Spanish clubs interested in El Jefecito: Not really much here, but apparently some Spanish clubs are interested in Masch. Seems like he’s happy at Anfield, I’m hoping there’s nothing in the statement, “then we’ll see what happens.”

Insua back with the squad: I think we’re all happy he’s back, his form was top notch before he left for the U-20s in South America. Not great that he was sent off in their last match, but he’s not injured. A little concerned about this picture, though. He looks too much like another dimunitive Argentinean in the Premier League, who is on his way to your nightmares.

Van der Vaart making shit up: I don’t remember any Liverpool coaches/players talking about having anything other than a healthy respect for Real Madrid. It’ll be a challenge, no doubt, as their form has improved since Juanderful took over, but “frightening” might be a bit of a stretch. Placing an imprint of your ass on the bench apparently makes you supremely bold…or gives you flower-wilting gas.

And finally, we can melodramatically remember better days in the FA Cup.

Have a great weekend all, and roll on next Sunday.

Gerrard was played following his little run-in with the law and produced yet another composed display.

Keane wasted another hatfull of chances as usual and was replaced by Torres after 73 minutes. Nando showed Keane how it’s done here in Anfield after linking up with Gerrard in injury time after Riera put The Reds up after 24 minutes.

Preston put up a good fight but in the end, Liverpool managed to secure passage into the next round, where we will meet our Mersyside rivals, Everton on the weekend of January 24/25 at Anfield. This match comes a week after a similar fixture in the League.

Personally, I’m wondering if Rafa will put as much emphasis on the FA Cup as he does in the League. Would that be spreading our team too thin? What do you think?

I’m not going to be able to comment much on the league games remaining in the season as I have canceled my Setanta subscription. If you happen to catch them, feel free to chatter on these posts about how they went. There’s a video in that big empty space that eventually loads. The site is being slow today for some reason. Would write more put my allergies have me feeling drugged up. Blah.

Putting Kewell in for Babel was a mistake. Gerrard should have been put in much earlier, but didn’t come in until 75′. I really don’t understand Rafa’s take on why he thinks it is better to have the big guns come in late instead of getting them out and getting the score up and then resting them if possible. By the end of the season, we’re going to be the most well rested losers in the league.

As was mentioned in the above video, it did not make any sense to have the big guns on the bench. They should have been out there in the first half to do the damage and then taken off to rest. I know, rotate, rotate, in Rafa we trust, blah blah. At least it gave the guys from H&W a memorable day. For about 32 total minutes, they were beating former European champions.

Goals

LFC
Leiva Lucas (27)
Yossi Benayoun (44)
Yossi Benayoun (56)
Yossi Benayoun (59)
Peter Crouch (90)

H&W
Richard Pacquette (8)
Martin Skrtel (og 31)

Subs
LFC
Kuyt for Benayoun (72)
Carragher for Hyypia (84)
Gerrard for Mascherano (87)

H&W
Taggart for Warner (40)
Slabber for Pacquette (57)
Oatway for Wilkinson (74)

Yellow Cards
H&W
Wilkinson (32)

Final Score
LFC 5 – 2 H&W

* Rafa has sent a watchman out to scout 23-year-old Deportivo striker Angel Arizmendi. Don’t know much about him other than what I read on his wikipedia entry. 8 goals in 56 top level matches doesn’t seem that impressive, but you never know if he came on as a sub and the kind of minutes he played per a contest.

* The Gaffa is also taking a long, hard look at Scunthorpe United goal machine, Billy Sharp. The just-turned 21-year-old has netted 22 times in 37 matches this year and 56 in 93 for his career.

* We’re about to make Momo an offer he can’t refuse. Well, I guess he can, but it’ll leave a bad taste in us fans’ mouth, especially with the patience we have shown (and are still showing) with his development. In a previous post I wrote that, with Mascherano on board, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal if we lost Momo, but after further contemplation, I’ve changed my mind. If we’re going to contend for all the cups and the Premiership title, we’re going to need as many quality players we can convince. There will be no lack of playing time if we go deep in all the contests. Plus, as we saw earlier this season, the more options we have, the less likely injury will sting us.

* Finally, Recreativo de Huelvo would like to sign Florent Sinama-Pongolle. In the immortal (slightly altered) words of Tobias Fünke: “Get the Huelvo out of here!”

The Liverpool team Web site has revealed Rafa Benitez promised Jerzy Dudek – at the start of the season – that the Polish keeper would start all the FA Cup and Carling Cup matches this season. What an honorable thing to do, Rafa, stealing a page from Mourinho’s playbook and starting the number two keeper in the matches you don’t really care about.

It’s not even that Dudek did too much wrong against Arsenal. After all, he only failed to stop the best three shots Arsenal took, that’s all. No big whoop …

… Anyway, Jerzy’s domestic cup run in 06-07 could meet an inglorious end Tuesday as Arsenal return to Anfield for the postponed Carling Cup fixture. Dammit all, Jerzy we owe you everything for Istanbul, so I’ll let it go. Just sucks right now, that’s all. Let me cool off a little bit, you big lug.

Unfortunately for me, Time Warner offered the match on PPV for $16. I thought I’d lucked into the best possible option. What a disaster. A couple friends came over to watch the match and at half time, we dubbed the man with the first-half brace “Rosickydinho.” Kuyt tricked me into thinking Liverpool would manage a draw and get a replay, but Henry killed that thought.

And Arsenal didn’t even have Fabregas in midfield. It’s tough losing to the likes of Arsenal when you’re a Liverpool fan in Milwaukee. The only worthwhile pub showing matches here is called Highbury, it’s loaded with Arsenal supporters every weekend (not a surprise, ‘natch) and some of the best people I’ve met through there are true Gooners. Wow, that escalated quickly. Not a great Saturday.

I’ve done a lot of silly things to enjoy myself during a Liverpool match. On Boxing Day 2005, I walked a mile and a half at 5 a.m. in a Milwaukee winter to see a match, and on Saturday, I will be driving to Chicago to watch TV. I didn’t look at like that until a friend of mine at work reduced my story about having no choice but to head to Chicago to see the telecast as driving to Chicago to watch TV. It’s kind of funny to look at it that way, but whatever, it’ll be a blast.

The reason behind the trip, though, isn’t too amusing. Setanta has a stranglehold on the U.S. broadcast rights, and they basically blackmail bars into charging a cover to show people the games. Now, Milwaukee’s footy scene is enthusiastic but quite small. The place I go has great support, but there’s no cover – ever, for any match. The owner has had a hard enough time building up a great base of regulars, nevermind putting an entry fee on the thing. Setanta wanted him to pay $2,000 to show 10 FA Cup matches this year, starting Saturday with Liverpool v. Arsenal at Anfield and then ending with the semi-finals and the final. It just doesn’t work for him, and I can’t blame him. His is a business based on 20-30 regulars who show up every Saturday morning to watch matches, with Sunday crowds dependent upon the profile of the fixture. It’s hard to ask those people to show up on Saturday and drop $20 to help pay the extra cost for the games before they spend dollar one on a drink.

Instead, there’s a group of us off to The Globe Pub in Chicago, a place I’ve never visited but have heard many great stories about. For Liverpool at home against Arsenal in the FA Cup, there’s really no question. It’s worth leaving the state.

With any luck, photos to come after the match.

After thinking about it a bit, the Blackburn match on Boxing Day was just a bit of unfortunate luck. Friedel was incredible in goal and – regrettably – Crouchy got a little wasteful with his chances. He should just scissors kick all crosses from now on.

Not to downplay what’s happening next in the league or FA Cup (Would love to see the Arsenal drop two straight at Anfield during the next eight days), but I’m pointing toward Barcelona in the Champions League. I can’t wait for it. GOL TV had a Barcelona vs. Real Madrid mini-marathon on during the afternoon and evening of New Year’s Eve and some friends and I watched a couple matches during our preparations for the night’s festivities. Samuel Eto’o is hell on whells, man. That guy is just a force. I don’t think there’s a better striker, anywhere on any day. He’s probably going to be healthy and ready to go by Feb. 21, and I’m anxious to see Liverpool get some momentum, hopefully stay healthy and just go at it as best they can against the reigning holders.

Happy New Year, kids. It’s going to be one of huge change for Liverpool but also one that holds a tremendous amount of promise and potential for growth. Let’s make it a great one.