Manchester City v. Liverpool (City of Manchester Stadium)
Sunday, February 21st @ 10:00am - Live on 'FSC'

Referee: Peter Walton The referee who gave Ngog a penalty against Brum for “diving,” so Liverpool can probably plan on getting zero 50-50 calls from him.

Form (Last 3):
Liverpool: 1-0 v.Unirea / 0-1 @Arsenal / 1-0 v.Everton
Man City: 1-1 @Stoke / 1-1 v.Stoke / 2-0 v.Bolton

Last 3 (Head-to-Head):
Liverpool 2-2 Man City (Anfield) Nov. 21, 2009
Liverpool 1-1 Man City (Anfield) Feb. 22, 2009
Man City 2-3 Liverpool (City of Manchester Stadium) Oct. 5, 2008

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 12 / Kuyt 9 / Benayoun, Gerrard 5 / Ngog 4 / Babel, Johnson 2 / Kyrgiakos, Skrtel 1
Man City: Tevez 13 / Adebayor 9 / Bellamy 6 / Petrov 4 / Richards, Wright-Phillips 3 / Barry, Ireland, Santa Cruz 2 / Garrido, Kompany, Lescott, Toure 1

Squad Prediction:
Reina
Carragher Skrtel Agger Insua
Mascherano Lucas
Maxi Gerrard Aurelio
Kuyt

City still like to concede sloppy goals, hopefully that keeps up for our sake. City have only won twice in the league since losing the Carling Cup Final, with both of those wins at home to inferior competition (Bolton & Pompey).

Bellamy allegedly had a fall-out with Mancini, so we'll see if that's "fachts" or just rumors...Bellamy is just back from injury himself and I would personally not like to see him on the pitch. Patrick Vieira begins a 3-match ban for kicking Glen Whelan in the nuts this past midweek. Petrov, Johnson, and Kompany are questionable due to injury. Tevez is possibly a no-go as well, having spent the last week in Argentina, due to his daughter's premature birth.

I feel like I've said this 100x this season, but this is the most important match of our season. City currently are one point above Liverpool with a game in hand...however, with trips to Chelsea and Arsenal on the horizon, as well as matches against Tottenham, Villa, and United still to come, City has arguably the harder run-in than Liverpool, or Spurs or Villa. That's why it's so important we get all three points on Sunday.

Liverpool v. Bolton

Liverpool v. Bolton (Anfield)

Saturday, January 30th @10:00am, live on Setanta or you can find a feed online.

Referee: Steve Bennett

Form - Last 3:
Liverpool: 0-0 v.Wolves / 2-0 v.Spurs / 1-1 @Stoke
Wolves: 1-0 v.Burnley / 2-2 v.Palace / 0-2 v.Wigan

Last 3 head-to-head:
Liverpool 3-2 Bolton @ Reebok on Aug 29th, 2009
Liverpool 3-0 Bolton @ Anfield on Dec 26th, 2008
Liverpool 2-0 Bolton @ Reebok on Nov 15th, 2008

Top-Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 12 / Kuyt 7 / Benayoun & Gerrard 5 / Ngog 4 / Babel & Johnson 2 / Kyrgiakos & Skrtel 1
Bolton: Klasnic 6 / Cahill & Taylor 5 / Lee 4 / Cohen & Davies 3 / Elmander 2 / Gardner 1

Squad Prediction:
Reina
Carragher - Skrtel - Kyrgiakos - Aurelio
Mascherano - Aquilani
Kuyt - Gerrard - Riera
N'gog

Subs: Cavalieri, Degen, Babel, Maxi, Insua, Darby, Pacheco

I like N'gog up top, because he can possess the ball and he's got pace. Kuyt on the right can still get forward to help in attack and he'll cover be good cover for Carra as well. If N'gog were to get a knock, then Kuyt can replace him up top and Babel or Maxi can come on. I also like Aurelio on the pitch rather than Insua as he offers more going forward and is one of our best free-kick takers. I really like Maxi & Babel coming off the bench for some added pace late in the match. Also, I like playing more offensively from the start...hoping we get a goal or two lead and THEN bringing on Lucas to replace Aquilani! That's my take. We need a real nice run of form. I can't emphasize enough how nice a run of form we need!

Also, looks like Bolton have signed Arsenal starlett Jack Wilshere on loan. It will be interesting to see if he makes the squad. Owen Coyle's new side (Bolton) got a 1-0 win over his old side (Burnley) this past Tuesday. That 3 points helped to raise Bolton above the relegation zone. I'd look for a similar side to face Liverpool.

Y.N.W.A.

Liverpool FC v. Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview

Liverpool v. Wolves

Tuesday, January 26th @2:45pm, live on Setanta or you can find a feed online.

Referee: Peter Walton

Form - Last 3:
Liverpool: 2-0 v.Spurs...1-1 @Stoke...1-1 @Reading
Wolves: 2-2 v.Palace...0-2 v.Wigan...1-0 @Tranmere

Last 3 head-to-head:
Liverpool 2-0 Wolves @ Anfield on Dec 26th, 2009
Liverpool 1-0 Wolves @ Anfield on Mar 20th, 2004
Liverpool 1-1 Wolves @ Molineux Stadium on Jan 21st, 2004

Top-Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 12...Kuyt 7...Benayoun & Gerrard 5...Ngog 4...Babel & Johnson 2...Kyrgiakos & Skrtel 1
Wolves: Doyle 5...Craddock 4...Milijas 2...Ebanks-Blake, Edwards, Keogh, Maierhofer & Stearman 1

Squad Prediction:
Reina
Carragher - Skrtel - Kyrgiakos - Aurelio
Mascherano - Lucas
Maxi - Aquilani - Riera
Kuyt

Subs: Cavalieri, Degen, Babel, Gerrard, Ngog, Darby, Pacheco
Stevie G. looks set to be in the squad today. I just hope we don't need him! Come on you REDS!

Maxi's Arrival, Background Info & Liverpool's Starting XI v. Reading

Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez arrived at Liverpool's training facilities this morning for his medical. It is said Liverpool have signed Maxi on a "free" to a 3.5 year contract. Assuming everything goes well, (and why shouldn't it, I mean we signed a "bum" Alberto Aquilani for £17million this past summer) Rodriguez could possibly be on our team-sheet as early as this weekend @ Stoke.

I've read that the winger will watch tonight's FA Cup third-round replay against Reading at Anfield before returning to Spain to put the finishing touches on his departure from Atletico Madrid.

I'm hoping Maxi's arrival will boost the confidence of his friend and international team-mate Javier Mascherano. Hell, I'm hoping he'll boost our entire side's morale! He's also familiar with our ace striker Fernando Torres as the two were teammates at Atletico Madrid. Rodriguez is capable of playing on either wing, he prefers to be a right-sided player from what I've read. This makes things interesting when it comes to Dirk Kuyt or Yossi Benayoun. Should be interesting to see how Rafa handles this situation.

I have to believe that Ryan Babel's next on the departure list. Good luck to him, he just never found his feet at Liverpool.

Here's your essential need-to-know on Maxi Rodriguez...(via Mirrorfootball.co.uk):

1) Maximiliano Ruben Rodriguez was born on January 2, 1981, in Rosario, Argentina. Premier League defenders beware: he is nicknamed 'La Fiera' - or, in English, the beast.

2) A product of the youth system at local club Newell's Old Boys, he broke into the first team as an 18 year-old and scored an impressive 20 goals in 56 league appearances in his first three seasons

3) In 2001 he spent six months on loan in the Spanish second tier at Real Oviedo, and made a permanent move to Europe a year later when he signed for Espanyol.

4) He made his La Liga debut in September 2002, coming on as a sub in a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid. Rodriguez really came to prominence in his third season, though, when he scored 15 times in 37 appearances - including the Catalonians' 2000th league goal.

5) He signed for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2005 for for €7million and lined-up in a midfield that also included current Manchester City star Martin Petrov. After an impressive start that saw Rodriguez bag a11 goals from 33 starts, his second season was curtailed by a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury.

6) He's scored a total of 42 goals for Atletico - including one at Anfield in the Champions League - but his greatest moment arguably came in November 2009 when Rodriguez put four past Marbella in a Copa del Rey tie. And here's a rather tasteful montage of Rodriguez' 'rompia':

7) He made his name internationally as part of the Argentinean Under-20's 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship winning side. Rodriguez finished top scorer at the tournament with four goals from seven matches.

8) He made his senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Japan in 2003, and scored his first goal against Hungary two years later. He's gone on to play 35 times for the national side and scored 10 goals - including three at the 2006 World Cup finals. One of which was this unforgettable stunner against Mexico:

9) He ended the tournament in disgrace, however, when he was sent off for punching Bastian Schweinsteiger in the back following Argentina's quarter-final defeat to Germany. Handbags at the ready, chaps:

10) Given the long and illustrious association between Liverpool FC and musicians (who could forget the Anfield Rap?), it's fitting that Rodriguez has apparently appeared in a music video himself, lending support to Rosario rocker Coti - alongside Atletico team-mate Diego Forlan.

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Liverpool FC v. Reading (Starting XI): Cavalieri, Degen, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Aurelio, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel, Gulacsi, Pacheco...COME ON YOU FOOKING SCOUSE!!!

Liverpool v. Reading Preview (4th Round FA Cup Replay)

Liverpool v. Reading

Wednesday, January 13th @2:45pm, live on Setanta or you can find a feed online.

Last 3 head-to-head:
Liverpool 1-1 Reading @ Madjeski Stadium on Jan 2nd, 2010
Liverpool 2-1 Reading @ Anfield on Mar 15th, 2008
Liverpool 1-3 Reading @ Madjeski Stadium on Dec 8th, 2007

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 1-1 @Reading...1-0 @Villa...2-0 v.Wolves
Reading: 1-1 v.Liverpool...1-4 @Plymouth...1-1 v.Swansea

Top-Goalscorers (more than 5 goals...all competitions):
Liverpool: Torres 12; Benayoun 7; Gerrard, Kuyt, Ngog 6
Reading: Sigurdsson 7; Rasiak 6; Church 5

Referee: Phil Dowd

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Darby Carragher Agger Aurelio
Lucas Aquilani
Kuyt Gerrard Benayoun
Torres

It sucks to say this is a "must-win", but it is a "must-win." A loss tomorrow @ home would really do some damage to our already "down in the dumps" morale. I would really like to see us firing on all cylinders & keeping a clean sheet. A big win (I'm thinking 5 or 6 nil) would work wonders for our teams spirits. A loss would light the papers a fire like United losing to Leeds. Some might say the less competitions we're in the better, since our depth is lacking. I say we need to win a trophy, few are finer than the F.A. Cup!

Here's to hoping we come away with the victory tomorrow and to hoping Maxi Rodriguez gets signed with us asap. (as I just typed this out, I've just read that Maxi Rodriguez is due to land on Merseyside tomorrow morning to complete a physical. Good news for Liverpool fans.)

Cheers!

"Blow me, F***face. Go to hell. I’m sick of you."

What a complete & utter twat this guy is!! Seriously, these muppets who are running our club into the ground need to leave YESTERDAY. I'm sorry, but an apology stating "losing my temper and using bad language", and calling it "a knee-jerk reaction" isn't going to cut it. I'd call it a jerk’s reaction if anything.

Hicks & Gillet cannot seriously allow this kind of behavior to take place under their noses. Not only does it make things worse for them, but it also is going to cause the fans to react in a (more than likely) brash way. If the Hickletts were smart, they'd be shipping Hicks Jr. back to the States. Fans are already calling for his head in the way of resignation. Can you imagine the uproar amongst fans if he ever sets foot in Anfield again?? I fear for people's safety...the last thing our beloved club needs is any sort of bad publicity due to the fans reacting in a harsh manner.