Saturday, May 23, 2009

Good News, TRC Readers

I've finally gotten the tickets to the Liverpool vs Singapore match on 27th July. After a long wait and plenty of patience, it paid off and although it cost $88, most would agree that it's pretty decent even in face of the current economy climate.


Though I wasn't lucky enough to get myself a seat in the East Stand, which is going to be transformed into a Kop of Asia, Singapore style! Still, I can't be much happier to have acquired the tickets and will be watching alongside some Arsenal and ManYoo fans.

That really says about the craziness and passion of the fans here. I guess it's a one-off match where allegiance will be put aside for some top class football.

If you're in Singapore, reading this and have yet to get it, PLEASE DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER!

Anyway as I've mentioned, this is good news for all of you because...

I'll be there and will bring you pictures, videos and most importantly, my personal account of this event. So stay tune!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Tottenham

Liverpool welcome Spurs to Anfield for the final game of what has been a good season in some ways and a disappointing one in others. Rafa’s men may have ended the season without any silverware but they’ve mounted their best title challenge for well over a decade and for large parts of the season they were the best team. That doesn’t really matter now but it shows great signs of improvement and if Rafa makes one or two signings the red half of Merseyside could be celebrating something special this time next year.

For now though Liverpool have to make sure they beat Spurs and take the second spot. I expect them to see off Tottenham to be honest, they’ve become a good side under the guidance of Harry Redknapp but they don’t travel to well and Liverpool will want to end the season on a high and boost the points tally.

It will be a return to Anfield for Robbie Keane and I’m sure he’ll want to get among the goals and prove Rafa wrong. I’m not sure he will to be honest and I wouldn’t go backing him to score in the game with my own football betting. I’m sure most people would agree that Benitez made the right move in letting him go and he hasn’t really impressed since his move back to Spurs.

The key player for the opposition could well be keeper Heurelho Gomes. The Spurs keeper got a lot of stick at the start of the season for some high profile and costly errors but he has been a revelation in the latter part of the campaign. Gomes has pulled off some truly unbelievable saves and kept Carlo Cudicini out of the side and it will take a bit of work to get past him.

Redknapp hasn’t been impressed with his strikeforce since he took over and Roman Pavlyuchenko looks set for a summer exit. It might be a safe football bet to back the Liverpool clean sheet in all fairness as Pepe Reina is going for the golden glove award and we saw from Jamie Carragher’s antics last week that it is an important award for the team to win.

The match is fairly unimportant in all fairness but I still expect Liverpool to finish on a win. Even though Spurs still have European qualification to play for I don’t think they’ve got enough quality in the team to get a result at Anfield and Liverpool should be able to pick up all three points and go into the summer break full of confidence.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Kop Comes To Asia - Details

Strategic Sports Investment, part of the Profitable Group, are pleased to announce the ticket prices & ticket outlets for Liverpool Football Club on their visit to South East Asia this summer.

Any fan who decides to purchase a ticket for 'The Kop' will receive an exclusive limited edition Kop Scarf. This will help in truly

recreating the legend that is 'The Kop'.

The prices are as follows:




'The Kop' (East Entrance): S$ 88South Entrance: S$ 88
North Entrance: S$ 88Grandstand Lower: S$ 88
Grandstand 'RED': S$188Grandstand Balcony: Available on request

It will be free seating for “The Kop”, Grandstand Lower, South and North Stand. These can be purchased from the outlets listed
below. Grandstand RED seats and Grandstand Balcony are available from the Profitable Group Singapore.

For more information on the Grandstand RED & Grandstand Balcony tickets, call the ticket hotline +65 65505056, or alternatively email: thekop@profitablegroup.com

To allow all of the football fans in Singapore to experience Liverpool FC in Singapore, purchasing of tickets will be limited to 4
tickets per person.

Ticket sales, will be on a first come first served basis.

The tickets will be available from the 22nd May 2009 from these following outlets:

Adidas stores and outlets throughout Singapore:Courts outlets throughout Singapore:
• Pacific Plaza
• Raffles Shopping Centre
• Cineleisure
• Suntec City Mall
• The Cathay
• Vivo City
• Velocity
• Peninsula Shopping Centre
• Queensway Shopping Centre
• Tampines 1
• The Heeren
• The Paragon
• CityLink Mall
• Junction 8
• Jurong Point Shopping Centre
• Parkway Parade
• Wheelock Place
• Bugis Junction
• Ang Mo Kio
• Bukit Timah
• Causeway Point
• Funan
• Jurong Point
• Lot One Shoppers' Mall (Choa Chu Kang)
• Megastore (Tampines)
• Tampines Mall
• Toa Payoh
• Vivo City
Harry's bars throughout Singapore:Thomas Pink outlet:
• Boat Quay
• Chijmes
• Velocity Novena
• Angullia Park
• Dempsey Hill
• Far East Square
• HarbourFront
• Holland Village
• Millenia Walk
• Orchard
• Raffles Quay
• Suntec City Mall

• Esplanade
• Pier Robertson
• The Village Centre
• Changi Airport T1
• Changi Airport T2
• Rail Mall
• Changi Business Park
• Shenton Way
• Fusionopolis
• The Sail Marina Bay
• Singapore’s Straits Bar
by Harry’s at Changi T3
• Capital Tower

For a full list and ticketing locations, please visit www.profitablegroup.com

For further information on ticket sales, please contact:
Ticket hotline +65 65505056 or email: thekop@profitablegroup.com

Reds Take It Out On Baggies As Title Bid Comes to an End

Liverpool 2 (Gerrard 28, Kuyt 63)
West Brom 0


There was no thrill but plenty of emotional spill as Liverpool’s victory over West Bromwich Albion sends the Baggies down to the Championship. The Reds’ spirit were dampened prior to the match as they saw the Premiership crown being lifted at Old Trafford once again, equaling their 18 league title record.

Yet they were able to conjure up a spirited and determined performance to see off West Brom away from home. It was a make-or-break game for the bottom-placed team as anything but a victory over the league runners-up means relegation.

It was as if inevitable that West Brom would go down as they stayed cemented on the foot of the Premiership table. Yet the previous 2 games suggested otherwise and the Baggies fans were hopeful of yet another great escape just like the one in 2004.

No doubt they were determined to make it count and even the presence of a full strength Liverpool side did not derail them of their original game plan.

The away side, on the other hand, was like a wounded animal. Seeing their title bid gone up the smokes without even a kick of the ball, they had nothing to play for. Perhaps only pride and a hope to finish the season on a high note.

Of course, Jamie Carragher would beg to defer as he his altercation with fellow Reds, Alvaro Arbeloa came under the spotlight. Seeing the Spanish defender’s lackadaisical defending for much of the game, the born and bred Liverpudlian gave Arbeloa a earful and it nearly turned into a Bowyer and Dyer-esque fight scene.

It was uncalled for and Carragher should have dealt with it behind closed doors. But on the other hand, one could see Carragher’s spirit and attitude of a man who gives his all for the club.

Perhaps, it was brewed through pure frustration of yet another barren year for Liverpool. Seeing the Premiership crown whizzed by, a ‘so near so yet far’ feeling was by far worse than the ‘out of title bid by November’.

But despite with so little to play for, Liverpool put up a professional performance to see off West Brom. A 2-0 victory all but sealed West Brom’s fate but they only had themselves to blame.

Steven Gerrard’s opener was totally against the run of play. Despite having a decent start to the game, West Brom decided to play Father Christmas as a lapse of concentration gifted Liverpool the vital goal.

Its mistakes like this that gives you the idea as to why they are in the mire. Yet the defenders were not the only one that should’ve been blamed.

Despite being presented with decent chances, all credits to their hardworking midfielders, the strikers were unable to put the ball in the onion bag. It doesn’t help having Jamie Carragher on the opposing team, either.



Dirk Kuyt then doubled the lead as he secures his best scoring record since arriving in England 3 years ago. The striker turned winger was given time as space as he fired home from 25 yards out.

The goal all but buried any hopes that West Brom fans harbored. Yet the home fans were still singing at the top of their lungs in appreciation of their efforts. As many fans could point out that it’s never easy singing in defeat.

Liverpool, on the other hand, can take pride in one of their finest ever domestic campaign, despite actually not winning it. The win took them to 83 points, one of their best ever and it would’ve won them the title a few years back.

Unfortunately, the bar was raised higher in recent years and despite only just 2 defeats throughout the whole campaign, they just fell short. It must be utter disappointment for the players who truly, gave their all.

With this pain and disappointment, they’ll probably strive harder next season. It’s the closest they have came in over 20 years and with a couple of shrewd signing this summer, the hunt of the title could be over in the next few years.

It couldn’t be any closer, can it?