The 2007-2008 season is the 115th season in
Liverpool F.C.'s existence, and is their 45th consecutive year in the top-flight. Having finished third the previous season, Liverpool had qualified for the
UEFA Champions League final qualifying stage.
Team kit
The team kit for the season was produced by
adidas and the shirt sponsor is
Carlsberg.
Regular season
August
The regular season began with a trip to face
Aston Villa, Liverpool winning 2-1 with a free-kick from Steven Gerrard.
This was followed in midweek with the first leg of the
Champions League qualifier, away to
Toulouse. The game, unusually played on a weekday afternoon, was won 1-0 by
Liverpool,
Andriy Voronin scoring spectacularly to give the Reds a lead to take back to
Anfield. The next League game was against
Chelsea, and proved to be hugely controversial. Liverpool took a lead through
Fernando Torres' first goal for the club, but Chelsea hit back with a penalty, a decision which baffled most observers. Referee
Rob Styles' day got worse later on, as he appeared to book
Michael Essien twice without sending him off - shades of
Graham Poll in the
2006 World Cup. Mr Styles later admitted to have made an incorrect decision to award the penalty, and was subsequently dropped for the next gameweek. Liverpool manager
Rafael BenÃtez was incensed at the end of the game as both sides went away with a point. The third game of the league season, a 2-0 away win at
Sunderland, was notable for
Momo Sissoko's first Liverpool goal, after more then two years. This was also the Reds' 7,000th goal in League football. The following Tuesday saw Liverpool entertain
Toulouse F.C. at Anfield, in the second leg of their Champions League tie. Before KO, the
Everton F.C. song 'Z cars' echoed around Anfield in memory of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot dead the previous week. The game finished 4-0 to Liverpool with Peter Crouch and Sami Hyypiä (the captain for the game, overall 3rd-choice captain for Liverpool FC) getting one each, and Kuyt grabbing a brace. Liverpool went through 5-0 on aggregate.
September
Liverpool won their first game of September against
Derby by six goals to nil. This was Liverpool's biggest league win since April 2003 when they beat
West Brom by the same scoreline.
First-team squad
Changes
In
Out
Loaned out
Reserves and youth
After the departure of
Steve Heighway, Dutchman
Piet Hamberg came in to run
the academy. As well as some changes to background personnel, the reserve and youth sides were bolstered by several new players -
András Simon,
Krisztián Németh and
Péter Gulásci from
Hungary,
Mikel San Jose and
Dani Pacheco from
Spain,
Dean Bouzanis from
Australia,
Marvin Pourie from
Germany,
Nikolay Mihaylov from
Bulgaria,
Alexander Kacaniklic from
Sweden,
Gary Mackay Steven from
Scotland, and
Englishmen Ryan Crowther and
David Amoo. In addition, the usual number of players progressed through the academy. Ben Burleigh, who surprised selectors, has been making his mark on the youth sqaud. The left-winger from Australia has been making the selectors wonder if he should be selected for the starting 11 in the English Premier League side.
Trivia
★
Mohamed Sissoko's goal against
Sunderland was not only his first goal for the club but also
Liverpool's 7000
th league goal.
★ The 6-0 defeat of
Derby was the first time Liverpool had scored 6 in the League since April 2003 in a 6-0 win of
West Brom.
Notes and references
1. Paul Anderson had worn #26 during 2006-07, but after he was loaned out to Swansea, Scott Carson took over the number. Carson was then loaned out to Aston Villa
2. Anderson completes Anfield switch
3. Itandje arrives as Carson leaves on loan
4. Youth arrives from Liverpool
5. Trotters secure Guthrie loan
6. Liverpool winger loaned to Saints
7. Yeovil sign Liverpool man on loan
8. Palace Sign Reds Striker
9. Smith Extends Stockport Stay
10. Hartlepool sign Liverpool's Antwi
11. FC Twente lends Bulgarian keeper
12. Shrewsbury net Liverpool teenager
13. Nade completes switch to Hearts
External links
★
Fixtures and results
★
Liverpool FC 2007-08 on LFCHistory.net
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