Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

The Liverpool run must be stopped but I find it difficult to imagine one elite Premiership side sticking it on another for a fourth (or perhaps fifth) time in one campaign* (OK, LFC beat EFC four times in 86-87, if you count the "Super" Cup) even if there are 31pts between them in the table. No, I fear a similar scenario to last season when Arsenal beat Chelsea three times in domestic competition (and always by the odd goal) before coming unstuck in the Euro two-legger.

(* - tho' 0-0 Stamford and 1-1 Anfield would do it).

Still, Jellybean now has more midweek fixtures at the business end of the season to spread his hobbling squad around. Got to be worth some dropped league points.

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20050413/i/r2950699042.jpg

PS - you saw in Biscan and Alonso why Liverpool fans (at least the ones I've spoken to) really don't fear the loss of Gerrard. They rather not, but it's not the end of the world, and after Houllier's attempts to build a team around one man, they aren't so keen to repeat it.

(they=Liv)

Um, they won, didn't they?

1965:
There was a five in the year.
Jonathan King was in the news.
Some other stuff happened, eerily prescient of this year. (Spooky).
Liverpool lost in the European Cup semifinals.

well done pool. can you imagine if they won the champions league? i still find it unlikely, but they've proven me wrong at every turn.

Basically, the FA can choose to nominate them as the fourth English representative in the 05-06 CL ahead of whoever does actually finish 4th in the Prem. And they will. There's no 5th CL place for England (or anyone) just cos someone outside the top four wins the damn thing.

If Liverpool do win it (highly unlikely) I'd feel very sorry for Everton if they finish 4th don't get into the CL next season. But it'd be even more scandalous if the FA didn't nominate the holders.

Martin, I've never heard it, that song.

!!!

I told you, I think, that Liverpool would be this year's Valencia.

I didn't really believe it though.

I would love Jellybean to get one over Miseryguts Mourinho, the Portuguese Plonker of Old Porto Town.

I had a Didier Drogba dream. Sounds like a song title for the Foxgloves.

I'm worried about your circulation, Chris.

Congratulations to Liverpool, and their supporters.

If Liverpool win the CL, they go in next season and someone else finishing 4th doesn't - the FA announced this a while ago. This also applies to the UEFA, so in both it is possible that teams could get their presumed place taken away from them to give to local rivals!

Chelsea to win in the semi, I think, and meet Milan in the final. Could be a classic. PSV seem less appealing.

I can't see the picture, Jerry, but I can only infer from your comment that it's Grobbelaar putting through his own goal in the 1984 Charity Shield.
-- Michael Jones (tourajsig...), April 6th, 2005.

(Mike are you still Wirraling this w/e aussi?)

1-0 vs Manchester United: well done, Everton.

It's up for grabs, now.

1-1 vs WBA: that's no good, Tottenham.

I think that it will go

1 Chelsea

2 Arsenal

3 Manchester United

4 Everton

5 Liverpool

6 Bolton Wanderers

7 Middlesbrough

8 Tottenham Hotspur

- if we are lucky.

A wonderful, wonderful thing to finally beat ManYoo - but there's still nothing in it. Our game-in-hand is at Highbury on May 11th; even if Wenger fields a team of teenagers (with perhaps 2nd place clinched and mindful of the Cup final) we're likely to get nothing - their second string knocked us out of the Carling Cup in the autumn.

I think Spurs will finish above Boro.

Meanwhile, Norwich might even stay up.

Scouse Cult Leader (and Everton fan) Simon From Brookside
http://pictures.footymad.net/upload/104%5C202040-t.jpg

Big Dunc's got six this season if you include the Carling Cup and the scrambled winner vs Norwich in February which some sources credited to a confused Canary. Bless 'im (though he's still the biggest strain on our wage budget/always likeliest to be sent off/injury-prone/etc/etc). I groan whenever he's introduced (cos it always smacks of desperation) but it generally works. He's started the last two and has been magnificent (27 of his 32 appearances have been as sub). Cahill's got ten goals. Arteta strikes a better dead ball than Gravesen and is his equal in most other departments (save for hairstyle), so we have to make that move permanent. That such a makeshift defence kept out Wayne, Chrissie & co is extraordinary.

If Ferguson (D) keeps playing like this, maybe you won't have to buy Robbie Keane from an uncaring Jol for £500,000?

I am currently listening to an early demo of Lush's "Sunbathing" on Resonance FM! If only you were here. Or there.

The Nun's hopes of Benedictine intervention were well and truly dashed. His mum will have to light more candles.

Do we know yet what the 'Scottish banter' between Moyesey and Fergie consisted of?

Neville missed his target. He would be no good on a coconut shy.

I am currently listening to an early demo of Lush's "Sunbathing" on Resonance FM! If only you were here. Or there.

Are you, be Gad? Do you want a couple of Cookie96 mp3s?

I did say early doors this season, when all the Rooney fuss was happening, that I wanted Everton to do well. It's not an anti-Liverpool or anti- Man U thing, I've always liked Everton a bit. They're kind of *70's* in my mind, it feels like the likes of Roger Kenyon and Alan Whittle might still pop up again. Or at least *early 80's* - standing on the Shed with my best mate Andy watching Graeme Sharp batter Colin Pates into submission seems like yesterday. I never minded too much losing to you lot. I like the Z-Cars thing too. At least they still play 'The Liquidator' at the Bridge, the day they get rid of that I'll burn down the Chelsea Village Hotel.

(They're playing "Deluxe" now! PJM: Oui!)

If Bolton can't overhaul both, I don't know who I would prefer to get it. I guess maybe JtN and Cabbage outnumber Mike, so I might be more pleased to see the two happy. (I have a feeling I am forgetting someone who supports one of the two teams.)

(i think it was the only one that's coming true, though :( i expected norwich to fare better although they're not totally out just yet)

This is a thread derailment. I will stop talking about it now.

The Norwich goal was indeed tree-mendous. And their winner, in a very unreal sense, even more so.

It looked like Fergie said something about "...load o' fuckin' shite..." and Moyes said something like "Fuck off ya prick", but I'm no lip reader so I couldn't be certain. Ooh the Glasgae banter.

On the subject of Arteta: no doubt he's a skilled player, good control, can pick a pass, might score the odd free kick - but in his time in Glasgow he showed he could be bullied and kicked out of games. That said he seemed to put himself about a bit last night so maybe he's toughened up a bit.

I'd rather Everton or Bolton got 4th spot as that would be a significant achievement. For Liverpool it's where they should finish in a poor season, given the money they've spent.

But think of the injuries!