Rickie Lambert scored his third goal in five England appearances with a rocket of a finish against Ecuador on Wednesday. Check out the new Liverpool signing’s strike …
Tag Archives: Liverpool FC
Sturridge scored a stunner for England
Daniel Sturridge scored a stunning goal as England recorded a 3-0 friendly victory over Peru at Wembley on Friday night.
The Liverpool striker curled home the opener just after the half-hour mark, collecting a throw in from Anfield teammate Glen Johnson before skipping inside and clipping into the top corner over goalkeeper, Raul Fernandez:
The Reds duo were joined in the starting XI by Steven Gerrard, who skippered the team, and Jordan Henderson. Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, was introduced into the action as a second-half substitute.
Centre-backs Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka were England’s other scorers.
Afterwards, Sturridge said:
“It is not important about myself, it is about the team and our preparation; putting in a shift tactically and technically to be in the best shape for the first game. It was difficult to be fair because they defended well and they were very compact. We had worked very hard throughout the week and there wasn’t the match sharpness as much as we would have liked. But it was great to be out there and we are happy with the result.”
Liverpool FC: Rickie Lambert fee agreed
Rickie Lambert, preparing for Friday night’s England first pre-World Cup friendly with Peru, is on the brink of signing for Liverpool in a deal worth £4m plus add-ons, with the striker understood to be desperate to join his hometown team, who rejected him as a 15-year-old.
Rickie Lambert is expected to undergo a medical at Liverpool on Saturday after an initial £4m fee was agreed with Southampton. The Reds had a bid accepted for the 32-year-old and personal terms have been agreed.
Lambert, a lifelong Liverpool fan, was born and raised in Kirkby and was with Liverpool’s Academy from the age of ten, before director Steve Heighway told him, at the age of 15, that he would not make the grade. “I never hold any grudges. These things either make or break you,” Lambert reflected recently. “At the time he (Heighway)was quite right to let me go. I wasn’t good enough. I thought it was the end of the world.” After three subsequent appearances for Blackpool, Lambert was released in 2000 by then manager Steve McMahon.
The centre-forward, who is in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, scored 14 times last season for the Saints, who paid Bristol Rovers £1m for the player’s services in August 2009.
Since then he has become an established Premier League striker and scored on his England debut, notching with his first touch in international football after coming on as a substitute against Scotland in August 2013.
A powerful and strong player, Lambert is also a free-kick specialist and has an exceptional penalty record, having scored his past 34 spot-kicks and having never missed for Southampton.
In Lambert, the Reds would be getting a player who will be an excellent back-up to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge and he will see the move as a dream come true, being a boyhood fan and Liverpool-born, like Robbie Fowler returning to Anfield in 2006.
Lambert is a player who will add experience, professionalism and desire to the squad – a player with an excellent attitude, which will endear him to manager Brendan Rodgers. He’ll also add much-needed depth up front. Attitude and the correct mentality are constantly mentioned by Rodgers and have become synonymous with Liverpool lately under the manger’s transformation of the club. Those attributes are what Lambert will also bring to the club.
He certainly offers more options from the bench than Rodgers has had in the past 12 months, and at that price would be a good buy for the club. When Man United signed Teddy Sheringham in 1997, aged 31, it proved to be a superb move, and Lambert’s could be likewise for Liverpool.
Liverpool FC launch 2014/2015 training kit
Liverpool Football Club and award-winning airline Garuda Indonesia today revealed the Reds’ training range for next season during an event in Indonesia.
LFC legends Didi Hamann, Phil Thompson and Luis Garcia took the club’s Champions League trophy to Central Park mall to celebrate the team’s return to the competition, as well as the launch of Garuda Indonesia’s very-first direct flight into Europe. The three European Cup-winning players unveiled the 2014-15 training kit, which will be worn by manager Brendan Rodgers and the squad, including Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
Hamann said:
“Liverpool have been without Champions League football for five seasons until now. This is a very special moment for the club and fans. What makes today extra special is that Garuda are launching their first direct flight to Europe so myself and the other former players will be taking the European Cup on that special flight.”
The national airline of Indonesia became the club’s Official Airline Partner in 2012. Following the success of Liverpool’s 2013 pre-season tour to Asia and Australia, Garuda Indonesia decided to take their partnership with the Reds to the next level by becoming their training kit partner.
The Reds enjoy a massive fan base in Asia, and especially in Indonesia where the club has the biggest following of any local-language LFC Twitter account with more than 100,000 followers, along with the second biggest following on the club’s Facebook page (two million).
Check out the 2014-15 LFC Garuda Indonesia training range and pre-order now.
Why did Liverpool lose the Premier League title race?
This last season has to go down as one of the most exciting but frustrating as a Liverpool fan. The phrase “so close and yet so far” comes to mind.
In the Premier league defence wins league titles, and this was our most critical issue this last season. In recent years the worst defensive team to win a title was Manchester United in 00/01 who had the 5th best defence that season. Liverpool finished 8th, and although we’ve conceded goals throughout the season it was in the last two weeks that we went from 6th to 8th.
There is a lot of debate amongst Liverpool fans on why we are flawed defensively. What are the reasons for it? Is it systematic, are we tactically naive, are our defenders not good enough, do the midfield players provide enough cover, are we mentally weak, or are we just inexperienced?
System
I think the system in itself is fine. Whether it’s a 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-3 formation with split center backs and Gerrard as a deep midfielder and the fullbacks very wide and far up the pitch. This is absolutely fine for me. However I think we need to have the right players to make it work.
To be fair, it’s been working very well because 81 points from 37 games is better than any of us hoped for in August. To win the big prizes though it needs to work a little bit better and I believe the right players will do that.
Personnel
We have good but not outstanding defenders. Our defenders need to be quicker and stronger in the tackle, none of them are strong in the 2 v 2 or 1 v 1 situations.
Lack of mental strength
No matter what our tactics are we tend to lose control of games and concede chances when we are put under pressure. Brendan mentioned it himself. Many of our players make bad decisions when put under pressure. Can you coach players out of having mental breakdowns?
You expect it from young, inexperienced players but Johnson, Skrtel, Agger and Kolo have 477 international caps between them. Surely such experienced players shouldn’t be so prone to error. Sakho has over 150 appearances for PSG and cost us £18m. You would expect the finished article but at 24 years of age and in a foreign league with only 19 appearances under his belt maybe he needs a bit of time and Premier League experience before we cast judgement.
It is not just the defenders that make mental errors. Gerrard has made more defensive errors than all of our defenders while Henderson has made as many.
Lack of leadership
Jamie Carragher spoke about a lack of leadership in the Liverpool defence. I must say I agree with him. But it is a worry when you have the captain of Denmark, captain of the Ivory Coast, captain of Slovakia and the former PSG captain in your back four but still there is no leadership.
Conclusion?
I think with better defenders we’d have won the league. That might come across as over simplifying it but when I say better I mean better leadership, mental strength, pace, ability in 1v1 situations, decision making and less of a propensity to make errors.
So Ian Ayre and transfer committee, step forward. It’s not easy finding defenders of this calibre but it’s what the recruitment guys get paid good money to do. Brendan Rodgers took the side from 7th to challenging for the title, this despite a couple of ordinary transfer windows. It is time for the other members of the transfer committee to do their bit.
For me it’s pretty clear what we need to do to improve the team. Better full backs (please!!!), a central defensive leader, an attacking player who can play wide or at the apex of the diamond, a striker and cover for Henderson and Gerrard.
I see Brendan has agreed a new 4 year deal. Fully deserved, the man has done a great job and in my opinion is the manager of the year.
Liverpool FC reveal brand new away kit for 2014-15
Liverpool’s brand new Warrior away strip for the 2014-15 season was launched in Dublin this afternoon, ahead of the Reds’ post-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers.
Brendan Rodgers believes that the revamped second strip is one ‘that fans and players will respond to’ – and there is little doubt that the club’s official kit supplier has captured the illustrious past with their latest offering.
The club’s official kit supplier has reinvigorated a classic in producing an iconic yellow strip that evokes memories of the Reds’ rich history – none more so than the FA Cup final success of 2001.
Featuring a range of contemporary design details and technical innovations, the revamped shirt, shorts and socks are engineered for superior performance. A moisture-wicking War-Tech fabric uses responsive technology that helps keep players focused, while the four-way stretch mesh panelling under the arms and across the shoulders of the shirt facilitates optimum ventilation that allows for added comfort and temperature control in core heat areas, helping to regulate body temperature.
In line with the new home kit, which was unveiled in April and launched for sale earlier this month, a modern crew neck collar is designed for freedom of movement and comfort. The main body of the kit, meanwhile, is dominated with a powerful yellow, with contrasting red cut and sewn panels that deliver a 360-degree design aesthetic, following the contours of the body.
Take a look through the slideshow below to see various members of the squad modelling the smart yellow design, which they will wear proudly at stadiums across the country throughout the next campaign.
Liverpool FC: Winning in Style
With Manchester City failing to beat Sunderland Liverpool’s title dream is getting closer to reality with every passing day.
The Reds have some tricky must win fixtures ahead starting with Norwich, a home fixture against Chelsea, away to Crystal Palace and wrapping the season up with Newcastle United at Anfield.
Even though winning is all that matters during this stage of the season Rodgers wants his players to play the best football and remember the class and traditions of the club as they bid to win a 19th top-flight crown:
We will try to do it in the right way – I take great pride in winning in the most sporting way we can. If you look at us we are top of the Premier League and we are top of the Fair Play League. We don’t surround referees. We want to win, but it shows you a mark of our behaviour. They are the values of this club. It’s a club that has won many trophies in the past but had the humility and the class. One word I always had in my mind when I joined Liverpool is ‘class.’ So that is important to me – that those values are restored. I believe you can’t affect refereeing decisions. Absolutely. There will be little bits of luck that go for and against you but I like to think as a sporting team and a team that’s trying to work well we’ve got our rewards this year.
With topping the Fair Play league and playing some of the finest football whilst scoring 100 plus goals Liverpool are worthy winner of the Premier league medal if they manage to pass the next four hurdles.
Gerrard’s joy at beating Man City
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wiped away tears at the final whistle on what was an emotional day for everyone connected with Liverpool football. Anfield remembered the 96 fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago and Manchester City were beaten 3-2 at Anfield inspired by Liverpool’s Captain fantastic Steven Gerrard who was at his brilliant best in the middle of the park.
Gerrard told reporters after the match:
“Emotional. Emotional, but we need to keep calm. There’s still four big games to come but that meant so much especially when they got back into the game and you feared the worst at that point, but I think we showed today that we want to go to the wire, we want to go all the way. Nothing’s won yet, but that was probably the biggest statement we’ve made so far. That was the longest 90 minutes I’ve probably ever played in. I kept flashing back to how long the clock was taking in cup finals and big games I’ve played in before but it felt like the clock was going backwards at some points of that game.”
Liverpool started the match with a spine-tingling rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and as said it turned out to be one of Liverpool’s greatest victories in Premier league. With four games to go lets hope the Reds can keep the momentum and lift the title.
Revealed Liverpool FC’s new 2014-15 home kit
Liverpool Football Club today revealed their brand new Warrior home kit for the 2014-15 season.
The 2014-15 strip has been produced using War-Tech, Warrior’s signature apparel technology system, with benefits of the fabric including a highly breathable shirt as well as moisture-wicking to keep players dry.
Other new features incorporated by the club’s official kit supplier, Warrior, include a geometric LFC jacquard weave and a collar design that allows freedom of movement and comfort.
The strip takes inspiration from the successful Reds era of the 1960s, a period when Bill Shankly switched the team’s colours to all-red and guided to the club to league and FA Cup glory. Roger Hunt, a prolific member of the Scot’s all-conquering side, hailed the new design as it ensures that the players resemble ‘giants’. The man who scored 286 goals for Liverpool commented:
“I played for Liverpool for over a decade and I remember the first time Shankly got the team in the all-red strip. It’s great to see that 50 years on, Liverpool are still looking like giants in their all-red strip.”
Liverpool FC goalkeeper’s home jersey 2014-15
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers added:
“The 1960s was such a defining era for this club – Roger Hunt, Ian St John, Ron Yeats – the list of Liverpool legends that played under Shankly goes on and on. For the players to wear a shirt that has taken inspiration from such a successful period for the club can act as a reminder that they can bring those glory years back to Liverpool Football Club.”
Check out the Reds’ stars in their strip for next season:
The brand new 2014-15 home kit will be on sale from May 9, 2014.
“Liverpool will win the title” Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool will win the Premier League title this season after the reds went top of the Premier League yesterday after thrashing Tottenham 4-0 at Anfield to take advantage on points dropped by main title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City
Carragher reckons there is a belief amongst the players and the fans that Brendan Rodgers’s side can claim a first Premier League title.
Manchester City, who trail Liverpool by four points have two games in hand and still remain the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Premier League.
Carragher told Monday Night Football:
“I think Liverpool will win it now. The feeling before the weekend was ‘we’ve got a chance’, but those results and the intensity Liverpool played with on and off the pitch has changed that. I’m talking about the crowd, I’m talking about the Kop. You heard the roar at the end of the game and you know something’s happening. They are chanting for Brendan Rodgers throughout the game and I’ve never heard that before as much. They are normally singing Kenny Dalglish’s name or for Rafa Benitez a little bit, but it was all for the manager Brendan Rodgers. After this game there is a major belief that Liverpool will go on and win the league. There’s a banner in the crowd now: ‘make us dream’ and I think they’re making the supporters believe now. With the way they are playing – and the pace and energy they’ve got – it will be very difficult for Man City to go there and take three points. I can only see Liverpool winning that game.”
If Liverpool continue to play the remaining of the 6 games in the same intensity and desire then we stand a great chance of winning the league – come on you reds!
Goals, goals and more goals
Liverpool continued their season of great goal scoring with their sixth win in a row by smashing Cardiff City 6-3.
Suarez was at his brilliant best again on Saturday marking his third hat-trick of the season and with with just eight matches to play, Liverpool find themselves firmly in the race for a first league championship since 1990, being just four points behind the leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
Suarez and Sturridge (SAS) are the most prolific strike force in Europe, with Suarez now having scored 28 times this season.
Brendan Rodgers said:
“Luis is a remarkable player who has terrific determination, desire and will and he gets his rewards. He is world class player who is enjoying his football. Look at the runs he makes and the determination to get himself back into position when he doesn’t get the ball.
Daniel (Sturridge) also shows that great desire. He’s strong and he worked so hard to get into the box to get on to the end of Luis’ cross. The back heel for Luis’ goal was outstanding too.
Wednesday will be a great night for us. We have five games at home and three away and for us it is about the immediate future. The fans can believe in dreams and when you see your side score six goals, you are allowed to do that.”
Defending seems to be the only problem with the Reds now and I wonder whether the carelessness at the back is due to the overconfidence the defenders have on the attacking capabilities of front duo Suarez and Sturridge. Even though it wont be much of a problem against the lesser sides, Rodgers should make sure Liverpool don’t take this attitude when they welcome the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City which are going to be crucial matches if we want to win the title.
Suarez: I’ll stay even without Champions League qualification
Striker Luis Suarez says that he will stay at the club next season whether Liverpool qualifies for the Champions League or not.
Suarez has scored 24 Premier League goals for the current Barclay’s premier league campaign with his latest coming in the 3-0 win over Southampton which helped the Reds move into second place in the table.
The Uruguayan international who recently committed his long term future with the reds claims he is enjoying his best season since arriving at Anfield from Ajax in January 2011.
With Liverpool currently second in the table, six points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham, there is every chance Suarez could achieve his ambition of getting Liverpool back in the top four.
Quizzed whether he would stay at Liverpool if the Reds failed to secure a top-four finishes, Suárez said:
“I think so. I signed my new contract because I’m very happy here and I want to stay where I’m enjoying football and life. Playing in the Champions League isn’t dependent on that. Any player would miss the Champions League. We’ve not been good enough since I’ve been here to qualify, but this could definitely be our year. It would be a frustration not to get fourth because we’ve done everything possible and given our maximum to qualify.”
There is no doubt that the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will come knocking at Liverpool’s door for Suarez once the season ends.Do you think the Reds will be able to keep hold of Suarez if they miss on top four once again?