I'm dreaming of a Red Christmas

Well its eight sleeps till the big guy comes down the chimney, and here's hoping that Liverpool supporters can enjoy what's left of December 2010 and New Year 2011.

December results to date have been only middling...

• A useful 1-1 draw at Steaua Bucharest with a second-string line-up to confirm a place in the last 32 of the Europa League
• A comfortable 3-0 home win in the Premiership against Aston Villa on Houllier's return to Anfield
• A disappointing 1-3 premiership capitulation against Newcastle on Alan Pardew's managerial debut at St James' Park
• A tame scoreless draw at home to Utrecht in a dead-rubber Europa league tie - with the second string again.

Ahead of the Reds are the following matches....(league placings as at 17 December)

• 18 December - home to Fulham (17th) in the Prem.  Hodgson's former charges visit.  Three points mandatory here.
• 26 December - away to Blackpool (10th) in the Prem.  A revenge three points would be a great result here but this is no foregone conclusion.
• 29 December - home to Wolves (19th) in the Prem. Another mandatory three points.
• New Year's Day - home to Owen Coyle's Bolton (6th) in the Prem.  This would be a really good scalp, but a draw is probably more likely.
• 5 January - away to managerless Blackburn (13th) in the Prem.  Depending on how quickly and how well Blackburn respond to the sudden sacking of Sam Allardyce, Liverpool can hold out some prospect of a positive result - probably a draw is the likeliest outcome.