We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Both managers are under increasing pressure, both have reasons to be glum this festive season, but which one will end up the happy chappy this evening. Join me from 11 am to find out.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:55 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
101 Comments:
The starting XI's for today:
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Fabregas, Song, Denilson, Walcott, Arshavin, Nasri.
Looking at those line-ups, which seem at first glance to be a full-strength Liverpool side against a very make-shift and light-weight Arsenal, I've revised my prediction for today from my default 1-1 prediction for Big Four match-ups to 2-0 Liverpool. Sorry, Gooner. You're missing too many key players today.
Cardiff have completed a great away win at Middlesboro this morning, which sees them up into third behind West Brom and Newcastle - the presumed promotion favorites.
Morning Bob,
I am here for most of the match.
I am off to see the show Wicked near the end of the match but I will be here for most of the match
I want a draw or Arsenal win.... Costa can't drop low enough!
I have a link with Martin and Andy from VSS... still waiting for FSC to start
Teams coming out of the tunnel
THIS IS ANFIELD!
Morning, Dave! I'm pulling for the Arse today, too. But my footie brain says that they don't have enough firepower. The Gooner said that Theo was disappointing in mid-week.
FSC seem to be several minutes behind. Teams coming out of the tunnel right now.
I am still bummed about yesterday's results.... we blew a chance! At least, we only dropped one point to Chelski
VSS ahead of FSC by 4 seconds
They jumped quickly to the kick-off - at 11:02. I still think it's behind but perhaps not by much.
Fast start by both teams
Good open period to the match. I'd love an early goal to stir the pot.
Costa won the toss
First corner to Arsenal...
Cleared out.
The color commentator just noted that both teams are playing not one but TWO holding midfielders. That's a depressing trend for world football, IMHO.
The Tv is ahead of the computer now
What's with the Arsenal mids giving the ball away?
Totally agree with you
I remember in the last World Cup when they were talking about who would be the holding midfielder for the match against TRINIDAD!!!!!
I know - I hope Fabio cuts that shite out. There's no reason to play a holding mid against either Algeria or Slovenia. We should be able to roll over both sides.
Commentator just said the country stopped while these two played in the 80s! I disagree with that. It was ONLY in '89 that it was the case. All the other years, Arsenal were a non factor as was United.
Very ping pongy right now. Neither side has really settled.
Oh, Torres was played in by Gerrard and should have done better. A tame effort straight as his countryman.
Torres should have put that one in!
Was it a pen?
No contact but he was looking for the pen too
Agree with you - I missed much of the 80s footie so I'm surprised when I look back at the figures that teams like West Ham and Everton were the ones pushing Liverpool for the honors.
Stupid by Gallas though
Stevie G. could have easily won a pen there but perhaps his reputation is starting to precede him with refs?
Why wasn't that a penalty? Howard Webb was right in front of it. Sure, he'd probably lost control of the ball, but he definitely went over Gallas's leg.
I know
Costa won in 80, 83, 83, 84, 86 and 89
Villa won in 82, Everton in 85 and 87
The Arse in 89
Free kick now to the Reds....
Aurelio did well after the free kick but his final ball was rotten.
Great stuff from Glen Johnson there but couldn't find anyone. He's my starting rightback for England for the summer.
Kuyt wins a corner. Liverpool starting to stretch Arsenal around the park.
Masch was caught by Denilson there and the Brazilian gets a card for that.
Free kick in and....Glen Johnson wins another corner from a deflected shot. Johnson's down after that strike.
Arshavin isn't enough of a target man for the Arse today.
Masch doesn't look like he's going to be able to continue after that clash with Denilson. He'll have to come off.
Gallas is also off the pitch receiving treatment.
Oh, a quick throw finds Kuyt who finds Gerrard at the top of the box. Should have done better - it was snuffed out.
Denilson draws a foul from Aurelio. Good position for the Arse here but they really only have Vermaelen and Gallas to aim at.
Half an hour gone without a breakthrough here.
A draw would put Arsenal back in third on goal difference over Villa. Liverpool would be marooned in seventh behind the Champions League wannabes Villa, Spurs and Citeh.
Tom Bryant on the Guardian's minute-by-minute coverage notes that there's a big gap between the Arsenal midfield and forwards and that it's far too easy for Liverpool to pick off the passes.
Billy Gallas was very close to tripping up Torres in the box there. It feels as if a penalty is coming.
Mascherano has somehow been able to continue, albeit in some ludicrously long shorts.
Why on earth did Rafa Benitez by Aquilani if he was never going to play the boy.
The cameras find Xavi Alonso in the crowd. Why is he there? And why is he yawning? It hasn't been that boring a match, tbf.
Denilson takes a nick out of Gerrard. The boy has to be careful as he's already on a card.
GOAL! Dirk Kuyt breaks the deadlock by toe-poking home after a scramble in the box from the free kick.
Almunia must be faulted there. He came out with the tamest of punches that went straight to Kuyt. Some suspicion of offside interference from Lucas on the goal-line.
That goal lofts Liverpool over Citeh into level of points with Spurs.
Forearm smash by Aurelio on Walcott only produces a yellow. Might have been red there.
Two minutes of stoppage time to come now...
I am back.
Kathy was on her account doing some Christmas shopping
I don't think Arsenal have created much
As for the goal, I can't see what Wenger is complaining about. Lucas was in an offside position but wasn't in the play. He purposely didn't go for the ball
Half-time: Liverpool go in 1-0 up and probably deservedly so. Torres had an easy chance to open the scoring and Gerrard might have drawn a penalty from Gallas. It could easily have been 2 or 3-0.
I don't think it was a foul on Gerrard on the free kick for the goal
Almost a full slate of games on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Sunderland Villa on Tues
and
Spurs Citeh on Wed on FSC
Are the L1 matches?
I'm back after a shower. It's a mixed bag this week. Looks as if we've got Europa League matches and Premier League matches on Tuesday and Wednesday. No League 1 fixtures this week, but we've got the all-important Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Division semi final on Tuesday at Elland Road where we meet Accrington Stanley. Heady times, lad!
GOAL! A fluke o.g. from Glen Johnson has put Arsenal straight back into this one. Nasri put a decent ball over but there wasn't really any Arsenal player near it and somehow Johnson decided to steer it into his own net. Why?
1-1.
Heck of a finish by GJ
Maybe I shouldn't have second guessed myself with the prediction this morning. 1-1 was my original pick but after I saw the team sheets, I changed it to Liverpool 2-0. Kicking myself now. I did not see that goal coming.
Torres with a great run but he's far too tight to the goal-line to have a chance at beating Almunia at the near post.
Reina did not see that goal coming either.
I should be able to stray away from the office for a few moments on Tuesday and Wednesday for the matches. It's finals week and I've already collected the projects for my classes. Smart, eh?
Morning, Someone!
Costa have done this all season, especially in the CL, of taking the lead and not wnning
Masch picks up his requisite yellow card. He is a nasty little oik. Do not like his sort at all. Not one bit.
Your prediction just went along with all of your other choices from yesterday!
Morning. My Mom's here from Long Island for the weekend. Been in and out. I'm watching the rest of this though!
Great turn and shot by Arse Shave hehehehe
Pepe didn't move
Gooner will be pleased
How long can Rafa survive
Goal! Arshavin off the post and in!
GOAL! What a strike from Arshavin. He jinked inside Johnson - who's having a 'mare this half - and stuck a shot inside the top of the near post past Reina.
1-2 Arsenal!
There are more goals in this one, don't you think?
Well - look at what that does to the league! Arsenal cemented in third three points behind United and Liverpool now level seventh with....Birmingham! Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
It's opened up. I'm guessing a controversial penalty decides it.
Absolutely
Steven The Diver Gerrard
Aqu comes on for Masch
Finally - we get a look at Aquilani.
Diaby coming on for Walcott.
Arsenal showing a bit more grit today than recently holding off the Pool onslaught.
Getting testy out there, lots of falling bodies.
Most important to the Pool bosses, they are now five points from that last CL spot. That's got to be their ambition for the season now.
Indeed, Someone. Several hot-heads are already on cards and I could see one or two going off in the last 15 or so minutes.
Ngog on for Yossi. Benayoun has been quiet today.
I am off Robert
Take care and good luck Stevie!
Cheerio, mate!
Lucas goes into the book - a cynical tug back on Fab.
Arsenal desperately trying to throw Silvestre into the mix to replace Traore.
Lots of yellow being handed out. Four minutes plus injury time left
I'm really quite astonished by the way in which Pool have collapsed after the own goal at the beginning of the half. Have they stopped playing for the manager? I agree with Dave - Rafa's on borrowed time.
Arshavin turns again and tries his luck. Wins a corner off of it.
Four minutes of stoppage time to come. Fab is delaying the corner. Corner comes in and is cleared out.
Lots of space open in midfield now. The players are knackered.
Aaron Ramsey coming on for the goalscorer Arshavin.
Not much desperation being shown by the Liverpool. Arshavin's goal really knocked the effort out of them.
Nasri nearly put in there...overran it.
I agree - I'm surprised that they're not pinging long balls into the area. "Air of staleness" the commentator notes.
Gerrard knocks Ramsey over well into the 94th minute. It's just about over now.
Full-time: Arsenal have pulled out a famous victory here, their first at Anfield in six years. I'll be the first to put up my hand and say that I did not expect that. I think Arsenal are too lightweight to challenge for honors. But Liverpool are now in disastrous shape and must shift Rafa out as soon as possible.
Arsenal win 1-2! Gooner is dancing!
And that's it. Three points for the Gunners. Have a great day.
Too right. Melanie scheduled a lunch with Aunty Ran without consulting the footie. She thought the match would be yesterday so I think it's just a yellow card offense.
Really surprised how this turned out. We were pretty poor in the first half, Fabregas and Arshavin bossed off the ball, and Nasri and Walcott gone missing. Only Song, Gallas, and Vermaelen played really well.
I have to say that Liverpool were the right team for us to meet because other than getting goals from Torres, I thought their whole first half strategy was to fall over and claim free kicks and penalties. I've never seen Liverpool resort to such blatant gamesmanship from the off. Gerrard is unrecognizable as the player he was two years ago. Now, he's a ball-playing Kevin Davies at best. He needs to take stock in himself.
Can't agree with you that Johnson's og wasn't about the pressure upon him. I'll have to watch the replay but that was all forced by our guy making GJ make a mistake. And that little Arshavin's goal was a beauty.
I thought Benitez took a gamble replacing Benayoun with Aquilani. Up to that point, the Israeli and Kuyt were providing a lot of support for Torres. Once he left, that dynamic pressure going forward stopped and Aquilani wasn't seen to have made a defensive tackle in the rest of the time he was on the pitch.
Overall however, this game heaps more pressure on Wenger to bring in a goal-scoring forward of Torres' size and style, and do something about the goalkeeper. Manu is causing real alarm bells to go off.
Still a win away at Anfield is a thing to treasure. Wahey.
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