AUGUST 9
Rafa: Alonso may still leave
By Chris Burton - Sky Sports
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has refused to
rule out the possibility of selling Xabi Alonso.
The Spain international appears to have become the victim of
the Reds' continued pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth
Barry.
He has the full support of the Anfield faithful, though, who
backed him throughout Friday's friendly against Lazio, while
also displaying their opposition towards any move for Barry.
However, Benitez appears to have turned a deaf ear to the
views from the terraces, admitting that a suitable offer
could yet see him part with a popular member of his squad.
"We knew Alonso was a very good player and as a result he
had a good price (on his head). We had offers, but they were
not enough so we decided he needed to stay with us," said
the Spanish coach.
"It could be that he does stay with us.
"For me it is not a problem if he stays or not. He can stay,
we always have felt he is a good player.
"We are only talking about a very, very good price. He is a
good player, if he is not going to bring a good price then
it is very simple, easy to understand.
"I heard the crowd, obviously. We know now, as we knew
before, that he could stay with us."
Benitez needs to sell in order to fund any potential bid for
Barry and admits that there are likely to be changes within
the Reds camp before the new season gets underway.
"It is not positive that we may not have the players we want
here before the Champions League game," he said.
"But the transfer window closes at the end of August, we
will try to do our best to bring in the players to improve
us by then.
"I try to do the best for my club with the possibilities
that you have, I have done this every year since I have been
here. And I am trying to do the same for this coming season.
"I do not feel any more pressure, every season is the same.
We have a good squad, better than before, but we can improve
a little bit more."
AUGUST 9
Benitez
refusing
to give up on Barry
By Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post
Rafael Benitez last night refused to
concede defeat in his attempts to sign Gareth Barry –
despite the deal being thrown into serious doubt.
Liverpool manager outlined his dire need to bolster his left
side, even hinting he may have to look elsewhere and at a
cheaper option than the Aston Villa captain.
But he also suggested that the Barry chase was not dead,
declaring to “try my best to improve the squad” ahead of the
new season.
Benitez refused to be drawn on the apparent refusal of
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to back his pursuit of
the player but couldn’t hide his frustration at his current
midfield shortage – particularly on the left – with the
start of the competitive season just four days away. “
We can improve so we will try to improve, maybe with one
more player if we can,” Benitez said following last night’s
1-0 win in Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly against
Lazio at Anfield.
“We don’t know who but clearly we have problems on the left.
We’ve lost Riise and Kewell, Aurelio is injured, Leto has no
work permit and Babel is at the Olympics and could come back
injured. So we need to improve in this area.
“(Barry) can play in three different positions and that’s a
positive thing but I am talking about one player. And I will
try to improve the team and the squad if I can.
“I will try to do my best.”
It is now a week since Villa manager Martin O’Neill conceded
defeat in his efforts to prevent his captain leaving for
Liverpool.
But owners Hicks and Gillett have yet to follow up on the
£18million offer they were willing to sanction last week.
That fell through because Villa’s contrived deadline for
completing the deal passed after they insisted on receiving
the payments in two instalments rather than three and the
Americans have been seemingly forced into a rethink.
They have already committed £19million to the signing of
Robbie Keane from Spurs but the hesitation over Benitez’s
main target of Barry is set to put them on another collision
course with their manager.
The saga has been a constant source of frustration for the
Spaniard since he identified Barry as his top summer target
towards the end of last season.
After his first four bids were rejected he was finally close
to completing the move last week but remained confident he
could still land the 27-year-old England international.
And after O’Neill was prepared to make his embarrassing
climb-down after initially expressing delight Barry was
staying, it cleared the way for the Liverpool manager to
complete the transfer.
Now, with the opening Premier League game at Sunderland just
a week away, the failure to capture Barry leaves Benitez’s
hopes of getting off to a strong start jeopardised by a
midfield shortage, with Javier Mascherano and Lucas at the
Olympics.
Benitez was, however, satisfied with the contribution of
Xabi Alonso – whose name was constantly chanted by the Kop
throughout the game – and Damien Plessis as his central
midfield partnership last night.
He added: “In Xabi we have a good player in the team so
that’s positive and I hope we have another good paler coming
soon.
“It was also good for the young players like Plessis, Nemeth
and Ngog getting good first team experience.”
AUGUST 8
Late drama
at Anfield
By Ben Blackmore - Setanta Sports
The Kop came to see their new number seven
net his first Liverpool goal on his Anfield debut, but they
were left to settle for a 90th-minute winner from Andriy
Voronin that flattened Lazio.
Robbie Keane worked tirelessly to impress his new admirers,
but clear chances would not fall his way despite a dominant
first half showing by The Reds.
As Rafa Benitez rested his top stars during the second half,
it appeared Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly would
prove a damp squib, but Voronin arrived in the nick of time
to smash home a 16-yard volley.
There was still time for Lazio to attempt to spoil the
party, heading past Diego Cavalieri in injury time, but the
linesman’s flag ensured The Reds went home happy.
Benitez gave a huge indication of the side that would face
Standard Liege in the first leg of their Champions League
qualifier on Wednesday, picking his strongest available side
in front of a capacity Anfield crowd.
Jose Reina started his first pre-season game in goal, behind
a defence of Alvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher
and the impressive Andrea Dossena.
With Steven Gerrard injured and Javier Mascherano and Lucas
Leiva on Olympic duty, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Plessis
anchored the midfield behind Yossi Benayoun, with Fernando
Torres, Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt up front.
It was Keane’s home debut in the seven shirt previously worn
by Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan, and he had a hand in The
Reds’ two best moments of the first half.
First, he produced a sharp spin and pass out to Benayoun out
on the left, but the Israeli chose to cut back onto his
right when an instant cross would have spelt real danger for
a retreating Lazio defence.
Then came an even better ball from Keane, lofted this time
out to Benayoun, and when the former West Ham man volleyed
across goal only Kuyt will know how he failed to convert
from four yards.
Benitez will have been satisfied by the dominance of his
side, if not the amount of chances being created, and Torres
looked sharper and possibly quicker than he has ever looked.
The Spaniard was rested at the break, David N’Gog the
replacement, and with his departure went a significant
percentage of Liverpool’s threat.
Agger raised the decibels in The Kop with a 12-yard volley
that forced a full stretch save, but it was Reina at the
other end who had to make the better stop, tipping over a
swerving 20-yard effort that look destined for the back of
the net.
Substitute goalkeeper Cavalieri then made an equally
impressive stop as Liverpool’s reshuffled defence looked a
complete shambles with Benitez making a whole host of
changes.
It looked like the scores would remain goalless, but then
Voronin reacted to Jay Spearing’s cleverly cushioned pass to
slash high past the Lazio keeper.
Eight friendlies, no defeats, a solid – if unspectacular –
preparation for a title tilt.
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