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THURSDAY 3 |
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Palace reveal Liverpool bid
Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has revealed that
Liverpool rejected a loan deal worth a possible £1million
during the transfer window for midfielder Igor Biscan.
Fourth from bottom Palace wanted to recruit the Croatian
international in the hope that he could help them retain
their Premier League status by avoiding relegation.
The Palace chairman was talking about deals that Palace were
unable to complete and that's when Biscan's name cropped up.
Jordan said: "We haven't acquired any players in the window
but we put in a £2.75m bid to Charlton for Jason Euell,
provisionally accepted but the manager didn't want to sell.
"We put a £3m bid on the table to Crewe for Dean Ashton but
they didn't want to talk to us. We offered Liverpool a
£500,000 loan fee for Igor Biscan and £500,000 if we stay
up. We offered £1m for Bobby Zamora, who apparently didn't
want to join because he was getting death threats on his
mobile phone."
(Kop Talk)
Smicer targets new Reds deal
Fit again Vladimir Smicer is hoping to win a new deal at
Liverpool.
The Czech Republic international is out of contract at the
end of the season and he is sweating over his future.
The 31-year-old is planning to make up for lost time and
prove to Reds boss Rafa Benitez he is worthy of a new
contract.
"The only thing on my mind at the moment is my fitness,"
said Smicer.
"Now I am okay, I hope to get the chance to show the manager
that I can produce what he wants from his players."
Benitez has given Smicer some hope he can earn a contract
extension by revealing he is likely to stay if he impresses
from now until the end of the season.
"There is always the possibility of a new deal if Vladi
plays well and scores goals,"
said Benitez.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Jerzy welcomes Carson arrival
Jerzy Dudek has welcomed the arrival of new goalkeeper Scott
Carson and believes it will increase the competition for
places at Anfield.
Dudek told Liverpoolfc.tv: "Sometimes you need to have a
fresh look to the squad and we need competition. I am happy
that Scott is here because he is a very young and very
talented goalkeeper and it's important for the club to have
him here.
"It's always good when you have new faces in the squad
because it makes you play better. He has shown on the
training ground already what a good goalkeeper he is."
(LFC Official Website)
Le Tallec: I made a big mistake
Anthony Le Tallec has reflected on his decision to spend the
first half of the season in France and admitted: "I made a
big mistake."
The 20 year old French midfielder is now back at Melwood
after Liverpool agreed a deal with St Etienne to cut short
his season long loan spell, but he accepts there could be a
long road ahead before he's considered for first team
football again at Anfield.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv, Le Tallec said: "I made a big
mistake. I accept that. I wanted to go on loan because I
wanted to play a full season of first team football and I
thought I would get that in France.
"But things went wrong for me over there. The manager
changed the system of play and I got an injury which kept me
out for two months. It just didn't work out for me at all.
"When I heard that Liverpool wanted me back I was very
happy. This is still my club and England is still the best
league to play in. I thought I made the right decision at
the start of the season but I always missed Liverpool and
now that I'm back I want to do as
well as I can."
(LFC Official Website)
Reserves won
Vladimir Smicer continued his comeback for Liverpool, as
goals from Zak Whitbread and Robbie Foy helped the reserve
side to a 2-1 win at home against Middlesbrough last night
in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North.
Antonio Nunez and Mauricio Pellegrino played the first 45
minutes, before making way for Czech Smicer and John
Otsemobor for the second half.
Liverpool held on though without too many problems, and
could have added to their lead when Smicer seized onto a bad
back-pass and lobbed the ball over
LIVERPOOL: Carson, Raven, Warnock, Whitbread, Pellegrino
(Otsemobor 45), Potter, Nunez (Smicer 45), Welsh, Le Tallec,
Mannix (Partridge 62), Foy.
(Daily Post) |
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WEDNESDAY 2 |
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Clemence diagnosed with prostrate cancer
Legendary former Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence has been
diagnosed with prostrate cancer. The 56-year-old will miss
training sessions with the England squad next week in order
to undergo treatment.
"The news I have had from the doctors so far has been very
positive and encouraging," Clemence said this morning. "I'm
looking forward to getting the treatment out of the way and
returning to work as soon as possible."
Clemence was arguably the finest goalkeeper Liverpool have
ever had and won three European Cups, two Uefa Cups, five
League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup during his time
at Anfield.
(Shankly Gates)
Le Tallec and Pellegrino in Reserve team
Anthony Le Tallec, Mauricio Pellegrino and Antonio Nunez all
line up for Liverpool Reserves in their match with
Middlesbrough at Wrexham on Wednesday night, while Richie
Partridge is on the bench returning from injury.
Scott Carson plays his third game for Liverpool while Le
Tallec will again play as lone striker supported by Darren
Potter.
Richie Partridge has been out for six weeks through injury
and the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international makes a
welcome return to the Liverpool squad.
(LFC Official Website)
Riise hails Nando and 'best away
performance'
Liverpool matchwinner John Arne Riise today hailed the
outstanding contribution of Fernando Morientes after the
Reds' 'best away performance of the season' secured victory
over Charlton.
Morientes struck his first goal since his £6m move from Real
Madrid as Liverpool registered an impressive 2-1 win at The
Valley.
"That's definitely the best we've played away from home,"
said Riise.
"It was always going to take Morientes time to get used to
the Premiership but he's been playing well in the last few
games and he worked really hard for his goal,
which he deserved."
(Liverpool Echo)
Cisse making good progress
Djibril Cisse has revealed he is well on the road to
recovery after the horrific broken leg injury which has
wrecked his season.
Cisse is definitely sidelined for the rest of this campaign
after breaking his leg in two places at Blackburn in
October, but he says he's happy with his recovery so far and
is looking forward to stepping up his rehabilitation
programme over the coming weeks.
He said: "I can walk now without crutches. I can do more
exercises with more weights. I can do squats with a lot of
weight. I'm doing the bike every day but I can't run for the
moment.
"Maybe in one month I can do that. It's getting better. It's
good. It depends on how I feel after I start running. I
might say one month but maybe it will be two months or two
weeks."
Cisse has been a regular at Anfield since his injury struck
and he admits he's started to enjoy supporting the team from
the stands.
"It's very difficult when I see them play," he said. "Now
it's okay but before it was hard. I enjoyed it but it was
frustrating for me.
"I have missed a lot of big games, like Manchester and
Chelsea, but I've been like a fan. I support my team."
(LFC Official Website)
Benitez determined to keep it simple
Rafael Benitez is determined to take one game at a time
rather than gazing into a "crystal ball" and trying to
predict what the next four months will bring his Liverpool
side.
"We have said it many times, we want to build a team around
Gerrard. He is a key player for us," insisted the Liverpool
manager.
The Spaniard added: "I do not have a crystal ball to say
what will be in the future. We want to win the next game,
and then after we will see."
(Sporting Life)
Carragher: I'll play anywhere for
Liverpool Football Club
Jamie Carragher has been talking about his preferred
position in the side.
Carra can play comfortably in the centre of midfield or
anywhere across the back; the left, the right, the centre,
you name it, he'll play there, and that's why he's a
valuable member of the squad.
Ask him where his favourite berth is and he'll reluctantly
tell you he prefers to play as a centre-back.
"I've enjoyed this season playing at centre-back," said the
player. "But at the end of the day I'd play anywhere for
Liverpool just as long as I'm in the starting line-up at the
weekend.
"I'm probably more comfortable at centre-back at the moment
because that's where i've played most but obviously with
Mauricio Pellegrino coming into the team I've moved across
to full-back.
"The manager knows I'll play wherever he wants me to."
(Kop Talk) |
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TUESDAY 1 |
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No complaints from Curbs
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley had no complaints with his
side's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
"I think although we went in front at half time Liverpool
were the better team throughout.
"Great credit to them they deserved it and we have no
complaints."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Rafa hails Reds showing
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was delighted with his side's
performance in the 2-1 win over Charlton.
"We worked very hard all over the pitch," said Benitez.
"We played a fantastic game and had a lot of confidence. We
said at the break we could do it and all the team worked
very hard and played well."
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Reds rally to sink Addicks
Liverpool boosted their Champions League hopes with a
deserved 2-1 win at Charlton.
Second half goals from Fernando Morientes - his first for
his new club - and John Arne Riise were enough to give The
Reds all three points and cancel out Shaun Bartlett's first
half opener.
(Planet Football/Sky Sports)
Charlton v Liverpool - confirmed team
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Riise,
Gerrard, Biscan, Garcia, Baros, Morientes.
SUBS: Carson, Smicer, Pellegrino, Potter, Warnock.
(Kop Talk)
Roma seal Xavier signing
Roma have signed former Liverpool and Everton defender Abel
Xavier.
Giallorossi boss Gigi Delneri was impressed with the
Portuguese star after a recent trial with the club.
Bolton, Blackburn and Southampton had been linked with
Xavier after he left
German side Hannover.
(Goal.com)
Macca off to Oz in search of glory
An exciting new chapter in the life of former Liverpool
midfielder Steve McMahon begins today when he jets off to
resume his football management career on the other side of
the world.
Anfield's renowned hard-man of the mid-eighties flies out to
Australia to take up his position as the head coach of Perth
Glory, where he'll be teaming up with former Ipswich Town
player Mich D'Avaray.
McMahon has been out of work since leaving Blackpool last
year and he's relishing the prospect of a fresh start in Oz.
Liverpoolfc.tv caught up with Macca shortly before his
departure and he told us: "I see a move to Australia as a
tremendous challenge for me.
"Australia is highly regarded around the world in so many
different sports, and I have no doubt that this can also be
achieved in football. The potential is limitless and I'm
confident I can play a role in this.
(LFC Official Website)
Anfield legends return in aid of tsunami
appeal
Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler, Kenny Dalglish and Kevin
Keegan are returning to Anfield to help raise funds for the
victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami.
"Tsunami Soccer Aid", the brainchild of Tranmere captain and
former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer, is being staged
at Anfield on Sunday, March 27, and has attracted a
glittering array of talent.
Fowler will wear the red shirt for the first time since his
£11million move to Leeds in November 2001, while Dalglish
and Keegan have also agreed to play for a Liverpool Legends
side against a celebrity XI.
Former Anfield hero David Johnson, who will also play for a
Legends side managed by Roy Evans, is one of the organisers
of the event - along with McAteer, agent Dave Lockwood and
former Brookside actor Steven Fletcher - which has the full
support of Liverpool FC.
(Daily Post)
Curbishley wary of Captain Marvel
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley feels Liverpool skipper Steven
Gerrard is a "man on a mission".
Gerrard takes his team to The Valley looking to get their
bid for a top-four Barclays Premiership finish back on
track.
Curbishley reflected: "I think he is a man on a mission - to
try and drag them wherever he can. It seems on his own he is
trying to win games.
"He has done it in Europe, did so against Watford and tries
to do that most weeks.
"You can see it in his expression, he is desperate for them
to win something and do well."
(Sporting Life)
Parry delighted with the work of Rafa
Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry has revealed the depth
of his admiration for the job Rafael Benitez has done at
Anfield since taking charge seven months ago.
Parry is delighted with the work of the former Valencia
coach and believes reaching the Carling Cup Final could
herald the start of a glorious new era at the club.
"It's not just the fact we've reached a major final which
has made Rafa's start so impressive," Parry says.
"It's the whole package and all the work he's done since he
arrived. It's possible some of the results he achieved early
raised expectations a bit too early.
"During the summer, everyone was talking about this being a
season of transition and stressed how the new manager needed
time. It seems to me this all went out of the window last
week and suddenly we are in a 'crisis' again. The common
sense had gone.
(LFC Official Website)
Gerrard stays defiant
Steven Gerrard believes the almost relentless recent
criticism of Liverpool has pulled the squad closer together.
The Reds tackle Charlton at The Valley on Tuesday night in a
Premiership clash crucial to both sides' Champions League
hopes.
"We will have to be on our toes and be ready for them but if
we can show the same characteristics that we showed against
Watford then I am sure we will be able to come away with the
right result."
(TEAMtalk)
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Thor Zakariassen
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