Charismatic Newcastle striker presents a gong to rubbish band
The MTV Europe Awards were held in Liverpool last night, so it would have made good sense for an Anfield star to come and present an award. The best they could muster was a former Anfield star (and rumoured future Stamford Bridge star), whose enthusiastic personality really set the arena on fire.
Looking rather dapper in a dark suit and open shirt, Michael Owen helped Anastacia (perhaps the only popstar shorter than him?) present an award to never-heard-of-them German emo rockers Tokio Hotel, who were deemed a better headline act than Metallica, The Foo Fighters and The Cure by the discerning viewers of MTV.
Anfield draw had nothing to do with Gerrard’s dive, apparently
The Spanish football press are always keen to cook up a conspiracy if things don’t go their way, and today’s edition of Marca blames last night’s late (and dubious) penalty solely on UEFA President Michel Platini. Not Steven Gerrard, nor the referee or the linesman who gave the penalty, but Michel Platini.
The main headline of the paper reads “Another robbery by Platini”, while a smaller headline says “Terrible Swedish referee makes up a penalty.” On their website, an unnamed player says: “It seems they don’t want us to go through.”
Does the UEFA boss seriously have it in for the Spaniards? Or should we just offer them some ketchup for that gigantic chip on their shoulder? Let us know below.
Spoiler bonus: On a completely unrelated note, check out Stevie G’s greatest dives after the jump…
Liverpool/ Atletico Madrid, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free £10 bet
Two weeks ago, the betting gurus at chickendinner boldly stated that Liverpool wouldn’t return from Spain with three points - as their prediction came true, the Reds are still tied with Atletico Madrid at the top of the group. However, a win tonight will all but ensure qualification to the knockout stages. Here’s why the Dinner think they won’t slip up:
1. Liverpool haven’t lost consecutive games in 2008 and have only done so once in the last eighteen months.
2. The Reds have yet to lose at Anfield in the Premier League or Champions League in 2008, with their solitary loss there coming against Barnsley in the FA Cup.
With the big names at Newcastle (Given, Owen, Duff, um, Butt) likely to demand relocation once the transfer window inches open again, it seems that The Spoiler might have inadvertently predicted the future for dinky little Michael Owen. Only a week ago the big talk was that Benitez was going to wage war on Villa in a bid for Wigan tough guy Emile Heskey, and now the loud clamour in all of the football gossip salons is that Owen is a target too - we joked about that, but it seems that Rafa was reading with a very straight face.
In which case, Benitez, for your next challenge: Ian Rush?
Premier League, Sat, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free £10 bet
Such has been their dominance over Liverpool in recent seasons that it’s got to the stage now where Manchester United roll up at Anfield expecting to win. The home side may be missing Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres but chickendinner believe they will still triumph - and Robbie Keane could silence Sir Alex Ferguson by being the match winner.
Here’s why:
1. Liverpool have won their last nine home league games and they have yet to lose at home in the league in 2008.
2. From February onwards Liverpool have comfortably been the best team in the Premier League with a record of 13 wins, four draws and one defeat from 18 games.
3. Last season Liverpool went through their first 14 games without losing
Liverpool WAG transfer news: Clancy out, Cavalieri in
Despite having mental Spaniard Pepe Reina between the sticks, Liverpool recently forked out £3m to bring Brazilian shot stopper Diego Cavalieri from Palmeiras. The transfer makes much more sense when you consider his wife, Brazilian model Daniela Cavalieri, who will almost certainly prove a welcome addition to the Anfield WAG fraternity.
Champions League semi comes down to bad fortune and a worse haircut
If it weren’t for Riise’s unfortunate error, Chelsea fans would be calling for The Toad’s head this morning - his tactically-confused side were all over the place and clearly not very well motivated. Considering the fact that a Benitez-managed side has never scored at Stamford Bridge, Grant could become the most clueless man to ever end up in a Champions league final.
UCL semi-final first leg, Tonight, 7.45pm, ITV1, bet here
Thank you, most merciful television schedulers, for giving tonight’s Liverpool/Chelsea Champions League to ITV. In the hands of Sky we’d have been facing a night of incantations from the Book of Revelation, bursts of the March of the Valkyries and Carmina Burana, all interspersed with images of planets colliding from the Hubble telescope, such is their preferred method of communicating the apocalyptic drama of the event. As dramatic episodes go, however, this game would be taken to the cleaners by Cranford; even the paint drying channel takes on a certain appeal. In six Champions League games together, these two teams have produced an average of half a goal a game. We have also started to get glimpses of the Grantian football philosophy, a school of thought so brutish and defensive it makes the Berlin Wall look subtle and discreet by comparison. This is going to be one for the purists, for everyone else, there’s always Holby City.
The statistics
* There have been just three goals in their six Champions League meetings.
In today’s Sun, court jester Ian Wright highlights what he believes will be the ‘three key battles’ at Anfield tonight. Firstly, he correctly identifies the likely tussle between Torres and Terry. Then, he considers the midfield war that will take place between Gerrard and Lampard (provided the latter has his head in the right place).
These are both fair assertions, but his third and final claim is that Reina and Cech will be going head-to-head in a key on-pitch battle. Um, what are the two players who stand at either end of the pitch going to be battling over? Who has the firmest pre-match handshake? With this kind of insight, it’s hardly surprising that he feels out of touch with Match of the Day types…
Will either side resist the temptation to grind out a bore draw?
For the 4,076 in Champions League history, Liverpool and Chelsea will be facing one another tonight, and no one is more excited than the tabloid media. For the past few days the back pages have been filled with taunt exchanges from The Toad, Benitez and Didier Drogba, but they all seem like over-enthused attempts to breathe life into what is destined to be a dull game. There have been just three goals in the last six European games between the sides, so we’ll be mighty lucky to see the net ripple at Anfield tonight.
But if one of the sides does allow their defence to be breached tonight, who will it be? Votes and comments below, please.
