Liverpool Echo have reported that Dan Agger has arrived in
Liverpool to finalise his move to the Reds for £5.8 million. The
Reds have made no comments yet but the Danish side have also told
the BBC that Agger did not join up with them on Wednesday.

This week weekly article

Well you can never say we're dull to watch. The comeback and win at
Luton was great to watch. However, although it was great to see
fighting spirit in the boys the bigger worry was the fact that the
players got to the stage when they were 3-1 down. Luton played very
well indeed and deserve praise but we should not have allowed this
to happen.

I must say well done to the fan who had the bet on Xabi to score
from his own half. Having watched Xabi I'm surprised more Reds
hadn't made the same bet to be honest as he's a star who has tried
his luck in the past from distance.

The transfer window is in full swing now and we're on the verge of
signing Dan Agger who should be a great move for us. It's not just
players in though with Hearts seeming to have a huge fascination
suddenly in the Reds players. They seemed to be getting offers in
for virtually any Red who isn't on the pitch at the minute they
bid. I can admire their taste of course in quality players but it
seems a tad scary that they seem to be stalking us.

Ticket News

Barclays Premiership

Chelsea v Liverpool

To be played at Stamford Bridge, London
On Sunday 05 February 2006, kick off 4.00pm

Liverpool Football Club have received an allocation of 3095 stand
tickets for this ALL ticket fixture priced as follows;-

Shed Upper Tier
Adult £48

Shed Lower Tier
Adult £45
Child £20 (under 16)
Over 65s £28

Ticket Allocation

Tickets will be available to Season Ticket holders based on
attendance at Premier League away fixtures during Season 2004-2005
on the following days,

Attendance at 9 or more games
Thursday 12 January 8.15am-5.30pm

Attendance at 8 or more games
Saturday 14 January 9.15am-1.00pm

Attendance at 7 or more games
Sunday 15 January 9.15am-1.00pm

The allocation of tickets will be subject to availability and while
stocks last.

Tickets will be available for personal application at the Ticket
Office, by postal application and credit card bookings on Telephone
Number 0870 787 2000. The Fan Card must be presented when applying
at the Ticket Office and in the case of postal applications or
telephone applications the number must be quoted, telephone bookings
will require the applicants address to be confirmed and are subject
to a booking fee.

Please do not apply if you do not meet the required criteria, any
queries regarding the Fan Card please telephone 0870 220 2345.

We would emphasise to all eligible applicants that no guarantee can
be given that tickets will be available to all who apply.

Executive Box holders, Centenary, Premier and Executive members
should contact the Corporate Sales Department.

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
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[Liverweb] Latest News

The Reds have been drawn away to Portsmouth in the next round of the
FA Cup. The tie will be played on the weekend of the 28/9th of
January.

No decision as yet to the day as it may be televised.

The Reserves were in action away at Newcastle last night but went
down 2-1. The Reds had taken the lead 1-0 thanks to Neil Mellor who
continues his comeback from injury. He is said to have looked very
sharp in the 71 minutes he played for the Reds.

Newcastle scored their two goals on 33 and 40 minutes thanks to
Finnigan and then Farman who latched on to a poor back pass from
David Raven.

An injury scare for the Reds was that David Mannix was stretchered
off in the second half and taken to hospital for scans on a leg
injury.

The Reds are preparing to finalise a deal meanwhile for David
Marton. The 19 year old keeper was on trial at the Reds before
Christmas and the Reds were suitably impressed. A deal should be
finalised tomorrow.

A move for Dan Agger meanwhile has been thrown in to doubt after the
defender was called up to a Danish training camp. There are also
rumours that Brondby have increased his fee by another 2 million.

In one other rumour I've been told in the past days may well see one
player exit the club - Djimi Traore but no deal has been setup as
yet.

In other gossip Hearts are said to be interested in a move for
Anthony Le Tallec but again nothing is set up. One move to Hearts
that is set up though is for Darren Potter to go to Hearts but
subject to Potter's injury clearing up.

Talk about a move for Simao is still ongoing but in the last days he
has said that nothing is sorted yet and he has a contract with
Benfica so isn't set to move anywhere just yet.

Florent Sinama Pongolle has said that he hopes his cup heroics at
the weekend will help him cement a place at Anfield - a place he
loves and is very much learning. This of course is assuming Rafa
wants him to stay.

Andy
Liverweb

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC

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[Liverweb] Agger Signs

Daniel Agger has completed his transfer to the Reds this morning.
He joined he Reds for training after passing his medical and
agreeing personal terms last night.

Agger has been given the number 5 shirt. This was last worn by
Milan Baros.

Agger turned 21 last November and will provide competition at centre
back for the Reds. He made his debut for Brondby aged just 19 and
made his internation debut last June. Since then he has won another
3 caps. He has one internation goal to his name from the four games.

Site update - the site is in the process of changing servers at the
moment so if you do go by and the site appears down it should only
be for a short time. The site is ready and waiting at the other
server now so when the name changes happen it will be fixed. This
change will provide a more reliable service for you at Liverweb.
Well the server side of things anyway - I won't comment on myself ;o)

Andy
Liverweb

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
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[Liverweb] Luton Town Match Report

Liverweb FA Cup Match Report

Luton Town 3 Liverpool 5

Liverpool : Carson, Finnan, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Gerrard(C), Kewell,
Alonso, Sissoko, Cisse, Crouch

Subs Used : Pongolle for Sissoko (56), Kromkamp for Crouch (78), Warnock
for Cisse (88)

Subs Unused : Reina, Hamann

Att : 10,170

Ref : M.Clattenburg

The Reds made it to round 4 but they really had to dig deep to win this one
After taking a lead they were 3-1 down at one point before Sinama-Pongolle
changed the game and the Reds ran out 5-3 winners. This was simply a superb
game for the neutral to watch because it had everything including a goal by
Alonso in his own half.

Luton got the game underway at Kenilworth road and unlike eighteen years
ago this one was on grass. The home side started well and look a good side
who may well get to the Premiership one day soon if they play like this
every week.

The first chance for the Reds was on seven minutes when Cisse threatened to
burst through on goal. It was cleared for a corner kick though which
Gerrard swung to the back post. It fell for Hyypia but his shot blazed
across goal and out. Just three minutes later at the other end Carson was
alert and out quickly to clear danger as Luton had the Reds' back line at
sixes and sevens.

Carson was again involved a minute later as he was forced to save a volley
from Rowan Vine. On sixteen minutes he Reds took the lead through Gerrard.
Cisse collected a ball on the right and crossed to Crouch. When Crouch
couldn't find space though he pushed the ball back to Cisse who played it
inside to Gerrard. Standing on the edge of the area he curled a great shot
past Beresford. Little celebration from Gerrard though as the Reds were now
in the lead.

Harry Kewell went close on nineteen minutes but his shot across the keeper
also went just across the goal as well. Momo Sissoko picked up a booking on
twenty four minutes as he brought his man down just after the ball had
gone. It was tight call but just late.

Luton hadn't let their heads drop at 1-0 though and were still pushing on
well. On twenty five minutes Carragher was dragged wide but couldn't
prevent the cross coming in. In the middle of the box Howard was unmarked
but thankfully slipped trying to get his foot around the ball. He had no
such problems on thirty one minutes though as he equalised. He broke the
offside trap and despite a good attempt by Carson to get the ball Howard
danced around him and finished really well to send the home crowd barmy.

The goal really got Luton going as well and they pushed on well. The Reds
simply were getting over run at times and Luton tried to take full
advantage. On thirty nine minutes Finnan headed off the goal line from a
header and the next corner saw the Reds scramble like mad to get rid of the
ball. The back line just didn't look at all comfortable.

On forty two minutes Carson was down well to save a shot from Carson and
Riise was back well to clear the loose ball away. Just a minute later
though and the Reds were behind. A ball played in to Robinson from the
right wing started it. Robinson turned on a sixpence though in the area
leaving Carragher for dead before he shot across and past Carson. The home
crowd was delirious and sensing an upset now. Half time simply couldn't
come quick enough for the Reds.

No changes came at half time and he Reds got it started again. The Reds
raced straight up the pitch and created a chance. Kewell tried to lob the
keeper but at full stretch he managed to tip the ball over the bar. The
Reds were trying t push a higher line now and it showed. On forty eight
minutes Kewell was played in around the back and as he approached the
keeper he played Gerrard in with an open goal. As Gerrard was about six
yards out and trying to get to the ball to finish he was bundled over.
Penalty! This was given but very strangely no card was shown. This was a
Red card offence for sure. Cisse spotted the ball up and took the kick only
to see Beresford go the right way and make a great save.

Just four minutes later and that miss looked to be costly when Luton were
awarded their own penalty. Hyypia lost the ball to Vine just inside his own
half and the Luton striker raced through. At the edge of the area he was
challenged by Carson. Vine went down but Riise was getting back to the goal
line. Again a penalty was awarded and this time Carson was yellow carded.
Luton took the penalty and despite Carson diving the right way they scored
for a 3-1 lead and the chants of Easy followed from the home crowd.

This was serious stuff now and you feared another exit from the Cup now.
There was plenty time though and we had to up the tempo. Pongolle came on
for Sissoko and this changed the whole game. Momo hadn't been great in the
centre on the day and Gerrard moved inside allowing Flo to go up front and
Cisse pulled out wide.

On sixty two minutes Pongolle turned the game on its head. Gerrard picked
his run out well and Flo did the rest by finishing past Beresford really
well. Game on at 3-2 now and the Reds had to stick to what they were now
doing. This was the first time they had really starting passing the ball
around.

The chances soon followed for the Reds as they pushed forward. Cisse saw a
header go wide and then he hit a volley in to the side netting. Then on
sixty eight minutes it was all square. Alonso picked the ball up in
midfield and looked to shoot. Under challenge he hit a looping ball over
Beresford and in to the back of the net. A superb strike and who knows how
he got so much spin on the ball but it was in and plenty time to march on.

It took just five more minutes for the Reds to take the lead. For one of
the first times Finnan got down the right side and managed to cross in from
there and Pongolle jumped superbly and headed even better past Beresford
who was left standing.

Jan Kromkamp came on for his debut on seventy eight minutes. He replaced
Crouch for the Reds and played right midfield as Cisse went back up front
again with Pongolle. It became very end to end stuff now. Luton made a
double switch which meant they had four strikers on and they looked to put
the Reds under pressure. Carragher was back well on eighty two minutes to
poke the ball back as Luton threatened to burst through.

Riise saw a shot well saved by Beresford as it swerved through the air on
target. Time was starting to tick down now and the Reds were under the cosh
a bit as Luton threw everything in to getting a replay. They probably
deserved that on the day but it wasn't to be. Warnock replaced Cisse for
the last two minutes of the game and slotted in at left back allowing Riise
forward.

Gerrard had a couple of chances late on but didn't take advantage of either
of them and as full time approached Luton attacked one last time. Finnan
was forced to clear a bouncing ball in the area for a corner. Luton threw
everyone in to the box including the keeper to try and score. Their corners
had been superb all day and a lesson for the Reds really in to how to cause
problems with a corner kick.

The corner was cleared by the Reds and Alonso picked it up five yards
outside his own area. After he skipped around the keeper he looked up and
despite screams from Gerrard for a pass, Alonso struck the ball from about
sixty yards towards the Luton goal. The direction was spot on and the ball
had enough weight on it as well. Five goals to tree and this was finally
game over.

This for the neutral was simply a superb game and had a huge scare for the
Reds before they fought back to win it. Pure entertainment! However from a
Reds point of view this was awful if we're honest. Luton played some good
stuff and put us under pressure but a few players seemed to think when we
went one up that it would be a stroll. The celebration from Gerrard when
you see it had the air of this is going to be easy after all. Huge credit
to Luton for pushing this all the way and they deserved something out of
this. The Reds simply didn't track their players down well in the first
half especially and it was only the introduction of Pongolle who rescues
this for the Reds. Don't forget this isn't the first time Pongolle has done
this either - Olympiakos anyone?

MotM : Florent Sinama-Pongolle - he may have played less than half of the
game but he turned this one on it's head. He came on at three one down but
within seventeen minutes we were 4-3 up. He had purpose about him and it
changed the way the Reds were playing completely.

Match Stats
Luton - Liverpool
47% Possession 53%
8 Shots On Target 8
2 Shots Off Target 12
0 Blocked Shots 0
7 Corners 5
15 Fouls 7
3 Offsides 6
1 Yellow Cards 3
0 Red Cards 0

Email your comments to andy@liverweb.org.uk

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
<http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm>http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
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Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC

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To join send an email to liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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