After the 4-1 win over Portsmouth, here are some interesting stats about the club so far:

• Liverpool have won their last seven Premier League games at Anfield and currently have a better home record than last season. (Hard to believe considering the season so far)
• Fernando Torres has scored a goal every 98 Premier League minutes this season. Wayne Rooney’s record is a goal every 95 minutes.
• Alberto Aquilani completed his first 90 minutes of Premier League football against Portsmouth. (And a MOTM award too. Hopefully we’ll see more of him next season)

Via Football365

Liverpool FC have just named their list of players for the Europa League; the Red’s only realistic chance at a silverware this season. Liverpool are scheduled to play Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni in the first leg at Anfield on February 18.

Liverpool’s Europa League squad:

1 Diego Cavalieri

2 Glen Johnson

4 Alberto Aquilani

5 Daniel Agger

8 Steven Gerrard

9 Fernando Torres

11 Albert Riera

12 Fabio Aurelio

15 Yossi Benayoun

16 Sotirios Kyrgiakos

18 Dirk Kuyt

19 Ryan Babel

20 Javier Mascherano

21 Lucas

22 Emiliano Insua

23 Jamie Carragher

24 David Ngog

25 Pepe Reina

26 Jay Spearing

27 Philipp Degen

28 Damien Plessis

31 Nabil El Zhar

32 Stephen Darby

34 Martin Kelly

36 Steven Irwin

37 Martin Skrtel

38 Robbie Threlfall

39 Nathan Eccleston

40 Daniel Ayala

41 Martin Hansen

44 David Martin

45 Alex Kacaniklic

46 David Amoo

47 Daniel Pacheco

48 Gerardo Bruna

Via liverpoolfc.tv

Liverpool’s game against Tottenham originally scheduled for tonight has been postponed to a later date due to the inclement weather conditions. Although the pitch condition is playable, the vicinity of the stadium is icy and unsafe for travelling fans. The Red’s next game is against Reading in the FA Cup replay.

On the transfer front, unsettled leftback Dossena will be moving to Napoli for 4.25m Euros, while Voronin will be headed to Dinamo Moscow.

Contributed by Tan Pei Ru
http://humbuggersland.blogspot.com/

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Rafa, Rafael!

A couple of things I have in mind right now.

Liverpool rose to the occasion once more and bagged ourselves a victory against Debreceni. It was not enough. Lyon failed to level the score line against Fiorentina and we are now thrust into a whole new arena called the Europa League. Well, it isn’t exactly new- just polished, shined and smacked on with a better name.

If you thrive on what the media has to say about the fans’ reaction in general, you would think that each and everyone of us are pissed, disappointed and most probably going to have a terrible day at work tomorrow. I beg to differ.

Let me remind you this. Every single opinion of every single Liverpool fan on Earth counts. I won’t deny that I have friends who are upset out there, but to hell with it. Give me a couple of minutes to compose myself and I would rather take the more optimistic route, support the club and see where that goes instead. Why pile on more unnecessary pressure? We are SUPPORTers, right?

Some prefer to support the club and only the club itself. I assume they mean the well-being of the club. If the owners or the manager isn’t doing a good job- they have got to go. I don’t actually have a very big issue with this but what ticked me off were the things they laid out against a pretty decent manager who is supposedly failing (can’t believe I am using this word-the season hasn’t even ended) this badly, for the FIRST time in five bloody seasons. Furthermore, they just assumed that he has reached his peak. What proof do you have of that? There are always ups and downs to the footballing world.

Forgive me for I am all but a newbie supporter *roll eyes* but clearly, it doesn’t take years of fan-ship to see that it isn’t the Liverpool way. I am not saying that they are wrong. It’s just that I feel that Rafa’s been done in. In my eyes, calling for the manager’s head just because we find the club spiraling downwards reminded me of the primitive and sad practice of abandoning a wife just because she suffered a miscarriage.

Would you still call for his head if a fortune-teller told you that Rafa will make us the first ever winners of the Europa League?

Rafa has a lot to show and he has won the trust of many supporters. He deserves to be given time. The owners? They have shown us too little to win over the hearts of millions. I believe that Rafa is currently the only man brave enough to hold this club together. Everything is falling apart so I don’t think it is good idea to ram down this sole remaining pillar of support. Even if he has been left with no choice but to head for the door, he will no doubt have my backing until the very end.

It is really not that bad a season, folks. Smacked right in front of us is a chance to create a new slice of history. There is nothing wrong with holding out with Rafa for another seven months or so. The best have to fall sometimes. What we need to do is to swallow that bitter pill, pull ourselves together and keep marching forward.

Heskey + Torres FTW! Photo from Soccernet.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could be ready to step in and save Emile Heskey’s World Cup dreams by offering him a move back to Anfield in January, but only on the cheap.

Source: Soccernet

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In spite of the general criticism that Heskey doesn’t score enough goals as a striker, I’ve always looked highly on the lad. He’s hardworking, unselfish, and for oppositing defenders – a strong, hard striker to play against.

He may not be a superstar that will walk through to goal and win you games, but as a squad player he’ll get you the possession in the opposition third and more chances at cracking the opposition goal.

Owen has thrived with Heskey at both club and England level – and so has Rooney. I’m sure he’ll be a good buy to help out Torres upfront, who has too often, looked isolated on his own as a lone striker. An interesting January it will be, provided we’re still in the hunt for the title then!

Written by mike tee

How good is this new guy that’s gonna take help us challenge for #19 this season?
Check it out for yourself!

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani, set to play a key role for Italy in WC 2010. Photo from Teamtalk.

Barely hours after Xabi’s medical at Real Madrid, Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Roma’s Italian international Alberto Aquilani.

The speed in which the events occurred proved that Rafa has not been resting on his laurels – and that the backroom staff has been working hard behind the scenes to beefen up the squad on Alonso’s exit.

It will be good news to many that the whole transfer saga is completed, and the team can get on to working towards the new season.

Much doubt has been cast over Aquilani’s fitness, but results are proven on the pitch, so let’s sit back and enjoy the show!

XABI ALONSO may have been 6,000 miles away from Anfield but the message was exactly the same.

The thousands of fans who packed into the Central World shopping complex in Bangkok yesterday left the Spaniard in no doubt how desperate they are for him to spurn Real Madrid’s advances and commit his future to achieving more success at Liverpool.

Fanatical supporters packed out seven floors, dangling over balconies and off escalators, desperate to get a glimpse of their idol. His arrival was greeted with deafening chants of “Xabi” as he made his way up on to the stage. He was joined for the adidas promotional event by team-mates Albert Riera, Jay Spearing and David Ngog but there was no doubting who was the main attraction.

When the chanting died down, fans draped in the Liver Bird crest shouted: “We love you Xabi” and “Xabi we want you to stay at Liverpool forever.”

Some held up banners with one simply saying: “Please don’t leave us Xabi.”

Alonso bowed and thanked the fans for their support, and earned more plaudits by demonstrating he had made an effort to pick up the lingo.

“Sawatdee (hello) Thailand,” he said.

Cue another ovation which nearly raised the roof.

Alonso inevitably faced the first question from the enthusiastic Thai master of ceremonies.

“Xabi everyone loves you so much, would you please stay?”

Alonso shuffled nervously and his reply was hardly reassuring.

“It is difficult to give any guarantees,” he said.

“For now I am just enjoying myself in Thailand and it is great to see so much support.”

The MC tried flattery, telling Alonso he was “the most influential midfielder in the whole of Liverpool”, but still there was no cast iron guarantees about his future.

Alonso wouldn’t elaborate further on the ongoing summer transfer saga but there appears to be little doubt that he has his heart set on a move to Madrid as part of president Florentino Perez’s expensive rebuilding programme.

However, even the 27-year-old’s cool response to pleas for him to stay couldn’t dampen the passion and enthusiasm of fans here as Kop fever continued to sweep across Bangkok ahead of today’s friendly at the Rajamangala Stadium.

Read the rest here

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Well Kopites, its clear that this is the last we will see of the ‘best midfielder in the world’. Lets give him a rousing welcome in Singapore and show him our appreciation for all he has done for the Reds.

Xabi, all the best, we love you and you’ll always be a Red to us. Thanks for the memories.

UPDATES 2

Just under 4 days to go, hope everyone has settled their transportation and accomodation.

Anyway, just a quick update here – the MYRAWK banner is now ready.
So for those who would like to meet up at the stadium, do keep a look out for the banner – as shown above – that will be displayed at the Lower Grandstand West Entrance. Please be there by 4.30pm and we’ll enter the stadium at 5pm to select the best seats as it is free seating arrangements.

Also for those who are going there on Sat -
the LFC team will be going on a river cruise from 130pm to 3pm – best spot to catch them will of course be at the Boat Quay / Clarke Quay area.

Later on in the evening, some of us from MYRAWK should be heading over to Harry’s Bar @ Chijmes. Feel free to join us there and take in the festivities and atmosphere of an LFC related experience.
Directions and link: http://eastofanfield.com/joomla/index.php/livegames.html

On Sunday, perhaps you can drop by at the Pitch indoor soccer, Turf City, to give the MYRAWK boys some moral support during a regional futsal tournament. Further details can be found at the link below.

http://www.my-rawk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8&start=30#p386

And finally, please find our contact numbers in the link above to the forum, should there be anyone who wishes to meet up earlier.

See you all Kopites in Singapore!!!

UPDATE 1

For the first time, MyRAWK will be going on its first away tour to the Lion City to watch Liverpool play against the Singapore National team. A joint viewing party had been arranged with our brothers across the Causeway, the East of Anfield supporters club (EOA). With EOA as host of this much anticipated big party in Singapore, they have lined up some events in conjunction with the Reds impending visit.

Here are some updates for the events that East of Anfield SG are hosting.

Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July
East of Anfield in conjunction with their partners Harry’s Bars, have their supporters club home entirely open to all Reds fans for the whole weekend. It will be the EOA and also MyRAWK’s base and will be totally LFC dominated. The venue is Harry’s @ Chijmes and can hold around 400 people with the outside area. All reds welcome here.

EOA is also organizing a 5-a-side friendly games with other supporter clubs in the region. Pls indicate in our forum if anyone is interested to join MyRawkites while you are in SG.

5 a side Friendly Games (Note: this does not conflict with any other LFC events you may wish to attend)
The location is booked and confirmed.
Date     : Sunday 26 July 11am to 3pm

Venue  : The Pitch, Turf City, Singapore

Cost    : Free of charge.                                                                                                                                                                                               The venue can hold around 300 people in total and fans are welcome to join us there. Let’s get some atmosphere and bit of banter going.
Sponsorship: East of Anfield are paying for this event working with our sponsors Carlsberg and Harry’s Bar to provide F&B.
Food & Drinks: There will be beers, soft drinks, food on site.
Transport: East of Anfield will provide coaches for the teams to and from the event free of charge.
The stadium will be decked out in Red (bring some banners), we will have a DJ on site providing good sounds.

Teams confirmed:
- Malaysia Official Club 2 teams
- Malaysia MYRAWK 2 teams
- Singapore East of Anfield 2 teams
- Riyadh Reds 1 team
- Bali Big Reds 1 team
- Hong Kong Ex pats 1 team
- Hong Kong SAR 1 team
- Brunei – 1 team
- Indonesia – 1 team

Teams to be confirmed:
- Dubai Reds – 1 team
- Singapore Everton Supporters Club 1 team (for a laugh!)

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For all other members going or meeting up with MyRawkites for the LFC match, please make your way to our meeting point at the Stadium Lower Grandstand West Entrance. Lookout for the MyRawk banner, you wont miss it. See you guys in SGP!