Derby County ~ General Chat & Latest News

[Freddy Adu]

DERBY COUNTY
Highest achievable: 20th
Lowest could fall: 20th

[Freddy Adu]

LIVERPOOL
Highest achievable: 4th
Lowest could fall: 7th

[Freddy Adu]

DERBY COUNTY

Kenny MILLER is Derby's joint top scorer with three Premier League goals.

Goalkeeper Stephen BYWATER is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Derby's Premier League matches this season.

[Freddy Adu]

If selected:-

Matt OAKLEY will be making his 250th Premier League appearance (Southampton and Derby).

[Freddy Adu]

If on the field from the outset:-

Craig FAGAN will be making his 150th career league start (Bristol City, Colchester, Hull and Derby).

[Freddy Adu]

LIVERPOOL

Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 14 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with eight.

Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.

[Freddy Adu]

Suspended:-

Peter CROUCH

[Freddy Adu]

HEAD TO HEAD

Liverpool are on course to complete a fourth Premier League double over Derby, having outclassed them with a devastating display of fire-power in the 6-0 thrashing at Anfield in September, a victory that shot the Merseysiders to the top of the table for the first time in five years.

The Reds also did the double when they last met the Rams in 2001-02.

Derby have not enjoyed victory over Liverpool since Jim Smith's side prevailed 3-2 at Pride Park on 13 March 1999 with the aid of a Paulo Wanchope double.

[Freddy Adu]

Home and away
League (inc PL): Derby 32 wins, Liverpool 65, Draws 28
Prem: Derby 3 wins, Liverpool 9, Draws 1

[Freddy Adu]

at Derby only
League (inc PL): Derby 26 wins, Liverpool 23, Draws 13
Prem: Derby 2 wins, Liverpool 4, Draws 0

[Freddy Adu]

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 6-0 Derby County
1 September 2007 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Liverpool scorers: Alonso 27, Babel 45, Torres 56, Alonso 69, Voronin 76, Torres 78

[Freddy Adu]

REFEREE
Alan Wiley (Burntwood, Staffordshire)

[Freddy Adu]

Liverpool´s Benitez wary of battling Rams


Written by: AFP

	Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez directs his players against Manchester United during their Premiership match at Anfield, Liverpool, north-west England, December 16. Derby County´s underdog status for their Boxing Day match with Liverpool should count for nothing, says Benitez.

LONDON (AFP) - Derby County's underdog status for their Boxing Day match with Liverpool should count for nothing, says Reds' manager Rafael Benitez.

After an easy win over Portsmouth at the weekend and a 6-0 demolition of the Rams at Anfield earlier this season, many will see another Reds success as a mere formality.

But Benitez has already seen such expectations blow apart to his cost once this season - when Liverpool lost 3-1 to unheralded Reading - and he will therefore be urging his players to take nothing for granted.

"Everyone is expecting us to beat Derby, but we have had experience of Reading - so we will have a lot of respect for Derby and will try to win this game," he said.

"When you play away against a team which is battling relegation it is always very difficult."

Benitez knows also that three good performances in the next week will go a long way to lifting the speculation still hanging over him about his future at Anfield.

But he remains happy to continue his controversial rotation policy over the festive period.

"Sometimes you can use the same player; sometimes you use the squad," he explained.

"I like to use the squad, because this is the key if you want to reduce the gap (to the teams at the top) - it is using the right players at the right moment.

"When you play four games in 12 days it is such a short time you can change players and they can understand.

"Sometimes when you play one game a week and you leave six players out of the squad it is more difficult to explain - but this situation is easier."

With Liverpool still facing the damaging prospect of being cut adrift from the 'big three' in the title race, key defender Jamie Carragher has called for the side to keep their nerve.

With the backdrop of continued uncertainty about the club's ownership, finances, Benitez's own future as well as problems with the new ground, Liverpool could be facing a tough new year off the pitch.

But on it, Carragher insists there is still hope.

"It does not really matter who the leaders are, as long as we keep them in sight," he said.

"At the moment it is Arsenal up there, so we just need to make sure we keep hold of them for now. I am sure a time will come this season when they start to find it difficult, especially with all the young players they have in their side.

"There is no secret they are a great side, but I am sure they will be tested at some point. We just have to make sure we are there to capitalise when it happens.

"I am sure that Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea will keep winning - so it is up to us to prove we can stay with them. It would be really exciting if it is a four-horse race with 10 games to go."

Liverpool now play Derby, Manchester City and Wigan in a week, games they dare not lose.

Carragher added: "Christmas is always a crucial time of the season. You can look at this period almost as a separate group of games in that sense.

"From these three games we would always say that seven points would be fine, but nine would be excellent. That would make a massive difference heading into the new year - I hope we can them be a lot close to Arsenal by then."

[Oscar Cardozo]

David Jones has recovered from the groin injury that kept him out of the draw at Newcastle, although the knee injury Claude Davis picked up in the warm-up at St James' Park is likely to keep him out. Rafa Benitez will rest players from the side that hammered Portsmouth, with fit-again Xabi Alonso and Ryan Babel pushing for starts.

[Freddy Adu]

FT Derby County 1 - 2 Liverpool

[Freddy Adu]

FT		Derby County [1 - 2] Liverpool
12'	[0 - 1]		F. Torres
67'	[1 - 1]	J. McEveley
72'		J. McEveley
90'	[1 - 2]		S. Gerrard

[Freddy Adu]

Derby were robbed!
I was rooting for them the whole way.

[Brasil]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!

This coulda been the best Christmas ever if Liverpoo lost, this is sad....Derby fight so hard and tie Liver***** then they win it during injury time, fuck you liverpoo.

[Freddy Adu]

I feel so bad for Derby. I was watching it live and the stupid defender instead of clearing to the sides he taps it way to slow right to a running Gerrard.

[Brasil]

omfg, I'm going to kill that guy ya.

[Freddy Adu]

Carragher urges Liverpool not to concede title race


Written by: AFP

	Liverpool´s Jamie Carragher (R) shadows Chelsea´s Juliano Belletti during a Carling Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge in west London, December 19. Despite defeating Portsmouth 4-1 at Anfield at the weekend, Liverpool travel to bottom club Derby on Wednesday still 10 points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the table.

DERBY, England (AFP) - Jamie Carragher has urged his Liverpool team-mates to keep their nerve as Rafa Benitez's side battle to stay in the title race.

Despite defeating Portsmouth 4-1 at Anfield at the weekend, Liverpool travel to bottom club Derby on Wednesday still 10 points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the table.

It's another must-win game for Benitez, who faces an even trickier game at Sven-Goran Eriksson's Manchester City next Sunday.

With the midway point of the season looming, long-serving defender Carragher remains confident Liverpool can claw back the deficit, but the former England defender has warned there can be no slip-ups.

"It does not really matter who the leaders are, as long as we keep them in sight," said Carragher.

"At the moment it is Arsenal up there, so we just need to make sure that we keep hold of them for now. I'm sure a time will come this season when they start to find it difficult, especially with all the young players they have in their side.

"There is no secret they are a great side, but I'm sure they will be tested at some point. We just have to make sure we are there to capitalise when it happens.

"I'm sure Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea will keep winning, so it's up to us to prove we can stay with them. It would be really exciting if it's a four-horse race with 10 games to go."

Liverpool now play Derby, Manchester City and Wigan in a week, games they must win if they are not to fall further adrift of the leaders.

"Christmas is always a crucial time of the season," added Carragher. "You can look at this period almost as a separate group of games in that sense.

"From these three games we would always say that seven points would be fine, but nine would be excellent.

"That would make a massive difference heading into the new year, hopefully we can them be a lot close to Arsenal by then."

Benitez can be expected to shuffle his side for the trip to Derby ahead of the tough away trip to fourth-placed City.

Dutch international Ryan Babel, Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin, Fabio Aurelio and Lucas are all in the running for a starting berth. Youngster Jack Hobbs could also get a run-out in defence while Xabi Alonso could continue his comeback from injury.

Derby have won just one of their 18 league games since winning promotion and look certain to make a sorry return to the second tier.

They are seven points adrift of safety despite a creditable 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday.

Striker Kenny Miller, who scored Derby's second goal against Newcastle, believes that result can act as a springboard for the rest of the season.

"We stopped the rot and it is always pleasing to come away with at least a point when you go to a place like Newcastle," said the Scottish international.

"We are making progress. We know if we do the right things and cut out the mistakes then we have got a chance."

[Freddy Adu]

Gerrard rides to Reds rescue


Written by: AFP

	Liverpool´s English midfielder Steven Gerrard celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Derby Count during their English Premiership football match in Derby. Liverpool won 2-1.

DERBY, England (AFP) - Steven Gerrard scored a last-minute winner as Liverpool kept their Premier League title bid alive in dramatic fashion against bottom side Derby County here on Wednesday.

Jay McEveley's first goal of the season, in the 67th minute, looked to have salvaged an unlikely draw for Paul Jewell's battling side after Fernando Torres had opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

But a frantic finish saw Gerrard bundle home the decisive goal from close range after Lewis Price had spilled Torres's initial shot and McEveley had fired his clearance straight to the England international.

The defeat stretched Derby's winless run to 12 games and left Jewell still searching for his first victory since succeeding Billy Davies last month.

Jewell was dealt a blow before kick off when first choice goalkeeper Stephen Bywater was forced to withdraw with a shoulder problem.

Bywater had an injection to numb the pain of the injury he suffered at Newcastle United last time out but felt some discomfort in the warm-up and was replaced by Price, who made his Premiership debut in somewhat daunting circumstances.

Benitez, meanwhile, made four changes from the side that thrashed Portsmouth last weekend, among them being recalls for Xabi Alonso and Ryan Babel while Andriy Voronin partnered leading scorer Torres in attack.

It took Liverpool less than 12 minutes to take the lead with a goal of genuine class.

Derby lost possession in the process of going on the attack and it proved costly when Torres found the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

He nutmegged the helpless Darren Moore with ease before cutting inside Dean Leacock and curling a sublime finish into the far corner.

Babel was the next to threaten on 17 minutes but the Dutch international failed to hit the target having beaten McEveley with ease on the right flank.

Moments later McEveley made amends with a crucial challenge on Torres as the Spaniard was about to double his side's lead from a strong shooting position.

Babel should have made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when John Arne Riise picked him out with an accurate cross but the winger, unmarked at the back post, could only send his volley over the crossbar.

Derby's problems went from bad to worse two minutes later when Stephen Pearson was forced to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder following a collision with Moore.

He was replaced by Michael Johnson, making his first appearance of the season.

Johnson's arrival at the heart of Derby's defence made them look more secure yet Jamie Carragher should still have doubled Liverpool's lead before half time yet shot wide when it seemed easier to hit the target.

While Liverpool's lead remained so slender Derby always had hope of salvaging something and the equaliser finally arrived in the 67th minute and owed as much to good luck as skill.

Eddie Lewis fired a low free kick into a crowded goalmouth and when the ball deflected off Torres to McEveley the defender kept his head to side-foot past Jose Reina and send Pride Park delirious.

Alonso thought he had snatched a late win for the visitors eight minutes from time only to see his curling shot superbly saved by Price, while Gerarrd hammered another shot against the crossbar in the dying minutes before his luck changed for the better at the death.

[Freddy Adu]

Touchline bust-up leaves Benitez and Jewell facing rap


Written by: AFP

	Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez (L) and Derby County manager Paul Jewell watch their teams during the English Premiership football match at Pride Park, Derby, central England, 26 December 2007.

DERBY, England (AFP) - Rafa Benitez and Paul Jewell could find themselves in hot water with the Football Association after clashing at Pride Park during Liverpool's last-gasp 2-1 win over the Premiership's bottom side.

The rival managers confronted each other during a stormy second half when Derby goal scorer Jay McEveley launched himself at Andriy Voronin with a crude challenge which left the Liverpool striker lying in a crumbled heap.

Benitez took exception to the tackle and raced out of his dug-out while Jewell thought Voronin had made the most of the tackle to get McEveley booked.

Both managers made their feelings clear before squaring up to each other as match officials struggled to calm the situation down.

The feuding duo were eventually pulled apart as the game continued but both Benitez and Jewell face an anxious wait to discover if they will be charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

FA officials will now wait to discover what is included in the match report of referee Alan Wiley before deciding whether or not to take the matter further.

Benitez said: "The longer the game went on the more physical and aggressive Derby were. For me, it was a bad tackle.

"He (Jewell) said his player didn't touch him but it was a different point of view. At least I didn't receive a tackle from him (Jewell) when he approached me."

A more pressing concern for Benitez is the fitness of influential defender Sami Hyypia.

The Finnish centre back limped out of the action after just 53 minutes with a damaged ankle and will undergo intensive tests and treatment in a bid to be fit for Sunday's crucial trip to Manchester City.

Benitez said: "Sammi has a problem with his knee and will have to go and see the club doctor. We will have to wait and see what happens with him but he will be a doubt."

Jewell has mounting injury problems of his own as he battles against the odds to save Derby from relegation.

Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater withdrew an hour before kick off with a shoulder problem while midfielder Stepehen Pearson was forced to go to hospital after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a challenge with his own team-mate, Darren Moore.

Jewell said: "Everything seemed to conspire against us after what happened with Stephen Bywater before kick off and then with Stephen Pearson during the game.

"We were really stretched at the end and the injury problems are mounting up."

Jewell played down his touchline spat with Benitez but did admit he had ordered his players to get stuck into Liverpool after half time and show more fighting spirit.

He said: "You have to compete and make a few tackles when you play against a side like Liverpool, otherwise they will kill you if you show them too much respect.

"He (McEveley) never touched him. It might have been a foul, I don't know, but that happens in games."

McEveley's first goal of the season, in the 67th minute, looked to have salvaged an unlikely draw for Jewell's side after Fernando Torres had opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

But a frantic finish saw Steven Gerrard bundle home the decisive goal from close range after Lewis Price had spilled Torres's initial shot and McEveley had fired his clearance straight to the England international.