Help! Liverpool Needs Somebody

This song goes out from Liverpool's finest to Liverpool's strugglers. Yesterday we chronicled one of Liverpool FC's greatest achievements in our Games of the Decade Series. That 2005 day in Istanbul seems so long ago for the Reds and their fans... and even the 2nd place finish in the EPL seems like a distant memory. Shoot, maybe George, John, Paul, and Ringo would be able to help out on the pitch this season for a Liverpool side that are in absolute shambles. They sit 7th in the EPL standings and only a comeback of miracle proportions will send them into the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

In their last 9 games they are 1-6-2 in all competitions. Ironically, their one win was against Manchester United. But, losses to Fulham and draws against Birmingham will erase those good feelings quickly. French power Lyon has written their ticket into the Europa League (boy that would be a nightmare to follow... I can't wait for their showdown with Shakhtar and Salzburg). In the league, there's no talk of winning a title... just how to get past Spurs, Villa, and Man City. So, let's enlist some help from the Beatles and find out how Liverpool got here, and how they can find a way out. Maybe listening to some Beatles music might cheer me up too...

How'd They Get Here:

1) Can't Buy Me Love - Dollars Doesn't Equal Happiness

-For American owners George Gillet and Tom Hicks, their Liverpool experiment has been a disaster. While the Glazers have shown that American owners can win in the EPL with Man U and Randy Lerner at Villa has shown a capacity to find success (he can't say so much about the Browns...), these two knuckleheads have run Liverpool further into debt and are or aren't on speaking terms. These two have not put a single foot right in owning Liverpool, whether it's their handling of upper management, Rafa Benitez, a new stadium, and so much more. They have to be the most unpopular men in Liverpool. I speak for all of America by saying... I'm sorry.

2) Hello, Goodbye - Hideous Transfers

-You know, I almost talked myself into the decision to sell Xabi Alonso being a good move... almost. His sale to Real Madrid left a hole the size of the Rock of Gibraltar in Liverpool's midfield. But, hey, at least Benitez has Lucas and Aquilani to fill the hole. The only problem is one sucks and one is always hurt. That move crippled Liverpool, and other transfer decisions have been no better. Glen Johnson good, but Andriy Voronin bad. David N'Gog's best offense is diving in the box. Krygiakos has the mobility of the ancient Greeks, and not in a good way. And none of that deals with the utter failure that was the Robbie Keane Era. Liverpool's transfer dealings in the post-Torres have been abysmal. When United can stock its rosters with players like Owen, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, and young players like Welbeck, Macheda, and Obertan and Liverpool can produce none of those players, it tells the story.

3) While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Rafa Benitez

-The horrible 2009-2010 season has to be laid squarely at the feet of the Liverpool manager. The man who was known as the dreaded tinkerman finally struck gold with a consistent starting XI last season, and it led to relative success in the EPL. These days, injuries and other lineup switches (I won't call them rotations) has led to a sputtering campaign. But, Benitez has also had his run-ins with the media and other managers which can't help the Liverpool agenda. Furthermore, his maddening zonal marking system is still in tact. The Liverpool head man is content to let the side fade into oblivion and be the victim of any number of conspiracies while his guitar gently weeps.

The Way Back:

1) Revolution No. 9 - T0rres

-While it is the weirdest and worst Beatles song on record, it is the #1 way back for Liverpool. If there was a Revolution No. 8, I would throw that in as well. Torres has been the sole bright spot for Liverpool this season amidst all of the turmoil, injuries, and poor performance. For my money, he is the best Premier League player bar none, when healthy, which leads to....

2) I Feel Fine - Get Healthy

-Above anything else, this is where Liverpool's problems lie. How would United fair without Ronaldo and Rooney (we're seeing some of that), or Chelsea without Lampard and Drogba, or Arsenal without Arshavin and Fabregas. Liverpool must get Torres and Gerrard healthy and playing at their matchwinning best. Whether that problem falls on #8 and 9, trainers, coaches, witch doctors, or whoever... get them healthy! But, injuries have occurred all over the team with Riera and Benayoun the latest to go down. Coincidence or not, the health needs addressed immediately.

3) Something - A Spark

-Liverpool need that one moment of brilliance, that one dramatic comeback, that one spark of something greater to turn their season around. Unfortunately, that moment has come a lot this season for Liverpool's opponents. Whether it's late strikes from Lyon, wonder goals from Jerome, bad luck, or bad timing, Liverpool's magic is nowhere to be found this season. Sometimes, it just takes that one moment in time, like Gerrard's goal in the 2005 CL Final, to turn the ship around. Liverpool better find it, before the ship sinks. You'd hate to see this Liverpool team go that other great Liverpool team...

Top 10 Games Of The Decade - Soccer: Liverpool v Milan

The Decade Series Is Back! It's time for us to begin the countdown of the Top 10 Games of the Decade. Y2 and I deliberated the best way to do this countdown, and after months of tough negotiations we have decided to pick our Game of the Decade in 10 different sports. We'll go from the NFL to the NBA to College Sports to the Olympics. For each game we'll profile the facts and go with the old fashioned Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. But we start our countdown with the beautiful game... and that night in Istanbul.

Who: Liverpool vs AC Milan

What: Champions League Final

Where: Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul

When: May 25, 2005

How: This game featured two of the most successful teams in European club football. Milan were in their 2nd final in 3 years, having won the Champions League 6 times. Liverpool, 4 time champions, were in their first CL final since the Heysel Stadium Disaster of 1985. The significance of their first appearance since that tragedy can't be underestimated. Milan were a substantial favorite coming into the game. The Rossoneri were 2nd in Serie A and had advanced to the final by beating PSV in the semis. Liverpool had struggled all season (they finished outside the Top 4 in the EPL) and a win in the final might have been their only ticket to appearing in the Champions League the following year. In fact, they only made the knockout round thanks to heroics from captain Steven Gerrard in their last group game against Olympiacos. Needing a goal in the final minutes, this happened...

And that was leading up to a final regarded as The Miracle in Istanbul. AC Milan started quickly with a goal from captain Paolo Maldini in the 1st minute, and they kept scoring. Striker Hernan Crespo then scored 2 more to give Milan a 3-0 lead going into the break. No team had ever come back from such a margin to win a European Cup Final. Liverpool were left for dead. And then, the comeback started. Gerrard, the inspirational leader, got it going with a 54' goal off of a header. Then 2 minutes later Vladimir Smicer scored and the drama was on. 4 minutes later, Gerrard won a penalty. Xabi Alonso (wow, is he missed) took the penalty and somehow scored after his own rebound. Liverpool amazingly scored 3 goals in 6 minutes after being completely left for dead.

The game seemed destined for a penalty shootout. Reds GK Jerzy Dudek made a huge double save on mega-striker Andriy Shevchenko and after extra-time, PKs would decide the winner of the greatest final in European club soccer history. Destiny was now firmly entrenched in the Liverpool camp. Dudek's bizarre wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man tactics (cheap Family Guy reference) led to a miss and a save on 2 of the first 3 penalties. After 3 successes for Liverpool, Dudek saved Shevchenko's penalty and won the Champions League Trophy for Liverpool. Here's the highlights...

Why: Well, if you're considered by many to be the greatest game in the history of the world's most popular sport... that's saying something. This one has some personal significance for me though. It was this game that made me a fan of soccer. I had watched a few World Cup games, but never more than that. Soccer was for sissies and was boring, I mean come on! Where were all the goals? Where's the action? I was a typical meatheaded American sports fan where the beautiful game was concerned.

But, soccer was a big hit where we went to school at Ohio Wesleyan. There's a large international community and the men's soccer team (which we'll cover in the NCAA D3 Tournament on Sunday) was the school's athletic centerpiece. I watched a little Champions League on ESPN2 just to check it out (European soccer on ESPN?? treasonous!) and sat down to watch a full club soccer game for the first time for the Final. Good choice, eh? Even as it was 3-0 at halftime, there was something about that Liverpool team and their captain that interested me, I was hoping Liverpool could at least make a game of it, although I knew that a comeback would never happen. Let's face it, Frank Reich wasn't in red that day and this was soccer, but Stevie G was.

And then, the comeback happened... and I was completely enthralled with a soccer game, and the heroics of Steven Gerrard. What was happening to me?? By the end of the penalty shootout I was jumping for joy that Liverpool had done the impossible and completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of sports. Everything about that game seemed right for me, and I became a soccer fan that day. My love for soccer, and for Liverpool was only enhanced in next year's FA Cup Final when Gerrard produced more heroics in a Liverpool PK win after a 3-3 draw with the greatest goal I have ever seen...

Ever since, I've been converted to a soccer fan, and I have Liverpool and the 2005 Champions League Final to thank.

Others Considered:

2006 World Cup Final - Italy 1 France 1 (Italy wins 5-3 on penalties)

2006 FA Cup Final - Liverpool 3 West Ham 3 (Liverpool wins 3-1 on penalties)

2008 Euro Semifinal - Germany 3 Turkey 2

2009 EPL - Arsenal 4 Liverpool 4

Next up, we'll stay on the world stage with our Olympic Event of the Decade, and we'll take a look at some less happier times for Liverpool at the moment... maybe I should have done the bad news first... oh well, see you next time!

EPL Picks - Week 2

Wayne Rooney is either trying to play peek-a-boo, or hide from all of the nice people who took our crazy advice in picking Manchester United to beat Burnley last week. What were we thinking! Of course Burnley was going to beat such a weak, feeble team! Oh well, even us Yoders have a bad game or two. Or in Doc's case, 4. United's loss along with a couple other surprise results see things tighten up after 2 slates of games. Here's our results so far, and the picks and analysis for the second weekend of the EPL. Enjoy!

Midweek Results:

Mr. Yoder I: 4-2-0 12 pts

Mr. Yoder II: 3-3-0 9 pts

Dr. Yoder: 2-4-0 6 pts

Total After Week 1:

Mr. Yoder II: 11-5-0 33 pts

Mr. Yoder I: 10-6-0 30 pts

Dr. Yoder: 9-7-0 27 pts

Portsmouth (0-2-0) @ Arsenal (1-0-0)

If you're Pompey, and you've lost your first two games, and you're yet to score, it's probably not a good time to visit a team that scored 6 goals in their first EPL game. Arsenal's win at Celtic in the midweek was impressive as well. They can send out the youngsters in this one and still beat a shorthanded Pompey. In case you were wondering, we all like Arsenal.

All: Arsenal

Stoke (1-1-0) @ Birmingham (1-1-0)

Birmingham played Man U. tough in week one, then beat Pompey midweek to get an important win early on. Stoke payed for Liverpool's opening loss, losing 4-0 at Anfield last week. Both teams will probably play it close to the vest, so this one could go either way. Maybe we'll get our much anticipated first draw!! Our experts are split. Me and Doc ride the wave with Birmimgham, while Y2 goes with Stoke.

Y1: Birmingham Y2: Stoke Y3: Birmingham

Bolton (0-1-0) @ Hull (0-2-0)

OK Hull, you've started with losses to the current Top 2, so we can let that slide. One of them was 5-1 at home vs Spurs, but we'll even forget that for now. But, this is Bolton now, this is a winnable game. We don't want to see the future of US Soccer, our boy Jozy Altidore, come on board to a team that is this year's Derby County. Don't let us Yoders down.

All: Hull City

Blackburn (0-1-0) @ Sunderland (1-1-0)

Blackburn played with a lot of fire against Man City last weekend, they just couldn't score. Sunderland was leading Chelsea before being overcome in the 2nd Half by Chelsea's skill and talent. They won't have this problem against Blackburn this weekend. As long as they keep their head, they'll win.

Y1: Sunderland Y2: Sunderland Doc: Blackburn

Wolves (1-1-0) @ Man City (1-0-0)

Thank you Wolves for saving me a little face with last week's win at Wigan. This week sees a much sterner test at the princes of Manchester City. City won 2-0 last week, but weren't thoroughly impressive. As long as they get the W's, and stay above their city rivals United though, it'll be all smiles at Eastlands (and not just because Mr. Al-Fahim has a few extra pennies lying around). They should be able to handle last year's Championship winners.

All: Manchester City

Man United (1-1-0) @ Wigan (1-1-0)

Speaking of City's city rivals (sorry for the redundant redundancy) Manchester United looks to rebound from Wednesday's shocking loss at Burnley with a trip to Wigan Athletic. Wigan looked great in dominating Aston Villa on Opening Day, but fell back to Earth in midweek. 1 goal in two games for United isn't doing much to ease those fears about losing Ronaldo and Tevez. Doc's conflicted, but he goes with his head over his heart. Man U can't lose 2 straight games to Burnley and Wigan... can they?

All: Manchester United

Tottenham (2-0-0) @ West Ham (1-0-0)

Who would have thought 1 year ago that Tottenham Hotspur would still be in the EPL, let alone at the top! A win over Liverpool, and then an absolute crushing of Hull City has White Hart Lane flying high. However, don't underestimate Zola's Hammers. The Italian pledged his commitment to the Hammers this week, easing some fans minds amidst financial concerns. At least West Ham is having a better month than their most famous fan (right).

Y1: Spurs Y2: Spurs Doc: West Ham

Everton (0-1-0) @ Burnley (1-1-0)

Burnley just recorded their biggest win in years by beating the reigning champions Manchester United 1-0. Everton got thrashed at home by Arsenal 6-1, and star CB Joleon Lescott has now been axed from the team until the transfer saga with Manchester City is over. So, of course, following this logic, Everton is an easy pick. At least the Yoder Bros. think so.

Y1: Everton Y2: Everton Doc: Burnley

Chelsea (1-0-0) @ Fulham (1-0-0)

Craven Cottage sees one of the marquee games of the weekend when Chelsea visits their London neighbors. Fulham always seems to play the big teams well at home, and are coming off a solid road win. Chelsea has looked great in second halves after giving up early leads, picking up 2 wins from 2. If they do it again this week, they won't get it back so easy against a Fulham defense made of steel. Give Roy Hodgson a lot of credit for pulling Fulham from the depths to competing for a European spot. Tough one to pick, only Y2 goes for the slight upset.

Y1: Chelsea Y2: Fulham Doc: Chelsea

Aston Villa (0-1-0) @ Liverpool (1-1-0)

Villa, Villa, Villa, what happened to the team that was supposed to break through to the Top 4? It might be a long season for Martin O'Neill with a short squad not exactly long on confidence right now. Liverpool on the other hand is back from the brink of despair after that 4-0 whooping of Stoke in midweek. Glen Johnson (left) was a terror coming up from right fullback and as long as Lucas stays out of everyone's way, Liverpool should be able to defend the Anfield home turf. It might not be a repeat of this fixture last year (5-0), but a comfortable win for the Reds.

All: Liverpool