Vs. Stoke City - January 14, 2012

This has been billed as a game where Liverpool is to get revenge for their defeat at Stoke, earlier in the season. Its a strange lineup with Andy Carroll missing from the side. With no Suarez available, Dalglish has chosen to go with no "striker" as such. Kuyt and Gerrard are not strikers anymore. Henderson being marked as a forward on the team sheet is not encouraging either.

Within the first 15 minutes, Liverpool has seen 3 corners being awarded without any result. The Reds are playing a deeper line of defense to accommodate the extra strength in midfield. However, it appears the home side players are intent on getting the score sheet. In quick succession, first Downing and then Gerrard had shots from outside the box, not troubling Sorensen. After a while, Henderson took on his weaker left foot to shoot from all of 20 yards. The home side has not seriously tested the Stoke goalkeeper in the first 40 minutes of the game. However, Matt Etherington had a shot requiring intervention from Pepe Reina after a superb solo run.

With Reds packing the midfield, Stoke are being limited to swift counter attacks with Ehterington providing the pace from midfield to the final third. However, Carragher in the middle of defense has looked as reliable as ever. Another home game so far where we have not been able to create clear cut opportunities, even though we have looked the more threatening side.

At Anfield - facing Danny Murphy.

Its an interesting line-up from Benitez, given that both Kuyt and Torres are missing. Its Ngog and Gerrard upfront with Babel and Maxi supposed to provide width from the flanks. Its a corner in the 3rd minute for Liverpool. There are a couple of snares for Fulham with Babel somehow managing to miss a tap-in from just 3 yards out. There is Aquilani playing in the midfield alongside Mascherano. Johnson floated that corner ball back for him, but it just eluded Italian. Gerrard's cross from the left flank floated all across 60 yards before Ngog just managed a foot to it. His attempt was wide of the left upright but the quality from Gerrard is entertaining. Another series of corners to the Reds in the 9th minute. But nothing of them when Gerrard's take swerves from outside the area.

The 18th minute saw a yellow card for Greening when he brought down Mascherano. Konchesky headed away the kick from Gerrard. Liverpool were constantly stationed in the final third. Another twin corner to the Reds. Once again, not a quality header at the end of it from Babel. We have had 4 shots on goal till now, while Fulham haven't had any. Maxi has a glorious chance in the 23rd minute after squeezing in between the 2 centre-backs. His power shot is however well saved by Schwarzer. Babel's cross from the left flank was again met by Aquilani who couldn't place his header on target. The men at home are completely dominating the possession so far. There are no goals to show for the effort is what concerns the Anfield faithful.

A foul on Maxi resulted in another free kick in the 30th minute. Nothing arrives out of it but when the ball reached outside the box again, Mascherano has a powerful shot which is saved by Schwarzer at full stretch. That was clearly heading into the top left corner. Would go down as a very important save from the Australian if Liverpool don't manage 3 points from this game. Greening brings down Johnson on the right byline and he is already on a yellow. That's the final warning for him now. Ngog has superb ball holding skills and an eye for those needle-mouth passes. However, nobody seems to be reading him right now. Not even the rest of his team-mates.

Half time is approaching with Liverpool enjoying a better part of possession, while Fulham completely happy soaking up the pressure. Agger goes for a speculative left footer from all of 30 yards that flies over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Blackburn have held the team from Manchester coached by a certain "Typical" man. That game ended 0 - 0. Half time here at Anfield as well. Scores are tied at Nil-each. We have had 12 shots on goal so far, while Fulham have had 2.

Second half brought to life. Gerrard broke from the centre to find Maxi on the right. Maxi had a couple of crosses before the ball fell to Aquilani who could not connect a decent shot. However he had a wonderful attempt from the edge of the box. Schwarzer managed to tip it over the crossbar. Another left footer from the Italian just got a little bit sliced across the goal. The ball hasn't left the area around the Fulham box for more than 5 minutes. Such is the kind of pressure being applied by Reds. Maxi has misplaced a couple of good opportunities around the box. Johnson has been stationed in the final 40 yards of the pitch, regularly putting in crosses and switching play to the left flank for Babel to push inside the area. So much is the dominance, that Damien Duff is almost playing like the left-back for Fulham.

Johnson might do good by putting in early crosses around the 6-yard box. His attempts to dribble around 2 left backs hasn't given much results. Babel cuts in from the left flank and takes a shot that's again parried by the Australian. Kuyt comes on for Aquilani. That was pretty obvious. Gerrard will control the midfield and Kuyt will play up alongside Ngog. Game has picked up pace with both teams showing some urgency. Zamora was taken off in the 68th minute for Okaka. It appears Benayoun is going to end up on the left with Babel moving to the right flank. Murphy went feet first into Gerrard and never took the ball. Meant a yellow for the Fulham skipper. Oh its Babel who has been replaced by Benayoun. Its a free kick in a central location just outside the 18-yard box.

Thats it. Am trying to stop the curse thats attached to me.

You Will Never Walk Alone.

Its going to be tough from here onwards

Tottenham Hotspurs have opened up a 4-point gap for the 4th spot. Manchester City can still overtake the Spurs provided they win the next 2 games. They stand one point behind Liverpool with 2 games in hand. All these numbers do mean lot of trouble for Liverpool Football Club. With 8 games to go for us, the crucial numbers do not hold us in good stead for that 4th place finish. 2 of these remaining 8 are against the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea. With the English Premier League title looking like going down to the wire, these games are going to be that much demanding of our side.

Lets take a look of what's left for the 4 teams that want to make it to Champions League season 2010-2011.

Matches Left	Manchester City	Tottenham	Liverpool	Aston Villa
10	Fulham
9	Everton			Sunderland
8	Wigan	Portsmouth	Manchester United	Chelsea
7	Burnley	Sunderland	Sunderland	Bolton
6	Birmingham City	Arsenal	Birmingham City	Everton
5	Manchester United	Chelsea	Fulham	Portsmouth
4	Arsenal	Manchester United	West Ham	Hull City
3	Aston Villa	Bolton	Burnley	Birmingham City
2	Tottenham	Manchester City	Chelsea	Manchester City
1	West Ham	Burnley	Hull City	Blackburn

It is assumed that at this time of the season, a team should be able to get more points from the those hovering around the 7-15 positions of the table. The teams in relegation scrap become really tough to beat and the title contenders are anyway looking to would everybody who comes their way.

Liverpool have matches with 2 of the "present-big-4", Man City have 2, Tottenham have 3 and Aston Villa have just 1. Leaving everything aside, Man City also have clashes with the likes of Everton, Aston Villa and Spurs. These matches could easily decide the 4th position in the table. As for Liverpool, we need to somehow get our confidence back. At present, we look the most likely to loose these Big-4 matches. All other teams in this 4th-place-battle have got their tails up.

That places the onus on today's big clash against the Red Devils. If Torres can once again get the better of Vidic and Ferdinand, it could be the biggest boost of the season. And a very well timed one as well. Vidic will be clearly eager to get on even terms against the "Scud-from-Spain". And there in lies the key to unlocking a staunch united defence. These are the kind of situations when Vidic could be exploited. But the same applies to midfield lynchpin - Mascherano.

Cant go on blabbering more about the game. Its already making me nervous. Just hoping Torres/Gerrard/Babel can strike an early blow to the title hopes of Sir Ferguson. I love it when he has to come to the press after a defeat to Liverpool. Go Liverpool Go. Do the done once again. We make it 4 in a row against them.

You Will Never Walk Alone.

My gift to myself on the 30th birthday

This is what I got for myself on the 30th birthday. This should stand as a testimony to my extreme passion towards supporting the Liverpool Football Club. I designed this sweatshirt over Myntra - and customized it with the LFC symbol on the chest and "YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE" on the back.

One of my most cherished posessions - this is going to be.

You Will Never Walk Alone.

Liverpool is bouncing back.....

It has finally started looking good for Liverpool. Gerrard, Torres, Benayoun, Kuyt and Aquilani are starting to get back their rhythm. We have put together a couple of wins and simultaneously a double of clean sheets as well. The defense still looks a little leaky but things are improving. We have got back Martin Skrtel to partner Agger in the center of the Liverpool box.

I am trying to give this live reporting another chance. Maybe I don't prove to be the curse around their neck. The next game is huge in terms of the Champions League positions. Tottenham are currently occupying that 4th spot in the table. If we can give them a good dose, they will be just one point ahead of us. And may have been overtaken by Manchester City by then. A win at Anfield against the men from London would be an awesome thing to achieve in the New Year.

Here's wishing the entire Liverpool team and its supporters a wonderful 2010. May the team flourish and score goals. We will be there to make sure Torres and Gerrard know what its like to have Liverpool supporters behind their back.

You Will Never Walk Alone.

Fratton Park - against the Botom 3 contenders

The game at Portsmouth is an ideal way to try and get back some of the rhythm for Liverpool. The side in blue is not at the top of their confidence. Gerrard, Torres, Johnson and Kuyt were all deemed completely fit. The 6th minute saw a dangerous free kick floated into the Liverpool box and the resulting loop back into Reina's path was deflected away for a goal kick.

With the Liverpool defence not at its very best, there were expected to be some long balls from the Portsmouth backline. Carragher had to use all his experience to defend one such ball against the front two fielded by Avram Grant. Dossena floated a wonderful ball for Torres in the 18 yard box. But the defence could pluck it away from his feet. Then Torres sped away from his own half to finally get a corner. But one after another, the corners were well defended, with some degree of not the best deliveries attached to both the balls. The left of Liverpool midfield once again saw the almost forgotten Italian who goes by the name of Dossena. He did look lively from the initial touches and his ability to put in good balls for Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt to attack.

Torres and Gerrard combined to pick up Kuyt inside the 6yard box but the Dutchman could not connect with the bouncing ball. That was half a chance with the ball almost at his feet. Torres went for goal in the 21st minute from just outside the box. The ball curled very well but just did not dip enough under the crossbar. That shot would have alerted the Portsmouth goalkeeper to the abilities of this Spanish striker. Once again he ran onto a left wing ball from Gerrard but could not get the slightest of touches. Any minimal contact would have diverted that ball into the goal, with the goalkeeper too close to the ball. Dossena's foul allowed a free kick to be delivered right into the upper right corner but Reina was up to it. Then a swift counter attack needed a clearing header from Agger. The resulting corner was cleared to finally move the ball away from Liverpool area.

The first half an hour had seen better organization and field play from Liverpool, but Portsmouth appeared to be more threatening from their minimal attacks on the opposite goal. They were better in the final third while we were trying to control the overall game. And the team with more attacking intent had their noses in front. A goalmouth scramble saw Reina parry a shot which bounced for Johnson to head away to safety. However the weak header allowed Belhadj to volley a superb goal from the tightest of angles. It flew inside the near post of Reina even before he could see it.

Portsmouth 1 - 0 Liverpool. 33 minutes.

Daniel Agger had the best opportunity to drive home the leveller. Gerrard free kick floated beautifully onto the far post, Agger had a free header 6 yards out. All he had to do was to direct it goalwards. And he managed to let the header fly across the goal. In the 42nd minute, Mascherano flew into a tackle onto Tal Ben Haim. He managed to hurt himself and see red at the same time. That was that for the first half. Is my curse still on ? Should I move away from the keyboard and stop writing this live report of the match.

Trying to make a comeback

Ever since I started writing these match reports, Liverpool had seen the roughest patch in the last 10 years or so. I thought - maybe I am the curse. Had tried to revert it by not making any attempts to do a live reporting.

However, this is something very close to my heart. I am trying it out today. If Liverpool manages anything less than 3 points today, I will go back to hibernation.

Hope lady luck smiles on me and my beloved club.

You Will Never Walk Alone.