Suarez getting pissed at the other players is a good thing, not a bad one. He has an unrivalled drive and determination and he demands the best from himself and those around him. It's why he was captain at Ajax and why I've got no problems with it.

Newcastle are reportedly interested in signing FC Basel winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool.

Liverpool were linked with the 19-year-old towards the back end of last season, with the highly-rated Switzerland international one of a number of wide players who the Merseysiders were believed to be showing interest in.

Juventus and Aston Villa have also been linked with in the teenager, but Newcastle appear to be stepping up their interest, with the Daily Mirror reporting that Magpies boss Alan Pardew watched him in action for his country recently against Bulgaria.

Earlier this year it was reported that Shaqiri was keen on a move to Liverpool, who first showed interest in the youngster while Rafael Benitez was still in charge at the club.
Basel's sporting director Ilya Kentsing earlier this year said he believed the midfielder was already good enough to play in the Premier League.

"Shaqiri is a player for a big team and he could play for any top club," he said, adding: "But we have no agreement yet with any club."

http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Soccer/Liverpool-FC-target-Xherdan-Shaqiri-wanted-by-Newcastle-United-201109100009/

](*,) Seriously? He played <30 mins.

The only thing I'm worried about is ourselves not taking our chances. Build up play has been good, and we've dominated in pretty much every game we've played, but we're not hitting the net as much as we should.

The only thing I'm worried about is ourselves not taking our chances. Build up play has been good, and we've dominated in pretty much every game we've played, but we're not hitting the net as much as we should.

v Sunderland: Created 12 chances, 1 goal.
v Arsenal: Created 13 chances, 2 goals
v Bolton: Created 16 chances, 3 goals
v Stoke: Created 18 chances, 0 goals.

We need to do better.

Just seen the penalty against Stoke for the first time and I have one question.

What the fuck was Carra thinking :lol:

Stoke manager admitted to letting the grass gow longer and not watering it before the match to slow the ball. Did anyone notice this?

ACCORDING to a couple of high profile managers this week, Liverpool FC's Luis Suarez is a workaholic who craves hard graft, Andy Carroll is another kind of holic who simply craves the hard stuff.

That’s the perception. But what’s the reality?

Using statistical input from the remarkably precise EA Sports Player Performance Index . . . somewhat surprising.

Suarez tracks back, chases lost causes, closes down defenders and sweats blood in the pursuit of Anfield excellence. Such is his dedication he has run a lung-bursting 109.6 metres every minute of every match so far this season.

Carroll, on the other hand, lumbers around, loiters for crosses, occasionally breaks into a sweat. Oh, and covers 108 metres every minute of a match.

That’s right. Given his long legs, just one stride less than his non-stop teammate, or a difference so slight as to be barely noticeable.

Clearly Carroll has a little previous to be taken into account, but since moving to Liverpool the most outrageous off-field antics he’s been involved in was attending a Boyzone concert – and failing to buy his boss a pint.

On the pitch, Carroll has actually managed more attempts on goal than Suarez and managed more on target.

The campaign may still be in its infancy and the stats open to early season interpretation, and Suarez has scored more goals, but people seem to be underestimating Carroll’s contributions.

Not inside Anfield, of course

Kenny Dalglish dismissed Fabio Capello’s press conference comments this week – and suggested the journalists pushing the England coach for a soundbite were more mischievous than the Italian had meant to be.

He has a point.

So, too, does the EA Sports Performance Index.

Stewart Downing has been the most eye-catching Anfield arrival so far this season. But he hasn’t been the most effective.

The highest placed Liverpool player on the Index is Charlie Adam.

And Jordan Henderson is next.

The Index analyses players’ performances and gives points for positive influences on a match – such as shots, tackles, clearances, saves etc. – and takes points away for negative actions, such as shots off-target, yellow and red cards.

Adam currently lies 11th in the overall Premier League table – and in terms of midfielders, only Ashley Young, David Silva and Anderson have proved more productive this season.

The Scot has scored one goal, created two more, hit the target with 62.5% of all his shots and has won 83.3% of all the tackles he has entered in to this season, as well as making three clearances.

He has also covered more distance than any other Liverpool player in each of his three games. Against Bolton, Adam covered an incredible 13,515m – almost eight-and-a-half miles – including a massive 7042m in the first-half alone!

There are lies, damned lies – and statistics. But the biggest lies being perpetrated so far this season seem to surround the Liverpool number nine

Carroll is kind of loafing across the defensive line and not really achieving much at the moment.

I agree, but that is him. He isn't going to offer much more than that.

But why? He can actually use his feet pretty well for a big lad (Unlike Crouchy).

But hey, on the stupid and bright side Johnson linked up nicely with Downing and Lucas. Maybe that's something to bear in mind while we wait until OCTOBER for him to come back.

I would disagree. In terms of the free-flowing dynamic style that you guys are employing, its best if Carroll just sits on the last man as an outlet. Also, seeing as Suarez is roaming so much, you need to have a target man up there.

One fucking chance, that's all we needed: one. Then they would have been forced to open up and we could have torn them a fresh one.

We had those chances. Twice in fact, Kuyt and Suarez both missed with the goal at their mercy.

Look, Mike Jones being a cunt aside, we can't ignore Mike Jones being a complete and utter cunt. We'd probably enjoy some consistency, so if Adam was going to get a yellow for tugging Modric's shirt, then Kaboul's on Suarez on the edge of the box was a yellow. For example.

Also to add to my new found dislike of Suarez, what kind of low life elbows another player in the throat?