Following our “B Team’s” o – 0 draw away to Napoli on Thursday, we are now without a win in any of our last eight matches and we now face Blackburn Rovers, a team against whom we have an impressive record at Anfield in the Premier League. We’ve lost only once and conceded just ten goals in the 16 meetings to date, winning ten and scoring 29 times.
With all the turmoil that currently surrounds our great club, we have the chance to focus our attention on how we conduct ourselves on the pitch as the 214th Merseyside derby draws ever nearer. That being said I’ve never felt so utterly devoid of interest, feeling and emotion with regards to a game of football as I do currently.
It’s a battle of the Pools at Anfield on Sunday. Will Blackpool’s players sink or swim at Anfield, or will wave after wave of Liverpool attack ensure there is no need for a lifeguard to be present to resuscitate our already ailing season?
Compare that to our league form which has seen Liverpool make their joint worst start to a Premier League season (shared with 1992/93) and become only the third LFC side in 29 seasons to have a negative goal difference after five matches: -2 in 1992/93 (finished 5th) and -1 in 2006/07 (finished 3rd). We currently have a goal difference of -3, which is our poorest showing after five games since we were relegated in 1953/54.
Liverpool appear to be facing a monumental task when they head to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Manchester Utd in the Premier League. Following the 0 – 0 draw at Birmingham, our away record remains poor and we have now failed to score in seven out of our last ten away games. Manchester Utd on the other hand have won both of their home games this season 3 – 0 and last season saw the Red Devils fail to win just three of their 19 games at Old Trafford (two defeats and a draw).
Liverpool have won just two out of the 12 Premier League meetings prior to this match, with Birmingham claiming three victories. There have been six consecutive draws between the clubs in the Premier League dating back to the 2005/06 campaign, while Liverpool have failed to win any of the previous eight games in the league between the two sides.
The last time Liverpool faced West Brom at the end of the 2008/09 campaign, a goal apiece from Gerrard and Kuyt confirmed relegation for Tony Mowbray’s side and Jamie Carragher was involved in a bit of handbags with Alvaro Arbeloa towards the end of the game.
Despite the attacking talent both sides have at their disposal, Man City v Liverpool games are usually tight, drab affairs and recent form and clashes suggest that there will be no deviation from this trend. Both teams opened up the 2010/11 Premier League season with draws and there have been eight draws from the 13 Premier League meetings (at City) to date, with Liverpool coming out victorious on three occasions and City winning just two.
Match Preview: Now that the 4th Champions League spot has been claimed by Spurs, and with our elimination from the Europa League semi-finals at the hands of Atletico Madrid, the best Liverpool can hope for this season is to finish 6th. This is providing Aston Villa fail to beat Blackburn at home and we beat Hull City in our final game of the season. A far cry from the expectations we had last August, it’s safe to say that no Liverpool supporter will be sad to see the end of what has been a frustrating and depressing season.
Liverpool v Chelsea games are never short of drama or controversy, but this meeting comes with an extra dose of anguish and mixed feelings. A Liverpool victory will maintain our slim chances of finishing 4th yet it could also put Man Utd in the driving seat to secure their 19th league title if they beat Sunderland.
