The Opposition View: Liverpool

This "Opposition View" has a family feel to it as I interview my very own brother ahead of the big game tomorrow. Craig has been following Liverpool since he was a toddler and gets to Anfield every now and again. Here's what he had to say.

I had you down as title challengers at the start of the season. What has gone wrong?

Everything, however, the main reason is the tactics. Benitez actually had a "Starting 11" at the back end of last season and the results were there for all to see. This season, Benitez has gone back to his old habits of chopping and changing the team as well bringing on mind baffling substitutions.

Financially the club is crippled too, despite big money purchases of both Aquilani and Johnson which don't help the situation. The losses of Alonso and Hyypia haven't helped either whilst our defence, usually our strongest asset has also left a lot to be desired, this season it's been diabolical.

If you put Pompey's and Liverpool's respective seasons into context, which club is having the worst season?

On the pitch it's probably Liverpool. We were expected to challenge for everything this season, but we find ourselves out of the Carling Cup, Champions League and the title race, and it's not even Christmas yet.

Pompey are having a poor season, but with the players they lost during the summer and what's gone on behind the scenes I think it's fair to say they were relegation candidates even before a ball was kicked.

Which team have the worst owners at this current moment in time? Would you trade Hicks and Gillett for Al-Fahim and Al-Faraj?

Both takeovers are very similar in the way that there has been a lot of confusion over what the owners have promised and what they've actually brought to both clubs. I'm not too sure how Pompey fans regard their owners, but there are campaigns Hicks and Gillett out the club so badly so I'd take a swap, they couldn't be any worse.

What are Liverpool fans' feelings on Rafa Benitez now? Does he have to go or does he deserve more time to turn things around?

I think it really depends on the end of this season. If we finish 4th or higher and have a decent run in the Europa League, I think he will be given one more season. However, times are bad and Rafa is partly to blame for this. The fans aren't too happy with how the club is being run but a lot of it is out of Rafa's hands so we do sympathise with him. All we can do is show our support to him and see how things go.

How is Glen Johnson performing in a red shirt? Do you think he was worth the money you paid for him?

So far he's been a good purchase. Slight injury worries haven't helped so he's been a bit inconsistent, but he's an exciting player who the fans have taken an instant liking to, probably because he has started his career in a red shirt very well and because he's English.

I can't help but think that the money could have been spent better elsewhere though as we needed strengthening in other areas and at the time had Alvaro Arbeloa who was a decent full back.

What are Liverpool fans' views of Steve Finnan?

He'll get a great reception from our fans. He performed very consistently and we were sad to see him go when he did. He helped us to many great things in his time with us and we appreciate that. So I hope he has a great season for you after missing the start of the season. He was a good signing for you despite his age because he's a proven Premier League player.

The threats of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are obvious, and all Pompey fans know about Johnson. Are there any other Liverpool players that we should be worried about on Saturday?

Yossi Benayoun. He has the skill, determination and quality to cause problems in the final third of the pitch. He's come on leaps and bounds from the mid way point of last season, proving that he can cut it at a top team. He scores goals, chips in with assists and is a general threat to most teams he plays against.

Oh, and Aquilani, if Benitez actually decides to play him for once!

What are the main weaknesses in your side that Pompey could exploit?

We defend using zonal marking, which has gone terribly wrong for us this season given that our team aren't the best in the air anyway. Also you may find yourselves in a lot of space to play with in midfield as we like to leave big gaps and players such as Lucas Leiva are seen to be running around the pitch like a headless chicken.

Are there any Pompey players that Liverpool fans might be wary of?

I'd say Jamie O'Hara and Kevin Prince Boateng have been your best performers from what I've seen of Pompey this season. Both are decent players who I think could cause problems.

How confident are you ahead of the trip to Fratton Park? How do you see the game going?

I'm never confident when it comes to Liverpool these days because we're too inconsistent to build any confidence. I think Liverpool will most likely dominate possession, but won't do anything with it.

Predict the outcome of the match.

1-1. If I had to choose scorers then I'd go for Kuyt and Hreidarsson.