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THURSDAY 3 |
Van Persie worry for Wenger
Arsene Wenger admits he could be without both Robin van
Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor for Saturday's Premier League
clash with Liverpool.
Van Persie has only a 20 per cent chance of making the
lunchtime showdown after suffering a thigh injury in
Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw at
Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal boss also has major concerns over the fitness of
Adebayor, who has an ankle problem.
Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "If you ask me for my gut
feeling right now I would say no, Robin won't play.
"At the moment it is 80 per cent no and 20 per cent yes. But
he has had a scan this afternoon and he is better today than
he was last night. That is positive for a muscle problem.
But we'll know much more about it on Friday morning.
"We also have Adebayor who has a little ankle problem. We'll
see how he is tomorrow."
(Sky Sports)
Masch banned for two more games
Javier Mascherano has been hit with an additional two-game
suspension following his sending off against Manchester
United.
The Liverpool midfielder was sent off during last month’s
game but was so incensed by his dismissal he refused to
leave the field and had to be shepherded off by team-mates
and officials.
The Football Association took a dim view of his actions and
at a disciplinary commission hearing on Thursday, he was hit
with an additional two-game ban to add to his one-match
suspension.
Mascherano’s suspension comes into force with immediate
effect and he has also been hit with a £15,000 fine.
“At a disciplinary commission hearing today, Liverpool's
Javier Mascherano was fined £15,000 and given an additional
two-match suspension,” read a statement from The FA.
(Setanta Sports)
Why Benitez was right about amazing Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt is well used to put downs. So often have the words
“much maligned” preceded his name this season that the
likeable Dutchman could have been forgiven for thinking he’d
been handed a new nickname.
But there was nothing to malign last night.
In fact, there were different phrases preceding his name,
especially from his admiring manager, after a colossal
performance.
“Unbelievable,” declared Rafa Benitez, before deciding that
didn’t do justice to the Dutchman’s efforts and added.
“Amazing.”
And this from a manager who doesn’t dispense praise lightly.
Kuyt’s marathon man mimicry – together with a touch of class
from his skipper – has given Liverpool a firm foothold on
their third Champions League semi-final in succession.
(David Prentice - Liverpool Echo)
Hyypia: Reds didn't panic
Sami Hyypia felt it was important Liverpool did not panic
after falling behind to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed the Gunners into a 23rd-minute lead
in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final
on Wednesday evening.
But Liverpool were level just minutes later when Dirk Kuyt
turned home a low cross from Reds captain Steven Gerrard.
The away goal makes last season's runners-up favourites to
progress to the semi-finals ahead of next week's return
meeting at Anfield.
Hyypia was happy with Liverpool's response to conceding a
goal and admits the priority was grabbing an away goal, even
if it arrived on
the final whistle.
"We always knew that we shouldn't panic, even if they
scored," Hyypia told Sky Sports News.
"If we scored the goal in the 90th minute or something,
that's still
the away goal.
"It was important not to panic."
(Sky Sports)
Benitez’s recipe for Euro success eludes Wenger
Arsene Wenger called it his moment of truth – but one
inescapable fact keeps coming back to haunt him and is set
to do so again at Anfield on Tuesday.
That his teams just aren’t cut out for these kinds of
challenges – certainly not in the same way Rafael Benitez
moulds his European troops when they set out to conquer the
Continent.
Whether it’s guile, graft, know-how, even a bit of luck,
whatever you need on your side, Liverpool always seem able
to find them and under Benitez you always expect them to.
But the most frustrating thing for Wenger is that even when
Liverpool fail to follow orders to keep it tight and not
concede early, even when the Arsenal manager delivers the
first psychological blow – it’s still not good enough.
(Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post) |
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WEDNESDAY 2 |
Kuyt: Arsenal were wrong to claim a penalty
Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt insisted the referee was right not to
award a penalty against him in tonight’s 1-1 Champions
League draw with Arsenal.
“It’s just a split second you have to decide,” said Kuyt.
“I didn’t pull his shirt. It was never a penalty - but it
was close.”
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Rafa: Away goal could prove crucial
Rafael Benitez believes Dirk Kuyt's away goal against
Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium could turn out to be so
crucial ahead of next Tuesday's second leg at Anfield.
"I think it's crucial to score an away goal in Europe," said
Benitez. "Arsenal is a team that can also score away from
home but at least we now have this option in our hands for
the second leg.
"It was an important goal for us and the understanding
between Torres and Gerrard is really good. Gerrard created
the chance and Kuyt was there and it was really important
for us."
(LFC Official Website)
Wenger: We should have won
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could not hide his
disappointment after drawing with Liverpool in the first leg
of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
"It is difficult to understand as we had a lot of possession
and a lot of chances and it is very difficult to accept that
we didn't win the game," Wenger told Sky Sports.
Wenger was also less than amused about his side being denied
what appeared a blatant penalty in the second-half when Kuyt
looked to pull Alexander Hleb to the floor.
"We were unlucky too, when they equalised I felt we were
unlucky and were unlucky on the big decision of the referee
on the penalty and in
a game like that it is difficult to take it but we have to
swallow it."
(Sky Sports)
Reds claim Emirates draw
Arsenal were left frustrated as Liverpool held on for what
could to be
a crucial 1-1 draw from the first leg of their Champions
League quarter-final clash at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, who have seen their Barclays Premier League
title hopes fade following a run of just one win in six, had
taken an early lead through Emmanuel Adebayor.
However, the Reds, last season’s beaten finalists, hit back
quickly through Dirk Kuyt’s close-range effort after a fine
run from captain
Steven Gerrard.
Arsenal dominated the second half and should have had a
penalty when Alexander Hleb was clearly tugged back by Kuyt.
However, Arsene Wenger’s men could not find a way past
Liverpool who will now fancy their chances of securing
another European Cup semi-final appearance when the two
sides meet again at Anfield next Tuesday night.
(Evening Echo)
Liverpool team to face Arsenal
Rafael Benitez has named his starting eleven to take on
Arsenal for tonight's Champions League quarter final first
leg showdown at
the Emirates Stadium.
The team in full for this evening's 7.45pm kick-off is:
Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Carragher, Mascherano,
Alonso, Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres.
Subs:
Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Crouch, Arbeloa, Lucas.
(LFC Official Website)
Reserves do derby double
The reserves have beaten Everton home and away.
Gary Ablett's side have emulated the first team by taking
six points off
the rent dodging Bitters. A 3-0 home win in December was
followed with
a 1-0 away win last night.
It was a difficult game last night, spoiled by swirling
winds and inept refereeing. Despite this, Liverpool showed
their mettle and came away with the points like Champions
do.
The Reds had to wait until after the hour mark to make the
breakthrough when Stephen Darby made a storming run into the
box, picking up a pass from Jermaine Pennant and then
crossing into the six yard box where Jordy Brouwer was on
hand to flick home the winner.
The win means the reserves can win the league next week when
they face Blackburn on Monday and then Man City on Thursday.
Four points from these two games and Liverpool reserves are
Premier League North champions.
(LFC Online)
Rafa: I'm victim of early success
Rafa Benitez believes he has been a victim of his own
success at Anfield after delivering the Champions League and
FA Cup in his first two seasons.
Liverpool play Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions
League quarter-final tonight, a game that will be the first
of three meetings inside a week.
And Benitez thinks his early success in the competition gave
some people false hope, expecting Liverpool to challenge for
the league title.
"When I first arrived, we'd gone two years without winning
anything and had problems finishing in the top four and
getting through the Champions League group stages," Benitez
said.
"Nobody was expecting us to win anything and we won the
Champions League. Then everyone was talking about us doing
more and the second year we won the FA Cup.
"But because we won trophies, they thought we'd be
contenders and expectations were high - and the reason we
have had more pressure
on us."
(Football 365) |
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TUESDAY 1 |
Martinez wants to keep Anderson
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez is keen to extend Liverpool
midfielder Paul Anderson’s loan spell beyond the end of this
season.
Ideally the Spaniard would like to tie up a permanent move
for
the 19-year-old.
Anderson has made 19 league starts this season as The Swans
chase promotion to The Championship and the midfielder will
now be back in Martinez’s first-team plans following a two
month absence due to
a hamstring injury.
“We definitely want to keep Paul beyond this season and
we’ll do all we can to make that happen,” Martinez told the
Swansea Evening Post.
“First of all we need to listen to what Rafa Benitez thinks,
then we need
to listen to Paul."
(Setanta Sports)
Adebayor set to return for Arsenal
Leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor looks set to return to
the Arsenal attack for tomorrow night’s Champions League
quarter-final clash with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium.
The Togo frontman was rested on the bench against Bolton on
Saturday, but is in line for a recall to the starting XI.
Midfielder Abou Diaby is available for the European tie, as
his suspension for the red card at the Reebok Stadium is for
domestic games.
Emmanuel Eboue could slot back onto the right side of
defence, which would allow England squad man Theo Walcott
another chance to impress down the right wing after coming
off the bench in the 3-2 victory at
the weekend.
Full-back Bacary Sagna (ankle), midfielder Tomas Rosicky
(hamstring) remain sidelined, while striker Eduardo is out
for the season with
a broken leg.
Team (from): Almunia, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb,
Flamini, Fabregas, Walcott, van Persie, Adebayor, Lehmann,
Diaby, Bendtner, Hoyte, Senderos, Gilberto, Denilson.
(Evening Echo)
Torres eyeing crucial away goal
Striker Fernando Torres is full of confidence and has
Arsenal in his sights in tomorrow's Champions League
quarter-final.
The Spaniard has scored 11 goals in his last 10 matches, and
has found the net four times in his previous four European
outings.
Torres has 28 goals for the season and would dearly like to
score at
the Emirates Stadium to give Liverpool an important
advantage heading into the second leg.
"The first game at the Emirates will be very difficult. The
most important thing is to score - if we score it is very
good for the Anfield game but Arsenal play very well and it
is very difficult to win," he said.
"They won a very difficult game on Saturday (beating Bolton
3-2 with
10 men) but we have confidence again now and we have the
confidence
to go and win against Arsenal."
(Liverpool Echo)
Rafa not scared of Gunners
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has rejected claims that his
side are scared of Arsenal ahead of their UEFA Champions
League clash.
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure had stoked the fires ahead of
Wednesday's quarter-final tie, live on Sky Sports 2, after
suggesting Liverpool were running scared of The Gunners.
Benitez has shrugged off the suggestion and believes
Liverpool's European experience could prove vital in the
all-English encounter.
"Are we scared of Arsenal?" Benitez asked on Tuesday, before
answering his own question with an emphatic: "No."
"When we play in Europe we have a lot of confidence and
playing against Arsenal we beat them 4-1 at Anfield last
season.
"This season we drew 1-1 and we had big problems because
Torres was injured. We played 45 minutes with him not fit,
and after we had a problem with Alonso.
"I think we can beat them if we do our job and we work as
hard as we were working before."
(Sky Sports)
Mascherano straight back in
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed midfielder
Javier Mascherano will return for Wednesday night's
Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal at
the Emirates Stadium.
Benitez will welcome back the Argentina international from a
one-match suspension which meant he missed Sunday's
Merseyside derby victory after his sending-off at Manchester
United the previous week.
Mascherano, following his reaction to his red card at Old
Trafford, faces
a Football Association hearing on Friday and it is likely he
will be banned again for the weekend's Premier League clash
with the Gunners.
But Benitez has no doubt the player can cope with being
drafted in and out of the side as the 23-year-old will be
available for the Champions League second leg at Anfield on
April 8.
"Javier will be available for the first leg, he will start
the game,"
said Benitez.
"He was playing well before the suspension and there is no
doubt he will be important for us at Arsenal."
(PA Sport)
Police to investigate Merseyside derby claims
Merseyside police will today hold discussions with Liverpool
and Everton regarding alleged incidents during Sunday's
local derby match at Anfield.
The investigation will focus on claims that Phil Neville,
the Everton captain, was spat at and punched by Liverpool
supporters as he prepared to take a throw-in, while
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was forced
to endure abusive chants about his daughter.
The alleged episodes occurred during the second half of
Liverpool's 1-0 win, a result which saw Rafael Benítez's
side consolidate their hold on
the final Champions League qualifying berth.
Dave Lewis, Merseyside police's football liaison officer,
will lead the talks. "Police will be speaking to the clubs
involved today," confirmed
a spokesman for the force.
(Guardian Unlimited)
Rafa: We can stop free-flowing Arsenal
Rafa Benitez admits it could require another defensive
masterclass from his side to progress past free-flowing
Arsenal in the Champions League.
While Liverpool became the first team in the country to
break the 100 goals barrier on Sunday, the Gunners are right
behind with 98.
With Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and
Robin van Persie all posing a threat, Benitez believes it
could take a defensive display likes those witnessed against
Chelsea in 2005 and 2007 for his side to progress.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "One hundred goals in one season is
not bad! When people sometimes say we are defensive, what
they really mean is that we are good in defence and also
good in attack.
"The key to progressing past Arsenal will be to work really
hard as a team in defence, because we will be playing
against a team that is very offensive. After that it is
about determination and going forward to try
to win."
(LFC Official Website)
Thor Zakariassen
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