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MONDAY 3 |
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Busy Dalglish won't rule out return
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has been explaining what
he's been up to of late.
The former Reds ace admits he would never rule out a return
to management but at the same time, he's happy not to rule
it in, especially as he has some business interests to
attend to.
Dalglish said: "I'm doing work with McDonalds with grass
roots soccer.
"I've got two or three business interests and my wife runs a
breast cancer charity.
"I wouldn't rule out becoming a manager again, but then I
wouldn't rule it in either.
"Until someone offers me something I don't know what the
answer would be."
Dalglish also believes that the Reds are closing the gap on
leaders Chelsea.
He added: "Moving from fifth to third or second is a real
sign of progress. They are getting closer to Chelsea."
(Kop Talk)
Benitez: Proof we're not one-man team
Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool have now proven they are
more than just a one-man team.
The Anfield outfit overcame the early sending-off of
talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard to claim local bragging
rights in last week's home derby win over Everton.
"The team proved we can play without Steve," said the
Spaniard. "He is a key player who scores goals, but the team
now has the confidence to play without him."
(Daily Post)
Fowler joy as goal tops his big believer
Robbie Fowler is expecting to receive a congratulatory call
from Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish after surpassing his
all-time Anfield goal record on Saturday.
Fowler says the former player and manager has often rung him
with words of encouragement during the tough times in his
career.
"For me to get anywhere near him is a fantastic achievement
and to surpass him by one - I'm delighted," said Fowler who
turns 31 on Sunday when Liverpool face Bolton at Anfield. "I
grew up an Everton fan but Kenny is a proper Liverpool
legend and to get anywhere near him is fantastic."
He added: "All through my career when things have gone well
he's called me and when things have gone bad he's given me a
ring so I'll probably get a call. I don't think Kenny will
begrudge me getting the goal because he wants what's best
for Liverpool."
(Daily Post)
Robbie spying Reds stay
Robbie Fowler is targeting a new deal at Liverpool and
manager Rafa Benitez has offered him some words of
encouragement.
"Without a shadow of a doubt I want to stay," said the
30-year-old. "Having waited so long to come back, I'd love
to make my second spell here a long one.
Benitez has been pleased with Fowler's contribution and
admits a couple more goals could see a deal being put in
front of the forward
"His future is not a problem," said the Reds boss. "If he
scores one or two more goals then that is fine, but the
question will be what he can give to us as a club and a
team."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa pleased with youth team
Rafael Benitez has hailed the performances of the youth team
in reaching the FA Youth Cup final.
The Reds will face Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup final
this month. It's the first time since 1996 that Liverpool
have reached this stage and Benitez says it is an encoraging
sign but warns it will count for nothing if none of the
players make it into the first team squad.
"I am pleased to see the young lads in the final. It's good
news for the club that a mix of players from Melwood and the
Academy are playing well together. This shows we are going
in the right direction," said the Liverpool boss.
"At the same time, it's important to realise it's not the
most important thing to win a trophy. What matters is to see
the youngsters continue to progress until eventually they're
good enough for the first team.
"If it's possible to win the Youth Cup, we will all be very
happy. But it will be even better to see those players in
the first team."
(LFC Online)
Kirkland shakes off his crock tag
Chris Kirkland has told any interested clubs "you won't be
signing a crock" as he looks to build a new career away from
Liverpool.
Goalkeeper Kirkland, who is firmly out of favour at Anfield,
suffered a kidney injury and a broken finger during a
season-long loan with West Brom which ended prematurely
because of the latter setback.
But the 24-year-old believes he has proved the major worry -
a serious back problem which blighted his time on Merseyside
- is no longer cause for concern during his time at The
Hawthorns.
Kirkland admitted: "Liverpool have made it quite clear that
they don't want me. When they bought Jose Reina I thought
the writing was on the wall.
"I've been told to find somewhere else. I have wanted to put
myself in the shop window. Unfortunately I'm not going to be
able to do that now because of the broken finger but
hopefully someone still takes a chance on me."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SUNDAY 2 |
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Rushden teenager in Anfield trial
Rushden and Diamonds striker Lee Tomlin is to
join Liverpool on trial.
The 17-year-old made his League debut in October when only
16, has started only four games for Rushden and is still
awaiting his first senior goal.
"We wouldn't send him to Liverpool if there wasn't a deal on
the table," Diamonds assistant manager Geoff Harrop told his
club's website.
"All I would say to their manager Mr Benitez is 'get your
cheque book out'. We need the money at this club."
He added: "Lee has been unlucky over the past few games but
he will come good, rest assured. He'll have a lovely week at
Liverpool.
"I'm sure he'll come back with loads of ideas of how to be
the next Robbie Fowler.
"I don't see any mileage in them having a look at him for
the fun of it."
(BBC Sport Online)
Finnan eyes Reds deal
Liverpool defender Steve Finnan has invited the
club to offer him a new deal.
The full back turns 30 later this month and he fears his age
could prevent him from winning a contract extension.
Finnan has been one of Liverpool's unsung heroes this season
and he is keen to open talks over his future.
The Republic of Ireland international still has two years to
run on his current deal and he insists he would be happy to
extend his stay at Anfield.
"I'm sure the club will look at my age and wait to see how
things develop," said Finnan.
"I'm enjoying my football more than at any time in my life.
"I am playing for a great club who challenge for everything
the game can offer so there are no obstacles I can see.
"The club know if they want to talk to me I'll be here."
(Sky Sports)
Rafa in no rush over Fowler future
Rafael Benitez will decide on the future of Liverpool
striker Robbie Fowler in the next few weeks after his goal
in the 2-0 win at West Brom.
Fowler's opening strike was his second goal for the club
since his return to Anfield following a transfer window move
in January from Manchester City.
Overall, it was his 173rd in 341 appearances, moving him up
to fifth on Liverpool's all-time goalscoring list behind Ian
Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell.
With Fowler only on a short-term contract to the end of the
season, his future remains in doubt.
Manager Benitez said: "Congratulations to him. It is a
fantastic number of goals, although I would like to see more
this season.
"There's no problem about his future. It's not a question of
whether he can score one or two more goals for us, the
question is whether he can give us other things.
"We don't have to make a decision now. We will do it in a
few weeks because we are not in a hurry.
"But he looks hungry and that's the most important thing."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SATURDAY 1 |
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Rafa still fancies second spot
Rafa Benitez still has one eye on second place following
Liverpool's win at West Brom.
"We need to keep going to the end," he added.
"Manchester United continue winning but our idea is to do
that also, and maybe we can finish second."
(Sky Sports)
Fowler bypasses King Kenny in all-time
scorer list
Liverpool have beaten West Brom 2-0 at The Hawthorns, but it
was the first goal by Robbie Fowler that was important for
the record books.
The goal was Fowler's 173rd for the club in only 341 games
and lifts him above Kenny Dalglish to fifth in the all-time
scorers list.
(LFC Online)
Liverpool brush Baggies aside
Liverpool look to have just about sealed their place in The
Premiership's top three after a comfortable 2-0 success at
West Brom.
The Reds were by far the better side at The Hawthorns and
grabbed the win with goals from Robbie Fowler and Djibril
Cisse in an entertaining first half.
The three points, coupled with Tottenham defeat earlier in
the day at Newcastle, means Rafa Benitez's men are now some
12 points clear of their nearest rivals.
(Sky Sports)
West Bromwich-Liverpool - confirmed team
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher , Riise, Kewell,
Alonso, Sissoko, Cisse, Crouch, Fowler.
SUBS: Dudek, Kromkamp, Garcia, Morientes, Warnock.
(Kop Talk)
Robbo unfazed by Reds goal glut
The Reds were finding goals hard to come by a couple of
weeks ago but now arrive at the Hawthorns having scored 18
times in their last four outings.
Robson is hoping Albion's fortunes will change in a similar
way as they seek to survive in the top-flight.
He said: "Liverpool are playing with loads of confidence.
I've seen a few of their recent games. Their strikers are
scoring loads of goals.
"When you've got people like Crouch, Morientes, Cisse,
Garcia and Kewell there will always be goals once things
click.
"What I'm looking for is that hopefully it will click in the
same way for us because I can't ask any more from my
players.
"They've given the club and the supporters everything. I
can't ask them to work any harder than they are doing,
they've put in some good performances and I don't think they
have had their just reward of late."
Robson added: "In the last few weeks we've played three of
the top four teams and now we have the fourth one to play,
but we have given them all a good game and been unlucky not
to have got a result in at least two of those.
"For me, only Manchester United perhaps deserved to beat us
over 90 minutes so we have to get to that level of
performance again. We have to work hard for each other and
if we keep doing that I'm sure we'll get our just rewards by
the end of the season."
(TEAMtalk)
Gerrard calls for midfield chance
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard says being playing out of
position for England stops him reproducing his club form for
the national team.
Chelsea's Frank Lampard tends to get the nod ahead of
Gerrard as England's attacking midfielder player, with
Gerrard in a more withdrawn role.
"I'm not saying I should play in that role before Frank, he
deserves that position," he told the Daily Mail.
"But if I got a few games there I could find the form I show
for my club."
(BBC Sport Online)
Gerrard calls for players to clean up
their act
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has waded into the debate
over diving by calling for players to be more honest.
The England midfielder was echoing the comments of his
manager Rafael Benitez yesterday, who said coaches had a
responsibility to tell their squad not to go down easily or
feign injury.
“It annoys me. I don’t think there is anything worse than
seeing not just a foreign player but any player who has
received a knock lying down on the floor to get an opponent
booked, or diving when no one’s been anywhere near him,”
said Gerrard.
“If I saw a team-mate doing it I would definitely have a
word. It’s happened here at Liverpool a couple of times,
where players have gone down too easily, and the manager has
said: ‘Get up. Get on with it. Don’t be doing that. It’s
wrong.'
“I think managers and captains, leaders and experienced
players have a responsibility to grab people after a
training session or a game and say: ‘None of that. That
doesn’t happen here.’”
(Ireland On-Line)
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Thor Zakariassen
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