The Soccer Blog: Matchday: Liverpool v. West Brom

Sunday 29 August 2010

Matchday: Liverpool v. West Brom

By: Ed | August 29th, 2010
Anfield

Kickoff from Anfield at 15:00 GMT, 10:00 EST.

Ways to Watch:

Is this thing even televised live in the UK? Stateside it’s a replay at 7:00pm EST on Fox Soccer Plus(HD).

MyP2P.eu
Atdhe.net
ChannelSurfing.net

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Agger
Poulsen Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Jovanovic
Torres

Bench: Jones, Pacheco, Babel, Spearing, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Kelly

Gradually shifting back to reliance on the 4-2-31 after the tactical disaster at the Eastlands—Poulsen and Lucas to partner deep in central midfield, Gerrard pushed back into the hole behind Fernando Torres, and Kuyt and Jovanovic on the flanks. Interesting to see what we get from the Lucas-Poulsen partnership today, as you’d expect a bit more forward movement from one or the other given the opposition. Glad to see that Maxi makes the bench after a spell of illness, and hopefully we’ll see Dani Pacheco at some point.

West Brom:

Carson
Jara Tamas Olsson Shorey
Mulumbu
Odemwingie Morrison Dorrans Brunt
Fortuné

Bench: Myhill (gk), Ibanez, Reid, Tchoyi, Bednar, Cox, Barnes

In the run-up:

For those interested (it should be all of you), Ethan over at The West Brom Blog (TWBB) will be live-blogging today’s proceedings. Those familiar with TWBB know exactly what to expect—self-loathing at every turn, little commentary focused on the actual football, and likely one of the funniest reads you’ll have for awhile. I have zero interest in West Brom as a footballing club, but I find myself at TWBB a few times a day, mostly just to bear virtual witness to one man’s slow and painful spiral into madness. So that’s where I’ll likely spend the match, seeing as how I won’t be able to watch it on TV, and I’m not bitter at all, since this is the first match this year for which I’ll actually be at home.

Otherwise, it’s a relatively slow morning news-wise. With the Raul Meireles deal finalized, we get the typical new-boy treatment from the official site—and wouldn’t you believe it, this is a dream move! Just like when Javier Mascherano came to Liverpool! And just like when Javier Mascherano went to Barcelona! To be fair, though, I think Meireles really means it.

Also, turns out that Xavi guy is a bit of a c*nt—fresh off a summer of peering over the blades of grass in South Africa, slicing through global opposition, and trying to seduce Cesc Fabregas with his thick eyebrows and promises of Catalan glories, he’s now anointed himself as an expert on Liverpool’s demise:

“The season before last Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid – and now this season they have sold Mascherano. Being brutally honest they haven’t brought any top-class players in to replace the ones they have sold. They haven’t tried to improve the squad. Nando deserves to be playing with the best players like he does with Spain.

If Liverpool have another disappointing season that will be it for him. Our coach Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of Nando. If he wanted to leave next summer, I would imagine Barcelona to be very much in the running. It would cost a lot to bring both Cesc [Fabregas] and Nando to the club – but it would be worth it and, in my opinion, make us virtually unstoppable.”

He’s not really saying anything we don’t already know, but here’s an idea—just shut the f*ck up.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Match Preview: Liverpool v. West Bromwich Albion, 08.29.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Trabzonspor, 08.26.10What’s Liverpool’s Best Eleven?Manchester City 3, Liverpool 0: Not Really Worth Waiting ForOh, Internationals. You’re Still Here. Huh.

Category: Matchday Posts, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Team News

Tags: Brad Jones, Christian Poulsen, Dani Pacheco, Daniel Agger, David Ngog, Dirk Kuyt, Emiliano Insua, Fabio Aurelio, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Lucas, Martin Škrtel, Matchday Posts, Milan Jovanovic, Miscellaneous, Pepe Reina, Premier League, Raúl Meireles, Ryan Babel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Steven Gerrard, Team News
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Galahad Threepwood1-0!!! Torres!!!!!!JniceFake interviews... you guys really need to stop believing all the interviews the British press publish with Barca players. I don't understand how you guys can't tell those are made up. Make us virtually unstoppable? Come on guys, smarten up. If not, continue to be pissed and call Xavi and whoever else every name under the sun. It's stupid.EdWould it be entirely far-fetched after this summer's proceedings? Or (and I ask in all sincerity) were those entirely fabricated as well?

I agree it's stupid if it's fake, and I'll renege the above comments if so. The Torres leaving rumors have had enough legs without anyone else chiming in, so that's the sensitivity around it for me.Galahad ThreepwoodThat first half has me worried...feels like Spurs-Wigan yesterday. We should be wiping the floor with these guys, but instead we're struggling for chances against a determined defense. Hope things turn around in the second half.EdProblem for me is that their defense hasn't had to be that determined...2 shots on goal, no real threats. Bad bad bad.Galahad ThreepwoodWell, I was trying to give West Brom some credit, but yeah...we look terrible out there. Again. I know we had a tough game against Trabzonspor on Thursday, but Jova, Stevie and Nando didn't play in that one, and they're still having problems. When are we going to wake up?ynwasnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooozzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrRoscoYep really has notched himself up the footballing douchebag rankings with that one, pipped only by C Ronaldo and, of course, Paul scholes.

And no Ed we don't have it live either, super Sunday consists of Bolton Birmingham and Villa Everton. YipeeGalahad ThreepwoodXavi was saying crap like that right after the World Cup too, IIRC--stuff about how Torres would be better off at a club that could win titles, and how Liverpool couldn't hope to hold on to him for much longer. Really, he's a skillful midfielder, and he did score the goal that won the Cup for Spain, but he doesn't know when to shut up. F*ck that guy.qwertyiniesta scoredblog comments powered by Disqus