After another two hours of torturous footballing tedium interspersed with (inevitable) periods of headless chikenry and a disturbing lack of creativity, here are my ratings for Liverpool FC's alleged 'team'.

Reina – 8

Man of the Match. If not for Reina's superb saves, Liverpool would be in the UEFA cup right now. Click to continue reading...

Rafa's latest glowing review of Dirk Kuyt proves that his blind faith in the staggeringly ineffective 'attacker' shows no sign of abating, which is bad news for Liverpool fans everywhere.

Gerard Houllier had illogical blind faith in some of his most ineffective players, a notable of which being Emile Heskey. Click to continue reading...

After the drudgery of two awful premiership performances in a row, it is clear that Liverpool need to sign at least one dedicated winger before the transfer deadline. Stewart Downing is once again in the frame but it seems that many fans just don't want him. However, in my view, Downing could be just the player Liverpool need to bring some much needed balance to the team. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool have won their opening two premiership games for the first time in a staggering 14 years. Yes, you read that right: 14 years.

The last time the club achieved this seemingly rare feat was back in the 1994-95 season. Roy Evans was at the helm; club legends John Barnes, Jan Molby and Ian Rush were still going strong; Phil Babb and Neil Ruddock were in defence (*shudder*); Kenny Dalglish managed Blackburn to an improbable Premiership triumph and Robbie Fowler scored 31 goals in all competitions. Click to continue reading...

The season is only one week old but Jamie Carragher is already showing signs of the loser mentality that plagued Anfield last season.

Carra was up and down like a yo-yo last season when it came to his public comments about the club One week he'd be high as a kite proclaiming how Liverpool's players were the greatest in the world. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool FC owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have finally vetoed Rafael Benitez's, inglorious pursuit of Gareth Barry, and for the first time in their tenure I wholeheartedly agree with one of their major decisions.

Everyone in the world – except Rafa- can see that £18m is way too much for Barry, especially since the club's pressing need for quality wide players supersedes the need for yet another central midfielder. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez's complete mismanagement of Xabi Alonso is the main reason the talented Spaniard is on his way out of Anfield.

****I originally posted this article on the 5th February 2008 in response to what I believed were obvious signs that Xabi Alonso was being mismanaged by Rafa. In light of the current uncertainty surrounding Alonso's future, I feel compelled to re-post the article. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are apparently waiting in the wings to snap up Spanish striker David Villa if - as recent reports suggest - a reputed move to Arsenal falls through. Capturing Villa would be a dream acquisition on a par with Fernando Torres, but unfortunately, the Steven Gerrard conundrum means that signing any top quality striker right now would be a recipe for disaster. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard's graceless and deliberately public attempt to tap-up Gareth Barry has once again highlighted his complete lack of class and professionalism.

In an over the top public eulogy designed specifically to appeal to Barry's ego, put pressure on Aston Villa and indirect pressure Liverpool's board, Gerrard disregarded all standards of professional courtesy and went for straight for the jugular with his attempt to ‘persuade' Aston Villa's captain to join Liverpool. Click to continue reading...

In the wake of last week's defeat in the Champions League semi-final, Liverpool-Kop writer Tim Ellis examines where Liverpool have gone wrong this season and considers what needs to be improved for next season.

1. Steven Gerrard consistently goes missing against the big teams. Click to continue reading...

Lady luck has lavished Liverpool with good fortune throughout this season's Champions League, but it wasn't bad luck that struck in the semi-final second leg against Chelsea – it was a series of catastrophic mistakes by Rafael Benitez that ultimately condemned the club to defeat.

Dodgy refereeing decisions have eased Liverpool's path through the knock out stages of this season's competition, with the club benefiting from crucial decisions against both Inter Milan and Arsenal. Click to continue reading...

Rafa's pointless comments about Didier Drogba's diving have come back to haunt Liverpool, with the Chelsea striker scoring the goal that may knock Liverpool out of the Champions League.

Drogba is obviously fired up by Rafa's comments, as emphasised by the fact he sprinted over to the Liverpool dugout and took great delight in celebrating right in in front of Benitez. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 formation must be dropped if Liverpool are to achieve the impossible and beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

It has been proven time and time again this season that Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 formation - with Steven Gerrard playing behind Fernando Torres - does not work against good defences. Click to continue reading...

The most important game of the season is upon us, and as per usual with this Liverpool team, the days leading up to an important game have been saturated with the usual pre-match routine of endless public pronouncements proclaiming the team's apparent superiority.

Self-important overconfidence is not the Liverpool way, and never has been, but of course, none of that matters in the egocentric world of modern football. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez has slated Didier Drogba's diving antics ahead of Liverpool's Champions League trip to Chelsea, but perhaps Rafa should have taken a closer look at the behaviour of his own players before launching his hypocritical tirade.

On the subject of Drogba's predilection for diving, Rafa said:

"With Drogba, it's important to have a good referee. Click to continue reading...