- Camon the Wolves!
Afternoon blog fiends, I hope you had a splendid Christmas Day? You did? Super! I had a smashing day watching kids scream, play and make a mess. Then I cooked the usual fare and washed up by hand as the dishwasher packed up; screw you LG.
Today has been wonderful already, Norwich won 2-0 at home to Millwall and Charlton drew and we all know what that means don’t we? Yep, that’s right folks…Norwich could go second in League One on Monday. Get IN!
Ok, back to the EPL and today’s triple-header. Get IN the tripple-header! Liverpool v Wolves is the game and my second Wolves live blog in a week or so. My prediction league is not panning out how I wanted it to today so I need a Liverpool draw or defeat to reap the rewards in that and thus, I am sorry JT, I’m root, root, rooting for Wolves.
Join me after the jump for the team news and the final installment of today’s livebloggery.
So far in the EPL there have been FIVE draws today! Bongo held Chelsea at 0-0, Sunderland and Everton tied 1-1, Fulham and Spurs finished 0-0, Wigan and Blackburn was 1-1 and so was Burnley and Bolton. The only winners of morning were Wet Spam who beat Pompey 2-0.
On to Anfield…
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Aurelio, Insua, Carragher, Aquilani, Gerrard, Benayoun, Lucas, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Darby, Skrtel, Spearing, Kuyt, Ngog, Pacheco.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hahnerman, Stearman, Craddock, Ward, Berra, Foley, Henry, Jarvis, Milijas, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle. Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Mancienne, Surman, Castillo, Iwelumo, Maierhofer.
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Aqua-man!! An Alberto Aquilani sighting! The Italian’s first start of the season after a 20 million quid transfer.
Wolves are set to line up in a 4-4-2.
Constant Sylvania HD TV adverts are driving me nuts, they say “watch soccer in HD on your Sylvania TV” and they only advetise on FSC who are NOT in HD. Idiots…
Players are on the pitch, Liverpool fans are praying and their team is looking at Aquilani as if to say ‘who the f@ck are you?
Lets go…
1: Right from the kick off Liverpool win a free kick but Aurelio hits it weakly to the right of Hahnerman and the American keeper grabs it with ease.
4: Rafa got a new tie for Xmas, first time I’ve seen him wearing a blue one. Aquliani tries to set Gerrad away but Ward gets there first and smack the ball into Gerrards face.
5: Carragher makes a run down the right and feeds the advancing Glenn Johnson who confuses his cross with a shot and the ball heads out wide. Liverpool looking lively, Aquaman especially, Gerrard immediately receives a Lucas ball after some good work by Aquaman from the Wolves goal kick and his shot is saved well by Hahnerman who is sporting a goatee that makes him look like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
7: Torres tries to turn the Wolves defense inside out before having his shot deflected. Gerrard’s resulting corner is cleared. Liverpool are trying to tale this game by the balls early before Wolves settle.
10: All Liverpool here, they are trying to use the space and are spraying the passes well, trying to find a way through the Wolves defense.
12: Aurelio left foot cross from wide right and Torres makes it there first but head the ball up in the air and out towards row z. Goal kick. Wolves just cannot keep the football and Liverpool just keep bringing it back for more of the same.
15: Milijas looks nervous and is scared to play forward so plays back to Henry who is caught in possession. Aurelio gets wide and crosses, Wolves clear. Mick McCarthy’s men have not settled yet and they need to fast, they have had no possession and will be a goal down soon if they don’t get a grip on the game. All ‘Pool.
18: Wolves finall have the ball in the Liverpool box but Stearmans headed knock down is blasted high, wide and not very handsome by Milijas. But Wolves showed there that they can find some space around the box when they can get it wide and cross.
20: Berra is just about handling Torres in the box as Liverpool look to find the Spaniard again. Wolves are settling a bit now but have no control of the game in midfield where Aquaman is having his way.
22: Wolves break and Jarvis runs 40 yards before beating Johnson and getting a cross in. Blake turns and finds room for a shot from 6 yards but Reina is equal to it. A shot from nothing that, well created. Wolves are finding their feet now.
24: Doyle is fouled and Milijas takes the free kick. A super shot is heading into the corner and Reina pushes away for a corner. Doyle heads the cross wide.
26: Wolves are now starting to make use of their width and having a spell of possession. The ball breaks for Milijas at the end of the box but he hits hos shot wide. Should have done better there, the Serb midfielder.
29: Wolves are starting to really move the ball now and Lucas is forced into a foul to stop the ball breaking to Jarvis after Ward played a one, two. Wolves take it quickly and Liverpool get the ball back as Milijas gives it away.
30: Torres has the ball in the net and its a lovely chip over the racing Hahnerman BUT the Liverpool forward was offside and it won’t count.
32: Agger and Blake tangle as the young forward chases the ball down the right and referee Andre Mariner gives Agger the ball. Free kick.
36: Even game now. Wolves are using Ward and Jarvis to good effect down the left and Aquaman looks lively when he gets it in the middle. Liverpool will have to watch Ebanks-Blake, the young lad has only seen the ball twice in this half but he is always running and looking to turn into the box. Liverpool fans are anxious.
38: Wolves are having a bit of a spell, they turn good defending in to good possession. something they couldn’t do for the first 20 mins or so. They are growing in confidence as the minutes pass and Mick McCarthy will be delighted with how they are raising their game now.
39: A long Wolves ball finds Foley ALONE on the right, in the box, but he can’t fashion a shot and lifts the ball back across the goal. Reiner recovers.
44: Wolves break as Johnson gives the ball away at the edge of the Wolves box. McCarthy’s men surge out and find themselves 5 on 3 at the other end but cannot create a chance and Liverpool clear. At the other end Johnson muscles his way through Berra and slams a volley at Hahnerman.
45: 1 min stoppage time at the end of the half..
45 +1: Wolves free kick into the box and cleared.
HALF TIME.
Liverpool started lively and Wolves looked nervous but by the end of the half, Wolves had flipped that scenario and were making Liverpool nervous. Wolves gre in confidence and even started passing the ball out of defense instead of clearing the ball and giving it away. Aquaman was very imoressive when he had the ball and his passing is superb. He seems to be able to get and give the ball very quickly and accurately.
Rafa will need to get Pool going now as Wolves have settled and will not fear Liverpool in the second half at all.
Back shortly.
Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 looks rubbish, yet I have to take the little man to see it later (groan).
24c a minute to call my friends in Ethiopia? RESULT!
Warren Barton, blah, blah, blah.
Alright, Rafa has thrown his tea cups around and we are ready for the second half. Will Wolves pick up where they left off? Will the Liverpool fans get on their hero’s backs? Will Aquaman save the day? So many questions! The players are ready, Andre Mariner is ready, I’m ready….45 mins to save Rafa’s job? Maybe…They are OFF.
46: Gerrad has been late 3 times in this game and Mariner gives him a talking to. Wolves send the ball up the other end and Liverpool bring it away.
47: Liverpool have started the second like they started the first. Stephen ward is given a yellow card after a foul I didn’t see as the close up cameras missed it.
49: Milijas gets his head to a cross but sends the ball wide.
51: Gerrard gets the ball at the edge of the box after some good passing and fires a rocket at goal. Hahnerman saves but give ‘Pool a corner which heads out for a goal kick.
52: Ward is sent off after pulling down Lucas as the Brazilian headed towards goal, Mariner nearly makes a pigs ear of it as he shows Berra the card but after a chat with the lino, he shows the right man,Ward, the second yellow and off he goes. Wolves down to 10.
Well, that’s spoiled the game a bit, Wolves will now surely bolt up the back door and try to leave Anfield with their point.
56: Foley is playing at right back now as Ebanks-Blake plays up top on his own. There is a spell of ‘pinball’ as the ball is fired at goal 3 times from 18 yards or so and blocked by a Wolves body each time.
58: Doyle off for Elokobi and that means Foley back into the his right middle spot and George Elokobi into Wards spot at right back. Blake will play alone up top.
62: GOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Gerrard. It’s been coming. Insua sends a cross in from the left and Gerrard rises above Milijas and heads home. Milijas should have done better.
63: Milijas is off and Mancienne is on. Surely Wolves should have made this substitution before the goal. Pointless after. Midfielder off for a center back.
Theres been a lot in the papers this week about Gerrard not performing and how Rafa had to have a ‘heart to heart’ with his captain, well that answered the question. All Liverpool now I may as well just type that for every entry as this game is DONE.
67: But wait! Iwelumo is on..Wolves are saved! No, they ain’t but Iwelumo is a target man and that means Wolves will lump the ball forward now and hope to get something. Ebanks-Blake is the man making way.
69: Mancienne pumps a free kick into the box from the half way line but Liverpool bring it away and resume dominance.
70: GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL
Benayoun for Liverpool. Ball breaks to the Israeli midfielder in the box on the right and he drags it on to his left foot before dispatching a high shot that looked as if it deflected off of Henry before finding the net.
Liverpool 2 Wolves 0.
72: Kuyt is coming on momentarily.
73: Gerrard is fed at the edge of the area and he takes a touch before shooting. Hahnerman saves comfortably.
76: Aurelio off, for Kuyt.
78: Cross from Kuyt finds Benayoun in the box but he heads over.
80: Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool. ALL LIVERPOOL.
82: Pacheco is stripping off. Who will come of for the young Spaniard? Exciting to dwell on such possibilities.
Aquaman?
84: Wolves waste possession. Long ball to Iwelumo on edge of the box, back to Stearman, back to Mancienne, back to goal. Hoof from Hahnerman, Liverpool bring the ball back. Jesus!
85: Pacheco on for Aquaman. Crowd claps.
88: Liverpool really stretching Wolves and if they really want a third, they shall have one.
Benayoun OFF, Spearing ON.
91: 4 mins of stoppage time. Corner for Pool, headed out by Berra.
93: Liverpool seeing this one out with some ‘keep ball’. Passing it around with ease.
94: No urgency at all now. Liverpool just probing around the box, looking for an easy chance to present itself.
FULL TIME. There it is folks.
Liverpool 2 Wolves 0.
Ward’s second yellow ruined this game after a good first half. I’m off to Alvin 2. OOOF.
I understood nothing in that Mick McCarty presser.
Aye, he’s from Yawksheeer. Still, that’s hard for you guys to get? Scottish I understand!
3-0 Liverpool, or I smell a mutiny against Rafa.
Once I can wrest the TV back from my son, I’ll be set to go. But for now, Mighty Machines wins out.
I’m having some trouble winning control of the TV as well. Watching this match on Veetle, while I’m sitting mere feet away from a FSC enabled TV.
I don’t know enough about Wolves squad to judge if they’ve put out a full strength team or not.
We’re gonna lose. No end product. They’ll catch us on the break.
Our defense is horridly stupid.
Supposedly this is the full-strength Wolves squad. But really, is that a surprise? There’s no reason to fear Liverpool Away like Man U away is there?
Georger returns with his trademark optimism.
Is Hahnemann still the USA #3? If so, would that make like the 8th consecutive year for him as such?
@u75: Yes.
Agger gets tripped by Casper
I’m sorry what again is there to be optimistic about? This team hadn’t shown dick all year.
HA to the shot of the anxious faces on Pool supporters.
Does Rafa have a style of play?
If that cross was a little bit better, Wolves would be doing a little dance by the corner flag with sexy good cheer.
This team is pathetic. I’m embarrassed.
Torres can have a destructive attitude? Absurd.
I hate this team so fucking much.
Boooooo this disgrace of a team. Rafa out. Players out.
Please beat Wolves. If for or other reason than I don’t want to have to worry about the mental stability or of my co-bloggers.
considering this team has been a first half team all year they’re gonna lose 2 0. Season starts next game. What a fucking fraud.
Warren Barton is a clown and the guy with him is asking stupid questions. Thanks for stopping by guys. Good game for the neutral viewer so far.
Where am I?
And that’s not quite cute-puppy content, BTW.
But it’s furry-animal content, so thumbs-up for that.
So Liverpool need a good halftime speech to turn this around …. Yep. Gonna lose.
That guiness commercial was great. Though I don’t get the logic in advertising Alvin and the Chipmunks on this channel.
Rafas halftime speech:
“season starts today. That’s a fact. The red card changed the game. That’s a fact. Kewell is like a new signing. That’s a fact.”
Rafa guaranteed a top-4 finish?
gerrard seems desperate to get sent off. Legend!
Anonsters he sure did.
Well, that should make you feel better, then, Georger.
He guaranteed!
That’s a card but neither of gerrards flying tackles were? Won’t keep Rafa from blaming the refs.
other than that shot, where’s Stevie G been?
Adios, amigo
wacman: Fouling Wolves and getting away with it.
Do what now? What happened?
mariner is a horrible ref that’s ward that should be red. Dustin is an idiot.
Good. Though I like Hahnemann and am happy to see non-Arsenal squads drop points, I hate McCarthy so much I hope they let in 10 goals now.
Two screw ups in two consecutive weekends for Marriner. I think he may be enjoying some Fizzy 1 or Fizzy 2 the next couple of weekends.
Well, at least the game has become amusing.
Even if it is b/c of the ref’s bungling.
Ryan how dare you are you a fifa sanctioned ref? I DON’T THINK SO
Rafa’s already asking for extra time to be added? Why don’t you get a team that scores at home instead of bitching with 40 minutes left how much time you need.
Rafa already asking for more extra time…..who does he think he is, Fergie?
They rescinded the YC given to the other dude in error.
Commentator: “Credit to the officials for being brave enough [to reverse their error].”
Yes, how brave. Our heroes.
Now I hate Rafa enough to hope that Liverpool goes up and Wolves get an equalizer in that extra time that the waiter just asked for.
I gotta get my emotions under control.
I want to be on whatever diet Hahnemann went on.
Compare this: http://www.football-wallpapers.org/wp-content/marcushahnemann.jpg
To this: http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/crewe7.jpeg
@ü75: Hormones are a bitch, ain’t they?
Wards second card shouldn’t have been a card. Mariner is a joke.
YOU SHUT UP!
sorry
when I first saw that foul I thought Lucas went down like a schoolboy bitch……i have yet to see otherwise
@ü75: It’s ok. And no, you don’t look fat in those pants.
FF to Rafa bitching about wolves parking the bus after they went a man down: who does he think he is, wenger?
OH YOU BEAUTY
“It had to be him!”
No it didn’t…..he hasn’t done shit all day, get off his nuts
I blame Fergie.
The season starts… NOW
No, this is good, though.
30 minutes left, Wolves with 10 men down. It sets up their equalizer in the last 5 minutes perfectly.
“Oh, Agger! Agger, Agger, Agger, deary me.”
Exactly.
Iwelumo on. McCarthy has apparently conceded the points.
Holy crap that guy plays in the epl? Too good for Scotland I guess.
The season is back on! Right? RIGHT?!
Whew.
I swear I just heard the commentator say something about wiping their asses.
Nothing like a 2 goal lead over a ten-man Wolves squad to catalyze the rest of the season.
Bring on Pacheco
I would snicker at that, too, EF…
Except that Wolves beat us already. :(
We can’t all revitalize our season with a two goal won over stoke.
PACHECO!
McCarthy’s forehead is disappointed.
So ….. Aquilani is actually quite talented on the ball.
Still pissed about the teams first half performance.
Hannehman looks like a bond villain.
This has generally been a weird Prem campaign.
@Georger: At least he’s gotten rid of that soul patch. That’s the worst.
Barcelona is having a tough time hanging on to their youngsters, says the commentator.
Umm. No, they’re not.
Would still put Pacheco Buchtmann and Dalla Valle up against any other sides youngsters.
I count six teams that could win the Prem: Spartak, Utd, Gunners, Citeh, Villa, and Spurs.
Anonsters yes they are actually. Pacheco was one of their top prospects. They can’t sign professional contracts with Spanish teams when they’re young so English teams can poach them for peanuts.
There’s something a tad anti-Semitic about referring to the only Jewish player as “clever.”
And yet they still have a crop of pretty genius young talent.
My point was rather that their cup overrunneth. It’s not exactly crisis-in-Barca that Pacheco went to Liverpool.
Anyway, once they get some experience and age, they’ll go back. (See Cesc. :P)
@EF: He’s articulate.
That better?
Good job Liverpool. Keep it going through at least Tuesday eh?
@Anonsters: He speaks so well!
THREADJACK OF UTTER IMPORTANCE: The brothel visiting manager was outed today as Owen Coyle. (Allegedly).
If that report turns out to be right, JT wins.
woo hoo!