By Tim Treacy
The turnaround at Liverpool Football Club over the past year has been remarkable. A comparison between last year and this year is like night and day, oil and water, chalk and cheese, a journey from Hicks and Gillett to Henry and Warner.
Dirk Kuyt works tirelessly for Liverpool and does whatever the club asks of him. His hard work paid off against Manchester United when he scored three goals, all from less than six-yards out, to secure Liverpool's win over its dreaded rivals. (Courtesy n.macca Flickr)
By Kevin Koczwara
Kenny Dalglish celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday, but the real party was put off until Sunday when ‘King Kenny’s’ men beat up on Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, 3-1. The win, a crowning achievement over Liverpool’s hated rivals, marked the high point thus far for the remarkable turn around under Dalglish.
Since his appointment, Dalglish has lead Liverpool to a 5-2-2 record in the league, wins over top-four teams Chelsea and Man United are the highlights of his time. The Scot brought faith back to the club, something that was sourly missing. His moves in the January transfer window reignited the team.
The purchase of Luis Suarez from Ajax could be the best buy of the year for any team. Suarez quickly adapted to the Premier League. His performances so far would put him in contention for EPL Player of the Year despite making so few appearances because of the January transfer. He’s a game changer, and he is just getting started.
By Kevin Koczwara
This will be a monthly column, I hope, where I dump out the random thoughts I have accrued over the last month. These thoughts are the ones I’ve tried to write columns about and have failed to materialize into anything tangible or readable.
Let’s begin with Arsenal.
Arsenal boggle the mind. The Gunners lose to Birmingham City in the League Cup final on one of the year’s most laughable goals. Then they go on and smash Leyton Orient in what should have been an unneeded FA Cup replay, 5-0, and Nicklas Bendtner scores a hat-trick. Why is the thrashing of Orient a surprise? Well, Bendtner scored a hat-trick. That’s why. It’s an absolute shock he can put together three goals in one game at times. He fumbles over his feet, misplaces passes more often Jake Delhomme, and he isn’t very good int he air despite his height.
Didier Drogba and Chelsea had their hopes of repeating as English Premier League with the unexpected loss to Liverpool over the weekend. (Courtesy Eric P Flickr)
By Ryan Fleming
In one of the more unpredictable weeks in the soccer world this year, there are a couple things to take note of, if you haven’t already.
Despite their recent acquisitions of Davie Luiz and Fernando Torres, the Blues slipped, slid and went away with a whimper after their 1-0 loss to Liverpool. Naturally, much of the hype from the match surrounded the former Liverpool frontman, Torres, and how he would fair against his old club and if he would or would not celebrate if managed to score. Fortunately for the Reds new manager Kenny Dalglish, Torres was barely existent on the field, save for one scary moment that Jamie Carragher so gracefully blocked away.
By Kevin Koczwara
Not many people thought Liverpool had a chance at qualifying for European competition next year when the club lingered closer to the bottom in October. Things changed quickly though.
Now, people are talking about fighting for the coveted fourth place in the Premier League and a chance to play in the Champions League, despite the team’s leading scorer and talisman striker, Fernando Torres, walking out on the club just before the January transfer window slammed shut.
The change in the mood around Melwood and Anfield is because of Kenny Dalglish. It’s that simple. Since his appointment as interim manager, Liverpool has been resurrected.
The Reds went into Stamford Bridge yesterday the underdogs, and riding a three-game winning streak. To top it off, Fernando Torres was starting his first game with his new club, Chelsea, after turning his back on Liverpool. Liverpool tried to arrange a gentlemen’s agreement with Chelsea when the two teams worked out the $80 million deal for Torres during the closing moments of the transfer window. It didn’t happen, and there was no way Liverpool could beat Chelsea in London without its best player, right?
Kenny Dalglish has revitalized Liverpool after he took over for Roy Hodgson as the manager. The Scot has brought back the treasured Liverpool Way and instilled those values throughout the club. (Courtesy 1000goals.com)
By Kevin Koczwara
In Part 1, I looked over Chelsea’s move for Fernando Torres, this is my look at Liverpool’s side of the deal. If you missed Part 1, click here.
What did Liverpool get with the sale of Fernando Torres? Well, it got $80 million to spend on Andy Carroll from Newcastle and to help pay off the fee for Luis Suarez from Ajax. The Reds got a two-for-one deal in a way, and they got some younger players at that.
Torres is 26-years-old and entering the pinnacle of his career, while Suarez is 24 and just emerging into the full-blown player he can be and Carroll is still 22 and beginning to understand how good he can be. If everything pans out with Suarez and Carroll and they become top-level players, then Liverpool swindled their rivals from London.
