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THURSDAY 3 |
Reds roll out big guns against Mainz
Liverpool's youngsters are expected to step aside on Friday
as Rafael Benitez's outfit play a warm-up game against Mainz
in Germany.
Benitez is expected to field all his big guns in Liverpool's
final pre-season friendly ahead of Wednesday's Champions
League qualifying clash at home to Maccabi Haifa, the
Israeli champions.
Reds boss Benitez knows there can be no mistakes in the
third qualifying round first leg at home to Haifa, a tie
Liverpool have to win to ensure the minimum £12million that
comes from reaching the European Cup group stages.
That extra cash could be vital as Benitez bids to bring in
the top line striker he needs, with more talks expected on
Dirk Kuyt's future with Feyenoord.
(TEAMtalk)
Morgan saves Wrexham
Wrexham Football Club have been saved by Liverpool fan Steve
Morgan after he provided a loan of £2.5million to enable
them to come out of administration.
The club had to be out of administration by Saturday to
enable them to fulfil their opening fixture against Wycombe.
A consortium led by businessman Neville Dickens has now
purchased the club as a result of Morgan's money.
If Morgan manages to step up his interests in Liverpool
Football Club and finally secure a seat on the Anfield
board, he would have 30 days to dispose of the Wrexham loan.
(Kop Talk)
Rafa tells Speedy to relax
Rafael Benitez has told Mark Gonzales to calm down as he
appears to be trying to hard to impress.
Gonzales hasn't really shined for the Reds in their
pre-season games so far and Rafa Benitez has told the
Chilean winger to relax and just play his natural game.
"At this moment, Mark wants to play so well, he's playing
not so well," said the Liverpool boss.
"He's always trying to go forward and he wants to go faster
than he has to at this time.
"We don't have any doubt about the quality of the player. He
has to work for his place like all the players, but we know
he is a top player at a top club and he will do well.
"He has the pace we're looking for. At the moment he's tired
because he's training hard, but in few weeks time you will
see the quality."
(LFC Online)
Striker puts up a fight to secure transfer
to Anfield
Liverpool target Lazaros Christodoulopoulos has reportedly
made an appeal to UEFA to try and secure his release from
his PAOK contract.
After impressing on a trial at Melwood, it is claimed that
the 20-year-old has been offered a 3-year contract by the
club.
PAOK have reportedly suspended the player for attending the
trial in the first place and he hasn't trained with them for
the last couple of weeks.
There is said to be a £130,000 release clause in his
contract but if UEFA rule in his favour, nobody would have
to cough that amount up as he'd be a free agent.
(Kop Talk)
Record signing to miss Liverpool clash
Sheffield United's record £3million signing Claude Davis has
been hit by injury and will miss the game against Liverpool
on Saturday 19th August.
The Jamaican centre-back has been diagnosed with a cartilage
injury and will be out of action for around 6 weeks.
Boss Neil Warnock said: "It's a real shame. Claude's
obviously down about the situation but he'll bounce back and
we'll get on with it."
(Kop Talk)
Kuyt selected for Ireland trip despite bout
of flu
Dutch ace Dirk Kuyt has been struck down with a bout of flu.
The Liverpool target missed Feyenoord's 3-0 friendly win
over Helmond Sport this week but he was still named in
Holland's provisional squad for their international friendy
against Ireland in Dublin on August 16th.
Holland's final squad is named on 11th August.
(Kop Talk) |
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WEDNESDAY 2 |
Liverpool starlet included in under-19 squad
Liverpool youngster James Ryan has been included in Sean
McCaffrey’s Republic of Ireland under-19 international squad
for two friendly clashes with their Ukrainian counterparts
in Galway later this month.
Ryan was part of the Liverpool squad which lifted the FA
Youth Cup last season, the first time the Reds had won that
particular competition in a decade.
(eleven-a-side.com)
Benitez: I want another striker
Rafa Benitez emphasised why Liverpool need more fire-power
before the start of the season after seeing his side lose
its second friendly in a week.
The Anfield boss continues to trail Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt,
with a fresh approach for the Dutchman imminent.
Benitez said: "We're continuing to work. Maybe it's too late
for the Champions League qualification round, but there is
one month left and thatgives us the time to sign the player
we need.
"I think we still need an extra striker, just in case. I'm
happy with the strikers we havebut I think we need another
and I'm confident we'll sign one."
(Liverpool Echo)
Crouch blast for Mourinho
Peter Crouch today shrugged off Jose Mourinho's latest
attack on Liverpool's title credentials, claiming the
Chelsea boss shows his concern every time he mentions the
Reds.
Mourinho suggested the Reds' style of football limited their
chances of fighting for the title, and said Arsenal and
Manchester United are more equipped to challenge.
Liverpool's players are sure the remarks are yet another
attempt to kick-start traditional mind games.
Crouch says the Chelsea manager's inability to stop
referring to Liverpool reveals where he sees the threat
emerging.
"We haven't said a single thing about Chelsea and have been
concentrating solely on ourselves," said Crouch. "If
Mourinho is talking about us again, we're obviously on his
mind.
"We're confident when the season starts we'll show what
we're about. How many teams in the Premiership will be
playing with two out-and-out wingers this season? We've got
some of the best passers of the ball in the world, never
mind the Premiership.
"There are no better passers than Steven Gerrard and Xabi
Alonso, and everything we do at the club is all about
receiving the ball and playing a good style."
(Liverpool Echo)
JFF deny Barnes report
The Jamaican Football Association have denied reports
originating from the UK this morning that claim John Barnes
has been appointed as the manager of Jamaica.
JFF president Crenston Boxhill says no decision has been
made regarding any of the clients.
He said: "One thing I can assure you is that when we select
the coach, you won't read it in any foreign paper, because
we are going to be announcing it for the first time here in
Jamaica.
"As soon as it it finalised, like I said, we're gonna make
the announcement. It's a process and as soon as the process
is finalised, we are going to make the announcement.
"But to say we have a coach now and John Barnes is the
coach, no, that is not so."
(Kop Talk)
Mourinho: Liverpool not a threat
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Arsenal and Manchester
United will provide greater competition for his defending
Premiership champions than Liverpool.
Mourinho's captain John Terry has tipped the Reds to run
Chelsea close as they go for a third successive title.
But the manager said: "I still believe United and Arsenal
will be the biggest threat. They will be the better teams.
"I say that because of the quality of their football, the
way they play, the improvements in their squads."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has bolstered his attack with
the arrivals of Craig Bellamy and Jermain Pennant, but
Mourinho remains unconvinced.
"Liverpool are different. They are very competitive, it's
very difficult to beat them," he said.
"If they score a goal before you score it's very difficult
to change it because they defend really well with 11 players
very, very compact.
"They are tactically very good and they are potentially
fighting for the front pack but I still fancy more the way
Manchester United and Arsenal play football."
(BBC Sport Online) |
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TUESDAY 1 |
Rafa: Gonzalez is not for sale
Rafa Benitez insists that Mark Gonzales will be at Anfield
next season and Spanish clubs are wasting their time trying
to sign him.
Rafa remains as enthusiastic about the 21 year old Chilian
winger and is confident a work permit will be granted in
time for Liverpools pre-season training.
Rafa said:
“We have had three or four Spanish clubs asking about him
because he is playing really well against good teams over
there," said Benitez.
"When I was in Madrid last Monday I had three phone calls
from chairmen in Spain wanting to buy him or take him on
loan.
"But my idea is to have him here next season. The quality of
the player is not in question.
"We are not thinking about selling Mark Gonzalez at all.
When we decided to sign him he was injured, but we knew his
quality - he is a left winger with pace and skill and now he
is showing everyone that."
(Mighty Reds)
Rafa happy to welcome back stars
Rafael Benitez said he was pleased with the return to action
of World Cup stars Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Peter
Crouch and Jan Kromkamp and felt they were the main
positives to take from the 2-0 defeat to Grasshoppers
Zurich.
The World Cup stars played in the second half and Benitez
felt Gerrard in particular was very sharp
"It was a typical pre-season game and we created seven or
eight good chances but couldn't score, but the main positive
for me was the return of Gerrard, Carragher, Crouch and
Kromkamp," explained Benitez.
(LFC Official Website)
Reds unable to prevent Swiss roll
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher made a welcome return to
club action but were unable to prevent Liverpool slipping to
their second successive pre-season defeat against
Grasshoppers in Zurich on Tuesday afternoon.
Two first half goals condemned the Reds to a disappointing
2-0 defeat, although the result will be of little concern to
Rafael Benitez who saw his squad continue their preparations
for the new season with another useful run-out.
(LFC Official Website)
Grasshopper v Liverpool - CONFIRMED TEAM
Liverpool are in action once again this afternoon
(4pm UK time) and the confirmed starting line-up is as
follows:
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Paletta, Hyypia, Riise, Hobbs, Anderson,
Zenden, Gonzalez, Pennant, Bellamy, Sissoko.
SUBS: Carson, Kromkamp, Gerrard, Carragher, Crouch, Traore.
(Kop Talk)
Garcia out to prove Jose wrong
Liverpool star Luis Garcia is hoping to prove Chelsea boss
Jose Mourinho wrong and mount a serious title challenge this
season.
Mourinho taunted Liverpool in the aftermath of the FA Cup
semi-final defeat to Rafa Benitez's men that The Reds could
not compete with Chelsea in The Premiership.
Garcia is unfazed by Mourinho's mind games and is confident
Liverpool can fight Chelsea for the Premiership crown this
term.
"Jose Mourinho said after we beat them in the FA Cup
semi-final that we have no chance this season," Garcia told
Sky Magazine.
"We know what Mourinho is like. He enjoys provoking others
to motivate his own players, but he's a great coach who is
doing good work in London.
"All I can say is that I hope his predictions for next
season are wrong and that Liverpool will be champions."
"Why shouldn't we believe we can catch Chelsea and win the
Premiership title this season?
"We beat them in two semi-finals and that wasn't down to
luck.
"Last season we recognised that Chelsea had the strongest,
most consistent team and were worthy champions.
"But in each of my first two years at Liverpool I have won a
trophy - the Champions League and the FA Cup.
"This year I would like the league title."
(Sky Sports)
Fowler actions speak louder than words
Robbie Fowler has numerous targets for the season ahead, but
he's sure babysitting Anfield's new recruits won't be among
his requirements.
Although his example on and off the pitch has been hailed by
his manager, particularly following the arrival of Craig
Bellamy and Jermaine Pennant, it's not in the Liverpool
striker's nature to brashly preach words of wisdom to his
younger team-mates.
Pulling the new boys to one side and lecturing them about
the pitfalls of being back in the spotlight doesn't sit
comfortably with a player whose influence is far more
subtle.
Actions speak louder than words in Fowler's case, and he
believes the duo are already mature enough to recognise
what's expected following their move to Merseyside without
the constant need to broadcast it.
Even if Fowler is too modest to impose his legendary status
on the recruits, there's no doubting the awe with which he's
held by Pennant and Bellamy, as highlighted during their
interviews on arrival.
"It's bit strange for me we're signing players who are
mentioning how they used to watch me when they were young
lads," he said.
"The same thing happened when I was at Leeds and Manchester
City. In football terms, I am getting on, I suppose, but I'm
not exactly old, am I?
(Liverpool Echo)
FA backing Liverpool over Israel Euro tie
The Football Association are ready to back Liverpool's bid
to play their Champions League qualifier away from war-torn
Israel.
And last night UEFA paved the way for the game to be moved
by announcing three UEFA Cup second qualifying round first
leg ties against eastern European teams due to be played in
the country next week will now take place on neutral ground.
Liverpool are desperate for the second leg of their third
qualifying round tie against Maccabi Haifa on August 22/23
to be played in a neutral country.
UEFA said last week it wanted the game to go ahead in Tel
Aviv, 70 miles south of Lebanon where the security situation
is less critical than in Haifa, close to the border with
Lebanon.
But the FA are set to lobby the European governing body for
the game to be played outside Israel, with Cyprus an
alternative.
"We are in contact with Liverpool and are monitoring the
situation," said an FA spokesperson yesterday.
UEFA will make a decision on Monday as to whether the game -
and any UEFA Cup second qualifying round second leg matches
- can be held in Israel later in August.
(Daily Post)
Haifa dates set
The dates have been set for Liverpool's Champions League
qualifiers against
Maccabi Haifa.
Liverpool host Maccabi Haifa at Anfield on Wednesday 9th of
August.
The return leg, at a venue yet to be decided by UEFA, will
take place on
Tuesday 22nd August.
(LFC Online)
United set to enter £12m Kuyt contest with
Liverpool
Manchester United will now consider a bid for the Feyenoord
striker Dirk Kuyt, a long-term target for Liverpool, to
replace his departed countryman Ruud van Nistelrooy after it
was confirmed yesterday that they have agreed an eye-
watering £18.6m fee for Michael Carrick, who will inherit
Roy Keane's No 16 shirt at Old Trafford.
Kuyt has been tracked by Liverpool all summer after playing
a central role in the Netherlands' World Cup finals
campaign, although the Merseyside club have refused to meet
a £12m valuation of the player.
(The Independent)
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Thor Zakariassen
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