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SUNDAY 3 |
Disappointment for Under-18s
It was a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool Under-18s as
they lost 1-0 at home to Huddersfield Town in their latest
Academy fixture.
Hughie McAuley made five changes to the team that beat
Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday as he tried to give
other members of his squad a game.
Unfortunately Liverpool didn't play well on the day and
Huddersfield took the three points.
Liverpool Under-18s: Martin Hansen, Mattone Awang, Shane
O'Connor, Steven Irwin, Joe Kennedy, Sean Highdale, Ben
Parsonage (Nathan Eccleston 60), Astrit Ajdarevic, Michael
Scott (Marvin Pourie 60), David Amoo, Gary MacKay Steven
(Alex Kacaniklic 45).
Sub not used: Chris Oldfield (GK).
(LFC Official Website)
Kewell dropped by Socceroos
Harry Kewell has been left out of the Australia squad.
The Liverpool winger has not been selected for the World Cup
qualifier against Qatar next week.
(LFC Online)
Crouch hoping for Reds run
Peter Crouch is hopeful his goal against Sunderland will
prompt Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez to hand him a run in
the team.
Crouch has cut a frustrated figure this term, as Benitez has
generally preferred to pair Dirk Kuyt with Fernando Torres
in attack.
“I’ve just got to keep my head down, work hard and try and
impress the manager. Hopefully I’ve done that tonight and I
may get a few chances over the next couple of games.”
(Setanta Sports)
Macca urges Fabio to appoint Terry
Steve McClaren feels Fabio Capello must name John Terry as
his long-term England captain if he wants to get the best
out of the Chelsea star.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is expected to be handed
the armband in Wednesday's friendly clash with Switzerland
at Wembley, with Blues centre-back Terry absent because of
injury.
But it appears to be a straight fight between the two to be
named England coach Capello's on-field leader when the
qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup gets under way in
the autumn.
McClaren, who was sacked after England's failure to qualify
for Euro 2008, opted for the Chelsea man during his
ill-fated tenure - and he has implored the Italian to do the
same.
"The bottom line is that Steven Gerrard doesn't need to be
England captain, but you get an extra 10% from JT if he's in
charge," he told the News of the World.
(TEAMtalk)
Pepe breaks Anfield record
Liverpool's clean sheet against Sunderland saw Pepe Reina
break another club record.
The Spanish international became the quickest goalkeeper in
Anfield history to keep 50 shut-outs in the league.
It has taken Reina 92 games to reach his half century –
three fewer than Ray Clemence.
Here's how many games it took Liverpool's top stoppers to
accumulate 50 clean sheets in the league:
Pepe Reina – 92
Ray Clemence - 95
Bruce Grobbelaar – 109
Elisha Scott - 135
David James - 136
Tommy Lawrence – 171
Sam Hardy – 185
(LFC Official Website) |
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SATURDAY 2 |
Keane laments penalty denial
Sunderland boss Roy Keane was left questioning a decision by
the referee to not award his side a penalty in their 3-0
defeat at Liverpool as he pondered another loss.
Referee Rob Styles – who awarded Chelsea a dubious penalty
at Anfield last August – went on to award Rafa Benitez’s
side a spot-kick from which Steven Gerrard made it three.
Keane referred to the visit of The Blues last summer when
commenting on Styles’ decision to ignore his players’
appeals.
"We were never going to get a penalty today, never. Rob was
referee here when he gave Chelsea a penalty against
Liverpool earlier in the season and he was demoted after
that game," Keane told Setanta Sports after
the game.
(Setanta Sports)
Rafa welcomes morale boost
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes his side's 3-0 win
over Sunderland has gone some way towards easing the
frustrations of the Anfield faithful.
The Reds have endured a torrid season as their form has
slumped on the field, while behind the scenes speculation
continues to rage.
"It was important to score the first goal, important to win
and important to find our confidence," said Benitez.
(Sky Sports)
Gerrard looks to build on win
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is hoping today’s 3-0
victory over Sunderland can breed some much-needed
confidence as the Reds secured their first Premier League
win since St Stephen's Day.
Gerrard told Setanta Sports: “The win is nice and the clean
sheet is nice, but we can still play better. Winning breeds
confidence and confidence is a bit low at the moment so that
certainly helps.
“We’re happy with the win, we go on international duty now
and then we play Chelsea next weekend and we can look
forward to that.”
(Evening Echo)
Reds hit three in Anfield win
Liverpool beat Sunderland 3-0 at Anfield on Saturday
evening, but were far from their best as they climbed into
fifth place in the Premier League.
Despite lighting the scoreboard up three times, the home
side will know that there is a lot of work to do before they
can get back in the race for fourth spot in the league.
Peter Crouch broke the deadlock on 57 minutes with a fine
header, before Fernando Torres doubled the lead and Steven
Gerrard finished it all off with a late penalty.
(Setanta Sports)
New boots aiding Agger recovery
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that defender
Daniel Agger has returned to training with the aid of
specially designed boots.
The 23-year-old has only managed six appearances for the
Reds this season after sustaining a broken metatarsal which
has sidelined him since September.
"Daniel is back in training which is very good news for us,"
the Spaniard told the club's official website.
"Everyone has been working very hard to find a solution to
his problem and he now has a new pair of boots which we hope
will make a difference.
"They have been made especially for him by Adidas and they
are different from normal boots because they take some of
the pressure off the metatarsal that is causing Daniel the
problem when he is kicking the ball.
"It would be very good for us if Daniel can prove his
fitness because he has become a very important player for
us."
(ITV Football)
Injury denies Arbeloa Spain chance
Álvaro Arbeloa has withdrawn from the Spain squad to face
France next week due to a stomach muscle injury, denying the
Liverpool FC defender of the chance to earn his first
international cap.
Arbeloa was one of three new players named in Luis Aragonés'
squad for the friendly in Malaga on Wednesday but the
25-year-old has contacted the Spanish coach to inform him
that he is unable to play. The former Real Madrid CF and RC
Deportivo La Coruña player is a week away from fitness after
suffering the injury in the Premier League draw against
Aston Villa FC on 21 January.
(uefa.com)
Trotters in talks for Guthrie
Bolton manager Gary Megson has opened talks with Liverpool
about signing Danny Guthrie on a permanent deal.
The 20-year-old was signed by former Trotters boss Sammy Lee
on a season-long loan last summer.
The change in management has done little to affect Guthrie’s
prospects, however, and, with the midfielder established as
a first-team regular, Megson could pay £2 million to sign
the player at the end of this season.
"We've spoken to Liverpool about signing Danny on a
permanent deal and he seems keen," Megson told the Daily
Star.
"But Liverpool have said they want to keep things as they
are and we'll see at the end of the season.
"I don't think he wants to go anywhere else. He likes it
here and he is playing first team football.
"We will pick that one up again at the end of the season.
"I don't think there's an option in the loan arrangement but
we can sit down and talk it over."
(Setanta Sports)
Crouch starts against Sunderland
Peter Crouch returns to lead the line alongside Fernando
Torres as Liverpool bid to secure that elusive first league
win of 2008 at home to Sunderland.
Rafael Benitez makes five changes to the side that were
beaten by West Ham in midweek with Javier Mascherano
recalled after serving a one-match suspension.
There are also starts for Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva and
Jermaine Pennant.
The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Carragher, Aurelio,
Skrtel, Hyypia, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Pennant, Torres,
Crouch.
Subs: Itandje, Finnan, Benayoun, Babel, Kuyt.
(LFC Official Website)
Dubai bid to divide Liverpool FC’s American owners
Dubai-based consortium DIC was last night set to join forces
with Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett in a bid to buy
out his partner
Tom Hicks.
Events could move forward within a matter of days, with
figures close to the club anxious to see a rapid conclusion
to what is seen as a damaging distraction at a crucial time
in the season.
Relations between Gillett and Hicks are at an all time low,
with Gillett remaining silent, but understood to be
privately furious with his partner’s unsanctioned public
statements over club affairs.
Now, with the first anniversary of the takeover looming next
week, relations have soured between the two men to such a
degree that Gillett’s son Foster, who moved to Liverpool to
represent the Americans and work alongside club chief
executive Rick Parry, returned to the US 3½ weeks ago, and
has not been seen at the club since.
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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FRIDAY 1 |
Benitez demands passion and points
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has demanded that his players
show more passion for the club cause ahead of Saturday’s
clash with Sunderland at Anfield – live on Setanta Sports.
The Reds have stuttered badly of late - going five Premier
League games without a win - and having seen his side manage
to only see off FA Cup opponents Luton Town and Havant and
Waterlooville in January, Benitez says the right results
must be claimed from now on.
The Spaniard has come under increasing pressure of late as
talk of heavy unrest between him and the club’s owners has
coincided with the club slipping out of the title race and
dropping to seventh place in the league.
"We are not getting the results that we want and that has to
chance and change now,” said the former Valencia chief.
"Everyone must improve, the staff and the players. Working
hard is the only thing we can do. I am not the kind of
manager who will say 'oh bad luck' or 'it's impossible', no
way. We have to work harder, we have done it before and we
must do it again now.
"We need to show our supporters that the commitment is there
and that we want to win. We must win against Sunderland but
we know they will come with confidence after their win the
other day but it is not going to be easy. It is never easy
in the Premier League."
(Setanta Sports)
Rush: Gerrard's a born leader
Ian Rush has called on Fabio Capello to give Steven Gerrard
the England captaincy on a permanent basis when he finalises
his first squad.
With John Terry currently sidelined by a foot injury
Gerrard, who was named vice-captain by former England boss
Steve McClaren, could take the armband for the friendly
against Switzerland on February 6.
The Italian coach is set to reduce his squad from 30 to 23
on Saturday evening and also will name his captain.
And former Liverpool and Wales captain Rush has said Capello
would reap the benefits of giving Gerrard the job in the
long term.
"For me Steven Gerrard has got be England captain," said
Rush.
"I think John Terry is a good captain and if Fabio Capello
stuck with him then fair enough - but if you're looking
elsewhere then it's got to be Gerrard.
"They are the only two stand-out candidates, Rio Ferdinand's
name has been suggested and he could be become captain, but
I think Steven's leadership for Liverpool is incredible - he
has proven it at the top and grown in stature."
(TEAMtalk)
Arbeloa wins Spanish call-up
Alvaro Arbeloa is one of four Liverpool players in the
Spanish squad for next week's friendly with France.
It's the first time the Liverpool full-back has been called
up by his country and he will join Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso
and Fernando Torres in the squad for Wednesday's game in
Malaga.
(LFC Official Website)
Moyes: Reds still fourth favourites
David Moyes turned up the heat on Liverpool by claiming the
floundering Reds are still favourites to finish fourth in
the Premier League.
Everton go to Blackburn on Saturday in fourth place while
Liverpool are seventh and have not won in the league since
Boxing Day.
Their late defeat at West Ham in midweek has heaped further
intense pressure on the five-times European champions.
Two weeks ago Everton boss Moyes claimed his own side were
best placed to win the race to qualify for the Champions
League.
But he said on Friday: "Competition for fourth is very high,
but I still believe Liverpool are favourites for that place,
they have the game in hand on everyone and I expect them to
get there.
"They would still be the favourites. But we are in there
pushing, fighting for that Champions League spot."
(TEAMtalk)
Kuyt out but Babel goes Dutch
Marco van Basten has left Dirk Kuyt out of the Netherlands
squad for their friendly with Croatia next week.
It's just the second time Kuyt has missed out since van
Basten took over in 2004.
Clubmate Ryan Babel does make the 21-man party.
(LFC Official Website)
Idrizaj heads home
Besian Idrizaj last night completed a move to Austrian side
Wacker Tirol ahead of the transfer deadline.
It had seemed as though Idrizaj - who had spent this season
on loan with Crystal Palace - was on his way to Oldham
Athletic before a late change of heart instead saw him
return to his homeland with Tirol.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool verbally agree deal for Mascherano
Javier Mascherano’s permanent transfer moved a step
nearer yesterday when Liverpool verbally agreed a deal to
sign the Argentina international.
Club officials met with representatives of the player to
thrash out the terms over a package for the 23-year-old
midfielder.
The player’s agent Kia Joorabchian, whose Media Sports
Investment company own the rights for Mascherano, was on
Merseyside to negotiate an £18.6m transfer.
That valuation includes the £1.6m Liverpool have already
paid to take Mascherano on an initial 18-month loan, which
is due to expire at the end of the season.
The deal, which will see Mascherano commit his future to
Anfield until 2012, did not have to be completed before last
night’s transfer window closed and is expected to be signed
next week.
The overall fee matches the £18.6m Manchester United
splashed out to sign another defensive midfielder, Michael
Carrick, from West Ham United in 2006.
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Thor Zakariassen
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