Liverpool FC: Premier League pursuit [SPEKZ-EXTR3ME collab] - Page 4

SPEKZ · 01-07-2009, 08:03 PM

THIS IS OUR YEAR

What twenty teams are fighting for - The Premiership

Merseyside, England - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has insisted that this year is Liverpool's after being in this background for many years. The Premiership has been dominated by Chelsea and Manchester United over the years with Liverpool battling for third place with North London club, Arsenal. With the new additions of Glen Johnson and Michael Owen coming into the club. Many players have made it clear that they are unhappy and want a move away from Anfield.

Steven Gerrard has been a one -club man for the whole of his career and is set to retire at Liverpool. The twenty-nine year old has been at Liverpool since 1987. He spent ten years in the youth team before finally given a chance on the big stage. He has scored seventy-one goals for The Kop, making over three hundred appearances. The midfielder was a key part of the famous Instanbul win, when Liverpool came from three goals behind to win the UEFA Champions League trophy on a penalty shoot-out. He has captained the England national side two times. Scoring a remarkable, fifteen goals in seventy-eight games, which includes one of them being for the England Under-21's.

Liverpool are looking to bring in more world class players. Felipe Melo is top of the transfer shopping list after rejecting a new contract at Fiorentina. Could the Brazilian be heading to Anfield or is Rafael going to stick with the squad he has already?

Robert Tripp reporting for Liverpool TV.

PNE-Adz · 01-07-2009, 08:05 PM

Steven Gerrard has been a one-man club for the whole of his career and is set to retire at Liverpool

It''s one club-man

SPEKZ · 01-07-2009, 08:08 PM

Edited.

xRonaldinhox10x · 01-07-2009, 08:33 PM

Hopefully you guys do win something this season. =P

Well written update as well.

Mark · 01-07-2009, 10:32 PM

I bet it aint your year

WBA FTW

SPEKZ · 08-07-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UsR EXTR3ME

The pursuit continues: 2008/9 Premier League review

Steven Gerrard came closer to lifting the Premier League title than ever before.

Liverpool came closer than ever to snatching their first Premier League title in a highly dramatic 2008/9 season after finishing second, just two points behind eventual winners Chelsea.

The traditionally-considered optimism surrounding the commencing of the new campaign – and in particular Liverpool’s renewed title challenge – prior to the Reds’ opening day encounter with West Brom at Anfield was as hyped up as ever, but Rafael Benitez’s side opened their season with a confident 3-0 victory.

The hype soon turned into waves of anxiety as Newcastle charged to a 2-0 victory at St. James’ Park, and Man Utd were Liverpool’s next victors at Anfield with a 2-1 win – Wayne Rooney netted a penalty with as little as two minutes remaining to seal a deserved win, albeit in cruel fashion.

The media turned their attention to Benitez’s future as Liverpool manager after a 1-0 defeat to West Ham at the start of September, but the Spaniard responded with a comment about the “needless media attention”, when they should have been “focusing on the pitch”. The team as a whole then took action with a 2-0 home win over Blackburn, and wins over Chelsea and Fulham took them to the Premier League summit at the end of a hugely successful month that saw Benitez crowned Manager of the Month.

Top spot was held for no longer than two weeks however, as Chelsea upped their game in October to overturn the Reds’ dominance. Confidence earned from a tricky 1-0 away win over Arsenal was wasted after Hull visited Anfield and came away with a 3-2 victory.

By November, it was difficult to remember the strong form Liverpool had earlier in the campaign. Defeats against Aston Villa, Man City and Wigan rounded off a miserable month, and the Christmas period was marred by a desperate run of three further defeats against Middlesbrough, Bolton and Everton that left the Reds in a lowly fourth, and with Rafael Benitez’s job once more hanging in the balance.

The turn of the year was a chance to start over, and 2009 did indeed produce confident displays and positive results that hauled Liverpool up to second – a position that would be maintained throughout the rest of the season’s entirety.

This new wave of flair and flamboyance within Liverpool’s play was brought about by a 6-0 thumping of West Brom, who by now were floating in the relegation zone. From thereon, the Reds stormed to wins over Fulham, Portsmouth and Newcastle in a January that saw no transfer market activity from Benitez – widely criticised for his lack of buying whilst in need of players.

Despite another defeat to league holders Man Utd, Liverpool maintained their second place position through frequent confident wins – including a stunning comeback against a dreadfully unlucky Stoke side that started the second half 2-0 up, but went home 3-2 losers. Hull, Aston Villa, Wigan and Tottenham were also beaten by Benitez’s men during March and April. Arsenal snatched a draw with a final-minute Cesc Fabregas goal in early May.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side performed lackluster during many occasions of the season – only performing to their full potential and ability against the top sides - hindering their chances of an automatic Champions League qualifying spot.

A 4-2 win over Sunderland for the Reds meant the final-day fixture at Stamford Bridge between top-dogs Chelsea and Liverpool was vital to the destination of the title. Benitez seemed likely to guide his team to their first Premier League championship in 19 years as they pressed early on, but a Frank Lampard double sealed the Blues’ first title since the days of Jose Mourinho, and Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first in his debut year.

Liverpool’s quest for domestic dominance persists. Chelsea were just too good this time.

Season Review up

sam. · 08-07-2009, 03:26 PM

Great review UsR, unlucky guys.

LeeXD · 08-07-2009, 03:36 PM

The quality of the MM is outstanding, kiu!

LeeXD · 08-07-2009, 05:37 PM

when are you going to update, or wont their be one and this thread has died?

UsR EXTR3ME · 08-07-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeXD

when are you going to update, or wont their be one and this thread has died?

The thread hasn't died mate. I'm busy, SPEKZ is ill. The thread has started slowly because I opened it before finishing all the OP stuff when normally we would get on with the main stuff straight away.

UsR EXTR3ME · 11-07-2009, 09:35 PM

Beckham to feature in USA Tour

David Beckham in action for LA Galaxy.

Eight-team knockout cup

Liverpool are set to take part in a special knockout tour competition of the United States of America this July, as announced by a club spokesperson.

LFC TV understands that the Reds will be one of eight teams involved in the cup-format contest, which is scheduled to kick off on Monday, July 13th 2009, and conclude with the final the following Saturday.

David Beckham is expected to feature as part of the Los Angeles Galaxy squad. New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas are also included in the tour draw, set to be made the same day the Liverpool squad travel to the USA: July 6th.

Reds manager Rafael Benitez today commented on the tour: "A good pre-season tour prepares a squad perfectly for the approaching season, and this new-style tour will do that for us. There are some good players and teams in America, and we will be pursuing a Premier League title next season; we are desperate to win the league. This tour should get us on track for that.

Benitez claimed that he looked to make a return to pre-season training "more challenging and fun" for his players; instead of having the first competitive fixture planned for over a month away, the squad will be launched into suspenseful action promptly.

The confirmed list of teams can be read below, along with the tour schedule.

Tour schedule

Quarter-Finals 1 & 2: Monday, 13th July 2009
Quarter-Finals 3 & 4: Tuesday, 14th July 2009
Semi-Final 1: Wednesday, 15th July 2009
Semi-Final 2: Thursday, 16th July 2009
Final: Saturday, 18th July 2009

Teams

Liverpool
Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew
FC Dallas
LA Galaxy
Real Salt Lake
New England Revolution
Toronto FC

sam. · 11-07-2009, 10:18 PM

Great update UsR

Dan · 11-07-2009, 10:43 PM

Looks great so far lads..

Can I just add, in the OP you have a picture of Krisztian Nemeth under Stephen Darby, apart from that though, it looks brilliant..

Don't sell Masch though..

T-Hawk94 · 11-07-2009, 10:52 PM

Very good update, I'm not very fond of Liverpool but this is an excellent thread, keep it up you 2

UsR EXTR3ME · 11-07-2009, 11:44 PM

Cheers for the comments fellas.

Nino · 12-07-2009, 07:37 AM

Great start guys

what Dan said that picture of Darby is actually Nemeth.....

CFC | Koop · 12-07-2009, 07:38 AM

PNE-Adz · 12-07-2009, 09:01 AM

Good update UsR.

And get well soon SPEKZ. He has the flu I think.

SPEKZ · 12-07-2009, 11:29 AM

I am back

Excellent update

LeeXD · 12-07-2009, 01:28 PM

Its restarting!! Brill update UsR!

UsR EXTR3ME · 12-07-2009, 08:23 PM

Cheers man.

UsR EXTR3ME · 14-07-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UsR EXTR3ME

Timeline

Get up to date

New to the thread? Welcome, and use this Timeline to get up to date with the latest updates.

Links to each update are separated into sections: matchday updates, transfer talk, interviews, and features. Within each section, updates are listed in chronological order. Updates in the original posts are not included in this timeline.

Main headlines
Beckham to feature in USA pre-season tour

Matchday updates

None as of yet.

Transfer Gossip

Voronin: I am staying at Hertha (June 2009)
Owen and Pennant join Reds (July 2009)
Could Mascherano leave Liverpool? (July 2009)
Arbeloa set to leave Merseyside (July 2009)

Interviews

None as of yet.

Features

None as of yet.

Other

Gerrard: Next year will be our year (July 2009)

Thread timeline up in the "just in-case" reserve. Or, HERE.

SPEKZ · 14-07-2009, 05:07 PM

Nice one mate. Come on MSN so I can update this

T-Hawk94 · 14-07-2009, 05:17 PM

A timeline is a good idea, and under transfer gossip, it says Owen and Pennant, it's something small but I still wanted to point it out lol

UsR EXTR3ME · 14-07-2009, 06:27 PM

Reds to face Chicago Fire in Tour quarters

Michael Owen could play his second Liverpool debut as early as Monday.

Could be easier

Liverpool have been handed Chicago Fire - one of the toughest opponents of the available seven - for the quarter-final clash in the USA pre-season tour.

Manager Rafael Benitez has already made it clear he intends to play several big names early on, meaning Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and company could make a return to football in the game on Monday, 13th July, the first of the opening four matches.

New £8 million signing Michael Owen and loan returnee Jermaine Pennant could mark their second Liverpool debut's against the Illinois club.

Elsewhere, David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy colleagues face Toronto FC on Tuesday, 14th July. New England Revolution have been placed against Real Salt Lake, and Columbus Crew play FC Dallas. The finalised schedule is below.

Five MLS fixtures have been postponed, as well as the friendly between LA Galaxy and AC Milan at the San Siro, initially arranged for Sunday, 19th July.

Monday, 13th July: Chicago Fire vs. Liverpool; FC Dallas vs. Columbus Crew (QFs 1 & 2).
Tuesday, 14th July: Toronto FC vs. LA Galaxy; Real Salt Lake vs. Revolution (QFs 3 & 4).
Wednesday, 15th July: QF 1 winner vs. QF 2 winner
Thursday, 16th July: QF 3 winner vs. QF 4 winner
Saturday, 18th July: SF 1 winner vs. SF 2 winner

01-07-2009, 08:03 PM	#76 (permalink)
SPEKZ EA Veteran Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 12,544	THIS IS OUR YEAR What twenty teams are fighting for - The Premiership Merseyside, England - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has insisted that this year is Liverpool's after being in this background for many years. The Premiership has been dominated by Chelsea and Manchester United over the years with Liverpool battling for third place with North London club, Arsenal. With the new additions of Glen Johnson and Michael Owen coming into the club. Many players have made it clear that they are unhappy and want a move away from Anfield. Steven Gerrard has been a one -club man for the whole of his career and is set to retire at Liverpool. The twenty-nine year old has been at Liverpool since 1987. He spent ten years in the youth team before finally given a chance on the big stage. He has scored seventy-one goals for The Kop, making over three hundred appearances. The midfielder was a key part of the famous Instanbul win, when Liverpool came from three goals behind to win the UEFA Champions League trophy on a penalty shoot-out. He has captained the England national side two times. Scoring a remarkable, fifteen goals in seventy-eight games, which includes one of them being for the England Under-21's. Liverpool are looking to bring in more world class players. Felipe Melo is top of the transfer shopping list after rejecting a new contract at Fiorentina. Could the Brazilian be heading to Anfield or is Rafael going to stick with the squad he has already? Robert Tripp reporting for Liverpool TV. __________________ African Cup of Nations Group B: Ivory Coast Ghana Togo Burkina Faso Last edited by SPEKZ; 01-07-2009 at 08:07 PM..

01-07-2009, 08:08 PM	#78 (permalink)
SPEKZ EA Veteran Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 12,544	Edited. __________________ African Cup of Nations Group B: Ivory Coast Ghana Togo Burkina Faso

01-07-2009, 08:33 PM	#79 (permalink)
xRonaldinhox10x Elite Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canada Gender: Male Posts: 5,217	Hopefully you guys do win something this season. =P Well written update as well. __________________

01-07-2009, 10:32 PM	#80 (permalink)
Mark Forum Junkie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Glasgow or Valencia Depends What Time Of Year. Age: 14 Gender: Male Posts: 4,585	I bet it aint your year WBA FTW __________________ Heyy Guys. My laptop is broken so ill not post unlessI have my aunts laptop etc.. But dont worry (lol) ill be back after Christmas with a type of dream team that is so awesome you will join it

08-07-2009, 03:26 PM	#82 (permalink)
sam. Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hook, England Age: 13 Gender: Male Posts: 6,827	Great review UsR, unlucky guys. __________________

01-07-2009, 08:05 PM	#77 (permalink)
PNE-Adz Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Deepdale Gender: Male Posts: 10,608	Steven Gerrard has been a one-man club for the whole of his career and is set to retire at Liverpool It''s one club-man

08-07-2009, 03:36 PM	#83 (permalink)
LeeXD Forum Junkie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rhywle i mewn 'n lawog breoedd chan Cymru Gender: Male Posts: 3,993	The quality of the MM is outstanding, kiu! __________________

08-07-2009, 05:37 PM	#84 (permalink)
LeeXD Forum Junkie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rhywle i mewn 'n lawog breoedd chan Cymru Gender: Male Posts: 3,993	when are you going to update, or wont their be one and this thread has died? __________________

11-07-2009, 09:35 PM	#86 (permalink)
UsR EXTR3ME Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Winchester, UK Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 4,051 Blog Entries: 5	Beckham to feature in USA Tour David Beckham in action for LA Galaxy. Eight-team knockout cup Liverpool are set to take part in a special knockout tour competition of the United States of America this July, as announced by a club spokesperson. LFC TV understands that the Reds will be one of eight teams involved in the cup-format contest, which is scheduled to kick off on Monday, July 13th 2009, and conclude with the final the following Saturday. David Beckham is expected to feature as part of the Los Angeles Galaxy squad. New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas are also included in the tour draw, set to be made the same day the Liverpool squad travel to the USA: July 6th. Reds manager Rafael Benitez today commented on the tour: "A good pre-season tour prepares a squad perfectly for the approaching season, and this new-style tour will do that for us. There are some good players and teams in America, and we will be pursuing a Premier League title next season; we are desperate to win the league. This tour should get us on track for that. Benitez claimed that he looked to make a return to pre-season training "more challenging and fun" for his players; instead of having the first competitive fixture planned for over a month away, the squad will be launched into suspenseful action promptly. The confirmed list of teams can be read below, along with the tour schedule. Tour schedule Quarter-Finals 1 & 2: Monday, 13th July 2009 Quarter-Finals 3 & 4: Tuesday, 14th July 2009 Semi-Final 1: Wednesday, 15th July 2009 Semi-Final 2: Thursday, 16th July 2009 Final: Saturday, 18th July 2009 Teams Liverpool Chicago Fire Columbus Crew FC Dallas LA Galaxy Real Salt Lake New England Revolution Toronto FC __________________ UsR \| RWS Last edited by UsR EXTR3ME; 14-07-2009 at 01:27 PM..

11-07-2009, 10:18 PM	#87 (permalink)
sam. Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hook, England Age: 13 Gender: Male Posts: 6,827	Great update UsR __________________

11-07-2009, 10:43 PM	#88 (permalink)
Dan EA Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: England... Martin Skrtel does not sleep, he waits.. Age: 17 Gender: Male Posts: 12,749 Blog Entries: 2	Looks great so far lads.. Can I just add, in the OP you have a picture of Krisztian Nemeth under Stephen Darby, apart from that though, it looks brilliant.. Don't sell Masch though.. __________________

11-07-2009, 10:52 PM	#89 (permalink)
T-Hawk94 Forum Junkie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Coventry Age: 15 Gender: Male Posts: 2,739	Very good update, I'm not very fond of Liverpool but this is an excellent thread, keep it up you 2 __________________ ^ Credit to Doc Coventry 2009-10 Last Match: Coventry 1-1 Crystal Palace League Position: 17th

11-07-2009, 11:44 PM	#90 (permalink)
UsR EXTR3ME Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Winchester, UK Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 4,051 Blog Entries: 5	Cheers for the comments fellas. __________________ UsR \| RWS

12-07-2009, 07:37 AM	#91 (permalink)
Nino Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8,265	Great start guys what Dan said that picture of Darby is actually Nemeth.....

12-07-2009, 07:38 AM	#92 (permalink)
CFC \| Koop Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern Sydney, Australia PSN ID: koopIfooty, I play fair ;-D Supports: Chelsea, Hamburg Gender: Male Posts: 5,570	__________________ Robert Enke - Rest In Peace.

12-07-2009, 09:01 AM	#93 (permalink)
PNE-Adz Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Deepdale Gender: Male Posts: 10,608	Good update UsR. And get well soon SPEKZ. He has the flu I think.

12-07-2009, 11:29 AM	#94 (permalink)
SPEKZ EA Veteran Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 12,544	I am back Excellent update

12-07-2009, 01:28 PM	#95 (permalink)
LeeXD Forum Junkie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rhywle i mewn 'n lawog breoedd chan Cymru Gender: Male Posts: 3,993	Its restarting!! Brill update UsR! __________________

12-07-2009, 08:23 PM	#96 (permalink)
UsR EXTR3ME Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Winchester, UK Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 4,051 Blog Entries: 5	Cheers man. __________________ UsR \| RWS

14-07-2009, 05:07 PM	#98 (permalink)
SPEKZ EA Veteran Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 12,544	Nice one mate. Come on MSN so I can update this __________________ African Cup of Nations Group B: Ivory Coast Ghana Togo Burkina Faso

14-07-2009, 05:17 PM	#99 (permalink)
T-Hawk94 Forum Junkie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Coventry Age: 15 Gender: Male Posts: 2,739	A timeline is a good idea, and under transfer gossip, it says Owen and Pennant, it's something small but I still wanted to point it out lol __________________ ^ Credit to Doc Coventry 2009-10 Last Match: Coventry 1-1 Crystal Palace League Position: 17th

14-07-2009, 06:27 PM	#100 (permalink)
UsR EXTR3ME Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Winchester, UK Age: 16 Gender: Male Posts: 4,051 Blog Entries: 5	Reds to face Chicago Fire in Tour quarters Michael Owen could play his second Liverpool debut as early as Monday. Could be easier Liverpool have been handed Chicago Fire - one of the toughest opponents of the available seven - for the quarter-final clash in the USA pre-season tour. Manager Rafael Benitez has already made it clear he intends to play several big names early on, meaning Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and company could make a return to football in the game on Monday, 13th July, the first of the opening four matches. New £8 million signing Michael Owen and loan returnee Jermaine Pennant could mark their second Liverpool debut's against the Illinois club. Elsewhere, David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy colleagues face Toronto FC on Tuesday, 14th July. New England Revolution have been placed against Real Salt Lake, and Columbus Crew play FC Dallas. The finalised schedule is below. Five MLS fixtures have been postponed, as well as the friendly between LA Galaxy and AC Milan at the San Siro, initially arranged for Sunday, 19th July. Monday, 13th July: Chicago Fire vs. Liverpool; FC Dallas vs. Columbus Crew (QFs 1 & 2). Tuesday, 14th July: Toronto FC vs. LA Galaxy; Real Salt Lake vs. Revolution (QFs 3 & 4). Wednesday, 15th July: QF 1 winner vs. QF 2 winner Thursday, 16th July: QF 3 winner vs. QF 4 winner Saturday, 18th July: SF 1 winner vs. SF 2 winner __________________ UsR \| RWS