A look ahead to this weekend

Another weekend of top-flight footy awaits us with Liverpool, and all fans for that matter keen to

Brendan Rodgers: Thumbs up for Sunday

 witness the ups an down of another round of games in week 33 of the Barclays Premier League. Vital points will be won and lost as the season moves toward the most exciting finale we've seen in recent times. 

No longer is there a double-digit points lead at the top and everyone else playing for the scraps. Despite Jose Mourinho's public concession of his side's assault on the title, I'm sure privately, he still feels Chelsea have a chance. They must have. It's not over until the fat lady sings and I don't think she's even turned up yet! The Blues will be hosting Stoke in the late kick off tomorrow and one would expect them to be making amends. However, this could be another proverbial banana skin for them in addition to the one they encountered last weekend at Crystal Palace that landed them spectacularly on their wealthy behinds. 

The expression is that there are no easy games and I'll have this in mind for the biggest fixture of the weekend, in my opinion - albeit that I'm absolutely totally biased. Brendan Rodgers and his vibrant Liverpool team travel down to the cauldron that is Upton Park on Sunday hoping to extend their lead at the top against West Ham. The way things have panned out over the last few games, there isn't really much point in speculating as to who will be in the side. Unfortunately Rodgers doesn't have a massive squad to choose from. Those that have been called upon however, have been top class. Seeing as the Hammers are a very physical side as expected from Sam Alladyce, whoever the Gaffer picks will have to be up to the challenge of what will surely be a bruising encounter. And dare I say it, not the most attractive to watch either. I suspect there may be one or two neck aches in the crowd among the travelling support looking up at the long balls being launched into the box for Anfield old boy Andy Carroll. 

Manchester City will host Southampton at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow which will be a tricky one for them too. Southampton will be trying to bridge the gap between them and Manchester United in 7th so potentially another hazard there for Manuel Pellegrini. Despite winning the Capital One Cup this season, I believe Pellegrini will be under the most pressure of all the current title contenders. Should he fail to win the Premiership this season, the powers that be at the Etihad may well feel the need to wield the axe. Notwithstanding the fact that this City side is probably the most effective and clinical we've seen in a long long time. 35 wins from a possible 48 - a 73% success rate in old money - is as good a return as any so it'll be a bold move if he gets shown the door come the end of the season. 

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace travel to Cardiff where a win may all but seal their survival and Cardiff's doom. That said, West Bromwich Albion's visit to Norwich City could also have dire consequences for the loser depending on the outcome of the Palace match. Fulham, for me and anybody else with more than one brain cell, are dead and buried now. They can only play the part of spoilers between now and the end of the season. 

So we have an exciting weekend of footy ahead of us. I'm hoping that Liverpool can continue their current form at Upton Park. What's vital for Rodgers' men apart from winning of course, is to keep a clean sheet. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that this title race may come down to goal difference and if so, it's imperative that the Reds can prevent the opposition from scoring for the fourth game in their last six. Apart from breeding confidence into a defence that has been a tad erratic at times, it will send a clear signal to the chasing pack that they're going to have to be at their very best to get anything from us. 

I have to mention a special good luck to the Liverpool Under 18s side who play away at Leicester City's Aylestone training ground tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately the lads aren't in a position to win the U-18 league this season but lie in a creditable third position with 41 points (as much as it burns me to say it, behind Everton and Man City) and a further three matches to go. 

Finally, no predictions for me, simply a suggestion that the Reds will return victorious from East London tomorrow, albeit by a slim margin. One thing it won't be is an expansive game as 'Big Sam' will keep the game as tight as duck's bottom and probably as rough as old boots too. 

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Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never...

Brendan Rodgers: Fear not and Never give in

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." The words of Sir Winston Churchill. 

After the weekend we've had, those are very apt words for Liverpool FC as we approach the last 10 games of the season. The final bend before the final furlong. The time to get the whip out and get the steed to focus on the line ahead. The final push where winners and losers are made. This season, contrary to Brendan Rodgers' claim of being the "Chihuahua" of the Premiership, I'd say they're more like the dark horse. The one that sneaks up on the outside to catch the favourites napping in their gallops of complacency. 

Nobody had expected the team to be where they are at the beginning of the season. Yes, we won the first three games 1-0. Yes, those first three games included that lot from the wrong end of the East Lancs Road. And, yes, "An improvement on last year's seventh place finish would do..." We all thought. Or qualification for European competition at best. Let's be honest, nobody foresaw this. Second with 10 games left to go and only four points off the leaders. Rodgers would have taken this quicker than a life boat on The Titanic if you'd offered him this at 2:45pm on 17th August last year. In truth, wouldn't we all. 

We come back to Churchill's words. "Never give in". The entire Liverpool squad now has to stand up and be counted. The odds remain against us, and indeed we're all pinching ourselves. I applaud the approach of Rodgers to the question of the title. Basically: Let's just keep on improving and maintaining the level we're at. The team has a new resolve this year. An attitude that epitomises the words of the great leader. Many a fixture this season, I'd have fancied us to lose given our recent history. Stoke away, Fulham away, Tottenham away and now Southampton at St. Mary's this weekend. All games the team would have done well to come away from with a draw in the not too distant past. 

Rodgers must be commended for the determination and steel the team has shown this season. Resolute has been the watchword for LFC this time round. With the exception of a couple of soft results away to Hull City and West Bromwich Albion. The team has shown steel in abundance to answer the questions that have been asked of them. Granted, the defence is still shy of what I'd expect from Champions elect, and I believe this will be the teams undoing in their efforts this season, but the performance on Saturday showed that the team can be on the ropes, take the body blows and still come out fighting. They never gave in. 

In the last two games against Fulham and Southampton, there was signs of nerves from the team but for me, they have absolutely nothing to lose and should approach each game as such. Be bold. The next game is against Manchester United at Old Trafford and you have to fancy Liverpool. United will be up for it, to put a stop to the racket coming from their so-called  noisy neighbours but I'm hoping the din will be too much for them to bear. 

Like any supporter of any Premiership side, I think Sir Alex Ferguson's departure was a massive gain for the rest of the league. And, a huge loss for United. Their demise has opened up the entire race and it's been the most enthralling for years. This time last year United we're 11 points clear at the top on 89. The year before they and Manchester City were a jaw-dropping 19 points ahead, tied on 89 points. Points do not equate to entertainment and I find the current state of fewer points at the top, 63 with a four point gap to second, more palatable than what's been served up this last couple of seasons. 

I've supported Liverpool for the best part of 40 years now and since the good times in the seventies and eighties, and the Champions League in 2005, there's not been that much to shout about if the old grey matter serves me right. The team has recently had a knack of getting so far, then catching Englandattheworldcupitis - I think it's called - and shooting themselves in the foot, just as they need to put said best foot forward. I daren't dream just yet. I'm just fluffing up the pillow!

So, some words of encouragement to everybody's favourite team over the next couple of months. Never, never, never give in. In the here and now, its totally clear, you have nothing to fear, but fear itself. 

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To celebrate or not to celebrate... This is the question

Then and now. Same old, same old...

Going through the electronic rags last night as you do, I came across Oliver Holt's article in the Mirror in which he supported Jonjo Shelvey's non-celebration against Liverpool calling it a "...throwback to the time, 40 years ago when..."  Likening Shelvey's case to the Denis Law goal for Man City against Man United back in 1974.  I think there is an assumption here that a celebration is some kind of mocking or disrespectful action. If done correctly, this is never the case. Otherwise, it can no longer be called a celebration but an insult - which of course incites anger and resentment. To treat an honest celebration in any other way is both draconian and backward.

Firstly, these two scenario's are very different indeed. Wasn't that goal the goal that pretty much condemned United to relegation that year? I can understand him not celebrating that. I still don't agree but I can appreciate why he chose not to celebrate the goal. Law clearly held United in great esteem and there is no problem with this. Secondly, I don't believe the match between Liverpool and Swansea was as severe as for either team. It's clear Shelvey would have loved to stay at Liverpool and become a part of Brendan Rodgers' revolution. It's also clear that for whatever his issues the Liverpool support, me included, had and still retain a liking for Shelvey. He's a decent player and overall, a good honest lad who always gave of his best for the club and will do so for Swansea. 

This is what the LFC faithful have always asked of their players. But ask yourselves this. Has Shelvey not earned the right to celebrate that goal? It was top drawer stuff and deserving of celebration by both sets of supporters. I didn't like him scoring. Not because I have anything against him more because it was against Liverpool. But, that's just the way it goes - and especially with the team's current defence and Martin Skrtel the reincarnate of Phil Babb! Having said that, I didn't and wouldn't have given him any abuse. Fair play to the boy, and privately he must have been happy that he's shown Rodgers what he let go. That's the second goal he's scored against Liverpool. The last one an equally impressive effort at the Liberty Stadium. 

Holt refers to a "kinship" from this bygone era. Kinship, for me is a relationship. An understanding. A closeness and respect as one would have for a family member or close friend. This surely works both ways? Liverpool, and all fans for that matter should be more accepting of another's achievements. For one that was once your own and most importantly, left with dignity and good intent, it is our duty in kinship is to support him. After all, it's not unheard of for the Kop to applaud opposition goals, and this from players who never played for the club and celebrated keenly. Does it matter then that he played for Liverpool FC?

Aren't Liverpool fans supposed to be known for their knowledge and appreciation of, all things good in football? Does this have to be conditional. Provided Shelvey shows no disrespect in his celebration - index finger on the lips, hand to ear etc - then a joyful celebration should be accepted as his right. Liverpool's supporters did rightly applaud Shelvey's goal but I like to think that had he celebrated as any other player would, then the supporters would and should have reacted in the same way. 

Another point I didn't like about the article is that Holt compared the situation to that of Cristiano Ronaldo when he scored for Real Madrid against Manchester United. Really? Which Cristiano Ronaldo is he talking about? The mercenary who shamelessly courted a move away from the club that brought him to the world stage? Let's face it, he certainly didn't leave so he'd be "guaranteed first team football" which is a claim made on occasion. Probably correct for Shelvey, but a million miles away for Ronaldo. Didier Drogba is also mentioned and this I agree with. He loved Chelsea and Chelsea loved him. I'm sure he could have taken his pick of the giant Spanish sides but stayed put. In any case, if he scores for Galatasaray tonight he should celebrate. Joyfully and respectfully. Chelsea's supporters owe him that. 

A celebration is what it is: An acknowledgement of a happy event. Do this respectfully and this is all anyone can ask. Then it can be enjoyed by all. This is what I call kinship and it shouldn't cause a problem. Anything else is simply concession. After all, as Kool and the Gang said "We're gonna have a good time tonight, let's celebrate, it's alright"!

Follow me on Twitter: @Mrbengreen