Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

will ye have a podgy irascible irishman?

Britishman.

he was born on the isle! on the soils of home. will ye not kiss the soils?

also snap qn: should i go and watch charlton even though that wd involve missing the first 30 minutes at least

British soils.

stolen soils! will ye have a sheffield wednesday at home?

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

so what has happened, in this match ???

What a marvellous fightback from Liverpool (2-3 at City)!

Hansen now saying it's a 3-horse race for the title after all, and he's never seen them play so much as a team under Benitez.

Love the irresponsible gossip here - can you imagine Lawro out for a drink with Stevie G, and the latter telling Lawro these things?

Speaking on The Last Word on Today FM, Lawrenson said he discussed Keane's predicament with Steven Gerrard after the game and claimed the Liverpool captain suspects his team-mate could be sold in the forthcoming transfer window. "I hate to name drop," said Lawrenson, "but I was having a drink with Gerrard on Saturday and we talked about Keane. They share the same agent [Struan Marshall] and quite honestly he thinks something is going to happen with Keane in January. Sounds like he could be moved on."

While Marshall declined to comment Liverpool issued a statement last night denying the pundit's version of events. A club spokesman said: "Mark Lawrenson's remarks are his interpretation of a private chat between the two of them. They do not accurately reflect Steven's opinion of ­Robbie Keane and they certainly do not tally with Steven's recollection of the ­conversation itself."

Lawrenson's assessment of Keane's time at Liverpool did not end with ­predictions for January, with the former Anfield defender casting doubt on Benítez's wisdom in signing the striker to begin with.

"He [Benítez] got it wrong. If Liverpool were playing a Champions League final, FA Cup final or a massive game that they had to win tomorrow, you know Keane wouldn't start. He'd not get in the team. Why pay £20m for a player who doesn't suit the formation or system? He's not going to improve at 28.

"You just wonder if Tottenham will come back and do a bit of a deal and Liverpool would go for someone else."

Also this agent is perhaps the only person I can think of who is actually called Struan.

This fortnight, three games across Stanley Park! When was the last season they played each other so often - do you have to go all the way to the shoegaze era?

EFC seem to have become too tough for LFC to crack - two 1-1s in the last week, the decisive replay now days away at Goodison. I am worrying for LFC - they seem to have lost their way.

btw, having read about both clubs' hunt for a new ground recently, does anyone think they should make a new stadium together?

What great entertaining games they were too...

Off the top of me head, la:

1986-87: six meetings, Everton didn't win any of them (but we did win the league).
(Charity Shield: n1-1
ScreenSport Super Cup, held over from the previous season: a1-3, h1-4
League: h0-0, a1-3
League Cup qf: h0-1)

1990-91: five meetings
(League: h2-3 (L'pool's last win at Goodison for nearly 11 years), a1-3
FA Cup 5th round: a0-0, h4-4, h1-0)

I hate the derbies and am trying to forget about the replay, especially as it is already guaranteed to ruin my wife's birthday.

Groundshare will never happen. That is the Liverpool view.

But is it the Everton view too? There seem to be serious financial difficulties for EFC in finding a new home. I don't know if the Kirkby plan is much good, compared to the evident benefits of staying put. I think some NEW THINKING might be no bad thing on this issue.

I have often thought the Groundshare issue could be solved using a little Systems Thinking.

So, Everton to groundshare at Fratton Park?

Stevie G takes a deep breath and confesses:

"My relationship with Rafa has got stronger as time's gone by. Maybe when I was a bit younger I was a bit selfish, thinking of myself a bit too much when he was playing me out of position [on the right of midfield]. I should have maybe taken a deep breath and realised he was asking me to do that for the team. But, at the moment, he's playing me in my favourite position, I'm captain, we're winning. Things at the club are really good.For years and years I've moaned about not being involved in a title race and being far away from the other teams. But at the moment I'm playing in a team that's capable of beating anyone in the league. I'm settled, I'm happy. Things on the pitch couldn't be better."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/mar/25/steven-gerrard-new-contract-liverpool

things could be a little better!

as far as the table's concerned sure, but that's more a product of dodgy draws earlier in the season? on the pitch tho, last three games at least, you've not got a lot to gripe about.

i feel a bit guilty that i'd still prefer the status quo to be maintained, man united winning the league and everyone responding with a hearty "meh", until arsenal's youngsters have matured into invincibles again.

and everton, btw

There's no longer just one BIG MONEY OUTFIT on Merseyside! EVERTON are back:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/16/everton-record-turnover-2008-09

By way of perspective, Everton's record turnover = 1x Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sorry, 'perspective'.

Everton's transformation under Moyes to a side that neutrals can quite happily get behind and enjoy has been quite the thing.

I like how recently every year everyone always assumes they're gonna drop to about 8th because they haven't spent much money, and then they don't

NV: quite so. Every time this thread is revived (and it's always by PF!) I'm confronted by Gareth's stinging but probably accurate 2001 comment about "crap bunglers who are ultra-boring". No longer the case, I hope.

I'm usually one of the ones assuming that we'll drop to 8th or worse every season. Surely Citeh will complete the top five this time?

On the money side of things, I believe our UEFA Cup run in 2007-08 was worth something like 1/40th of Liverpool's Champs Lge campaign from the same season in terms of TV revenue. The difference between 4th and 5th is the difference between a shower of diamonds and a certificate with a bit of calligraphic penmanship on it. Well done, son, you were in the race too.

With the current squads, Everton would finish above Man City.

Everton's transformation under Moyes to a side that neutrals can quite happily get behind and enjoy

I like them, but eh.... they're dogged in a way that a spurs fan can only admire, but I wouldn't plan an evening in over an Everton match.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/best-pic-you-ll-see-all-year

I had no idea this thread was actually c.1600 posts long.

if we ever want to crash the server all we have to do is make a few dozen Liverpool topics on the same day.

(I have vague memories of Torres wearing an Atletico scarf during the Euro 2008 celebrations, a year after he had already left them...)

Torres out, Carroll & Suarez in - though the money is daft as everyone says, I have come to feel that Liverpool FC are a lot stronger than they were 2 or 3 days ago. I'm pretty sure they've done well out of all this cos I fear them a lot more than I did. I don't think they're going to come to White Hart Lane and get beaten anymore. They're going to take us 1-2, 0-2, 1-3 like old times. And they'll beat a load of other teams too, the way they used to do, week in week out.

I really think, suddenly, that Liverpool are on their way back - even if only from a very low point. Bad news for the rest of us, but good, I suppose, if you think they're part of soccer's rich history and the game needs them.

ha, 'best pic you'll see all year' hey.

Just seen my last post above. It wasn't quite an accurate prediction. I was scared of LFC at that time.

EFC could finish above them. But will they? I think they have one or two tough games left. LFC & EFC battle for 7th in 2012.

i think everton will do it.

Everton will do it - they have 3pts basically in the bag against Wolves and they already have a cushion on them. Their game at home to Newcastle is winnable as well.

Liverpool still have to play Chelsea, three days after the FA Cup Final, and could easily lose to Swansea as well.

how dare you impugn my team sir

Oh I thought EFC were playing City! OK, I think they can do it then.

game at home to Newcastle is winnable

could easily lose to Swansea

sound analysis

ffs can nobody even speculate about lfc just like they would any other team in the world now?

are swansea so much worse than fulham?

are newcastle so much better than us or man city?

Are you suggesting Liverpool are not as other clubs, but not in a good way?

i'm suggesting they are not mas que un club, but more than that it was a ridiculous prediction to get snippy about- lfc haven't even been getting a hard ride from anyone lately!

two cups is success don't you know

we win on saturday btw, there, you don't even need to watch it

that's a weight off my mind chris. Thanks!

it is!

i don't even think it's been a bad season taking the cups/finals into account- for the first time in a long while imo lfc have deserved a better league placing for their performances.

Interesting summer ahead, tho.

prefer liverpool to everton, to answer thread q

ah ok, was wondering if your 'lfc haven't even been getting a hard ride' was you desperately wanting to rip into our league campaign! very interesting summer indeed.

Actually reckon Liverpool will probably beat Swansea as they've slipped since safety was more-or-less assured and they'll give Suarez and others plenty of space to play. Chelsea will probably smash them though.

Either way the chances of Everton finishing above Liverpool by like 7-9pts are reasonably high.

(NB I would dearly, dearly love to see Liverpool beat Chelsea in both games)