Liverpool hammers down Villa ( 22 Mar 2009)

Both Manchester United and Chelsea dropped valuable points on Saturday, losing their respective fixtures and there by giving some room for Liverpool to take advantage of their loses and close the gap with ManU. Liverpool took on Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday and winning this match would heat up the race for the Premier League Trophy. Villa who are desperate to secure a Champions League spot this season had to take complete 3 points from the game because only a win would ensure that they close the gap on Arsenal.

Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez had put out a very strong Liverpool squad,with Torres leading upfront. Rafa Benitez had also signed a new 5 year contract with 'The Reds',saying that his heart was with Liverpool. Both teams emerged from the narrow tunnel at Anfield, the Liverpool players touching the "This is Anfield" logo posted just before the entrance. Gareth Barry led Villa,adorning the captains arm-band and the whole of Villa squad in their blue away kits. The first half was an absolute cracker. Liverpool got their first goal in the first 20 minutes. Steve Gee's free kick was flicked (by head)by Alonso, the ball then struck the woodwork and bounced in front of Kuyt,who smashed the ball right into the bottom corner of the net,giving Liverpool an early lead and affecting Villa psychologically. Villa threatened to equalise when Carew flicked the ball but Reina's reflexes were superb,thereby denying Carew the goal. Liverpool would have gone up 2-0 in the next couple of minutes when Reira's cross was put just wide by Steve Gee. Liverpool were hungry for more goals and after their recent successes with Real Madrid and ManU, scoring 4 goals in each match they were in no mood to settle for just one goal. Reina goal kick which bounced a couple of yards before the Villa goal box was superbly controlled by Reira and smashed into the top corner,giving Brad Friedel no chance to make a save. Kudos to Reira as he took the kick with great control even when he was under tremendous pressure from the Villa defender Luke Young. Liverpool now were 2-0 up, adding more salt to ManU's wounds. Just before half time Liverpool got an opportunity to make it 3-0 when Riera was fouled inside the box by Reo Coker who was playing the right back position for Villa,not the position he normally plays. Captain courageous stepped up to take the spot kick. Steve Gee had previously converted penalties successfully against Manu and Real Madrid. In this match also he made no mistake, putting aside any chances of Villa bouncing back into the game. Both the teams went into half time with Liverpool leading the way with 3 goals.

The second half started with Liverpool doing the kick-off. Liverpool were passing the ball with much ease and confidence and keeping the lion's share of the possession. Villa's Barry and Ashley Young tried hard to salvage something in the first ten minutes of the second half but of no avail. Liverpool got a free kick just outside the box, Captain courageous stepping up to take it. The pace with which the ball was drilled into the bottom corner was so much that Brad Friedel couldn't stop it. Liverpool now were leading Villa by 4 goals to nil. Steve Gee also had a great chance to get his hat-trick if Rafa didn't substitute him. Rafa could ahve easily substituted his top players after the first half and still could have won the match but he thought otherwise. The final nail in the coffin was drilled when Torres was thought to be pulled down by Brad Friedel inside the box but Torres actually tripped over Friedel's shoulder and fell. A penalty kick was awarded but to add to Villa's misery Friedel was shown a straight red card. Villa were shell shocked by this decision. This is an example when things go wrong for you through out the game. Gerrard stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball past the goal keeper, the goal keeper falling on the other side. Gerrard thus got his hat-trick this season. he has now scored 30 goals in all competitions this season.

The stadium was chanting the Liverpool Anthem, pumping spirit into the players and giving them confidence that this year they could go all the way to win the Premiere league. Liverpool won comprehensively and closed the gap on ManU to just 1 point but ManU still have a game in hand. The title race this season could go either way. Will Liverpool's wait for 18 years finally pay off? Only time will tell this.

Go Liverpool!!!

Reds crush The Red Devils ( 14 Mar 2009 )

The clash between Liverpool and Manchester United has always been the much awaited game of the season and this season was no different,infact weekend's clash between the giants of English football was a very crucial one because the title race would still be on if Liverpool defeat ManU. The Reds travelled all the way to Old Trafford for the lunch time kick-off. The stadium was packed to its full capacity as always it has been. Liverpool were dressed in their grey away kits. Both the teams were successful during the mid-week, winning their respective Champions League game comfortably. ManU were particularly in top form,not losing or dropping points in the domestic league where as Liverpool ceded their No.1 spot to their bitter rivals after a series of games where they drew and thereby dropping valuable points.



The first half began well, 'The Reds' making a last minute change to their squad. Arbeloa being taken off and Hyppia being brought in instead. ManU had the home advantage of winning the game and steering away from Liverpool with a clean 10 point lead. Both teams attacked the opponents territory but none of the attacks were good enough to find the back of the net until the 23rd minute. ManU drew first blood when Ji Sung Park tripped after colliding with Reina and the referee gave ManU a spot kick. Reina didn't pull Park but the momemtum took him all the way down to collide with Park which the referee mistook for puling down the ManU midfielder. Liverpools's hopes plunged after this first goal from The Red Devils but they didn't lose heart. A mistake by Vidic, who instead of heading the ball and clearing it away allowed it to bounce and roll over. Fernando Torred beat him for the ball with his pace and nicely slotting it past Van der Sar into the net, bringing Liverpool back into the game. Cristiano Ronaldo testted Reina with a couple of free kicks but the Liverpool goalie was determined not to allow any more goals. A few minutes before half time captain courageous came into the act, running for the ball passed to him from Torres before being fouled by Patrice Evra inside the box. This earned Liverpool a penalty kick and giving tem a chance to take the lead. Steve Gee made no mistake in converting the spot kick and taking Liverpool into the lead. Thus Liverpool created a psychic feeling into Manu before both teams went into the tunnel after the first half.



The seond half began with much more aggression from ManU,whose pride was at stake,losing to Liverpool in their home soil. They pressed harder for an equaliser but of no avail. Liverpool was still leading till 70 minutes were over when a major incident happened. Vidic pulled down Gerrard before the box,thereby getting himself sent off by the referee. This was a repeat performance of the first leg between the two teams, Vidic being sent off in that match too for a wild header tackle with Alonso. The free kick then awarded to Liverpool was brilliantly converted by Aurelio, leaving Van der Sar stunned as he saw the ball zoom past the goal line and into the net. Liverpool now were 3-1 up and in a very comfortable position. Sir Alex made all three substitutions at the same time,bringing on Scholes, Giggs and Berbatov. ManU tried harder with their experienced players to salvage something from the game but Liverpool's defence was rock solid,denying them any opportunity to score. The icing on the cake was when Dossena, who was much critised for his form slotted in a fouth goal to hurt ManU's feelings and sealed the game completely for the visitors. Liverpool now are just 4 points behind ManU, still alive in the race for the Domestic league trophy.



Go Liverpool!!!

"Women- without whom the world would boring"

Today 8 March is celebrated as International Women's Day through the world. On this special day I thought like writing something about women and their role in society in particular. Women, without whom man's existence is worthless in this planet ( Male Chauvenists please back off ). Women, the fairer sex in the society are considered the weaker sex too, but in today's world the above mentioned phrase holds little water. Today's generation, the GenY ( not sure of the latest term in vogue) is hungry for excitement,adventure and looks to break rules, of course to get things done in a different way and not follow the old fashioned way where things moved at a snail's pace. The present generation girls are much bolder, stronger and have the zest in them to do whatever a boy does. This is in fact true as can be seen in the myriad of roles handled by girls ( Women) in the society. They are fearless, zoom past in automatic scooters ( some bolder ones even in motor-cycles) and are not scared to do things alone. Unlike the girls of the previous generation where going out alone was taboo in most of the homes present generation girls have their own freedom and they really enjoy it.

Today the world is progressing at a very fast pace, the gender divide slowly fading away but still prelavent in many faces and that too some of them are really ugly. There is bias against women at workplace,they being paid less than their male counterparts for the same type of job. Women today are still subjected to domestic violence, rape and female foeticide . All this brings forth the dark side of the human race which just shows our weakness. History had given us powerful women like Jhansi ki Rani ( Lakshmi Bai) who fought with valour against the British during the first outbreak in 1857. We then have Cleopatra, the beautiful Egyptian Queen whose beauty would put the strongest of the men in a deep trance. Then we have Helen, the Princess of Troy because of whom a deadly war was was fought and Troy was brought down to rumbles. In the current generation we have some extremely powerful women to whom we must really look up. First of all Medha Patkar, the spearhead Queen in the Narmada Bachao Andolan without whose determination the dam project would have gone ahead, affecting millions of villages and the environment. Next we have Sonia Gandhi,Chairperson of the UPA. We must really salute this lady as she has taken her husband's vision to new levels and is constantly striving to build a stronger India. Last but not the least we must not forget our Mothers without whom we would not be what we are and we would not be where we are today. It was she who guided us right from the time when we were in her womb to our present state. It was she who gave us the courage during our troubled times, infusing us with new spirit day in and day out. Mom, Amma, Aaai, Mother; we give call her by different names but the meaning is the same- Salute to you Dear Mom.

One thing gets clearer day in & day out that unless women rise in the society, the society as a whole cannot get an uplift. We need to treat our fairer sex without any bias, joining hands with them and not secluding them away to build an Utopian society which we dream of. Women need to be given more power and responsibilities in all departments of the society. Imagine having more women in the combat troops than just posting them as nurses in the armed forces, world peace could then soon beocme a reality. Imagine having more women politicians, communal riots and dirty practices would definitely be on the decline. Imagine having more women handling finances, the current Economic crisis could have been prevented. Imagine having more women drivers on the road, there will definitely be less accidents happening. We hear of girls topping exams every year, securing higher percentages than boys but what happens to these bright flowers after that? they go into oblivion, some due to family pressures, some due to poverty and others suppressed by society. We ( both men and women) need to break these shackles and let the women power unleash so that we can strive for a better tommorow.

SALUTE TO ALL THE WOMEN - GO AND CONQUER THE WORLD