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I am writing this after our 2-0 win over Derby. I must say that we have a nice unbeaten streak. Granted that the opposition hasn't been great. Derby, West Ham and Bradford are not the best, but we can't forget that we have also beaten Arsenal and Leeds this season.

So many people have made a career out of slamming this team but at least things are starting to take shape. The season is far from over and we can do with more fine runs. People say our whole campaign is lost but even if the premiership is out of reach, we can look to Europe as an incentive. All the pessism going round can only harm the club

It has been a while since we put together a good string of wins. And it has been a while since we reached the upper reaches of the league table. I would take this win to be a good sign that things are turning around for us. The team is known to be erratic and we seem to blow hot and cold. At least we know that the quality is there, so let's look to more consistency.

What's important is that we view things positively and constructively. Now that things are looking good, we should look forward to greater things instead of being cynical. It has afterall been a long time since we earned some silverware.

Just what is so good about Southampton? With all due respect, they are not the most marvellous or talented team around. To be fair and to do justice to the other teams, Southampton is CRAP. They are not strong in any particular department and have no instantly recognisable players. Obviously, I do not fancy this team and apparently, the Liverpool players don't either.

Then the question: WHY CAN'T WE BEAT THEM? So they knocked us out of the League Cup. Ah, the romance of cup competitions...but the league? Perhaps we are really hitting a dismal patch. We beat the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea and lose to Watford and Southampton. It's unacceptable!

We really need to put together a string of good performances. Let's just hope for the fans' sake that Southampton is just our bogey team. Perhaps we need class opposition for our own class(hopefully??) to come shining through.

Man we really showed Chelsea! Kudos to Dave Thompson for that killer goal but I think the whole team deserves some credit for the way they played.

For once, it was Chelsea who lost their cool and not us. Surprise surprise...we did not even have a reply to their two red cards. That's the way to go and if that's what it takes to win then the team should maintain their discipline. We outplayed them and outnumbered them.

We have scalped another top side and could really be the spoilers of the season. If only we could play the same way against the weaker sides.

* Webmaster's Note: We received quite a bit of mail over this issue, but have selected this article. We do try to include all articles though.

I am an American fan who has to dig real hard for Liverpool news. The 1-2 loss to Southampton in the Worthington Cup was shocking to say the least. It was nothing short of a rip-off and a disappointment. I find it very incredible that we always lose to lower sides that we definitely should be beating comfortably. Now that we are out of the League Cup and lagging behind in the league, we really have to look to the FA Cup for honours.

I always felt that with a new side, our best chance lay in the cup competitions, but we still fell unconvincingly. Letting in last minute goals like that can hurt us real bad in the season, particularly in knock-out competitions so need to be really careful.

We are playing Chelsea, who are admittedly stronger, next. We could get creamed buy them the same way Manchester United did if we play as poorly as we did against Southampton. Really, I did think we had improved after the Villa game, but as usual, the team has never failed to be inconsistent. I hate rip them apart but I hate to lose too. Perhaps it is unfair to lay the blame onm Houllier, but why is it that we just don't get the results?

The team owe it to the fans and to themselves to raise their game. They always say that the cups are a distraction from the league, and though I did feel that theu provided us with hope, I certainly hope that it is true so that we can turn on the heat in the league.

* Webmaster's Note: This is K.J's second article. His first article, "Matteo Overlooked" (7/9/99), drew a response from Jay Z (10/9/99). Both article appear lower in the page.

It has taken me almost a month to reply and things have changed since then. I was never the biggest Matteo fan but I felt, and still feel that a player of his calibre should not be left rotting on the sidelines. Now that Silvestre has joined Man Utd and Markus Babbel has not signed for us, we have a host of "new targets", but really, how many times has Matteo turned in below-par performances. I really do hope that he's given his rightful chance.

Also, I hope to draw attention to Danny Murphy. I'm really surprised that Murphy hasn't earned a lot of mention. I would like to belatedly praise his performances in the League Cup. Surely he has a future with the club? I can't imagine selling such a prized asset to another club.

I just want to say how pleased I am that we didn't get mauled by Villa. So many people have been dissing the side of late and I still feel that we need time to hit our peak.

It's sad that people have written us of but I think that our defense has come a long way and it's time we look elsewhere for problems. Hyypia has been outstanding and he makes a great partner for Carragher or Henchoz in the centre. Heggem and Song are stable enough on the right, and critics should quit having digs at Matteo. He's not the best left back in the world but we don't have a wealth of left backs to choose from any way. In the mean time, Matteo should do fine there.

The season's hardly over and people are talking about relegation...what nonsense! I'm not getting carried away with one mediocre draw with Villa but I seriously think that defense is not our only problem. Sometimes players just lose their cool and screw up. That's why we should not lose our cool. There will be a turning point and we are heading there!

Before we play Villa may I suggest that he FIX some major PROBLEMS. I don't know what problems we have because we only have scapegoats to account for our plight. Last season it was James and Ince, so who would it be this season?

We have brought in so many players over the summer only to lose to Everton. We are a quality side that should be up there with Man U and Arsenal not down where we are. I don't think I'm pessimistic when I say that our title hopes are dead.

Am I the only one feeling sick over the Everton derby loss?! I'm not a major Everton hater but it bothers me that we managed to lose to them so miraculously. Going into the match, I had a feeling that we would kick their asses but we left with ours kicked in instead.

Everton have always been a relegation candidate while we have been challenging for honours until last season. How times have changed now that we have become mid-table strugglers and Everton are so high up, by their standards, and even by our standards nowadays.

Are we supposed to be happy that we can hold our own against the likes of Arsenal and Leeds but get kicked in by Watford, Boro and Everton?? Its sickening that we can never figur out why we lose, and I'm sick of explanations. If they can't provide us with decent excuses then just start showing us some action.

DOMINIC MATTEO is a class player but I feel that he should not be playing on the left. It's a waste of his talent. But if you move Matteo then there will be a gap on the left and Houllier would have to replace someone. Hyypia and Song are great in the center and when Henchoz returns, we'll have enough centre-halfs.

Babbel and Silvestre are great left-sided players, and I think that they are better than Matteo. Developing youth talent is important but don't forget that the academy was set up to provide first team players, so they have to meet the standards. Not that Matteo is a bad player...but performance and results are important. This is especially important because our defence really needs to be worked on.

There has been plenty of speculation over MARKUS BABBEL and MICKAEL SILVESTRE among others like Manuel Dos Santos and any available left-back. While I am pleased that Houllier is strengthening his squad and targeting exciting players, I hope that he has DOMINIC MATTEO in his plans.

Matteo is a class player brought in from the academy and has already shown what he is capable of. He should be given time since left-back is not his favoured position. It is important to buy good players but it's even better if the great youth players make it. We've lost Macca over the summer and it looks like former youth talent Danny Murphy (ok he's not from Liverpool but heck) has been overlooked. Also, Jamie Cassidy also left the club over the summer. My point is that we can bring up homegrown players like Fowler, Owen, Carragher and Gerrard.

Matteo in particular is impressive but not given long runs in the side. He may not be the best player the team has, but he's class. It's a shame if he's good enough for England but not good enough for his club.

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