Rafa leaving...

Again, the news of Rafa leaving Liverpool looming before the Stoke game because lack of support from the American owners. Like usual, Rafa had denied the rumuor & said he is 100% committed to the club, fans & players. He had done so much to the club & there are more trophies to be won..

In Rafa we believed...

1st win of the season...

We got our 1st win of the season at home, beating Stoke City 4-0. A superb play to bounced from the opening defeat to Spurs. The game also mark Glen Johnson scoring his 1st goal at Anfield with spectacular scissor kick. Torres also open his account for the season, so did Kuyt & Ngog.

Much more to cheers with our victory was MU defeat away to Burnley. Hope that the good form will continue against Aston Villa next Tuesday (25th Aug) at home.

1st Game, 1st Defeat...

We started the 2009/2010 campaign with a defeat at White Hart lane. Beside all the top 4, include Manchester City got the results, we had the worse results on the opening. We can only envy the Gunners thrashing Everton 6-1... we can even envy Manchester City victory at Blackburn or we can say how lucky Manchester United & Chelsea won narrowly at Birmingham & Hull respectitively, yet we are one who played badly to even get a point!

The whole team were not playing as a unit. The passing was bad, the defence was bad (how could two CB colleded?) & there were no co-ordination at all. We probably woke up in the last 15 mins of the game when Benayoun & Voronin came in as subs. But then it's already too late to save even a point. Credits to Assou-Ekotto & Bassong to scored against us..

Gerrrard & the gang should learn from this defeat & take it on from here. Let's forget about this defeat & move on to the next game... Stoke on Tuesday? Bring it on!!!

Welcome, Aquilani..

Hailed as the future midfielder for Azzuri, seem like Rafa had signed a good replacement for Alonso. Aquilani possess a good passing & can score through free kicks. Unfortunately, the Kop will only see him in action 4-8 weeks as he is still recovering from his injury. Hope it will not take him too long to settledown at Anfield...

Well beaten...

A painful defeat at Anfield, 2-1 to Atletico Madrid a week before EPL season start. No only we lost the game, but a posibble lost of Carragher & Torres with both limped out. Though Rafa not too concern when he said it's only precaution... Wihout 3 experience Centre Back (Carragher, Skrtel & Agger, it's looked like trouble for us to face a challanging season ahead..

Winning In Norway

As usual, Liverpool had turned Norway reds, like any other places the visited. After loosing 3-0 to Espanyol in Spain, The Mighty Reds found back their winning way by beating FC Lyn 2-0 (goals from Voronin & Ngog) in their new awesome all-white away outfit. Though, the fans never get to see the goal from either Gerrard or Torres, they had seen what Reds capable of, even when they only played their 2nd team. With the next game again Atletico Madrid at home this weekend, we are looking forward for Torres to score against it's former club before the season start.

East Of Anfield....

The Kop Comes To Asia 2009 had realised many fans dreams of watching the supported team played before their eyes. With thounsand of supporters, myself & my eldest son, Jia Jun had turned Kallang Stadium to be a temporary "Anfield" of the night... Result of the night was not important, because we do enjoy our trip...

Next trip, the real Anfield?....

Defeat in Spain

Despite fielding quite a strong team head by Steven Gerrard, Liverpool were well beaten by the La Liga, Espanyol 3-0. Eventhough it's just a friendly, it was hard for Liverpool faithfull to muster the defeat. Or maybe because it was friendly, our team never put all their heart in the game, hence get beaten by such margin. Rafa clearly dissappointed because the season is about to start in two weeks time, yet the whole team still looked very shaky. Rafa knew he still got a lot to do with the team.

In Rafa we believed....

Leaving Anfield?

As the season draw nearer, without any new signing, we were seem destined to loose two of the most gifted midfielders who had done so well last season in challanging MU for the EPL title. Xabi Alonso & Javier Mascherano...

Alonso been courted by Real Madrid seem so eager to leave Anfield to become the latest "Galacticos", expect to decide on Monday. Perhaps, what had happenned last season when Rafa tried to sell him to Juventus to financed the bid on Gareth Barry did hurt him...or perhaps, his unfinished business in La Liga with Real Sociedad...or perhaps, joining the "Galacticos" is a dream to every footballer.

Mascherano, on the other hand was courted by the other La Liga giant, Barcelona. Beside stating his family find difficult in settling down at Anfield, he was seem wants to join his fellow Argies, Lionel Messi more than anything else.

Whatever reasons it might be, we will accept it with open heart...

We had seen what happened AC Milan without Kaka (loosing all their pre-season friendlies), so did MU without C.Ronaldo & Tevez (loosing to Bayern Munich in Audi Cup)..., but I guess, the Kop did not depend just on Alonso & Mascherano...

Always Reds: Liverpool Asia Tour

Always Reds: Liverpool Asia Tour

Liverpool Asia Tour

Liverpool Asia Tour were a short one. After a disappointment draw 1-1 with Thailand Selection, the trashed Singapore Selection 5-0. As it was just a friendlies, the fans in Asia, especially in Thailand, Singapore & the neighbouring countries like Malaysia & Indoenesia can have a glimpsed of the idols play before their eyes.

Results were never the priority either to the clubs or the fans concern, but more to the display of the stars on the pitch & its LIVE!!! Many had left the stadium felt satisfied & hope there will be more of their visit in this region.

Viva Liverpool... keep up the challange in the EPL!

Voronin: The New Signing?

Well, he is not our new signing as per se... but he seem to make a big impact in the recent pre-season matches. Joined Liverpool in 2007, and make a big impact in the pre-season as well before get injured. Never recover his true form & were shifted on-loan to Hertha Berlin last season. Had a good season in Bundesliga & scored many goals.

Vowed to stay this season at Anfield to fight for his placed even though our first choice is obvious, Gerrard-Torres partnership. Prbably will provide an extra cover in our attacking possiblity that we lacked last few season. With his technical ability and the knack to shoot at goal, we expect him to help us in our hunt for the 19th title will be realise.

Famous Quotes

"Some people believe football is a matter of life & death, I am very disappointed with that attidue. I can assure you it is much more important than that." (Bill Shankly)

"In my time at Liverpool we always said we had the best two teams in Merseyside: Liverpool & Liverpool Reserves." (Bill Shankly)

"If you're in the penalty area and don't know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we'll discuss the options later." (Bob Paisley)

"Our job is to make the fans happy. When we win, 45,000 people go home happy. When we lose, it not only affects them, it affects their cats." (Gerard Houllier)

"You can't call yourselves Liverpool players if your heads down. If we create a few chances we have the possibility of getting back into this. Believe you can do it and you will. Give yourself the chance to be heroes." (What Rafa Benitez reportedly told his players at half time in Istanbul...in their famous comback to win the Champion League for the 5th time)

Source: www.liverpoolfc.tv

1st Signing...

Rafa first signing....Glen Johnson for 17.5M pound.. A Chelsea's reject a season ago, but a sensation for Pompey last season confirmed his deal to become the latest Reds. Not really a big name that we expect, but Rafa always believed he only sign the one fit the team rather than the big name.

Many seem hard to accept the fact we had signed an Englishmen for such a hefty fee.. but did anyone ever question the fee Fergie pay for Carrick or Hughes pay for Barry? Hardly right?

There are few reasons why Rafa signed Johnson. Of course the 1st reason is he is an Englishmen! Rafa is preparing his team for Champion League requirement... 2nd, he is a natural right back compare to Aberloa (though he did well for the last 2 seasons)..he is fast in defence & attack, especially the final 3rd (& he can score too..). Thirdly, since he took over Anfield, Rafa failed with his signing on Kromkamp & Degen, so with Johnson proven ability in the EPL, Rafa feel he had his man to do the job for the team. Finally, Johnson had indeed progress to becomes the class of it's own.. he progress from West Ham to Chelsea & last season to Portsmouth, & become the authomatic selection for Capello.

Though the signing of Johnson won't guarantee success, I do hope it's work. His experiences definitely will helps & with World Cup around the corners, I believed he only can improve to seal his place in England shirt. Many Rafa's signing had failed, such as Nunez, Gonzales, Kromkamp, etc.. but he also brought some unknown to us... players like Skrtel, Lucas, Ngog etc.

Based on the team performances last season, Rafa had built relatively a good team.. with few quality addition, I believed our waits for the 19th title will be soon over...

In Rafa, we believe!

The Transfers....

While most clubs have money to spend, it's seem like Rafa had to sell before he could have additional in his team... the time when with additional of 3-5 quality players will allow us to challange for the EPL title for real, seem to go to the drain due to the debts incurred by the Americans. Now the likes of David Villa, David Silva, Tevez etc had swifted elsewhere...

While we already have the core team, which is strong enough & will mature for next season challange, we face posiblity of loosing Xabi Alonso & Mascherano as they had attract suitors from other team to pry them away.

Real Madrid under Perez second coming seem serious to assemble his Galaticos II... like for like.. Kaka for Ronaldo, C.Ronaldo for Figo & possible Ribery for Zidane. Though money spent do not always guarantee return, Perez seem excited with his collection. It's exciting to see how they fair with Barcelona next season in La Liga & Champion League alike.

As for MU, which suddenly got a huge fortune by dislodged the problem boy, C.Ronaldo seem to have plenty of money...with Valencia of Wigan seem almost certain deal, the possiblity of getting Ribery & David Villa also seem achievable with the kind of money they have.

I expect more active transfers for the next two weeks especially after the Confederation Cups... & I had my fingers cross for Rafa to have good addition without sacrifying Alonso & Mascherano.

Till then in Rafa, I believe....