2008-09 Record
Premier League 2, FA Cup rnd4, Carling Cup rnd4, Champions League QF
Manager:
Rafael Benitez His eccentric behaviour — silly spats with Sir Alex Ferguson he could never win; his inexhaustible internal politicking and some rum selections — distracted from what was Liverpool’s best season of the century. Still, what he’s building may yet be special.
Artists or artisans?
There is no more thrilling Premier League combination than OJ Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Doubts remain over Liverpool’s defensive prowess but since Dirk Kuyt turned provider they look more balanced and more potent than ever.
Crowd puller:
Fernando Torres Had Torres not suffered two hamstring injuries last season, Liverpool might have overhauled Manchester United. In the end he had to settle for 14 goals from 20 starts to confirm he is one of the most fearsome strikers in Premier League history.
Feuding with:
Sir Alex Ferguson Silly old grudges die hard. For reasons still unclear, Benitez chose to play mind games with the man with a degree in mind games (University of Ochaye, 1986). ‘Do I think he is nervous?’ asked Benitez in January. ‘Clearly.’ Yes, clearly.
Squad analysis:
Goalkeepers 1 Diego Cavalieri, 25 Pepe Reina
Defenders 2 Glen Johnson, 5 Daniel Agger, 12 Fabio Aurelio, 22 Emiliano Insua, 23 Jamie Carragher, 27 Philipp Degen, 32 Stephen Darby, 34 Martin Kelly, 36 Steven Irwin, 37 Martin Skrtel, 38 Andrea Dossena
Midfielders 8 Steven Gerrard, 11 Albert Riera, 15 Yossi Benayoun, 19 Ryan Babel, 20 Javier Mascherano, 21 Lucas Leiva, 26 Jay Spearing, 28 Damien Plessis, 31 Nabil El Zhar, Alberto Aquilani
Forwards 9 Fernando Torres, 10 Andriy Voronin, 18 Dirk Kuyt, 24 David Ngog, 29 Krisztian Nemeth
Players in: Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma) £20m, Glen Johnson (Portsmouth) £17m, Chris Mavinga (PSG) undisclosed, Stephen Sama (Borussia Dortmund) free
Players out: Xabi Alonso (R Madrid) £30m, Alvaro Arbeloa (R Madrid) £3.5m, Sebastian Leto (Panathinaikos) £3m, Jack Hobbs (Leicester) undisclosed, Sami Hyypia (B Leverkusen) free, Jermaine Pennant (R Zaragoza) free
Premier League 2, FA Cup rnd4, Carling Cup rnd4, Champions League QF
Manager:
Rafael Benitez His eccentric behaviour — silly spats with Sir Alex Ferguson he could never win; his inexhaustible internal politicking and some rum selections — distracted from what was Liverpool’s best season of the century. Still, what he’s building may yet be special.
Artists or artisans?
There is no more thrilling Premier League combination than OJ Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Doubts remain over Liverpool’s defensive prowess but since Dirk Kuyt turned provider they look more balanced and more potent than ever.
Crowd puller:
Fernando Torres Had Torres not suffered two hamstring injuries last season, Liverpool might have overhauled Manchester United. In the end he had to settle for 14 goals from 20 starts to confirm he is one of the most fearsome strikers in Premier League history.
Feuding with:
Sir Alex Ferguson Silly old grudges die hard. For reasons still unclear, Benitez chose to play mind games with the man with a degree in mind games (University of Ochaye, 1986). ‘Do I think he is nervous?’ asked Benitez in January. ‘Clearly.’ Yes, clearly.
Squad analysis:
Goalkeepers 1 Diego Cavalieri, 25 Pepe Reina
Defenders 2 Glen Johnson, 5 Daniel Agger, 12 Fabio Aurelio, 22 Emiliano Insua, 23 Jamie Carragher, 27 Philipp Degen, 32 Stephen Darby, 34 Martin Kelly, 36 Steven Irwin, 37 Martin Skrtel, 38 Andrea Dossena
Midfielders 8 Steven Gerrard, 11 Albert Riera, 15 Yossi Benayoun, 19 Ryan Babel, 20 Javier Mascherano, 21 Lucas Leiva, 26 Jay Spearing, 28 Damien Plessis, 31 Nabil El Zhar, Alberto Aquilani
Forwards 9 Fernando Torres, 10 Andriy Voronin, 18 Dirk Kuyt, 24 David Ngog, 29 Krisztian Nemeth
Players in: Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma) £20m, Glen Johnson (Portsmouth) £17m, Chris Mavinga (PSG) undisclosed, Stephen Sama (Borussia Dortmund) free
Players out: Xabi Alonso (R Madrid) £30m, Alvaro Arbeloa (R Madrid) £3.5m, Sebastian Leto (Panathinaikos) £3m, Jack Hobbs (Leicester) undisclosed, Sami Hyypia (B Leverkusen) free, Jermaine Pennant (R Zaragoza) free
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