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Damon and Damian take a look back at the fortunes of their teams. The transcripts can be found below.

Damian

2009 for the most part has been a good year for Tottenham. This time last year we were languishing in 15th place in the Premier League having had the club’s worst start in its history and very much in a relegation dog fight. New manager Harry Rednapp had steadied the ship somewhat but there were still worries about the character of the team – particularly away from home as defeats at Wigan, Middlesbrough and Newcastle were to testify. Dumped out of the UEFA and FA Cups with weakened sides early on in the year, Spurs fans were worried that maybe Harry was somewhat out of his depth but he made some good signings, players that were big personalities both on and off the pitch. Back came Robbie Keane to captain the side, Jermaine Defoe to lead the attack and Wilson Palacios to bolster the midfield. In March, Spurs went to Wembley again, this time losing to Manchester United on penalties in the Carling Cup final. Tottenham finished 8th in the league which was almost perfect for Harry as he had lifted the club out of the drop zone but did not quite make it into the European places. No distractions then for the current season.

Of course the club was busy during the summer transfer window – we always are – but yet again good quality was brought in, Krancjar and Crouch coming from Portsmouth. Darren Bent was transferred to Sunderland while players deemed to be lacking in character, that word again, will be on their way soon – Bentley, Pavylunchenko and Hutton for example.

Currently the club lie in 5th place, two points behind the Champions League positions. They have had some notable victories already this season, 9-1 against a hapless Wigan side, good home wins against Man City and Liverpool and some very impressive attacking performances throughout. Defoe is scoring goals, Aaron Lennon is fulfilling promise, Gomes has calmed down in goal and we still have our best player to return in Luka Modric. However, they have been outclassed in three matches this season: Chelsea, Manchester United and loathe though I am to say it, Arsenal. There is still a long way to go but Tottenham have come a long way in 2009 and with strong character all around the club there is real optimism that this could be our year to make the breakthrough.

Damon

Well the second half of 2009 has been much much worse than the first. Liverpool are out of the Champions League, where much of their and Rafa Benitez’s reputation has been made, and they are slipping away from the all important top four spots in the League – currently they lie in eighth place. Last season they finished strongly, including a glorious purple patch which included thrashing Real Madrid, real aristocrats of European football, 4-0 over two legs, arch-rivals Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford, ensuring the double over them, and 5-0 against Aston Villa. Compare that with losing 2-0 to bottom club Portsmouth in their last game and losing seven games before Christmas – famously last season they only lost two and still finished second!

There is real pressure on Benitez and his players to turn things around. This was the season that they were meant to continue, if not build, on there second place finish and quarter-final finish in the Champions League. Oh how badly things have gone. Most people point to the fact that Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid after becoming disenchanted with his manager, others talk about the injuries suffered by Torres and Gerrard amongst others that have meant there has been no fluency, a red beach ball scoring against us has played its bizarre part, but it does look as though Liverpool’s squad is just not good enough – particularly as big signings Glen Johnson at right back and Alberto Aquilani in midfield have not lived up to their price tags – the former because question marks still remain over his defensive strength, and the latter because, well, we haven’t seen him play yet. £20 million is a lot to spend on an injury prone player, especially when you don’t use him.

So, not good around the Fields of Anfield Road at the moment. But lets not despair, my highlights in 2009 have been the wins over Manchester United at Old Trafford and this season at Anfield – both games saw the Reds at their best as they absolutely terrorised Man United’s Nemanja Vidic who was also sent off in those games. Let’s just say I’ve seen those highlights a few times this year.

No matter how many times I remember those good times, it is very worrying to see the club struggling on the pitch, and in my opinion the main problem lies off it and in the board room, where Gillet and Hicks continue to bicker and load the club with debt. No new stadium means the future is uncertain, not good  for attracting high profile players. Liverpool fans have often been accused off living off past glories, I think people will have to get used to that continuing. Despite the defiance in the stands, there is little on or off the pitch at the moment.

Vocabulary

languish: fade, droop, be weak, deteriorate

steady the ship: make things safe, recover from a bad situation

out of (your) depth: too difficult, beyond your skills

bolster: strengthen, make stronger

notable: famous, important, worthy of taking note

loathe to: hate to, do not want to

slip away: weaken, fall away, lose position

purple patch: high point, time when everything is good

disenchanted: disappointed, disillusioned, fed up

price tag: cost, how much money was spent

struggle: find something difficult, have to give a lot of energy

the stands: the fans’ seats, the ground, the supporters’ position