Let?s be getting one thing perfectly clear from the off ? I don?t particularly care for Stamford Bridge. The new one or the old one. Never did. In the interest of fairness, however, I feel I should be honest and point out that the place is special to me in one regard. You see it?s where I first laid eyes on the real Liverpool FC. Up until that point in time (February 13th 1982 to be exact) they had been little more than figments of my imagination? all relevant newsprint was devoured, and European adventures came courtesy of crackling bedside radio and a BBC commentator hell-bent on mispronouncing players? names (just who was Graeme Sowness?) Viewing was confined to Saturday night?s Match of the Day, Sunday lunchtime?s The Big Match and the very occasional live game. In black and white too, I might add.

Imagine the fevered excitement then, as I took my seat pitchside to witness my idols take to the field in the flesh and in full colour. My heart threatened to pound it?s way through my chest and the itchy umbro replica shirt I wore, and not for all the right reasons. Stamford Bridge circa ?82 was an intimidating place for an eleven year old to be, even if he was with his dad. The walk from Fulham Broadway tube station was an education in itself if you happened to be wearing a Liverpool scarf and from my wooden seat the famed Shed seemed every bit the seething mass of skin-headed hostility I?d anticipated. The ground itself was a soulless affair, with a huge gap between pitch and terracing and the visitors end open to the elements? thank the slate-grey heavens, a football match was to break out in due course.
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Only 4 games into the new season and the first major crunch point is just around the corner. Reigning champions Chelsea face off against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester United entertain Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Chelsea v Liverpool ? 1330 British Standard Time
Jose and Rafa will have to put their hand-shaking feud behind them when they kick off Sunday, at 1330. Rafael Benitez will be looking to get a good result against a star studded Chelsea team, after losing to them twice in the league last season.

Jose Mourinho is also out for revenge having suffered defeat in the Community Shield and FA Cup finals, losing 2-1 on both occasions. Joe Cole is still out for the blues after he renewed his knee injury in the Champions League game versus Werder Bremen. On the other hand Arjen Robben returns to the squad following his calf injury.

Liverpool?s John Arne Riise being out injured is the only definite thing about the line-up. Benitez has different options all over the pitch especially his front men with such strikers as Kuyt, Crouch, Bellamy or Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.

Expect a feisty game, Chelsea?s exceptional home form under Mourinho should give them the edge, but with Liverpool you never know.
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Liam Blake is State of the Game’s new Liverpool columnist

See if you can arrange the following words into a well-known phrase ? ?dawn?, ?another? and ?false?. Liverpool fans will of course be at an advantage here. When describing the Red?s Premiership aspirations at the start of any given season (or should that be regime) since the early nineties, those three words have appeared together with such metronomic regularity that you could almost be forgiven for thinking the phrase was originally coined solely with Liverpool Football Club in mind. The current dawn, however, has been looking just a little less false and just little more rosy with each passing game of late?

That is, of course, with the glaring exception of Saturday 9th September 2006 ? a date which will live long in the minds of one half of Merseyside, whilst the other won?t be able to forget it quickly enough. Indeed a vast number of us Reds, my good self included, may well be struggling to put this particular result into some kind of perspective today simply because we?ve never seen the like of it in our lives. Older supporters and those of a more historical bent, not to mention crowing Evertonians, will be quick to point out that the Bitters haven?t heaped such pain and humiliation upon us since 1964. And whilst cherished memories of the misery we?ve heaped on the Goodison faithful down the years may provide some fleeting comfort in this darkest of hours, it?s a bit of perspective that?s really needed right now.
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Chelsea and Champions League holders Barcelona will renew their rivalry after they were drawn together in the first phase of this year’s competition. The two sides, who have now been paired for the third time in three years, also face Werder Bremen and Levski Sofia.

Manchester United will meet Celtic in Group F with Benfica and FC Copenhagen.

Last year’s finalists Arsenal take on Porto, CSKA Moscow and Hamburg while Liverpool face PSV Eindhoven, Bordeaux and Galatasaray.

British teams in bold and the top seeds in CAPITALS.
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A season Preview

So I?ve taken some time off work to do my best Alan Shearer impression and creosote the fence, oh the joys! Traditionally this time of year saw me sweating out barbeques and too many pints as I tried to get fit for the forthcoming season in the North-Down Area League; but alas a back injury and weak joints have prematurely ended what should have been a brilliant football career. I may be pushing thirty, but I?m convinced that the hordes of Premiership managers were just around the corner - now my chance has gone!

So without the excitement of my own playing season ahead, can I look forward to Liverpool taking the Premiership by storm? Well, if you judge anything based on pre-season results we?re in deep doo-doo. Unconvincing wins over Wrexham and Crewe, followed up by defeats to Kaiserslautern (2-3), Grasshopper Zurich (0-2) and, most worryingly of all 0-5 against FSV Mainz, leave a slightly concerned feeling in the pit of my loins. Yes we had a depleted squad for the Kaiserslautern game, necessitating Pepe Reina?s second half appearance in midfield, the match against Grasshoppers was the first for our returning England World Cup players, and the Mainz game only went to pieces following whole-sale half-time changes? but it really doesn?t do much for the confidence, either amongst the fans or the team. Nothing?s won in August right!
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Down here in the dank basement from which I?ve been viewing the ongoing pre-season nothingness whilst trying to avoid the sweltering heat, a few things have caught my (red)eyes since my last address to you, the dear reader.

We?ve Got Another One!

In my rant about Liverpool?s signing of Craig Bellamy a few weeks ago, I alluded to the imminent arrival of another well-known footballing rapscallion, a certain Master Jermaine Pennant. And so, as Sun article condemning a footballer to hell follows Sun article hailing self same footballer to the heavens, Liverpool follow up one controversial signing with another.

As a footballer, Pennant is of high quality. High enough quality to make a sustained impact on a top team, I await to be convinced of. Certainly the wonderful Actim stats hail Pennant as having made more crosses (227) last season than any other player, the fact Birmingham only scored 28 goals (with Pennant claiming two himself and four assists) is perhaps more telling. Certainly, Liverpool?s forward line of Crouch, Bellamy and Fowler should be more potent with such deliveries than Birmingham?s Emile Heskey and a crocked Chris Sutton and Mikael Forssell were, and this is where the excitement lies.

I?ve had an interest in Pennant since his ?2 million move from Notts County to Arsenal when he was just shy of his sixteenth birthday. Indeed his early appearances for Arsenal, though sporadic, brought some highlights, notably a hat-trick against Southampton. However, this is where it started to go wrong. Jermaine Pennant became synonymous with the front page rather than the back, his litany of brushes with authority are well known, and this is why I would rather Liverpool didn?t sign players of this ilk.

Perhaps I?m old-fashioned, but footballers should be known only to football fans, and preferably happily married teetotalers who do lots of work for charity!

A Dangerous European Draw

Dangerous not in the traditional footballing sense of ?potential banana skin?, but dangerous as in bombs and missiles flying about.

Liverpool have been drawn with Maccabi Haifa in the Champions [sic] League Third Qualifying Round. Rafa Benitez and the chairman of the Liverpool International Supporters? club, Les Lawson, have already gone on record as decrying UEFA?s inaction over potentially placing our club in what is currently a war zone? and I agree with them wholeheartedly. The very thought of the Liverpool team, fans, hotel, or venue (be that Haifa or the more likely Tel Aviv) being targeted by suicide bombers, kidnappers or a stray missile fills me with nothing but dread. The match should surely be played at a ?neutral? venue, as Rafa?s Valencia side did in Cyprus against Maccabi Haifa a few years ago.

At the back of mind also is much sympathy with the Israeli footballing support. In the 1970s football was nearly destroyed in Northern Ireland as we were unable to play any internationals in Belfast due to ?civil unrest? over a three year period, putting severe financial pressures on the Irish FA. If it had not been for a brave Yugoslavian side agreeing to come to Belfast for an international match in 1975, goodness only knows what the long-term future of the local game could have been.

Still, it is only right that Liverpool?s players and official should not have to risk their lives for football, and highly unfortunate that politics, once again, gets in the way of sport. I can only wish a speedy resolution to the current situation in the Middle-East, and that the minimum possible damage is done, not only to football, but to the lives of those in both Israel and Lebanon.

Pre-Season Friendlies

I haven?t actually seen either of Liverpool?s friendlies to date (2-0 win at Wrexham and 1-0 at Crewe), and you can go find the match reports elsewhere if you are so inclined. I have however been pleased to see the goalscorers, Bellamy getting off the mark early, plus goals from two of lasts seasons FA Youth Cup winning side, Paul Anderson and Craig Lindfield. This can only bode well for the season ahead, and indeed the years to come.

Pre-season begins in earnest tomorrow with the first game of Liverpool?s pre-season European tour, against Kaiserslautern in Liechtenstein, and the return to the team of our Spanish contingent after World Cup duty. The England players will not be match ready for a few days yet, but some if not all should feature in the games with Grasshopper Zurich and FSV Mainz.

I?m assuming there?s good money to be made from this European tour, as I would have thought we?d end up in the Far-East or possibly North America in an attempt to establish the Liverpool ?brand? (ahem). It is pleasing that the effects from traveling to central-Europe should be less than if the team had trekked half-way round the world.

Captain Fantastic

On a much lighter note, allegations have appeared on some message boards that our vice-captain?s brother had a fling with the mother of the captain of one of our biggest Premiership rivals (and the biggest rival to Gerrard for the England armband) during the World Cup. Obviously I can?t name names until the SotG legal department looks at this in more details.

All I will say is I can?t wait for the tasteless terrace chants next time the Rentboys come to Anfield!

Kits Out

Just to say I think it looks class. Retro-Chic!

In Rafa we trust!

With friendly fixtures with Wrexham, Crewe and Lincoln City to whet my appetite before Liverpool?s forthcoming Premiership campaign, and a largely disappointing World Cup still a very clear memory, I?ve yet to get that warm glow that normally pervades the prospect of nine months of domestic football.

The Arrivals

Aurelio, Fabio-less?

Still, I know little about Liverpool?s signings for the season ahead (aside from Craig Bellamy, who I covered in an earlier article), and the prospect of a 26-year-old Brazilian left-back (Fabio Aurelio) fills me with nothing but fear, and the 20-year-old Gabriel Paletta smacks of Carling Cup third round player only. Although the idea of Mark Gonzales offering wing-play that hasn?t been seen in a Liverpool shirt since McManaman departed these shores excites me no end, I?ve never actually seen him play!

So Long and Good Riddance?

Bruno Chey-who?

Some of the dead wood has been cleared out too; the disappointing Nando Morientes was sold to Valencia at a ?3million loss and Bruno Cheyrou is finally off our books, along with the youngsters Conal Platt, Zak Whitbread, Daniel Raven, Ramon Calliste and Paul Willis (amongst others) cleared from the reserves, and ?promising Spanish full-back? Antonio Barragan likely on his way to Deportivo La Coruna. July has also seen the perennially injured Chris Kirkland sign another long-term loan deal with another ?lesser? Premiership club (this time Wigan), and Djibril Cisse seems likely to make his comeback from the broken leg he suffered prior to the World Cup as a Marseille player (again on a loan basis).

Please Mind the Gap

With the only other deal on the horizon being the signing of full-back Daniel Alves from Sevilla (pending the agreement of a fee in the region of ?10-?12 million ? he?d better be good), Liverpool still seem short in two key areas ? centre-back (Rafa seemed unwilling to trust anyone in the squad outside of Hyypia-Carragher last season, even the multi-million Agger) and striker (with Bellamy, Fowler and Crouch the main options, I think we need a fourth unless Pongolle or Mellor are to finally be given a real chance). I guess we’ll have to wait and see how Rafa takes advantage of any Italian divident.

Didi-n’t He Do Well?

Didi Departed

Another gaping hole in the squad has been left by the departure Dietmar “the Kaiser” Hamann, who today completed his free transfer to Manchester City (unlucky Bolton). Now Didi was seldom a spectacular player for Liverpool, but in my eyes he was certainly one of the most influential in our recent history.

Since his arrival from Newcastle seven years ago Hamann has been the backbone of the Liverpool midfield (playing in a similar role to that of Carrick at Spurs for those who need a reference point), holding steady whilst the likes of Gerrard, Murphy and McAllister did the ?glory work? for the ?Treble? winning side of 2001, and more recently rising from the bench to offer the same services in the 2005 Champions [sic] League and 2006 FA Cup wins. His performance against Kaka in Istanbul being particularly noteworthy. Although Alonso has been a more than useful replacement in terms of passing and even shooting, I feel he isn?t quite the steadying influence that our great German was. Sadly even the great footballers get old.

Also, who can forget Hamann?s career with Germany, a stunning goal against Northern Ireland in 1999 grinds me still, and his was the final strike at the old Wembley (what was Spunky doing?) in 2000. In 2002 he also became the first Liverpool player to feature in a World Cup Final since Roger Hunt in 1966.

Hamann leaves Anfield as our most successful European import ever with a total of nine winner?s medals (Champions [sic] League, UEFA Cup, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 European Super Cup and a Charity Shield) and four runners-up (Premiership, League Cup, World Club Championship and Community Shield) ? a worthy haul in addition to those he won in his native Germany with Bayern Munich.

Auf Wiedersehn Didi, and best of luck at Eastlands (except for when the Reds come marching in!).

Back to the Future

Anyway, onwards to the 2006/07 season, I might warm to it when I finally see the new Adidas Liverpool kit, I ?m hoping for something retro to go with the title!

Our last Title Winning Shirt!

So, it happens again, Liverpool, my club, sign a player I have openly despised for quite some time. Craig Bellamy, with memories of Paul Ince back in 1997 fresh in my mind, arrives at Anfield with hopes of helping the club clinch the League title for the first time since 1990, and a reputation as a trouble maker.

The comparison with Ince is perhaps unfair on the self-proclaimed ?Guv?nor?, who, although a mouthy so-and-so with a reputation for fall-outs with fans, team-mates and managers, kept his public behaviour under control and his newspaper appearances were largely limited to the back pages rather than the front. Craig Bellamy however, has had a number of brushes with the law, cautioned and fined for assault and threatening behaviour, and his public outbursts have brought the wrath of managers and press alike. So, a comparison with Lee Bowyer (who Liverpool were close to signing a few years ago) would perhaps be more fitting. At the time I was relieved that the Bowyer signing fell through, I wouldn?t have to justify anything to anyone, or try and defend the indefensible, but I will not have that luxury this time.

So, we have our own mouthy criminal at our famous old club! It?s with this that my mind drifts back to one of my favourite footballers of all time, the ?Great Dane? that was Jan Molby. His range of passing and thunderbolt shots made him a hero of all Anfield, but he too fell foul of the law, jailed for three months for drink driving and evading arrest in 1988. Molby returned, Liverpool FC and its fans forgave him, and he stayed at Anfield for another seven years? his battles with weight only adding to the legend. Double standards on my behalf?

We all know that had Liverpool not had the great goal scoring drought at the turn of the year, they would have finished well clear in second place (and challenged Chelsea for the title, maybe, possibly??), and Bellamy found the net 17 times in 32 games last season - form that far outstripped that of all our strikers. He also offers something different to what we have available at the minute, he adds pace and great control when running with the ball to the shear brilliance of Fowler?s finishing and awkwardness of Crouch, which can only be good. So, on the field of play at least he should be a great asset, and at ?6 million probably a bargain compared to some of the other players we’ve been linked with!

It?s off the field, and his relationship with boss and colleagues, that worries me somewhat. Has a spell under the hardman Mark Hughes tamed the beast in a way that another hardman, Graeme Souness, couldn?t? How will Rafa handle this particularly British trait of hard-drinking, hard-living footballer? Frankly, it?s an unknown, but in Rafa we trust!

Still, it could be worse; we could be trying to sign that wee runt Jermaine Pennant?

With Liverpool’s summer transfer plans thrown into as much disarray as Djibril Cisse’s World Cup dreams after the striker’s leg break for France in a World Cup friendly against China, Rafael Benitez has called for compensation for the club from FIFA.

With Cisse widely linked with an ?8m move back to France after the World Cup, Liverpool now find themselves with an unsellable player and a large hole in their transfer kitty because of a terrible accident to their player while he wasn’t in their care.

Benitez has even went so far as to say that FIFA may find top clubs refusing to release their players in future if compensation for injury during international matches isn’t worked out and this stance would have the full backing of the elite G14 who have already put their considerable financial weight behind Belgium’s Charleroi in a similar bid for compensation for a player injury while on international duty.

“When I spoke at the UEFA coaches meeting last season, this was one of the important issues I raised,” said the Liverpool boss in the Liverpool Echo.

“In this situation, we have a player who has cost Liverpool a lot of money injured preparing for a World Cup. Now we have to face the cost. There are wages to pay and also we can’t sell the player.

“It’s clear there is a problem with the rules. As a club, not only have we lost a player we have lost big money.

“If a team loses one of its most important players, it can make a big difference to their season and determine if they compete for the title or fight against relegation.”

“I know there are some associations who are less wealthy, particularly among the African nations, but in those situations FIFA should help because they make a lot of money, particularly during a World Cup,” added Benitez.

“I know Liverpool has suffered a lot because of the rules. This time it’s Cisse, but last year we had a problem with Milan Baros when he was injured playing for the Czechs.”

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has extended his contract at Anfield by a year on top of his current three year deal, keeping him at the club until 2010.

Despite some rumours in the press during last season about interest in the former Valencia man from Real Madrid, Benitez always said he was loyal to Liverpool and has proven to be a man of his word by signing this new contract.

“I’m delighted to have now signed the contract. There was never going to be a problem once we reached an agreement last season, and now all the documents have been signed and sent to the club.”

“I’m very happy at Liverpool and hope we can enjoy more success in the seasons to come.”

Benitez this season added the FA Cup to the European Cup he won in his first season as Liverpool manager and after guiding the club above Arsenal into third place in the Premiership, clearly feels he has more to achieve with his Liverpool side.