Mario's Introduction And a Superb Team Performance

Today saw Liverpool rekindle there performances from last season after a questionable first two games to begin the Barclays Premier league.

This game was one of the one's to watch this weekend because one simple reason...Mario Balotelli! Everyone's eye's were on the Italian as he made his return to the English game. Liverpool and Mario started strong with the red's getting some quality chances in the final third, just eight minutes in Raheem Sterling gave the mersey siders the lead and to me it looked as if the Tottenham player's gave up from then till the final whistle, they allowed the key Liverpool player's such as Gerrard and Sterling work and were too nice and let Liverpool play their game.

Last week I was praising Spurs for playing the best since the departure of Gareth Bale. But they didn't look like the free flowing, defensively solid side they were last week. Tottenham suffered the same way QPR suffered against them a week earlier, they let the key players run the game as I said earlier as Erik Lamela did against Ranger's, a perfect example of how to handle this would be Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen, often underrated during the career with the Red's in my opinion but as soon as Lamela got the ball one of the two was on him. This frustrated the Argentinean and this showed in the way he played,  he was sluggish and didn't provide the killer crosses he did last week.

Tottenham's problem's today stemmed from their lack of worthwhile transfers. Younes Kaboul can't be starting for Tottenham if they want to be up there and give the big teams a run for their money when they come head to head with them, a replacement is in imminent need for Tottenham.

Liverpool later doubled their lead after a blatant penalty as Allen was pulled back in the box, Gerrard slotted home from the spot, Liverpool continued to impress and one player who impressed the Liverpool fans for the whole 90 minutes was Alberto Moreno who's performance was summed up by his goal in sixtieth minute after a superb solo run showing off his pure pace and drive to get forward as well as defend. A truly wonderful performance by the young Spaniard. But a dreadful performance by Andros Townsend who looked very poor in the thirty five or so minutes he did play, losing the ball most times he was given it.

Another plus from Liverpool's performance was a clean sheet, these have been pretty non-existent since Liverpool found their amazing goal scoring form, they can't really seem to balance out the two. But today minus one or two questionable passes from Mamadou Sakho Liverpool seemed defensively sound. A great performance from Dejan Lovren making some last ditch tackles, although I'm not 100% persuaded by Simon Mingnolet in Liverpool's goal, having fumbled one after sprinting out of his box and not looking very confident although having one standout moment after saving a powerful shot by Nacer Chadli.      

If Liverpool keep on playing like this especially away from home I don't see why they can't replicate their league performance of last season, a very good day for Red's!

Give me your opinion's on the game by leaving a comment!

Liverpool's Great Dane

Daniel Agger, made 232 appearances for Liverpool has just completed a three million move to former club Brøndby. Agger has been a phenomenal servant for Liverpool and truly love's the club you can tell that by just looking at him as he has 'YNWA' tattooed on his knuckles. His form on the pitch and special connection with the fans will make him go down in Liverpool history, maybe not looked at as one of the standout players but will always have a special place in Liverpool fans hearts.

His top moments at LFC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mox4DAIpBlE This game will be remembered by a lot of Liverpool fans which saw Agger score a sensational goal blackburn and saw another ex Liverpool play score an amazing goal with Fernando Torres lashed in a half volley. 

Next up is a moment also featuring Fernando Torres, but this time he was a blue. Minutes into the game he collided with Torres and seconds later the Spaniard was on the floor, at a time when reds despised Fernando this was a bit of compensation for loosing their star striker, this picture sums it up.
 

The next moment was not so special to the fans but to Danny himself, where his at the time old club Brondby lined up a friendly against Liverpool, he later said he has been waiting for the fixture for many years, he led the team out as captain, a very special moment for the great Dane.

Personally I would like to thank Agger for being one of a small group of players that show loyalty over money in the modern game after rejecting many offers from top European clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester City, also thank Agger for the great memories, YNWA Daniel!

Champions League Draw 2014-15

Today we saw the champions league group stage draw. And it's given us some big games to look forward to! Four English teams in the draw with Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Chelsea's draw will see them come up against Schalke, Sporting and Maribor. Chelsea will really fancy themselves in this group and I feel they will win every game at home when these clubs come to stamford bridge and I think they will top the group. With Schalke coming second. No real big fixtures in this group but should be interesting to see if Chelsea play as fluently in Europe as they have been in premier league.

Manchester City are set to play Roma, Bayern Munich and CSKA Moskva and this is the group of death of the draw, the big eye catcher is Manchester City vs Bayern Munich, what a game it will be, hopefully as exciting as the clash between these two sides was last time! Manchester City will favour themselves against Roma and CSKA but Roma will be no easy game and don't be surprised if City don't get through this one easily. My prediction is Bayern to top it and City runners up.

Next up is my team Liverpool who are going to be facing Real Madrid, FC Basel and lastly Ludogrets. I can see Liverpool having a tough time away against Basel and away to Ludogrets might not be a walk in the park like everybody assumes, although I can see Liverpool progressing and what a game it will be when Madrid travel to Anfield and we get the classic Anfield European night atmosphere back. And honestly I can see Liverpool topping this group, Liverpool have proved over there previous European campaigns that they are capable of beating the odds. Mainly I don't think Liverpool are unhappy with this draw, they are excited with the prospect of playing the best clubs.

And finally Arsenal will be coming up against Dortmund, Galatasary, Anderlecht. Arsenal v Dortmund is a fixture we have seen quite a few times over recent years and we are set to see them  battle it out another two times. Arsenal I think will top this group with flying colours and Dortmund a close second, although Galatasary away will be a fixture that neither of the favourites will be looking forward too.

If things go according to plan and my predictions are right it will be a fantastic year for all English clubs in Europe, but everything doesn't always go according to plan!

The Rise and Fall of El Niño.

Fernando Torres looks set to make a move from Chelsea to Italian side AC Milan following many reports saying his agent is in Italy finalizing the deal, so we take a look back on his best parts of the premier league.

Torres came to Liverpool from Spanish club Athletico Madrid he went on to be a hero on merseyside and scored many great goals, my personal top three of all his eighty one goals, my first pick was his super strike against Blackburn, here it is...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzG5dWIMckI

My second pick is Torres' strike against Inter Milan in the champions league https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXbtorLxvgQ this clip shows the highlights of his performance against the italian side, AC Milan will hope he can do this against Inter again during his stay in Italy.

My third and final goal is his second in a game against Chelsea, his future employers. This goal really just shows how easy he made goalscoring look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRz6R4_sA9Y

After his four year spell at Liverpool he broke many transfer records as he completed a fifty million deal to another premier league team Chelsea. Being a Liverpool fan myself I have to admit this was very sad for me to see an idol and hero of mine leaving...especially to another premier league club. Although his incredible price tag he never lived up to standards with Chelsea and scoring a miserable 44 goals in 151 games, although he has got a lot of silverware with the Blues he has never really personally blossomed in a blue shirt and hurts even more to see Fernando like this. Even though you see glimpses of the old El Niño.

Hopefully the phrase "Form is temporary, class is permanent" apply's for Fernando Torres and he gets his pace and quick skillful play back.

Some reports came in that Torres wanted to make a return to Anfield but Liverpool didn't want him, this is a deal that I would have liked to see go through but I couldn't really see him getting any game time and I think although many Liverpool fan's would take him back, when he left in 2011 he supposedly forced his way out of the club so the club's staff may not want him back.

If he does stay in England it will be nice if he can find his shooting boots again. Even if it is for Chelsea.

Rooney set to lead The Three Lions.

So Roy Hodgson has announced his first England team since the disappointment in Brazil, this time there is a few surprise players, no Gerrard or Lampard and a new captain. This team will face Norway and Switzerland hoping to get their UEFA Euro qualifying off to a good start.

I'll start off with the new picks, firstly Jack Colback or as Hodgson has labeled him the 'Ginger Pirlo.' Colback completed a move to Newcastle this season and has been decent in what we have seen of him in a Newcastle and Sunderland shirt, but has he been good enough for a call up? But you never know he could be a a good young asset for Hodgson, next up see's Andros Townsend return to the squad after a injury prior to the World Cup, this is a good decision by Hodgson as he looked quick and brought energy into the three lions team in games he did play, being a key role in England's 2-0 win over Poland to confirm their place in Brazil. The next player is another from White Hart Lane in Danny Rose, this player a long with Jack Colback is what I was most surprised by Hodgson, both have several players ahead of them for these positions and aren't stand out talents in the Premier League. Next on to the sixteen million pound man Callum Chambers, who has had a bright start to the new chapter of his career with Arsenal and there is no questioning this player should be in the squad but why not earlier? He was the same great talent for Southampton and was having a fantastic season? Fabian Delph and John Stones are the last of the newcomers to the three lions, these two picks are very good from Hodgson in my opinion, Delph who had such great potential but is only now starting to fill it and John Stones who possibly been on the flight to Brazil.

Summing up the newcomers, some have a lot to prove like Colback, Delph and Rose but if it they make themselves known we will be looking at a completely different England side for the future with many different possibilities of how they will line up and a completely different style of play.

Onto the new captain Wayne Rooney, and I'm surprised by the lack of support he has from thousands of fans, yes there is obvious reasons people are unhappy with previous incidents in Wayne's career but who else could it have been? The only one with a shout at it apart from Rooney is Hart. But I think Wayne is the right choice, maybe this is just what he needs to kick his national performances up a gear. Many players look up to him for what he has done on the field for Manchester United. In the hot Brazilian sun I think his work rate was well for the Italy and Uruguay games but if he wants to keep this role he must take it by the scruff of the neck and really lead from the front. There can't be anymore incident's like at the 2010 World Cup where he criticized the fans, a captain has to take responsibility and it will be interesting to see if he can do it for England.

Weekend Three AUG 30-31

Welcome to weekend three, this is where I pick three Barclays Premier League games from each weekend and predict scores and explain my reasoning behind them. This week I will be predicting Newcastle vs Crystal Palace, Tottenham vs Liverpool and Everton vs Chelsea.

My first game of the weekend that I would like to talk about is Newcastle vs Crystal Palace. Newcastle still yet to get a goal this campaign but I really think they can finally get it this weekend. Newcastle, one of many clubs in the premier league this season who have made a lot of recruitments this transfer period and the most impressive of all for me has been the young French talent of Remy Cabella, actually Im surprised Newcastle snapped him up and I think its good to see a player of his quality and potential go to a club that isn't in 'the top six.'

Alan Pardew has new tactics for Cabella this campaign, in a post match interview after his side battled out a disappointing 0-0 draw he said 'I felt he was trying too hard,(Cabella) I was just trying to get him to smile.' I've never really seen this from Pardew and he has certainly taken a different route to Cabella than he has with any other player, but if Cabella's smiling and playing well I think he could really be key in picking the ball up and beating defender's and it is something the Magpies lacked last season.

Onto a Crystal Palace team that are falling into chaos no manager and no points. In contrast to Newcastle, Palace haven't brought in many new recruits but I think they have bought well when they did make a signing, my pick of the bunch so far would have to Martin Kelly from Liverpool, being a Liverpool fan and watching him progress at the club for many years I think Palace have got a really good young centre back, with a lot of potential, and the way I see it the only reason he didn't properly break through into the Liverpool squad was injuries, the Achilles heel of this player. He is very injury prone.

I can't really see Palace having any attacking threat this saturday and I think they need a new manager and fast, the main threat for Palace this weekend will be Yannick Bolasie, simply because of his blistering pace, I think he will give the Newcastle full-backs something to think about. Other than that I don't see much.

After talking about both clubs I'm going for a 2-0 victory for a Cabella inspired Newcastle, I just think they will overrun Palace completely in midfield.

The next game takes us to White Hart Lane as Tottenham take on a battered and bruised Liverpool following there monday night defeat to Manchester City and Tottenham on the other hand fresh from a superb win on the weekend against QPR. And as some people in my household support Tottenham I have to watch them very reguarly and I don't like to admit it but against QPR was probably the best i've seen them play since Gareth Bale. The most impressive thing about there result was the first goal from Nacer Chadli that had forty eight passes behind it.

Although all is not well with Tottenham, I still think they need a big name striker as Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor aren't the most reliable and don't show up in big games, I think if they do find that key talisman in this transfer window they will be a formidable force...that is if the Argentinean Erik Lamela keeps up his form from this weekend, he was skillful, fast and clever whenever he received the ball on the weekend and if you mix him with a twenty five plus goal a season striker then hey look a good candidate for a top four finish. With rumors of Andros Townesend on his way out of White hart lane, I think another winger is in need for Tottenham as well as possibly a replacement for the experienced Aaron Lennon.

The second thing that really impressed me about Tottenham on the weekend was how defensively sound they looked for most of the match as the main problem last season was conceding goals. The impressive signing of Erik Dier really makes me think Mauricio Pochettino really knows what Tottenham need and is due for a successful reign at White Hart Lane.

Now onto Liverpool, there has only been little glimpses of the beautiful fluent football that they were renowned for playing last season. And after the critical blow by Sergio Agüero on monday they received three injuries, Glen Johnson, Alberto Moreno and Martin Skrtel. Moreno was said to be leaving the Eithad with his ankle heavily strapped, this is bad news for Liverpool as they are left with little choice on the full-back positions. But you can't rule out this Liverpool side with Mario Balotelli incoming and set to make his debut for the mersey siders and I can really see him making an impact and I think he will mark his return to the premier league with a goal, that is if he starts though. After Monday nights game, Liverpool's first ever Belgian player Simon Mignolet came under a lot of criticism for his performance, but I will only start to question his talent if this poor run of form continues.

My prediction is a 2-1 win for the home side, Tottenham. I think it will be a good game and very important in both sides seasons.

My final prediction for this weekend is heading to Goodison Park as Everton take on Chelsea. This is Chelsea's first real test against a top half team, they looked very convincing in their first game against Burnley and decent against Leicester, the new Spaniards Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas look to have settled in perfectly with Cesc reprising his form his Arsenal days.

But this match is bound to have some drama as Romelu Lukaku, Everton's record signing has arrived on merseyside after a successful loan spell and has left Chelsea to start a new chapter in his career and it doesn't stop there, Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o has also made the trip from Stamford Bridge to Goodison Park signing on a free two year deal. Wether Eto'o will start or not is unsure with Steven Naismith starting this campaign strongly for the Blues although Everton themselves haven't had the best of starts drawing both of their first two games 2-2. At times they look tired going into the last twenty or ten minutes in both games, this really showed as Arsenal seized on their wariness by pegging Everton back from 2-0 to 2-2 in the last seven. Chelsea's front three are very skillful and tricky and they have even more pace and firepower on the bench so this is where Chelsea could really go up a gear.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see Chelsea scoring early on and keeping that lead until late on where they will overrun Everton and extend there lead later on. But you can't rule Everton as they have a strong attack themselves with Aidan Mcgeady in good form after impressive display's in his opening games this season and the new firepower from Chelsea in Lukaku and Eto'o and as I said earlier an in form Naismith.

I think it will be a tight contest for most of it but i'm going to say a 0-2 win for Mourinho's team.

Manchester CIty - Liverpool FC

Manchester City - Liverpool FC

Yesterday saw Liverpool fans buzzing with excitement for many reasons, with the prospect of many new faces being introduced to the Liverpool team for the first time yesterday, such as the young Spanish fullback Alberto Moreno, also the twenty million pound talent of Lazar Markovic. It would be very interesting to see how these players actually coped with premier league life, also another reason to be gleeful if you were a Liverpool fan would be the confirmation from the club that Italian bad boy Mario Balotelli would be joining the club for a fee of sixteen million pounds. This signing, just one of eight for Liverpool this summer, may be seen as the marquee signing of the summer for Brendan Rodgers and most likely the last of an eventful and exciting summer for Liverpool, and in my opinion this could be the most important signing Liverpool have made this transfer window; with the departure of Luis Suarez to FC Barcelona the dynamic duo known as the 'SAS' is no more.

I think that one half of the former 'SAS'- Daniel Sturridge revels in a duo upfront, he doesn't shine as bright without a partner in crime, although some may argue that he did it early on last season I don't think he could keep the form by himself for the duration of the campaign. Now, this could be a new era. Despite Mario and Daniel being renowned for their big egos in the past this is really a great time for Brendan Rodgers to have the pair at his disposal, with Mario coming to a make or break moment in his career he wants to prove everyone who has doubted him from his first stay in England with Manchester City. Also with Daniel who wants to show anything Suarez can do he can do better. 

Onto the game with Mario Balotelli watching his old and new team mates from the stands. Liverpool started with the first five minutes of their game being clunky as they couldn't really find their passing rhythm but later did they were up a gear compared to Manchester City for a good thirty minutes after that odd first five spell though, with Raheem Sterling running at defenders and beating as we were use to seeing in the second half of last season, these dazzling runs resulted in him being brought down by several different players and earned Liverpool some set piece opportunities in some decent positions bud oddly Gerrard couldn't provide any decent balls. As the first-half was coming to a close and Liverpool looked the most likely to nab a goal against the run of play the reds were stunned as they went 1-0 down to the blues from Manchester via a Stevan Jovetic goal. And unfortunately Alberto Moreno had to get use to the premier league the hard way although he had a pretty good half in truth, he made one mistake and it seemed to be all on his shoulders.

The second half saw and even start with Liverpool having another odd first five as they couldn't really find their rhythm again. We didn't see as many dazzling runs from the young and energetic Raheem this half and Liverpool looked like they had some problems in the final third. And as a result of not taking chances and missed opportunities Liverpool found themselves 2-0 down just ten minutes into the second half and the goal was scored by that man again Stevan Jovetic.

Liverpool now saw the game slipping away from them...quickly so a quick change was in order for Brendan Rodgers, introducing Emre Can and Lazar Markovic to premier league life. Lazar had some really good first touches and slotted in Alberto Moreno who almost found Jordan Henderson in the box to reduce the deficit, and Lazar was impressive in my eyes he is a Sterling type of player and very similar in what he brings to the team, injection of pace and running at players. Soon after Lazar was introduced Manchester City brought on Sergio Agüero and before you knew it he had bagged himself a goal. Liverpool falling asleep at the back and all in all were very frustrated since the first goal, and it showed in their play.

Minutes after the third goal another new LFC boy was introduced, Emre Can, he failed to get into the game with the time he was given but I'm sure he wont have a problem settling into the premier league or as he labeled it earlier this week in an interview 'the league of beasts.' Liverpool made their third and final change in life long fan Rickie Lambert, and he marked his arrival with his first goal in a Liverpool shirt...well sought of, as he met Sturridge's cross with his head it took a deflection off of City fullback Pablo Zabeleta. 

All in All it was an up and down Monday for Liverpool, I'm sure they will be back next Sunday at White Hart Lane where they meet an in form Tottenham side, it should be a very interesting game.