Its Saturday morning and before we grab the jersey and head over to Anfield, we take a quick look ahead to the build up to the big match as The Swans arrive in liverpool..
Also, it could be Reina’s 150th today, we hear of Bellamy’s quest for Europe, Gerrard’s contract negotiations, while the date for the Quarter Final Carling Cup has angered many on Merseyside……
Super Saturday
The 12:45 Kick off – The early Premier League kick off today is a cracking match between Alan Pardew’s undefeated Newcastle against Everton. Newcastle are now unbeaten in 13 league games, their best ever unbeaten run in the Premier League.
The 15:00 kick offs – The afternoon fixtures takes West Brom to Arsenal with the Baggies hoping for a repeat of last season’s venture to Emirates Stadium, when they secured a 3-2 win. In other games, Aston Villa face Norwich, Blackburn welcome Chelsea, and Liverpool play host to Swansea!
Well i’m sure ye’ve heard it by now, if not, ye’ll have heard it by the end of the day in the media… Alex Ferguson celebrates 25 years in charge of Manchester United this weekend and he faces former club captain Steve Bruce’s Sunderland…
The 17:30 Kick off – In the late kick off, Manchester City travel to QPR..
The Pre-Match Build Up
Liverpool – Liverpool are unbeaten in their past seven matches in any competition. During that run, they have scored 15 times while conceding six goals.
Kenny’s only injury concerns for the match today are Gerrard and Carragher’s. Gerrard misses today’s clash with an ankle infection while Jamie Carragher is facing a late fitness test on his calf injury.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Lucas, Downing, Suarez, Carroll, Doni, Kelly, Flanagan, Coates, Robinson, Spearing, Kuyt, Rodriguez, Bellamy.
Swansea – After five away games, Swansea have just one point to their name on their travels but they head to Merseyside full of confidence after last Saturday’s convincing win over Bolton.
Reports are suggesting Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien may be available for Swansea after six weeks out with a hamstring problem. Steven Caulker is out with a knee surgery while Stephen Dobbie is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained during their loss at Norwich.
Swansea (from): Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Orlandi, Graham, Sinclair, Dyer, Routledge, Monk, Lita, Moore, Bessone, Rangel, Allen, Tremmel, Agustien, Gower, Richards, Moras.
Predicted Line Up
1 More Clean Sheet = 150
Meanwhile, Pepe Reina needs just 1 more clean sheet to reach a total of 150, a feat which has only been achieved by two Liverpoool goalkeeping greats, Ray Clemence and Bruce Grobbelaar. Speaking to the Daily Star, Reina spoke of his achievement…
Just to be compared with them is a bit scary, They have probably been the two greatest goalkeepers that Liverpool have ever had.
They both won so much silverware here and I can only hope to win half as many trophies as they did here. It’s a pleasure to be compared with them but I think it’s too soon for such things – it’s not fair.
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A win Today is Vital…
We’ve already dropped six points at home already this season… A victory this afternoon is vital if we want to secure Champions League qualification this season according to Craig Bellamy, speaking to the Liverpool Echo…
It is important to keep the unbeaten run going, but with no disrespect to Swansea, if we have ambitions of finishing in the top four then we have to win these type of games.
We slipped up against Norwich but on overall chances created and how we went about it, on any other given day we would have won quite comfortably.
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Carling Cup Quarter Final Date
Our Carling Cup Quarter Final clash with Chelsea has been confirmed for Tuesday, November 29, a date which has not welcomed favourably around Merseyside…
Liverpool must now travel to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Nov 29, 48 hours after they face Manchester City at Anfield.
Contract Negotiations with Steven Gerrard
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has opened contract negotiations with Liverpool as the club’s American owners look to reinforce his long-term role at Anfield according to the Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe… Gerrard has 18 months left on his current contract which should see him at Anfield into his 33rd birthday but Fenway Sports Group are keen to get Gerrard signed up long term.
Todays Top #LFC Twitter Tweet
BrianDurand56 – Brian Durand
“Special mention for Steven Gerrard who signed his professional forms for @LiverpoolFC on 5th November 1997. A legend was about to written.”
In other Premier League News….
- Robin van Persie has been rewarded for his Arsenal hat-trick heroics against Chelsea last weekend after landing the Barclays Player of the Month award for October.
- Manchester City‘s Roberto Mancini celebrated the Barclays Manager of the Month award
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Melwood Today – Your quick round up of some of Liverpool’s essential and not-so-essential news every morning on ThisIsAnfield.com …
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