EPL: Derby 1-2 Liverpool (26.12.07)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Derby will be desperate for revenge when they welcome Liverpool to Pride Park on Boxing Day.

The Rams were thumped 6-0 at Anfield in September in Liverpool's best Premier League win of the season and Paul Jewell's side will be keen to banish any bad memories.

Jewell - who was not in charge of the Rams for the defeat at Anfield - has yet to sample success since taking charge of Derby in November, but his side came within minutes of a shock three-point haul against Newcastle on Sunday and hopes will be high they can show similar resilience.

Liverpool, though, bounced back to form with a convincing 4-1 win over Portsmouth at the weekend and manager Rafa Benitez will want more of the same as he continues to try and convince the doubters that a title charge remains a realistic possibility.

Welcome back

Andy Griffin, David Jones and Matt Oakley all missed Derby's draw with Newcastle due to injuries and Jewell will be desperate to welcome the trio back.

Derby have recorded only one Premier League win this season, at home to Newcastle, and if they are to become only the second side to avoid the top flight's 'bottom at Christmas' curse they need to start winning quickly.

West Brom became the first side to escape the drop after occupying bottom spot during the festive period in the 2004/05 season and if Derby are to produce an equally miraculous escape they will need their squad back to full fitness.

Derby also had concerns over the fitness of Stephen Pearson (thigh) ahead of the Newcastle clash, but the midfielder was deemed capable of playing and Jewell will be keen for another clean bill of health.

Struggle

Jewell's squad is being stretched to the limits and Robert Earnshaw has also been struggling with a groin problem.

Benitez has uncharacteristically named a settled starting XI in the league over recent weeks, which will leave most pondering the Spaniard's next move.

Changes to a Liverpool line-up are usually guaranteed but star striker Fernando Torres is likely to retain his place up front.

Torres has been in inspired form and with Peter Crouch banned and Andrei Voronin yet to convince on Merseyside, the Spaniard is almost guaranteed to lead the line with Dirk Kuyt.

Influential midfielder Xabi Alonso is close to full match fitness after a lengthy lay-off with a foot injury, but defender Daniel Agger is still recovering from his own broken metatarsal.

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Daniel Agger could hand boss Rafael Benitez a major fitness boost by returning to first-team action sooner than expected. Agger could face Derby today.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool Team:
Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypiä, Aurelio, Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Riise, Voronin, Torres

Subs:
Itandje, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt

Maybe Aurelio will play left wing and Riise as a back.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Derby Team:
Bywater, Mears, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Teale, Pearson, Barnes, Lewis, Howard, Miller

Subs:
Price, Feilhaber, Johnson, Earnshaw, Fagan

[Mighty T.A.L.]

It's Price in goal today for Derby.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Ended 1-2. Terrible match from both sides. Gerrard once again saved today a poor Liverpool team. No one on Liverpool had a good game IMO. Good to have Alonso back. He looked very tired at the end of the game and I wonder why Mascherano didn't came on.

[NJ10]

Could be an absolutely massive three points for the rest of the season. It looked like we had pissed any hope of prolonging a "title challenge" up the wall when we let Derby back in, but Benayoun and Gerrard dragged us back from the brink. Priceless three points, what with Arsenal and Chelsea dropping points as well.

[Oliver_Kahn]

I didn't watch the game, no idea how you played, just saw Torres' goal.
It was fantastic.

[NJ10]

Yeah he is just brimming with confidence at the moment, every time he picks it up you know he is capable of something special. It was not too dissimilar to his goal at L'OM in the Champions League. It was his first Premiership away goal too, so thats another burden off his shoulder. He could hit 25 this season easy.