First Brick in the Fortress?

After a disappointing loss to West Brom to start the season at the hands of former first team coach Steve Clarke, the Reds will now look to take on the defending Premier League champions.

Rodgers announced his attentions of making Anfield an impenetrable fortress when he arrived. Having already acquired Borini, Allen, Assaidi and finalizing a loan deal for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin, Rodgers seems to have declared that he intends business. We'll look to see how Liverpool fare on Sunday 16:00 GMT.

Both managers seem to be taking a cautious and respectful approach towards their opposition with Rodgers labeling City as the ''benchmark'' team and Mancini insisting that Liverpool can challenge for the title this season. With regard to transfers, City have been surprisingly quite. Though linked with Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, and Daniel Agger they have only acquired former Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell and offloaded Adam Johnson to Sunderland for a rumored fee of £10m.

Liverpool fans will be licking their lips following the signing of Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan, but will be unsure of whether he will have a part to play on Sunday. One player who will certainly be worrying City fans is Luis Suarez. He seems to have started off the season from where he left off last season, tantalizing West Brom's defence from the start to the very end of the game with only the finish lacking. Suarez and Gerrard having been rested for the mid-week clash against Hearts will have had ample time to prepare for the clash against last year's champions and are expected to be at the heart of Liverpool's attack.

Meanwhile Aguero, who won the Premier League for City against QPR will miss the clash along with Gareth Barry who are both out through injury. Micah Richards, though back from injury may not be up to scratch just yet.

Given Liverpool's record against big teams and City's recent success, a slightly pessimistic approach from Reds fans is definitely warranted. I for one, expect Liverpool to start with a similar line-up to that last weekend against West Brom:

--------------------------------------Reina

Kelly----------------Carragher-----------------Skrtel--------------Johnson

------------------------------------Lucas

-------------------------Allen-----------------Gerrard

Downing------------------------------------------------------------Suarez

------------------------------------Borini

Although the line-up may remain unchanged, expect a more counter-offensive approach to the game. Enrique and Cole are expected to miss the game through injury with Assaidi and Sterling expected to play some part in the game.

Prediction: 1-1.

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Kenny Dalglish' and David Moyes' Post-Match Reactions

Kenny Dalglish' and David Moyes' Reactions

Kenny Dalglish' Post-Match Reaction:


Inquired about his thoughts regarding the sending-off of Jack Rodwell, he said:

"It was pretty even 11 against 11. I have not seen the incident, so I don't know whether he deserved red or not.

"After they went down to 10, we were very professional, composed and thorough in what we were trying to do.

He added: "Sometimes it is difficult to play against 10. It was difficult because you know what you're going to get from Everton and they put in a great effort to try and keep it at 0-0, or even win it themselves.

"It was never going to be easy for us, but I think the way we went about our work was a great credit to the players."

"You're always hoping you're going to make a chance, whether you take it or not is another thing. Although they (Everton) will be unhappy with the result, I think they will be happy with the effort their players put in for them.

"We were delighted with our players and the way they went about their work. It's hypothetical whether we would have won or lost (with 11 versus 11) because we'll never know."

When a reporter suggested whether the derby goal would give Andy Carroll a lot of confidence, Dalglish said: "It won't do Luis any harm either!

"What was also pleasing was the reaction of Dirk Kuyt after missing the penalty - it didn't seem to affect him, which is the sign of a strong character.

"Those three incidents are very positive returns for each of the three individuals.

"Big Andy was unlucky a couple of times earlier with headers, but he stroked it away nicely."

He added, "We said when we signed both of them (Carroll and Suarez) it was a great bit of business for the club and we don't see any reason to change that opinion. I don't think there's any need for us to have a weekly bulletin about how they've played either.

"We're delighted with them. Andy has worked really, really hard in training and he is getting his reward on the pitch."

Dalglish also had words for the returning captain, who got another 23 minutes on the field,

" It's another step forward for Steven coming on in the derby and getting a few more minutes under his belt. I think Steven aired his views yesterday and I don't think there is anything I need to add with regards to that.

"With regards to any reaction after the game, there was none whatsoever other than happiness about the result."

Yet another solid performance from Martin Kelly,saw an interviewer quiz Dalglish on whether the England u21 international could make the next step,  " Fabio (Capello) has got to pick a team and he'll pick whoever he wants to pick," said the gaffer. 

"We're delighted with Martin and where his performances for us take him, I don't know."

David Moyes Post-Match Reaction:

"I thought it ruined the game," said Moyes of the red card.

"There are a lot of questions that people ask about derbies, tackles and sendings-off but that wasn't down to a bad tackle.

"I would have been disappointed if it had been a free-kick and if he had given a yellow card you would have said 'what is that for?'.

"It would have been hard playing Liverpool 11 v 11 - it was a really tough game for us and it became tougher."

Moyes has history with Atkinson as he was fined £8,000 by the Football Association 12 months ago for confronting the official at the end of their 3-3 draw with Manchester United at Goodison Park.

"We've not had this referee since myself and Steve Round were fined one year ago against Manchester United," said the Scot.

"It was interesting that the PGMO (Premier Game Match Officials Ltd) sent him into both clubs this week to do the referee's appraisal prior to this game.

"It needs people who watch and play the game and understand it and write about it to see it (Atkinson's decision) because it is easy for me to say it.

"Too often people talk about the players not doing it right but it wasn't the players.

"I don't think anyone in this world thought it was [a sending off] but it is one of these things that we just have to take that it was wrong and move on. I don't know if we can appeal the red card."

Moyes admitted, however, that other factors contributed to their defeat.

"The team did everything but at the end of the day it wasn't the referee that lost us the game, we made a couple of defensive lapses," he added.

Blue Sees Red as Liverpool win the Merseyside Derby

Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez were both on the mark as Liverpool beat Everton at Goodison Park. 

Liverpool were arguably helped by the sending-off of England U21 international - Jack Rodwell. With tempers flaring and stop-start game, it was a timid first half performance from both the sides.

Evertonians would be angered even more when referee Mark Atkinson awarded a penalty to Liverpool as Luis Suarez tumbled inside the penalty box. Their anger was soon forgotten, when Dirk Kuyt's was thwarted by Tim Howard.

 

The whistle for the first half blew with Evertonians still livid from the controversial sending-off of Jack Rodwell. 

The beginning of the second half seemed no different than the first half until Liverpool's record signing, Andy Carroll, went on to net his first of this year's Premier League and his first of the Merseyside Derby.

Though it was Andy Carroll who scored it, credit must be given to Jose Enrique, who set up the goal, and Dirk Kuyt who faked a shot to catch the defenders off-guard.

Suarez's goal meant Liverpool had ground out a victory against their local rivals. 

Author: LFC Dynamic

Pictures Courtesy: Liverpoolfc.tv 

Enrique's Hopes of Playing for Spain

He is the man who has finally solved Liverpool's left-back conundrum - but although Kopites have been wowed by Jose Enrique since his move from Newcastle, the player himself is not getting carried away.

While several potential contenders for LFC's left-back position failed to be fruitful, Jose Enrique has won the support of the Kop, and already has 2 man-of-the-match awards (From the fans) to his name.

However, Enrique knows this may not be sufficient to earn him a spot in the Spanish XI. Enrique's hopes to constantly improve and make it to the international level.

Enrique also revealed the left-backs he's been studying at rival clubs.

"To get the fans with you, you have to play well, at the moment I think I've done well but I can do better.

"I have to improve of course. Sometimes I think about my mistakes and I want to kick myself.

"I'm like every person - I know when I've done good things and I know when I've done bad things. In football it's the same. I always think about my mistakes.

"I watch videos of other left-backs. I like Ashley Cole a lot - I think he's one of the best left-backs in the world. Others too, like Marcelo.

"I think if I keep improving I can be there (with Spain). I haven't gone yet because it's really hard to go - we won the last World Cup and the last European Championships, but I hope in the future I can be there.

"When I signed here I wanted to play Champions League football with this club and also to try and go to the national team. If I go I'll be happy but for me the national team is an extra. It's important but for me it's my club first."

"It was a nice assist but the truth is, Luis made everything with the goal," said Enrique. "I know I played the ball but he scored a nice goal.

"Everyone knows about Luis. He's started really, really well here but the people maybe don't realise that he's still really young. I tell him he looks 35-years-old but no, he's still young - 24 I think.

"When I was at Newcastle I said all the time it was a nice squad, but when I came here I thought because it was a big team it would be more difficult in the dressing room.

"But no. It's a really, really good dressing room and everyone is together.

"When I started it's difficult to be confident, it's a big team, a different dressing room, but now I can joke all the time. The best thing I can do in my life is play football. I love to play football and you have to enjoy it. I try to enjoy it all the time, I am funny with Luis and Maxi, making jokes and everything."

"I like the training more," he said. "When I was at Newcastle the training was easier I think. Here it's a little harder and I like that because when I was in Spain it was really hard too.

"Everyone here tries to give everything. Sometimes it's hard when some players don't play, but here they try to give 100 per cent in training. Of course this is a big team and you can't play every game. You have two or three players for each position so you have to train really hard.

"Always I make siesta (afterwards) every day!"

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv