Liverpool FC Forum

[GOAT]

BBC

BIG-MATCH FACTS

SHEFFIELD UNITED return to the big time after an exile of 12 years, and have the honour of kicking off the 2006-07 Premiership campaign with this home match against FA Cup winners Liverpool in the Saturday lunchtime fixture at Bramall Lane.

After narrowly missing out on automatic promotion in 2002-03, and on a place in the play offs in each of the two subsequent seasons, Neil Warnock must now set about the task of making Sheffield United the 23rd club to survive their first season in the Premiership after promotion. But Warnock will be in the stands for the first six games of his seventh full season in charge of the south Yorkshire club, while he serves a touchline ban for past misdemeanours.

The Blades are defending an unbeaten home Premiership record against Liverpool of one win and one draw. The last League contest at Bramall Lane was a goalless stalemate on Boxing Day 1993.

LIVERPOOL already have two victories under their belt. They hold a 2-1 home leg lead over Maccabi Tel Aviv ahead on this Tuesday's second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round tie in Kiev, and beat double Premiership champions Chelsea in impressive style in last Sunday's Community Shield. Now Rafa Benitez must produce the results from his third season in charge, to ensure the Reds live up to expectations as the club most likely to challenge Chelsea for the major honours.

It was in 1989-90 when Liverpool claimed the most recent of their record 18 League titles. They've since finished third in the Premiership on four occasions including last season, and been runners-up once in 2001-02. Although the Merseyside based Premier League ever presents concluded nine points behind Chelsea last term, they ended in red hot fashion - carving out victories in each of their last nine League contests.

These clubs last met over two legs in the League Cup in January 2003. Both matches were home wins, with the Reds progressing 3-2 on aggregate.

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)


SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

SHEFFIELD UNITED


Club stats
Fixtures
Last season: 2nd Championship 90 points
1. Under Dave Bassett, the Blades participated in the first two seasons of Premier League football, finishing 14th in 1992-93 and 20th of 22 of 1993-94.

2. Runners-up in the Championship last season, 16 points behind runaway title winners Reading, and nine points ahead of the play off zone.

3. Embarking on a 60th season of top flight football.

4. Once recorded an eight match winning run from the start of a top flight season (1903).

5. But in 1990, the Blades needed 17 matches to record their first victory of the campaign.

6. Ended last season on a seven match unbeaten streak in the Championship.

7. Aiming to extend an undefeated League sequence on home territory to six games.


LIVERPOOL

Club stats
Fixtures
Last season: 3rd 82 points
1. Setting out on their 92nd campaign of top flight soccer and 45th in succession, since 1962.

2. Won 41 League and Cup games last season.

3. Completed the largest number of clean sheets in the top division last term of 22 - reeling off shut-outs in the first four games.

4. Conceded the opening goal in seven Premier League matches - fewer than any other club.

4. Bidding for a 10th successive Premiership victory in Benitez' 125th League and Cup match in charge.

6. Aiming for a sixth consecutive away League maximum.

7. Not dropped a point, home or away, since the 2-1 loss at Arsenal on 12 March.

8. Kicking off away from home for the third season in a row.

9. Drawn the opening League game in each of the last two seasons.

10. Started out on an eight-match winning run in the old First Division in 1990.


KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Neil SHIPPERLEY was Sheffield United's leading marksman last season. All his 11 goals were netted in the Championship.

Ade AKINBIYI scored 17 goals last season - 15 in the League. But only three of those (all League) were netted for the Blades, the rest for Burnley.

LIVERPOOL

Steven GERRARD was Liverpool's top scorer last season with 23 goals - 10 of which were in the Premiership.

If involved from the outset, Robbie FOWLER will be making his 400th club career start.

New signing Jermaine PENNANT, was one of only three outfield players who were ever presents in the Premiership last season, when he wore a Birmingham shirt.


HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Sheff Utd 36 wins, Liverpool 54, Draws 26
Prem: Sheff Utd 2 wins, Liverpool 1, Draws 1

HEAD TO HEAD at Sheff Utd
League: Sheff Utd 27 wins, Liverpool 17, Draws 14
Prem: Sheff Utd 1 win, Liverpool 0, Draws 1

[SouthCoastShankly]

Gerrard and Crouch will definately NOT start with the kick off being so early on Sat.

The starting team will be something like:

              Reina

Finnan  Carra   Agger/Hyypia    Riise.

Pennant  Sissoko  Alonso    Gonzo/Zenden

              Garcia
                         Bellamy.

With Fowler probably coming on second half, so too Gerrard.

or 4-5-1 formation as Rafa likes to play, away:

                 Reina

Finnan    Carra      Hyypia/Agger    Riisse

                  Sissoko

Pennant     Alonso    Zenden     GOnzo

                    Bellamy.

Either way, I predict one hell of a pasting for the Blades.

Another example of the drivel you post.

Rafa will start Gerrard for the simple fact that he won't want a repeat performance of last years season start.

[Redtribe]

Too early ??

What on earth is that all about.

I think Sabre has got it about spot on!

As he also says though Rafa does throw a couple os selection suprises, so i wouldn't be shocked to see Bolo make a start!

What ever the team lets hope we get off to a good start.

[Ciggy]

Neil Warnock is a kunt FACT.

[Redtribe]

What is the extreme dislike of warnock ciggy???

[Ciggy]

What is the extreme dislike of warnock ciggy???

  Err all the he has said about us over the years, and when he said a year ago, his team where as good as Liverpool 
He is just a first class tool, cant wait to see him and Maureen have a scarp though it will be class 

[Smeg]

 

That's probably your most intelligent contribution to the boards so far mate. Well done and keep it up.

Cheers 

[Redtribe]

Surely we should feel some compassion for the mentally deranged.
I can understand a mouthy tw*t like Warnock being disliked by many didn't realise he had made so many digs at us!!
Does he realise he is only the manager of a 2nd rate championship side!!!

[GOAT]

I cant wait for tomorrow, hoping we have a fantastic start. Sheff utd lack quality and we should be able to give them a pasting

[Feyenoord-Supporter]

My choice would be:
--------------------Reina--------------------
---------------------------------------------
Finnan------Carra-------Hyypia------Risse
---------------------------------------------
-------------------Alonso-------------------
---------------------------------------------
Pennant--------------------------Zenden
---------------------------------------------
------------------Gerrard--------------------
---------------------------------------------
----------------Kuyt--Bellamy------------
                                 
Subs : Dudek, Agger, Crouch, Sissoko, Aurelio

[mattylfc]

My team would be:

                       Reina

Finnan     Carragher     Hypia      Aurelio


Gerrard     Alonso       Sissoko     Risse

             
               Fowler        Bellamy

Would like to play crouch but he looked absolutely shattered in midweek after running his socks off.  Fowler looked sharp against Lincoln too.  Would like to see Kuyt and Gonzalez introduced at some point.

[stmichael]

i don't see gonzalez starting the game as i'm not sure if he'll be up to the physical nature of a game against the likes of sheffield united. they know they can't outplay us on a football level so they'll try and get physical.

what i will say is i bet not one person gets rafa's starting lineup spot on.

[mattylfc]

Dont think i have ever got it right, surprises me everytime!

[7_Kewell]

What is the extreme dislike of warnock ciggy???

  Err all the he has said about us over the years, and when he said a year ago, his team where as good as Liverpool 
He is just a first class tool, cant wait to see him and Maureen have a scarp though it will be class 

he was also recored telling his players to "break their f**king legs" from the touch line....

[stmichael]

From a Sheffield United fan on .tv.....

"Ideally I would have liked a more low key opposition (if there is one in the Premiership that is!), possibly Aston Villa or Everton as our first opposition."