Paul Parker Article

Sunderland can capitalise on Liverpool woe

Sat Oct 17 07:29AM

Match of the weekend: Portsmouth v Tottenham

Actually, this one is more event of the weekend than match of the weekend, considering the likelihood of Spurs winning all three points at Fratton Park. Nevertheless Harry Redknapp's return to his former stomping ground is sure to make this one a must-watch game. Harry is set to receive a white-hot reception from his former fans after having twice left them, the second time when the club was in deep trouble. Pompey fans will not let him off lightly and he can expect fierce abuse from the stands from the outset. But you can't blame him for moving to White Hart Lane. Harry is a master of ducking and diving in the transfer market when given a bit of cash to spend - but events this season on the south coast have proved that was not going to happen at Pompey. Of course, the raids on his former club to take Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Niko Kranjcar to north London will only add to the atmosphere on Saturday, although it will be interesting to see if they are afforded the same treatment Redknapp is set for.

Upset of the weekend: Sunderland v Liverpool

Considering the contrasting form of both sides, this one has upset written all over it. Sunderland head into the game at the Stadium of Light off the back of a fine performance in their draw against Manchester United while Liverpool have lost their previous two outings. In Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones, Sunderland have two in-form strikers, one who can't stop scoring and the other who is right up there with the best in terms of holding the ball, aerial presence and bringing others into play. Jamie Carragher, who has been struggling to recapture his form of last season, will certainly have his work cut out. Add in the absence of both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, plus a Champions League encounter with Lyon next week for Rafa Benitez to think about, and Liverpool could be coming away from Wearside at Saturday tea-time with a fourth defeat of the season to their name.

Player to watch: Craig Bellamy

Bellamy is the player everybody loves to hate but you'd be hard pressed to find a Premier League manager who wouldn't have him in their side at the moment. Should he shake off a groin strain, he is likely to keep Robinho out of the Manchester City starting XI at Wigan on Sunday, such has been his excellent form. While I'm not a fan when he snarls on the pitch and swings his golf club off it, I love the way Bellamy plays with his heart on his sleeve. He has a desire to win every game he plays in and should he feature at the DW, the hosts' defence know they will be in for a tough time.

Under pressure: Emile Heskey and Rio Ferdinand

Emile Heskey voiced his desire to leave Aston Villa for pastures new this week and, even though he has since denied those sentiments, he will have a lot to prove should he feature against Chelsea this weekend. Whether or not he actually meant it, the incident will stick in Villa fans' minds for some time to come. Next time to takes to the pitch, his every action will be scrutinised, with fans looking for signs of the fight he has now said he wants to show to regain his place in Martin O'Neill's starting XI. Ferdinand also has a great deal to prove, albeit for different reasons. The Manchester United stopper has come under fire of late for performances for both club and country and he needs to put in a commanding performance to stem the flow of criticism. The only problem is that Bolton's bustling forward Kevin Davies presents a tricky test, especially since Rio has been exposed in the past by aggressive players. Another poor game could do some real damage to his confidence.

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Good article Paul!!
From painkiller14 on Sat Oct 17 07:46AM
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sunderland will win 2-0...no gerrard and torres surely effects the way Liv playing.
From fahmi_yusoff on Sat Oct 17 07:57AM
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Paul...paul.. paul. tsk...tsk...tsk. what do i do to you now...hmmmm i think i will throw you into the garbage can.
From dayong490 on Sat Oct 17 07:57AM
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painlikker you said this is good? oh i remember you both share the stuff in the locker room
From dayong490 on Sat Oct 17 07:59AM
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Sunderland are always underrated
From malcomx2014 on Sat Oct 17 08:03AM
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dayong490 go f**k your sister a*****e.what he has written in this article is right and I'm not interested what you think
From painkiller14 on Sat Oct 17 08:10AM
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this guy is right
From suemulls on Sat Oct 17 08:13AM
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this guy writes the obvious... men who does not know that liverpool will struggle in the absence of stevie and torres; what is interesting about an already down pompey hosting tottenham, or when blackburn and burnley are setting the city on fire over their upcoming derby? that rio's not been having a good game or tha emile wants out of villa? damn its boring stale news. i better get outta here
From dayong490 on Sat Oct 17 08:34AM
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on 2nd thought, i think i ought to throw PP outta the window!
From dayong490 on Sat Oct 17 08:36AM
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Danny Murphy article makes Parker look like a real genius
From guyzoohh on Sat Oct 17 09:03AM
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the upset is liverpool beating sunderland...not the other way round
From ryanho0001 on Sat Oct 17 09:04AM
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Yeah same as the post above, blackburn v burnley is 1 of the oldest derby's, and they haven't played each other in so long, why not do some research and writh about that, not about stuff everyman and he's dog knows, yes liverpool will struggle without there 2 best players, DUH.
From postmanpatcan on Sat Oct 17 09:06AM
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I am a lifelong Liverpool supporter. I am 61yrs old and have seen all the truly great players who have worn the shirt. I am very sad to report that this club ownership is not good enough to win the league, this management is not good enough to win the league, this team is not good enough to win the league and these individual players (apart from three or four) are not good enough to win the league. Having said all that, I am happy to report that the same now applies to Man Utd - Man City are easily a better set up.
From weston72 on Sat Oct 17 09:09AM
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Not a difficult guess to say Liverpool without Captain Criminal And Torress will lose to the stubborn Sunderland
From jrad878 on Sat Oct 17 09:13AM
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SHUT UP PAUL!!! I HATE YOU!!!
From scousebabyliverpool on Sat Oct 17 09:37AM
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Darren Bent scores a hat trick TOP MAN
From jeffreycowell57 on Sat Oct 17 09:51AM
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liverpool without they're two best players, who benethez hasnt got replacements for (the dope)will struggle, put money on new management before next season. frustrating to see your team being run by a clown.
From armaguy331 on Sat Oct 17 10:20AM
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Paul Parker sometimes says some decent comments about liverpool, but most of this is rubbish. Torres and gerrard are great players, but benayuan, rieya are playing well (they do not get the credit they deserve). Sunderland are a tough team and are playing well, but they are not better than liverpool. Benetiez is a great coach not a clown, it's rude mr ferguson who has brought the game into disrepute and wenger with his support of Eduardo's dive. Liverpool have great fight and character and above all dignity despite what the anti-liverpool media say.
N Whitfield
From nickwhit22 on Sat Oct 17 10:59AM
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hope u wrong parker cause u ex scum.......upset was last week wen man utd as usual had lucky escape by a trailing foot of ferdinand isnt he related to some one at man utd
From shabs127 on Sat Oct 17 11:05AM
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shut up Paul
From caesaroon on Sat Oct 17 11:23AM
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Sunderland 3
Liverpool 0
From seanallan199477 on Sat Oct 17 11:23AM
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nickwhit22. another dreaming Liverpool fan. Did you forget Benitass was already found guilty for his ''glasses'' rant over the ref this season? look at most of your team's result in the last 3 years when Torres and-or Gerrard don't play and you will see why everyone is putting their money on Sunderland to win..
From jrad878 on Sat Oct 17 11:26AM
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upset written all over it??? what i it does not happn???
From kissme090503 on Sat Oct 17 11:27AM
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Fu-ck up Paul
From mrcrocodilemr01 on Sat Oct 17 11:34AM
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the only people who're dissing parker are the liverpool supporters. so scared they are that he might be right and they might just lose their 4th game , denial is the best they can come up with. so sad.
From sunil_mufc on Sat Oct 17 11:36AM
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I am a liverpool fan and I reckon it's gonna be 2-1 Sunderland
Please prove me wrong lads but wthout alonso, torres and gerrard, we look like a mid table team mind you maybe Johnson will bang in some long rangers
From fahadm150 on Sat Oct 17 11:41AM
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people who watched sunderland play Man U at Old Trafford would agree with Paul, Just unlucky with Anton Ferdinand's own goal. They play away from home (its Old Trafford again), and nearly snatched a clear three points. This time they play against Liverpool at home, and without Gerrard and Torres.
From muhammad880614 on Sat Oct 17 11:51AM
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Im never a Rio fan but i pity his form lately...his ruthless tackling is fading, well it comes with age and thinking, i think he is more humanly emotional now but it crippling him....looking at his performance for England, mehn...Rio is about to hang the boot...United will miss him dearly...when he is weak, the net taste the ball....i pray he weak more when we kick their butts soonest...
Its Blues Season!!!!!!
From lennoxmallory on Sat Oct 17 11:58AM
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im a liverpool fan, and somehow, i just cant see us beating sunderland. we miss alonso to much, benitez should have bought a replacement right winger, instead of aquilani (who may or may not be a fitting replacement for alonso), that way, gerrard would drop back into centre midfield with mascherano, and kuyt could play up front with torres. im usually a big fan of rafa, but i think, just maybe, he has had his time...
From lewischatfield on Sat Oct 17 12:28PM
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Good article. I think a draw is the best Liverpool can hope for. They are at best a two man team and with those two out,I think they might even play for the draw!
From ian_heaver on Sat Oct 17 12:31PM
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