Liverpool triumphed in a 5-1 win at Anfield tonight in the third round of the FA Cup over Oldham Athletic.
Although the Lactics opened the scoring 28 minutes into the game with goal from 30 yards out by Robbie Simpson, Liverpool equalised shortly after with a ball into the lower corner of Oldham's net when Craig Bellamy deflected Jonjo Shelvey's shot.
Maxi Rodriguez was pushed in the box, allowing captain Steven Gerrard to take the penalty and the lead for the Reds before halftime.
Although in the second half, Oldham were as lively as they started in the first, nothing could become of it although Tom Adeyemi shined for the visitors.
Bellamy and Shelvey striked again when Shelvey got the goal this time from Bellamy;s assist, making it 3-1.
Two more goals came from substitutes Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing, his first since arriving from Aston Villa over the summer.
Manager Kenny Dalglish spoke after the match, explaining that some of player on the pitch tonight needed more time out there.
"It's a wee while since some of the players who haven't played as much as the others have had a game," the manager explained. "So it was important for us to give them a run out as well.
"It showed they needed games. There was nothing wrong with their application, but they did lose a goal.
"You can train as much as you want, but you cannot replicate what happens on a football pitch. Everybody will be better off for the game."
Liverpool will now face Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup on the 28th of January.
Liverpool ended 2011 on a high as they bagged three points at Anfield against Newcastle in a 3-1 win.
The Reds suffered an early blow, when a ball from Toon Yohan Cabaye was deflected off Liverpool defender Daniel Agger's shoulder and past goalkeeper Pepe Reina into the net.
However only a few minutes later, Craig Bellamy leveled up the scoreboard when a dverted ball ended up at his feet before shooting it past the sea of blackand white shirts into the net. The Reds nearly went ahead in the first half but Martin Skrtel was unable to take full advantage of Bellamy's corner kick.
The second half saw a change of spirit when eventually manager Kenny Dalglish replaced Charlie Adam with captain Steven Gerrard, who has been on the bench for the last two games due to a long term injury.
His presence had an impact as the team pushed on for more goals. In the 67th minute, Bellamy scored his second goal of the evening from a free kick. Later he would have to leave the pitch for an injury suffered after an elbow to the head.
Newcastle came dangerously close to leveling up when a shot from striker Demba Ba went over Reina, but Skrtel bolted into the goal to make a significant clearance.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, Gerrard sealed the deal and three points with a third goal for Liverpool.
Although there were high hopes for former Newcastle player Andy Carroll to score, he was unable to capitalise on any chances, including hitting the crossbar once, but the chances were more easily created for him with Gerrard there.
Luis Suarez missed the game due to an imposed suspension by The FA after an obscene gesture made earlier in the month at Fulham.
Liverpool move into fifth place tonight, tied for points with Arsenal in fourth.
Liverpool grasped their fifth away win of the season and three points at Villa Park this afternoon.
The Reds took on Aston Villa and won 0-2 thanks to stunnings goals from Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtle in the first half.
Liverpool were all over Aston Villa from the start. It wa sonly ten minutes in when Stewart Downing, flooded with boos from his former fans, took a corner which Jonjo Shelvey then created the chance for Bellamy to strike the ball into the net at close range.
It was only five minutes later when another corner turned into the second goal. Bellamy's corner kick was perfect for defender Martin Skrtel to score a header.
The home side were obviously suffering without Gabriel Agbonlahor (suspended) and Darren Bent (injured). Aston Villa struggled to create any chance, but Charlse N'Zogbia got the closest with a shot in the first half that went over the bar.
Liverpool had the chance to create a bigger gap in the scoring, but striker Luis Suarez had hit just the underside of the crossbar and the ball bounced outside the net. Suarez was given a standing ovation nonetheless when he was substituted by Andy Carroll in the 74th minute by Liverpool fans showing their support in light of his ongoing trial with The FA.
The Reds now see themselves in sixth place on the Barclay's Premier League Table, just behind Arsenal who have the same amount of points but remain ahead on goal difference. Aston Villa are in tenth place.
Anfield is well known as the home of Liverpool Football Club, but it is so much more than that.
On this particularly sunny and brisk day, the crowds are in and out of the stadium with excitement despite the solemn draw that happened there the evening before. Many have made the pilgrimage to this holy land even if just for a tour, a look in the invaluable museum or for a hearty meal at The Boot Room Sports Café.
Although I have been a couple times to the museum already, this trip was to see the newest addition of the LFC family: Darren Farley, a local impressionist whose YouTube videos have now landed him at Anfield.
As soon as I enter the old turnstile upstairs into the colourful images of Liverpool’s past, the calls are being made for the next Darren Farley show. I bypass the exhibits to claim my seat towards the front of the cinema room, and people have quickly filled up the rest in anticipation of the comedy act.
Darren waits on stage for his cue from stage partner Mark, who is delivering him questions as if he were really interviewing former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
The impressions of Rafa, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher bring the laughs and smiles from all ages from beginning to end. It’s not just the voices he has spot on, but the mannerisms as well. The mocking of Wayne Rooney, for example, filled the room with laughter with people seemingly agreeing “That’s so him.”
Darren Farley’s career started on YouTube, when his friend recorded him one day doing his impressions of the likes of Carragher, Gerrard, Rafa and Peter Crouch while in his shop.
“Impressions used to just start as a joke in the pub,” he said. “I’d just do it for my mates but you never think it’s going to be a job. That YouTube video just changed everything. “
“What happened with me was a stroke of luck. I was a landscape gardener working for a housing company and I thought that was the way things were going for me. It was a touch of luck that the video went onto YouTube which propelled me into it.”
Since then, the lifelong Liverpool fan from Kensington, Liverpool has found himself some fame in the football world, entertaining fans and players alike.
“I did little bits of telly at the beginning but I don’t really class them as anything big because I was just a young lad. I really weren’t that professional because I was a young lad going into it. I didn’t really know how comedy worked.
"These last couple of years have been about learning, how to do live television and stand up. I’ve done Soccer AM and going to do a bit more with that.”
The impressions have come natural for Darren, but that does not always mean perfecting them is easy. There is a preconception that a Scouser doing Scouse impressions is easier than it appears.
“Because I’m from Liverpool, a lot of people have this theory that I can speak like Stevie or Carragher and it’s not that easy.
“To be honest with you, I’d have to say Jamie Carragher is one of the hardest impressions to do. I have to do Carragher last because you’re really using a lot. When Rafa come, I just watched him a lot and the Rafa impression just came to me.”
Now that Darren has made a name for himself, and mastered the local favourites, I asked him if he had his own favourite player to show off.
“My personal favourite to do would probably be Steven Gerrard, because people love that. People want to hear that more than anything. Even though he is a Liverpool lad, they want to see him because he’s one of the best footballers in the world.
“For people of any age, Steven Gerrard appeals to them. He’s the captain of Liverpool so he’s the one. That’s been the winner for me, the one that’s love more than anything.
“A lot of people ask me to do Peter Crouch too. They had Ian St John on a phone in and they phoned me and said ‘Can you do Peter Crouch for us?’ I thought ‘I haven’t been doing Peter Crouch for very long so how am I going to phone in as him?’ He was talking to me like we were long lost friends. That’s when you know you’re doing well.”
Darren’s creative and comedic displays of football greats on YouTube caught the eye of Liverpool Football Club. Before his gig in the museum, he was asked to participate in the 2010/11 home kit launch.
He says working at Anfield now for the fans just gets better and better. Being part of the LFC family has him beaming.
“Obviously being a Liverpool fan it’s my dream to work for the club. I mean, when you’re a little kid, you either want to play for Liverpool or at least do something for them.
“To work for the club, it’s great. It’s so enjoyable. They’re hiring you to entertain someone. There’s nothing better than that. I’ve been doing it for a couple of months but it’s getting better as it’s going along.
“We want to make it brilliant don’t we? We want supporters to be buzzing off of it, be really about it. To be here working with Liverpool Football Club is the top, it’s where you want to be, so I’m very happy. “
When asking about his reaction to the approach from Liverpool for a regular stint inside the museum, he insists there is nothing else like it.
“It’s like Christmas. You wake up Christmas day when you’re a kid and you think Father Christmas has been…it’s like ten thousand of them put together. Being a Liverpool fan, anyone would love the chance to work here.
"Where I’m based in the museum, next to me is the European Cup that we won in Istanbul. It’s amazing. The history about the club is here. Nothing beats it.”
Darren Farley's comedic act can be seen in the Cinema Room in the museum at Anfield on Sundays, and some days through the week. Details can be found on the official site http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/tour-and-museum. There is no additional charge to see the show but visitors will have to pay admission for the museum.
Liverpool walked away with an unhappy point as they drew 0-0 against Swansea yesterday at Anfield.
Although the Reds had several chances, particularly from Luis Suarez, they were unable to get on the scoresheet.
Liverpool were on the attack from the start, with striker Andy Carroll given prime opportunity to score in the first seven minutes. However, the ball hit the woodwork and it set the scene for the rest of the match.
Swansea’ keeper Michel Vorm was tested several times but was quick to deny the effort of Suarez, Carroll, midfielder Stewart Downing and defender Glen Johnson. He was the Swans’ hero of the afternoon.
Pepe Reina was not left without any work either. The keeper and standing captain had a few close calls himself, leaving fans holding their breaths especially when Swansea’s Wayne Routledge passed two defenders, but his cross was not met by Danny Graham as hoped, and the Swans remained goalless.
In the last minutes, Dirk Kuyt managed to get one past Vorm but the celebrations quickly faded when he was ruled as offside, disallowing the only goal made.
The final seconds saw penalty calls from both sides but they were denied.
Liverpool were still without captain Steven Gerrard, who is recovering from an ankle infection, and Jamie Carragher, still out with a calf strain.
Manager Kenny Dalglish expressed his disappointment to reporters, saying Liverpool did not play as expected.
"I think the performance was disappointing,” he said. “Swansea played the way we would have expected they would play but we didn't play the way we expected to play.
"Anything that we were good at we certainly didn't do too much of today.”
Liverpool are currently in sixth place on the Premier League table.
Liverpool showed ex-manager Roy Hodgson and West Brom Albion that they are back on their way back up where they belong.
The Reds’ dominated 2-0 last night at The Hawthorns with a penalty taken by Charlie Adam and late first half goal from Andy Carroll.
Adam was chosen in place of the injured Steven Gerrard to take the early penalty after striker Luis Suarez was tipped inside the box, giving the Reds an early lead.
West Brom’s best chance of the first half came 40 minutes in from a cross from Somen Tchoyi, but winger Peter Odemwingie failed to reach it and that set the tone for the Baggies for the rest of the match.
Soon after Suarez created the chance for Carroll, who put the ball past keeper Ben Foster for Liverpool’s second goal.
The Baggies started the second half rejuvenated but it was not enough. A shot by Tchoyi came too wide, giving keeper Pepe Reina some of the most action he has seen all evening.
The same could not be said for Foster, who blocked more attempts from both Jose Enrique and Carroll. Defender Jonas Olsson also denied Suarez from adding his name to the score sheet, and a last minute shot from Stewart Downing hit the post.
The Reds were still able to leave The Hawthorns with three more points, despite not having their captain Gerrard out with an ankle infection or vice-captain Jamie Carragher suffering with a calf strain.
Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish spoke after the match, praising the clean sheet.
"We've not lost a goal and scored two at the other end.” He told reporters. “We played some great football and could have had a lot more goals, but we are happy with the three points.
"A clean sheet is very pleasing, it helps you to get something from a game, but goals win you games, so I think from Pepe through to everyone we played really well."
Stewart Downing recently divulged in the fact that once Liverpool made their interest known, he was determined to make the switch from Aston Villa.
The midfielder who started his career with Middlesbrough has now found himself at Melwood, saying “it’s a place players want to be.”
The 27-year old told LFC Weekly, “…I’ve always looked at Liverpool and thought, ‘that’s a club I’d be proud to represent.’ Liverpool is a real football club…great tradition and fans.
“Players have different reasons for coming and going but all I know is that as soon as they made their interest known to me, I wasn’t going to sign for any other club.”
The midfielder says he does not let the pressures off the pitch get to him, and any negativity only pushes him prove his critics wrong.
“I’m 27 and it doesn’t affect me one bit,” he said. “People are passionate about football and everyone has opinions.
“You just have to accept them and if they’re negative, make sure you prove them wrong.”
The top priority for Downing right now is making sure everyone is happy with his performances on the pitch, including the fans that deserve nothing less than the best.
Liverpool supporters already gave him a warm welcome last Saturday where he had his Anfield debut against Valencia, but he wants to ensure it stays that way.
“For me, the most important thing is that the manager and my team-mates are happy with me…as well as the fans, because they are the ones that pay hard earned money week-in and week-out to watch you play.”
Downing also spoke highly his team-mate Luis Suarez, insisting he is going to prove to be a big influence on the entire club.
“When he gets the ball you never know what he is going to do. Suarez always shows a desire to get forward and attack, to do something different..he plays the kind of football fans want to watch.
“Since he’s come here, he’s really took to it – probably better than most foreign players…he’s settled instantly.
“He’ll be a huge player for the club over the next few years.”
Maxi Rodriguez was pushed in the box, allowing captain Steven Gerrard to take the penalty and the lead for the Reds before halftime.
