Reds ready to renew Leeds rivalry

Mon, 21 Sep 22:33:21 2009

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will warn his players to be on their guard against a fallen giant who used to be one of their biggest rivals.

Benitez will send out a much-changed side on Tuesday at Elland Road against Leeds in the third round of the Carling Cup. But the Spanish coach is more than aware that the tie is being seen by Leeds and their fans as a rare chance to compete again against one of their biggest rivals from an illustrious past.

"I believe the game will be a sell-out, and it is a surprise to me that Leeds find themselves in League One these days. Leeds will be difficult, we know they are a big club and we respect their history," said Benitez.

The rivalry with Liverpool dates back to the 1960s when the Reds beat Leeds 2-1 in the '65 FA Cup final with goals from Ian St John and Roger Hunt.

For the next decade the two clubs were neck and neck for the country's top honours. Liverpool won the title in '66 with Don Revie's men runners-up, and the positions were reversed in '69, with Leeds again winning the title in '74 ahead of the Anfield side.

Things have changed dramatically with Leeds' sorry decline, but after 15 successive home league wins having helped them to the top of League One, the Yorkshire club's fans sense this may be the season they start their climb back to the top flight.

Benitez added: "I have been watching DVDs of their games and it is clear that their supporters are very important to them. They back their team all the time and make it tough for their opponents.

"Those fans are amazing, such loyalty and support, and that has been very apparent to me in watching tapes from last season.

"We know it will be tough. It is a massive club despite the division they are in."

 

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  1. looking forward to a good cup tie

    From KOP MANIA, on Tue 22 Sep 6:54PM

  2. with Carra shaky and Skrtel not 100% even if he's­ in, and with our backs attacking instead of defending,­ it could be 5-5 by the end.

    mmmmmm

    From monson.theknole, on Tue 22 Sep 3:17PM

  3. I still remember what a fantastic game it was when­ Leeds drew 0-0 at Anfield to win the League at the­ expense of Liverpool. Normally defensive away from­ home, Revie promised they'd attack and they did. ­ It was one of the most exciting games I'd seen, end­ to end stuff. So lets have the same atmosphere­ tonight, not the hate filled @#$% the Mancs come out­ with.

    From Bill B, on Tue 22 Sep 2:58PM

  4. if it really is the Reds's second XI, then Leeds­ have to think it's a good chance - after all, look­ what Havant&Waterlooville did - at Anfield no less-­ at the start at least...

    From monson.theknole, on Tue 22 Sep 2:42PM

  5. it will be a gd test to see how far we need to go to be­ playing teams like liverpool again even if it is a 2nd­ eleven out . come on u whites

    From crazy shite, on Tue 22 Sep 1:09PM

  6. Man utd = most detested team in the country.
    Man utd­ followers= Glory hunting, bandwagon jumping, Cant­ control themselves at games, coin tossing, pitch­ invading SCUM.

    From MARC, on Tue 22 Sep 12:42PM

  7. Vegasmuff why are you so bothered? If all we've got­ is our history why do you feel the need to comment all­ the time you cheating ref bribing manure SCUM.

    From MARC, on Tue 22 Sep 12:37PM

  8. WE LOVE UNITED WE DO
    WE LOVE UNITED WE DO
    WE LOVE­ UNITED WE DO
    OH UNITED WE LOVE YOU !
    FOREVER IN THE­ MASSIVE SHADOW OF THE GREATEST CLUB IN THE WORLD­ ..........................................
    MANCHESTER­ UNITED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    READ IT AND WEEP­ BINDIPPERS

    From vegasmufc, on Tue 22 Sep 12:01PM

  9. vegas
    STFU
    get off this page, you scumbag

    From monson.theknole, on Tue 22 Sep 11:47AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WHAT A FFUKIN SAD LOT YOU ARE ! REMEMBERING THEM GOOD­ OLD DAYS,WHEN LIVEINTHEPAST FC ACTUALLY WON SOMTHIN AND­ THE SCUM WERE A 1ST DIVISION SIDE !
    HOW LUCKY YOU ARE­ TO BE IN THE
    MASSIVE SHADOW OF THE MIGHTY MANCHESTER­ UNITED !

    From vegasmufc, on Tue 22 Sep 11:24AM

  11. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will warn his players to­ be on their guard against a fallen giant who used to be­ one of their biggest rivals.

    Sorry Rafe but tonight­ will just be an evening out for the Leeds Lads. The­ Priority has got to be MK Dons at the weekend!

    Lets­ just get out of this League and back to playing the­ Pool on a regular basis!

    From Easyrider2609, on Tue 22 Sep 11:17AM

  12. It is good to see 2 teams that seem to have alot of­ respect for each other. Im sure Leeds will put on a­ good show and the atmosphere will no doubt be electric,­ but i think we'll take it 2-1, Benayoun and­ hopefully Torres if we play him.

    From MARC, on Tue 22 Sep 10:12AM

  13. Breath of fresh air on here today-no scummers­ about!!
    Looking forward to a great game. A win would be­ great, but don't mind getting beat by pool as long­ as we put up a good show-Getting out of this Hell-Hole­ League is the only priority for this season.
    Good luck­ lads!

    From rob, on Tue 22 Sep 10:00AM

  14. Wish I was there tonight, great to see 'Pool coming­ back to ER, if Rafa underestimates us and fields a­ reserve team with LUFC's confidence and the backing­ of a full ground we might just pull off the win. 4-1­ isn't a bad bet. Marching on together!

    From Gorillabong, on Tue 22 Sep 9:47AM

  15. #8 Don't worry, Leeds will be back in the Prem in­ about 3-4 years - they are too big not to get­ back.

    Tonight, I would not be too unhappy if it ended­ 2-2, so Leeds could enjoy a replay at Anfield - just­ for the fun of it, and the extra revenue - though then­ I would hope to see the Reds win 4-0.
    Realistically, I­ expect tonight: Leeds 1-4 Pool

    We really need the­ momentum to get ready for the tough one at the­ Bridge.

    So I also expect a very aggressive weekend­ match: LFC 5-0 Hull (sorry Mr Brown, you'll have to­ hunt for your points elsewhere)

    Then, Chelsea 1-2­ LFC
    that'll do nicely

    YNWA

    From monson.theknole, on Tue 22 Sep 9:34AM

  16. RIO RIO RIO RIO RIO RIO RIO ......... IF RIO PLAYS LIKE­ HE DID..... WE AINT GOT NO WORRIES ABOUT OWEN..........­ HE HAD 15 CHANCES BEFORE THAT WINNER AND BLEW­ THEM.......... 15-1 CHANCE HES GONNA SCORE... ILL TAKE­ THAT WITH TORRES AND GERRARD AND KUYT UP THE OTHER­ END........... YNWA SEE YAS IN OCTOBER YA DIRTY SHEEP­ DIPPAS

    From PURPLE AKi, on Tue 22 Sep 8:50AM

  17. I LIKE LEEDS UTD....... SHOULD BE A GOOD MATCH.....­ ILL BE WHATCHIN IN GLORIOUS HIGH DEF........... THATS­ PROBABLY TECHNICOLOUR TO A MANC......... BLACK AND­ WHITE TV WATCHIN SHEEP DIPPERS......... YNWA

    From PURPLE AKi, on Tue 22 Sep 8:48AM

  18. Yes it was rather refreshing to see some of the earlier­ posts until the Manure nobs came out from under their­ stones. Football... a funny old game of two halves and­ unlimited extra time at Old Toilet! at least until­ Manure score. Tough luck city, but well done Bellamy.­ I bet nothing is done about the coin throwing or­ "pitch invasion" though.

    From lraff1955, on Tue 22 Sep 8:21AM

  19. If you a Man Ure "supporter" then get the­ f@*k off these pages you tit!!
    L.F.C fans only.

    From Gavin, on Tue 22 Sep 7:08AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Michael Owen,NOW its time for you to stick one between­­ the legs of Mr 'SLOMO' Carragherrrrrrr at­ the­­­ C**K END,
    ooops i meant the Kop­­­ End!!!..haha..GOD,those­ pesky SCOUSE S***e will be­ so­­ LIVID!!!..OUCH!!..LOL!!!..DAMN,i­ cant FREAKIN­­­­ wait!!!...
    Michael, welcome to­ Manchester!!..The­­ Theater Of Dreams...Where Real Dreams are made­­ of..
    HALLELUJAH!!!..GGMU!!!...cherio..:)..

    From Giggs11,A True Red Legend,Arise, on Tue 22 Sep 3:16AM
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