For the upcoming away fixture against Livepool, Newcastle-Online decided to go down to grassroot level, and interview users of popular Liverpool forum Red and White Kop to try to find a cross-section of our rivals’ pre-match opinions. Here, we will display the responses from RAWK posters Rushian and Maple Red Leaf.

It is fair to say that Liverpool have not had the best start to the season. What in your opinion has been the cause of this?

Rushian: Partly the disruption caused by the internationals, partly disruption caused by injuries, partly the after-effects of the World Cup. We’ve played much better in the last two matches and could now do with a bit of luck in front of goal.

Maple Leaf Red: The team is trying to bed in a few new players so it will obviously take some time. We started off with injuries, tough games, and many returnees from the World Cup. Despite what Sky would have everyone believe the season is far from over and the feeling is that once the team gets rolling it will be able to make up the gap behind Chelsea.

Benitez has invested heavily in the Liverpool team with several players coming in. Are you satisfied with your purchases? In particular, how well have former Toon striker Craig Bellamy and reported Magpies target Dirk Kuyt done?

Rushian: Very satisfied. Rafa identified the areas that needing strengthening and bought players for those positions. Bellamy and Kuyt are still settling in but we’ve already seen glimpses of what they can bring to the club. The only area we’re slightly short is right fullback if Finnan gets injured.

Maple Leaf Red: To be honest, both have worked their socks off so far. They have shown flashes of what they can do together and I feel like their situation is very much like Crouch’s last year. Once they get the ball rolling they will make great additions.

What are your opinions on Newcastle’s summer transfers? Were you dissappointed to miss out on Damien Duff?

Rushian: Newcastle are very much a boom and bust club to me - overspend one summer and then underspend the next. I’m sure if you averaged the spending out, it would be far more beneficial to the club. Duff’s a very decent player but we were overstocked on the left so it’s not much of a disappointment to miss out to be honest. I’m not sure many Reds are convinced we put in a bid.

Martins could be an interesting buy - he certainly has the pace. Roeder will have to change your style from previous seasons to utilise it though. No more Shearer, no more long balls. Surprised you didn’t strengthen at the back, though selling Boumsong has to be seen as a major plus!

Maple Leaf Red: From what I have seen of Inter over the past two seasons Martins is an excellent pick-up. He has unbelievable speed and strength. As you’ve noticed, his first touch isn’t the greatest but he’ll do enough to offset Mickey’s absence.

As for Duff, I was disappointed when we missed out on him when he left Blackburn as I remembered his World Cup performance against Spain. There were also rumours of Kewell leaving so I thought that maybe Duff and Gonzalez would handle the left wing. Unfortunately, it did not work out but again, good transfer.

What are the main strengths of your Liverpool side?

Rushian: Defensive stability, organisation throughout the team, and strength in depth.

Maple Leaf Red: We hold onto the ball better than before and close down on the ball better than I have seen in a long time. The fact is that you cannot score without the ball and if you have it the other team cannot score.

And who is your most important player?

Rushian: Everyone knows Steven Gerrard is world class and can inspire a team on the seat of its pants. Sissoko could have a massive future ahead of him - runs and tackles all day.

Maple Leaf Red: The easy answer is Stevie G but the underrated most important player is Momo Sissoko. His workrate in the middle is unbelievable and opposition moves end like waves crashing on a rock when he is on song. He frees up Xabi Alonso to pull the strings and lets Stevie G bomb forward. He is one of Rafa’s best signings.

And where are the chinks in the Liverpool armour?

Rushian: Finishing at the moment. Last season showed that we created far more chances than most of the teams we played, the only problem was we missed too many of them with Morientes and Cisse the main culprits. We’ve started this season the same way.

Maple Leaf Red: Well, for now it is in getting the understanding between our settled players and our new players. This is especially true in the defence where we are trying to get Agger and Aurelio into the back line. You can see it slowly building so I am confident that that chink will disappear rather quickly. The other is that we are still wasting too many chances. Again, that will disappear with time once the strikers notch a couple and build their understanding with the midfield and each other.

Which player(s) are you hoping will get nowhere near the Liverpool team lineup?

Rushian Salif Diao - unbelievably he’s still at Anfield. We all hope that a club somewhere in the universe is desperate enough to take him on loan. We think he’s in the last year of his contract so there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Maple Leaf Red: Salif Diao. Aside from him, I am comfortable with any of the first squad playing. I think the most likely answer you will get is Aurelio or Warnock.

What would you regard as the main strengths of Newcastle United?

Rushian: With Martins, Duff and N’Zogbia you’ve now got the pace to trouble teams if used wisely.

Who will be Newcastle’s most important player?

Rushian: Scott Parker. He’s an excellent all round midfielder who should be getting international recognition.

Maple Leaf Red: Parker. It has been nice to see his resurrection following his move to Chelsea. Now if he could get into the England squad.

What would you regard as the main weakness of Newcastle United?

Rushian: Your defence - it’s rubbish and has been for a number of years.

Maple Leaf Red: Well you sold Boumsong so that’s one gone but Bramble is still lurking so that bodes well for attackers. You’re also a little thin on strikers.

Are both teams better or worse than they were at the time of Liverpool’s 2-0 Victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day 2005?

Rushian: We’re far better in terms of squad strength and potential first team. You’re worse off with Owen out with his knee injury but have been boosted by selling Souness’ nest egg.

Maple Leaf Red: We are definitely better. Benitez has cleared out the last of the deadwood and brought in some real quality. As for you guys, I would say that anytime you can get rid of a player like Boumsong and a manager like Souness you have to consider yourselves improved. On the other hand, a couple of strikers are missing that are kind of important. So let’s consider it a toss up.

What lineup do you expect to field? How does this compare to what you consider as Liverpool’s best line-up?

Rushian: Reina, Finnan Carragher Agger Aurelio, Gerrard Sissoko Alonso Gonzalez, Crouch, Bellamy
It’s short of Riise at leftback who we’ve missed this season - you can toss a coin to choose 2 of Kuyt/Crouch/Bellamy up front. I could very well be 5 or 6 players wrong though knowing Rafa.

Maple Leaf Red: Well the last time we played you guys we brought out the 3-5-2 formation. I would love to see it again and it would probably look like this:

Reina, Carra, Hyypia, Agger, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Gonzalez, Crouch, Bellamy

Our strongest lineup would probably be:
Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Sissoko, Alonso, Gonzalez, Gerrard, Crouch

The truth is that Rafa’s squad selection is an enigma wrapped in a riddle that I trust.

What do you regard as Newcastle’s best line-up?

Rushian: Given, Carr, Taylor, Moore, Ramage, Duff, Parker, Emre, N’Zogbia, Owen, Ameobi

Is Mr. Benitez still in favour with the majority of the fans despite recent results?

Rushian: Of course. In fact I think you’d struggle to find a single fan who’d say the opposite.

Maple Leaf Red: With the knowledgeable fans, of course. With the crazy, wind-up minuscule minority that frequent some message boards and have already conceded the title, not as much.

How good a job in your opinion has Glenn Roeder done at Newcastle so far?

Rushian: He did very well last season without Owen to drag you up from the depths of the Souness-inspired lethargy you were in. The fact that you managed to get into Europe should give him a hugely positive cachet with your fans. This will be an important year obviously and with little to spend he might have to be imaginative in his use of the squad.

Maple Leaf Red: When he came in last season he was a revelation but this season the team has taken a bit of a step back. Part of that is getting new players into the fold so I expect him to get back to his form of last year.

What do you think the score will be?

Rushian: 4-0. Time to start finding the net rather than the post.

Maple Leaf Red: I think that the score will depend on Harper and our strikers. We will create a lot of chances and if one of those two is not up for the game then it could be ugly in one of two ways. 3-0 or 0-0

How would Liverpool react to another defeat?

Rushian There’d be mass riots on the streets of Anfield … or everyone will have a moan post-match but expect Rafa to sort it out for the weekend.

Maple Leaf Red: The fans that realize that the season still has 33 games after wednesday will be frustrated that the team is taking longer than expected to gel but won’t panic as long as the performance is strong. The other half will continue with their doomsday scenarios.

How well do you see both sides faring over the course of the season?

Rushian: I see you having a similar season to last - inconsistent but picking up enough wins to have you on the edge of the European places. We’ll hit form and push close for the title - I think it’ll be much closer this year at the top with no team running away with it.

Maple Leaf Red: I think we will be pushing for the title and have a good shot at it. Newcastle, once they settle their new players in could finish anywhere from 5th to 10th. I think anything less than Europe will be disappointing for you folks.

And finally, rank the following strikers in order from best to worst: Owen, Martins, Kuyt and Bellamy.

Rushian:
1. Owen
2. Kuyt
3. Bellamy
4. Martins

Maple Leaf Red:
1. Owen
2. Kuyt
3. Bellamy
4. Martins

Newcastle-Online would like to thank Rushian, Maple Leaf Red, and all other RAWK users for answering our questions.