Is money all that matters to Kewell ?

While it's no great secret that Kewell would be leaving LFC this summer, it was somewhat surprising to hear that Rafa had offered him a new deal, albeit on lower wages. When Kewell is on form, there can be no denying he's an excellent player who can pass, shoot, dribble and provide penetration down the flanks.
He has had a remarkable tendancy to be injury free and on form whenever a potential trophy is on the horizon, but when there's nothing to play for his form is poor and injuries (whether real or imagined) come out of the woodwork.
I wonder what makes Kewell think he's worth so much money. Robbie Fowler accepted a pay cut for the privilege to play for LFC in his tender years, yet Kewell has never come across as someone who considered it a privilege to play for us. He's already mega rich, I wonder what his priorities in life are ?

The future is bright Red for Liverpool

Rafa has completely revitalised our youth & reserve team setups since arriving, bringing in some extraordinary talents such as Lauri Dalla Valle, Gerardo Bruna, and Dani Pacheco to name but a few.
In recent seasons we've won 2 youth cups and after tonights reserve match against Aston Villa, the Liverpool reserves were crowned National Champions and did so in style (as they have done all season). A cynic might suggest it was only a reserves game (we play our youth players), but watching it on LFC TV was no less exciting than a first team game. In fact, it was more exciting at times due to the free flowing football on display (something we don't see often enough from our 'senior' players). Lucas, Insua, and Plessis have already had first team debuts but it's clear we've many more talents capable of making the step up :-)

Third time lucky for our new stadium ?

There's far too much uncertainty surrounding Liverpool FC at present for me to get excited about the latest stadium plans being approved. I want to believe that work will commence shortly on building it but how many times have we heard it all before (well ok, 3 times in 5 years to be exact). Not only that but it was previously announced that the revised stadium plans would be for a 71,000 seater but this latest redesign is only for 60,000.
It's no secret that there has been plenty of financial & political hurdles with Hicks & Gillet, plus with DIC still hoping to takeover LFC, lord only knows when construction will begin. Maybe this will be 3rd time lucky for us though ?

Possible implications of the Olympics for Liverpool

I expect an even tighter title race next season and wonder how much of an effect the Olympics will have on the shape of the Premiership. The games are staged between 8th - 24th August with training camps starting 2 weeks before that. I don't know how many [if any] players from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal & Manchester United will be at the Olympics.
But for Liverpool, Lucas Leiva is now the second player (after Mascherano) to announce his intention to play, which leaves us a little light in central midfield. The signing of Gareth Barry seems a foregone conclusion and I wonder if that means Rafa will try hold on to Alonso until the end of the transfer window but maybe Alonso will have other ideas. All it would then take is an injury to one of our remaining midfielders and we risk gifting a slight edge to our title rivals.

Wasted opportunity to blood more youngsters

With nothing left to play for at this stage of the season, I'd hoped that Rafa would take the opportunity against Manchester City to blood some more youth players (e.g. Plessis & Nemeth). Sadly it didn't quite work out that way but at least Insua & Lucas got their game.
Insua showed some nice touches, got forward often and played the full game. He's shown plenty of potential in the reserves and depending on transfer activity this summer we just might get to see more of him next season.
Lucas had an ok game, he keeps things nice and simple, but was well impressed with his overhead kick attempt. I reckon he's still just finding his feet and gaining confidence, next season we should see what Lucas is really made of.

What's with the new jerseys being worn today ?

Maybe I'm just missing something here but I don't recall us ever doing that before. I like the new jerseys and all but I wish they'd waited until next season before parading them on the pitch, just didn't feel right to me. I've always associated new jerseys with new player arrivals at LFC and the departure of others.
Seeing Voronin wearing the new number 10 jersey made me wonder if he's part of Rafas plans next year, I hope not because aside from a few promising games at the start of the season he's been terrible ever since, doubt he'd make it at Championship level. If there was any fringe player I'd like to have seen wearing the new jersey it would be Crouchie but he didn't even make the bench, I hope we don't lose him this summer but fear we will.

Do we really need Gareth Barry ?

It's great that LFC has started chasing players for next season, but not so great that top of the list so far is Gareth Barry (£10m bid made). We've got a crowded midfield as it is with Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Alonso and the emerging Plessis (really hope this kid makes it). Unless Alonso is being shipped out this summer, where are we going to fit Barry ?
I hope it's not on the wings as a workmanlike non-winger type (ala Kuyt). The really key positions for us are proper wingers & wingbacks who can take on players with some pace, power and creativity. I yearn for the Liverpool of old when we played arguably the most attractive football around. Maybe I'm being harsh on Barry, but do we really need him ?

We got what we deserved [knocked out]

I'm actually not too bothered that we lost to Chelsea. The harsh reality is that we just weren't good enough and didn't deserve to win.
I was surprised Benayoun & Torres weren't subbed earlier. Sure Torres scored a cool goal but he was largely anonymous throughout, and Benayoun who created the goal beautifully also had a terrible game.
Gerrard true to form [against the big teams] didn't perform well, while Alonso was average [again]. I'd high hopes that Riise would be eager to make up for his gaffe in the 1st leg but it seems he wasn't too bothered.
If it wasn't for the likes of Skrtel, Carragher, Mascherano & Reina we would've been torn apart completely. Last week I thought it might be a case of 3rd time lucky for Chelsea, this week I know they deserved it.

Dreaming of the Sheikh owning LFC

Not sure how much credence can be paid to this article from the Liverpool Daily Post. Unnamed mystical sources hardly inspire confidence. But it has given me considerable food for thought.
If the ruling Sheikh of Dubai were to take over LFC directly rather than using DIC as the investment vehicle, it would make things considerably easier for LFC to grow and develop. By not using DIC they don't need the more immediate [and large] returns on their investment. What does this mean for LFC ?
It would be a concrete statement of intent as to how serious they are about LFC. We'd have an owner who can plow real money into the club, which means progress on a new stadium and also be better able to finance the acquisitions of the players we need to secure the Premiership crown. What more could you ask for ?

New Liverpool Home Kit for 2008-2010

And so it's finally arrived, the new home kit for the next couple of seasons (at least I hope so, unless our new 'custodians' intend on launching a new one every year).

I like the new design, think it's far more refined than our current one. As for the new goalkeeper jersey, that rocks, very cool :-)

The back of the shirt has an embroidered Liverbird, while the inner part of the collar has a Red & White chequered area inspired by the Kop. There's also an inscription "This is Anfield" on the shirt.

On a more positive note, our Ninja Skrtel

How awesome was Skrtel tonight, definitely man of the match, dominated the game against Chelsea. It's amazing how the lad has only been here a few months but has adapted so quickly to the game.
Both himself and Agger are blessed with pace, power and awareness. Carragher is going to have a real fight on his hands for a place in the team next season and I reckon we're going to have the best central defensive partnership in the Premiership as a result of that.