2009-10-21 - Added by JamDav1982 
Supporter of Newcastle

Benayoun

Benayoun is decent but no more than that. He is very inconsistent and seems to be utter shite for 3/4 games then get a couple of goals or a hattrick - usually against fairly weak opposition.
I have had big bets on Liverpool twice this season, so watched those games like a hawk and Benayoun was embarrasingly poor.
Also can't believe you have said Mascherano doesnt have it in his locker. For me he is the best holding midfielder in the Premiership.

2009-10-21 - Added by Thebear 
Supporter of Sunderland

Disagree, that he is a “impact” player! Out of the current Liverpool squad I see him as one of the few apart from gerrard that has the ability to pick that killer pass! He has to start! Don’t get me wrong I am not trying to claim he is top level but as far as the Liverpool squad goes he has to play just now! Seem to remember him be on fire the last two months of the last season and he has been probably Liverpool’s best player this season due to gerrard and Torres being injured

Reira, what’s happened to him! Marsherano and Lucas don’t have it in their locker and maybe Aquilini does but his injury record is shocking! I could never understand Rafa’s insistence of chasing Barry when he had Alonso (not only Liverpool’s player of the year for me but a more worthy winner than giggs)!

2009-10-21 - Added by Rollyz 
Supporter of Arsenal

No mate, last 6 months - what??? That would be Xabi Alonso, Gerrard and of course Torres.

Benayoun is good yes, but he is more of an impact player and just doesn't score enough goals for a attacking-midfielder although he has never had an extended run in the first 11.

Nevertheless, he should not have been subbed yestday - he must have been gutted

2009-10-21 - Added by Thebear 
Supporter of Sunderland

Agreed, i would argue that Benayoun has been liverpools best player the last 6months?

2009-10-20 - Added by Rollyz 
Supporter of Arsenal

Well, well - 2-1 to Lyon...really and truly something happened that rarely happens - Benitez was booed off by the Anfield faithful who are fast getting impatient with the Spaniard.

A draw would have been bad, but a defeat is almost cataclysmic. Nobody can emphasize enough the importance of Sunday. But why oh why did he take of Benayoun for Voronin???

Dear-oh-dear!!!

2009-10-20 - Added by JamDav1982 
Supporter of Newcastle

Liverpool Spending

Im sure I read somewhere that the Liverpool net spend since Rafa took over is £126 million, compared to Man Utd's £27 million.

Liverpool fans argue that in this time Rafa has had to build a squad from scratch and Man Utd had a winning team at the time.
However the facts are that Man Utd finished trophyless and 3rd in the league in Rafa's first season. While Liverpool finished 5th but had a squad good enough to be crowned European Champions.

Basically both had similar strength squads, but Fergie spent £27m money turning Man Utd into Premier League and European champions, while Rafa spent four times as much on endless players to end up with an arguably weaker squad than he had after his first season in charge.

2009-10-20 - Added by Panner1 
Supporter of Man Utd

Crazy stat!

Yeah wot a fact that is - and has he not spent more than Man Utd in that time as well?? Could be wrong!

If Sunday wasn't huge already - it is now MONUMENTAL for Liverpool! No even as if they can play for the draw either given that if Chelsea beat Blackburn a draw would leave them 9 points behind!

Got to come out and play. My one worry would be the plastic pitch in Moscow - hope Rio etc come through unscathed tomorrow night.

Torres will be fit I reckon and Johnson will come back in. Gerrard - nae sure depends on if they got him off without doing too much damage!

2009-10-20 - Added by Thebear 
Supporter of Sunderland

67 in, 79 out

just heard a crazy comment on skysports there! Rafa has brought in 67 players and got rid of 79 during his 5years at the club! Thats insane!

2009-10-20 - Added by Thebear 
Supporter of Sunderland

I would say a fully fit hargreaves i.e Bayern Munich or World Cup 2006 is a much more complete centre mid than fletcher but due to injuries UTD have never seen this. I belive he possess all fletchers qualites but adds that bit more creativity! However if your never fit you could be a s good Zidane and it wouldn't make a difference!

Back to the liverpool point, they have got beat and think benetiz could be seriously under pressure if they get beat by UTD at weekend! I would say liverpool have the weakest squad out of the top 4 and I'd argue Spurs, Man city have def stronger squads and even Villa and Everton are not far off!

2009-10-20 - Added by JamDav1982 
Supporter of Newcastle

Man Utd

I would say - Vand Der Saar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Rooney, Fletcher and Giggs. But thats not the point. The point is that Man Utd have players to come in and replace them that are strong international players. Liverpool don't have that.
Also listing Hargreaves as one of Man Utd's top players is a joke, even at his best for Man Utd he has been nowhere near Fletchers performances over the last year.

2009-10-20 - Added by Rollyz 
Supporter of Arsenal

Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, A fully fit Owen Hargreaves and Van Der Sar at his best are United's truly "top class" players

But four is enough as long as the rest of the squad is relatively at the same level

2009-10-20 - Added by Panner1 
Supporter of Man Utd

JamDav...

Out of interest how many "top level" players do Manchester United have??

2009-10-20 - Added by JamDav1982 
Supporter of Newcastle

Liverpool

The Bear is right Liverpool do lack the quality of squad needed TO WIN trophies. Saying they were four points off Man Utd last season proves nothing other than they were not good enough last season and on top of that have last arguably their player of the year.

I would say only Reina, Mascherano, Torres and Gerrard are top level and are missed badly whenever not available. If any two from these four are injured at the same time then Liverpool are average.
The reason being that the players who come in and replace them are so far below their level its a joke.

2009-10-20 - Added by Rollyz 
Supporter of Arsenal

Hmmm - Thebear, your going for a draw or a Lyon win...

The pressure is already on Benitez but you are right, defeat or a failure to win against Lyon will augment it, whilst defeat to United will really set the alarm bells ringing.

But how can Liverpool lack quality all around (apart from Reina, Gerrard and Torres) when minus Alonso, this is the exact same team that only finished 4 points or so behind United last season???!!!

Is it not more to do with confidence, injury-luck and Spurs and City's improvements that has exacerbated the Reds current perils???

2009-10-20 - Added by Thebear 
Supporter of Sunderland

I am going to go for a draw and possibly a Lyon win and the pressure to mount on benitez, so much so that if they don't beat utd at weekend his job could seriously be on the line!

Just think liverpool lack serious quality all over aprart from Reina, Gerrard and Torres.

2009-10-20 - Added by Panner1 
Supporter of Man Utd

Liverpool 2-0

I think Liverpool will cruise this game...and get back to winning ways (as much as it pains me to say).

The injury problems Lyon have at the back with Jeremy Toulalan having to drop into defence and the return of Steven Gerrard will prove to be decisive.

Praying Gerrard suffers a reaction to his groin injury and is ruled out of Sunday though! : )