Liverpool 12/13 Season Review (Part 1)

Liverpool FC’s season was always about one word; Progress. From the first kick of pre-season in the USA till the last kick at Anfield versus Queens Park Rangers. Unlike all the previous seasons in the past couple of years this one has been one to enjoy but also there have been some bitter moments.

The season did begin in a low with Liverpool Legend, Kenny Dalglish sacked as the manager. Also many players, who were instrumental last season, especially in the League Cup triumph, left too, such as Fabio Aurelio, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy. However former Swansea manager, Brendan Rodgers entered the helm and demanded change in this historical football club. He brought in not only many players like Oussama Assaidi, Joe Allen and Fabio Borini but he brought a ‘New Footballing Philosophy’ to Liverpool which will ensure success in coming years according to the Irishman. We did see glimpses of that philosophy at the USA tour in games that ended in a draw or defeat versus Toronto, Roma and Tottenham. Many weeks later in a Europa League qualifier against FC Gomel the Kop did witness what was to come. Stunning performance from the Reds gave the fans hope of what was to come, the match ended 3-0 to a beautiful yet devastating Liverpool.

The league season finally began away at the Hawthorns where there was confidence in the air for the travelling fans. Liverpool hadn’t won an opening day fixture in four seasons but it wasn’t going to change. West Brom were too good for Liverpool on the day defeating them by 3 goals to nil and it wasn’t the start Brendan Rodgers’s Reds hoped for especially with the high expectations. The following week the champions Manchester City came to Anfield for the first home game of the season. Liverpool finally began to tick with goals from Martin Skrtel and an exceptional free kick from star-man Luis Suarez. Liverpool’s dominance was cancelled out by a poor back-pass to City’s Carlos Tevez who finished with ease, Liverpool were so close to a win but a point versus the champions isn’t too bad. 

The mediocre start continued as defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United followed. The Sixth league fixture did see Liverpool earn their first win of the campaign away to Norwich. Similar to last season Liverpool thrashed the Canaries 5-2 and Luis Suarez scored another hat trick against them. October and November saw Liverpool win just twice in home games against Wigan and Reading. Other than that Liverpool either drew or lost. Draws against strong oppositions such as Chelsea and eventual League Cup winners, Swansea were hard fought. Furthermore a two-all draw against local rivals, Everton, saw the Reds robbed off a goal when Luis Suarez’s late winner was disallowed for an offside that was incorrectly given.  Liverpool also tasted a defeat at White Hart Lane, where the game started off poorly which cost Liverpool gifting Spurs the win. However they did play some quality football in those matches, unfortunately that was to be the story of the season. Unlike last season where Liverpool hit the woodwork in nearly every match, this season it was; Dominate matches to draw or lose.

December arrived in which was to be the most inconsistent of months for Liverpool. There were some low moments in the month where Liverpool lost twice 3-1 at home to Aston Villa and on Boxing Day away to Stoke City. There were some high nervy moments in the month, such as the 1-0 Udinese win in the Europa League which sent the Reds to the knockout stage or the 3-2 West Ham win. What’s more is that Liverpool did begin to kill off matches rather than hit and miss chances. Rare wins at Anfield came twice in the month, in a 1-0 win vs. Southampton and a 4-0 drubbing vs. Fulham. The calendar year which Liverpool wanted to forget finally came to an end with a 3-0 away win to QPR; this was a sign of what was to come in an impressive second half of the season.

Beginning of the End for United? Ferguson's Retirement

The day has finally come, the day I thought that will never arrive, the day Sir Alex Ferguson retires. When I first heard the news I thought there were just rumours from the media spread like wildfire but they were official and I was over the moon! I thought Manchester United won’t be the same team again without him, and will become an average team. Of course this won’t happen but what an impact this man has made to the club and England. Yes, his career deserves to be acknowledged because his record is amazing; here is the list of honours he won at Old Trafford;

 

Premier League Titles: 13
FA Cups: 5
Champions League: 2

League Cups: 4
Community Shield: 10
European Cup Winners Cup: 1
European Super Cup: 1
Intercontinental Cup: 1
FIFA Club World Cup: 1

Overall that’s an outstanding 38 trophies! Many United fans are obviously depressed after hearing the news, but for us Liverpool fan its music to our ears. The bookies are saying that Everton manager, David Moyes will become the next Man. United manager or even Jose Mourinho. Whoever it is they will have some big shoes to fill after what Ferguson has succeeded.

The thing that gets my head stirring is the United fans who are calling him the ‘greatest manager of all time’, what’s that all about? Have they not heard of Robson, Clough, Shankly and Paisley? Yes he was brilliant as manager but to call him the greatest over these legends isn’t right. He does have a marvellous manager’s CV but did he ever lead a 2^nd Division side to World Domination? Did his team ever receive a European Ban which denied them more success in Europe? Did he manage mediocre teams to success? No, he has done none of these. One of the greatest managers of all time but he’s got nothing on these Legends.

               

 

REVIEW: Liverpool Home Kit 13/14

It’s that time of year again where fans anticipate the new kits for their favourite team in which they will play in next season.  Some fans will find their beloved team’s kit horrible, beautiful, or average. Warrior Sports has just revealed Liverpool’s home kit for next season, and I think every Liverpool fan would agree that this is a stunning looking kit. Everything about it is brilliant, from the actual shirt itself to the minor details.
 
The kit looks similar to last year’s kit from a distance but if you look closer it is much better than last year’s; why? First off the collar from last year is removed from the kit, it was attractive but it did get boring after a while. Now Warrior Sports have gone (yet again) retro with the shirt. Inspired by Liverpool’s 1984 European Cup triumph in Rome, they have introduced a new white trim on the sleeves and the collar. This stands out and makes the kit look retro and modern at the same time; a perfect combination for a football club like Liverpool.  If you look real close you can see new pin-stripes on the kit which was used in the iconic 1984 strip. What really makes this a beauty of a kit is the writing, in a red hue colour, printed on the stripes which read ‘Liverpool FC’. This is a lovely touch to what is already an amazing kit. Warrior has installed their very own apparel technology system called ‘War-Tech’. Now the kit is breathable, keeps the players dry and most importantly it’s comfortable. The shorts and socks complete the home kit, like the shirt they both feature eye-catching stripes. The goalkeeper kit was also revealed, it’s similar to the actual home kit but it is white and contains black stripes. I personally think that this kit should be used as the away kit instead of a goalkeeper kit. Nonetheless it is an amazing kit, best goalkeeper kit I have seen from any team in a while.  

 

Warrior has made many fans proud yet again and Warrior should be applauded for producing a kit like this. The Liverpool fans are now waiting for Warrior to reveal the away kits, if they end up looking like the leaked kits that have spread all over the internet then the fans won’t be happy. However from this evidence Warrior are capable of manufacturing a world-class kit. If this kit brings the success of 1984, The Kop are in for a great season.