Thursday, October 26, 2006

We're on Again !!!

Sat Oct 28 07:00AM Pacific
Sat Oct 28 08:00AM Mountain
Sat Oct 28 09:00AM Central
Sat Oct 28 10:00AM Eastern
Length: 2 hr LIVE
Rogers Sportsnet - ALL REGIONS - Canada
English Premier League
Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Great Red North @ 11:13 pm

Reds Survive Late Reading Fightback

Robbie Fowler was named Liverpool skipper and then kick-started a thrilling 4-3 victory at Anfield over Reading in the Carling Cup.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez had talked about handing responsibility to the veteran before the third-round clash and the Kop favourite responded by chipping in the first goal.

John Arne Riise added another with a fierce strike in first-half injury time and Gabriel Paletta headed in a third.

Andre Bikey and Leroy Lita pulled goals back for the visitors but their strikes were sandwiched by a cool Peter Crouch finish.

Shane Long then headed another in for Reading, but they could not find the leveller and Liverpool made it through to the last 16 of the competition.

As expected, Rafael Benitez made radical changes to his line-up, although the 2003 winners of the competition were still strong, with Fowler and Crouch offering a threat in attack.

Several of Benitez's fringe players were effective - with Jermaine Pennant impressing with a busy display - and could give the boss a selection headache as they look to get their Premiership title bid on track.

Reading boss Steve Coppell did the same, saving some of his first-choice players for Premiership deeds in their first season in the top flight.

However, familiarity between the two sides led to a disappointing start, despite Pennant and Riise both looking to be positive from the flanks.

The first opportunity fell to Mohamed Sissoko in the 12th minute when Pennant found the midfielder, but his shot from 12 yards had to be parried away by Graham Stack in the Royals goal.

Reading won three corners in quick succession but saw Stephen Hunt's deliveries cleared by Pennant, Fowler and then Sissoko.

However the visitors were settling into the match and Ulises De la Cruz had a 30-yard shot saved by Jose Reina, who shortly afterwards intercepted a Stephen Hunt cross.

Crouch and Fowler both went close from corners midway through the first half but there was little to choose between the teams until Fowler's classic finish after 44 minutes.

Pennant played the veteran striker through and he chipped over the advancing Stack for his second goal of the season and his first since the opening day of the campaign.

Riise doubled the lead in injury-time of the first half, Stack failing to hold his fierce drive before crashing in the rebound from the edge of the area.

Neither side made changes at the break, with Pennant the first to go close when he drilled a shot at Stack two minutes after the re-start.

Liverpool looked to have settled the tie five minutes into the second period when Pennant's corner from the left found Paletta, who glanced a header into the far corner.

Encouraged by their glut of goals either side of the break, Liverpool seemed likely to add to their lead and Fowler volleyed just wide when he was afforded room from a throw.

Boudewijn Zenden had an effort deflected just wide of Fowler, who was prowling in the area looking for his second, and the striker fizzed a shot just wide after an hour.

Sissoko was then taken off for Danny Guthrie, and Bikey gave Reading hope with a header from a free-kick after Paletta had fouled Hunt and earned a yellow card.

Crouch then played a one-two with Fowler with 13 minutes left and walked the ball into the net, and Liverpool held on for victory despite Lita and Long scoring late on.

Great Red North @ 11:12 pm

Kewell hopes new boots will end injury nightmare

Harry Kewell has revealed he will not be back in action until March at the earliest.

The Liverpool winger has yet to kick a ball this season due to a combination of foot and groin injuries which have sidelined him since this summer's World Cup.

'It's going to be a while,' he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on a visit to a school in Sydney.

'We're looking past February.'

The 28-year-old has been undergoing treatment in his native Australia for seven weeks and is hoping a new boot will help solve his foot problems and prolong his career.

The boot is produced by a little-known company in Brisbane and Kewell has been so impressed, he says he has ended his contract with current suppliers Adidas.

'It was close to the end of last season and obviously I had been having problems with my feet,' he told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

'The first time I put them (the boots) on I thought they felt like a pair of slippers.

'Obviously, there were some things to sort out with Adidas which took some time but I've since decided to stick with the new boots.

'I have been involved with Adidas for around 10 years and have always had a great relationship with them,' Kewell said.

'But it's just time to think about my feet.'

Great Red North @ 8:09 am

Saturday, October 21, 2006

In Memory

Jason Michael George, owner of the Georgetown Sports Pub on Bank Street, died in a tragic car accident early Sunday, October 15th, 2006. Mike lived life to the full in his 26 years. He spent his childhood partly in Australia, and worked in film, art and hospitality in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. He really began living his dream 2 years ago while creating what became the Georgetown. Mike is deeply missed by sister Damera, parents Karen and Dan (ex Foreign Service), Granny Flo, Grampa Jim, aunts Dolphi, Maureen, Amy, and Michele, uncle Chris, cousins Elena, Simon, Dylan and Sami—and also by many, many loyal friends and coworkers. One of such promise, taken so soon, he will live in our hearts forever.

From all of us.... our deepest sympathy.

Great Red North @ 5:41 pm

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Michael Shields to return to England

Liverpool fan Michael Shields is to return home to Britain after his family raised £90,000 to pay off his fine.

The money is due to be paid to the Home office next Monday and then wired to the Bulgarian government for his release to a British prison.

Shields is serving 10 years for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian waiter, which he has always denied.

Great Red North @ 11:27 am

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

NO TERRESTRIAL OR DOMESTIC TELLY FOR OUR NEXT 2 MATCHES

Wed Oct 18 11:00AM Pacific
Wed Oct 18 12:00PM Mountain
Wed Oct 18 01:00PM Central
Wed Oct 18 02:00PM Eastern
Length: 3 hr LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
UEFA Champions League - Match Day 3
Bordeaux (France) vs Liverpool (England)
Setanta Broadband

Wed Oct 18 02:00PM Pacific
Wed Oct 18 03:00PM Mountain
Wed Oct 18 04:00PM Central
Wed Oct 18 05:00PM Eastern
Length: 2 hr SDD
ESPN Classic (US)
UEFA Champions League - Match Day 3
Bordeaux (France) vs Liverpool (England)

Wed Oct 18 04:00PM Pacific
Wed Oct 18 05:00PM Mountain
Wed Oct 18 06:00PM Central
Wed Oct 18 07:00PM Eastern
Length: 2 hr SDD
ESPN Deportes
UEFA Champions League - Match Day 3
Bordeaux (France) vs Liverpool (England)

Wed Oct 18 05:30PM Pacific
Wed Oct 18 06:30PM Mountain
Wed Oct 18 07:30PM Central
Wed Oct 18 08:30PM Eastern
Length: 2 hr R
Setanta Sports USA
UEFA Champions League - Match Day 3
Bordeaux (France) vs Liverpool (England)
Setanta Broadband

Sun Oct 22 04:55AM Pacific
Sun Oct 22 05:55AM Mountain
Sun Oct 22 06:55AM Central
Sun Oct 22 07:55AM Eastern
Length: 2 hr 5 min LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
English Premier League
Manchester United vs Liverpool

Tue Oct 24 01:00PM Pacific
Tue Oct 24 02:00PM Mountain
Tue Oct 24 03:00PM Central
Tue Oct 24 04:00PM Eastern
Length: 3 hr D
GolTV Canada
Liverpool TV - English Premier League
Manchester United vs Liverpool
UEFA Champions League - Match Day 3 - Bordeaux (France) vs Liverpool

Great Red North @ 9:21 pm

Friday, October 13, 2006

No conventional Telly Coverage... Local Boozer Setanta only !!!

Sat Oct 14 06:45AM Pacific
Sat Oct 14 07:45AM Mountain
Sat Oct 14 08:45AM Central
Sat Oct 14 09:45AM Eastern
Length: 2 hr 15 min LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
English Premier League
Liverpool vs Blackburn Rovers

Great Red North @ 10:30 pm

Thursday, October 05, 2006

With the hours ticking down to tomorrow's 100 Players Who Shook The Kop grand final, we ask members of staff from Liverpool FC and Liverpoolfc.tv to select who they would choose in their top five.
100 players that shook the Kop


Rafael Benitez
Liverpool FC Manager

The internet is a good thing because it enables supporters from all over the world to follow the club and take part in polls like this.

From my point of view, it’s not easy to select five because I’m young and haven’t seen all of the club’s former players. Maybe there are some I haven’t thought about.

I would select Kenny Dalglish as my first choice because he was a great player with a lot of qualities and then after that, without putting them in order, I’d go for Kevin Keegan, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush.

Rick Parry
LFC Chief Executive

Without wanting to list them in any order, these are the names which would make up my top five LFC players.

Kenny Dalglish

Kenny was a magnificent player by any analysis and one of the all-time greats. He was playing in my era as well so he'd have to be in the list.

Ian Callaghan

He was, and still is, a fantastic ambassador for Liverpool Football Club and, for me, epitomised the real values of the club.

Steven Gerrard

I'd usually hesitate to list any current players but Steven has to be in there. He's a great player, he's Liverpool through and through and hopefully he'll be here for many years to come.

Ray Clemence

As an aspiring goalkeeper myself, he was an inspiration to me as a youngster. He was somebody I really looked up to and really admired.

Bruce Grobbelaar

Bruce was a different character to Ray but he was still a great goalkeeper. He needed a big personality to take over from Ray in the Liverpool goal but he did it his own way and made a big impression.

Brian Hall
LFC Public Relations Manager

1. Kenny Dalglish

As a former professional footballer very little ever took me by surprise when watching football matches from the stand. Kenny Dalglish could see a pass, could see a shot that I couldn't see from the stand. Kenny Dalglish was undoubtedly the most amazing footballer I have ever seen at Anfield.

2. Ian Callaghan

Anyone who can play 800 games with a top class club like Liverpool has to be one of the most outstanding players in any list of greats. Not only did Cally play so many games but most of them were outstanding as well. Ian's contribution to the successes of this great club will never be underestimated.

3. Ron Yeats

Bill Shankly's first signing became the cornerstone for all the ambitions that Shanks had for our great club. Ron's contribution was colossul from those wonderful days in the 60's when the club came from the second division to the powerful force in Europe we became. Shanks described Ron as the 'Colossus', few would argue.

4. Ray Clemence

A good pal of mine but also the best goalkeeper that I have ever seen play at Anfield. His contribution to the successes of the club were immense, but as a goalkeeper his contributions were sometimes never properly recognised.

5. Billy Liddell

I never saw him play but the man was a legend and he played an integral part in me becoming a Liverpool player. I can never thank him enough.


Stephen Done
LFC Museum Curator

May I say sincere apologies to the huge numbers of other players who could have - in all honesty - been in this list but these are my top-five Kop shakers.

1. Billy Liddell

For his loyalty, integrity and modesty.

2. Gordon Hodgson

Just a brilliant goalscorer and one of the last of the great, romantic 'all rounders' in sport.

3. Kenny Dalglish

He was just a genius.

4. Matt McQueen

He literally played in all 11 positions and did just about every job within the football club. Truly unique.

5. Elisha Scott

21 years and 52 days in goal! Now that is consistency!

Steve Hunter
Liverpoolfc.tv

1. Kenny Dalglish

Quite simply there will never be another 'King Kenny' for me. A genius on a football pitch and for me the best player the game has ever seen. He saw things on a field other players couldn't see and some of his goals were just out of this world. People say you should never meet your heroes because they fail to live up to your high expectations. Well they are wrong, Kenny is an absolute legend and a great guy. I remember the last day of the standing Kop in 1994 when Kenny's name was announced as he was just about to walk out on the pitch the noise levels shook the Kop to its foundations. The sound barrier was definitely broken that day!

2. Robbie Fowler

I loved Rushie but the shining light in a dark period for the club on the pitch in the 90's was the Toxteth predator Robbie Fowler. Here was a local lad living everyone's dream on the field and scoring goals for fun. A particular favourite goal of mine was when Robbie nutmegged Gary Neville to score at Old Trafford - mind you he's done that a few times since as well! He was a pleasure to watch and his goals deserved to win a title in the Roy Evans era. I can remember being in the Liverpoolfc.tv office devastated when Gerard Houllier sold him to Leeds so it was great to see him return. Fowler's goals have definitely shaken the Kop.

3. Steve McMahon

I just loved watching Steve McMahon and he is definitely one of my favourite Liverpool players of all time. He was so competitive and made some ferocious but fair tackles. Some of the goals he scored from long range were amazing. I remember one against Aston Villa in 1987 at Anfield, one against Manchester United in a 3-3 draw at Anfield and two goals in derby games at Anfield spring to mind. 'Macca' was the rock behind which that wonderful team of 1987-88 was built. The word passion was invented for Macca. People said Vinnie Jones was a hard man. Well, sorry, but he was a pussycat compared to Steve McMahon.

4. Steven Gerrard

A fantastic player and in the dark days of not so long ago he carried the team almost single handedly. His performance in Istanbul was awe-inspiring and the 2006 FA Cup Final will always be now known as the Gerrard Final. A player who has everything in his game, he could go on to achieve anything he wants. Hopefully leading Liverpool to the Premiership title won't be too far away in the not too distant future.

5. Jerzy Dudek

Jerzy, purely for Istanbul. A nice bloke as well and after his well publicised mistakes against Manchester United in league games this was the game where all thought of those Forlan goals in the past were totally obliterated from the memory banks. Dudek was a man possessed in Istanbul. People also tend to forget the save from Schevchenko's free-kick early in the second half when we were still 3-0 down. That was a great save and I remember .tv editor Paul Rogers turning around in the press box and saying to me and my colleague Mark Platt 'We will win this now!" Dudek's performance in the penalty shoot-out was just amazing and I'll never forget that final decisive moment. It had always been my dream to commentate on a major event like the European Cup final and I realised it that night. Thanks Jerzy.

Great Red North @ 4:06 pm

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Sat Oct 14 06:45AM Pacific
Sat Oct 14 07:45AM Mountain
Sat Oct 14 08:45AM Central
Sat Oct 14 09:45AM Eastern
Length: 2 hr 15 min LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
English Premier League
Liverpool vs Blackburn Rovers

Great Red North @ 8:08 am

great red north