The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread - RIP Diogo

[Minus15]

Doesn't need said but must win game tonight coupled by a favourable result in florence and a chink of hope may be restored to the season and set it up for a great night at Anfield in 2 weeks time. If not then the europa league beckons. At the moment we look up against it in terms of top 4 but think we have enough quality to do it. spurs are just 5 points away and liverpool havent been able to get a run of wins. Once we get europe taken care of for a couple of months I expect a big push in the league and hopefully be flying again come February. The league sadly is long gone!

Also think that tonight could be the night when Aquilani gets a run. I would like to see Kuyt dropped for this game also. Has been infuriating watching him of late but with Babel and Riera out this may not happen. Think I would like to see something like this:

Reina   Johnson Carragher  Agger     Insua  Benayoun   Mascherano     Aquilani   Aurelio   Gerrard Ngog     

[under the bar]

Des anyone know which bookies are offering the best odds on Liverpool to qualify for the K.O. stages?  Plenty are quoting 5/1 but I'm sure there's better to be had.

[bingobus]

Des anyone know which bookies are offering the best odds on Liverpool to qualify for the K.O. stages?  Plenty are quoting 5/1 but I'm sure there's better to be had.

Save your money and put it on them winning the league instead. Better odds. 

[ludermor]

I will try bingo...

Dont think you would have the head for figures.

[Rafa]

Des anyone know which bookies are offering the best odds on Liverpool to qualify for the K.O. stages?  Plenty are quoting 5/1 but I'm sure there's better to be had.

It was 7-1 on Betfair the last time I looked.

5-1 for something just short of a miraculous comeback by Liverpool which at this point is not even in their hands has to be one of the worst value bets I have ever seen.

[Minder]

I will try bingo...

Dont think you would have the head for figures.

Cracker 

[TheGreatRambo]

There is a bit of a gamble on Liverpool shaping on Betfair, they touched 7's after the last round of games but are available at no more than 4's at the minute (albeit for small money). For what its worth I thought 7's was a decent punt and had a few quid on, but 4's is definitely too short..

[DuffleKing]

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel plans winter talks with Rafael Benitez - and is vowing to leave unless he plays more games.

The Holland international is unhappy with the limited number of matches he has started with the Anfield club since his £11.5million move from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

Babel explained: "I have tried to talk to the manager but it isn't of any use. I couldn't really do anything with the feedback Benitez gave me.

"We have agreed to look at my situation in the winter. If there's no improvement then, I have to be honest, I want to be somewhere else.

"I don't play a lot so I can't be happy and I can't cheer out loud. Sometimes I wonder how long I can sustain it but I will fight for my position - what else can I do?"

Babel scored an impressive long-range goal for Liverpool in their last Champions League match, the 1-1 draw at Lyon.

However, on the eve of Tuesday night's must-win match against Debrecen he spoke of his frustration at failing to make more of an impact with the club.

He continued in The Sun: "Isn't it unbelievable that in my first year I got chosen as Talent of the Year? And a season later I hardly play and without getting a proper chance."

Babel, who represented Holland in Beijing last summer, added: "I don't know if it has anything to do with my little trip to the Olympics. I know the manager wanted me to stay."

However, he does not think Benitez has a grudge against him.

Babel explained: "I really don't believe he is trying to get back at me. Every time me or my agent (Willie Haatrecht) have a chat with him he stresses I can't leave and he believes in me. We have to trust he is telling the truth. Saying it is different to showing it."

Babel has confidence in his own ability and still believes he can make the right impression in a Liverpool shirt.

He added: "I have shown I can do it plenty of times. I know I could be further in my career but if nobody helps you, if they don't make it easier for you, then it is difficult."

Babel went on to hint at divisions in the Liverpool camp, claiming that his fellow forwards only looked out for themselves, and that cliques had developed in the squad.

"All the forwards, they always live for their own success. It is hard for someone who isn't selfish by nature to act selfish," he said.

"I don't know if my team-mates were shocked by my new character but I do notice once in a while they get confused.

"Normally I would pass the ball - now I take the shot myself more often. I see how they look at me with a face that says 'Hey I am free!'

"But I'm not going to explain it any further because they don't give me any explanation when I ask for the ball.

"We have a lot of different cultures and on the pitch we are a tight group. But outside the pitch everyone goes their own way.

"The Spanish-speaking guys are very close. The youths hang out together. And I get along with Benayoun and Lucas.

"Dirk Kuyt? I don't really hang out with him. Dirk got accepted in the group of the Spanish-speaking players.

"He is very friendly with them and it looks as if he understands their jokes."

Babel also revealed some of the sacrifices he has made since moving to Anfield.

"As a Liverpool player I can't play in my blue Nike boots. They strongly discourage me from doing that.

"Blue is Everton's colour and Liverpool and Everton are rivals in everything.

"As a small boy you dream about a career as a football player. Your willing to give up everything for it.

"Once you reach that goal, only then do you get to know the whole world around it."

[Rafa]

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel plans winter talks with Rafael Benitez - and is vowing to leave unless he plays more games.

The Holland international is unhappy with the limited number of matches he has started with the Anfield club since his £11.5million move from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

Babel explained: "I have tried to talk to the manager but it isn't of any use. I couldn't really do anything with the feedback Benitez gave me.

"We have agreed to look at my situation in the winter. If there's no improvement then, I have to be honest, I want to be somewhere else.

"I don't play a lot so I can't be happy and I can't cheer out loud. Sometimes I wonder how long I can sustain it but I will fight for my position - what else can I do?"

Babel scored an impressive long-range goal for Liverpool in their last Champions League match, the 1-1 draw at Lyon.

However, on the eve of Tuesday night's must-win match against Debrecen he spoke of his frustration at failing to make more of an impact with the club.

He continued in The Sun: "Isn't it unbelievable that in my first year I got chosen as Talent of the Year? And a season later I hardly play and without getting a proper chance."

Babel, who represented Holland in Beijing last summer, added: "I don't know if it has anything to do with my little trip to the Olympics. I know the manager wanted me to stay."

However, he does not think Benitez has a grudge against him.

Babel explained: "I really don't believe he is trying to get back at me. Every time me or my agent (Willie Haatrecht) have a chat with him he stresses I can't leave and he believes in me. We have to trust he is telling the truth. Saying it is different to showing it."

Babel has confidence in his own ability and still believes he can make the right impression in a Liverpool shirt.

He added: "I have shown I can do it plenty of times. I know I could be further in my career but if nobody helps you, if they don't make it easier for you, then it is difficult."

Babel went on to hint at divisions in the Liverpool camp, claiming that his fellow forwards only looked out for themselves, and that cliques had developed in the squad.

"All the forwards, they always live for their own success. It is hard for someone who isn't selfish by nature to act selfish," he said.

"I don't know if my team-mates were shocked by my new character but I do notice once in a while they get confused.

"Normally I would pass the ball - now I take the shot myself more often. I see how they look at me with a face that says 'Hey I am free!'

"But I'm not going to explain it any further because they don't give me any explanation when I ask for the ball.

"We have a lot of different cultures and on the pitch we are a tight group. But outside the pitch everyone goes their own way.

"The Spanish-speaking guys are very close. The youths hang out together. And I get along with Benayoun and Lucas.

"Dirk Kuyt? I don't really hang out with him. Dirk got accepted in the group of the Spanish-speaking players.

"He is very friendly with them and it looks as if he understands their jokes."

Babel also revealed some of the sacrifices he has made since moving to Anfield.

"As a Liverpool player I can't play in my blue Nike boots. They strongly discourage me from doing that.

"Blue is Everton's colour and Liverpool and Everton are rivals in everything.

"As a small boy you dream about a career as a football player. Your willing to give up everything for it.

"Once you reach that goal, only then do you get to know the whole world around it."

Obviously it is a good sign when someone who isn't playing very much is unhappy and wants to be in the first team but for christs sake keep your mouth shut you idiot!

I have been happy to turn a blind eye to some of Babels antics of late because I believed he had a lot of potential and just needed a little more time and guidance but that interview is just one step too far. On the day when so much is at stake for Liverpool he is coming out with this tripe?

He got a start on Saturday and he had to come off injured, nobody's fault. How can he then go complaining on the Tuesday that things aren't improving? How does he know Benitez didn't have a string of starts planned for him over the next couple of weeks if he did well in the City game?

Thats my mind made up on Babel. I hate to ask this question but.... what do you think Ferguson would do with a player who has given this interview on the day when there is so much pressure on the team? Nani's comments recently weren't as bad as that in my opinion.

Get rid of him.

[Minus15]

You can't really be sure when these things were said but it isn't the first time Babel has done this. I believe the lad has talent but he just doesn't seem to have the mentality required to produce the goods on a consistent basis. His passing is shocking. He has good power and pace but is in great lack of subtlety in his game. Rafa is 100% right to use him from the bench where he can be a decent option against tiring teams. He has got enough chances and just hasn't done enough. Looks like he wants out and if the money would be available for immediate reinvestment then let him go now. Wouldn''t think you would get more that 7 million for him though!

[Rawhide]

Babel also revealed some of the sacrifices he has made since moving to Anfield.

"As a Liverpool player I can't play in my blue Nike boots

, what a balloon.

[muppet]

Liverpool wHinger Ryan Babel plans winter talks with Rafael Benitez - and is vowing to leave unless he plays more games

Fixed that.

[The Real Laoislad]

Babel also revealed some of the sacrifices he has made since moving to Anfield.

"As a Liverpool player I can't play in my blue Nike boots

, what a balloon.

Oh jesus 
Sounds like a right tit alright

[Archie Mitchell]

A few seasons ago when DaMarcus Beasley was playing for City, he made his debut v Blackburn away and was wearing red boots. He promptly changed them at half time as there was uproar among the City supporters as they were the colour of United. Seems stupid but these things mean alot to fans and the club. You never know, these blue Nike boots of Babel's could be special, a bit like Jimmy Grimbles boots 

[stew]

These whinging millionaires remind me of the yankee version of whingers, the head of the Basketball players union was once interviewed about why, since the players werethreatening to strike they were all in Vegas for their convention and didnt the venue hurt their public persona?

The genius that is Patrick Ewing replied and I quote: 'you have to realize, we make a lot of money but we also spend a lot of money'. And this muppet was heading up the fecking players union.

Premiership players and professional athletes have been told they are great since they were cubs, a lot of them have no real connectivity to the people who watch them play and they live in a different economic world, they are entitled and a lot of them are pampered arseholes a la Stephen Ireland and Babel, I wish my biggest issue in life was not being able to wear my blue sawker boots, and I feel for poor Roy, imagine asking for the FAI to move on and then bringing up Saipan again.