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MONDAY 3 |
Torres Kops praise from all quarters
Rafael Benitez was moved to say "thank you" to Liverpool's
American owners when they let him buy Fernando Torres in the
summer.
Now the Kop understands why Tom Hicks and George Gillett
gained such gratitude from a man they have been at war with,
as they sing the praises of their new goalscoring hero.
Peace has finally broken out at Anfield at the same time as
Torres confirmed his status as the real thing.
Legendary strikers over the decades at Anfield have gloried
in their one-word adulation, the solitary verbal respect as
a single name booms around the stadium.
The Spaniard has already joined that revered group. St John,
Keegan, Dalglish, Fowler and now Torres, their names cascade
down from the Kop.
Benitez, not known for praising individuals, added: "Torres
scored a great goal. He has learnt well and quickly. But the
team is playing better so he is playing better.
"The opposition are concentrating on him, and that leaves
the space for the others to work and score."
(TEAMtalk)
Reina: It was easy for me
Pepe Reina admits he is delighted to play the role of
spectator after Liverpool notched up yet another
comprehensive victory with a 4-0 demolition of Bolton on
Sunday.
The Reds stopper picked up his 12th clean sheet of the
season as Rafael Benitez's men made it 21 goals in five
matches, and he revealed that he is more than happy to sit
back and enjoy the show - even if it does mean he gets cold.
"It is easier than ever for me at the moment with the way
the team is playing," said Reina.
"I had to keep warm just in case I was needed but it was
difficult because it was cold, wet and windy but the result
did keep me warm.
"Hopefully every game can be like this one and like the last
five because we have done really well.
"From my own point of view, it is always really important to
keep a clean sheet because that brings confidence, trust and
hope."
(LFC Official Website)
Torres: If Rafa goes we all go
Fernando Torres last night warned Liverpool they will face a
player exodus if they cannot heal the rift with Rafa
Benitez.
The £26million Spanish striker was blown away by the scale
of the Anfield fans' support for Benitez after his public
fall-out with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Now he
has pleaded with the board to make peace with Benitez. But
if they force the Spaniard out, then Torres believes he will
be followed through the exit door by the players he brought
to Merseyside.
He said: "Rafa cannot leave. The fans have given their
verdict - and it was clear.
"At the moment, Benitez is calm. There is no problem. He's
with the team he has created. If he needs to sign players
then fine, he should get them.
"But the conversations he had with the owners should not
come out in public.
"Benitez has created a team of people who are indebted to
him. It's certain that if he goes many players will think
about their futures and whether they can stay.
"Rafa is not just another manager. He created a team and put
his faith in players that owe him a lot. And he knows that."
(Daily Mirror)
How Fernando Torres is overtaking the past masters
For all the lyrical vividness of football’s most famous
stand, occasionally the Kop’s message is most emphatically
delivered without the need for poetic garnish.
While Anfield jeered the return of the only number nine in
Liverpool ’s history to finish a season without a league
strike, the current occupant of that shirt was afforded the
ultimate tribute, as he extended his tally to
11 goals in just 17 appearances.
As Fernando Torres was withdrawn for Dirk Kuyt, after a
majestic 77-minute display of power, panache and precision
finishing in yesterday’s
4-0 victory, his substitution was met with a chant strictly
reserved for Liverpool legends. Known as the ‘Dalglish’ or
‘Fowler chant’ depending on your age, it is effectively a
series of claps followed by the insertion of the player’s
name.
Sometimes, even for supporters with as varied a hymn-sheet
as the Anfield faithful, only the simplistic will suffice.
Torres’s Liverpool career is still in its infancy, but there
is no better judge of talent on the stands
of English football.
(Comment by Ben Thornley - Liverpool Daily Post)
Agger return pleases Sami
Sami Hyypia will be glad to see the return of Daniel Agger.
Agger could return to first team action against Reading next
Saturday and Sami Hyypia is ready to welcome him back even
if his return means less games for the Finn.
"It's going well at the moment but I'll say what I have said
before - I would rather Daniel be fit and able to help the
team. I am not a young boy any more and sometimes two games
a week is a lot," said the defender who opened the scoring
yesterday.
(LFC Online)
Carra boost for Reds
Liverpool expect Jamie Carragher to shake off the hip injury
he sustained against Bolton yesterday in time for next
week's trip to Reading.
Carragher was substituted six minutes into the second half
after failing to overcome the effects of a collision with
Pepe Reina before the break which led to Nicolas Anelka's
contender for miss of the season.
Rookie defender Jack Hobbs deputised alongside Sami Hyypia
for the rest of the game but manager Rafael Benitez is
confident Carragher will be ready for next weekend.
"Carra took a knock in the ribs when he collided with Pepe
but I do not think it was that serious," he said. "I'd
expect him to be fit for the Reading game."
Steve Finnan is also expected to be fit for Saturday's match
after missing the 4-0 victory over Bolton with a calf
problem.
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez: Reds can roll to title
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed his confidence
that the Reds can maintain a consistent challenge for the
Premier League title.
The Reds boss is overseeing an impressive run of outstanding
performances - five straight victories in all competition
and 21 goals in that run - while his team maintain their
unbeaten Premier League record.
Liverpool inflicted a 4-0 mauling on Lancashire rivals
Bolton on Sunday and jumped above Manchester United in the
table - at least until the champions face Fulham tonight.
Benitez is preparing for the busy December and January
months and said: "We are playing well, we must see whether
our rivals make mistakes. Then we will look at the situation
again at the end of January before we start talking about
titles."
(TEAMtalk) |
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SUNDAY 2 |
Benitez praises team's performance
Manager Rafael Benitez was happy to talk about his team’s
exploits rather than his own future for a change after
Liverpool’s 4-0 mauling of Bolton.
After watching Sami Hyypia, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard
and Ryan Babel grab the goals that finally deflated Bolton
Benitez said:
“The team is playing well, we are making plenty of chances
and scored four, but it could have been many more. I must be
pleased with form
like this."
(Evening Echo)
Megson: No rash reactions
Bolton manager Gary Megson insists there will be no 'knee
jerk reaction' to his side's 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.
"It was a bad day at the office for all concerned," Megson
told
Sky Sports News.
"There won't be a knee jerk reaction to what was a poor
performance and obviously a poor result.
"We didn't get found out for lack of effort or desire. We
made some poor decisions and it has happened on a stage
where you are really going
to get punished for those sorts of things."
(Sky Sports)
Rampant Reds crush Trotters
Liverpool maintained their unbeaten Premier League record
and made it five successive wins as they crushed Bolton 4-0
at Anfield.
After demolishing Bolton, they have scored 21 goals in that
five-game run to move into third place in the table, a point
behind Chelsea with a game in hand.
In a week that has seen boss Rafael Benitez seemingly settle
his public dispute with the club's American owners, his side
have been in
tip-top form.
Four goals against Porto, four against a dispirited Bolton
has dispelled any lingering doubts about Benitez's side.
From Besiktas to Bolton over the past weeks there is now a
list of people who have learned to their cost that if there
is trouble in the corridors of power at Anfield, it ends
when the players walk on to the pitch.
Goals from Sami Hyypia and Fernando Torres - his 11th in 17
games - had Liverpool in command at the break and a Steven
Gerrard penalty sealed what was a comfortable victory before
Ryan Babel tapped in
the fourth.
(TEAMtalk)
Liverpool to face Forest or Luton in FA Cup
Liverpool FC will have to wait to find out exactly where
they will be travelling to for the third round of the FA
Cup.
The Reds will go up against Luton or Nottingham Forest -
they will play their second round tie to decide which one
goes through later this week.
The tie will take place away from Anfield on the weekend of
January 5
and 6, 2008.
Luton will take on Forest on Tuesday.
Full draw:
Preston v Scunthorpe; Port Vale/Chasetown v Cardiff;
Colchester v Peterborough; Bolton v Sheff Utd; Blackburn v
Coventry; Brighton v Mansfield; Northampton/Walsall v
Millwall; Charlton v West Brom; Watford v Crystal Palace;
Luton/Nottm Forest v Liverpool; Plymouth v Hull; Aston Villa
v Man Utd; Tranmere v Hereford; Tottenham v Reading; Burnley
v Arsenal; Bristol City v Middlesbrough; Fulham v Bristol
Rovers; Huddersfield v Birmingham; Horsham/Swansea v Havant
& Waterlooville; Sunderland v Wigan; Oxford/Southend v Dag &
Red; Everton v Oldham; Derby v Sheff Wed; Southampton v
Leicester; West Ham v Man City; Ipswich v Portsmouth;
Wolverhampton v Cambridge Utd; Barnsley v Blackpool; Chelsea
v QPR; Stoke v Newcastle; Swindon v Burton Albion/Barnet;
Norwich v Bury
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Crouch and Torres up front
Peter Crouch and Fernando Torres start up front as Liverpool
host Bolton this afternoon.
The Liverpool team in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher,
Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Kewell, Torres,
Crouch.
Subs: Itandje, Mascherano, Babel, Kuyt, Hobbs.
(LFC Official Website)
Mascherano: Reds deal close
Javier Mascherano is confident his permanent move to
Liverpool will be completed, but admits it is very important
for him that Rafa Benitez stays with the club.
The Argentine midfielder has already agreed terms on a
five-year deal after initially joining the Reds on loan from
West Ham in January.
However, the transfer will not be sealed until club owners
Tom Hicks and George Gillett give their approval at a
meeting with Benitez on 16th December.
"It's very important for me Rafa stays as manager. He gave
me a great opportunity when I came to Liverpool," Mascherano
said in the News of the World.
Mascherano concedes that he may have to be patient as he
waits for his own future to be resolved, but he insists he
is fully committed to the club.
"We were talking about the situation with the club and I
think everything is now very close," he explained.
"But we need to wait because in the last week Liverpool have
another situation.
"I don't know if my situation will be resolved before 16th
December.
"I'm happy to wait until then because I want to stay here.
"I'm waiting for the solution and then I'm sure I will stay
here."
(Sporting Life)
Africa is full of Reds
Liverpool fans in Namibia have launched their very own
supporters' club.
The country is the fourth in Africa to set up it's own
branch alongside Ghana, Zambia and South Africa.
Chairman Basil Rickerts said the idea came after a group of
fans congregated in capital Windhoek for last year's
Champions League final.
He added: "This is a proud moment for all Liverpool
supporters.
"The club boasts the largest supporter base across Namibia
and the idea is to group all supporters and fans of the Reds
into an organised entity with specific aims and objectives.
"Our overriding aim is charity on a very small but
meaningful scale. We would, for instance, spend two hours at
an old-age or children's home helping out wherever we can."
(LFC Official Website)
Alonso's heartache compounded
Xabi Alonso's injury heartache is compounded today when he
misses the chance to go head-to-head with his brother.
Most of Rafa Benitez's squad looked immediately to games
with Man Utd and Everton when the fixtures were released in
July – not Alonso.
His eyes shot straight to the date when Liverpool would face
Bolton, the club his older brother Mikel joined on loan in
the summer.
Alonso told Liverpoolfc.tv prior to his metatarsal injury:
"It's going to be a very different and special day for both
of us. We are both looking forward to it a lot.
"I looked out for this fixture. As soon as I got the
fixtures I looked for this day. We talk a lot about football
and he's quite close so we often meet each other.
"But we both have to fight for each one's interests on the
day. For those 90 minutes we will not be brothers."
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 1 |
Pourie earns Reds a draw at United
German ace Marvin Pourie scored a fantastic goal as he
helped Liverpool Under-18s battle back from 2-0 down to draw
2-2 with Mancheter United
at Carrington on Saturday morning.
Hughie McAuley's side were certainly worthy of a point and
they had the chances to have taken all three points.
England youth international Nathan Eccleston scored another
superb goal and he, Pourie and David Amoo were in
outstanding form. Swede Astrit Ajdarevic was also at his
most inspirational as he helped the Under-18s secure a
point.
"It was a great game and one we could have won," enthused
McAuley.
Liverpool Under-18 team: Martin Hansen, Steven Irwin,
Shane O'Connor, Daniel Ayala, Joe Kennedy, Shaun Highdale,
David Amoo, Astrit Ajdarevic, Marvin Pourie, Nathan
Eccleston, Gary MacKay Steven (Michael Collins 45). Subs
unused: Chris Oldfield (GK), Mattone Awang, Ben Parsonage,
Alex Kacaniklic.
(LFC Official Website)
Hicks: I'm not selling up
Tom Hicks has stressed he is not looking to sell his stake
in Liverpool and insists he is still 'enjoying' being an
owner of the Premier League clubs.
Following the recent stand-off with manager Rafa Benitez,
reports had claimed that Hicks, who co-owns the club with
George Gillett, was looking to offload his shares.
But the American businessman has moved to refute the rumours
and is 'disappointed and confused' by the suggestions he is
looking for an escape route.
"I just want to clear up with you that I am not selling any
of my shares to anybody," Hicks told the Liverpool Echo.
"I have no idea why anyone would think that. It was just
rubbish."
(Sky Sports)
Agger set for return, thanks to special boots
Daniel Agger could make his long-awaited return for
Liverpool next week – thanks to a special pair of football
boots.
The Denmark international has not played since the goalless
draw at Portsmouth on September 15 after breaking a
metatarsal in his right foot.
Agger was thought close to a comeback earlier this month
only to complain of further discomfort in the same area.
However, the 22-year-old will train next week in a
specially-commissioned pair of boots designed to protect the
metatarsal.
And if Agger comes through training with no problems, he
could be considered for next Saturday’s Premier League visit
to Reading.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Duo fighting for a future at Anfield
Rafael Benitez wasn’t the only person fighting for his
Liverpool future that emerged from Wednesday’s Champions
League victory over Porto with their reputation enhanced.
For differing reasons, both Peter Crouch and Harry Kewell
have found themselves mainly with their face pressed up
against the window of first-team action at Anfield this
season.
It has led to speculation they will soon be plying their
trade elsewhere, Crouch long touted to be ushered out of the
club in next month’s transfer window while Kewell becomes a
free agent in the summer.
But the players were given reason for encouragement by
Benitez yesterday that their Anfield careers are not so cut
and dried.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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