Preview Q&A with Liverpool Offside

By: Homey | August 17th, 2011

It’s always a special treat around here when I can bring you information from someone more enlightened than I am. Which isn’t always too hard to do. But anyway, since we’re about to play Liverpool this weekend, I decided to ask their excellent blogger, Ed, a few questions. He’s been doing a fine job for the Liverpool Offside for quite some time. And since they’re not only our opponent this Saturday, but also a team we’ll have to keep our eyes on this season, I thought it would be good to get his thoughts on everything going on with Liverpool. So here’s what he had to say in response to a few questions:

1) A lot of pundits think the battle for 4th will be between these two teams. How do you see that shaping up throughout the season, and do you think that’s accurate?

I’m not as familiar with the expectations of Arsenal supporters, but I know the expectation for Liverpool is to be back among the Champions League places come May, so I’d hope it’s accurate on this end. I’ve passively followed Arsenal (mostly via our relationship with Martin, Sairax, and now all of you) and, especially with the events of the past week, know that at least the early part of the season is going to be particularly challenging. So it’d make sense that if another member of the traditional “Big Four” hit some hard times, it’d be Arsenal. I think City unfortunately has the potential to really assert themselves, United will be United, and Chelsea will probably round out a fairly solid top three. Outside of that, Arsenal, Liverpool, and your guys’ second favorite side, Spurs, will be in the running. Doesn’t seem like there’s many other challengers outside those six teams.

2) How satisfied are Liverpool fans with the new ownership and manager?

It goes without saying that there’s a vastly different feeling off the pitch for Liverpool this season as opposed to last–they started the 2010-2011 season with the worst ownership situation possible and a manager that quickly proved himself to be completely unfit for the position. Supporting during the fall and winter months of last season was a surreal experience; takeover talks, court cases, midnight dealings, draws and losses to teams at the bottom of the table classified as fantastic displays, the return of Kenny Dalglish, and winding down the season in European contention. We were never short of content, but it made for a nutty campaign.

So to be without that entering this season is welcome, even after the fairly disappointing result against Sunderland. The owners showed they’re willing to invest, Dalglish seems to have a clear picture of how he’d like the squad to look, and there’s finally a sense that, as a football club, Liverpool aren’t completely toxic. Which is nice.

3) Will Liverpool still conduct more transfer business, and what areas of need do you still see in the club? What are the chances that players like Raul Meireles will be sold, and how do you rate your chances at the likes of Cahill and other defenders?

I think most would say that bolstering in central defense is still needed, hence the talk of Gary Cahill or Scott Dann. Liverpool’s been attached to both for a healthy chunk of the summer, and I think there’s a good chance they could end up with either so long as Arsenal don’t beat them to the punch. There’s a general feeling that the owners will spend when they feel like they need to and stand firm when they have a set price in mind, so adding at least one more player before the end of August wouldn’t be surprising. Secondary need would be support up top whether or not David Ngog sticks around; Andy Carroll, Dirk Kuyt, and Luis Suarez basically form the attacking core, and beyond that it’s slim pickings.

If you’ve been around our site much you know that I can’t emotionally handle the thought of Raul Meireles leaving, so that’s a “no” whether or not it’s a realistic possibility. Liverpool aren’t a sell-to-buy club anymore, and the logic that they should sell because they could still get a good fee for him is absurd. Second-best player behind Lucas last season, unique combination of skills, one of the most critical to a pass-and-move style, and he wants to stay. No brainer. Alberto Aquilani is probably going to leave, and we all have our fingers crossed that Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen are the duo to replace Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Right?

4) How do you see Liverpool lining up this season, assuming no more transfers occur? You seem to have 500+ midfielders, some of whom are guaranteed starters, while others will have to fight for their role. How will Daglish sort them out?

My best eleven the other day was Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Meireles, Lucas, Gerrard; Kuyt, Suarez, Downing. For me that gives Liverpool skill, experience, strength, and flair, lends itself to a more fluid pass-and-move, and it’s adding two left-sided players that can only improve last year’s best eleven. Unfortunately I don’t think we’ll get much of that–Andy Carroll seems central to Dalglish’s plans (and looked much improved on Saturday prior to the hoofing brigade taking over), as does Charlie Adam, so I think it’s much more likely that we get Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Adam; Suarez, Gerrard, Downing; Carroll. That’s not disappointing by any stretch, as there’s plenty of quality there as well, but for personal preference I’m sticking to the former.

The latter formation leaves out Dirk Kuyt along with Meireles, Jordan Henderson, Maxi, Martin Kelly, Martin Skrtel, and Fabio Aurelio, among others, which makes for a fairly strong bench relative to how it looked for most of the season gone by.

5) How is Gerrard’s health right now, and do you feel we’re seeing the down slope of his career?

This is a tough one to answer without getting Liverpool supporters riled up, so I’ll tread gently and start with a huzzah for him returning to light training this week. I’m not sure of the efficacy of treatments for groins that have the consistency of Listerine breath strips, but apparently he’s on his way back. The surgery was expected and needed, but the infection came out of left field, which is why he’s out until September. The hope is that the surgery was the remedy for the lingering problem, and that he’s back to his most effective self, or at least the most effective self he can be at this point. Which, in my opinion, is still among Europe’s elite.

But I do think we’re on the precipice of him entering a different stage of his career, if that hasn’t happened already. There’s plenty of discussion about becoming a more reserved central midfielder and less rampaging forward, which would ostensibly prolong his career while still ensuring a place in the starting eleven. If his body holds up and he’s got the discipline, it could work, but after the last few seasons, it’s hard to see his career extending too far down the road.

6) How do you feel your team played last Saturday, and do you think we’ll see about the same lineup this week?

Terrific for most of the first half and abysmal during the second. There was great movement going forward and multiple chances that should have been taken in the first thirty minutes or so, and then it all went to pot after the restart. Liverpool regressed to an ugly and ineffective brand of football and Sunderland took advantage. Based on the entire match a draw was probably fair, but both sides could have come away with all three points.

I think we’ll see two replacements in the eleven barring fitness–Jordan Henderson should take a seat after struggling, as should John Flanagan. We’re not talking banishment for either, as they’ll have their chances this season, but there’s more capable replacements in Dirk Kuyt and Martin Kelly for now. Like I mentioned, I’d love to see Meireles in the eleven, and think he can make really positive contributions, but it looks like Charlie Adam will get the nod.

7) Finally, what’s your prediction on the outcome this Saturday?

Those who visit our site with any frequency know that I’m a disaster when it comes to predictions, so really glad you asked!

I’ll say 1-1 with absolutely zero percent certainty.

Some Related Stories:

Category: Arsenal News, Liverpool, Preview, Transfer News and Player Movement

« Wednesday News Roundup | Home | Arsenal-Liverpool Preview »

Perry S.

Regardless of your thoughts about Arsene, I have to say one thing...I love watching his press conferences. You really can't deny he's a great spokesperson for this club. He's always got a great, snidy sense of humor, and I really enjoy how thoroughly he backs his team (probably to the extent that it damages us at times). I still find it silly that people are calling for his head, it really boggles my mind.
Kas123

Deschamps stated that we wanted to loan Lucho Gonzalez from Marseille, but was denied by the club. Interestingly he's not the type of player we would buy, because he's 30, so I understand the loan instead of purchase from that point of view. However, I'm trying to understand why Wenger would consider a loan move, maybe 1) he knows our midfield would benefit from some experience or 2) realizes that we desperately need reinforcements or 3) can't locate the quality replacement we currently need from the departures we've had or 4) Doesn't want to spend the money to get a quality midfielder or 5) Maybe he's waiting for Hazard to be sold for cheaper than 30mil and then swoop next year. Honestly I don't know and cant remember the last time we loaned anyone.
Kas123

Nasri on the team sheet to face Liverpool tomorrow. Interesting to see how that will turn out.
Kas123

Hey Homey, I got a nice little video for you regarding Arsenal, but I can't put up the link because u have to gimme permission of the moderator. I think Casimir may like it too.
brenton

Try posting it but with words instead of punctuation, like Jimmy dot Jams dot com
Homey_Mills

I have no idea how the posting of links works. Fred Jacob is famous for being able to do it. But as of now, I still have no moderator status to approve or reject comments. If you'll notice, Martin still has a blue star by his name when he comments, and I do not.
Patoux21

I read that Nasri is in the group for the Liverpool game ...
Gigi_man

Just read in mirror or footall 365 that Falcao is on his way to Atletico Madrid? I mean, losing players to Citeh or Chelski, or even Barça or Madrid...but to Atletico?? come on, that guy is the next golden boot, mark my words.
We have money now but I guess we wont e spending anything and no one else will arrive.
And Wenger will say that the team looks good. I mean it looks not bad, but add one or two injuries in key spots...we re doomed.
Come on Wenger...prove me wrong, this year I swear I turn into anti Wenger full...
SJGgumby

No matter what he says, I don't believe that AW will be spending 40M on a player. Especially given the wages that a 40M player likely commands.
Homey_Mills

Unfortunately, I have to agree. In addition, with all the holes we have to plug right now, I wouldn't spend all the cash in one place. But at least I WOULD spend all the cash.
SJGgumby

This may be a double-post, since I tried to include a link last time and it told me it required moderator approval.

Pictures from Arsenal's training are available, and all the starters seem to be wearing green jerseys - RVP, Theo, Kos, Verm, Frimp, NASRI, Ramsey. Didn't show who the others would be - but Jenkinson, Ryo and Oxtail were shown in white jerseys. So really unclear who will be starting at LB - unless Squillaci is staring in the middle pushing Verm wide? (((shivers)))
brenton

Can I unlike this? Squillaci should never see our first team again.
Homey_Mills

But at least he shivered. Doesn't that count?
SJGgumby

So apparently Nasri has been training with the first-team in practice, and we may see him vs Liverpool. Sounds like the move to MC is still on, but we're willing to risk him on Saturday due to the injuries.
brenton

Just read this on Yankee Gunner:

The natural response is to point out that the transfer window is still open. And you’re right. Wenger can still make additions to the squad. Frankly, he’d be bordering on sadistic if he didn’t. But my response is that the window has been open for months. The chances have been there. Don’t give me this song and dance about the transfer market not being a “supermarket.” City got their deals done. United got their deals done. Are they too rich to compare to Arsenal? Ok. Liverpool managed to get plenty of deals done. Don’t want to compare with their crazy transfer business? Fair enough. What about Sunderland? They managed to bring in plenty of players. Was that a fluke? And let’s not forget that teams have found it possible to buy players from Arsenal if they’re willing to pay the price.
Homey_Mills

I've only been saying the same thing for over a month, and everyone tells me it's not so easy, and I should go back to playing Football Manager.
brenton

Yer a fuckin' praphet ovah heyah.
ARSENE WENGER

Mr. Mills, as I have said to you and everyone else, if I find the right player at the right price, I will move on a deal. This is not a supermarket! But, right now, I am VERY BUSY counting all my money.
JPR

Homey, you should go back to playing football manager.
sbobet

thank you so much.
brenton

Ed et al:

What are your thoughts on why Aquilani hasn't been a success at Liverpool? He was clearly a quality player at Roma before and at Juventus on loan. Is it the pace of the game? Has he been played out of position too much?
Ed

Lack of opportunity mostly; was very good down the stretch two seasons ago when he finally got playing time, then went out on loan, and is now caught in the middle of some sort of clusterfuck between the club, his agent, and him. Like JPR said, most would love for him to stay and reject the notion that he couldn't be successful in the English game, which is the main talking point against him by people who earn their paychecks talking about how physical and tough and blood and thunder the Premier League is. Probably an untenable situation now, but it'd be great if he stuck around, settled in, and had an impact.
JPR

Please don't ask us about Aquilani. It is a very upsetting topic for many of us Liverpool fans. Let's just suffice it to say that many of us would like Aquaman to stay around for at least a few years. Ed or Noel would be better with details. If you posted this question over at the Liverpool blog, instead of here on an article that is getting old, you will get plenty of responses. But, just be warned that some of the guys over there may call you a troll. But, don't get upset with that, it's just that some of us are a little sensitive after Sunderland.
brenton

Yah, wanted to ask the question somewhere where I wouldn't get blasted with "He's a weak Italian cunt". Thanks for the responses. I think he would do well here, wonder if Wenger's given him a look.
Ed

No, that would never work, he's a weak Italian cunt.
brenton

Fair enough. I'll tell Wenger to look elsewhere. I hear Joe Cole is available.
Waltonperry

Arsene Wenger signed his own death warrant with this on the 11th July -

"Imagine the worst situation - we lose
Fabregas and Nasri - you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that"

There is absolutely no way back from that comment. Not even the
knuckle head's who think the sun shines out his hole can defend that
ARSENE WENGER

We all say stupid things once in a while. Just re-read your post.
Waltonperry

For me, there is no way back now for Samir Nasri.
As soon as he had a little pop at us Gooners that was it.
His Arsenal career is as dead as the dead-leg I received at football training last night.
Cast yourself back six months. Could you imagine feeling like this towards Samir?
I hate clowns and the colour brown but even if he had worn a brown snood with clowns on it I’d have put that aside.
Because I felt he was one of us.
It’s shame because I believed that he could become an Arsenal icon. Maybe he could have been as loved as much as Robert Pires.
Instead, if as expected he leaves for Manchester City shortly, he will become a hate figure with Gooners.
Nasri may even be disliked as much as Emmanuel Adebayor.
He, like many others, will go to Manchester City because they have been hypnotized by pound notes.
Now I hold my hands up here. If I was approached by a rival Window
company and offered 3 times my salary I would run around my office naked
screaming ‘I quit’.
So I can understand why his head has been turned.
The difference though between myself and Samir Nasri is that I’m not a
top-level professional footballer who could earn SIX figures a week.
I have to make ends-meet. I have to feed my BBQ spare rib addiction.
Nasri could have become an even bigger cult-hero amonst us Gooners
had he snubbed the money on offer at City and signed a new, very
well-paid, contract at Arsenal.
Instead we will see him as a greedy little bastard who sold his soul.
Forget the fact Nasri wanted to see our ambition in the summer with
who will sign for the club because it wasn’t about that for him.
It was all about money.
Samir had a fantastic first half of the season in the last campaign and then his form died off.
Why?
I think he was tapped up more than a tap dancing competition.
When Samir saw the money on offer at Manchester City or Manchester United his eyes went bigger than Beth Dittos left arse-cheek.
His agents eyes went bigger than the right cheek.
We were challenging for trophies when we first offered him a deal to stay at the club so his chat about ‘ambition’ is shit.
I suppose we might expect too much loyalty in this day and age from footballers. Especially me.
Well it appears that loyalty is an attribute that most of them don’t have.
And in Samir’s case that is a shame.
Especially when it will end more bitter than sucking a slice of lemon soaked in a dose of pine nuts.
SAMIR NASRI

Thanks to you, Arrrrssse has just informed me that I am to get my arse on the pitch tomorrow. I can't get away from that French c***su*k*r soon enough. Thanks PAL.
Patoux21

We can genuinely call Nasri a mercenary. If he had at least a little loyalty to the club who made him big ie Arsenal he would have renewed his contract with a high transfer clause so that other clubs would have to pay it in order to acquire him. Instead he's playing with Arsenal until the last minute. I used to like him a lot but now I don't care what he does just leave the club.
SAMIR NASRI

Trophies cost real money these days. Arsene swears he's broke!!
Orion

On an unrelated topic, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke had the following to say about Goetze; “Mario has won the German title with us, he has been with us for eight years and his family lives in the city. So there are only three or four clubs in the world he could possibly move to. And they are not located in Germany." Please, please, please, make this happen.
SJGgumby

I'd feel a lot better if he said three or four clubs in England, or 9 or 10 clubs in the world.
Homey_Mills

How can I like this comment twice?
Orion

Stop by at the Emirates on Saturday and, while holding the quote on a banner with 23 other people, shout in a chorus "Yes we can! Yes we can!". That might instigate another riot in North London though, so be quite careful.
Gigi_man

not becuse Ed stopped y, but Liverpool is the other team I dont really hate, sometimes Chelsea. ut moslty Liverpool (unless they are taking our spot, which is almost always the case).
The team is not the same we played last season, they got stronger, we have to be attentive.
kudos on the Suarez signing...theres a guy that makes me shake when he enters the elf meter.
Gerrard is Gerrard. No words needed.
Kudos on Meireles as well.
No real hated players so if theres a team that beat us and i wont be as mad, its Liverpool.
I just dont want them to beat us :P
Ed

But because I did stop by, that makes it even sweeter.

I mean, right guys?
brenton

We have a soft spot for people that stop by. Unless it's Stoke fans.
Perry S.

100% agreed on all accounts.
ED fan from liverpool

i see a liverpool win and Ed is fucking AWESOME ,who can post 3 articles in half day??????
Ed

Noel?
Orion

There is kind of an eerie silence surrounding the club at the moment, and frankly, I'm finding it very suspicious. Even the tabloids are bored of repeating the same fabricated rumours over and over.
JPR

Wenger and Kroenke are very busy counting the 35 million from Barcelona. They were paid with single dollar bills. They are expecting to focus on transfers again in early September, when they are done counting!
Gigi_man

single pounds bills, right? I heard it was in pennies!!
Joker from espnsuckernet

liverpool best signing is downing so far
just look at his delivery to bent last season-most arsenal fans would know to get most out of your team you have to buy players that compliment each other and not just mindlessly go for the most expensive thing out there-downing's deadly crossing and andy carroll aerial superiority makes a deadly combo
for the same reason i pray wenger would buy a fighting defensive leader like van buyten(lets talk of his leadership and not defensive quality as he is in the wrong side of his peak,he is to serve just as an eg) to compliment the quick learning TV5

liverpool mid is crowded they have a lot of quality players but all seem on the same level and none seem as an automatic starter(excluding gerrard)-maybe things will be clearer when aquilani and joe "living of my past reputation" cole leave

if you look at all the outsider teams(teams that didnt take the automatic cl group stage spot) liverpool has made the most acquisition in the summer period while their neighbor everton and the north london duo of spurs and arsenal have been relatively quite

1-0 to pool
Mahmoud Shadi

It's funny how for some reason Arsenal fans always seem to hate Liverpool the less among the top six.... hell, I actually quite like Liverpool for God knows what!
Ryan

It goes both ways for some of us, me included. Maybe it's because we're the 2 clubs of the big four that aren't expected to win the league. We aren't known as ruthless spenders, and we aren't known as...Manchester United.
JPR

The big four being Liverpool, the Arsenal, Citeh and Man U. Sorry Chelski. You guys are getting a little long in the tooth and have a newbie manager. Hope Wenger is listening to Eds suggestion of Cole and Poulsen for Fabregas and Nasri. Two Internationals he could get cheap. And no one is better at developing real talent than Mr. Wenger. Liverpool 3-1.
Gigi_man

ouch JPR, think it but dont write it...hurts, hurts
JPR

I am sporadically afflicted with a mysterious disease of confusing my dreams with actual reality.
Ian

uh... if anything liverpool or arsenal would be the ones out of the big four. a newbie manager? id like to see kenny daglish or wenger do what boas did with porto.
Ryan

Sorry mate, but 18 titles for Liverpool, 5 European cups. 19 titles for Manchester United, 3 European cups. 13 titles for Arsenal. 4 titles for Chelsea, only 1 without the Russian at the helm. When Dalglish was a newbie manager and the same age as Villas-Boas, he was still playing and won a domestic double, on and off the field. The amount of success Wenger has brought Arsenal with so little funding is absolutely spectacular, and he picked himself up a "undefeated season" along the way as well. In the top league in the world I might add. So yes, they did kinda do what Boas did with Porto. Only better.

Heritage and persistence mean so much more than instant success. That's why Arsenal and Liverpool can get along. And that's why they are no more worried about Man City and Chelsea than we are about Everton. Because Chelsea will soon fade away once again. Even if you do kick our asses for one more year. Ask your daddy who's a better team.
JPR

Uh.... Mr. Ryan. Liverpool played Chelsea twice last year. We won the first game at Liverpool 2 to nil, and we won the second game at Chelsea 1 to nil. I believe that is called "doing the double". So, I am more than a little confused about the kicking our asses part of your post. And you are quite astute in pointing out the success that both Mr. Dalglish as a player and manager and Mr. Wenger as a manager have produced in their long and impressive careers. Wenger's undefeated season at the Arsenal will likely never be repeated in the EPL. So, I do believe that most students of the beautiful game would agree, and any ladies or children reading this will please excuse my terrible language here, that Mr. Boas would have quite a difficult time at this point in his esteemed and young career, in licking the sweat off the balls of either of those legends.
Ryan

Yes JPR, you are right. We most certainly did, and I watched both the games. But in the league, they kicked our ass, sadly enough. That's what I was referring to. Torres had some great games against Chelsea at Anfield, let's hope his skill doesn't go both ways! Anfield has that effect on people...
JPR

Oh. And don't foget, the first half of the season last year was a write-off for us. Hodgepocalypse issues.
JPR

Your reference to the final league standings was pretty obvious. Just wanted to make the point that THEY never kicked our ass. Technicalities! And I will take Suarez over Torres any day of the week. When you add Carroll, it's a no brainer.
JPR

UH, I saw what boas did against stoke. We'll see what he can do at home against West Brom this week. I know he'll get crushed against City and United. Hope Torres can score for him before Christmas. My guess is Abramovic will sack him well before May. The Chelski manager situation is an impossible one, even considering the unlimited resources.
Although, I have to admit, what he did at Porto was pretty spectacular.
Benjamin Dockter

I hope you're joking about Cole and Poulsen. Two completely useless players. If that's the sort of "super quality" Wenger is looking for, then Wenger will be fired before Christmas. There's no way the fans and board would put up with idiocy as large as that.
JPR

Gooner, I'm a Liverpool fan and we are desperate (kind of) to unload those guys. And Wenger may well be fired before Christmas if he doesn't get some quality guys in here. But probably not, since I suspect that both Wenger and especially Kroenke, if they really had a choice between Fabregas and 35 million pounds, take the cash every time. I just check over here periodically to see what you guys are up to.
Gigi_man

ooooohhh you are a liver fan...now I get it.
Homey_Mills

Yes, I'm quite sure Ed was making a sarcastic joke, since he doesn't want those players to stick around Liverpool beyond August.
Ryan

So does that mean you'll take them? free of charge, I might add...
Ed

Right, "joke."
JPR

Yer. Ed is just keeping you guys on your toes. And how did you get your comment to indicate 20 minutes? Very suspicious! I know it wasn't there when I submitted my comment 15 minutes ago. You Arsenal boys are VERY tricky. We're going to have to really pay attention on Saturday.
Casimir

Probably because it's a bit of a traditional club, and not as flashy as Chelsea, not as drunk sailor spending as Citeh, not as obnoxious and unbearable as United, and not as scornful as Spuds...
Homey_Mills

In totally unrelated news, I see something popping up that is already getting on my nerves. I go to various sites that list all of the Arsenal news, and what's going on. And over and over, I see news about what Cesc just did for Barca. Uhh... he's not an Arsenal player anymore, and it's not Arsenal news. At least in my humble view. I guess I just don't like to be reminded of sad thoughts.
JPR

When Messi moves to the Arsenal, that kind of thing will stop bothering you.
Chicago Gunner

I think we could entice Messi to come to Arsenal by saying, "sure you can win the champions league on the best team ever, but can you do it on a shit team like Arsenal? You'll never be known as the best ever with all those superstars around you. You need to win with a bunch of rookies to earn that title. Come to Arsenal and prove to the world how great you are!"
Sophie

For me, the worst is when I get promotional emails from soccer retailers like kitbag and world soccer shop, all advertising the new Fabregas Barcelona shirts. I've already gotten two, and it really stings.
Perry S.

Don't let it bother you, in 2 weeks time he will have a hernia or another piece of his hamstring tear apart.
JPR

Or Marcelo will viciously attack him from behind, intentionally snapping both Cesc's cruciate ligaments, or Mourinho will gouge both his eyes out.
Perry S.

I'd rather it play out like Barcelona got a lemon and it makes Wenger look like a genius.
JPR

The only thing Wenger and Kroenke (and mostly Kroenke) really care about is that they got 35 million pounds. That's really the end of the story as far as they are concerned! And Fabregas always played his ass off for you guys. So, I think we should all only wish him the best at Barca.