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No doubt they are, but the problem is, the next game is against Liverpool!
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The Story So Far
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| Town | Liverpool |
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Town are now in a slight crisis. Since topping the table on the same day England thrashed Germany, Town have plummeted down the table, and now lie in 12th place. Not bad for a team the size of Grimsby's, but when you consider that they have failed to beat Rotherham, Gillingham, Stockport and Palace, it makes the trip to Anfield that bit more daunting. Nevertheless, the never-say-die attitude of the Town team will hopefully see a respectable scoreline on Tuesday night, but if they play like they did against Rotherham, then double figures are on the cards....
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Liverpool have so far this season, shown that they are contenders for the Premiership crown. After an inconsistent start that saw them loose two games, including a 2-1 defeat to Bolton, the Reds have now started to get going, with recent wins over Everton and Tottenham and will be looking for at least a consolidation of their Champions' League place, not to mention their defence of the Worthington Cup and the FA Cup. This campaign will start tonight against a Town side that have not won since that win against Coventry back in September.
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Recent Form
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| Town | Liverpool |
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| W | Newcastle | (a) | 2-0 |
| W | Spurs | (h) | 1-0 |
| W | Everton | (a) | 3-2 |
| L | Villa | (h) | 1-3 |
| L | Bolton | (a) | 1-2 |
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Overall League Record
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Leading Goalscorers (League + Cup)
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| Town | Liverpool |
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| Rowan | 4 |
| Jevons | 3 |
| Jeffrey | 2 |
| Pouton | 2 |
| Allen | 2 |
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| Owen | 4 |
| Litmanen | 2 |
| Gerrard | 2 |
| Rise | 2 |
| Heskey | 1 |
| Murphy | 1 |
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Town Team News
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Stacy Coldicott is expected to play in place of Bradley Allen, reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation. Coldicott came through 45 minutes of reserve football last week and was on the bench for the Rotherham game on Friday.
Striker Michael Jeffrey is once again expected to miss out with a back injury, meaning a place for Michael Boulding and Bradley Allen on the bench.
They could be joined by Menno Willems, who is facing a race against time to be fit for the game, he is thought to have a small chance of making the bench, but if he doesn't either Robbie Busscher or Chris Bolder will take his place.
A definite starter is Marlon Broomes, on a second month's loan from Blackburn. He will replace David Beharall whose is cup-tied, and who's future is yet to be decided.
Definitely out is John McDermott, with a calf injury. He hopes to be back in three month's time.
Influential striker Steve Livingstone has started light training on his calf injury, and hopes to be back in action by the end of October.
Even longer will it take to cure Paul Raven of the injury he picked up against Scunthorpe back in August, he will not return until November at the latest.
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Liverpool Team News
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Robbie Fowler is rated very doubtful with a chest infection, which means Emile Heskey will have to start.
Michael Owen is still a week off full fitness, but has started light training.
England star Steven Gerrard serves the last game of his three match suspension, meaning a return for Jamie Redknapp.
Igor Biscan is certainly out, so it provides an ideal opportunity for the Czech Vladmir Smicer to start.
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Expected Line Ups
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| Town | Liverpool |
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Danny Coyne
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| Returns to the side after being on international duty at the weekend. Excellent keeper whose form since the arrival of Lennie Lawrence, has been tremendous. Won the player of the year award last season. |
Danny Butterfield
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| Started out as a right back when given his debut at home to York in 1999. Has since then moved to the middle of the midfield, but in the last few games has had to move to right back after injury to veteran John McDermott. |
| Tony Gallimore |
| Solid left back who is a undoubtedly Town's first choice in that position, after signing for Town in 1996 from Carlisle for £230,000.
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Paul Groves (c)
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| Town's rock at the back, whose presence is often relied upon. Still, at the age of 35, is as fit as ever, and will once again take his place as captain in one of a long list of big cup ties that he has played in for the Mariners. |
| Marlon Broomes |
| On-loan defender from Blackburn, who enters his second month with the Mariners. Has had the unlucky curse of when he has played for Town, has lost every game. |
Stuart Campbell
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| Signed in the summer from Leicester after a loan spell last season. A hard working midfielder who can play anywhere across the midfield, but of late has played down the left. |
Alan Pouton
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| All action midfielder who despite preferring a role in the centre of the park, has had to play down the right wing this season. This has not stopped his progress, putting in some great displays. |
| Wayne Burnett |
| In his fifth season with the club after signing from Huddersfield in 1998. The accomplished midfielder is expected to play despite picking up a slight knock in the week. |
Stacy Coldicott
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| Fierce tackling midfielder who has not played for Town since April, after a reoccurring injury. His battling qualities have been sorely missed in a midfield that has struggled to cope since the loss of Menno Willems. |
| Phil Jevons |
| Scouser who was signed from Everton in the summer for £250,000. After recent injuries, he will be hoping to relinquish his partnership with Jonny Rowan up front. |
Johnny Rowan
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| Scored his fourth goal of the season last week, and improving in every game, Rowan is one to watch for the future, still at the age of 19. Signed a new two year contract on Tuesday that will see him at BP until 2004. |
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Chris Kirkland
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| England under 21 goalkeeper who was singed in September for £5million - a record for a British keeper. Impressed many managers last year with some terrific performances between the posts for Coventry. |
Steven Wright
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| Accomplished right back who is yet another Crewe Alexander player to pull on the red shirt of Liverpool. Will deputise for the injured Markus Babbel.
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| Sammi Hypia |
| Finnish international captain who return to the side after playing in the Finland team that held Germany to a 0-0 draw at the weekend. Last season, he captained the side many times; an indication from Gerard Houiller of how highly he rates the Finn. |
| Stephene Henchoz |
| Swiss defender who played for Blackburn under Roy Hodgson three seasons ago. His partnership with Sammi Hypia is solid as ever and is the foundation for which the team is built on.
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Gregor Vignal
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| French left back who is behind Jamie Carragher and John Arne Rise in the pecking order of left backs. Although he has been involved in some games this year, due to the absence of Markus Babbel, meaning Jamie Carragher filling the right back role. |
| Vladmir Smicer |
| Versatile midfielder who has the ability to play behind the strikers. Czech international whom was an integral part of the historic cup winning team of last season. On his way back from recent injury. |
Jamie Redknapp (c)
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| Redknapp missed the entirety of last season due to injury, and is now nearly fully fit again. Tuesdays match gives him the perfect opportunity to regain his fitness and stake a claim for a starting place in the team. |
Gary McCallister
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| Scottish midfielder with a wealth of experience. Signed last summer from Coventry, and was influential in the cup success last season, winning man of the match in the UEFA Cup final. |
| John Arne Rise |
| Signed for £4.5 million in the summer from Monaco, being the Merseysiders only close season signing. Rise's versatility is a major advantage, able to play left back or on the left hand side of midfield. |
Jari Litmanen
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| Intelligent forward singed on a free from Barcelona last season, and became an instant hit until injury struck. This season he is expected to play a big part in Liverpool's success, and marked his comeback a few weeks ago with a goal vs. Tottenham. |
Emile Heskey
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| Strong, quick and powerful forward signed for £11 million from Leicester 18 months ago. Last season he excelled himself with a hatful of goals, and is now an England regular. |
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| Subs | Subs |
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| Menno Willems |
| Bradley Allen |
| Michael Boulding |
| Ben Chapman |
| Steve Croudson (GK) |
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| Nick Barmby |
| Robbie Fowler |
| Frodde Kippe |
| Patrik Berger |
| Jerzey Dudek (GK) |
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Last Time Out
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Of course the last time the two sides met was in the 1997/98 season, also in the league cup. Town had disposed of Oldham, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday in the earlier rounds, and met Liverpool at Anfield. Unfortunately, a certain Michael Owen, then 19, popped up with his first senior hatrick, condemning Town to a 3-0 defeat. It was a respectable performance by Town, who of course went on to visit Wembley twice and gain promotion from division two.
Town Team: Davsion, McDermott, Gallimore, Handyside, Lever, Widdrington, Donovan, Black, Nogan, Lester, Groves.
Subs: Livingstone, Jobling, Southall
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Liverpool Head-to-Head
(96th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Fishy Prediction
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Well, all season I have never predicted Town to loose, but this might have to change. I hope for decent looking score, and hopefully that's what we'll get. If it's 0-0 at half time, who knows what will happen, but in my heart of hearts I'll go for a 3-1 Liverpool win.
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Directions
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Click on the link for directions to Anfield.
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