Odds and Sods

Liverpool FC

As any Liverpool fan will not be hesitant to tell you, historically they have been a dominant club in English football.  They have won 18 league titles, though none since 1990.  They have also won 5 European titles, the last coming in dramatic fashion with a victory over AC Milan in 2005.

The season has been somewhat of a disappointment for Liverpool domestically.  They were expected by many to compete for the title, though their campaign was scuttled early in the season by piss poor away form.  They currently sit in 3rd place on 57 pts, 21 behind leaders Manchester United.  Arsenal dismantled their Carling and FA Cup campaigns in back to back matches at Anfield.

Though “the greatest club in the world” is well on its way toward its 2nd full decade without a domestic title,  there is much reason for optimism.  They reached the quarterfinals with a “legendary” win over Barcelona 2-2 on aggregate with an edge in away goals.  Liverpool also beat Arsenal soundly 4-1 at Anfield in their last league match.

PSV Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven are one of the three traditionally big clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie, along with Ajax and Feyenoord.  They have won 19 Dutch titles, including 4 since 2000.  They have won one European Champions Cup, in 1988.

They currently lead the Dutch league by three points over Ajax, with 68 points from 30 matches.  However, they have been on a poor run of form recently, including a 5-1 defeat at home against Ajax.

They finished 2nd in their qualifying group behind Liverpool and ahead of Bordeaux and Galatasaray.  They qualified for the quarterfinals by defeating Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate, though they were criticized for playing a highly negative style, uncharacteristic of a Dutch side, and many feel they are the weakest of the eight clubs remaining in the competition.

Prediction

These two sides played eachother twice in the group stages.  The first was a horribly boring 0-0 draw at PSV and the second was a 2-0 Liverpool win at Anfield.  PSV are on an awful run of form domestically and without talented defender Alex do not look to be able to put up much of a fight.  Look for them to throw 10 men behind the ball and hold on for dear life.

That said, players not named Peter Crouch for Liverpool have scored just 1 goal in their last 4 matches.  Despite Crouchy’s hat-trick against Arsenal and his penchant for scoring goals, Rafa Benitez will most likely pair Kuyt and Bellamy up front.   They have also had problems dictating play when they are obviously the better side.  Liverpool should win this, but it will be ugly.