Saturday, August 26, 2006
Match Prediction: Liverpool
*** This thread will be sticky right up until kick off so remember to scroll down for new articles.*** Another reminder that the Brisbane Hammers will be watching this game at the Pig N Whistle in Eagle St, kick off 9:45pm Australian East Coast time.
Our Opponents:
Liverpool hardly need an introduction after our famous FA Cup final 3-3 draw. Their large bank balance ensures every season they have quality all over the park and with our bargain side we will need to put up another brave performance to keep the likes of Steven Gerrard quiet. Liverpool will be eager to get their season on track this weekend after failing to beat Premiership newcomers Sheffield United at Brammal Lane last weekend. In fact they were lucky to get away with a point as only a soft penalty got them out of an embarrassing defeat. They have also been less than convincing in Europe this week, scraping past Israel’s Maccabi Haifa with our on loan Striker Yaniv Katan amongst their ranks. Perhaps this is the best time to play Liverpool. They quite often take a little while to settle into their season and get their football flowing which probably accounts for why they fail year after year to mount a serious title challenge yet have periods in the season where they are unbeatable.
Player to Watch: Steven Gerrard
West Ham:
A disappointing draw against Watford midweek saw the hammers momentarily grasp the summit of the Premier League for the first time in the league’s 13 year existence. However with only Manchester United making the most of their first 2 games and taking all six points we dropped only 2 places and could take the summit again should things go our way this weekend. The reality is the league table means nothing for 10 or so games and with our Anfield track record we are very unlikely to take maximum spoils here anyway. Pardew’s toying with formation cost us dear against Watford and dropping Yossi IMO was a poor decision. If we are to stand a chance we must revert back to a formation we are comfortable with and Yossi must start.
Predicted Hammers Team: Carroll, Konch, Gabbs, Anton, Paintsil, Bowyer, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Yossi, Zamora, Harewood.
Player to Watch: Yossi Benayoun
Prediction: 3-1 loss for us this time round. Without the power of Ashton to ruffle their defence and our poor record at Anfield, I feel we are on a hiding to nothing in this game.
Our Opponents:
Liverpool hardly need an introduction after our famous FA Cup final 3-3 draw. Their large bank balance ensures every season they have quality all over the park and with our bargain side we will need to put up another brave performance to keep the likes of Steven Gerrard quiet. Liverpool will be eager to get their season on track this weekend after failing to beat Premiership newcomers Sheffield United at Brammal Lane last weekend. In fact they were lucky to get away with a point as only a soft penalty got them out of an embarrassing defeat. They have also been less than convincing in Europe this week, scraping past Israel’s Maccabi Haifa with our on loan Striker Yaniv Katan amongst their ranks. Perhaps this is the best time to play Liverpool. They quite often take a little while to settle into their season and get their football flowing which probably accounts for why they fail year after year to mount a serious title challenge yet have periods in the season where they are unbeatable.
Player to Watch: Steven Gerrard
West Ham:
A disappointing draw against Watford midweek saw the hammers momentarily grasp the summit of the Premier League for the first time in the league’s 13 year existence. However with only Manchester United making the most of their first 2 games and taking all six points we dropped only 2 places and could take the summit again should things go our way this weekend. The reality is the league table means nothing for 10 or so games and with our Anfield track record we are very unlikely to take maximum spoils here anyway. Pardew’s toying with formation cost us dear against Watford and dropping Yossi IMO was a poor decision. If we are to stand a chance we must revert back to a formation we are comfortable with and Yossi must start.
Predicted Hammers Team: Carroll, Konch, Gabbs, Anton, Paintsil, Bowyer, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Yossi, Zamora, Harewood.
Player to Watch: Yossi Benayoun
Prediction: 3-1 loss for us this time round. Without the power of Ashton to ruffle their defence and our poor record at Anfield, I feel we are on a hiding to nothing in this game.
